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2017 What Car? Car of the Year Award winners – where are they now?
In January we'll name the very best new cars at the 2018 What Car? Car of the Year Awards, but how have last year's winners stood the test of time?...
2017 What Car? Car of the Year Award winners – where are they now?
It's the accolade every car maker wants to win – and on Wednesday 23rd January 2018 we'll name the winners of the annual What Car? Car of the Year Awards.
Across 21 separate categories, we'll tell you which are the very best new cars on sale, from city cars to family cars, small and large SUVs, electric cars and even sports cars. Plus one will be crowned as our overall Car of the Year for 2018, recognised as moving the game on more than any other new model.
Before then, though, let's look back at our current champions from 2017's awards, as well as the newer cars hoping to knock them off their perches.
Best city car: Hyundai i10 1.2 Premium SE
Hyundai's small and frugal runabout has been our star in this category since 2014, impressing us with its classy interior and smooth engine. This year, though, there's a brand new Kia Picanto to consider, as well as class favourites including the Skoda Citigo, Seat Mii and Volkswagen Up.
Best small car: Skoda Fabia 1.2 TSI 90 SE
The Skoda Fabia has taken class honours here for three years running – such is the breadth of its talents. It remains a very tempting small car, too, although our preferred engine is now a peppy 1.0-litre petrol. There's also the new Seat Ibiza to consider, plus a new version of the UK's best-selling car, the Ford Fiesta.
Best family car: Audi A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI 150 Sport
We're big fans of the Audi A3, especially in five-door Sportback form. The sporty yet stylish 1.4-litre petrol model impressed us enough to win last year, but how will it fare against rivals including the recently updated Skoda Octavia and the premium BMW 1 Series?
Best small SUV: Seat Ateca 1.4 EcoTSI 150 SE
The Ateca was one of last year's surprises, in that it successfully de-throned the Nissan Qashqai as our favourite small SUV after the former's three-year reign. This year, we've broadened our SUV horizons to include a new family SUV category alongside existing small, large and luxury SUV categories, which means the Ateca's sibling, the Arona, is now in contention for this award while the Ateca itself moves up to the family SUV category. Key rivals here include the Renault Captur and Volkswagen T-Roc.
Best large SUV: Skoda Kodiaq 2.0 TDI 150 4x4 SE 7st
Last year, the new Skoda Kodiaq saw off stiff competition from the Mazda CX-5 and Land Rover Discovery Sport to be crowned as our champion in this category. This year, there's a new Audi Q5 to consider as well as Peugeot's revitalised 5008 and the updated Nissan X-Trail.
Best luxury SUV: Audi Q7 3.0 TDI 272 quattro SE
Cars in this category need to be comfortable over long distances, luxurious inside and have enough space to carry you and your family across entire continents and still emerging fresh at the end. Fortunately, the Audi Q7 has already proven it's among the best in this market, but now there's a new Land Rover Discovery just waiting to claim its throne, plus the storming Range Rover Velar to consider too.
Best MPV: Volkswagen Touran 1.6 TDI 115 SE
The global market for MPVs – and particularly diesel MPVs – is shrinking fast, but for those who don't want an SUV cars like the Touran still hold some appeal. Can the Touran make it a hat-trick of wins, though? Or will rivals like the Fiat 500L or Renault Grand Scenic prove to be better all-rounders this year?
Best estate car: Skoda Superb Estate 2.0 TDI 150 SE Technology
This more spacious version of the Superb is another winner that's held onto its title for some time, having been first crowned as our top estate in 2016. Its combination of classy interior, gargantuan space and smooth engines will be hard to top, but the new BMW 5 Series Touring will surely try, as will the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain.
Best hot hatchback: Ford Fiesta ST-2 3dr
The Fiesta ST has been our favourite hot hatchback for a long time now, but with the arrival of an all-new Fiesta this old model is no longer eligable. So, will 2018's winner be a premium rival such as BMW's M140i, a storming new contender such as the Hyundai i30N? Or perhaps last year's Reader Award Winner, the Honda Civic Type R?
Best convertible: Mazda MX-5 2.0 SE-L Nav
Mazda's latest MX-5 remains a truly fantastic convertible, and few rivals can match its sheer value for money or driving enjoyment, especially at what remains a very low price. New entries this year, though, include the Abarth 124 Spider and Audi A5 Cabriolet.
Best coupé: Audi TT 1.8 TFSI Sport
The TT's current run of victories in this category stretches back to 2015, and it remains one of our favourites in this class. It's entertaining to drive, practical enough to live with every day and has one of the finest interiors around. Will new rivals such as the Mercedes E-Class Coupé or Lexus LC prove to be more well-rounded contenders, though?
Best sports car: Porsche 718 Cayman 2.0
Despite not sounding as good as it used to, the 718 Cayman remains a terrific sports car, and even manages to represent value for money in a class where starting prices can quickly extend to six figures. Can it hold on to class honours for 2018, though? We've seen plenty of new contenders arrive, including the McLaren 570S Spider and the latest BMW M5 too.
Best electric car: Renault Zoe Q90 Z.E. 40 Dynamique Nav
A full year on from its win and the Zoe remains one of our favourite electric cars, thanks to its quiet driving style and low running costs. Its biggest challenger this time around is the new Nissan Leaf, which promises greater range and more comfort, plus there's an updated Volkswagen e-Golf to consider too.
You can also see how we've been getting on with running a Zoe on our long-term fleet.
Best executive car: Audi A4 3.0 TDI 218 Sport
The A4 was our overall Car of the Year in 2016, and clung on to its class honours last year in the hotly contested executive category. It's still a strong choice in this market, but new entries such as the Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport or Volkswagen Arteon could shake things up.
Best luxury car: BMW 520d SE
Last year, class stalwarts such as the Mercedes S-Class saloon and Rolls-Royce Ghost were swept aside by the storming new BMW 5 Series. Its interior quality shamed cars which cost double its price tag to own, and it shone dynamically too. The new 5 Series was so good, in fact, that it went on to become our overall Car of the Year winner for 2017.
The luxury car stakes remain strong this year, with the 5 Series facing a renwed challenge chiefly from the facelifted Mercedes S-class.


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How Turkey Home Grew Its Facebook Presence by 3 Million Followers Last Year Sponsored This content is created collaboratively with one of our sponsors.
Getting hacked unfortunately is almost the new normal. Why do companies that are hacked always say after the fact that they are strengthening security procedures? This has to be an extremely high priority for all e-commerce companies NOW. Otherwise your reputation and business is at risk.
And, it took the company three days from the time it learned of the hack to inform its community about the breach.
Kickstarter disclosed the hack in its blog on February 15, saying the hack “accessed information including usernames, email addresses, mailing addresses, phone numbers, and encrypted passwords.”
“Actual passwords were not revealed, however it is possible for a malicious person with enough computing power to guess and crack an encrypted password, particularly a weak or obvious one,” Kickstarter says.
The company says no credit card information was obtained.
Kickstarter apologized for the breach and said it has upgraded, and will continue to improve, security procedures. It advised users to change their Kickstarter passwords and to change their passwords on other sites where they use the same password.
It took Kickstarter three days from the time it learned of the hack from law enforcement authorities on the evening of February 12 to inform its community about the hack on February 15.
Of the delay, Kickstarter says: “We immediately closed the breach and notified everyone as soon as we had thoroughly investigated the situation.”
In 2013, Kickstarter projects attracted $480 million in funding from 3 million people, the company says.
Here are a videos from a few travel-related Kickstarter projects:

domain: news


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Posted By Matt Guillermo, Web Producer - bio | email
Shoppers waited in the cold last year for Black Friday. (Armando Navarro/FOX5)
LAS VEGAS (FOX5) -
Many bargain hunters in southern Nevada plan to hit the stores after Thanksgiving for the big price breaks on holiday items.
In anticipation, stores around the area are offering special open times, some as early as Thanksgiving night. Still, many other stores are preparing to welcome the long lines and big crowds on the morning of the ubiquitously-titled "Black Friday."
Here is a list of open times for popular shopping locations in the Las Vegas-area:
Galleria at Sunset. The Henderson shopping mall said a select number of stores plan to open at midnight on Black Friday. You can get a list of store opening hours at galleriaatsunset.com.
Las Vegas Premium Outlets North. The outdoor shopping plaza located near downtown Las Vegas will offer some store openings at midnight on Nov. 23. For a full list of store opening hours, you can go to premiumoutlets.com.
Las Vegas Premium Outlets South. Just like its sister complex to the north, the outlet mall located on Las Vegas Boulevard South and Warm Springs Road is offering midnight openings at select stores. You can go to premiumoutlets.com for more information.
Fashion Show Mall. The multi-story shopping mall has several stores opening at midnight on Black Friday. For a list of store openings, you can access thefashionshow.com/holiday-hours.
Town Square Las Vegas. The outdoor shopping district will have stores open at 7 a.m. on Black Friday. For the latest list of stores set to open after Thanksgiving, you can go to mytownsquarelasvegas.com.
Best Buy. A select number of locations plan to open at midnight on Black Friday.
Target. A selection of stores plan to open at 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving. You can see if a store near you is opening at that time at target.com and click on "Black Friday Sale." All other Target locations are expected to open at 4 a.m.
Walmart. The big box retailer plans to open its doors at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Thursday. You can see if a store near you is opening at that time at walmart.com.
Copyright 2012 KVVU (KVVU Broadcasting Corporation). All rights reserved.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 5:05 PM EDT2013-05-21 21:05:42 GMT
Officers arrested a man who threatened a Henderson bank with claims of a bomb in his possession, according to police. Henderson police reported the police situation at a Bank of America branch on S. BoulderMore >
Officers arrested a man who threatened a Henderson bank with claims of a bomb in his possession, according to police.More >
Tuesday, May 21 2013 3:05 PM EDT2013-05-21 19:05:40 GMT
The 15-year-old Las Vegas boy who died when he had his iPad taken from him is set to be buried on Friday. According to the father of Marcos Arenas, the teen's funeral will be held at St. Francis de SalesMore >
The 15-year-old Las Vegas boy who died when he had his iPad taken from him is set to be buried on Friday.More >
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:16 PM EDT2013-05-22 02:16:08 GMT
Residents in tornado-stricken Moore, OK, await news on missing love ones Tuesday, a day after a massive tornado devastated the city, killing at least 51. Rescuers worked all night, with particular attentionMore >
The tornado, with winds up to 200 mph, cut a 20-mile stretch as wide as two miles through the Oklahoma City metro area. The medical examiner's office reported 24 people died, including nine children. More >
Monday, May 20 2013 10:13 PM EDT2013-05-21 02:13:41 GMT
A high-speed crash on Sunday sent three teens to a hospital. One of them is listed in critical condition. The crash occurred in an area of the Valley known for speeding, the industrial zone located atMore >
A high-speed crash on Sunday sent three teens to a hospital. One of them is listed in critical condition. More >
Tuesday, May 21 2013 5:24 PM EDT2013-05-21 21:24:42 GMT
A man arrested Monday in northwest Arizona is accused of fleeing the scene of a wreck and breaking into a home after the incident. According to the Mohave County Sheriff's office, Alford James Hicks,More >
A man arrested Monday in northwest Arizona is accused of fleeing the scene of a wreck and breaking into a home after the incident.More >


