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A little more than a year after the fact, the decision to change how people pay to park in downtown garages has put significantly more bumpers between the lines. And while merchants don't say the move to give downtown patrons an hour of free parking has brought in more customers or revenue to their business, most agree it was a positive move.
The Parking Task Force-composed of business owners, restaurateurs and others-met for more than a year in 2003 and 2004 with consultant Carl Walker, Inc., and the International Downtown Association to approve the fee change. They eliminated restaurant and retail validation, where business owners bought stickers to compensate their patron's parking for an hour for up to four hours.
In March of last year, the task force, and subsequently CCDC, approved a change that upped the hourly parking rate to $1.50, while giving users an hour free parking for all garage users except those at the county courthouse. Monthly parking rates were also set at $79, up from $70.
The results: Over 78,000 more tickets have been purchased in downtown garages this year than last year-a more than 16 percent improvement of visitors to the Downtown Public Parking System, which includes almost all the parking garages downtown. Similarly there was just under a 17 percent increase to CCDC's revenue, which, according to Executive Director Phil Kushlan, will be used for maintenance and marketing activities. Of its $1,215,429 budget, maintenance runs about $250,000 every two years, Kushlan said.
Downtown merchants like Sean Ahern, who owns the Book and Game Company, Mick Hanks, owner of To the Nynes clothing shop and Gregory Kaslo, who owns the Egyptian Theatre, say they haven't heard customers complaining about the fee change.
"People like the fact it's there, but most don't realize they get an hour free parking," Hanks said. "It would be beneficial to make people more aware of the free hour. It's a good deal, it makes sense and I haven't noticed a complaint."
Mary Wilson, owner of downtown boutique Ishi, served on the Parking Task Force and said the experts she and other concerned business owners called in to recommend the changes gave invaluable information to the task force and CCDC. The changes they suggested, Wilson said, have ultimately quelled the fears of many downtown merchants. Previously, merchants and the Downtown Boise Association had fought any CCDC requests for a rate increase.
"I hear almost no complaints about parking downtown now, where before I had a lot of complaints," Wilson said. "A determining factor for me (approving the change) was the percentage of those who used the validation system was small-now the vast majority of people are reaping more of a benefit."
Mark Carringer, owner of Moon's Café, said he misses the validation system, where merchants purchased 28-cent stickers worth an hour of free customer parking, because it was a perk to give his customers. "I don't validate anymore, but I haven't noticed too much a difference (in comparison to before the change) ... or complaints other than, we need more parking downtown," Carringer said.
Kathy Wali, owner of Cricket clothing shop, echoed Carringer's nostalgia for validation. "I wish I could validate customer parking; it was a nice service I didn't mind paying for," she said. "The hour free is not enough for lunch and shopping. The validation was one thing I could offer to compete with the mall."
She said many merchants were against nixing the validation system and compared Boise to larger cities that validate certain garages.
Many merchants reiterated the idea that there should be more of an emphasis on marketing in CCDC's plan. Rachel Smith, a downtown employee, said she constantly has to inform customers and other patrons of the perks of parking downtown.
"They don't know there even is parking downtown. It would help downtown greatly if they ran advertisements regarding garages and (parking) meters."
Tim Kendall, general manager at the Piper Pub, indicated that this trend has decreased at his downtown eatery. "At the beginning, we were bombarded by people asking for validation, but now it's just a couple a week," he said. "I was nervous on how customers would respond, but it's been very little, it's more positive than negative, since the first hour is free. I haven't seen either more or less business with the change, but it hasn't turned people away."
But others, like Kushlan and Clay Carley, a past DBA-president who sat as president of the Parking Task Force funded by CCDC, said the perception of downtown parking before was that it was inconvienent and expensive, and that a year of the new system has been an unexpected pleasure.
"I was frustrated by what I think is a misconception," Carley said. "But now I'm surprised by the outcome."
Carley said he has not followed up with CCDC to see whether they have met goals set by the task force, such as marketing, maintenance and re-evaluation of the new system, but added, "The structural changes to the system were very well received and would not have come about without the task force."
One of the goals set by the task force included having a third party analyze the way parking is managed in the city. Currently CCDC is in charge of the structural parking and surface lots-that is, off-street parking-while Boise City takes care of the on-street parking at the metered zones and timed zones on the periphery of the downtown core.
Tana Wardel, Boise City parking control manager, said the decision to merge the two agencies governing parking downtown is not a city issue, but added, "I agree Boise City should manage the parking. CCDC is a developmental organization. The city should delegate parking."
She said for years the city has worked with the DBA and CCDC on issues involving where the two parking areas meet-mostly involving employees parking downtown.
Most of the downtown employees contacted by BW said their employers pay for monthly parking, like at Ishi, where Wilson pays about $300 a month to provide her employees with monthly passes at the garage. But the cost of reserved spaces remains a contentious issue among minimum-wage earners who must pay to go to work.
"The city should not be responsible for employee's parking," said Jules Viosca, who works for Idaho Camera downtown, "but something has to be done do help those working downtown who have to pay to park while getting paid $5 an hour. Ninety-five percent of the businesses downtown can't afford to compensate for parking, and for a city that takes pride in taking care of people, something should be done to help the employees in a growing downtown." Kendall at the Piper Pub agreed that parking for employees remains "an issue," especially given the monthly rate increases, but said that he couldn't think of a solution to the problem.
Carley agreed that costs to employees are a concern that should not be ignored. "I haven't followed up on the employee issue," he said, "but the task force should convene one more time to follow up with CCDC on the matter; it should be done."


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If you have followed China’s tech scene in recent years, you might have used, or at least heard of Douyin, the popular short video and live-streaming app, commonly referred to as the Chinese version of TikTok. With 600 million daily active users, Douyin, owned by Chinese internet giant ByteDance, was essential in reshaping Chinese people’s, particularly younger generations’ lives.
Douyin and TikTok basically run on algorithms that exploit users’ attention. Anyone who has ever spent five minutes on the apps knows how easy it can be to get hooked and lose track of time. Douyin records an average of 80 minutes of usage per user per day, while TikTok has occupied its users 19.6 hours every month, which is ahead of Facebook and its other three major apps: Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger, according to a report by App Annie, a mobile industry data aggregator.
As a service that contributes over half of ByteDance’s 2020 yearly revenue, Douyin has its nature to keep its users staying and scrolling. But little did people know, Douyin also operates a digital wellbeing system to keep the users away from the app to curb smartphone addiction, in attempts to brighten its brand image and address user concerns.
Hey you, stop scrolling
In an algorithmically driven app like Douyin, it's common that you might blink and, surprisingly, realize that hours have passed.
To brighten its brand image and address user concerns in this regard, Douyin published its first piece of in-house video content to remind users of their screen time in March 2018, PingWest has learned. Nowadays, the app also recommends such videos made by collaborating content creators, to remind users to take a break every once in a while.
This series of videos advertises digital wellbeing, an idea that is rarely talked about by Chinese internet companies compared to their global counterparts. The way Douyin went about it was inviting creators (even famous pet accounts on the platform) to break the fourth wall in an engaging way, reminding people to put their phones down and maintain a healthy balance between their actual and digital lives. Such videos can be found on both accounts run by the platform itself, and individual content creators.
Specifically, it pushes such educational videos into the feeds of users whom the algorithm detects excessive stickiness to the app--a non-stop usage of 60 minutes in most cases. Also, when users are detected using the app continuously for over 90 minutes, a warning bar with a tea cup emoji will appear on the lower of the screen, suggesting that it would be best to take a break now.
From children to adults
The screen time reminder videos are an addition to the 3 existing digital wellbeing utilities on Douyin. According to a company spokesperson, Douyin introduced an anti-addiction system as early as 2018, and is constantly making improvements to it.
Interestingly, for the time being, these reminder videos are the only digital wellbeing tool that is being turned on for all users by default. The other 3 are internally categorized as “underage protection” by the app, despite that they can also work for every user (see screenshots below.)
For example, users can activate a time lock to force themselves to not spend too much time on the app. There’s a feature called Family Pairing to help parents manage their kids’ use time.
And there is the teenager mode, which is mandatory for all short video platforms at the request of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), China’s top internet watchdog. In this mode, underage users won’t be able to use the app for more than 40 minutes per day, and would be under curfew from 10 pm to 6 am. Teenager mode is also the only feature that pops up every time the app is opened, which is mandated by relevant CAC regulations.
The situation is somehow understandable because the idea of digital wellbeing is still new to the Chinese cyberworld. “Every product in China is like ‘how do we increase stickiness?’ or ‘how do we build daily usage habits?’” said Matthew Brennan, author of Attention Factory, a book covering the rise of TikTok and ByteDance.
“I was kind of surprised to see the (features) at the first time,” Brennan added.
From China to the world
In the West, digital wellness has become a buzzword and is on the minds of every major tech company. In the case of TikTok, however, its digital wellbeing and underage protection features have their roots in its Chinese sister app.
Although Douyin and its younger sibling TikTok serve two distinct markets, and diverge in many aspects in terms of app policies, product design, etc., due to the shadow of geopolitical tension between China and the rest of the world being cast onto ByteDance, the former has consistently dictated what functions might be coming up for the latter.
In February last year, 2 years after Douyin, TikTok launched a similar series of screen time reminder videos to its international users. Popular TikTokers with millions of followers on the platform, including Gabe Erwin, Alan Chikin Chow, James Henry, Cosette Rinab, joined the short video app’s campaign making content that, ironically, encourages users to potentially spend less time on their other content. When continuous usage exceeds 60 minutes, users would see such a video from the account @TikTokTips, which is run by the company itself, reminding them to turn off the app.
One day before TikTok launched these videos, its parent control feature was also introduced to global users. The “Family Safety Mode” is just about everything Douyin’s Family Pair has to offer. Once Family Safety mode has been set up, parents would be given extensive control over their children's linked TikTok accounts, including direct messages, daily time limits, and age-appropriate content.
A long way to go
While both Douyin and TikTok provide useful tools helping users identify addictive behaviors, it is ultimately up to the users themselves to decide whether it’s time to quit the app. Aside from the forced time limit for underage users, both apps do not automatically log users out even if multiple warnings are served.
But for Brennan, ByteDance’s anti-addiction efforts are still good, and rare.
“The take from Douyin is very Alan Zhang (editor: Zhang is commonly referred to as the father of WeChat),” said Brennan, “Douyin and WeChat are like actively telling users to put their phones down. I don’t know of any other products that do that.”
Still, on public transportation and the streets, people are still staring at their phones all the time. Daily time spent with mobile internet per capita worldwide is set to increase 8.4% from 143 minutes in 2020 to 155 minutes in 2021, according to Zenith, a market research agency. There’s still more the tech companies can do to solve the problems that come with this time increase.

