text:
A national advocacy group has retracted its startling estimate that “organized retail crime” was responsible for nearly half of the $94.5 billion in missing store merchandise in 2021, a figure that helped amplify claims that the United States was experiencing a nationwide surge in shoplifting.
The group, the National Retail Federation, edited that claim last week from a widely cited report released in April, after the trade publication. Retail Diving revealed that faulty data was used to arrive at an inaccurate figure.
The retraction comes as retail chains like Target continue to claim they are victims of massive shoplifting operations that have cut into their profits, forcing them to close stores or inconvenience customers by locking products.
These claims have been fueled by widely shared videos of some cases of brazen shoplifting, including footage of masked groups smashing windows and grabbing high-end handbags and cellphones. But the data shows that this impression of endemic crime was only a mirage.
In fact, retail thefts have been lower this year in most of the country than a few years ago, according to police data. Some exceptions, notably New York City, exist. But in most major cities, shoplifting has decreased by 7% since 2019.
Organized retail crime, in which multiple individuals steal products from multiple stores and then resell them on the black market, is a real phenomenon, said Trevor Wagener, chief economist for the Computer & Communications Industry Association, who conducted research on retail data. But he said organized groups were likely responsible for about 5% of store merchandise gone missing between 2016 and 2020.
He noted that there is “a lot of uncertainty and imprecision” in measuring losses because it is difficult to distinguish what constitutes shoplifting and what constitutes organized crime.
Mr. Wagener testified to Congress in June on the discrepancy in the National Retail Federation report.
Although it retracted that figure and revised the report, the federation, which has more than 17,000 member companies, insisted in an emailed statement that it was focusing on the problem appropriately.
“We support the widely recognized fact that organized retail crime is a serious problem that affects retailers of all sizes and all communities across our country,” the statement said. “At the same time, we recognize the challenges faced by the retail sector and law enforcement in collecting and analyzing an accurate, agreed-upon data set. »
The problem is “total annual shrinkage” – the industry term for the value of merchandise that disappears from stores without being paid for, due to theft, damage and inventory tracking errors.
Mary McGinty, a representative for the federation, said the error was caused by an analyst at K2 Integrity, a consulting firm that helped produce the report.
The analyst, who was not named, linked a 2021 National Retail Federation investigation to a quote from Ben Dugan, the former president of the advocacy group Coalition of Law Enforcement and Retail, who said during Senate testimony in 2021 that organized retail crime accounts for “$45 billion in annual losses for retailers.”
Dugan cited the federation’s 2016 National Retail Safety Survey, which actually referred to the overall cost of shrink in 2015 – not the amount lost solely to organized retail crime. detail, Ms. McGinty said.
Alec Karakatsanis, a civil rights lawyer who has studied and criticized the media’s coverage of organized retail crime, said the retraction highlights how some news organizations, which have largely covered the issue of shoplifting, were “used as a tool by certain special interests”. creating a lot of fear about this issue, when in fact it was clear from the beginning that the facts did not add up.”
One of the most striking examples came in October 2021, when Walgreens announced the closure of five stores in San Francisco, citing repeated cases of organized shoplifting. The company’s decision came months after a video viewed millions of times showed a man, trash bag in hand, openly stealing products from a Walgreens while others watched.
But an October 2021 analysis carried out by The Chronicle of San Francisco showed that police department data on shoplifting did not support Walgreen’s explanation for the store closings.
Ultimately, Walgreens withdrew its claims. In January, a company executive said Walgreens may have overestimated the effects on its business, saying, “Maybe we cried too much last year.”
Mr. Karakatsanis said the exaggerated narrative of widespread shoplifting had been exploited by the retail industry, which was pressuring Congress to pass bills that would regulate retailers in line, where, according to them, a large part of the stolen products end up.
Commentators and politicians have taken up the issue. Earlier this year, Gov. Gavin Newsom, Democrat of California, responds to reports of large-scale thefts in the state by calling for tough prosecution of shoplifters And to plan investing millions of dollars to combat “organized retail theft.” Governor. Ron DeSantis, Republican of Florida, signed a bill last year targeting retail product theft, and former President Donald J. Trump called for violence, telling California Republican activists this year that police should shooting shoplifters as they leave a store.
Mr. Wagener, chief economist of the Computer & Communications Industry Association, said the National Retail Federation’s April report immediately struck him as flawed. The error is troubling, he said, because the federation has long been considered a trusted data provider for the industry.
What made the federation’s error even more surprising, Mr. Wagener said, was the stark contrast between that figure and the group’s previous findings.
In 2020, the federation declared in a report that organized retail crime cost retailers an average of $719,548 per $1 billion in sales – a figure that is nowhere near the 50% predicted in the April report.
Another survey from the National Retail Federation showed that all external thefts – including thefts not linked to organized retail crime – accounted for 37 percent of shrinkage, a figure that would still be billions of dollars less than the incorrect estimate of 50 percent made in April.
“It would be a bit like the census says almost half of the U.S. population lives in the state of Rhode Island,” Mr. Wagener said.


text:
Manufacturers today are faced with numerous complex decisions concerning IT investments. Pressures to improve performance are escalating, yet clear strategies remain elusive. Excessive hype around disruptive technologies often leads to decision paralysis. Cautious manufacturers are shying away from early adoption of some advanced digital enterprise technologies. Delay, however, is dangerous in today’s highly competitive environment.
Manufacturers today hear numerous mixed messages about the state of the economy and the market landscape. Volatility seems to be the only constant. On one hand, the growing middle class adds tremendous growth opportunities. Kiplinger reports that the global middle class, about 1.8 billion strong now, will reach 5 billion consumers by 2030. These new consumers will impact demand for products. Ernst and Young predicts the demand from the new global middle class to grow from today’s $21 trillion to $56 trillion by 2030.
At the same time, economists, like Jared Bernstein, point to “productivity doldrums” and a slowing of output in US manufacturing. During 1950-2007, manufacturers saw average annual gains of 2.2 percent. Today, productivity gain is less than 1 percent, Bernstein says in the Washington Post.
Such contradictory data can be confusing, causing manufacturers to hesitate over extensive IT investments. With memories of the Great Recession and widespread plant closings still fresh in their mind, some manufacturers are opting for extreme caution, preferring to build their capital reserves. Forbes reports that at the end of 2014, U.S. non-financial companies held a staggering $1.73 trillion in cash, up 4 percent from the previous year. Forbes also reports that when US companies do decide to make major investments it is often to buy competing or complementary companies. Acquisition spending rose 20 percent in the last year, reaching $322 billion. This type of capital spending can make it difficult for a manufacturer to also make extensive IT system investments.
In contrast to the muddy nature of today’s economic indicators, the potential benefits of disruptive technologies are refreshingly clear. Advances in ERP capabilities and shop floor functionality allow manufacturers to achieve higher levels of performance, few analysts would dispute. That’s just the beginning, though. Today’s manufacturing revolution is the result of the high profile, game-changing technologies, like cloud computing, 3D printing, Big Data and the Internet of Things. These are the innovations that are promising bright new horizons for manufacturers.
The projections are astounding. In fact, the numbers being bandied about are so staggering, they may be difficult to grasp — or believe. For example, McKinsey predicts that the digitization of organizations in the form of online talent platforms, big data analytics, and the Internet of Things could add up to $2.2 trillion to annual GDP by 2025. Some of the most staggering predictions are related to the Internet of Things as industry observers and hands-on players alike attempt to define the far-reaching impact on consumers, the supply chain, maintenance contractors, sensor providers, and manufacturers.
Cisco, one of the key advocate-investors says that the worldwide economic impact of IoT technologies will reach $19 trillion in by 2020, with 50 billion objects being connected. Yet, today, proof-of-concept adoptions are still limited. IoT initiatives are not “off the shelf” solutions you simply plug in and start enjoying. A comprehensive strategy is required in order to fully leverage of the potential. IDC recently published a report, “Business Decision Making in the Factory of the Future" which discusses influencing factors affecting a manufacturer’s IT investments in “foundational technologies” such as Low Cost Sensors, Machine-Learning and Complex Event Processing, Data Historians, Manufacturing Intelligence and Collaboration Tools. IDC says 15 percent of manufacturers surveyed are currently putting their strategy together. By 2020, that number will be more than 65 percent, IDC says.
To adopt or delay?
Many technologies that were considered disruptive only a few years ago have already received substantial traction and are largely considered “must have” capabilities. Mobility, for example, has moved from the “nice to have” category to a standard way manufacturers connect with colleagues, collaborate with partners, and gain access to critical data, anytime, anywhere. The IDC report says 74 percent of manufacturers are using mobility solutions today, with that figure expected to reach 98 percent by 2020.
IDC identifies Big Data as another technology that has moved closer to the “fully embraced” classification. Currently 41 percent of manufacturers surveyed said they were taking advantage of Big Data, and another 49 percent have plans to be actively using Big Data technology by 2020, bringing the total to 90 percent adoption rate. Ease-of-adoption and dramatic improvement to convenience and workforce productivity have likely added to the high acceptance rates. Plus, today’s millennial workforce demands the use of consumer-like tools in the work environment. Mobile solutions, collaborative technologies, and highly intuitive user interfaces are also on the millennial worker’s list of expectations.
Cloud deployment is another technology that is quickly gaining traction among manufacturers. The early resistance to cloud solutions for critical applications is steadily eroding. IDC says 52 percent of surveyed manufacturers are already seeing major impact from cloud technologies. Another 40 percent anticipate seeing major impact in the next five years, bringing the total to 92 percent by 2020. Cloud deployment brings clear benefits, from speeding implementation to eliminating the need to invest in servers and ongoing IT maintenance. The agility that cloud offers, plus the “always-modern” advantage, makes cloud deployment a no-brainer for many front-of-the-pack manufacturers.
Get serious or go home
In order to remain relevant in today’s highly competitive landscape, manufacturers must step up their game. Being a late adopter of technology solutions can cause serious disadvantages, leading to loss of market share and profitability. Supply chain partners, contractors, fabricators and suppliers all tend to gravitate to companies that are easy to do business with and who enjoy the conveniences of modern solutions. Manufacturers who resist or delay can be quickly labelled as out of sync with the times. If you haven’t already, now is the time to audit your technology adoption and make sure you are on the front line of adoption.
Larry Korak is Industry & Solution Strategy Director at Infor.