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Ruum kids wear to replace 77kids at malls
By Kim Leonard
Published: Wednesday, November 7, 2012, 12:01 a.m.
Updated: Tuesday, February 19, 2013
The 77kids children's clothing label is apparently giving way to a new identity under its new ownership.
Signs in the front windows of the 77kids by American Eagle store Tuesday at The Mall At Robinson read, “Make room for Ruum American Kids Wear.”
American Eagle Outfitters Inc. sold its money-losing 77kids business, which debuted online four years ago, in August to Ezra Dabah, former CEO of The Children's Place. The deal included 22 stores, and in addition to Robinson, 77kids has a Ross Park Mall store.
At Robinson, a 77kids merchandise “blowout” is under way, signs say, with discounts at 20 to 40 percent. Dabah's purchase included a license to use the 77kids name through Jan. 15. Neither Dabah nor officials at either mall could be reached for comment.
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A district court ruled in favor of Pfizer and Northwestern University in a patent infringement case relating to Lyrica (pregabalin).
The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug made by Forest Labs for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the agency said.
Sabona of London is offering an in-store retail display as part of its marketing support program for retail partners.
Walgreens on Tuesday announced plans to work with the Department of Health and Human Services on the development of a medication therapy management program to help improve outcomes for HIV patients.
Walmart has launched an effort to help diabetes patients save on their disease management products.
Harris Teeter on Monday announced the grocer raised more than $222,500 in May during its donation card campaign for USO and Wounded Warrior Project.
CVS Caremark Charitable Trust has teamed up with the National Association of Community Health Centers through a $3 million multiyear partnership.
Supervalu pharmacies are offering the pertussis (Tdap) vaccine booster at the majority of its nearly 800 pharmacies, the company announced Tuesday.
The Little Clinic is continuing to expand its presence across Kroger stores with the addition of in-store clinics located in the Dayton, Ohio, area.
Odwalla has introduced a new line of vegetable and fruit juice blends.


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LAS VEGAS--Hulu CEO Jason Kilar was trying to make a point about why Hulu is Hollywood's best option against online piracy. But he needed something to illustrate copyright violations.
That was when YouTube appeared.
During a presentation Wednesday at the National Association of Broadcasters 2008 conference, Kilar stood in front of an image of a YouTube Web page that featured a clip from the TV show Felicity. Kilar told the audience, "the only way to get (Felicity) is from unauthorized sources."


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sony and ericsson have already shown that when the two companies join forces it tends to be a good thing. after all, sony ericsson is the fourth largest manufacturer of cellphones. considering the growing demand for mobile and broadband television, it makes sense for the two companies to explore opportunities in that market as well.
sony ericsson has become a well-known brand. that being said, it will be interesting to see whether the companies use their existing joint venture to expand into mobile and broadband television or whether a newly named joint venture will be created.
read more from reuters.
user comments 1 comment(s)
|failure>>>>> (10:17pm est sun nov 26 2006)
see the ipod video discussion thread. small screen = no viewers


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AMD has released information concerning an upcoming 'Exascale Heterogeneous Processor', or EHP. In a paper submitted to the IEEE AMD details an APU which packs a multitude of Zen cores, Greenland graphics and up to 32GB of HBM2 memory. It says this processor is an embodiment of its "vision for exascale computing". According to the source that first published the news of this paper, this new HPC/Workstation APU from AMD will be launched between 2016 and 2017.
The AMD Exascale Heterogenous Processor (EHP) sounds like a monstrously powerful APU. According to the paper, and as you can see from the diagram above, the EHP will pack 32 CPU cores. The cores are likely to be based upon the 'Zen' microarchitecture, being developed with Jim Keller at the helm. The graphics portion of the EHP is expected to be made from next generation Greenland graphics cores, however there is no detail about graphics core count.
With HBM2 employed in stacks of 4GB it is thought that the EHP can have a maximum of 32GB of RAM on board. The RAM stacks are connected to the processing units by a 2.5D interposer, similar to that used in recent 'Fiji' GPU products. Memory can be expanded by off-package DDR4 if required.
AMD thinks that its EHP could be popular with supercomputer customers who don't want to pay for custom components designed only for high-end HPC systems. It thinks that high-volume integrated CPU/GPU processor packages (like its APUs) could become a "natural choice for energy-efficient data-parallel computing". Unfortunately 2016/2017 sounds rather distant in tech terms and the wait for trickle down to enthusiasts and consumers will likely be even longer.


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By Daniel Hunter
The latest figures to come out of the retail sector provide further evidence that the consumer economy improved in quarter three.
The Retail Traffic Index (RTI), compiled by Ipsos Retail Performance, reveals that the number of shoppers to non-food stores rose by +8.5% quarter-on-quarter, significantly better than the five-year seasonal average rise of +5.8%. The gap against footfall levels in 2012 also continued to close.
The number of shoppers over the quarter was 5.0% down year-on-year, an improvement on the comparisons in both Quarter Two and One, when they stood at -6.1% and -5.3% respectively.
The strength of the quarter would have been stronger still if September’s figures had been better. Last month the RTI was weaker than it had been over the previous few. Retail footfall fell by 6.8% on August and by 6.1% compared to September last year.
“Despite the stumble in September, the trend over Quarter Three indicates that the retail sector is on the mend,” comments Dr Tim Denison, Director of Retail Intelligence at Ipsos Retail Performance.
“People’s appetite for shopping is returning as their confidence grows and the economy gradually improves. The strengthening housing market, the rising number of mortgage approvals and the Government’s Help to Buy scheme all generate an impetus that is particularly welcome news to home-owning consumers and DIY/homeware retailers alike.
"It’s likely to be a fillip to retail footfall and a trigger for consumer spending in the months to come, given that it is estimated by the Ernst & Young Item Club that one million people will move house this year.
“The retail recovery will inevitably be a slow one if it is to be sustainable. The crucial next stage for shoppers will be to see a return to growth in real earnings and disposable income levels. Until then we can expect to see some stutters in the monthly indicators, as we have seen in September’s footfall.
"We are half way there: inflation is falling and under better control. However, wage rises are still subdued and remain lower than inflation. Future upward movement will be reliant on recovery in business investment fuelling employment growth and pay awards. When we start to see this happening we can be more confident that the next stage of the retail recovery is just around the corner.”
The figures compiled by Ipsos Retail Performance show that the quiet bank holiday week got September off to a slow start, with many people electing to savour the final rays of a fine summer instead. The middle of the month was much as forecast, but the last fortnight failed to approach the heights of last year, when autumnal weather hit the nation and encouraged seasonal sales. Even noteable product launches such as the i-Phone 5S and the Grand Theft Auto Five game failed to lift overall footfall levels sufficiently to match last year’s levels, when year-on-year growth occurred for the first time in 2012.
Across the regions, there was less of a North/South divide in September than in recent months. The largest changes against August’s footfall came in South West England & Wales, as well as London & The South East, reflecting the importance of the end of the holiday season and back-to-school campaigns. Whilst footfall in Northern England and The Midlands remained at the bottom of the league table, the gap against the same month of 2012 narrowed.
Join us on