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There is no more secret surrounding the case of iPhone 6 and 7 decrease in performance. All the mess surrounding Apple started just a week ago, when the Cupertino-based company confirmed that it slow down iPhones to protect the phones with aged batteries to suffer a sudden shutdown that could leave to a deep hardware damage.
A number of lawsuits from breach of contract have been made against Apple, due to never informing its users of such method of throttling CPU’s performance whenever a new iPhone gets released. The manufacturer already is responding to totally eight lawsuits with class-action status and apparently things tend to goes worse as the case advances.
Yesterday, a French consumer organization called HOP, which stands to “Stop Planned Obsolence” filed another suit agaist Apple, this time at France. Apparently Apple is not the only target from the organization, since the group took the same date to file another suit against Epson. According to the HOP Co-founder Laetitia Vasseur, by the two filings they expect the both companies to suffer from violating France consumer law, since in the country such practice as planned obsolence isn’t something tolerable. The lawsuit can reach a huge amount of 11,5 billion if Apple gets condemned.
Gizchina News of the week
Currently the Frech laws protects consumers from manufacturers wishing to short the lives of its handsets in favor of newer models. Since the Apple’s scandal got huge proportions that is one of subjects being implied by most users. Apple justifies that the procedure is made to protect the old iPhones to suffer from the aged batteries getting at their limit with CPU’s demand getting high. But just imagine that your old iPhone 6 start to feel lag or less responsive, than you start to consider an upgrade to a newer, more powerful model. Although the US company already have given its justifications for the case, its hard to not imagine the company getting the benefits of such practice.
“With iOS 10.2.1, Apple made improvements to reduce occurrences of unexpected shutdowns that a small number of users were experiencing with their iPhone. iOS 10.2.1 already has over 50% of active iOS devices upgraded and the diagnostic data we’ve received from upgraders shows that for this small percentage of users experiencing the issue, we’re seeing a more than 80% reduction in iPhone 6s and over 70% reduction on iPhone 6 of devices unexpectedly shutting down.
We also added the ability for the phone to restart without needing to connect to power, if a user still encounters an unexpected shutdown. It is important to note that these unexpected shutdowns are not a safety issue, but we understand it can be an inconvenience and wanted to fix the issue as quickly as possible. If a customer has any issues with their device they can contact AppleCare.”
-Apple statement in February 2017 about update to iOS 10.2.1.”
Until the moment Apple France could not be reached for a statement about the HOP’s lawsuit. We expect this case and the sea of other lawsuits hit an intense temperature in the next weeks. Some Android Manufactures as HTC and Motorola already have made public statements over their total repudiation to this conduct. We expect other manufacturers from the Android side to also follow-up.
This Holidays season couldn’t be worse for Apple with the tidbits of Qualcomm’s lawsuit, the reports of weak iPhone X sales and now this big scandal. The company will definitively need a 180 degree turn in order to start a better 2018.


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The site consolidates TRAC’s consumer-facing “Be Tire Smart” and “Fuel Saving Tires” websites to combine industry and consumer information.
Registration is now open for the Tire & Rubber Association of Canada’s Tire & Rubber Summit 2019.
The Tire and Rubber Association of Canada (TRAC) has released a comprehensive Winter Tire Report to support consumer education efforts by the industry and government. The report details tire shipment, market, usage and test data, the association said. The report found that winter tire shipments are up across Canada, due to government actions, increased education,
The Tire and Rubber Association of Canada launched its Be Tire Smart Week this week, running from May 12 to 18. The safety campaign is a chance to remind Canadian drivers the importance of regularly maintaining their tire pressure and educate them about tires and tire pressure. “Today’s technically advanced tires offer drivers unprecedented performance
The Tire and Rubber Association of Canada has updated the industry on its recently signed partnership agreement with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). Signed on Feb. 26, the deal gives TRAC access to public funding through NRCan to support an education program to raise awareness of low rolling resistance tires and their energy-savings benefits. Part of
The Honourable Industry Minister James Moore introduced new legislation called the Price Transparency Act, which will amend the Competition Act to empower the Commissioner of Competition to investigate price discrepancies on consumer goods and, where warranted, call manufacturers and distributors to explain and justify their Canadian pricing. This is all in an attempt to eliminate
The Tire and Rubber Association of Canada (TRAC) is clarifying what meets winter tire standards as Quebec approaches its deadline for mandatory winter tires on Dec. 15. The association, through a series of press releases, is emphasizing that a tire with the mountain snowflake pictogram meets or exceeds tire industry snow traction requirements and are
A survey done by Leger on behalf of the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada (TRAC) reported that only 51% of drivers use winter tires in areas of Canada outside the province of Quebec where winter tire use is mandated by law. According to the report, many drivers outside Quebec cling to the idea that
The Tire and Rubber Association of Canada has expressed concerns over recently announced changes to British Columbia’s Motor Vehicle Act. Changes in the act would “water down,” the requirement for tires use in the province between Oct. 1 and April 30, TRAC said in its newsletter. The changes would permit the use of tires with
The Rubber Association of Canada has formally changed its name to Tire and Rubber Association of Canada (L’Association canadienne du pneu et du caoutchouc). On June 19, during its 94th annual general meeting, RAC members unanimously approved the name change. Industry Canada approved the move on July 1, allowing the association to operate under its
The Rubber Association of Canada is getting a new name. Following a unanimous vote of the group’s membership on June 19, the association will soon be known as the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada/L’Association canadienne du pneu et du caoutchouc. RAC surveyed its members earlier this year about changing the association’s name. Roughly 69%


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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has become ubiquitous in 2020 but, until now, it has rarely featured in the recall data tables.
In 2019, it was subject to 24 notifications, while the figure was 19 in 2018 and 39 in 2017. However, as of 11 September 2020 there have already been 130 notifications cited on the European Commission’s rapid alert system – a figure that could rise significantly as demand outpaces supply across member states.
Of the total, 118 (91%) of these citations were for particle/medical/fabric face masks, 103 of which originated from China. All but one was flagged as a health risk to consumers. In every instance, the notifying countries said that the products have not been certified as protective equipment by a relevant body. That is despite many bearing a CE marking.
What this means is that many of these products could have been sufficient for their intended purpose, however border controls could not accept them because they did not comply with European regulations and standards.
In response to the coronavirus, economic operators across the EU continue to increase their manufacturing and distribution capacity. The Commission published a conformity assessment procedure for protective equipment in early July to help operators convert their facilities to produce PPE in a bid to increase production and supply of protective equipment across the EU. Its approach was threefold:
1. Provide support measures to increase capacity of existing EU manufacturing facilities
2. Reach out to companies not active in the EU market
3. Convert production lines from other sectors to produce the equipment
Understanding and conforming to a market’s regulatory mandates is non-negotiable and is the difference between whether your product passes border inspections and makes it into the supply chain or not.
The European Compliance and Ethics Conference is an annual event, bringing together the continent’s top compliance and ethics professionals to discuss best practice. International regulations are tightening in a bid to make companies more transparent and compliance officers across big businesses have a trained eye on identifying, preventing, monitoring and detecting risks – especially as they look to move staff back into work environments with the right safe operating procedures and PPE in place.
While the EU is accelerating approvals of essential equipment and products to keep pace with demand, it will not compromise on regulatory standards to meet them. And for that reason, we fully expect to see more recall notifications cited in the PPE category for the remainder of 2020 and beyond.


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Philadelphia was ranked the fourth friendliest city for food truck vendors, according to Food Truck Nation, a project of the United States Chamber of Commerce.
The results were based on surveys of 288 food truck owners and their first-hand accounts along with rules governing food trucks in 20 U.S. cities. Food Truck Nation aimed to measure the economic impact of food trucks across major cities in the U.S., estimating a total of $2.7 billion in revenue brought in last year alone. Philadelphia followed behind Portland, Denver, and Orlando, respectively, as friendliest city for mobile food vendors.
Philadelphia also ranked first in complying with restrictions, along with third place in ease of obtaining food truck licenses and permits, according to the report.
But despite the relative ease of obtaining a license, the permit comes with a cost. The city was ranked no. 13 in barriers to operating a food truck, which can cost upwards of $25,292 in fees each year. Last September, food trucks around campus hiked up prices, citing high merchandise costs, which prompted a strong reaction from students and staff on campus.
The Food Truck Nation report also described Philadelphia as the "Wild West" for food truck vendors, who have to navigate a range of rules that are not always consistently enforced. For example, some vendors are allowed to operate past midnight while others are not. In some areas, vendors can park within 30 feet of another food truck but in other areas they are not allowed to.
In Philadelphia, vendors are also required to undergo health inspections at every large event where they sell food, which can quickly result in a total of 10 to 30 inspections every year.
Despite the hurdles food truck vendors face, Philadelphia compares favorably in relation to other cities. “Philadelphia shows brotherly love to the city’s food trucks,” Food Truck Nation reported.
All comments eligible for publication in Daily Pennsylvanian, Inc. publications.