domain: news


text:
Everyone thinks dimples are cute, right? Well, maybe not so much when the dimples—or dings or dents—are on your car.
A series of brutal hail storms hit the Midwest and mountain states this spring, and among the damages were thousands of new cars sitting on auto dealer lots. Lately, many of the affected dealers have been trying to get buyers to take these vehicles off their hands with "Hail Sales," in which damaged cars are being sold at steep discounts—sometimes as much as 66% off the sticker price.
Automotive News reported that dealerships including Sid Dillon Chevrolet and Woodhouse Ford in Blair, Nebraska, and Woodhouse Chevrolet in Missouri Valley, Iowa, have all been hosting such sales. Who would want a hail-damaged car? For the right price, lots of folks, apparently. Woodhouse's marketing team said that more than 150 customers were waiting to speak with dealer sales staffers over the weekend, and the Woodhouse website warns, "Due to the overwhelming response to the Hail Event, all sales representatives will not be able to timely return phone messages of 'contact us' messages for the next 2-3 weeks."
Situations such as this seem to draw out a very specific kind of shopper—the advantageous type who is eager to pounce on a deal, and who doesn't mind aesthetic imperfections or knows how to repair them in a cost-effective way. “It’s like blood in the water,” the president of a dent repair company told Automotive News. “People sense that [dealerships] are at a disadvantage, bringing people into the marketplace that weren’t there before.”
Dozens of auto dealerships in the Denver-Colorado Springs corridor hosted hail sales leading into Memorial Day weekend, with deals up to 25% off MSRP on new cars, and up to 50% off some used cars. Phil Long, with locations in Denver and Colorado Springs, is still advertising "Hail Savings" of as much as 66% off MSRP. "A few dings mean a whole lot of CHA-CHING to you!" ads promise.
For the most part, the damage caused by spring storms is only cosmetic. Nothing should be wrong under the hood—not as a result of hail anyway—and the new cars being sold should have that all-important new car smell. Still, there's reason for buyers to be cautious.
It's important to assess the damage and figure out how much it will cost to make necessary repairs, and who will handle the job, before making a purchase. Check with your insurance company to see what it will cover and not cover. In some cases, the likely repair costs will outweigh any "savings" off the sticker price. Obviously, a damaged (not fixed) exterior will hurt the resale of a vehicle, so that must be factored in as well.
Don't limit your assessment to what you can see on the outside. Guess what happens after hail ruins windshields, windows, and sunroofs? It opens the door to rain and water damage inside the vehicle. “Just a few inches of water in these new cars can destroy the electronic modules that are located under the seats and the center console," Mark Dunwoody, a body shop manager at Charlie Graham Body and Service in Omaha, told the Omaha World-Herald. "Rain damage can be as bad as a car damaged by flood."


text:
Original 1966 George Barris Batmobile up for Auction, Cheesiness Sold Separately
It was quirky, cheesy, and addictive all at once; The 1960s Batman TV show was known for kitschy costumes, on-screen Boom! Sock! Pow! graphics and a jolly Batman and Robin. Undoubtedly one of the stars of the show was the George Barris designed Batmobile, and now it is up for auction. Collectible car auction group Barret-Jackson is conducting the event scheduled to take place in Scottsdale, Arizona January 19 2013. Originally a 1955 Lincoln Futura created by Ford and aided by the Lincoln design team, it was purchased by George Barris for one dollar. Barris then quickly set out to modify the 19-ft long Futura for the Batman TV series. Holy Grail of TV Cars Besides being prominently featured on television as a virtual star of the show for years, the Batmobile is a chance for Batman collectors and car enthusiasts to own a piece of one-of-a-kind history. "The 1966 Batmobile by George Barris is one of the most famous Hollywood cars in history and it has become a true icon that has been carried from generation to generation of Batmobiles to follow," said Craig Jackson, Chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. "This vehicle not only marks the significant Bat logo that sits on the middle of its door, but a time in television history where they defied the odds of making a car the real star of the show." We couldn't agree more. More information is available on the Barret-Jackson website. Source: Barret-Jackson
Audi has had much to celebrate of late, including 22 consecutive months of sales records.


text:
The supermarket has rolled out the service to consumers in the Midlands, with a full UK ecommerce launch expected next year. The site was designed by FullSIX London.
Sainsbury’s non-food director James Brown told the Mail on Sunday that the Tu brand had received "significant investment", and that the number of in-house designers has doubled to around 30.
Earlier this month, Sainsbury’s closed its non-food website and began offering general merchandise products through its grocery portal. Sainsbury’s online director Robbie Feather said the move was intended to give customers "the best possible access" to a wider range of products.
It comes as the retailer looks to accelerate growth under new chief executive Mike Coupe. In May, Sainsbury’s revealed its slowest growth for almost a decade, with annual profits up by only 5.3% to £798m in the face of fierce competition from discounters.
Separately, Sainsbury’s recently concluded its ‘Summer Sorted’ campaign, offering parents ideas on how to keep their children fed and entertained during the holidays.
The centred on three "food lovers" Anna Young, Desmond Smith and Rashida Boateng, each a parent, showing consumers how to recreate their own favourite recipes.