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Volvo Cars’ 360c Autonomous Concept Provides Replacement to Short-Haul Air Travel
Volvo autonomous vehicles will be more feasible for busy domestic routes.
Volvo Cars has recently revealed its 360c Autonomous Concept, which would change the way most of us travel long distances. Instead of wasting time at airport security, queuing, waiting and traveling in a noisy airline, you could simply book your own first-class private cabin in an autonomous vehicle, which is safe, connected, and fully electric. The vehicle will pick you from your location and drop you to your destination, which will save you a lot of precious time and allow you to stay relaxed.
The autonomous vehicles will not have a human driver, a steering wheel, and the combustion engine. The absence of these features will pave way for four possible uses of these vehicles; a sleeping environment, mobile office, living room, and entertainment space. This completely changes the way we will travel in the future.
“The business will change in the coming years and Volvo should lead that change of our industry,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president, and CEO of Volvo. “Autonomous drive will allow us to take the big next step in safety but also open up exciting new business models and allow consumers to spend time in the car doing what they want to do.”
Volvo Cars’ 360c Autonomous Concept puts it in direct competition with short-haul air travel services. These service providers are running a multi-billion dollar industry. However, the 360c will focus on shorter routes like about 300 kilometers. Additionally, Volvo autonomous vehicles will be more feasible for busy domestic routes like New York to Washington DC, Houston to Dallas and Los Angeles to San Diego. If you have to travel on these routes, you would surely know the hassle of traveling to the airport first, going through security, waiting in the queue to sitting in the aircraft and then actually travel to the destination.
“Domestic air travel sounds great when you buy your ticket, but it really isn’t. The 360c represents what could be a whole new take on the industry,” said Mårten Levenstam, senior vice president of corporate strategy at Volvo Cars. “The sleeping cabin allows you to enjoy premium comfort and peaceful travel through the night and wake up refreshed at your destination. It could enable us to compete with the world’s leading aircraft makers.”
“Autonomous vehicle concepts have a tendency to become a technology showcase instead of a vision of how people use it,” said Robin Page, senior vice president of design at Volvo Cars. “But Volvo is a human-centric brand. We focus on the daily lives of our customers and how we can make them better. The 360c is the next iteration of this approach.”
The 360c Autonomous Concept is not a final product and it needs a lot of discussions, ideas and answers before it actually becomes a viable option for long distance travels.
“When the Wright brothers took to the skies in 1903, they did not have a clue about what modern air travel would look like,” said Mårten Levenstam. “We do not know what the future of autonomous drive will hold, but it will have a profound impact on how people travel, how we design our cities and how we use infrastructure. We regard the 360c as a conversation starter, with more ideas and answers to come as we learn more.”


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HONOLULU (KHON2) — More than 9,000 households in Hawaii are currently enrolled in the FCC’s Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, which offers affordable internet service. It’s estimated that more than 100,000 households across the islands qualify for the program, and it is now accepting more applications.
“We know how critical internet access is for everyday life here in Hawaii – from remote work to distance learning receiving telehealth services,” said Mike McCartney, director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT). “There are thousands more residents who qualify to receive discounted internet service in their homes and can benefit from this program.”
The program provides monthly discounts of up to $50 towards broadband service, or up to $75 for households on Hawaiian Home Lands. Some families may also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer or tablet from participating internet service providers — that’s if they contribute a minimum of $10 towards the purchase price.
Hawaii households can apply for the program in three ways:
- Contact your internet service provider directly to learn about their application process.
- Apply online here.
- Call 833-511-0311 for a mail-in application and mail it with your proof of eligibility to: Emergency Broadband Support Center, P.O. Box 7081 London, KY 40742
Click here for more information about the program.


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Clay Nation, an NFT venture on Cardano, has launched a full-length music video for “Bron and Bronny,” which is a collaboration between distinguished rapper Snoop Dogg and Champ Medici, the alter ego of his son Cordell Broadus within the Web3 area.
The video was shot on the Wyoming-based ranch of Enter Output CEO Charles Hoskinson.
After all, the Cardano co-founder himself made an look within the video, driving an all-terrain Sherp automobile along with Champ Medici and ingesting champagne.
As reported by U.At present, Hoskinson agreed to function in Snoop Dogg’s new music video again in June. Champ Medici additionally invited some members Clay Nation group to affix them.
The Cardano-based NFT venture created clay animation sequences for the much-anticipated music video.


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Deal reached to end strike at Los Angeles ports
A deal has been reached to end a strike at the port of Los Angeles which has been disrupting the nation's busiest shipping complex for a week, the mayor of Los Angeles has announced.
Clerical workers had been fighting a proposal to increase staff outsourcing.
Federal mediators from Washington DC helped broker the deal, the mayor said.
The strike brought to a standstill three-quarters of the estimated $1bn (£621m) a day in cargo that passes through the port.
At question are proposed changes to rules that port managers say will enable them to make savings by not filling vacancies created by staff quitting or retiring, but which are no longer needed.
But union officials said this effectively meant outsourcing administrative jobs to places such as Taiwan and China, where shippers can pay lower wages for work that can be done by computer.
Negotiators reached a tentative agreement during Tuesday night, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said.
"The negotiating team has voted to approve a contract that they'll take to their members," he said after the meeting.
"I think it's appropriate to say 'mission accomplished'."
The mayor also confirmed that the shipping authorities would not outsource staff.
Union spokesman Craig Merrilees welcomed the agreement: "Really it was getting control on the outsourcing - ensuring that the jobs are here today, tomorrow and for the future."
Workers will return to work on Wednesday, another union official confirmed.
"I'm really pleased to tell all of you that my 10,000 longshore workers in the ports of LA and Long Beach are going to start moving cargo on these ships," said Ray Familathe, the vice president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, which represents about 800 clerks.
"We're going to get cargo moved throughout the supply chain and the country and get everybody those that they're looking for in those stores."
The agreement will not be finalised, however, until union members have passed their vote.
Some 10,000 unionised dockworkers joined the clerical workers during their protest, refusing to cross picket lines to load and unload cargo.
As a result, the strike left thousands of truck drivers at a standstill and threatened to create shortages for wholesalers and retailers around the country.


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Apple Spring Loaded 2021: New AirTag tracker unveiled, iOS 14.5 release date
The company has launched its AirTag tracking device, after several rumours and quite a bit of speculation about the device since it was first accidentally revealed by the company last year.
Apple on Tuesday launched its AirTag tracking device, after several rumours and quite a bit of speculation about the device since it was first accidentally revealed by the company last year. The device, which reminds one of Tile's Bluetooth tracker can be affixed to items like your bag or slipped into your wallet so you can quickly locate it.
Apple's new AirTag are essentially small tracking tiles that feature Bluetooth connectivity and Ultra-Wideband (UWB) support that allow Apple's devices to quickly calculate how far away the tracker is and inform the owner about their location. The presence of the UWB chip means that these trackers will provide more accurate results when used with the iPhone 11 and newer devices, which also feature a U1 ultra-wideband chip.
The device uses Precision Finding and helps you navigate directly to your AirTag. This plugs in to the Find My network. Apple has also added a useful feature to the Find My app, to alert you about the presence of any AirTag that you don't own “moving with you”. This should protect you from someone putting an AirTag or Find My compatible Bluetooth tracker into your bag or on your person.
While there were references to the AirTag in iOS 13, it was only earlier this year that Apple added a new “Items” tab on the Find My app on the latest beta versions of iOS 14.5, in a clear indication that the company intended to launch the devices this year. Users will soon be able to visit the Find My app as a centralised location to find not only their AirPods and other devices but also other objects attached to the new AirTags.
Apple says the AirTag will be available in one and four packs for ₹3190 and ₹10900, respectively, from apple.com and through Apple Authorised Resellers at the end of the month, while AirTag accessories like the Leather Key Ring in Saddle Brown, (PRODUCT)RED, and Baltic Blue for ₹3590 the Leather Loop in Saddle Brown and (PRODUCT)RED will retail for ₹3990.
iOS 14.5 integration
The support for AirTag is expected to arrive with iOS 14.5 that is scheduled to arrive before the end of the month, according to Apple. The much-awaited update will also bring support for an alternative to FaceID authentication on the iPhone with the help of an Apple Watch, while also marking one of the biggest privacy initiatives from the Cupertino company in recent memory - App Tracking Transparency.
Read more: Apple Spring Loaded 2021: Apple podcast service, Tags, iPad expected
Once iOS 14.5 rolls out, App Developers will be expected to ask users for their consent before tracking them across apps on their iPhones, a move that has been roundly criticised by the advertising industry and Facebook, but lauded by privacy advocates and experts around the world. The update is expected to roll out by April end.
Follow HT Tech for the latest tech news and reviews , also keep up with us on Twitter, Facebook, Google News, and Instagram. For our latest videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel.