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To celebrate the fortieth birthday of the iconic G-Class, Mercedes has joined forces with Virgil Abloh to make a new Art project.
The project is titled “Project Gelandewagen” will see two creative personalities, Virgil Abloh and Mercedes-Benz’s chief designer officer Gorden Wagener work together in support of the creative industries.
The plan is that, one of a kind home-scale replica of the art work will be auctioned off after the artwork has been launched. The proceeding from the auction will be donated to as of now unnamed charity that supports the art. The winner of the model auction will also receive an exclusive access and a chance to meet and interact with the co-creators.
Virgil Abloh says that “Mercedes-Benz is a brand that stands for luxury and exceptional performance.” He also adds that “Truly a perfect chassis to interject modern artists’ ideas of what the future can be stylistically, within conceptual car design.”
If you are keen and want to have a look at the artwork, it will be digitally launched to a global audience on 8th of September. To learn more, visit the Mercedes-Benz website.
Stay tuned for more updates!
Keep following Street Sense.
At a time when the sneaker game is rapidly gaining popularity, and more and more resellers and collectors are becoming a part of this ecosystem, The lack of a proper Authentication system and resale forums have caused inconvenience to a lot of enthusiasts; but not…
As we step into 2022, the past year hasn’t exactly been a cakewalk. The virus continues its presence with habitual lockdowns and strict norms all over the country. Despite this, the sneaker culture slowly but surely experienced a good number of new collaborations, album releases,…


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Popular Japanese website Macotakara has recently uploaded a video of iPhone 15 mock-up units in 3D.
The dummy units offer a new take on what the iPhone 15 might look like when it officially launches. Some notable features include larger camera bumps, curved edges, and smaller bezels, as well as Dynamic Island on the whole lineup. In comparison, only the iPhone 14 Pro has Dynamic Island.
The new dimensions can mean that iPhone 14 cases may not be compatible with the newest iPhone 15, with the exception of the iPhone 14 Plus case being able to fit in the 3D-printed iPhone 15 Plus. Other rumors involving the upcoming Apple flagship smartphone include an iPhone 15 Pro special color option, unified volume buttons, and the absence of the Lightning port.
The ‘Alibaba: 3D mock-up iPhone 15 series’ video is 11 minutes long and available to watch on the official Mac Otakara YouTube channel.


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Ford (F) reports 2Q12 results on July 25th before the market opens.
The Street expects:
- Revenue: $32.2 billion
- EPS: $0.28
- Q3 revenue guide: $31.8 billion
In Q1, Ford reported EPS of $0.39 per share vs consensus of $0.35 on $30.5 billion vs consensus of $31.5 billion. North America registered a pretax profit of $2.1 billion that beat the consensus of $1.9 billion. Margin also came in better than expected (11.5% vs 10.3% y/y). Europe was a bit off due to softness in the macro environment but still came in better than consensus and registered a $149 million pretax loss. South America's $54 million pretax profit was shy from $77 million consensus estimate. In my view, lower sales could partially due to aggressive pricing from Chinese automakers that have been selling comparably equipped models at lower price points than those of US and Japanese counterparts. Asia also disappointed with a pretax loss of $91 million vs consensus estimate of $41 million pretax loss.
Heading into the earnings, investors can expect softness in Europe to continue weigh on the Ford's profit.
Late last month, Ford issued a non-US profit warning with the following highlights:
- International losses could reach $570 million vs $190 million in Q1 driven by significant market deterioration in Europe where light vehicle production was down 13% y/y and 12% q/q. Going forward, Ford will likely face continued pressure due to high fixed cost
- Asia will continue to register a pretax loss due to intensifying competition, margin deterioration, and continued investment in the region
- South America will not perform any better due to a combination of FX controls, trade barriers and weak currencies
On the other hand, North America will likely to perform within expectations. Earlier this month, June's US light vehicle SAAR came in at 14.08 million vs consensus of 13.8 million, representing the best June since 2007.
June SAAR figure was a bit of a surprise after the weak May figure but does highlight the resilient consumer auto demand in the US despite soft macro environment as consumers replaces older models with news models that have superior technology and features. Judging by the trend for the first half, I am quite comfortable with 14 million SAAR for 2012.
However, investors need to note that steady performance in North America will unlikely offset International weakness in the long-run, given that International accounts for 41% of Ford's total revenue in 1Q12.
Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.


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International law firm CMS has for the first time topped the UK rankings for legal brands conducted by Acritas, the market-leading brand measurement agency recently acquired by Thomson Reuters.
The Acritas UK Law Firm Brand Index for 2020 results are based on interviews with over 250 General Counsel and senior in-house legal professionals who are asked to rate law firms on awareness and favourability.
CMS is recognised for the quality and responsiveness of its service, its commercial pragmatism, its ability to deliver both the day-to-day and the highest value advice to clients, locally and across borders. The firm is also noted for its initiatives around innovation and the application of technology to deliver legal services to clients more efficiently and effectively.
Penelope Warne, The Senior Partner of CMS UK, comments:
“This success demonstrates the excellence and hard work of our people in delivering the highest quality service to clients for their day-to-day, high value, local and cross-border work. We are also focused on new ways and innovation to benefit our clients and on increasingly important issues including diversity, climate change and sustainability. Our ambition has always been to deliver excellence for our clients, always aiming to be a future facing law firm. We are delighted to receive this recognition.”
Acritas’ UK Law Firm Brand Index for 2020 can be found here.


text: The European Commission announced this week that Spain is the latest in a long line of countries to retract two Chinese toothpaste products that have been deemed a threat to public health. Following laboratory tests, two brands - Spearmint and Trileaf Spearmint - were removed from the oral hygiene market due to trace elements of DEG (diethylene glycol) being found, a substance used in antifreeze and solvents. As the alert was registered on the Commission's RAPEX system, an EU wide Rapid Alert System for non-food dangerous products, other member states are now formally obliged to take follow up action on their own markets, and to inform the Commission about any action they have taken regarding the issue. By alerting other member states to the hazard, Spain will no doubt instigate widespread EU testing on all toothpaste products - increasing the impact already felt on the Chinese oral care industry. Indeed, following the announcement both Italian and Portuguese authorities have made market checks, and recalled certain products, according to the European Commission. The move follows widespread concern across the US over the poisonous chemical in toothpastes, with the US Food and Drug Administration recently advising consumers to avoid buying any toothpaste labelled as made in China. Previous reports have found that authorities in Panama, the Dominican Republic and Australia have found DEG, known to have been a source of a number of mass poisonings, usually from adulterated medicines, in toothpaste products. The FDA recently called for a block on all consignments of toothpaste at US borders until tests show that such imports are categorically safe. Because of international free trade agreements this means that consignments of imported Chinese toothpaste have been legally allowed into the US, but FDA officials are now particularly worried about gray market and counterfeit products that may have entered the country through illegal and unregulated channels. The commission mirrored this, with EU consumer commissioner Meglena Kuneva stating, "The Commission urges consumers to not buy counterfeit products and to contact authorities in case of doubts. The EU RAPEX alert system has demonstrated its value in this case and has paved the way for a rapid EU-wide safety response prompted by the vigilance of the Spanish authorities". Spanish authorites did concede that the products found pose only a moderate immediate risk for the health and safety of consumers. "To date, there are no known reports of human poisonings or adverse clinical effects caused by this toothpaste. However, even this is an unacceptable risk. Also, in the light of the global scale of the issue, we are working closely with national authorities to address any potential risk seriously and in depth", said Kuneva. Kuneva is due to travel to China at the end of the month as part of an on-going dialogue with the Chinese government to discuss a range of issues with the Chinese authorities - in particular issues relating to product safety.


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Amazon drops $25 free shipping minimum for holidays
NEW YORK (AP) - Amazon is following Target and temporarily dropping the minimum amount shoppers need to spend to qualify for free shipping.
Typically, Amazon shoppers have to spend $25 to qualify for free shipping or pay $119 a year for a Prime membership. Amazon's offer started Monday and will apply to hundreds of millions of items on orders that arrive in time for Christmas. Shoppers who aren't Prime members will get slower shipping, which can take five to eight days.
Retailers are competing hard for holiday shoppers, who increasingly expect fast and free shipping. Target dropped its minimum purchase amount last week, offering free two-day shipping on hundreds of thousands of items until Dec. 22.
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Gadhafi body stashed in shopping center freezer
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A man holds a photo said to be the body of Moammar Gadhafi after announcement of the former leader's death in Tripoli, Libya, Thursday.
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- Security TWENTY
- Women in Security
The latest print issue of Professional Security Magazine has as its cover article views on the latest official developments to tackle business crime. Moves by the Met Police in London have been welcomed – but will they be enough, and can the authorities – who have long treated businesses poorly when they report crime, even senior figures admit – delver?
Also featured is a case study from Unipart Security of a trial of a drone for monitoring, as used at an autumn drive-in cinema screening in Oxford; work by a property company on ranking cities by resilience, to guide its investment decisions worldwide; a look at the embarrassing shortcomings of VIP security in the United States, after the head of the service that provides close protection for President Obama and his family resigned; and a digest of the latest research from Prof Martin Gill – this time about excellence. What is it, when those buying and offering security services are asked?
Prof Martin Gill’s also in the November magazine as the mighty Handbook of Security, whose second edition edited by him has come out, is reviewed.
We conclude a look at the University of Leeds. In our October issue we featured how the uni hosted the opening of this summer’s Tour de France; this time we go through the same safety awareness training that the student freshers are given – and we find on a night out in Leeds city centre how useful it really is.
We cover also retail loss prevention, covering the October Retail Fraud conference in Leicester. Plus there’s all the usual pages of news, new products, ‘spending the budget’, and views from Jim Gannon and Una Riley. You can read past issues free online at – http://www.professionalsecurity.co.uk/magazine/.