text:
2017 marks 30 years since the conception of the Air Max design and Nike is keeping things fresh with silhouette and color iterations. On Wednesday, photos via footwear news site Sneaker Freaker appeared, confirming an upcoming release of the Air Max 1 Jewel white/magenta colorway. Unlike previously released models, the swoosh on this pair is metallic, adding a dazzling sparkle effect.
July 13, 2017
More from FADER Video


text:
Pandemic-fueled headwinds have riddled the logistics industry over the past two years. Most coronavirus-related challenges will prove temporary. Other impacts — like the uptick in online shopping — appear to be more or less permanent.
This swift rise in online shopping since the start of the pandemic has stressed an already-taxed industry. Perhaps most notably, online spending growth has led to significantly increased demand in the less-than-truckload space. LTL providers across the board saw strong demand trends from 2021 carry over into the first quarter of 2022, which would normally represent the slowest part of the year.
To better understand the state of the LTL market in light of this rise in e-commerce, FreightWaves teamed up with BlueGrace Logistics to survey shippers about their approaches to LTL shipping in today’s environment. Complete the form below to access your complimentary copy of the complete report.


text:
Apple stock falls below $500
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — The sell-off in Apple stock continued Tuesday, with shares falling below $500…again. Shares of Apple declined 2% to $491.04 in early trading.
Apple shares drifted below $500 on Monday, following reports the company had cut orders for certain iPhone parts due to weaker-than-expected demand for the latest version of the popular smartphone.
The selling continued Tuesday after analysts at Nomura Securities lowered their earnings estimates for Apple and warned that profit margins on the iPhone “are unsustainably high and will fall.”
“We are cutting our Apple estimates this morning to reflect weaker-than-expected sales of the iPhone 5 as indicated by our checks,” Nomura analysts wrote in a report.
Nomura now expects Apple to earn $45.54 per share in 2013, down from a previous estimate of $51.68 per share.
Apple’s stock has been trending lower since September, when euphoria over the iPhone 5 debut pushed shares to an all-time high close of $702.10.
The stock has not closed below the psychologically-important $500 level since February 2012.
While the company has predicted record sales for its most recent quarter, Apple has been facing increased competition from rival smartphone makers, such as Samsung, Nokia, HTC and LG.
In October, Apple reported mixed results for its fiscal fourth quarter, saying it sold just shy of 27 million iPhones, up 58% from a year earlier. At the time, Apple was having trouble keeping up with demand for the iPhone 5.
Apple will release its fiscal first-quarter results on Jan. 23. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect earnings to decline 4% from the prior year, although estimates vary widely.
Apple has not reported a drop in quarterly earnings in nine years.


text:
Beginning November 1, McDonald’s will hold the plastic toys in Happy Meals in favor of paperback children’s books. The promotion lasts two weeks only, but the company says it has plans to continue book distribution for years to come, so expect more adventures from Deana the Dino to come. The free books are timed to coincide with National Literacy Day, following a similar program launched in the U.K. in January. But are the books just a distraction?
More than just sending wholesome messages through subversive branding, the storybooks may be further diverting attention from the handy little loophole McDonald’s has created for its allegedly healthy children’s menu: Despite all the publicity surrounding McDonald’s recent promise to “only promote and market water, milk and juice as beverages in Happy Meals on menu boards and in-store and external advertising,” the fine print states that, in fact, McDonald’s “may list soft drinks as [sic] offering on [sic] Happy Meal section of menu boards.” Neither Doddi the Dodo nor the Goat Who Ate Everything is cool with that.
Brain Food: McDonald’s to Push Kids’ Books in Happy Meals [AdAge]
McBait and switch: McDonald’s health pledge contradicted by the fine print [The Hill]


text:
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Survivor director Stig Asmussen is leaving EA and developer Respawn Entertainment. Asmussen was a key factor in the success of both Star Wars Jedi games, particularly its strong direction and cinematic quality.
Asmussen is best known for directing both 2019’s Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order as well as 2023’s Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, but he also previously directed God of War 3 for Sony Santa Monica Studio. According to a statement from an EA spokesperson sent to Bloomberg, Asmussen has decided to leave EA and Respawn in order to “pursue other adventures.”
The statement from EA regarding Asmussen’s departure from the company reads:
“After careful thought and consideration, Stig Asmussen has decided to leave Respawn to pursue other adventures, and we wish him the best of luck. Veteran Respawn leaders will be stepping up to guide the team as they continue their work on Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.”
Back in June, Respawn Entertainment began hiring for roles that strongly hinted at a third Star Wars Jedi game moving ahead in development, which is no surprise considering the massive critical and commercial success of the first two games. It’s unclear who will replace Asmussen as the director on the third game, though EA has assured that veteran leaders at Respawn will be “stepping up to guide the team” on Survivor and potentially the next project.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor launched earlier this year to strong reviews though its PC version attracted a lot of criticism due to its numerous bugs and performance issues, some of which were also present on the console versions. Respawn also confirmed last month that PS4 and Xbox One ports of the game were on their way but didn’t give an estimate for when players can expect it to release.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is now available for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.


text:
Hinckley Campus are opening their virtual doors to showcase students’ work as part of their End of Year Show.
The Exhibition will launch on the 1st July and you can access the exhibition here. Everyone is welcome to visit and see our talented students’ work in ceramics, art, photography, fashion and design.
The show marks the culmination of months of hard work and dedication by our staff and students and is an opportunity for us to celebrate their achievements and see first-hand the high standard of work that students produce at our Creative Arts campus in Hinckley.
We look forward to having you visit.


text:
With the latest changes to iTunes Connect, Apple has clearly changed its approach to mobile advertising. For the last three years, Apple has targeted large brands with minimum buy-ins ranging in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. However, uptake of iAd does not seem to have been at the level Apple expected, which has had a negative impact on developers, who have commonly observed low fill rates for their ads.
In mid 2010, Apple allowed app developers to participate in the advertising side of iAd program, by showing banner ads that link directly to their apps. With newly announced changes to iAd, which have been discussed in-depth at WWDC, Apple has furthered this push.
There were no shortage of details regarding Apple’s much rumored radio service leading up to today’s keynote address. The rumors said Apple was planning on introducing a free, ad-supported radio service, similar to Pandora, that would be highly integrated with a tweaked model for its iAd business. Apple has now officially unveiled the service dubbed ‘iTunes Radio’ and provided some details on exactly how it will work during its keynote presentation this morning at Moscone West in San Francisco.
The new iTunes Radio app is built in to the iOS radio app, and works on the Mac and Apple TV as well. As rumored, iTunes Radio will be free, supported by ads. In a twist, however, iTunes Radio will be completely free (free of ads) if you’re a subscriber to iTunes Match:
The Music app has a beautiful new design and includes the new iTunes Radio, a free Internet radio service featuring over 200 stations and an incredible catalog of music from the iTunes Store®, combined with features only iTunes can deliver. iTunes Radio is the best way to discover new music. When you tune into iTunes Radio on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac®, PC or Apple TV®, you’ll have access to stations inspired by the music you already listen to, Featured Stations curated by Apple and genre-focused stations that are personalized just for you.
As we reported prior to today’s event, the underlining technology is based on Apple’s iTunes Genius feature with iTunes Radio tailoring the experience to your iTunes usage. Apple says there will be Siri integration, and also aims to offer users “access to exclusive “first listen” premieres from top selling artists.” Read more
In case you were wondering whether or not the ads would be audio ads or traditional app-like iAds, AdAge says both:
The audio ads will be sold via iAd, Apple’s mobile ad network, according to a former Apple executive with knowledge of the situation. In addition to audio ads, the streaming music service will also contain the mobile ads iAd currently sells.
The aim of the ad-supported service, which according to the report’s sources will not include the ability to search or play specific songs on-demand, is to drive song downloads to iTunes.
The report adds that a spokesperson for Sony/ATV Music Publishing, the one major publisher that reportedly hasn’t made deal with Apple yet, said the company “is optimistic it will sign a deal with Apple soon.” Read more
While Tim Cook didn’t seem to place too much emphasis on advertising being a core business for Apple when asked about mobile advertising during his recent D11 interview, BusinessInsider reports it has heard from sources that Apple is gearing up to launch an ad exchange service similar to recent efforts by Twitter and Facebook:
We heard it from an executive who is one of the biggest players in online advertising… an ad exchange would work by allowing advertisers to target users as they enter the Apple eco-system on their iPads, MacBooks, various web sites and apps. The system would alert advertisers that an Apple user arrived. Any advertiser tracking that user with a cookie (a piece of software that records previous web sites you’ve looked at) could then bid to serve an ad targeting that user.
When asked why Apple wasn’t making money off its mobile ad business in comparison to other companies such as Facebook, CEO Tim Cook told D11 attendees that the focus for advertising was making developers money, not Apple. Cook said the company would continue doing things in advertising only if it contributed to its developer community, but according to several execs in the advertising industry quoted in the report, Apple could have much bigger plans for its ad business in the months to come. Read more
AllThingsD reported that Apple is planning an event for late January to be held in New York, not in Cupertino or San Francisco, Calif. The event will not be huge nor will it cover any iPad or Apple TV related announcements.
But, for sure, several sources underscored that the event is not related to an upcoming version of the iPad 3, the next iteration of the popular tablet device that many expect to be available in 2012. Also unlikely,?the rollout of Apple’s large-scale rethinking of its interactive television initiative currently in the works. While the company is expected to launch a new Apple TV product later in 2012, such an event would also certainly be held in the heart of the industry in Hollywood or at least in Silicon Valley. That leaves some kind of advertising or even publishing announcement…
Apple’s Senior Vice President of Internet Services and Software Eddy Cue is said to be involved in the event, and the event is reportedly “media-related.” On a side note, Apple has an office for their iAd business in New York, the business that Cue is now in heading.
The Wall Street Journalreported this evening that Apple isn’t seeing the success they’d like with their iAd platform. The company has deployed iAd as an advertising platform throughout their iOS devices in the summer of 2010 and is now making changes in the hope of attracting both more developers and ad spending. First off, Apple is reportedly lowering the entry-level cost for marketers to $400,000 – down from $500,000 and even lower from the original $1 million when the platform was launched. Apple is also reportedly putting new caps on what it charges for clicks on ads, letting advertisers pay $10 each time an advert is viewed every 1,000 times (CPM) and $2 every time it’s specifically tapped on.
So why is Apple making these changes? Apple had tied for the lead in ad market share last year, but has reportedly fallen back to the third place in 2011 advertising market share, behind Millennial Media (#2) Google (#1), per IDC. Hoping to re-gain lost share, Apple is also launching a training program to bring in more advertisers onto the network, partnering with its media buying agency OMD, part of Omnicom Group Inc. to educate new advertisers on iAd, a standard practice providers of digital advertising platforms such as Google and Yahoo! have been exercising from the onset. In the recent weeks, executives from Pepsi, Clorox and JC Penny have reportedly visited Apple’s campus to talk about iAd. OMD also hopes to lure more advertisers in February 2012.