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U.S. consumers increased their spending at retail businesses in December, buying more autos, furniture and clothing. The solid gain was evidence that consumers kept spending despite a tense debate in Congress over tax increases.
The Commerce Department says retail sales rose 0.5 percent in December from November.
A 1.6 percent jump in sales of autos and auto parts led all categories. Car companies closed out their best sales year since 2007.
Total retail spending would have been even stronger if not for a decline in gas prices. Excluding a 1.6 percent decline in gas station sales, retail spending increased 0.8 percent.
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Realme launched a new budget smartphone earlier this month in Vietnam. The company launched the Realme 9i, which is its first smartphone under the number series this year. Realme has teased the launch of its new budget smartphone in India. The company is yet to confirm the official launch date. A new leak by tipster Yogesh reveals the Realme 9i India launch date and pricing details.
The tipster claims that Realme will launch the phone on January 18. The device will arrive in India a few days after its Vietnam launch. Tipster Yogesh also claims that the phone will be priced slightly higher compared to the predecessor model, Realme 8i. Let’s take a look at the Realme 9i price in India, specifications and other details ahead of the launch.
Realme 9i price in India
Realme is expected to launch multiple variants of the 9i in India. According to tipster Yogesh, the phone’s base variant will be priced at Rs 14,499. It will be slightly higher compared to Realme 8i’s launch price of Rs 13,999.
For the price, users can expect 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. The device could also come with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. Considering that this variant too will get a Rs 500 hike over its predecessor, it could be priced at Rs 16,499 in India. Realme has not confirmed the pricing details yet. Therefore, it is advised to take the leaked pricing with a pinch of salt.
Specifications and features
The phone features a 6.6-inch IPS LCD display with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. There is a hole-punch cutout at the top left corner for the front camera. The display has a peak brightness of 480 nits and a 90Hz refresh rate as well.
Under the hood, there is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 SoC, which supports 4G VoLTE. The SoC could come with 6GB RAM and up to 128GB of internal storage. It packs a 5,000mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging.
On the back, there is a triple-camera setup. The phone has a 50MP main camera sensor and two 2MP sensors. One of the 2MP sensors shoots macro images, while the other is used for depth sensing. For selfies, the phone has a 16MP front camera.
There is a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and AI Face Unlock support. The phone runs Android 11-based Realme UI 2.0 out of the box. It is 8.4mm thick and weighs about 190 grams.
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Dell Technologies Inc. Technical Analysis – Capital Street fx- 04 Nov 2022
04 Nov 2022
Australian watchdog to take Dell to court for alleged misleading cost claims
Australia’s competition regulator said on Friday it would take the local unit of U.S. computer firm Dell Technologies (NYSE: DELL) Inc to court for allegedly misleading people about the cost of buying add-on monitors.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said between August 2019 to Dec. 16, 2021, Dell Australia allegedly made false or misleading representations on its website and the potential savings a customer got when an additional monitor was purchased with a computer.
“The ACCC alleges the monitors were not sold for the ‘strikethrough’ price for most of the relevant time and, in some cases, the add-on price shown was more expensive than if the monitor was bought on a stand-alone basis,” ACCC Commissioner Liza Carver said.
In an emailed statement, Dell said the issue affected about 2,100 customers due to an error in its pricing processes which led to incorrect information being displayed on its website about the pricing and savings associated with certain monitors.
The company added that it was actively working to update its systems to prevent the error from re-occurring.
DELL TECH. INC. Technical Analysis: Daily Chart
In the daily charts, DELL TECH. INC. is trading in an up-channel. DELL TECH. INC. is currently trading above 20 and 50 days SMA & below 100 days SMA.
RSI is in buying zone which indicates bullishness. MACD is currently above zero which indicates bullishness.
Its immediate support is 36.63 & the resistance level is at 38.26.
DELL TECH. INC. will trade in an up channel until there is a trend reversal.
How to Trade DELL TECH. INC. this Week:
DELL TECH. INC. will follow the uptrend until there is a trend reversal. So, remain bullish on DELL TECH. INC.


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CHICAGO -- Grainger recently reported sales results for the month of January 2011. Daily sales increased 10 percent versus January 2010. Results for the month included a 1 percentage point positive contribution from acquisitions and a 1 percentage point contribution from foreign exchange.
Excluding acquisitions and foreign exchange, daily sales for the company increased 8 percent. January 2011 had 21 selling days versus 20 in January 2010. The 2011 first quarter will have one more selling day than the 2010 first quarter (64 versus 63 days).


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Labs 15m Pantera TheBlock led a $15 million Series A round in 0x Labs, a company building a decentralized game engine. Pantera was one of the first VCs to invest in 0x Labs, and has backed several other startups in the blockchain and NFTs space. It has invested in over twenty companies to date.
Decentralized Blockchain Platform
Labs 15m Pantera TheBlock has recently invested $15 million in TheBlock, a decentralized blockchain platform. This funding will allow the company to expand its product and support other blockchains. It also aims to provide more services for hedge funds, as well as expand support for NFT swaps. Pantera Capital has also invested in Injective, which is developing a blockchain that is optimized for financial applications. The company is backed by several investors, including Benchmark Capital and Fortress Investment Group:
- The funding will enable the company to continue to develop its matching protocol and aggregation API.
- It will also help it expand its Matcha platform, which aggregates liquidity from several DEXs to offer the lowest price to users.
- The company frames its next steps as part of a broader effort to create a more open financial system.
Large Financial Institutions
Labs 15m Pantera TheBlock company plans to use the funding to expand its platform globally. It plans to add more exchange applications to its platform, develop an API, and launch a trading desk. He has previously raised $11 million in seed funding, led by Alphabet. It has also formed partnerships with large financial institutions and hedge funds.
Two-Thirds of its LUNA Holdings
Labs 15m Pantera TheBlock has exited two-thirds of its LUNA holdings last week. With the remaining portion staked through LunaX, a liquid staking token. However, the collapse of LUNA and Anchor could lead to trouble for Stablegains. With the support of Pantera Capital Labs, it plans to build out its product and expand support for more blockchains. The company will also expand its support for NFT swaps and add more features.
Matching Protocol & Aggregation API
Pantera TheBlock has raised $15m in new funding round, which will help the company build its matching protocol and aggregation API. The company plans to use the funds to continue building out its Matcha platform. Which aggregates liquidity from multiple DEXs, providing the best possible price for users. It frames its next steps as steps toward creating a more transparent financial system.
Pantera TheBlock is a fintech startup that’s behind the 0x protocol and decentralized exchange infrastructure. It plans to use the funds to further develop its platform and network and add new features like support for NFT swaps. It will also expand its service to hedge funds.
0x Labs, the startup behind the ZRX token and decentralized exchange protocol. Has raised $15 million in a Series A round led by Pantera Capital. The funds will be used to expand its service globally, develop a trading desk, and build out a professional aggregation service. In addition, the funds will help the company develop its 0x API. Which powers popular exchange apps like ShapeShift, MetaMask, and Zapper.
Large Financial Services Companies
0x Labs 15m Pantera TheBlock will use the funds to expand its service globally and build an API that will power popular exchange applications. The startup previously raised $11 million in seed funding from Alphabet and has partnered with hedge funds and other large financial services companies. With this funding, the company plans to build out its infrastructure and hire more employees. It also plans to expand its service to hedge funds. Enabling them to conduct their own transactions with the use of its platform.
Pantera CapitalMcSweeney, the institutional investor behind 0x Labs. Has raised $15 million in Series A funding to expand its decentralized exchange infrastructure and platform. The company plans to increase its global reach, launch a trading desk and expand the 0x Protocol API. It also plans to create a professional aggregation service for the decentralized exchange space.
Pantera Capital is an institutional investor focusing on blockchain and cryptocurrency. The firm recently invested in 0x Labs, a company that developed a decentralized exchange protocol and a ZRX token. Pantera Capital plans to use the money to increase its team, expand its platform and network, and develop an open-source protocol.
The 0x Exchange Protocol is a peer-to-peer protocol for the exchange of digital assets. With its help, companies can trade assets across multiple blockchains. And the company hopes to offer a platform with 50% lower transaction fees. Pantera Capital’s investment will allow the company to build out its team and accelerate its global expansion plans. 0x Labs also plans to launch a trading desk to help investors and users trade cryptocurrency.
Labs 15m Pantera TheBlock also plans to invest in more blockchain startups in the future. It plans to raise a series B funding round next year, as well as a larger growth-stage fund. The Pantera Capital Select Fund will focus on revenue-generating blockchain companies and raise funds to help them grow.


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The Chad Smokeshop 420 was not always welcomed with open arms.
This undated article from sometime in early 2010 highlights some of the difficulties The Chad Smokeshop 420 faced in the beginning…
by LAUREN DEN HARTOG
The Town of Athabasca’s Municipal Planning Commission (MPC) has asked for more information regarding a sign for the Chad Smokeshop 420, located on 49th Street, before granting a permit to owner Chad Wentworth.
Wentworth told the Advocate that the sign would include the name and logo of his store, which opened on Friday.
At the town’s MPC meeting on Tuesday night, Mayor Colleen Powell asked if the town could legitimately ask for changes to what Wentworth wanted on his sign .
“It’s sending a message that most people in the community don’t want sent,” said Powell , of the fact that ‘420’, a reference to April 20, Cannabis Day, would appear on the sign.
“My understanding is that it was chosen in place of a marijuana leaf,” said councillor Christine Nelson.
Powell told council that she had received several phone calls from concerned residents about the new store.
“Everything that is sold is legal, absolutely, but there is some concern that this is promoting drug use among young people. Whether or not this is true, that is the message that is coming to me,” she said .”I would prefer on the sign, that it would just say ‘smoke shop.”’
But chief administrative officer Doug Topinka pointed out that ‘420’ was part of the company name.
“It’s a small town and is this something we want sold in our community?” asked councillor Lionel Cherniwchan, who said the new store was different from having a massage parlor opening in town.
“Would I want a massage parlor adjacent to the building, probably no.”
Council also discussed granting a change of use for the store, which was formerly a clothing store.
“I kind of like dress shops. Why do we have to pass a change of use?” asked councillor Roger Morrill before asking if council could get legal advice on the matter .
“Basically this is a shop selling cigarettes. The actual paraphernalia is at the back of the store,” said councillor Christine Nelson.
Council did grant a change of use on the building, however, the motion to grant a sign permit for the new store was tabled until the next MPC meeting.


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Visual search engine Searchme has released a mobile application for Android. The Android is a mobile operating system by Google that is currently found on the G1 at T-Mobile.
"Searchme's visual search app is perfectly suited for Android users who are looking for ways to push the boundaries of what their smartphone can do," said Randy Adams, Searchme Founder and CEO. "This solves a real issue for mobile users - a faster, better way to do mobile search. The feedback we're getting from the mobile community is that they like being able to quickly preview web pages before deciding to take the time to load them in the browser."
Searchme released an app for the iPhone last November. The visual search engine launched last year and is experiencing 4 million unique visitors monthly. Searchme has seen growth of 180% since January 2009.
The Original Search Marketing Event is Back!
SES Denver (Oct 16) offers an intense day of learning all the critical aspects of search engine optimization (SEO) and paid search advertising (PPC). The mission of SES remains the same as it did from the start - to help you master being found on search engines. Early Bird rates extended through Sept 19. Register today!