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Next's sale is being slammed by customers this morning as "absolutely shambles" after website errors left many unable to order anything, despite having VIP slots.
Next's sale is due to launch across stores this weekend, but as always, regular customers were able to book a 'vip slot' designed to give them early access to the savings.
However, many have now taken to Twitter after being left unable to make any purchases after queuing for around two hours to get onto the website.
User @KerriwAllison83 said: "You spend hours previewing the sale and for what... oh yes Next to allow too many people to register for the 5pm slot so it crashes. Keep trying is not good enough. Complete waste of time. Far from VIP!!!"
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@blabber247 said: "Well done #Next on your not so VIP #Nextsale. Had my confirmed 7pm slot bumped back to 930pm after 50 mins in the Q. After another 20 min wait managed to only get 11 out of my 53 items! Shocking! “Having IT problems “ not cutting it I’m afraid."
@Alichicken1974 said: "@nextofficial don't bother using your VIP slot people!! What a joke I have been on since 4.30pm and had all sorts in my basket and it's crashed every time and emptied basket out. Fuming so no more Next for me!"
@allchnage79 said: "When it’s 8.20pm and your Next sale slot was 6pm.....still can’t get in?!? @nextofficial #nextonline #vip????"
@LCLEMP79 said: "Haha... Next Sale... After my VIP slot being delayed time and time again, now I'm in a queue with no idea how long I'll have to wait or if it will even work. Absolute shambles"
Some shoppers even said they had waited in a queue online for two hours as they tried to access the slot they had booked.
User @Jannie_MJ said: "I've been waiting in the queue for two hours only half way there."
Next did send a message to shoppers apologising for its website problems and reassured shoppers its teams were working hard to resolve the issues.
The retailer tweeted: "Sorry if you are having problems accessing our VIP sale online. Our systems teams are working hard to resolve this issue as fast as we can. Please keep trying."
Next's sale is due to drop across its stores from 5am (depending on the opening hours of your local store) on Saturday, July 4 and will offer half price savings on all its departments including clothing and homeware.
Social distancing measures will be in place at stores and customers limits will be in place meaning you may be asked to wait in a queue outside before being allowed in.


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Virginia port officials are working to address a massive stockpile of shipping containers formerly used by bankrupt shipping giant Hanjin.
The Virginian-Pilot reports that more than 2,000 cargo containers were stacked at port facilities near Norfolk as of early this month.
A Port of Virginia spokesman told the paper that the port began accumulating containers last year after Hanjin declared bankruptcy and stranded billions in cargo on its vessels around the world.
The decision helped shippers offload their empty containers while keeping the port's chassis and other equipment free.
About half of the containers near Norfolk were owned by Hanjin, while the other half were used by leasing companies such as Triton, Textainer and CAI.
Reports indicated that about 40 percent of the Hanjin containers leased to other companies were not recovered as of last month, when a court in Hanjin's native South Korea ordered the company to liquidate its remaining assets.
A U.S. bankruptcy judge, meanwhile, last week authorized Maher Terminals to sell Hanjin containers stored at its facilities at the Port of New York and New Jersey.
Container leasing companies were previously able to recover their containers from ports for little to nothing, but port authorities are increasingly under pressure as the costs to utilize crucial port storage space grows.
Maher told the court that it would likely only receive a fraction of the money it cost to store Hanjin containers, but Port of Virginia officials reportedly hope to receive all storage and handling fees from leasing companies.
The Virginia Port Authority indicated that the stockpile cost some $4.2 million as of last month.
“We are working with the owners and/or responsible party(ies) of these containers to create an equitable solution so that they can retrieve these assets while we cover our costs," port spokesman Joe Harris wrote in an email to the paper.


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The decline of Britain’s biggest energy drink brand is proof of the perils of reformulation
Last year’s ranking: 14
Sales: £400m (-8.1%)
The decline of Britain’s biggest energy drink brand is proof of the perils of reformulation. Lucozade Energy has had £43.8m wiped from its value after launching with a new recipe last year that brings it under the sugar levy threshold. The response from shoppers has been lacklustre: Brits drank 23.5 million fewer litres of Energy compared with the previous year.
Lucozade Zero and Lucozade Sport, meanwhile, are flying thanks to their health and low-sugar credentials, to the tune of a combined £10.9m in added value. Recent launch Fitwater is also off to a decent start, having already racked up £1.2m since hitting shelves last summer.
However, Energy’s decline was enough to drag the Lucozade brand down a total of £32m regardless - the third greatest loss in this list.
Still, LRS stands by its decision to reformulate Energy and claims shoppers are beginning to return. “When you change a brand as well-loved as ours, some consumers will inevitably notice a recipe change and we expected some impact,” says LRS UK sales director Scott Meredith. “We’re confident the changes were absolutely the right thing to do.”
Lucozade has a “record” marketing investment planned for the year to come, adds Meredith. So far, it’s re-established its relationship with video game heroine Lara Croft for the new Tomb Raider movie, having first teamed up with the franchise in 1999.
Whether the tie-up signals a resurgence for Lucozade is anyone’s guess. After all, as LRS learned this year, remakes often struggle to capture the magic of the original.


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Investing.com — U.S. stock markets opened higher Friday, building on strong gains Thursday, as investors digested the Federal Reserve’s policy shift and data showing that consumer spending grew more than expected last month.
The Dow is at its highest level since Feb. 21, while the S&P 500 is having its best week in two months Both the S&P and the Nasdaq are on course for their fifth-straight positive week.
U.S. consumer spending increased more than expected in July. The Commerce Department said on Friday that consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity, rose 1.9% last month, after jumping 6.2% in June. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast consumer spending gaining 1.5% in July.
The core PCE price index posted a rise of 0.3% versus the expected 0.5%, with an annual rate of 1.3% for July, higher than the estimated 1.2%.
Powell unveiled an update on the Fed’s policy framework on Thursday, saying the central bank will adopt an “average inflation” target that could allow inflation to run above its 2% target.
Fresh stimulus from U.S. policymakers remains elusive, as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that the Democrats and the White House are at a “tragic impasse” after a call with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.
Oil prices were largely unchanged Friday, with Hurricane Laura losing strength after blowing through Louisiana and Texas, the heart of the U.S. oil industry, without causing major damage to refineries.
Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) rose slightly after offering voluntary separation to at least 4,000 employees as it reorganizes its business.
Dell and HP (NYSE:HPQ) rose as earnings beat expectations on strong computer demand. Gap Inc (NYSE:GPS) was higher after reporting better-than-expected results, and Ulta Beauty Inc (NASDAQ:ULTA) rose on profit that exceeded estimates.
— Reuters contributed to this report.


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- Tesla files financial statements at the SEC
- Tesla digital assets almost unchanged from Q4 2021 to Q1 2022
- Tesla will only accept BTC if mining uses 50% clean energy
Electric car maker Tesla Inc is open to the possibility of accepting more cryptocurrency investments, a regulatory filing has showed.
Tesla, headed by crypto enthusiast Elon Musk, suspended accepting Bitcoin in May 2021, citing environmental damage, but it allowed the use of DOGE for the purchase of some of its merchandise sold online.
Tesla has more plans for cryptocurrency if the company’s SEC filing is anything to go by. “We believe in the long-term potential of digital assets both as an investment and also as a liquid alternative to cash. As with any investment and consistent with how we manage fiat-based cash and cash-equivalent accounts, we may increase or decrease our holdings of digital assets at any time based on the needs of the business and our view of the market and environmental conditions,” Tesla stated in the SEC filing.
Tesla’s digital asset holdings at the end of the first quarter of 2022 remained at about the same level as three months ago. The holdings had a fair market value of $1.96 billion as of March 31, 2022.
Tesla purchased Bitcoin in February 2021 and a month after, its CEO announced that the electric vehicle maker will start accepting Bitcoin as a form of payment. After the cryptocurrency’s price skyrocketed, Musk announced in May that Tesla would not accept Bitcoin because of its impact in the environment.
The CEO said that Tesla would accept Bitcoin again “when there’s confirmation of reasonable (~50%) clean energy usage by miners with a positive future trend, Tesla will resume allowing Bitcoin transactions.” Tesla’s SEC filing confirmed it is leaving the door open to cryptocurrency payments.
Unfortunately, the filing does not explicitly state when Tesla will start accepting Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies as a form of payment. It does not also say the names of cryptocurrencies it plans to honor as a form of payment for its electric vehicles and other products.
Musk earlier said Tesla would accept DOGE as payment for its electric vehicles sometime this year.