text:
Publix Leaving Flagler Site For Nearby 3story Jumbo Store
By Yudislaidy Fernandez
Fast-growing supermarket chain Publix is delivering one of its largest locations, a 190,903-square-foot vertical store with two levels of parking set to open on the borderline of Miami and Coral Gables in July.
The three-story project at Southwest 37th Avenue and West Flagler Street is to encompass a 47,000-square-foot supermarket with two levels of parking on top, said Publix spokeswoman Kimberly Jaeger via e-mail.
An existing 21,000-square-foot Publix at The Shops at Flagler & Douglas, just a block from the project under construction, already caters to the surrounding neighborhood.
Publix is to leave the smaller location, which it leases, to move to the larger corner store under construction diagonally across.
The Florida-based supermarket chain bought the site in 2008 for $14.25 million and began developing it last year.
The site, on the boundary that divides Miami from Coral Gables, is shaped like an island and is bordered by major streets, making construction more challenging, said Joel Kaplan, project manager at construction company Moss & Associates.
Moss has handled construction of other Publix supermarkets, including one at Mary Brickell Village as well as others in Westchester, North Miami and Miami Lakes, according to its Web site.
"This is the largest store we’ve done for Publix," said Mr. Kaplan, who noted the total project encompasses 190,903 square feet, including the supermarket and a 215-space, multi-level garage.
Publix has 1,033 supermarkets, 736 of them in Florida and 179 in Georgia, according to its Web site. The company, which employs more than 146,000, is one of the 10 largest-volume supermarket chains in the US, with 2009 retail sales of $24.3 billion.
The store’s address is 106 Ponce de Leon Blvd., with the main entrance facing the boulevard.
"The larger store format allows us to carry more merchandise, including a large selection of natural and organic producers," Ms. Jaeger said.
The store is to have a full-service bakery, seafood department with a sushi section, and pharmacy. Like some of its newest models, this Publix is to have a café with a service window accessible to the outside.
Other additions to this Publix are a sit-down area, a self-serve hot bar, where customers can buy food by the pound, Ms. Jaeger noted, and a juicer station.
"The larger departments and expanded services will make for an even more enjoyable shopping experience for our customers," she said.
Although David Blount, owner of the property that houses the smaller Publix nearby, is losing the site’s largest tenant, he’s looking at the bright side: the new one could draw more foot traffic to his shopping center.
The Shops at Flagler & Douglas at 3705 W Flagler St. is home to a free-standing 21,000-square-foot Publix with a parking lot in front.
"We are marketing it and have had great interest" since the new Publix location broke ground, said Mr. Blount, who also owns Blount Commercial Realty, which handles the center’s leasing.
Next to the Publix space, a separate retail building that’s part of the center houses longtime tenants Little Caesars Pizza, ice cream parlor Carvel, seafood restaurant Key West in Miami and jewelry store Casa Iglesias.
Mr. Blount hopes Publix’s new home attracts more residents from the north part of the Gables.
"The new development has shown Publix’s commitment to that intersection," he said. "We’re excited. I think it can only be good for the surrounding properties to add more traffic to that intersection."
More Florida bank closings likely. Read the complete story when you subscribe to e-Miami Today.


text:
Sony PlayStation 5 teaser page goes live on Amazon and Flipkart India. According to the teaser page, the launch of PS5 in India will be in late 2020. However, the official price of PS5 is not yet out and also the official launch date.
Sony PS5 is teased at Flipkart, while Amazon confirms late 2020 launch.
The teaser page on Amazon and Flipkart shows some of the images and some of its upcoming games. Last month, the design of PlayStation 5 was revealed with some of the games which will be coming to the console.
The launch of PS5 expected date is late in 2020, which means we can expect it will be coming in late November. This news is shared with the teaser pages on Amazon and Flipkart.
PlayStation 5 will be available in two variants, a PlayStation 5 with disk drive and a PlayStation 5 Digital Edition without a disk drive. There is also a DualSense Wireless Controller.
Moreover, four accessories will be coming to India, including Pulse 3D Wireless Headset, a Media Remote, a DualSense Charging Station and HD Camera. We don’t know when will these accessories will be launched in India. It will launch with PS5 or later.
The page has also listed a few games which were shown at the Sony PS5 unveiling event. The list of the games is Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Horizon Forbidden West, Gran Turismo 7, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Returnal, and more.


