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Wie der Telegraph berichtet sollen die bereits aus den USA bekannten Facebook Deals heute in Europa starten. Laut dem Bericht wird der neue Dienst heute morgen noch auf einem großen Event in London angekündigt werden:
Launched in the US last November, Facebook is expected to announce this morning the roll out of ‘Places Deals’ in the UK and Europe, a new service which rewards users for visits to different locations by logging their whereabouts on the site via their mobile phones.
According to source close to Facebook: “Places Deals is launching today in Europe. There are lots of retail and food partners on board, and the service is set to be really popular as increasing amount of people use the site via their mobile.”
… Last year Facebook launched its Places service, which allows users to share their location with their friends by ‘checking in’ to bars, restaurants and shops and to see which friends are near them, via the social network’s mobile phone application.
However, until now, UK users have not been able to use the service to find out which good deals or offers are available near them. Now with the ‘Deals’ service, Facebook users will be able see what offers are nearest to them at any time and share those deals with their friends.
Facebook is hosting a large event in London today, at which it is expected announce the launch of the ‘deals’ service across Europe. (Quelle)
Wir bleiben für euch natürlich am Thema.


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January 5, 2011 |
NEW DELHI: Hero Corporate Service today said it has identified two more employees who could have colluded with its former Associate Vice-President Sanjay Gupta and Citibank employees in the Rs 300-crore fraud. "Following an initial internal enquiry, two employees -- Ganpat Singh and Gaurav Jain-- working in the accounts department have also been identified to have been in possible collusion with Sanjay Gupta and Citibank employees," Hero Corporate Service said in statement.
August 12, 2011 |
Typically in his situation, people would be partying. But ever since Arth Saikia got his promotion a month ago, he is sulking. The new AVP in a Kolkata-based manufacturing company was the only one in his team to get promoted. Somehow that didn't go down well with some of his peers, and he has been facing problems from the time he took charge in his new role. His immediate boss even called him for a chat to discuss if things were fine in his team, but Arth is too shocked to react.
August 20, 2014
New Delhi: Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL), the country's largest exporter and the second-largest car manufacturer, achieved a new milestone with the launch of the all-new Elite i20. The latest television commercial for Elite i20 is slick, fast-paced and has already crossed Half a Million views on YouTube in a span of just 3 days. The 100-second digital film that released on the same day as the launch has an unmistakable Hollywood spy thriller feel about it. Elite i20 is the car designed to fulfill the needs for driving pleasure of customers, while evoking a sense of confidence and class at the same time.
April 14, 2011 |
GURGAON: Mastermind of Citibank fraud Shivraj Puri took an exposure of whopping Rs 1.13 lakh crore in the equity market using Rs 236 crore of 51 high networth individuals and corporates and lost everything following decline in stock markets, says a Sebi report. Puri used to trade in future and options on the 50-share Nifty Index, and lost out after undertaking multiple trade transactions, police sources said quoting the report of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi)
September 30, 2007 |
On September 18, when Anurag Kashyap came across a YouTube video of his film Paanch , which has yet to be released in the market, the first thing he did was write a quick blog on passionforcinema.com. The words tumbled forth. "I woke up this morning and got a mail from someone I don't even know...and I got so emotional. See how young I look...I sound like all those directors who say it's a different film... I was blabbering all of that. But made me feel so good," gushed Kashyap.
March 28, 2007 |
NEW DELHI: Leading media house Jagran Prakashan today said it will launch a new current affairs web portal in Hindi in partnership with Internet major Yahoo India in the second half of this year. The portal - Jagran.com - would seamlessly integrate acclaimed Jagran content with Yahoo Indias online presence and provide both online services and print media content for users and advertisers, a company statement said here. Under the agreement, Jagran and Yahoo India will share graphical and keyword advertising revenue generated by the portal with Yahoo!
January 6, 2011 |
NEW DELHI: A series of developments unfolded in the Citibank fraud case on Wednesday, signalling more skeletons may tumble out of the cupboard. Even as Hero Corporate Service? promoted by the New Delhi-based Hero group?sent two more accounts department officials on leave after an initial internal enquiry discovered their possible collusion with suspended former associate VP (accounts) Sanjay Gupta, market regulator Sebi questioned Citibank's Relationship Manager and mastermind in the fraud, Shivraj Puri . Gurgaon police has ruled out the involvement of the Citibank's top brass including CEO Vikram Pandit and will demand extention of Shivraj Puri's remand in the session court, accroding to senior police officials.
January 6, 2009 |
NEW DELHI: Airtel and Research In Motion (RIM) on Tuesday announced the launch of BlackBerry Pearl Flipsmartphone in India, priced at Rs 21,990, expanding the choice for the users. The BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 smartphone allows easy typing and dialing. The smartphone's external display offers previewing calendar reminders, email, text messages and phone calls. The BlackBerry Pearl Flip is a powerful, compact smartphone equipped to deliver a wide range of applications, said Sanjay Gupta, Chief Marketing Officer, Mobile Services, Airtel.
September 7, 2008 |
NEW DELHI: Bharti Airtel, one of the two licenced sellers of Apple iPhone, has tied-up with VISA to introduce finance scheme to help consumers buy the high-priced cellphone. As per the partnership, Airtel would offer financing options for all VISA cardholders of ICICI, HDFC, SBI and Citibank, the company said in a statement. The consumers in this scheme will have an easy monthly installment option with a varing tenure of between three and 12 months. "Our partnership with VISA will provide a new opportunity for consumers who aspire to own the 3G iPhone.
April 11, 2008 |
MUMBAI: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care on Friday said it is in the "investment mode" in India and would focus on key metro markets. "We are in investment mode in India. Our investments would be more than our sales. We would focus on Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata," Johnson & Johnson Managing Director Sanjay Gupta told reporters. He refused to disclose the investment figures or sales figures of India. Johnson & Johnson Vision Care is part of Johnson & Johnson Ltd. It sells Acuvue brand of contact lenses in the Indian market.