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Technology company Continental
showcased select technologies from its portfolio at the #STOPTHECRASH India,
organised by Global NCAP on September 26, at Buddh International Circuit,
Greater Noida. Continental, as one of the partners of the “Stop the Crash”
campaign, demonstrated 2-wheeler safety technologies - MiniMAB - one channel
ABS for motorcycles and MK 100 MAB – two channel ABS for motorcycles.
Continental’s solution for
smaller motorcycles and scooters, a one-channel ABS called MiniMAB was
demonstrated at the event. MiniMAB is a small and lightweight solution for
small 2-wheelers, which prevents the front wheel from locking up in case of
sudden braking by the driver, thus avoiding an accident or the vehicle becoming
Also demonstrated was the MK
100 MAB, the next generation of the existing two-channel ABS system. This is
significantly smaller, lighter, and more easily applicable to new types of motorcycles
– and the system is also more price competitive. In the standard configuration,
the new MK 100 MAB includes ABS and a function that recognizes when the rear
wheel has lost contact with the road (Rear-Wheel Lift-Off Protection, RLP).
“With one of the world’s
highest numbers of road accidents and fatalities, India has to adopt relevant
technologies, implement regulation and ensure enforcement to realize Vision
Zero - Zero Fatalities, Zero Injuries, Zero Accidents. Today’s crash avoidance
technologies are capable of preventing many types of vehicle collision before
they happen. Continental has partnered with Global NCAP’s for Stop the Crash to
create awareness of these life-saving technologies,” explained Prashanth
Doreswamy, Head of Continental India.
According to Krishan Kohli,
Head of Continental’s Vehicle Dynamics business in India, “Thanks to
legislation and increasing acceptance of safety technologies, India is emerging
as an important market for airbags, ABS and ESC. Continental already produces
ABS and ESC units in India. Active R&D on safety technologies is also
carried out in India, at our in-house R&D center Technical Centre India
“Two-wheelers account for a
large percentage of road accidents; therefore technologies such as ABS should
be non-negotiable. Yet another technology is the ESC, which is one of the most
important crash avoidance systems currently available for passenger cars. There
is enough data from mature markets that quantify how safety technologies save
lives and reduce fatal injuries,” he added.
Continental set up a line for
localisation of ABS assembly, besides ESC systems, at its existing plant in
Gurgaon in 2016. This plant recently reached the 1 million units milestone for
Electronic Brake Systems (EBS). In 2018, the company introduced production line
for ABS ECU localization in its Bangalore plant. The technology company has
been continuously evaluating possibilities to localize further. Recently,
Continental also announced a new facility for its R&D center in Gurgaon,
dedicated exclusively to its brake systems business.
Uno Minda, a leading Tier 1 supplier of proprietary automotive solutions to original equipment manufacturers, has launched its new premium range of alloy wheels in the Indian aftermarket in collaborat...
Greaves Retail, India's leading fuel-agnostic mobility solutions provider and a unit of Greaves Cotton Limited, has announced the launch of its complete range of e-rickshaw batteries under the brand '...
Kia India is now offering an electric sunroof in its Sonet Smartstream G1.2 HTK+ variant. The model will be available at Rs 9.76 lakh. Sonet has already more than 3.3 lakh customers in last three year...


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LOS ANGELES — Several notable stars from AltErotic have detailed their festive holiday weekend as well as a Christmas morning gift tease.
Performer and brand ambassador Misha Montana recently earned a pair of 2022 XBIZ Awards nominations for her showcase “InkedXXXploitation of Misha Montana.”
“My favorite Christmas tradition is leaving out cookies for Santa; over the years, I’ve adapted my strategy to entice him and I now leave out whiskey bottles, marijuana edible cookies, condoms and lines of sugar with a straw,” she said.
This year, Montana left out some of her own DVDs. “I know that Santa is stressed, so I want to make sure he’s taken care of,” she quipped.
Evilyn Ink noted her “XXX-mas” was “beyond dirty,” and involved “my red string bikini and cute little elf hat for Santa and his little helpers. I [begged] to sit on Santa’s lap even though I know I’m on the naughty list.”
“I know a lot of people love a cold, snowy Christmas — not me, I want a warm California Christmas,” she said. Her gift list included “lots of dildos, whips, gags and butt plugs. Being on the naughty list isn’t really that bad.”
Click here for a SFW preview of Ink’s Christmas morning gift from Montana.


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Walorski Statement on Tariffs on Chinese Imports
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today released the following statement after President Trump approved tariffs on certain goods imported from China:
“President Trump is right to confront China’s unfair trade practices that stifle innovation and cost American jobs, but I am concerned these tariffs will harm our manufacturers, farmers, and workers. Any action must be narrowly targeted and balanced to avoid slowing the tremendous economic growth we’re seeing because of tax cuts and regulatory reforms.
“The administration must also implement a strong and fair exclusion process. It is critical that the mistakes of the Commerce Department – which has failed to provide transparency and due process to American businesses impacted by steel and aluminum tariffs – not be repeated.”
Congresswoman Walorski has led calls for improvements to the product exclusion process established by the Department of Commerce for Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs in order to reduce burdens on manufacturers and other small businesses. She sent a bipartisan letter signed by 38 of her colleagues asking Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to implement changes to streamline the process and provide certainty and relief to small businesses impacted by the tariffs.
After Walorski led 15 of her Ways and Means colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary Ross urging retroactive relief for companies that successfully petition for product exclusions from the tariffs, President Trump signed an order ensuring tariffs paid while a product exclusion request is pending will be returned if the exclusion is granted.
At a recent House Ways and Means Committee hearing, Walorski pressed U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer on the administration’s response to threats of retaliatory tariffs that could harm American farmers, manufacturers, and other small businesses. She called on the administration to consider the impact retaliatory measures could have on small businesses and family farmers in Indiana.
Walorski represents the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, serving as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.


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nomadic writes: "Both sad and frightening; Maurice Johnson has a masters in electrical engineering from Purdue and a masters in plasma physics from Dartmouth — and is living on the streets. What's that about never having to worry about a job if you just pick the right field?"
nomadic writes: "A nintendo executive has admitted that Wii sales have "stalled," falling 34.5% during the first half of its fiscal year, and blamed it the fact that "games of high demand could not be continuously released and the good mood has chilled.""
nomadic writes: "In a move that is extremely sad but not especially surprising, employees in Grand Canyon National Park have been prohibited from telling guests how old the Canyon actually is, presumably so as they won't offend creationist park guests and political appointees. Additionally, an inane book promoting a Young Earth creationist view of the Canyon has been sold in the park's gift shops for the past three years, despite a storm of criticism from scientists, and a promise by National Park Service administrators to review the matter."


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A Greek Taverna is seen in Sandanski, Bulgaria, a few kilometers away from the Bulgarian-Greek Borders, November 7, 2016. REUTERS/Theodora Arvanitidou
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Greek businessman Prokopis Makris believes moving to Bulgaria three years ago was the best decision he ever made. The accountant shut his failing furniture company in Greece and opened a business helping other entrepreneurs to move to Bulgaria to escape a 29-percent tax rate, which has jumped since Athens adopted austerity as part of an international bailout.The number of Greek-owned businesses based in Bulgaria, where the corporate tax rate is only 10 percent, has risen to 17,000 from 2,000 in 2010, when Greece had its first bailout, according to authorities.Businesses relocated from Greece generate about 5 billion euros ($5.3 billion) annually and employ an estimated 53,000 people, according to 2014 data from Greece's Embassy in Sofia. Numbers are rising fast: 3,642 Greek businesses have been registered in Bulgaria so far this year, up from 3,262 for all of 2015, according to the Bulgarian Registry Agency."There are dozens of Greek businesses just in this area alone, from transport companies to textile businesses and construction materials," said Yiorgos Kalaitzoglou who runs a logistics business out of one of the industrial parks where a sign reads, "Land of Opportunities".Three years ago, his business was stuttering in Greece.
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PETALING JAYA: Ni Hsin Group Bhd’s subsidiary BlackBixon2Go Sdn Bhd has launched the BB2GO EV Coffee Bike or electric bikes for the sale of BlackBixon coffee as part of its food & beverage business [email protected] concept.
The bikes are equipped with coffee making machines and GPS to enable customers to track orders and location of the Coffee Bike via the BB2GO app.
In addition, the group has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Telekom Malaysia’s affiliate Acacia Communications Sdn Bhd to digitalise the new business concept through connectivity and cloud services to support the app.
BlackBixon2Go managing director Khoo Chee Kong remarked that Ni Hsin has embarked on its transformation journey from a traditional manufacturer of stainless-steel products to a new age business model riding on the electric vehicle (EV) revolution.
“The BB2GO EV Coffee Bike is a totally self-sufficient bar that does not require an electrical outlet to power the coffee machine. With BB2GO EV Coffee Bike you can be a barista just as in a modern cafe serving espresso coffee or cappuccino prepared in front of your customer’s eyes,” he said in a statement.
The group stated that the use of EV is part of its commitment to environmental, social and governance responsibilities.
Moving forward, it aims to expand the concept across Asean and has plans to manufacture and assemble the electric bikes in collaboration with an EV manufacturer in China for the commercial and consumer market in Malaysia and the region.