text:
The performance of iPhones begin to deteriorate as new iOS updates come in if users don’t replace their units’ batteries.
Is your iPhone slowing down? Don't replace it just yet.
Have you noticed that your iPhone, which ran so well when it was brand new, began to perform worse and worse as time wore on? Many eventually replace their phones because of the decline in performance (or because there’s a shiny new model available on the market), leading people to theorize that Apple purposefully gets their devices to run slower so consumers would buy new units. Then again, Apple devices aren’t the only ones that grow slower and more laggy as time goes on. This is just something that happens to smartphones, since newer software updates can be hard on older hardware.
However, the findings in a new study suggest that Apple makes the processors in iPhones with old batteries slower, resulting in a poorly performing phone. This has reopened debates on whether or not Apple slows their phones down on purpose.
Does Apple purposefully make their phones run slower to make users buy new ones? [Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]
Users on Reddit have reported that older iPhone units with older batteries perform worse than older units with replacement batteries. Because of these reports, software performance analysis company Primate Labs ran lab tests on thousands of iPhones as part of the company’s Geekbench program. The tests examined how the iPhone 6S and the iPhone 7 ran on different iOS versions.
According to John Poole, founder of Primate Labs, benchmark tests showed that iPhone 6S units running on iOS 10.2 performed at their expected peak. However, the same phone units began performing worse when iOS 10.2.1 was introduced in January 2017. According to the data collated by Primate Labs, there were five peaks after the introduction of the software update. The first peak matched the iPhone 6S’s maximum performance on iOS 10.2, but the following four peaks exhibited a downward trend in performance. The phones exhibited a similar degradation in performance with the introduction of iOS 11.2 in December 2017.
The iPhone 7 also showed similar results. This model had the same level of performance while running on iOS 10.2.0, iOS 10.2.1, and iOS 11.1.2. However, that level of performance decreased with the iOS 11.2 upgrade.
The vicious cycle of charging old batteries
It’s possible that the culprit behind this decrease in performance is aging batteries. Smartphones usually have lithium-ion batteries, which can last for at least 500 full charge and discharge cycles. This corresponds to about two years of use. However, aging batteries are stuck in a kind of vicious cycle of degradation. Older batteries need to be charged more often, but charging makes batteries age faster. It’s also likely that smartphones will no longer be able to reach their peak performance, because the harder their processors are pushed, the more energy they require from batteries.
Users on Reddit have reported that replacing aging batteries can restore phones to their original peak performance. Poole also says that instead of thinking about replacing their phones, users should instead think about replacing their phones’ batteries.
Get weekly science updates in your inbox!


text:
A Coinbase product officer says Ethereum will be scaling better soon and there will be further advances in Layer 1 and Layer 2 bridges, as well as rollout technologies. So let’s read more today in our latest Coinbase news.
Coinbase Product Officer Surojit Chatterjee is re-sharing its predictions for the crypto industry in 2022, predicting some big strides in scaling for Ethereum. Industry leaders, investors and analysts share their predictions for the crypto ecosystem in 2022, and Coinbase’s board of directors believes Ethereum will be at the forefront of Web3 and the crypto economy as it scales better. The CPO shared his predictions on a company blog where he stated that Ethereum will become more scalable, but that Layer 1 networks will see more traction:
“I am optimistic about improving the scalability of Eth with the advent of Eth2 and many L2 rollups.”
He added that the newer Layer 1 networks are focused on gaming and social media, but will also emerge. Chatterjee predicted that many advances in Layer 1 and Layer 2 will improve scalability, adding that the industry will look for further improvements in speed and ease of use for the crossing of L1 and L2 bridges. The bridges make it possible to move tokens from the Layer 1 network such as Ethereum to a Layer 2 network Arbitrum and vice versa. Regarding scaling technologies, the board said the ZK rollups will attract both user and investor attention. The zero-knowledge scaling roll-ups of transaction data in batches is a more efficient processing on Ethereum’s layer 1.
Companies like Matter Labs have also made progress with the development of their roll-up-based zkSnc Layer 2 platform in 2021. The Layer 2 ecosystem expanded tremendously in 2021, with adoption for two major platforms growing sharply. According to L2beat-Tracks, the L2 ecosystem with the total locked value grew 11,000% over the past year, from $ 50 million in 2021 to $ 5.5 billion by the end of the year. Chatterjee predicted that there will be more privacy-centric apps, but that could attract more government attention and more KYC / AML restrictions:
“We’ll see new privacy-centric use cases emerge, including privacy-safe applications and game models that have privacy built into their core.”
Other predictions he made include tighter regulation across the industry and greater institutional involvement in Defi, as well as greater involvement in the Metaverse and NFT space.
DC Forecasts is a leader in many crypto news categories, striving for the highest journalistic standards and adhering to strict editorial guidelines. If you are interested in offering your expertise or contributing to our news website, please feel free to contact us at [email protected]


text:
And PC, PS4/Xbox One
Earlier this year, at E3 during Microsoft’s presentation no less, Tales of Vesperia Definitive Edition was revealed. Initially thought to be an Xbox exclusive (following up on its original Xbox 360 launch) it was later announced that it would be coming to PC, PS4 and Switch, much to the delight of everyone involved.
I’m sure a lot of you JRPG fans out there have already played it to death, but just in case, Bandai Namco put out a new story trailer with English subtitles to sort of acquaint you with its world. So what’s “definitive” about it? Well, it’s coming off of the 10th anniversary of the game and will feature “remastered full HD graphics,” as well as “never before seen characters” and an “expanded story.”
As always, be wary of the Bandai Namco-produced PC port until some impressions are out there.


text:
First, it's good news: the value of semiconductor content per car will increase, and significantly, due to concepts such as software-defined car, automated driving and connected vehicle. For the period up to 2026, Yole analysts forecast a CAGR of 14.75%. The value of semiconductors, at the chip level, in cars will grow from US$34.4 billion in 2020 to US$78.5 billion in 2026,” asserts Eric Mounier, PhD, Director of Market Research at Yole Développement (Yole). The largest growth will be in EVs due to the major shift to electrification.
Accoding to the market researchers, a car has today, on average, US$450 worth of semiconductors. In 2026, it will be US$700. Automotive developments are driven by technological developments for C.A.S.E. (Connectivity, ADAS, Sharing, and Electrification) Yole’s analysts have estimated the C.A.S.E. related electronics modules market evolution to be:
• Connectivity: from almost US$33 billion in 2020 to almost US$55 billion in 2026, with 14.55% CAGR2020-2026
• ADAS will reach more than US$60 billion in 2026 with 6.50% CAGR2020-2026
• Sharing will reach about US$3 billion in 2026 with 10.39% CAGR2020-2026
• Electrification will reach US$28,804 million in 2026, with 53.45% CAGR2020-2026
• In 2035, C.A.S.E. will be a US$318 billion market.
In this context, the Yole analysts have identified a number of technology trends for each of these segments. In the area of connectivity, the market watchers believe that future V2X communication platforms for 5G implementation are being designed today, and solutions are expected for 2024. In the meantime, initial solutions are starting to appear with dual-4G and forward-compatible 5G capabilities.
For the ADAS segment (which includes the somewhat more wider term “automation of driving”), Cole expects that radars and cameras are the main sensors used by OEMs as they are quite performant and relatively cheap. For a few years, lidar sensors have been slowly entering the automotive industry to provide more automated driving functions.
Sharing vehicles also creates new use cases


text:
Doctoora, a health tech start-up has emerged winner of the #NES25, at the 25th National Economic Summit Start-ups Pitch Competition powered by Sterling Bank.
The health tech start-up got a grant of N5 million while runners-up Tiny Hearts Technology and Loystar got N3 million and N2 million, respectively, in grants as second and third place winners.
Gricd Services Limited got N1 million in the audience choice category. In all, 10 ventures made it to the finals, and they are Agriple, Notitia, Phaheem Pharmaceuticals Limited, Tiny Hearts Technology, AfriNET Power Tech Solutions, Doctoora E-Health Ltd, GatePass, Loystar, Gricd Services Limited and Green Axis. They are all early-stage startups registered in Nigeria and are not more than five years old.
Congratulating the winners, the Chief Executive Officer, Sterling Bank, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, commended the 10 finalists for pitching innovative and sustainable solutions that were bankable in their different sectors. He disclosed that the bank supports the start-ups pitching event because it is committed to finding businesses that have real potential and support them to become major employers of labour with national impact.
Encouraging all the finalists to visit Sterling Bank to discuss how the bank can help them, Abubakar said “The best way to create value is to solve problems. If you are not solving problems, you cannot make profit or grow in a sustainable manner. As a bank, we enable economic growth by working with businesses that are solving problems in critical sectors of the economy.”
He added that, “We realise that young people who are starting up businesses need a lot of support and they also need a roadmap. A lot of them have not run businesses before and, therefore, they are learning as they go. The Startups Pitching Event is an opportunity to show them what is required to run a successful business. Beyond that, it is also about hope. It is about sending a message to thousands of other young people who are starting off that there are corporate organisations that are out to support and collaborate with them.”
The overall winner, Doctoora is a venture founded in 2016 by Dr. Debo Odulana. It aims to create healthier communities in Africa. Doctoora aims to achieve this by connecting healthcare professionals and consumers to quality healthcare facilities and pleasant healthcare experiences.
Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, presented the star prize cheque to Doctoora E-Health Limited, while the Minister of Finance, Hajia Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed presented the second prize to Tiny Hearts Technology for the invention of a solar-powered foldable phototherapy crib for the treatment of jaundice in newborn babies.
The CEO, NESG, Mr. Laoye Jaiyeola, presented the third prize to Loystar, a rental and loyalty platform designed to help micro small and medium enterprises sell and drive repeat sales in their business clinched the third prize.
In 2017, the NESG introduced a Start-ups Pitching Event as part of the annual Nigerian Economic Summit (NES). It aims to help start-ups get the funds they need to grow their business and, in some cases, mentorship and professional advisory services, among others.