domain: news


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Bengaluru auto rickshaws ply despite strike against bike taxis; behind internet shutdowns in India
Auto rickshaws offered services during peak hours in Bengaluru despite being on a strike against ‘illegal’ bike taxis. The fight between city unions and ride-hailing companies has intensified in recent times.
Bengaluru auto strike: Despite strike by city unions, auto rickshaws ply during rush hours
Auto drivers had earlier decided to go on a strike for Monday and Tuesday to protest against bike taxis, which are operated by ride-hailing apps like Uber and Swiggy-backed Rapido.
Autorickshaw drivers go on strike in Bengaluru against 'illegal' bike taxis
Autorickshaw drivers in Bengaluru will go on a strike on Monday in protest against private bike taxi aggregators functioning in the city.
Bengaluru auto drivers to hold 24 hr strike against bike taxis
This isn't the first time the union has demanded a ban for bike taxis, because they claim to threaten the livelihoods of autorickshaw drivers. The strike is expected to engage a number of autorickshaws and their drivers off the roads, according to union sources. "We will observe a 24-hour strike starting from Sunday midnight. Our agitation is against the illegal operation of bike taxis operating in the city," Manjunath told PTI.
California court upholds Uber, Lyft drivers being contractors
The ruling came as a victory for ride-share firms and food-delivery app platforms that backed a measure called Proposition 22 ahead of its passage in the state in 2020.
ETtech Unwrapped: Confusion, chaos, and disruption in wake of Delhi's bike taxi ban
The notice issued by the Delhi government last week warned bike taxi operators such as Rapido, Ola and Uber to not ply on Delhi roads as it violates the motor vehicle laws.
Ads on fintechs pay off for D2C firms; don’t use bikes as taxis for deliveries, Delhi govt tells online platformsWith a captive user base and high user engagement, fintechs such as Paytm, PhonePe, and Google Pay are becoming popular with direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands seeking a platform to advertise and acquire customers. This and more in today’s edition of the ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Instruct delivery hands not to use bikes as taxis: Delhi govt to ecommerce companiesLast Monday, the Delhi government issued a public notice asking bike taxi operators such as Uber, Ola and Rapido to stop their two-wheeler taxi operations in the national capital. The transport department had cautioned bike taxis against plying on the roads, saying it was a violation of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, that would make aggregators liable for a fine of Rs 1 lakh.
Bike taxi ban delivers a blow to Delhi ecommerce; IT employees should return to offices: Wipro chairman Rishad PremjiEcommerce deliveries are facing significant disruptions in India’s capital, executives at online platforms and impacted brands said, stating that their on-ground teams are being penalised and harassed amid confusion, following the Delhi government’s recent order banning the use of two-wheelers as taxis. This and more in today’s edition of the ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Bike taxi ban delivers a blow to Delhi ecommerceExecs at online platforms say delivery staff being wrongfully penalised, biz facing disruption
Swiggy, Zomato flag 'misinterpretation' of bike-taxi ban order by Delhi RTOThe food delivery platforms have also sought clarification from the government on the directive while claiming that there has been misinterpretation of the notice as the ban is applicable on bike taxi service providers.
Delhi authorities warn Uber, Ola against use of bike taxisAs of Tuesday, bike taxis continue to be available for booking on Uber and Ola apps in New Delhi.
Delhi authorities warn Uber, Ola on use of bike taxisAs of Tuesday, bike taxis continue to be available for booking on Uber and Ola apps in New Delhi.
Uber asks Delhi government to create level-playing field for bike taxi platforms"Two-wheeler ridesharing apps should be seen at parity with others like delivery and services. The number of delivery rides far surpasses the two-wheeler mobility rides for commuters but they are being given a more practical timeframe for electrification of their fleet," said Shiva Shailendran, Director Operations, Uber India & South Asia.
Uber seeks similar timeline as other tech cos to transition bike taxi fleet to electric in DelhiThe US-based ride-hailing company said in a blog post that “steep and infeasible” EV mandates in the proposed aggregator policy risk killing the bike taxi sector.
Uber is looking to partner with third-party firms to ramp up cab fleet in IndiaUber started third-party taxi integration two years ago and plans to scale up the third-party taxi from 50 to 500 cities globally.
Delhi government plans to allow only electric two-wheelers to ply as bike taxisThe aggregator policy being finalised by the Delhi government proposes to allow only electric two-wheelers to ply as bike taxis, officials said on Tuesday. The aggregator policy for two-, three- and four-wheelers is in its final stages and will be rolled out soon, Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said on Monday.
UPI is now linked with Singapore’s PayNow; IAMAI urges Delhi govt not to penalise drivers, bike taxi firmsAn Indian user can initially send up to Rs 60,000 in one day (equivalent to around SGD 1,000). For the user's convenience, the system will dynamically calculate and show the amount at the time of the transaction in both currencies.
Delhi govt halts Ola, Uber and Rapido bike taxi services: ReportsThe transport department of Delhi has reportedly asked bike aggregators like Ola, Uber & Rapido to halt their tax services in the national capital. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court refused to grant relief to bike taxi aggregator Rapido against the Maharashtra government's refusal to grant licence to it.Load More
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LAGOS – Operators in the Nigerian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector have welcomed the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) recently signed by President Muhammadu Buhari. But they also listed conditions that make the scheme to succeed.
They said that the agreement would lead to opening of the African market to Nigerian producers, adding that this would lead to economic prosperity of Nigerian entrepreneurs.
The major objectives of the agreement are to create a single continental market for goods and services, including the free movement of businesspersons and investments across the continent. This is in the bid to pave the way for accelerating the establishment of a customs union.
The agreement also seeks to expand trade among African countries through harmonisation and coordination of trade liberalisation and facilitation and instruments across the continent.
AfCFTA is also expected to enhance competitiveness at the industry and enterprise level through the use of opportunities for scale production, continental market access and better reallocation of resources.
The President in a statement issued by his media aides said that Nigeria’s commitment to trade and African integration was not in doubt.
President Buhari said: “We fully understand the potential of the AfCFTA to transform trade in Africa and contribute towards solving some of the continent’s challenges, whether security, economic or corruption.
“But it is also clear to us that for AfCFTA to succeed, we need the full support and buy-in of our private sector and civil society stakeholders and the public in general.
“It is against this background that we embarked on an extensive nationwide consultation and sensitisation programme of our domestic stakeholders on the AfCFTA.
“It was also obvious that we have a lot of work to do to prepare our nation to achieve our vision for intra-African trade which is the free movement of ‘made in Africa goods.
“Some of the critical challenges that we identified will require our collective action as a union and we will be presenting them for consideration at the appropriate AfCFTA fora.
“Examples are tackling injurious trade practices by third parties and attracting the investment we need to grow local manufacturing and service capacities.”
Speaking on the agreement, Segun Kuti-George, chairman of the National Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI) in Lagos State, said that the agreement is a positive development that will bring benefits to small business owners and industrialists in the country.
He said that the agreement would lead to creation of a larger market for Nigerian producers, adding that in order to take advantage of the larger market, they will be forced to increase the quantity and quality of their products.
Kuti-George, who is also the chief responsibility officer at Goshen-Multi Nigeria Limited, stated that there is need to change the operating environment in the country, adding that the Nigerian business environment is harsh.
He said that the prevailing interest rate in the country is too, stating that this would make it difficult for Nigerian producers to take full advantage of the agreement. He, therefore, called on the government to take steps to reduce the interest rate so that entrepreneurs can access funds easily. He argued the country must put polices in place to ensure that she did not become a dumping ground for others on the continent.
Speaking on the issue, Otunba Lateef Owoyemi, the Chief Executive Officer at LOP Consult, said that the country signing the continental agreement would enable Nigerian entrepreneurs to expand their businesses because of access to a larger market.
He said Nigeria has all it takes to be able to compete effectively in the African larger market, adding, “I believe by joining this group, we have more than doubled the population of the market to which Nigerian goods can have access. So, it is a very good thing but there could be hiccups at the beginning but I am sure Nigeria can catch up and beat everybody else.”
Reminded of the difficult environment in the country and that Nigerian producers could suffer because of high cost of production, he said the country would adjust overtime and make gains as a result of the agreement.
He, however, faulted the interest rate regime in the country and management of the foreign exchange regime. He argued that the high interest rate in the country could serve as a disadvantage to Nigerian producers. He added that it was wrong for banks to lend at 28 per cent to investors, positing that it should go down to six per cent, as it is in South Africa.
Owoyemi, who is a former president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, told DAILY INDEPENDENT that some neighbouring countries like Togo and Benin could import products and dump them in the country.
He said that it could take place at the initial stage, but it would force Nigeria to establish more factories in order to compete favourable with others.
“That could happen at the beginning, but in two or three years, there would be a reversal and Nigeria will become aggressive and take over over the market. I can trust Nigerians to take over all the areas of Africa and in about five years, others will be complaining about Nigeria dominating the market”, he said
Also speaking on the issue, Solomon Aderoju, chairman, Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), said that signing the agreement portends benefits to the Nigerian economy.
He, however, said that one has to consider quality, adding that Nigerian goods need to be of good quality so they can compete with goods from other nations on the continent.
He stated that government has to make the operating environment friendlier so that the cost of production would go down, adding that the cost of production in the country is higher than what obtains in the country.
He called on the government to ensure that infrastructure like roads, power and others were improved to make the environment better and friendlier, adding that this would enhance the marketability of Nigerian products.
He also called for a better interest rate regime to would facilitate access of funds to businesses at one digit interest rate.
The Lagos State chairman of NASME also called on government to put policies in place to stop other Africa countries from making Nigeria a dumping ground for their goods.
In his contribution, Ayodele Alabi, a Lagos-based entrepreneur, said that Nigeria should not allow what happened in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to occur in the case of AfCFTA.
He argued that the country could not take advantage of the opportunities AGOA provided, adding that government should create an enabling environment that would allow Nigerians to take advantage of AfCFTA.
Giving the position of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry on AfCCTA, Muda Yusuf, it’s Director-General said: “I worry that I have not seen any evidence on how we are going to create an enabling environment for AFcFTA to thrive.
“We need to position the economy to take advantage of AFCTA. There is no policy pronouncement on how to tackle electricity supply to industries. ECOWAS is still grappling to ensure free trade among member nations,” he stated.