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This experiment was conducted in Japan to help and support economy and bring educated women to into the workforce as a top priority to fix the economy, heeding calls to make better use of a highly educated but underemployed labor pool.
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The aviation equation is simple – lower fares equals more passengers (although long-haul to troubled Europe is the exception), and that was the case for airlines during July, according to the latest data from the International Air Transport Association. More
Intrepid Travel is investing $1m in its Urban Adventures community tourism brand to turbo-charge the day-tours initiative, which this year will host 130,000 customers on 600 different tours.
Australian hoteliers have blown up over the "secret" agreement between the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the online travel agent duopoly of Booking.com and Expedia, which allows the global retail duopoly to prevent hoteliers offering cheaper prices than them online. More
Forget mother nature – cost effective snow production, that's what it's all about. Certainly it's a major reason the Thredbo alpine resort recorded a strong result last financial year, a pre-tax profit of $15m, up 12% over previous year. More
Backpackers are shunning Australia with visitor night numbers down -7% for the 2015-16 financial year and the industry is pointing the finger of blame squarely at the Federal Government and its maybe-we-will, maybe-we-won't working holiday tax. More
It's baking hot and dirt-dry as we emerge from our silver tube down the stairs into the bright blinking midday light at Tambolaka Airport.
The sprawling tarmac is empty apart from our aircraft and a couple of men, their faces vaguely Papuan, in bright safety gear. More
Expedia has joined Booking.com in easing its rate parity restrictions on Australian hoteliers from September 1, allowing them to offer better deals on every channel except the one that matters most – their own branded website. More
Queenstown is the star performer of a resurgent New Zealand hotel market that is, ironically, reaping the benefits from years of under-investment, a trend that shows no sign of changing with barely any new stock coming on in the major markets over the next few years. More
After the astonishing Qantas result earlier this week the good times continued to roll in travel with Air New Zealand, Corporate Travel Management and Event Hospitality and Entertainment all reporting record profits over the past couple of days. CTM net profit rose 60% to $42.1m, Air New Zealand made NZ$663m net while Event Hospitality and Entertainment's net profit was $130.2m, up 19.6%.
Revenue up, costs up, profit down, uncertain times ahead. That was the message today from Flight Centre's MD Graham Turner after revealing that pre-tax profit for the 15/16 financial year fell 5.8% to $345 million. The result had been flagged, was expected, but it still hurt. See result announcement.
Booking.com has made major concessions to its controversial rate parity policy in Australia following negotiations with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission but will still not allow hoteliers to offer cheaper rates on their own websites.
In an email this week, Booking.com CEO Gillian Tans advised Australian hoteliers that from September 1 the world's largest online travel agent (OTA) will allow hoteliers and accommodation operators to offer better deals they like through most other channels without retribution. More
Australian tourism is on a roll despite uncertain economic conditions with both inbound and domestic travel growing at the fastest rates in two decades. More
Five years ago Qantas CEO Alan Joyce was the most hated man in Australian aviation, playing extreme hard-ball with unions in a bitter round of wage negotiations culminating with him sensationally grounding the Qantas fleet for two days in late October, 2011. More
Traveller networking app Travello, based in Brisbane, today announced it has raised $1.26 million from Australian and Angel investors. Co-founder Ryan Hanly says Travello connects users to like-minded people before they set off on their adventures. Travello participated in last year's Pitch It To Me comp at TRAVELtech, which returns to Sydney on September 27.
Sharply improved performance from its Queensland resort properties helped the Mantra Group deliver a solid net result for the 15/16 financial year of $37.1m. Resort revenue was up 34% while pre-tax profits for the division grew 48%. More
Webjet shares have rocketed to late 90s dot com boom levels – trading on a price earnings multiple of 40x – after posting strong results this morning and announcing it will add another 3000 European hotels to its inventory in a deal with Thomas Cook. More
What's Bali without a Bintang, the holiday island's favourite beer?
Tourism operators are hoping they don't find out – pushing back against a move by conservative Muslim politicians to ban the production, distribution and consumption of alcohol in Indonesia. More
The first Sabre Red app developed in Australia has just been launched. The ‘Rail Plus Red App’ makes it easier for local travel agents to book and process rich international rail content from Rail Plus, Australasia’s leading international rail specialist. More
Scoot today announced it will operate the longest scheduled service by a low cost carrier when it starts flying between Singapore and Athens in June 2017 using a specially-configured 787 Dreamliner. Fares start at $369 ex-Perth.
"At a big corporate these days everyone's been psych tested so you get a sameness in the personalities." As someone who once worked at a large bank, where everyone seemed to be an ex-school prefect, I loved this quote from Peter McConnell, who has left a 700k job at retailer Woolworths to work at a startup, Commtract. The same could be said of many global online travel companies. See AFR story.
Entrepreneur and former pro skier David Freuden has launched a new site enabling skiers and boarders to search for their ideal resort based based on terrain, vertical drop and accommodation.
Featuring 2400 resorts in 56 countries, Freuden says he decided to develop Snowcomparison.com after a trip to Europe last year.
“I was in Prague and wanted to ski some of the intrepid Eastern More
Expedia says sales of Australian package holidays through its sites for the first half of 2016 have increased 50% increase over last year. The strongest demand came from Hong Kong +180%, Japan +100%, Singapore +95% and Malaysia +80%.
TechCrunch is reporting that Airbnb is raising another US$850m in funding just 14 months after tapping investors for $US1.5bn, which valuing the young company at $US27bn. It also has a $US1bn credit facility. What a war chest. See story.
The Booking.com juggernaut keeps powering on with the online travel agent clocking up one million bookings in a single day while also breaching the one million mark for accommodation listings, contributing to a gross profit of $US2.4bn for parent company Priceline Group in the second quarter – up 16% over last year. More
TripAdvisor may be the world's most popular travel website at 350m unique visitors a month – but the actual business is going through a rough patch with net income for the first six months of 2016 almost half what it was in 2015: US$62m compared with US$121m. More
Evidence is amassing that repeated terrorism attacks may have have long lasting impact on global travel as airline demand begins to ease after months of global turmoil, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has warned. More


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Tauck has announced the official restart of its operations in Europe and Africa. The company plans to reopen in stages, beginning with selected departures of its “Iceland” and “Treasures of the Aegean” small ship ocean cruises in June and July. Also scheduled for July are the resumption of the company’s cruises in the Galapagos Islands as well as its Tauck Bridges family adventure in Costa Rica. Tauck’s guided safaris in eastern and southern Africa will resume in August, as will its land tours in Spain, France and Portugal.
The post Tauck to Resume Operations in Europe and Africa appeared first on Luxe Beat Magazine.


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Celebrating entrepreneurial success: Azhar Murtuza tops TechRound's Top 50 BAME Entrepreneurs Under 50 poll
In a massive coup for Northern Ireland, Invest NI has worked closely with Azhar as he developed his successful food innovation business Born Maverick
Invest Northern Ireland is delighted to congratulate Belfast-based biotechnologist, entrepreneur, founder, and owner of Born Maverick Food Innovation, Azhar Murtuza on topping the poll in TechRound’s Top 50 BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) Entrepreneurs Under 50 of 2022. These awards recognise and celebrate the BAME entrepreneurs who are diversifying the UK’s start-up landscape.
Born Maverick, a highly successful food innovation company, brings together Azhar’s ideas to combine food, health and ethics leading to the creation of healthy food products in a caring and sustainable manner, for the earth and its people.
Having one of our own recognised as one of the UK’s top entrepreneurs is a big coup for Northern Ireland, and we are proud to say that Invest NI has worked closely with Azhar as he developed his business over the past five years.
We first met Azhar at our Food & Drink Consumer Insights Market Intelligence Clinic, and impressed with his ideas, we introduced him to Campden BRI, a top UK food research & development facility. By working with state-of-the-art R&D facilities, Azhar was able to accelerate his project and secure partnerships with other top UK technical organisations.
Help to grow and develop
Invest NI has gone on to provide support to Born Maverick through our Innovation Vouchers Programme. The company has successfully used Innovation Vouchers to engage some of the best knowledge providers to help develop and test his products, providing a significant boost to the product development process.
These vouchers have helped validate several of Azhar’s ideas including his idea of creating a drink that is a combination of a smoothie and an energy drink which would target consumers leading healthy lifestyles. Another of the company’s forward-thinking projects which benefitted from the Innovation Voucher Programme was the development of dairy-free and gluten-free vegan ice lollies.
Azhar is currently working with College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) to develop and test plant-based egg alternatives by analysing comparative base ingredients which can serve as an egg replacement. This work is also being funded through the Innovation Voucher Programme.
Collaborating for success
Key to Born Maverick’s success is its strong relationship with Innovate UK EDGE; this is an arm of the UK Government’s lead innovation agency Innovate UK. We are fortunate to have an Innovate UK EDGE team based in Invest NI which is dedicated to supporting innovation-driven companies from Northern Ireland to grow at pace and achieve their industry and society transforming ambitions.
The Innovate UK EDGE team in Invest NI has helped Born Maverick secure funding from Innovate UK as well as introducing them to European manufacturers – for example – our advisors helped the company to collaborate with a Swiss partner to produce a non-dairy milk and an Italian partner to develop an adaptogen ice lolly in 2020.
In November 2020, Azhar won £69,000 from Innovate UK’s Sustainable Innovation Fund to support the research and development of their idea to create a prawn and scallop from seaweed. This ‘food-ovation’ was the project that catapulted Born Maverick into TechRound’s line of vision.
The following year, in 2021, Born Maverick was accepted for Innovate UK’s flagship Global Incubation Programme to Asia/Singapore, providing international networking and collaboration opportunities. More recently, Innovate UK named Born Maverick as one of the UK’s 12 most impactful high growth start-ups, awarding it a coveted place on IUK’s Strategic Impact Investment Programme.
Azhar says: “I believe that key to Born Maverick’s recognition across different countries is our expertise in assessing sustainable food chain and then coming up with unique solutions ranging from meat/dairy substitutes to alternative proteins.
We reflect modern lifestyle choices in our products, and I intend to continue to evolve and innovate to play a leading role in helping to shape the food industry of the future.”
Entrepreneurship and innovation are the cornerstones of any successful business, and TechRound’s judges certainly felt that Azhar has these qualities in spades.
Alix said that it’s “Great to see people and planet at this company’s core. Even though food innovation is a saturated space, Born Maverick’s accolades so far show that they’re pioneering”
Sithara said: “They’ve developed some really cool food products using teff, a gluten-free grain. They have also worked on some unique vegan products, including vegan shrimps and scallops, providing great options for people with food restrictions.”