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Before the CEO of Dine Brands Global detailed the first quarter results for his company’s two full-service brands, he had a blunt message for the investors and other industry observers who’d tuned in for the review. “I’d like to put to rest false news about the death of casual family dining,” Steve Joyce declared.
Dine Brands’ Applebee’s posted its best same-store stales gain since the beginning of 2011 and its best traffic performance in a decade. Comps for sister brand IHOP were up 1%. Denny’s were positive by 1.5%, Outback’s rose 4.3% and The Cheesecake Factory’s comps were better by 2.1%.
The recent results clearly suggest a break from the buzzard watch in 2017, particularly for casual dining. As Technomic’s Top 500 data shows, sales for casual brands were essentially flat, edging upward by a scant 0.4% after rising 1.4% in 2016.
And for the first time, more Top 500 casual restaurants closed than opened during 2017. The biggest news in the sector seemed to be bankruptcies and wholesale closings.
“I didn’t see a lot of life there whatsoever,” says Kevin Schimpf, manager of industry research for Technomic. “Casual dining was in its third year of decline.”
The question is, what happens now?
Schimpf acknowledges that a number of big casual players, from Outback to Applebee’s, posted positive sales comps and traffic gains at the start of 2018. But “a lot of them had pretty easy comparisons from last year,” he says.
Still, he says a polarization is underway in casual dining. Some small, young, regional brands showed head-turning sales growth: “Cooper’s Hawk ... grew 30%. Bareburger was up over 20%. Brass Tap, up over 20% as well,” he says. “It’s really the big national casual-dining players that seemed to be struggling.”
Regardless of size, gainers seemed to share certain characteristics. “Most of them don’t feel like chains,” Schimpf says. “They’re not so concentrated that you’re likely to see a second unit in your area.” They also make their bars the star, and “tend to have a lot of ethnic items on the menu without being an ethnic concept.”
And size does matter. “If you’re operating with 40, 50 locations, it’s a lot easier to turn on a dime than it is for an Applebee’s or a Chili’s,” Schimpf says.
Some family-dining strength
“We weren’t really seeing that in the [family-dining] side,” Schimpf says of the edge smaller casual chains enjoyed. “The biggest of the big, they actually did OK—IHOP, Denny’s, Cracker Barrel.”
Overall, Technomic pegged the segment’s sales growth at 2.1%, up from 1.2% in 2016.
Although the category killers fared well, the head-turning growth came from regional players. First Watch, the daytime-only chain, generated a sales increase of 32%. Black Bear Diner saw a rise of 22%, and little-known Metro Diner enjoyed a 70% increase.
Family-dining expansion slowed a bit, with overall unit count increasing by 0.7%, after a 0.8% creep in 2016.
But, like the retraction of casual dining, that might be a blessing in disguise, Schimpf says. “Saturation is one of the key challenges right now,” he says. A brake on expansion and the pruning of underperforming units will be beneficial.
“Everyone is struggling for traffic right now,” he says. “There are just too many seats.”
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PayPal will return to the NASDAQ as PYPL
PayPal will return to the NASDAQ stock exchange in the second half of 2015 using its original ticker symbol PYPL, according to an announcement from PayPal President and CEO Designee Dan Schulman.
Schulman says: “I’m honored and thrilled that PayPal is returning to its roots as an independent company. In the second half of 2015 we’ll once again be publicly traded on NASDAQ with our original stock ticker symbol PYPL. This is a meaningful symbol for the company because it represents our unbroken commitment to the spirit of the original vision that sparked the launch of PayPal 17 years ago.
It’s been a remarkable journey since then. And today, the potential to make money work better for people has never been greater.
We’re in possibly the greatest period of change and transformation in the history of money and financial services. Everything about how commerce works is in flux – how people shop; how merchants sell to consumers; how people interact with financial institutions; the very nature of money itself. Every one of these things is being reimagined on a global scale. No company is in a better position to deliver the benefits of this transformation to consumers and merchants – and the resulting value to shareholders – than a newly independent, publicly traded PayPal.”


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US House passes China currency sanctions bill
The US House of Representatives has backed legislation that would pave the way for trade sanctions on China.
The Democrat-backed bill passed by 348 to 79, and targets countries that hold down the value of their currencies, as many accuse China of doing.
To become law, the bill would also need to be passed by the Senate - unlikely before November mid-term elections - and then signed by President Obama.
China said the bill contravened World Trade Organization rules.
"Starting a countervailing investigation in the name of exchange rates does not conform with relevant WTO rules," commerce ministry spokesman Yao Jian told China's Xinhua news agency.
The White House did not formally back the proposed new law.
But it did provide advice to legislators to ensure the bill did not conflict with WTO rules.
Earlier on Wednesday Mr Obama said: "The reason that I'm pushing China about their currency is because their currency is undervalued.
"That's not the main reason for our trade imbalance but it's a contributing factor."
The US accuses China of keeping its currency, the yuan, artificially cheap against the dollar in order to give its exports an unfair price advantage.
China has begun recording increasingly larger trade surpluses again since the global recession ended last year.
The US has similarly slipped back into trade deficits, despite weak growth and near-10% unemployment.
"We cannot rely on the Chinese government to voluntarily do the right thing," said a Republican sponsor of the bill, Tim Murphy. "The expiration date for appeasement has long since passed."
But the bill is not universally popular in the US and has been opposed by the US Chamber of Commerce, among others, who say it will do more harm than good to job creation and growth.
The draft legislation would require the US Commerce Department to determine the extent to which a currency is undervalued, in any case of unfair trade practices brought to it.
In August, the department decided to drop a more general investigation into the value of the yuan, despite deciding that China had unfairly subsidised its aluminium exporters.
Promises of 'flexibility'
Meanwhile, the Chinese central bank promised to make the exchange rate more flexible, but without specifying what measures it would take.
"[China will] further improve the yuan's exchange rate regime based on market supply and demand, with reference to a basket of currencies," the People's Bank of China said in a quarterly report released on Wednesday.
The reference to a "basket of currencies" may be encouraging for the US, as the dollar has weakened against other major currencies in recent weeks.
Under pressure from the US, China abandoned its fixed exchange rate to the dollar in June.
However, the exchange rate to the dollar is controlled by the People's Bank of China, which sets a daily rate, and since abandoning the peg, Beijing has only allowed the yuan to appreciate about 2%.


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Monday, Sep 26, 2022 | Safar 30, 1444
The busiest year for hotel openings leading up to 2020 is forecast to be 2017
Summer offers boost hotel sector performance, GCC still main source market
Porsche is the most listed luxury car on the platform since January this year.
Small businesses have a better chance to succeed through social media compared to their larger counterparts


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Here’s a date for your diary — 7th October. The pianist Alexandra Dariescu will be performing “The Nutcracker and I”... View Article
Tag Archive: festival
Etsy, the global online marketplace for vintage and handmade items, has its UK headquarters in Summers Street.
This year’s Clerkenwell Design Week will feature a brand new lighting venue.


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The Fragrance Foundation has revealed its 2014 roster of finalists, which will be narrowed down at the Finalist Breakfast, held on April 11, at the Mandarin Oriental in New York. At the event, which will be emceed for the second year by actress Christine Baranski, Michael Gould, former Bloomingdale’s chairman and chief executive officer, will be named the Hall of Fame Honoree. And Carlos Benaim, master perfumer at International Flavors & Fragrances, will receive the Perfumer of the Year Lifetime Achievement award. The final winners will be revealed at The Fragrance Foundation Awards on June 16 at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall.
“I see things on the hanger and I’m, like, ‘I never knew that color worked on me.’ It’s things you necessarily wouldn’t choose to wear, but once you put them on, you see why Janie is who Janie is." — Lily Collins on working with former "Mad Men" costume designer, Janie Bryant on creating looks for her role as Celia Brady's in Amazon series, "The Last Tycoon." 📸@jilliansollazzo #wwdeye
EXCLUSIVE: Sarah Rutson has been tapped to Build New American Fashion Group. The parent of Joie, Equipment and Current/Elliott hired the merchant to rev up its brands and expand its portfolio into designer, beauty and lifestyle categories. Read more on WWD.com, link in bio. #wwdfashion
Michael Kors' $1.3B Jimmy Choo deal has the company squaring off with Coach Inc. as both seek to build American powerhouses. Coach bought Stuart Weitzman in 2015 and Kate Spade just two weeks ago, but Michael Kors' acquisition may be putting pressure on its rival in the new push for scale. #wwdnews (📷: George Chinsee)
Meet actress Lucy Boynton, who plays opposite Naomi Watts in the recently released Netflix series "Gypsy." Boynton stopped by WWD to talk about her upcoming projects and her nomadic lifestyle. Get all the details on WWD.com. #wwdeye (📷: @dandoperalski)