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DataTorrent Boosts The Capabilities Of Its Streaming Data System
DataTorrent has launched a new release of its streaming data processing software that supports machine learning and offers new capabilities that make it easier to analyze trends in real time.
The new edition, DataTorrent Real-Time Streaming (RTS) 3.10, comes as the company continues to grow its channel partner community, adding systems integration giant HCL Technologies and strategic services provider Wavicle Data Solutions to its partner roster.
DataTorrent's moves come amid an increasing need for big data technology that can work in real-time with growing volumes of streaming data.
[Related: The 2017 Big Data 100 ]
"There's a growing need for outcome-based applications and enterprise-grade, real-time analytics capabilities," said DataTorrent CEO Guy Churchward in an interview with CRN. The capabilities in the new RTS 3.10 release, he said, are indicative of DataTorrent's move "up the stack" to provide higher-level functionality.
"We're really focused on time-to-value, getting customers into production and having them execute at scale," he said. "This is all about getting customers to become a hero as fast as possible."
The streaming data software landscape is complex with a broad range of vendors, including DataTorrent, Striim, Confluent, and Impetus Technologies, as well as major vendors IBM, SAP, SAS and Oracle, all players in the market. There are also a number of open-source streaming data technologies – many from the Apache Software Foundation – including Apex, Flink, Storm, Kinesis and Kafka.
The DataTorrent RTS platform is based on Apache Apex, the open-source unified stream and batch processing software. With DataTorrent RTS, organizations can develop, deploy and operate applications that work with streaming data in real time.
Churchward said the use of the open-source Apex technology helps customers implement DataTorrent's systems more quickly for enterprise-grade tasks.
The new DataTorrent RTS 3.10 offers expanded support for machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies, including native support for delivering analytical logic using machine scoring models written in Python or Predictive Model Markup Language.
The new edition provides an application backplane for integrating multiple applications, allowing them to share data and actions. New store and replay capabilities help developers evaluate the effectiveness of application builds, models and scenarios. Drools Workbench integration simplifies the modification of complex event processing rules. And new OLAP support for Druid makes it easier for users to analyze data in real time.
DataTorrent also introduced new applications for the financial services and retail industries as part of its AppFactory marketplace of big data streaming analytics use cases.
HCL began working with DataTorrent RTS in 2016, making the software part of the systems integrator's Enterprise Intelligence Hub unified architecture and implementing it as part of customers' data analytics and digital transformation projects, said Anand Birje, corporate vice president and global head of HCL's digital and analytics practice.
Birje, in an interview with CRN, said the expanded data visualization capabilities of the RTS 3.10 edition are key for HCL's work. He also praised additions to the Apoxi framework, which underlies RTS, and its tools for assembling and operating data-driven applications.
"We are familiar with the [3.10] release and our engineering and solutions teams have been working on a couple of deals with it," Birje said.
HCL, headquartered in Noida, India, formally became a DataTorrent partner late last year, Birje said. HCL also recently signed a partnership agreement with Oak Brook, Ill.-based Wavicle Data Solutions, a provider of big data, cloud and analytical solutions.
DataTorrent now has more than 20 partners including resellers, technology partners, ISVs, OEMs, systems integrators and consultants. Other partners include Trace3, MSys and Stratecha.