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The iPhone 4S is coming out in two days’ time and it’s been in and out of the news. Some people have liked it, some people have loathed it. Now, a few synthetic benchmarks tests have compared the 4S to the other phones out there in the market, and in particular the Galaxy S2, as reported by Anand Tech. Here's a lowdown on the comparison.
The performance comparison chart
Who'll have the last laugh?
The iPhone 4S is rumoured to have an 800 MHz A5 dual-core processor. A clock speed of 800 MHz doesn’t sound the fastest, but the benchmarks are proving otherwise. These are just synthetic scores and based on these numbers alone, the iPhone 4S does look like it’s beating the current competition hands down. Real world performances haven’t been taken into account. It’s only fair to give Samsung an equal opportunity as the SGS II is now a few months old, so it’ll be better to compare the Nexus Prime to Apple’s new iPhone 4S.
However, currently, it’s the iPhone 4S that gets the bragging rights. Over to you, Samsung.


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Google on Thursday launched a startup initiative in Kabul aimed at assisting entrepreneurs, especially the youth, in Afghanistan.
Program officials from Google's Startup Grind said at the launch that efforts are also underway to standardize businesses in the country – which will be in addition to helping those wanting to start small and medium-sized businesses.
Based in Silicon Valley Startup Grind is the largest independent startup community, actively educating, inspiring, and connecting 215,000 founders in over 185 cities.
Startup Grind nurtures startup ecosystems in 70 countries through events, media, and partnerships with organizations like Google for Entrepreneurs.
In a statement, Google said: "We believe by nurturing a startup ecosystem in Afghanistan, especially in big cities, we will be able to support the economic growth of the country by reducing the unemployment rate to a wider percentage, as more startups means more jobs."
They went on to say: "We believe this is an outstanding piece of news about Afghanistan in this critical situation; which presents Afghanistan's new entrepreneurial spirit at a global level."
The program will assist entrepreneurs to roll out their start up ideas.
"We will provide technical assistance to entrepreneurs and those who have a business idea to start. We know at the moment there are lots of problems but we are trying to provide work opportunities for the youth," said Fahim Dedar the program head.
Meanwhile, a number of students who have ideas for start-ups have welcomed the move and said the launch of this program in Afghanistan will also pave the way for standardizing businesses in the country.
"We are very happy with the program, you know that now days most of our businessmen are professionals," said Taiba Amiri Afghanistan American university student.
"I will try to implement a business idea with the help of this program so I can serve the people," said Zarbat Rustam Khail, one hopeful entrepreneur.
To watch the program, click here:


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Further policy tightening could hurt Philippine consumers -Balisacan
MANILA – The Philippines’ economic minister on Friday cautioned against further central bank interest rate hikes that he said could hurt consumers already reeling from high inflation.
“If I were in the monetary board, I would say no (to rate hikes). We are the most aggressive in the region in raising interest rates,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan told a press briefing.
Annual inflation quickened for a second month in September due mainly to the faster pace of increases in food and transport costs, raising the possibility the central bank would resume hiking rates at its meeting in November.
The 6.1 percent inflation in September, which was the fastest in four months and above the 5.3 percent rate in August, brought the year-to-date average inflation to 6.6 percent, well outside the central bank’s 2 percent-4 percent target for the year.
But Balisacan, who is not a member of the central bank’s policy-making monetary board, said raising interest rates “can hurt” the economy and consumers.
“The source of the inflation is supply side. It is not the demand side that requires a monetary solution,” Balisacan said.
He said he was also wary of the impact of higher interest rates on the peso for that could make the local currency stronger and make the country’s exports more expensive, Balisacan said.
“A relatively weak peso can make the economy grow faster,” Balisacan said.
Despite downside risks to growth, Balisacan said the government is not giving up on its 6 percent-7 percent target for the year.


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Friday, April 28, 2017
ACCC action over milk - there may be more over eggs
It's great that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is taking Murray Goulburn to court for 'unconsionable conduct' in misleading dairy farmers over milk prices. Dairy farmers have been placed in an impossible position which has led to many being forced out of business. Politicians and bureaucrats have had a hand in this too. For years, dairy farmers have been told to 'Get Big or Get Out' so they have purchased adjoining farms and bought more cows to increase milk volumes for the factories. A similar issue is happening for egg farmers. Family egg farms may be forced to the wall by a political decision to allow intensive industrial producers to label eggs as 'free range. A decision has been made by all state and Federal Ministers for Consumer affairs to permit large-scale corporate producers running 10,000 hens per hectare to label the eggs they produce as 'free range'.


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NEW YORK, August 9, 2022 (Newswire.com) – Hy-Vee BB #:101759, a Midwestern retailer with more than 285 grocery store locations, is expanding its Scan & Go program that runs on FutureProof Retail (FPR)’s Mobile Checkout Platform to even more locations. Hy-Vee’s Scan & Go service launched at select Des Moines, Iowa, locations in 2021 and has since been implemented at several dozen Hy-Vee locations, with more on the way.
FPR’s solution allows customers to scan items with their phones, pay in the app and leave the store after scanning a QR code on their way out. Customers can also weigh produce themselves and simply scan a barcode on the scale screen. While shopping, customers see their basket total at any time and can bag items immediately. The app also applies all deals, promotions, coupons and perks to the shopping basket.
Hy-Vee states its Scan & Go service provides added convenience to busy customers who are “on the go.”
With FPR’s support, the retailer was able to set up the platform and integrate it with its existing systems in a matter of months. FPR integrated its scan-and-go solution with Hy-Vee’s existing point-of-sale and promotion systems, enabling customers to earn Hy-Vee Fuel Saver Rewards and use digital coupons while shopping with the app.
“Hy-Vee set a new record in driving adoption at launch, especially in its new flagship stores,” said Will Hogben, CEO of FutureProof Retail. “Hy-Vee is a leading innovator in retail technology and new store formats, and we are thrilled to be their partner for new checkout technologies.”
About FutureProof Retail
Founded by a group of impatient shoppers and award-winning developers in New York, FutureProof Retail (FPR) links online and in-store shopping through its mobile shopping solutions. FPR’s mobile platform provides retailers with touch-free scan & go and order-ahead retail solutions. FutureProof Retail offers unique and customizable solutions for retail verticals such as grocery, fashion, big box, convenience, micro-markets, stadiums, and airports. For more information or to schedule a demo, visit futureproofretail.com or contact firstname.lastname@example.org.
Hy-Vee, Inc. is an employee-owned corporation operating more than 285 retail stores across eight Midwestern states with sales of more than $12 billion annually. The supermarket chain is synonymous with quality, variety, convenience, healthy lifestyles, culinary expertise and superior customer service. Hy-Vee ranks in the Top 5 Most Trusted Brands and has been named one of America’s Top 3 favorite grocery stores. The company’s more than 90,000 employees provide “A Helpful Smile in Every Aisle” to customers every day. For additional information, visit www.hy-vee.com.