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Should Nike buy Peloton…?
More than one company is reportedly interested in buying Peloton. Is Peloton actually for sale? That’s not yet clear. But this much is: Peloton’s stock is down more than 80% over the last year, it has run into a series of problems with its products and it seems to be a company in disarray. It was a $50 billion company a couple of years ago, and its market cap has dropped to about $7.5 billion. And that’s after a big jump that came from the acquisition rumors.
The Future of Solo Capitalists
As brilliantly articulated by Nikhil Basu Trivedi in his canonical piece, “The Rise of the Solo Capitalists,” a new wave of investors has emerged that manage large capital bases and win allocation over storied funds. Conventional wisdom suggests that these solitary operators succeed primarily by better empathizing with founders and moving more quickly – venture capital’s nimble, darting speed boats carving circles around incumbents’ slow-moving frigates.
Lake Oswego software maker names 2 to C-level roles
Lake Oswego risk and compliance software maker Navex Global added two new members to its executive leadership.
Whether Remote Or On-Site, Here’s How The Hottest Early-Stage Startups Compare
Remember the days when working at a hot early-stage startup meant trekking to an office in a major tech center like Silicon Valley or Boston?
10 Black Founders Share Their Biggest Entrepreneurial Challenges
In honor of Black History Month 2022, we are spotlighting 10 Black entrepreneurs who are part of the Elevate Capital portfolio. We asked these inspiring founders, “What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced during the past two years, and how did you overcome them?”
Lewis & Clark’s incoming president on inspiring a new generation of students
A California native, Holmes-Sullivan came to Lewis & Clark in 2019 from the University of California, where she served as vice president for student affairs. Prior to her time at the University of California, though, Holmes-Sullivan spent 27 years at the University of Oregon, working her way up from a position as a clinical coordinator in the counseling center to vice president of student life.
Oregon State University Advantage Accelerator: Iterate
Iterate is a four-workshop program, offered in a hybrid, online format. The Accelerator offers Iterate throughout the year, roughly once per school term. The program is open to community members and OSU students, researchers, and staff to inform and prepare them on essential aspects of starting a successful business venture.
The Company-Building Cornerstones Every Founder Needs to Focus On
Had Dharmesh Shah kept a promise to his wife, HubSpot may have never come to fruition. “I had sold a couple of startups and joined the grad program at MIT Sloan to figure out my next move,” he says. After a decade of long hours and startup sacrifices, he assured his wife that he was done with his founder journey. Then, just a few months into his time at MIT, he met Brian Halligan.
Portland fintech lands first bank partnership with online institution
Portland fintech startup Bumped launched its first bank partnership with Ogden, Utah-based online bank TAB Bank. It’s the first of what is expected to be several partnerships this year as the startup pushes into the market.
Portland security startup snags $4.5M seed round
Portland cybersecurity startup DeepSurface raised a $4.5 million seed round after hitting its sales and revenue targets for its software.
DeepSurface Security Secures $4.5M for Business Expansion
DeepSurface, the award-winning, automated risk analysis and prioritization company, today announced that it raised $4.5 million in a seed funding round. The funding round was led by Differential Ventures, an artificial intelligence and cyber security seed venture fund. Key investors include Osage Venture Partners, Ginossar Ventures and Peninsula Ventures.


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Swiggy released an advisory for its delivery partners through its dedicated app last weekHIGHLIGHTS
- Swiggy released customer advisory detailing coronavirus-centric measures
- The advisory highlighted was sent to Swiggy customers on email
- Zomato is also claimed to have shared “best practice” advisories
Swiggy on Wednesday released a customer advisory to detail “proactive measures” it is keeping in place to mitigate the coronavirus outbreak. The latest advisory, which has been sent to Swiggy customers through an email, comes a week after the Bengaluru-based company informed its delivery partners about various safety measures through its dedicated app. The customer advisory noted Swiggy’s delivery partners were continually being trained to minimise spreading of Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that causes COVID-19 disease. Similar to Swiggy, rival Zomato also claimed to have shared “best practice” advisories with its employees as well as restaurant and delivery partners.
“As COVID-19 becomes a matter of global concern, we’re taking some proactive measures to help minimise the chances of spread of the coronavirus. The safety of our customers, employees, delivery partners and restaurant partners has always been a matter of top priority for us – now more than ever before,” Swiggy wrote in its customer advisory.
The advisory also pointed out that the company is providing free medical consultation to its delivery partners noticing any symptoms associated with COVID-19.


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15 Nov Sustainable fashion: Akina releases a new swimwear collection for the summer
Akina — a fashion brand founded by Leatitia Breedt in 2016 — is a South African independent online store, owned and operated by a small team of women in Cape Town. The brand’s newest collection of swimwear, HAZE, uses a dreamy, soft palette and focuses on minimal design, the use of stripes and front tie details.
Designed and manufactured in their factory in Cape Town, the brand only uses recycled and reclaimed resources for their garments. Akina wants to create a world in which looking good and being conscious of the environment can co-exist, inspiring “a sustainable way to be fashionable”. Leatitia adds. Having shown at South African Fashion Week earlier this year and appearing in Women’s Health this October, Akina is well on their way of becoming a household name.


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stryker corp (SYK) Key Developments
Stryker Eyes Acquisitions
Jan 14 15
Stryker Corporation (NYSE:SYK) is looking for acquisition opportunities in Europe. Kevin Lobo, Chief Executive Officer of Stryker, speaking at the 33rd JP Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, CA, said Stryker was in a very strong cash position that would allow it to make acquisitions that are 'small, medium or even large'.
Stryker Corporation Reports Preliminary Unaudited Consolidated Sales Results for the Fourth Quarter and Year Ended December 31, 2014; Provides Preliminary Earnings Guidance for the Fourth Quarter and Year Ended December 31, 2014; Provides Earnings Guidance for the Fiscal Year 2015
Jan 13 15
Stryker Corporation reported preliminary unaudited consolidated sales results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2014. Preliminary net sales for the fourth quarter were $2.6 billion, increased 6.1%. Excluding the impact of foreign currency and acquisitions, preliminary net sales increased 5.5% in the fourth quarter. Fourth quarter results include one less selling day, which negatively impacted sales by approximately 1%.
For the full year, the company reported preliminary net sales of $9.7 billion, increased 7.3%. Excluding the impact of foreign currency and acquisitions, preliminary net sales increased 5.8% for the full year.
The company now projects preliminary 2014 adjusted diluted net earnings per share to be in the range of $4.72 to $4.74, an increase of 5.1% to 5.6% over adjusted diluted net earnings per share of $4.49 in 2013. The full year negative foreign exchange impact was approximately $0.15 per share, while the fourth quarter includes a negative impact of approximately $0.06 per share or $0.02 to $0.03 per share worse than previously disclosed during third quarter earnings call.
For the fourth quarter of 2014, the company expects diluted net earnings per share of $0.61 - $0.70. Adjusted diluted net earnings per share is expected to be $1.43 - $1.45.
Based on the current exchange rates, the company expects 2015 adjusted net earnings per diluted share to be negatively impacted by approximately $0.20 per share, which compares to prior estimate of $0.10 - $0.12 per share based on foreign exchange rates at the end of the third quarter.
Stryker Corporation Presents at 33rd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, Jan-14-2015 08:00 AM
Jan 8 15
Stryker Corporation Presents at 33rd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, Jan-14-2015 08:00 AM. Venue: Westin St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco, California, United States. Speakers: Kevin A. Lobo, Chairman.
Stryker Reportedly Plans Offer For Smith & Nephew
Dec 23 14
Stryker Corporation (NYSE:SYK) is planning a takeover offer for Smith & Nephew plc (LSE:SN.), according to people with knowledge of the matter. Stryker plans to offer a significant premium to Smith & Nephew’s current share price, with one of the people saying it could be about 30%. Stryker is not planning a tax inversion because of the limited tax benefits and political risk, said one of the people, who asked not to be identified because deliberations are private, reported Bloomberg. The bid is still being finalized and the timing could change, said the people. There’s also a chance that Stryker may decide against an offer, one of the people said. Representatives for Stryker and Smith & Nephew declined to comment, reported Bloomberg.
Osiris Therapeutics, Stryker Corporation Enter Strategic Partnership to Develop Viable Bone Matrix
Dec 22 14
Osiris Therapeutics said it has entered into an exclusive, worldwide partnership with Stryker Corporation for the commercialization and development of OSIR's viable bone matrix tissue form. The agreement provides SYK with exclusive, worldwide rights to OSIR's viable bone matrix under the name BIO4. OSRI will be responsible for the manufacturing, continued research and product improvement activities while SYK will be responsible for the commercialization and marketing of BIO4. The companies also said that to demonstrate the differentiating benefits and ensure the continued success and growth of this innovative product, they will collaborate on the design and conduct of future clinical development programs.


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Will freight transport and logistics become safer, more effective or integrated as a result of automated technologies on the market? Find out by watching the first LEVITATE webinar!
The first LEVITATE webinar on 23 April was framed around the opportunities and challenges that freight transport is facing as a result of innovations in automated technologies. Looking at the current situation we are living in, discussions were also focused around the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on the sector. Furthermore, expected changes in the implementation and operation of freight and logistics systems in the post-COVID times were on the table.
LEVITATE has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 824361.


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Four months after the City of Windsor opposed the region’s first retail cannabis store application, city councilors on Tuesday unanimously supported the second shop to file for provincial approval.
Following a nearly 90-minute in-camera session, councillors voted without public deliberation to submit positive feedback to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario regarding ShinyBud Cannabis Co.’s application to open a store across from Tecumseh Mall.
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“It’s an interesting step moving forward throughout the city,” said Coun. Gary Kaschak following the special council meeting. His ward, Ward 8, includes the ShinyBud location at 7833 Tecumseh Rd. E.
“I feel that it checks most of the boxes that we’re looking for as far as building-wise, parking setbacks, (being) away from schools, addiction centres and whatnot. I think it’s a good step forward and obviously my council colleagues feel the same with the way the vote went.”