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At long last, Germany is moving forward with legal cannabis.
A blueprint of the reform was leaked through RND newspaper group and translated by Politico, stating that cannabis will be decriminalized, allowing for its purchase, possession and cultivation. Any advertising promoting cannabis, however, would be banned.
Some of the proposed limitations include that cannabis will have a THC limit of 15 per cent. And in the case of young adults, aged 18 to 21, they will be able to buy marijuana with a 10 per cent limit of THC.
The plan also makes it clear that cannabis sold in Germany must be produced domestically, sidestepping any international law issues and avoiding conflict.
While many are reportedly celebrating the country’s decision, several German politicians have voiced concerns that the plan is too restrictive.
Kristine Lütke, drug policy speaker of the Free Democratic Liberal Party, is quoted as saying some of the restrictions would drive people to the black market. “A disaster for youth, health & consumer protection,” the speaker tweeted.
Germany’s decision to legalize cannabis has long been anticipated, with the government signalling a related promise a year ago.
It’s also a decision that’s been analyzed by experts, representing a significant step for marijuana in the European Union and the world. Germany is the E.U.’s largest economy and a possible determinant of how various countries will react.
Earlier this year, The Guardian spoke with several experts who provided their opinions on why legal cannabis in Germany would be a game-changer.
“There will be a domino effect, for sure,” argued Justin Haucap, director of the Dusseldorf Institute for Competition Economics. “European countries that have a much bigger problem with illegal cannabis use, like France, are watching very closely what Germany is doing at the moment,” Haucap suggested.
The FreshToast.com, a U.S. lifestyle site that contributes lifestyle content and, with their partnership with 600,000 physicians via Skipta, medical marijuana information to The GrowthOp.
We’d love to hear from you. Get in touch with feedback and story tips at email@example.com


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2009, more than half have passed, the financial crisis has been the focus of discussion, all walks of life have suffered different degrees of signs of recovery, then the textile industry, what kind of situation?
According to the National Bureau of Statistics data show that: the first three quarters of this year in China's textile industry continues the trend of steady rise of the first half, and this trend even more uncertain.bamboo furniture Although the international market demand, downturn, exports are still bottom of the shock the industry, industry production, investment continued to rise, profits rebounded significantly, accelerate the adjustment of industry structure; the same time, slowing down the grim situation of employment, some sub-sectors amount of labor began to rise,bamboo kitchen better implementation of the country "to maintain growth, expand domestic demand, readjusting the structure," the guidelines for macro-economic recovery and social stability and make an important contribution.
First, the data show that the industry ready to pick up.
1, the sales growth picked up significantly.
1-8 months of 2009, 52,203 textile enterprises above designated size industrial output value 2.370778 trillion yuan, bamboo flooring an increase of 7.50%; the same period, sales volume growth of 7.38%. Sales to production is relatively stable, sales ratio has been maintained since the beginning of 97% -98% in the range, a slight concussion, 1-August sales compared with 97.43%. The main products of the output growth picking up significantly, including yarn from January to August rose 9.75%, the growth rate for the first time higher than the same period last year; cloth and clothing production growth rebounded to 1.10%, respectively, and 3.98%; chemical fiber production by speed recovery trend is particularly significant, has increased to 13.31%, 10.24 percentage points higher than the same period last year.
2, steady recovery in domestic growth.
As the state "to maintain growth, expand domestic demand," the effect of the macro-control policies continue to appear, domestic sales growth has continued upward trend, and support the textile industry has become a primary factor in the stabilization and recovery. 1-8 months of 2009, domestic textile enterprises above designated size was 1.845764 trillion yuan output value, an increase of 11.67% compared to January-February 2009 has picked up 5.04 percentage points. At the same time, the industry's domestic sales accounted for 1-8 months 79.91%, up 3.31 percentage points.
3, and the quality continues to increase.
Although the textile industry, the financial crisis external situation is grim, but the pace of adjustment and upgrade the industry to accelerate, industry technology, management operation quality improved steadily advances. 1-8 months of 2009, labor productivity of enterprises above designated size was 331.3 thousand yuan / person (according to the industrial output value terms), an increase of 8.90%; enterprise ratio of the three charges 6.18% a year earlier, down 0.18 percentage points; scale 3.73% above industry profit margins, rose by 0.16 percentage points; sales gross profit margin of 11.30% over the same period increased by 0.13 percentage points.
4, significantly improving the efficiency of the sector.
2009 1-8 months, large-scale textile enterprises realized a total profit of 84.471 billion yuan, an increase of 12.28%. Improved efficiency of chemical fiber industry, 1-August prominent fiber 42.42% profit growth over January-May (-34.69%) rose 77.11 points, of which man-made fiber manufacturing industries grew 3.15 times the total profits, increase export tax rebate rate of viscose products a significant effect on policy. Accumulated profits clothing 1-2 year growth continues the trend of sustained growth since January 1-August has risen to 17.30% and became an important industry profits rise pulling power.