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Newly posted positions at Apple provide insight into the company’s ambitions for its future mixed-reality headset. Additionally, the business has been having trouble selecting a new head of design, AirDrop is unavailable in China,
and Covid lockdowns have reduced iPhone sales. Not to mention, Apple has a new chief information officer. Apple said last week in Power On that the wake phrase for Siri would be shortened from “Hey Siri” to simply “Siri.”
Apple Inc. has been working on a mixed-reality headset that it plans to release next year in the hopes of ushering in a new age in computing. Some of the device’s features have been leaked through the company’s job postings and personnel shifts. What follows is nothing new: The headset itself is expected to cost between $2,000 and $3,000 due to its high-end components, including a Mac-level M2 chip, more than 10 cameras mounted outside and within the device, and the highest-resolution screens ever included in a mass-market headset.
In addition, we know that the gadget will be powered by a new OS called reality, which will have mixed-reality adaptations of staple Apple apps like Messages, FaceTime, and Maps. Internal testing of the OS’s initial version, codenamed Oak, is nearing completion, and the new hardware should be ready sometime in 2019. The proposed name is also significant because it communicates the premium quality of the headset.
As I mentioned in August, Apple is rumored to be considering either “Reality Pro” or “Reality One” as a name for the upcoming device, given that the corporation is reportedly behind trademark registrations for both names. Given the name of Apple’s operating system and the existence of Apple’s existing augmented reality development tools like RealityKit, the “Reality” nickname makes logical.
More information about Apple’s next headset has been available thanks to recent job postings and personnel shifts within the company’s Technology Development Group (TDG). A recent uptick in postings for related positions suggests Apple is actively working to strengthen the device’s content.
The organization needs a software developer proficient in creating digital material for AR/VR settings, namely someone with a background in visual effects and game asset pipelines. Furthermore, the listings suggest that Apple is planning to create a video service for the headset that would include 3D content that can be played in virtual reality.
This would follow the company’s 2020 acquisition of NextVR, a VR content distribution platform that collaborated with artists and professional sports leagues. Apple is also on the lookout for engineers who can help with the creation of AR/VR creation tools. App Intents, which allow apps to interact with features like Siri and Shortcuts, look to be a priority for the company’s upcoming operating system.
One job description in the TDG division reads, “We are looking for a software engineer who will work on the App Intents framework to help design and implement solutions to unlock deep system intelligence, enable new developer tools, and facilitate novel user interactions from application data models which are leveraged by a variety of system services such as Shortcuts, Siri, Search, and more.”
The most intriguing job posting is one that emphasizes the creation of a 3D mixed-reality world, implying that Apple is developing a virtual environment compared to the metaverse (though don’t hold your breath waiting for Apple to officially adopt that word). At a recent event, its head of marketing declared, “a word I’ll never use Is’metaverse.'” Working with other developers to “create tools and frameworks to enable connected experiences in a 3D mixed-reality world” is described in this posting.
You’ll be “pushed to think outside the box” and “address tremendously tough and exciting challenges in the 3D application environment” by working closely with Apple’s UI framework, human interface designers, and system capabilities teams. With the release date rapidly approaching, Apple has also added two key members to the management team overseeing the device’s development: a former top leader on its self-driving vehicle crew and one of its most senior software engineering managers.
Mike Rockwell, Apple’s VP of AR/VR, and Dan Riccio, Apple’s ex-chief of all hardware, manage the team and consider this device to be their last joint effort. To emphasize the importance of his position, Riccio reports directly to CEO Tim Cook. Dave Scott, a former senior member of Apple’s self-driving car section, has rejoined the company as part of the recent hires.
Scott’s departure from the corporation came at the beginning of 2021 when a number of high-ranking executives in the automotive industry were leaving. He left for a while to lead Hyperfine, a health tech business that developed portable MRI scanners but eventually came back.
Scott has made a name for himself by helping the medical and robotics sectors get challenging technologies to market. His participation may indicate potential therapeutic uses for the headset in this area. Following that, Apple recently reassigned Yaniv Gur, a senior director of engineering, to the headset division.
When Apple acquired Roger Rosner, it’s vice president of applications and the creator of the iWork productivity tools, Gur came on board more than 20 years ago.bGur was in charge of engineering for all of Apple’s platforms’ iWork apps (Pages, Keynote, and Numbers) as well as Books, Notes, and News before he moved to the headset team.
Even though Geoff Stahl is in charge of the headset’s OS, the addition of Gur to the team makes me suspect that the business is working on a suite of productivity apps specifically designed for the headset. It would make sense to incorporate some productivity features,
similar to the approach taken by Meta Platforms Inc. and Microsoft Corp.’s HoloLens. While productivity hasn’t been a selling point for Apple’s competitors, it should be a part of any new augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR) platform.
Apple’s design team is losing talent, making it harder to find the company’s next Jony Ive. The design team at Apple, led by Jony Ive, conceived new products and established the company’s aesthetic guidelines. As I’ve distanced myself from Apple, though, the group began to fragment.
At least fifteen members of Ismail ve’s team have left since the release of the Apple Watch, leaving only a select few of the original personnel. This has made the process of finding a replacement for Ive, who continues to be a distraction, more difficult. Evans Hankey, his replacement in charge of industrial design, lasted only a short time.
Just three years into her role as group leader, she informed the corporation that she will be leaving at the end of the coming year. Although there are a few apparent candidates, such as Richard Howarth, Apple has yet to promote from the inside to fill the role of industrial design lead for the iPhone and Apple Watch.
After AirDrop was utilized in protests against the Chinese government, Apple imposed restrictions on its use within the country. Under the radar, Apple changed AirDrop in China such that iPhones can only receive files from random people for up to 10 minutes in iOS 16.1.1 and the most recent version of iOS 16.2. When using AirDrop with the “everyone” setting, there was previously no time limit. The transition was first implemented in China, and it’s significant because it will help reduce AirDrop spam,
which has been linked to incidents like hoaxed bomb threats on planes and the spread of pornographic material. So why launch it in only one region? Despite Apple’s assurances that the update will roll out worldwide in the future year (sometime in 2023), the fact that it was initially implemented in China in reaction to demonstrators using AirDrop to transmit anti-government content shows that the modification was made there.
Apple has been accused of bowing to Chinese government demands for changes to its goods and services for quite some time. Previously, Apple had banned access to its iTunes Store, premium podcasts, and Apple TV+ services in Taiwan. Additionally, the company removed third-party VPN apps from the App Store and the flag of Taiwan emoji from the keyboard. With Foxconn reporting severe Covid constraints in China, Apple has reduced its iPhone shipment forecast.
Apple is feeling serious repercussions from the recent Foxconn lockouts in Zhengzhou. The business has warned that production of the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max will be lower than expected, leading to longer wait times for customers. Apple probably issued the warning due to regulatory concerns, but the company didn’t say how many fewer handsets will ship than projected.bIts effects can already be felt by customers.
You won’t be able to get your hands on an iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max from the Apple online shop until the latter half of the month of December. The chances of finding the iPhone model, color, and storage capacity you want in an Apple retail store are slim to none. Just how long do you anticipate this continuing? It’s hard to say at this moment, however, keep in mind that even relatively small production issues can have a significant impact on the final number of units sent.
Facebook’s former CIO has joined Apple as its new CIO. Two senior Apple executives in the IS&T (Information Systems and Technology) division have announced their retirement. That created a rather sizable void.
Although it may not be the most exciting part of Apple, the division is crucial because it manages the company’s back-end infrastructure, which is necessary for services like the online store to function smoothly and facilitates communication between Apple’s employees, customers, and suppliers.
Tim Campos has been appointed as the new chief information officer at Apple, succeeding Mary Demby, who is leaving the company, and David Smoley, who was previously the vice president of software engineering.
A former chief information officer for the company formerly known as Facebook, he is not a household name but does have experience in the field. A calendar software he co-founded was purchased by Slack. Do better in your inbox: Join our new Cyber Bulletin newsletter mailing list.


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Facebook's first Portal smart speaker had a tepid reception, but the company is back for another swing with the new Portal and Portal mini.
The new duo look dramatically different to the OG Portal and Portal+, mimicking digital photo frames that can be stood in portrait or landscape orientations, and doubling down on Portal's biggest strength: video calling.
Hands on: Facebook Portal and Portal Mini review
Both the Portal and Portal Mini share the same 114-degree field of view, 13MP resolution camera and far-field four-mic array. The main difference here is the size: the Portal has a 10-inch display while the Mini's is just 8 inches.
Calls can be initiated with a "Hey Portal, call [name]". Facebook is also now adding WhatsApp video calling to Portal, though these can't be initiated by voice ‚Äď you'll need to start them using the touchscreen. Facebook says this is due to WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption ‚Äď supporting voice calling would mean sending contact details to Facebook's cloud servers.
That camera uses Facebook's AI to track people around the room and keep people in the frame. If there are multiple people in the room (and close enough, within the Portal's FoV) it will automatically zoom out to track them in the shot.
There's no end of AR tricks and games too, if that's your thing, from funny filters to interactive storybooks you can read to children.
You'll also be able to ask Portal things like the weather, or have it load up your morning dashboard, which (of course) also shows you which Facebook friends have their birthday that day. But Facebook's assistant is a little thin, so Alexa is also on board to round out the smart speaker features.
Both Portal speakers have two full-range drivers and two-inch woofers, but Facebook says the larger speaker will produce a better sound overall.
Facebook knows it's competing in a saturated market, and Andrew Bosworth, Facebook's AR and VR vice president, made no bones of this. "What we're most interested in is how people interact with other people, ideally with the help of these devices, and that's the market opportunity we see," he told us.
While some smart speaker makers are eschewing cameras altogether to allay privacy concerns, Facebook sees its camera technology as the killer app, and to its credit, Portal's best feature was its pan-and-zoom camera AI, which is back and better on the 2019 models.
But data privacy is still a big topic ‚Äď and might be Facebook's biggest challenge with Portal. Facebook knows it has to be transparent about this, and as such it's giving the users the option to opt out of voice training.
If they opt in, "Hey Portal" voice interactions will be stored on Facebook's servers, and some may be reviewed to help improve Portal, Facebook told us. You will also be able to hear and delete individual recordings, or all of them at once, in the Portal settings.
Bringing the price down is another way Facebook might win people over: the new Portal and Portal Mini cost $179 and $129 respectively. They'll start shipping on 15 October.
The Portal+ is staying in the lineup, which also includes the new Portal TV ‚Äď an Xbox Kinect-like device that turns your TV into a Portal interface.


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SEO is always changing. In this article we look at 3 ways you can improve your search engine optimization moving forward in 2019
When it comes to SEO some website owners don't realize the time investment it can take to achieve top rankings.
You don't need to buy an SSL certificate. With a little effort you can install a free, fully recognized SSL Certificate on your site in just minutes.
Over the past few weeks and months there has been much speculation and rumors surrounding changes coming in Google. Matt Cutts, the head of Google’s webspam team, has also hinted at changes to come. And while we don’t know when those will be, [...]
It is interesting how much bad information is out there when it comes to techniques and tactics which can have an impact on your site’s search engine optimization & marketing efforts. For example, there’s the myth that link building is bad, [...]
Last week I helped out someone whose website rankings had been dropping for no apparent reason. The site was properly optimized and they had been doing some non-aggressive link building which had been helping until about a month ago. It was a [...]
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This week will be the start of the Christmas shopping season in the United States. And while the Monday following Thanksgiving is usually the day people use their computers to purchase their Christmas gifts online, studies show that people are [...]