text:
Wife of 25 years grows bread. Matios said where he got the Rolex and other gifts
Chief military Prosecutor Anatoly Matios in an interview to “the Ukrainian truth” was told about luxury watches and other valuables gives him a wife, with whom he decorated the marriage contract.
The journalist drew attention to the shoes Louis Vuitton military Prosecutor and a Rolex watch.
“My wife gave me for my 40th birthday,” – said Matios about the valuable accessory. Shoes he called the product a “Ukrainian fashion brand “Lutsk-Volyn”.
I didn’t dopustila to confess: Matios refused to explain why he came to Nasirov
Answering the question about what the wife and how to make such gifts Matios said that his second wife “25 years of growing bread.”
“Grows, stores, and sells grain: corn, soy, on leased fields in the Kherson region. She has 600 employees. And I have no relationship to its assets,” – said the chief military Prosecutor.
According to him, he does not claim the status of wife under the terms of contract between the marriage contract.
As previously reported, the chief military Prosecutor of Ukraine Anatoly Matios declared a gift from my wife cost almost 700 thousand hryvnias.
Also in return for the 2015 Matios stated shared with his wife Irina, Bars property – revenues from state of emergency “Poliekspo” and “Empire”. Founder and beneficial owner of both companies is the wife of the military Prosecutor.


text:
The CEO of a South Dakota company created to provide a healthy snack for American Indians has won a leadership award.
Karlene Hunter is the CEO of Native American Natural Foods. The Kyle-based company is known for launching the buffalo-and-cranberry Tanka bar, Tanka Bites and Tanka Dogs.
The items are based on traditional native foods.
The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, Inc., a not-for-profit trade association, is honoring Hunter with a leadership award.
The award honors those who have not only advanced food standards in society, but are making a significant impact through visionary social, economic and environmental efforts.
The award will be presented during a food show in San Francisco on Jan. 22.
Most Popular Today
Two KELOLAND Target Stores Now Open Extended Hours
Most Americans Are Not Saving For Retirement
Childrens Water Bottle Recalled By Manufacturer
Sioux Falls Construction Named Manager Of New Pool
- 5.Retail & Restaurants
Dollar General Enters Bidding For Family Dollar
- 6.Your Money Matters
Cost To Raise A Child Now $300,000
- 7.Gas & Energy
NRC Panel Hears from Public On Edgemont Uranium Mine
Monday Morning Business Brief
- 9.Your Money Matters
Saving On College Texbooks
Monday Afternoon Business Brief


text:
Business News Topline
A armed forces plane arrived in Indianapolis on Sunday carrying 39 a whole bunch baby system from Europe, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack confirmed, the main of multiple emergency flights the Biden Administration hopes will ease a nationwide scarcity that has reduced the quantity of baby system on shelves by on the subject of half in contemporary weeks.
Business News Key Info
The plane, which took off from the U.S.-dart Ramstein Air Putrid in Germany Saturday night, carried medical-grade baby system produced in a European facility permitted by the Food and Drug Administration, the White Home acknowledged.
The flight carried ample baby system to ease 15% of the nationwide scarcity, and system also can impartial quiet initiate to reappear on retailer shelves as early as this week, Nationwide Financial Council Director Brian Deese informed CNN’s Negate of the Union on Sunday.
The flight was fragment of a broader notion to exhaust Department of Protection plane to lift baby system to the U.S., bypassing customary freight routes and cutting down a two-week transport route of to about three days, White Home Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre acknowledged.
Upcoming shipments from Ramstein are space to include about 1.5 million 8-ounce bottles’ fee of hypoallergenic system produced by Gerber and Nestlé Health Science, the Related Press reported Sunday.
Business News Tangent
In his CNN interview, Deese blamed the nationwide scarcity in fragment on a manufacturer that he acknowledged wasn’t following the principles and “was making system that had the risk of creating babies unwell.” He didn’t name Abbott Laboratories, the corporate whose February voluntary snatch of baby system over fears of bacterial contamination helped trigger the nationwide scarcity. Abbott CEO Robert Ford apologized for the snatch in a Washington Put up op-ed Saturday.
Business News Key Background
Abbott closed its Sturgis, Michigan, baby system plant in February, after regulators launched an investigation into imaginable links between system from the plant and a series of infant bacterial infections and two deaths. An investigation into the infections by the Facilities for Disease Alter and Prevention concluded around Might maybe also impartial 12, having known no further cases. Abbott later struck a deal with the FDA to reopen its Sturgis plant with company approval.
Business News What To Behold For
In his Saturday column for the Put up, Ford acknowledged he expects the Abbott plant to reopen by the main week of June, and he hopes to double the U.S.’s present powdered infant system production stages. However, it will also snatch six to eight weeks from the launch of production for system from the plant to reappear on retailer shelves, Ford acknowledged.
Business News Gorgeous Truth
To boot to authorizing “Operation Fly System” to import system from abroad, the Biden Administration has invoked the 1950 Protection Manufacturing Act in an strive to diminish the scarcity. The act permits the president to require firms to device materials notion to be mandatory for nationwide protection—in this case, baby system ingredients.


text:
Google is pulling the plug on its personal health record (PHR) solution. Here are three reasons why Google Health failed, which companies could take its place, and what the prognosis is for health search on Google heading forward.
Articles by Dean Stephens
New visual search tools aim to take you inside the human body to address health related concerns, improve healthy outcomes, and reduce medical errors and cost.
How consumers and health care professionals search for health-related information online is trending toward mobile. With this easy access to information, what will be the next evolution in mobile health search?
The health industry has realized that local search marketing can have great benefits. An overview of health-related tools, directory and review sites, and location-based services.
Social networks can be invaluable for helping consumers with health care decisions, as well as brand awareness for health practitioners, organizations, and treatments -- as long as it's done right.
How health marketers can ensure consumers find answers to their most important health questions in a timely manner. No one wants to wait for hours to figure out if they need to see a doctor.
The role of social media in search results is influencing how health organizations attract and treat patients.