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LONDON, UK, September 4, 2019 — A new international study by Bazaarvoice, conducted among 2,500 respondents in the US, UK, France, and Germany, finds younger consumers ages 15-24, as well as older consumers (65+), state they will complete the majority of their gift buying in shopping centers.
In fact, when paired with shopping data from across the Bazaarvoice network of 6,000 brand and retailer websites, the study identified Europe as the leader in mobile shopping with 67% of traffic coming from this channel during the holiday season, compared to 59% in the US.
The contrasting data from the consumer survey states only 5% of respondents plan to do the majority of their holiday shopping via mobile. This discrepancy may indicate that consumers may not realize how much they actually use their phones to shop during the holidays.
Sophie Light-Wilkinson, VP Marketing EMEA at Bazaarvoice comments,
More and more we’re seeing consumers rely on mobile to verify products they’re considering in-store. With the majority of shoppers around the world (63%) stating they will complete the bulk of their holiday purchases online, digital marketers must interrogate any assumptions they’ve made about the online path to purchase.
In the UK, almost a third (32%) of consumers claim they will complete ‘the majority of purchases’ in physical shopping centers. In particular, they are more likely than the global average (26%) to pick traditional mass merchants such as John Lewis and Debenhams (30%).
The Black Friday experience
Assessing the appetite for peaks such as Black Friday, the study reports four in five UK consumers shop for gifts on sales days, making the local market considerably more focused on this style of shopping than the US (63%).
Moreover, 29% of UK consumers kick-off their holiday shopping on Prime Day (the online discount day that took place on July 15th this year). Not only does this mean gift buying has begun, but the UK sees the earliest start to holiday shopping. By comparison, just 19% of US consumers have started by this point.
However, UK consumers, alongside their global counterparts, are just as likely to report long checkout lines (68%) and overcrowded stores (59%) as reasons for not shopping in store. In particular, UK respondents are more likely to identify pushy sales people as a pain point around the in-store experience (39%) compared to the global average (32%).
Convenience tips and tricks
When asked how brands could improve the holiday shopping experience, UK respondents picked improved convenience (61%), such as self-checkout and the option to buy online and pick-up in-store. Faster, more efficient shipping solutions were also chosen by 56% of respondents.
Likely due to brand reputation as a retailer offering convenience and fast shipping, Amazon is the most common place that shoppers will purchase their holiday gifts this year (49% globally).
So how can brands get ahead? The research also identifies customer reviews, photos and personalized recommendations would improve the holiday shopping experience for nearly a third of UK consumers (31%).
According to Bazaarvoice’s annual research, product pages with at least one review experienced a 354% increase in conversion rate and a 446% lift in revenue per visitor compared to product pages with no reviews, whether or not visitors engaged with the review content.
At a time where authenticity is being called into question across the entire e-commerce space, it’s a crucial area for brands to develop real differentiation, Sophie Light-Wilkinson concludes.
Whether online or in-store, consumers have come to expect real customer content, including photos, reviews, and answers from shoppers like them, at every step of the shopping journey. In our annual client survey, more than half of respondents say consumer reviews drive in-store sales and increase brand loyalty.
To find out more, please download the full report.
This report draws on shopping activity data from our U.S. and European clients in our network of over 6,000 brand and retailer websites. All pageview, submitted questions, user-generated content interaction rate, traffic, and order data is from 2018. Comparisons to a typical day are defined as a monthly average of September 2018. “Holiday” or “holiday day” or “holiday season” is derived from monthly average of November and December 2018.
To complement the data from the Bazaarvoice Network, we conducted a consumer survey of 2,500 adults (18+) — 1,000 consumers in the U.S. and 500 consumers each in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom — for the purpose of understanding consumer holiday shopping behavior across different demographics and regions.
Each month in the Bazaarvoice Network, more than a billion consumers create, view, and share authentic user generated-content including reviews, questions and answers, and social photos across more than 6,000 global brand and retailer websites. From search and discovery to purchase and advocacy, Bazaarvoice’s solutions help brands and retailers reach in-market shoppers, personalize their experiences, and give them the confidence to buy.
Founded in 2005, Bazaarvoice is headquartered in Austin, Texas, with offices in North America, Europe, and Australia. For more information, visit www.bazaarvoice.com.


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Movie theater companies plan to use brand-safety concerns to sell ads
The loss of confidence in online media could be the cinema industry’s gain.
At least that’s the hope of Digital Cinema Media, which sells ad placements at movie theaters to brands. Like publishers and broadcasters tried to do before it, DCM sees advertising’s transparency crisis as a chance to take some power back from online media.
The media owner launched its creative division earlier this month at the height of the latest brand-safety crisis, using the timing to position cinema as a safe haven of sorts compared to the disorder in online media, per The Drum. Advertisers are realizing that digital media “isn’t the be-all and end-all,” said Jeremy Kolesar, creative business director at DCM, pointing to a 10 percent year-over-year increase in the number of brands DCM worked with in 2017.
Cinema seems to be winning new advertisers. Ad spend on cinema rose 8.4 percent to £258 million ($345 million) in the U.K. in 2016, according to the Advertising Association and Warc, which predicts that figure to swell 12.6 percent to around £290.5 million ($389 million) in 2017. Growth is expected to slow in 2018, however.
To ease the slowdown, DCM must move closer to marketers. The creative studio’s mandate is to get DCM in front of ad agencies rather than media agencies in order to secure larger projects that aren’t necessarily adaptations of the TV spots it had become accustomed to producing in the past. “We’re moving from a relationship with media agencies where the briefing into our creative team can be as little as a 48-hour turnaround to a relationship with the creative agency and the client that could stretch over five months,” Kolesar said. “The creative agencies are more involved at 12 to 18 months, which means we’re able to talk about our media in a slightly different way.”
That revised pitch is split into four areas: technology, film content, film partnerships and content production. Cosmetics giant Max Factor bought into the idea early and launched in October a long-term partnership with boutique cinema chains Curzon, Everyman and Picturehouse Cinemas. Ending next June, the partnership involves the brand creating one ad each for four films due out over the next nine months, which started with “Murder on the Orient Express” in October. While media agency Zenith brokered the deal, Max Factor’s ad agency Adam&eveDDB worked with DCM’s team on the campaign.
The campaign is the largest of a handful that DCM’s studio has worked on to date, and there are “three or four biggish” ones on the horizon, revealed Kolesar. “By having that longer lead time to work on campaigns, it’s changing the way we talk about our media,” he said. “Because we know the film slate for the next 18 months to five years, we can start to talk to brands about building strategies around certain releases.”
But the studio won’t just be creating slick ads for upcoming releases or repurposing behind-the-scenes footage. It is also exploring how social listening could support campaigns. Kolesar would not go into specifics so early into the test, though he has already seen a “couple of companies that can offer the technology.”
With the latest films becoming a mainstay of social chatter these days, DCM’s top creative is keen to see how some of those conversations can be brought into its projects. Kolesar said that could range from using social listening to understand how cinemagoers use platforms like Facebook and Twitter to decide what films they see or targeting ads to certain theaters so people see comments about the movie they just watched.
Moving forward, DCM plans to increase its head count. Kolesar is the studio’s main employee, while around five other creatives across the wider organization are pulled into projects as needed. The studio’s size, combined with its new approach, means it will act more like a consultant — in theory. It has a network of production studios such as Recipe, which will take on the additional work.
Despite his admission that the transparency crisis is an opportunity, Kolesar doesn’t believe advertisers will suddenly start putting their digital spend into cinema. It’s more about winning larger briefs as a result of being closer to how the broader campaigns are conceived, he added. Kolesar said he doesn’t know “what other media are losing out” as a result of the greater spend coming into cinema, adding: “More advertisers are willing to put more money into cinema because they’re seeing that it’s working.”
Image courtesy of 20th Century Fox
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The 92-year-old business announced it was going into administration two days ago, with the possible loss of up to 4,350 jobs.
Hastily-posted signs in its 238 stores apologised that it could not accept gift cards – many given at Christmas – and said staff were bound by legal restrictions and could do nothing about it.
Chief executive Trevor Moore – who warned before Christmas that HMV could be about to default on its bank loans – denied yesterday that it had mis-sold vouchers while knowing the collapse was inevitable.
When we made the announcement about not meeting our banking covenants, we still had a chance to address the issue with the banks so it is not at all any form of mis-selling and we are very clear what our obligations are
He said: “When we made the announcement about not meeting our banking covenants, we still had a chance to address the issue with the banks so it is not at all any form of mis-selling and we are very clear what our obligations are.”
Police were called to one store, in Ayr, Scotland, yesterday after threats.
Lauren Duncan, 20, a sales assistant in a store opposite HMV, was told staff felt they were being held hostage.
She said: “One man went off his head and was threatening to kill everyone and help himself to DVDs.”
Richard Lloyd, executive director of watchdog Which?, said refusing to honour gift vouchers was “outrageous”.
Shoppers who bought vouchers on a credit card may be able to get a refund from their card provider, said website MoneySupermarket.
HMV has struggled against competition from cheaper supermarkets, online stores and downloads. Its lenders Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group said it had proved “impossible” to avoid formal insolvency.
Administrators Deloitte will try to find a buyer. Last night there was said to be interest from the restructuring firm Hilco, which bought HMV Canada in 2011.