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The Per4mance Trak dashboard enables advertisers to view and analyze real-time campaign data, and drill down to answer unlimited questions and yield actionable insights.
San Mateo, Calif. (PRWEB) September 30, 2014
Self-service dashboard allows advertisers to drill down, analyze and attribute
4INFO enables precise, purchase-based ad targeting in mobile and online for national brand advertisers, with ability to attribute sales lift to campaign ad impressions
4INFO — the fast-growing technology company solving the challenge of mobile attribution for national brand advertisers — today announced its launch of Per4mance Trak, a real-time insights dashboard for mobile media advertisers. This new technology gives advertisers self-serve access to detailed campaign data about their mobile ad campaigns.
Using Per4mance Trak, mobile advertisers are able to explore their campaign data in-depth and in real time, versus waiting to receive standard reports that may not include the kind of detail they want to see. With Per4mance Trak, they can see how a campaign is performing at any given moment in time, including number of impressions, number of households reached, click data, percent of impressions delivered while at home vs. away from home, DMA breakdowns, device type and more.
“Advertisers are constantly seeking new insights into their mobile audience,” said Tim Jenkins, CEO of 4INFO. “The Per4mance Trak dashboard enables advertisers to view and analyze real-time campaign data, and drill down to answer unlimited questions and yield actionable insights.”
4INFO’s AdHaven Bullseye flagship advertising platform has tied 152 million mobile devices to 101 million U.S. households. Unlike competing solutions that can only infer about ad targeting, 4INFO’s ability to match a mobile device to a household allows advertisers to know precisely which household they are targeting with their mobile ad campaigns.
“No other platform comes close to the level of precision and accuracy in targeting with the scalability that national brand advertisers need. Now, with Per4mance Trak, we’re also offering the in-depth data analysis and insights advertisers need in real time to track campaign performance, attribute the results and measure the return on their mobile ad spend,” Jenkins said.
4INFO is a fast-growing mobile technology company solving the mobile attribution challenge for national brand advertisers to measure the ROI that matters most: sales lift at the cash register. A privately held company, 4INFO’s brand ad revenue tripled in 2013 over 2012 — and continues to experience exponential growth. 4INFO’s patented mobile technology has tied 152 million mobile devices to 101 million U.S. households. 4INFO’s flagship product — AdHaven Bullseye — enables advertisers to target consumers with the same precision as online and direct mail advertising. AdHaven Bullseye anonymously matches mobile device data to household-level purchase data providing the ability to measure actual sales results from a mobile ad spend. Launched in March 2013, 4INFO’s AdHaven Bullseye has already powered mobile ad campaigns for more than 140 national brands with impressive accuracy and results: average sales increases of 7.5%, ROI averaging 382% and as high as 823%, and market share increases at the expense of competitors. 4INFO collaborates with the most trusted 3rd party data providers of purchase and lifestyle data — including Acxiom, Nielsen, and Nielsen Catalina Solutions. On the forefront of mobile innovation since 2004, 4INFO is headquartered in San Mateo, Calif., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston. Learn more at http://www.4INFO.com.


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Superdry has launched its ‘Superdry My Way’ campaign (#SDMyWay) for AW20 with a holistic TikTok strategy that combines a hero ambassador, influencer content, digital ads and a viral dance challenge via influencer agency and TikTok specialists Born Bred Talent.
In collaboration with Universal Music NZ artist eleven7four, #SDMyWay launched alongside the hit single “Where It Hurts (feat. Tayla Parx)” as the soundtrack of the world-first TikTok campaign.
The revolutionary campaign, led by Australia’s queen of TikTok Sarah Magusara, kicked off with a viral dance challenge to eleven7four’s new international single, and content has already reached 1.2 million video views in three days.
Off the back of a handful of successful TikTok activations with Born Bred Talent, Superdry’s head of marketing and PR Matthew Iozzi, said the combination of Sarah Magusara, the top TikTok creators in Australia and New Zealand, eleven7four’s track, strategic ad placements and a data acquisition aspect will give the campaign a 360 degree touchpoint.
Says Iozzi: “Both the campaign and the single talk about celebrating individuality which is the crux of the Superdry brand.
“The #SDMyWay challenge is about injecting your personality into the brand. We want to celebrate the unique and different. We create the clothes, you create the look and the story.”
Born Bred Talent founder and director Clare Winterbourn said with a surge of 1 million new Australian and New Zealand TikTok users on the platform since the start of the COVID-19 lockdowns, it’s the perfect time for brands to ramp up TikTok campaigns in the region: “TikTok is having a moment right now and we’re thrilled to continue to work with Superdry to drive incredible results for the business and effectively use TikTok to make an impact.
“We have engaged over 57 of the top TikTok creators from Australia and New Zealand to participate in the #SDMyWay campaign, and they have a combined global reach of 62 million followers.”
TikTok is fast becoming an opportunity for the music industry to launch artists and reach a global audience quickly, so it was a no brainer for eleven7four to team up with Superdry and lend its sound to the viral TikTok campaign.
Says Shingi Murare, one half of the eleven7four duo: “It’s crazy to see how quickly Tiktok has blown up. It’s completely changed the way that the youth are discovering music, and what we love about it is that it’s a space where anyone can be creative, which is so cool to see.”
TikTokker Sarah Magusara, who has 13 million followers, said being involved in campaigns like #SDMyWay is an opportunity to bring like-minded people together to celebrate individuality and have fun: “I’m so thrilled to be involved in this campaign and to continue to work closely with Superdry on TikTok – there is so much potential.”
Born Bred Talent launched Superdry onto TikTok in 2019 with the brand’s first ever TikTok activation and several nation-first campaigns in a 16-month strategy roll out.


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Using cash in the UK could soon become impossible if more banks close and shops stop accepting it, Bank of England warns
- Closing banks could mean retailers stop accepting cash as they can't deposit it
- It became more popular to pay with a debit card than cash in 2017 in the UK
- About 2.2million people rely mostly on cash for everyday spending and 1.3million don't even have a bank account
Families could soon find it impossible to use cash as bank branches disappear and shops stop taking it, a Bank of England official has warned.
Although use of paper money is declining, millions of people will always want to use it, says chief cashier Sarah John.
She warned many are at risk of losing access to cash without urgent action.
Using cash in the UK could soon be a thing of the past, with 84 per cent of payments expected to be made by card by 2027
Miss John said: ‘In order for cash to remain a viable payment method, the public needs access both to withdraw cash and to deposit cash. And if retailers cannot easily deposit the cash they receive from customers, they may choose to stop accepting it.’
Speaking at a conference in Dubai, Miss John said it became more popular to pay with a debit card than cash in 2017 in the UK. By 2027, only 16 per cent of payments will be made with traditional money, she said. But 13billion payments a year are still made with cash – more than a third of the total.
About 2.2million people rely mostly on cash for everyday spending – 4 per cent of the adult population. And 1.3million people have no choice because they do not have a bank account.
More than 6,000 bank branches have closed since the late 1990s. Thousands of free ATMs are also disappearing due to a cut in fees paid to independent operators by banks.
And some shops are choosing to go cashless due to the costs of handling coins.
The Bank is committed to helping people carry on using cash for as long as they want to, Miss John said.
Chief cashier Sarah John said it became more popular to pay with a debit card than cash in 2017 in the UK


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Public Health England has issued a letter to supermarkets saying that daffodils should not be in the fruits and vegetables aisles, so people don't think they are food and actually eat them.
According to the Daily Express, the letter notes that daffodils have often been confused for garlic chives, which are used in Chinese recipes. And if people eat the daffodils, there can be some pretty serious side effects.
Last year saw 27 cases in which the National Poisons Information Service received calls about daffodil poisoning. And there have been 63 cases in the past six years of people getting sick after they eat daffodils. As BBC News reports, daffodils contain a toxin that induces vomiting if people eat them.
Professor Paul Cosford, the director for health protection at Public Health England, has now written a letter to supermarkets to explain the dangers of eating daffodils.
"Daffodils are dangerous if eaten and poisoning can occur as a result. We are aware of an incident in Bristol a few years ago in which some shoppers, for whom English was not their first language, bought daffodils and cooked the plants believing them to be something else."
In an effort to lower the number of cases, Cosford is advising supermarkets to have the daffodils on display in other sections, so people don't confuse them for food.
"We are asking stores to ensure daffodils, both the bulbs from which they sprout and the cut variety too, are displayed well away from the produce or fruit and vegetable area. Such a move will, we hope, produce a separation in shoppers' minds that will help to stop them thinking daffodils are edible."
But some have been critical of Cosford's letter, such as Wales' Ukip MEP Nathan Gill.
"[This is] the dreaded hand of state interference. We would hope all Welsh consumers are rightly annoyed our national flower is buried away from sight like a pack of cigarettes due to ridiculous health and safety rules."
Daily Express columnist Ann Widdecombe was also critical of Cosford wanting daffodils to be stored somewhere else.
"This country is supposed to be in austerity so I think we could start to save a bit of money on this sort of rubbish. Do they honestly think the public doesn't have any common sense? Do they think Britons have never seen daffodils before?"
Even people on Twitter have chimed in on the notice to not eat daffodils.
Britain once ruled the seas & built an Empire - now the shops have to move the daffodils away from the fruit & veg so people don't eat them
— tom jamieson (@jamiesont) February 7, 2015
People who eat daffodils don't appear to know their onions.
— Dave (@LilyThePurr) February 8, 2015
If people don't realise you shouldn't eat daffodils then they deserve to get sick
— Noorin Rodenhurst (@noorinrod) February 8, 2015
Do you think stores should separate daffodils from fruits and vegetables so people don't accidentally eat them?
[Image via Twitter]


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India and the US are set to seal a trade deal during the President, Mr. Donald Trump’s planned visit to India in the last week of this month, sources said.
Trade officials of India and the US are giving final touches to the deal expected to cover specific sectors, they said. Mr. Trump is set to visit India on a two-day trip between February 23 and 26 and both sides are in the process of fine-tuning his schedule.
The main segment of the visit will take place in the Capital, though an option of having a short visit by Mr. Trump to another city is being explored. The cities being considered include Agra and Ahmedabad.
A high-level logistics team from Washington handling Mr. Trump’s foreign trips visited India last week as part of preparations for his maiden tour of India as the US President.
'The trade deal and a pact on further enhancing defence cooperation are likely to be sealed during the visit by the US President,' said a source.
India is seeking exemption from high duties imposed by the US on certain steel and aluminium products as well as resumption of benefits on tariff on certain products under their Generalised System of Preferences.
India is also pressing the US to facilitate greater market access for its products in the US in sectors such as agriculture, automobile, auto components and engineering.
On the other hand, the US wants greater market access for its farm and manufacturing products, dairy items and medical devices in India.