text:
You're saving $550 on gas. Save or spend it?
Willie Grace | 12/22/2014, 4:19 p.m. | Updated on 12/22/2014, 4:19 p.m.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Rick Marxsen knows exactly how much gas cost the last time he filled up the tank of his Toyota Tacoma.
He paid $2.29 a gallon in Denver, Colorado. Gas is even cheaper in his eastern Nebraska hometown, but he had to go with what was available when he was traveling for work as a member of a Union Pacific railroad construction gang.
The U.S. government estimates Americans will save $550 on gas in 2015, and many have already saved hundreds this year. For people like Marxsen who are on the road constantly, it's an even bigger benefit.
Marxsen and his colleagues often travel up to 700 miles to do repairs on the railroad lines. They trade tips on how to survive lonely stretches of Wyoming highway and, since they receive per diem travel rates, they trade tips on where to find the cheapest gas.
"I never thought I'd see gas less than $3 again," he says. "You're going from spending $50 to spending $30 [a tank]," he says.
Back when gas was over $3.50 in the summer, Marxsen would barely break even on some trips. Now that gas is so low, his per diem is almost like a bonus.
The savings are clear. The question now for Marxsen and millions of other Americans is what to do with the money: spend, save, invest or donate it.
- Spend: Walmart is among the many stores predicting a boost in sales because customers will spend some of the money they saved on gas in its stores.
Economists predict that every cent lower gas prices go adds about $1 billion to the U.S. economy, large because most people spend the "savings" elsewhere. Because the price of gas is so visible in America -- it's posted in big numbers at every gas station -- there's a real psychological effect.
Mike Chadwick, CEO of Chadwick Financial Advisors in Connecticut, is hearing from some of his clients: "Christmas is easier for me now because I have some relief from lower energy bills."
- Save: But rather than splurge on gifts, Chadwick advises clients to get back to the basics: "If they're not on track financially, I encourage them to save the money. Take whatever money you're saving and throw it at the debt you have."
Katherine Dean, managing director wealth planning at Wells Fargo has similar advice: "If you aren't sure [what to do], then a good rule of thumb to follow -- save it."
She notes that everyone should have at least a few months of savings for emergency purposes -- the typical is about three to six months' worth.
One reader told CNNMoney that while his family hopes to save the money, it will almost certainly go straight toward paying higher health-care costs.
- Invest: Many Americans are skeptical that these low prices will last at the pump, but they can make the savings last by investing it now and reaping even bigger benefits down the road.


text:
The name ‘Rajinikanth’ is synonymous to God in Southern cinema. Rajinikanth’s ‘Baashha’ was one of the defining films of the 90s and the re-release of this classic created quite a buzz in his home state Tamil Nadu.
Banking on this, Ola, branded its ‘Auto’ category with the cult classic wherein Rajinikanth is shown to be driving an ‘Ola auto’. Ola also organized India’s first ever ‘Auto Driver Partner Mela’ in Chennai titled, ‘Ola Baashha Mela’ in a bid to support several aspiring entrepreneurs in Chennai to become ‘Baashha’ by owning and driving their own autos.
They aimed at creating a buzz around Ola’s partnership with the movie – Initiate and push social media conversation on Ola’s brand placement strategy in the remastered version of ‘Baashha’
Along with that Ola hoped to create social media chatter around Rajinikanth driving an Ola Auto in one of his career defining roles. To inculcate the vibe and buzz around the remastered version of the film; in giving a big push to Ola’s auto mela, ‘Ola Baashha Mela’; organized for several thousands of aspiring driver entrepreneurs and existing Ola Auto driver partners in Chennai
With the remastered version releasing a good month before the scheduled ‘Ola Auto Mela’ in Chennai, Ola recognized the opportunity to build a lasting connect and engage with the Chennai audience by partnering with the movie, via the Ola Auto route.
Riding on the Rajinikanth-Baashha craze, the company decided to place Ola branding on the autos shown in the movie.
In an effort to sustain the existing buzz on Ola’s association with Baashha, they built on a social engagement idea around the Baashha-Ola auto connect and Rajinikanth’s status as a national figure and took it beyond the Chennai audience, with the #BaashaDoesIt contest.
— Krishnan Jayaraj (@directorkj) March 4, 2017
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) March 3, 2017
— Ayesha Shaikh (@AyeshaShaikh128) April 9, 2017
The social buzz thus culminated into the #OlaBaashaMela, the Auto Mela held in the country for existing and potential auto drivers. While their target market included auto drivers, in order to engage a wider audience, they used Twitter ads.
— Ola (@Olacabs) March 9, 2017
And seeing the response for Baashha on the digital platform, they restarted the engagement on 9th April across social media with a caption contest.
The campaign was mentioned 234 times on Twitter with a total of 3.89M impressions. On Facebook, the campaign reached 133, 000 users with an engagement of 13,100. On 9th April, when the Mela began, #OlaBaashaMela had 996 mentions with over 13M impressions. It was also trending in India for 3 hours.
— Trendsmap Chennai (@TrendsChennai) March 3, 2017
The three-day auto driver mela – Ola Baashha Mela saw a good response in Chennai with over 25,000 participants. Two existing auto drivers were presented with new Piaggio Auto Rickshaws for exceptional service over the last year.
The Ola association with the remastered release of iconic film, helped Ola leverage social media platforms to create the necessary buzz for the upcoming Ola Auto Mela in Chennai and create a lasting association with Baashha and Ola Auto.


text:
Every butcher, baker, and candlestick maker who has ever contemplated the dark arts of online reputation management should take note: The seemingly benign practice of posting fake business reviews isn’t so benign these days.
A month ago Yelp (YELP), sued a San Diego lawyer for planting fake reviews about his solo practice in California state court. Today, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a deal with 19 businesses that agreed to stop writing fake reviews and pay more than $350,000 in penalties. Yelp and Schneiderman, powerful players stooping to take on local business owners, each asserted that posting fake reviews violates false advertising laws.
Schneiderman’s announcement today about the state’s yearlong investigation is bizarre. State investigators pretended to be the owners of a fictitious Brooklyn yogurt shop in order to nab a handful of search engine optimization companies that posted positive reviews for clients. The attorney general also entered into agreements with an odd assortment of real local businesses, including a teeth-whitening boutique, several laser hair removal spas, a strip club franchise, and a charter bus company.
“This investigation into large-scale, intentional deceit across the Internet tells us that we should approach online reviews with caution,” says Schneiderman in a statement. It shouldn’t have taken a yearlong investigation to figure that out: As the attorney general’s press release points out, a year-old Gartner study predicts that 10 percent to 15 percent of reviews will be fake by 2014.
There’s good reason to try to game the system. Research generally indicates that people place faith in consumer reviews, buying from businesses that appear to be well liked. That presents a predicament for such companies as Yelp and Angie’s List(ANGI) that want to be known for providing trustworthy recommendations, as well as government officials charged with protecting consumers.
Customers are vulnerable to being duped. Because bogus reviews are effective, lots of businesses are planting fakes. As Schneiderman points out, there’s even a cottage industry of companies that specialize in getting planted reviews past algorithmic filters and employing freelancers from far-flung locales such as Bangladesh and the Philippines to write positive notes.
Suing violators is hardly scalable, and computer algorithms are probably a better bet than undercover prosecutors for sniffing out bogus reviews. That doesn’t mean small business owners—many of whom already feel antagonized by local reviews sites—shouldn’t heed the recent lawsuits. Lawsuits alone may never stop companies from posting fake reviews, but no business owner wants to get stung.


text:
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The Mississippi Farmers Market is extending its operating hours. Starting Thursday, May 28, the market will be open each Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. throughout the summer. This is in addition to its year-round operating hours of Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
“The arrival of the summer season means more produce available from our farmers. We are opening the Mississippi Farmers Market on Thursdays, in addition to our Saturday market, to give the public the opportunity to purchase Mississippi grown and raised products during the week. The vendors are continuing to take the necessary precautions and following CDC recommendations such as social distancing to ensure the safety of our shoppers,” said Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson.
The Mississippi Farmers Market is located at 929 High Street, adjacent to the Mississippi Fairgrounds. For more information about the Market or to find out what’s fresh each week, call (601) 354-6573 or go online to www.msfarmersmarket.com.


text:
Facebook has rolled out an update for their very popular iPhone App.
It's a simple deal; less crashes, less bugs and more speed.
A good way to see just how good the Facebook App is to use it to view pictures from Facebook albums and compare that speed to the speed that I Can Haz Cheezburger manages.
The future of the iPhone app very much depends on the direction Facebook takes. There's no way to flex Facebook Contect through the app yet. More significantly the app is very much about browsing Facebook and less about the activity stream rival it could morph into to challenge Friendfeed.