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October, 22, 2021
Uber Sri Lanka, in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, today announced the launch of the Uber Entrepreneurship Challenge 2021, an initiative giving Uber merchant partners, driver partners and couriers the chance to showcase entrepreneurial spirit and innovation.
The winning entries will receive prizes at an award ceremony in November, graced with the presence of Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Minister of Youth and Sports.
The COVID-19 pandemic challenged Uber to rethink how to motivate and engage its partners to achieve their goals and dreams. Start-ups are emerging as key drivers of economic growth in Sri Lanka and other emerging economies.
An industry first by Uber in Sri Lanka, the challenge is aimed at supporting a culture of entrepreneurship and the development of startups by providing a platform for partners to showcase their ideas. Uber wants to foster resilient startup ecosystems and create an environment for its partners to thrive.
Commenting on the initiative, Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Minister of Youth and Sports stated, “Sri Lanka is a nation of resilience and exemplary talent. Creating a culture that supports local businesses and startups to thrive in is of utmost importance. The Uber Entrepreneurship Challenge is in line with this collective goal and will mark the beginning of a series of other entrepreneurship programs implemented by the Ministry. We believe this challenge will provide exposure and knowledge for its participants, allowing them to share their own stories and experiences with the public.”
Ms. Bhavna Dadlani, Head of Uber Eats Sri Lanka added, “We are excited to announce the launch of the Uber Entrepreneurship Challenge. I’m looking forward to seeing all our partners, be they merchants, drivers or delivery partners, display their business ideas and concepts. Uber partners are at the very heart of our operations in Sri Lanka, and it is an honor to help them improve their livelihoods, their industries and communities. We are thrilled to collaborate with the Ministry of Youth and Sports on this timely initiative. I can’t wait to see what kind of ideas our partners come up with.”
Uber's merchant partners, driver partners and couriers are at the heart of Uber’s operations in Sri Lanka. The Uber Entrepreneurship Challenge is a testament to the company’s efforts to create economic and social value for all stakeholders and is in line with its long-term strategy to drive economic development and financial inclusivity in Sri Lanka.


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Swedish retailer H&M will open the doors to its first Austin store at The Domain this Saturday.
The 24,000-square-foot store will offer clothing for women, men and children, company officials said Monday in a press release.
The global fashion retailer is best known for its low-cost, trendy clothing and accessories.
H&M also has four stores in Dallas and two in Houston. The brand opened its first store in the United States in New York City nearly 12 years ago.
The company announced that it would open a store in the upscale shopping center in North Austin in July.
Manages the website, news emails and social media sites.


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Pharrell Wore A Beanie To The 2017 Golden Globes
When Pharrell Williams hit the 2017 Golden Globes red carpet, Twitter exploded. The musician, who is nominated for Best Original Score thanks to his stellar work on Hidden Figures, wore a Chanel beanie to the red carpet. Naturally, Twitter lost it.
This isn't the first time Pharrell has left his hat-print on the world. Back in 2014, he wore an admittedly pretty dang large hat to the Grammys, which nabbed him the honor of 2014 "Hat Person of the Year." The hat turned out to be vintage Vivienne Westwood — it's a piece from her 1982/3 A/W "Buffalo" collection. And it lives on on Twitter, where "it" occasionally tweets things like existential gem "am I relevant rn?"
This year, Pharrell wore another designer piece, albeit a much simpler one. Though everyone loved the, ahem, sort of bloated-looking Westwood hat, fans were much more enthusiastic about Pharrell's choice this year: An uncomplicated black Chanel beanie with the white Chanel logo featured front and center.
Predictably, some folks are unhappy about the piece. One Twitter user dragged up the poor Westwood hat for a comparison, saying, "Honestly, I'm more offended by Pharrell's red carpet beanie, than his infamous hat."
But plenty of others are thrilled by the beanie's appearance — and they're not shy about it.
Check out a few of these beanie hot takes.
1. Someone Has To
2. Religion: Pharrell
3. Whole Beanie
4. A Challenger Appears
5. You Can't Please Everyone
Love the beanie or hate it, you gotta admit — it's classic Pharrell.