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DAILY BRIEFING: Peppa Pig owner Entertainment One takes controlling stake in reality TV company for £16m
NAKED SUCCESS Peppa Pig owner Entertainment One has taken a controlling stake in a reality television company for £16million.
The distribution and production company announced yesterday it had bought 65 per cent of Renegade Entertainment, with the option to acquire the remainder in 2021.
Renegade’s television programmes are a far cry from the children’s cartoon Peppa Pig, with its flagship show Naked and Afraid seeing contestants compete to survive in the wild without any food, water or clothes.
Chief executive Darren Throop said Renegade’s programming would fit with eOne’s expansion of its non-scripted shows.
Shares were down 2.5 per cent or 3.9p to 150.1p.
LONDON CALLING Smurfit Kappa, the paper and packaging business founded by one of Ireland’s wealthiest families, is to switch its primary listing to the London Stock Exchange next month.
The firm is a leading provider of corrugated packaging with more than 45,000 employees in approximately 370 sites in 34 countries.
It is making the move from the Dublin exchange to expand its investor base – boosting its shares and helping to raise its profile.
The firm was acquired by Jefferson Smurfit in 1938 and soared under the leadership of his son Sir Michael Smurfit.
ARRIVA AWARD Bus and train operator Arriva – which is German owned – said it has won a raft of new contracts helping it post a 5.4 per cent rise in annual profits to £414million.
Its UK trains business was awarded the Northern rail franchise last December and last week it won a £1.5billion contract to run the London Overground train service.
It also posted sales of £3.8billion up from £3.5billion.
In 2010 Deutsche Bahn spent £1.59billion buying Arriva.
BANK LAWYER RBS has appointed a top lawyer as general counsel as it braces for multi-billion pound fines from US regulators.
Michael Shaw was deputy general counsel of Barclays for six years. Before that he was a partner of law firm Herbert Smith and joint secretary to the UK Takeover Panel.
The bank has set aside £2.1billion to deal with American fines for selling toxic bundles of mortgage debt.
HSBC EXEC Former Standard Life boss David Nish is joining HSBC as a non-executive director.
The news will inevitably fuel speculation that Nish’s name is in the running to succeed bank chairman Douglas Flint in 2017.
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Market research firm IHS iSuppli estimates that by 2013, cumulative shipments of Android smartphones will exceed 1 billion units. Handsets shipping with Google’s (GOOG) mobile operating system are expected to reach 451 million units in 2013, an increase from 357 million in 2012, and approach 3 billion cumulative units in 2016. For comparison, cumulative shipments of Apple’s (AAPL) iOS platform are estimated to reach 527 million units in 2013 and aren’t expected to surpass 1 billion units until 2015. “The Androids are taking over the world of smartphones,” said Daniel Gleeson, mobile analyst for IHS. “We expect the Android operating system to become the first to reach the milestone of 1 billion shipments during its lifetime.” IHS’ press release follows below.
Cumulative Android Smartphone Shipments Will Exceed 1 Billion in 2013
Just five years after Google Inc.’s Android appeared on the market in 2008, IHS forecasts that cumulative global shipments of smartphones using the operating system since it was introduced will amount to more than 1 billion in 2013.
Worldwide annual unit shipments of Android phones will rise to 451 million in 2013, up from 357 million in 2012, according to an IHS iSuppli Wireless Communications Smartphone Report from information and analytics provider IHS (NYSE: IHS). These massive totals will mean that combined shipments for every year since the first smartphone using Android shipped in 2008 will reach 1.1 billion by the end of 2013, as presented in the figure below. In contrast, the No. 2 smartphone operating system, Apple Inc.’s iOS, will amount to 527 million in cumulative shipments in 2013 and won’t reach the 1 billion level until 2015.
With Android’s annual growth set to continue expanding at double-digit percentages in the coming years, cumulative shipments will approach 3 billion in 2016.
“The Androids are taking over the world of smartphones,” said Daniel Gleeson, mobile analyst for IHS. “We expect the Android operating system to become the first to reach the milestone of 1 billion shipments during its lifetime. For Google, this accomplishment highlights the success of its growth strategy for Android, which is based on providing the operating system as an open-source platform to third-party smartphone brands free of charge. Google hopes to make significant revenues from mobile advertisements and other services. Such an open-source model means that Google offers handset makers the ability to customize Android easily, and by also eliminating licensing fees, is greatly encouraging adoption among smartphone handset manufacturers.”
Major brands that are selling Android-based smartphones include No.1-ranked Samsung, second-ranked HTC and other competitive brands such as Sony, ZTE, Huawei, Motorola and LG.
Apple’s and Google’s strong emphasis on a meaningful user experience coupled with new software business models has dramatically altered the competitive landscape for smartphones. The combined share this year of Apple and Google smartphones will amount to a formidable 76 percent of the market in 2012, with the remaining portion split among four other segments: Microsoft’s Windows Phone, Nokia’s Symbian, Research In Motion’s BlackBerry, and other platforms such as Samsung’s Bada and Linux.
Android vs. iOS
Prior to the explosive growth of the Apple and Google smartphone platforms, cellphone manufacturers had relied on specialized third-party operating system providers like Symbian and Windows Mobile to provide the core software technologies in order to build advanced mobile devices. The fundamental economics of this classic value chain has since been upended, with both Apple and Google introducing new successful business models for mobile software.
However, Google’s and Apple’s respective approaches to the smartphone operating system business are vastly different.
While Google has taken the advertising-revenue-supported model, Apple makes its money by controlling both the hardware and software portions of the design. By integrating the design of both the hardware and software components of the iPhone, Apple delivered a tightly optimized smartphone with a superior customer experience and tremendous innovation. Apple’s model built on the prior example of RIM’s BlackBerry but differentiated by the level of innovation.
However, what both companies share is an emphasis on providing a compelling user experience in smartphones.
“What the iPhone did was to embody a mobile-centric product—not merely serve as an extension
of the traditional PC,” said Wayne Lam, senior analyst for wireless communications at IHS. “Apple incorporated a brand-new, easy-to-use interface with a compelling new hardware component such as a capacitive touch screen, proving that a smartphone device could be produced that completely captured the imagination of the public—and still holds in thrall to this day. This set the pace for other smartphone platforms—most prominently, Android.”
From Operating Systems to Ecosystems
Both Apple and Google also have undertaken the task of creating, and then expanding, their individual ecosystems—the App Store on Apple’s part, and the Google Play store for Google.
Operating in a new and dynamic ecosystem has redefined the smartphone industry and set the pace for future battles among platforms and handset manufacturers, such that competition is no longer dictated by the hardware design cycle alone. Instead, ecosystems expand on the idea of the smartphone as a self-contained product that then transforms the mobile handset even further into a central hub for a larger set of product offerings that includes unique user experiences, digital media content and additional capabilities via applications.
Ultimately the most important lesson of the past few years in smartphone innovation is that handset manufacturers must continue to innovate, differentiate and provide a unique branded smartphone to the marketplace. In this new ecosystem-based smartphone marketplace, the most effective lever for market success is to create a recognizable user-experience franchise, pairing innovative hardware with a compelling environment of applications able to continually captivate the user base.


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Traders down shutters
Chennai, May 5 (PTI) Majority of traders today downed shutters in Tamil Nadu and participated in the 30th Trader''s Day conducted by the trade bodies.
Tamil Nadu Federation of Traders'' Association and Confederation of All India Traders, representing the traders'' community, conducted meetings in Chennai and its suburbs, sources said.
Several resolutions were passed in the meeting, which was attended by Tamil Nadu Minister for Commercial Taxes and Registration, B V Ramanaa, Labour Minister T Chellapandian and MDMK Chief Vaiko.
Some of the resolutions were against Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant and Madras Atomic Power Station, FDI in multi-brand retail, closure of Sterlite copper smelting plant in Tuticorin for violating pollution norms, they added.
"We will not allow FDI in multi-brand retail in Tamil Nadu at any cost," CAIT Vice-President A M Vikkramaraja said.
"Economic growth of the country will take a back seat if you allow FDI in multi-brand retail. Our agricultural prospects will get eroded away...," he told reporters.