text:
It’s been a long time since BioWare has created a universally-appreciated RPG. You’d have to date back to the creation of Dragon Age: Origins, where the series started back in 2009. Now it appears as though the developers are striking back leading into the new generation of consoles, as a new gameplay trailer for Dragon Age: Inquisition has just been released, and boy, does it ever look impressive.
The trailer shows off enigmatic settings, colorful spells and gigantic monstrosities that stand in the way of the Inquisition. The goal of Dragon Age: Inquisition is to stop the Breach, a worldwide phenomenon that threatens to swallow the world whole. Commanding the Inquisition, players will act to serve justice to those that created this villainous act through whatever means deemed fit.
What I find most fascinating is the evident appeal to creating a more open world game. My only concern is that the newest Dragon Age doesn’t try to become what Skyrim was to the RPG genre. BioWare needs a win here, and by staying to its roots I believe the series can be saved once again.
As revealed in the trailer, Dragon Age: Inquisition will be released on October 7th, and is coming to the PC, PS4, Xbox One, PS3 and Xbox 360.
Want to get the latest gaming news wherever you may be? Download the official Fansided App on the App Store or Google Play Market today to stay up-to-date on the latest news and rumors from GameSided without even being at a computer. You can also sign up for our newsletter below to get daily updates send straight to your e-mail. And don’t forget to connect with us on Twitter @Gamesideddotcom.


text:
The new Cyber-shot additions are also able to snap 3D images through just the one lens
Sony has announced a couple of superzoom additions to its Cyber-shot camera range. Both the compact and the DSLR-like models can record full high definition movies, are GPS-enabled and have the ability to generate 3D stills without requiring the now familiar dual lens setup seen in other cameras. They both offer autofocus speeds comparable to digital SLRs and borrow some advanced technology from the company's Handycam camcorders.
« Back to New Cyber-shots with big zoom announced


text:
Sir Terry Leahy et al are facing their biggest challenge over the growth of their empires - God. The Diocese of Exeter has made a submission to the Competition Commission asking the watchdog to look more deeply into issues concerning supermarket monopolies. It describes the battle in the West Country between independent stores and the big four as a David and Goliath fight, but one in which David is losing this time.
Judging by the recent Lidl adverts that have appeared in the national papers you'd have thought the retailer was an outward bound specialist rather than an inner city discount chain. It is advertising equestrian essentials, including head collars and grooming kits as well as a range of golfing equipment. It looks like it's in a two-horse race with Tesco.com to see which can offer the cheapest kit. Fancy a bet anyone?
Poor old Coca-Cola. Not only is it now outlawed in primary school vending machines, but even older consumers no longer want it. Students at Manchester University have banned the drink in protest of the company's alleged abuses of human rights and the environment. The drink has the dubious honour of joining the likes of rapper Eminem and The Daily Mail - both of which have been banned by universities in the past.
Scientists claim that drinking cocoa could cut the risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes to less than 10%. How on earth do they know this? Apparently the Kuna Indians of Panama have survived for centuries with up to 40 cups of cocoa a week and are neither obese or diabetic. That's all very well, but one also assumes the Kuna Indians don't stuff their faces with takeaway pizzas and spend most of their waking hours in front of the television or computer either, so just how reliable these findings are remains to be seen.


text:
The White House has launched a cabinet-level supply chain council as the criticality of the topic rises to the top.
Medtech companies’ focus on supply chain resiliency and mitigating supply chain risk has increased over the last few years as the pandemic triggered extended lead times, delays, and rising costs.
Companies went global for the past few decades with a gusto to save labor costs. The pandemic jolted many Executives eyes open to the risks in the global supply chain. Suddenly, companies were reevaluating their global footprint with an eye to cost, risk (supply chain, geopolitical, etc.), customer performance, etc.
Lisa Anderson of LMA Consulting Group was quoted in the Snowflake blog about how data is critical to healthcare - especially in times of supply chain vulnerability as a result of natural and man-made disasters.
Lisa Anderson of LMA Consulting Group, was quoted in a SelectHub article about your ERP requirements checklist, and why a thorough ERP Requirements Template is vital.
Lisa Anderson was interviewed by Douglas Squirrel of the Squirrel Squadron on LinkedIn Live about technology in manufacturing and the supply chain.
In working across company sizes, industries, and geographies, in almost 20 years of business consulting, every single client without exception needed to better utilize data to improve customer service and bottom line results. Smart clients are turning data into insights so that they can pinpoint where to focus quickly.
Global supply chains are on the move. Executives have been hit with the harsh reality that the risk (supply chain, geopolitical, cyber, IP, etc.) is far higher than they realized when they outsourced with an eye to cost.
Manufacturing appears to be turning the corner. According to the ISM, the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) recorded a contraction but at the slowest pace of the recent cycle. In fact, this is the third straight month of improvement.
A lack of visibility, labor shortages, and surging shipping costs make navigating the supply chain feel impossible.


text:
On this morning’s WJR Business Beat, Jeff shares insights from John Gallagher, former Detroit Free Press columnist and noted author, who provides key takeaways from the first day of Detroit Startup Week.
Tune in to below to hear John’s key highlights:
StartupNation exclusive discounts and savings on Dell products and accessories: Learn more here
Tune in to News/Talk 760 AM WJR weekday mornings at 7:11 a.m. for the WJR Business Beat. Listeners outside of the Detroit area can listen live HERE.
Are you an entrepreneur with a great story to share? If so, contact us at [email protected] and we’ll feature you on an upcoming segment of the WJR Business Beat!
This segment is brought to you by Dell Technologies
Good morning, Paul.
We’re midway through Detroit Startup Week, and to cover the action and key takeaways for us, we’re fortunate to have John Gallagher, former Detroit Free Press columnist and noted author, reporting for us. Here’s some key highlights from John’s latest report. D
Dug Song, founder of the unicorn company, Duo Security, in Ann Arbor said Monday, the big change in metro Detroit startup culture has been moving from a few celebrity entrepreneurs to a more grassroots, bottom up roster of numerous players. There has been this swell of support for broader more community-based entrepreneurship. He said, I’m excited to see how far that’s gone and a very rich community of support.
And so are the long-term difficulties facing entrepreneurs of color. Minority startups have always faced a harder road since entrepreneurs of color tend to have less family wealth to back them up. And they may face a residue of misunderstanding and racism in applying for loans and the like many programs have attempted to address these inequalities, including the Entrepreneurs of Color Fund created by JP Morgan Chase, WK Kellogg Foundation and others, which has aided dozens of minority entrepreneurs in Detroit. But there’s still a long way to go to even the playing field.
Thank you, John. We’ll be reporting more together from Detroit Startup Week, so stay tuned.
I’m Jeff Sloan, founder and CEO of StartupNation.com, and that’s today’s Business Beat on the Great Voice of the Great Lakes, WJR.


text:
HONDA has revealed its latest impressive model with a top speed of 134mph - and it's a lawnmower.
The Japanese giant is set to produce a follow-up to their Mean Mower, which claimed the title of the world's fastest lawnmower back in 2014.
The latest super powered ride-on grass cutter is fitted with the same 1,000cc engine found in the brand new CBR1000RR Fireblade, which gives it around 189bhp.
And while it is yet to be proved, Honda claims the superbike-powered mower will be able top 134mph - which would make it even faster than a 2017 Honda Civic hatchback.
Honda first revealed its desire to create the world's fastest lawnmower in 2013, when they created the Mean Mower in collaboration with their British Touring Car Championship partner, Team Dynamics.
The lawnmower grabbed the world record in March 2014, when it hit 116.57mph at the IDIADA proving ground near Barcelona.
latest news from Honda
The record was broken in late 2015 by the Norwegian Speed Factory team on a modified Viking T6 lawnmower which topped out at 133mph.
The Japanese manufacturer is now set on reclaiming their title, and promises its latest Mean Mower will be able to achieve it.
According to Honda, Fast and Furious Live stunt driver, Jessica Hawkins, will be at the wheel of the new Mk2 model when it finally hits the track, but no test date has been set.