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Bryce Nash, a 27-year-old engineer from Portland, Ore., drove a Pontiac Fiero in college. Pontiac never built a hybrid version of the plastic-bodied, midengine Fiero, so Mr. Nash decided not only to build his own, but to enter it in the Grassroots Motorsports magazine $2009 Challenge.
Mr. Nash, who works for Daimler Trucks North America, built his hybrid Fiero for just “$1,600 and change.” He started with a 1988 Fiero Formula with a dismantled engine, bought on Craigslist for $500. His real find, located in a Michigan junkyard for $800, was the electric motor and inverter from an electric Chevrolet S10 pickup [PDF]. The batteries came from several Toyota Priuses (about $250 a pack), and totaling at best guess around four kilowatt hours.
The Fiero’s midengine layout allowed the electric motor and components to be slotted in front of the stock V-6 engine. The batteries are a very tight fit between the dashboard and firewall. Together, the drivetrains make some 250 horsepower. Performance is largely untested, but Mr. Nash said it should be able to drive three or four miles on battery power alone.
One of the really tricky parts was building a workable front suspension. The car isn’t called “Project: Parts Bin” for nothing. He put together, along with some stock and modified Fiero parts, struts from a Honda Accord, axles from a Saturn and brake rotors from a Subaru.
The car represents something like 1,000 hours of after-hours sweat equity over just four months by Mr. Nash and his friends. “There was nothing else going on in my life,” he said. “I subscribe to the ‘I’ll live while I’m alive and sleep when I’m dead’ philosophy.”
Mr. Nash entered the Fiero in the first-year West Coast version of the $2009 Challenge last August.
The $2009 Challenge is a triathlon for (very) cheap custom cars, which compete in a drag race, an autocross and a concours (of sorts). The cost of the cars cannot exceed $2,009 (it was $2,008 last year).
At the West Coast $2009 Challenge, Bryce Nash’s Fiero came in first. Of course, it was also the only competitor (though a second entrant straggled in on the second day). “A lot of guys begged us to do a West Coast version of the Challenge,” said Tom Heath, the spokesman for Grassroots Motorsports. “But as it turned out participation was lacking, and Bryce won handily.”
The main $2009 Challenge, which took place last month, drew 53 competitors, and Mr. Nash (having collected $1,500 from his friends to ship the car to Florida) came in 20th. He also took home a prize for the best-engineered entry.
“Bryce Nash exemplifies what the $2009 Challenge is all about,” said Mr. Heath. “He went his own way, did something completely new, and showed respectably in all phases of the competition. I saw his team out there at 3 a.m. working on the car.”
The Florida all-nighter was unavoidable when an inverter and batteries went bad. The car was ready for the event, though when it came time to talk about the car, lack of sleep left him in a state of “incoherent babbling.”
Mr. Nash, who owns nine cars (many of them ex-G.M. marques, including Pontiac, Saturn and Saab), never runs out of projects. He tells the full story of the homemade Fiero hybrid on the Grassroots Motorsports Web site.


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Pay your bills direct from one phone to another: System will cut out need to remember sort codes and account numbers
- New 'Paym' transfers were unveiled yesterday by major banks
- Instead of bank details, users can send money to phone numbers
- Banking industry hopes the system will replace cheques
Advances: The new system will make it easier to move money around
Technology to allow direct payments between mobile phones was unveiled by the big banks yesterday. The system cuts out the need to remember sort codes and bank account details.
Instead, you type on your phone the mobile number of the person or business you want to pay.
The ‘Paym’ transfers, which will be password-protected, need your bank account to be linked to your own mobile number.
Users will simply tap in the number of the recipient on their phone to authorise an electronic transfer from one account to another.
The industry hopes the system will replace cheques, which are expensive to transport and process.
At the same time it could provide a substitute for cash to make relatively small payments to tradesmen, window cleaners or gardeners.
The idea is that millions of people will have their mobile phone number tied to their bank account – as a substitute for the normal account number and sort code.
There is a security safeguard in that the name of the recipient will appear on the smartphone screen, once the number has been tapped in, so confirming the cash is going to the right person.
Access to the Paym system will be covered by password or code protection in an attempt to avoid the risk of the phone being stolen and used to raid customers’ accounts.
Paym has been devised by the finance industry’s Payments Council, which is the trade body responsible for running the electronic payments system on behalf of banks and building societies.
The council’s chief executive, Adrian Kamellard, said: ‘We’re all used to the idea of a ‘mobile update’ to improve our apps - Paym is a mobile update for payments that means you can pay securely using just a mobile number.
‘Paym will make it easier to repay a friend for cinema tickets, split a restaurant bill or settle up for a colleague’s birthday collection.’
Changes: The system 'has the potential to link up every bank account in the country with a mobile number'
He added: ‘Paym is a great example of industry-wide collaboration that delivers tangible benefits for customers.
‘The service has the potential to link up every bank account in the country with a mobile number.
‘Millions of people will be able to use it this year and we look forward to expanding Paym even further, so everyone can benefit from this easy, secure new way to pay.’
Paym will be integrated into customers’ existing mobile banking or payment apps as an additional way to pay, making it possible to send and receive payments using a mobile number.
When it is launched in the spring, customers of nine bank and building society brands – Lloyds, HSBC, Barclays, Halifax, Santader, TSB, Bank of Scotland, Cumberland Building Society, and Danske Bank - will be able to use the new service.
The nine launch brands will offer their customers the opportunity to register their mobile number and select the current account they want payments made into before the service goes live.
This will immediately make the new system the most wide-ranging payment service capable of moving funds directly from account to account, without the need for sort codes or account numbers.
Paym will expand later this year to include First Direct, NatWest, RBS, Clydesdale Bank, Yorkshire Bank and Isle of Man Bank. The Nationwide building society is committed to joined in early 2015, while the Metro Bank and Ulster Bank are also finalising their participation.
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Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Union undercuts Walmart's Wages!
Onward and upward with progressivism: In a Las Vegas suburb, the United Food and Commercial Workers union hired temp workers at $6 an hour to picket a nonunion Wal-Mart, where wages start at $6.75 an hour.
Yep, supreme Irony that a union is paying less than the Corporation they feel it their duty to picket over low wages!
Links to this post:


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New postage rate chart 2013 - home of fit figures competition team, United states postal rates chart 2013, new postal rate for 2013, postal rates 2013 chart usps, new postage rate chart 2013.
Usps postage rate increase 2013: u.s. postal service rate change, U.s. postal service prices and services are set to change in 2013.
U.s. postal service announces new prices and services for 2013, Washington — beginning early next year, the postal service will introduce a first-class mail global forever stamp. the new stamp will allow customers to mail.
U.s. postal service announces new prices and services for 2013, U.s. postal service announces new prices and services for 2013: washington, oct. 11, 2012 /prnewswire via comtex/ -- first-ever global forever stamp debuts when.
U.s. postal rates to increase - national conservative | examiner.com, According to information released on thursday by the united states postal service, the cost of using the u.s. mail service is going to increase next year.
U.s. postal rates and fees | infoplease.com, U.s. postal rates and fees domestic rates, revised by the u.s. postal service on january 27, 2013.


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Expected to be launched in India in 2019
The 7-seater SUV will receive a subtle facelift but will pack the same engine
The Endeavour range in India has been trimmed down from five variants to three
After reducing the prices just last September, Ford has hiked the prices of its flagship SUV after just three months
Ford Endeavour undertakes an exigent off-road test to prove muscle
Only five variants now remain: three with the 2.2-litre engine and two with the 3.2-litre engine
After hiking the prices of the big SUV in August this year, Ford has now silently slashed the prices of the Endeavour
After slashing prices for the Figo and the Figo Aspire, Ford announces price hike for the Endeavour.
Out of the 12,834 units, 7,045 were sold in the local market while the 5,789 units were exported
With the launch of the mammoth Ford Endeavour today, we give you a heads-up on all six variants that the SUV will be available to choose from
The popular Ford Endeavour is back in a new avatar and will be offered with two powertrain options with prices ranging from Rs 24.75-29.46 lakh (ex-showoom, Mumbai)
After discontinuing the Endeavour in mid-2015, Ford has reintroduced the marquee in a new avatar. The 2016 All-new Ford Endeavour looks meaner and beefier than ever before. The interior and the...
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- Zero-day flaws in Tails aren't for sale, vulnerability broker says
- Nigerian scammers move from gullible consumers to businesses
- Google details Knox-inspired enterprise ‘managed profiles’ for Android L
- Apple "inadvertently admitted" to iOS backdoor: forensics expert
- Juniper jettisons mobile security business
sharp - News, Features, and Slideshows
Microsoft has joined what began as a Linux Foundation effort to create an open platform for the Internet of Things. It's a move that may be telling about Microsoft's plans for home automation, and even for the Xbox.
If Sharp's latest display is any indication, car dashboards could soon have LCDs that fit into all kinds of nooks and crannies.
If you love the way colors pop on large OLED displays, Sharp and other Japanese companies are working on a tiny treat for you: a 13-inch OLED screen with 8K resolution.
Sure, you could buy a laptop, tablet or cloud service from Toshiba. But how about some spinach?
4K TV shows aren't yet a reality in most countries, but Sharp has announced a unit that can receive and record them.
Some of the most memorable IT-related quotes were uttered in courtrooms this year, which involved a steady stream of legal challenges about intellectual property. In no particular order, these are some of the comments that stuck with us as 2012 winds to a close.
Smartphone vendors will rely on upgrades such as full-HD screens and more powerful yet more frugal processors to entice customers to buy new phones in 2013.
My pockets are stuffed full of business cards from people I do not remember meeting, my head is thumping like a flamenco dancer, there's margarita salt on my laptop, and I can't seem to locate my pants. That can mean only one thing: I just returned from my annual pilgrimage to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
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In response to the economy’s slowdown, the television streaming service Roku plans to cut 200 jobs in the US.
Roku is joining other internet companies like Amazon, Netflix, and Meta by terminating staff as a result of a weak third-quarter financial report.
The weakening of advertising revenue for streaming platforms was blamed for the company’s dismal financial performance.
In 2022, Roku’s stock crashed, and it has dropped by about 80 percent this year alone.
The advertising budgets that businesses Roku had counted on for revenue boosts have been impacted by persistent record high inflation and a high cost of living.
Other streaming networks’ third-quarter earnings, notably YouTube, showed a comparable decrease in revenue.
Roku said in a company statement on Thursday, November 17: “Due to the current economic conditions in our industry, we have made the difficult decision to reduce Roku’s headcount expenses by a projected 5 percent, to slow down our OpEx growth rate,”
“This will affect approximately 200 employee positions in the U.S. Taking these actions now will allow us to focus our investments on key strategic priorities to drive future growth and enhance our leadership position,” the company added.
About seven percent of Roku’s total employment was affected by the most recent layoffs. The business, which operates globally in 13 countries, had close to 3,000 employees on its payroll in the previous year.
Need Career Advice? Get employment skills advice at all levels of your career
Roku’s shares dropped more than 3 percent during pre-market trading on Thursday morning as a result of the downsizing news.
Roku claims in an SEC filing that the charges for severance payments and employee benefits contributions will range from $28 million to $31 million as a result of the layoffs.
Source: Fox Business


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ORLANDO -- Mentors and sponsors can play a key role in helping women advance their careers in information technology, according to members of a panel discussion at the Collaborate 11 Oracle user conference here.
Dramatic expense cuts and a narrowed focus on five networking technologies, including video, are coming to Cisco Systems as part of a massive planned turnaround, Cisco CEO John Chambers told financial analysts Thursday.
Lawyers for Oracle and Google gave the judge overseeing their Java patent dispute a tutorial on Wednesday that underscored the complexity of the case between the two companies.
Three other providers of third-party software maintenance have been drawn into the legal battle between Oracle and Rimini Street, a Las Vegas company that provides support for Oracle applications, according to a document filed late last month in U.S....
Lawson Software will soon release a specialized analytics application for health care organizations, which make up a significant portion of the ERP (enterprise resource planning) vendor's customer base.
Oracle 11g Express Edition (XE), the free-of-charge version of Oracle's flagship database, is now in beta.
Private equity firm Apax Partners is buying Epicor and Activant in a deal that will create one of the world's largest ERP (enterprise resource planning) software vendors, the companies announced Monday.
Lawson Software is hoping to entice its customer base to deploy their applications in Amazon's Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), and has a marquee customer to show it can be done successfully.
Oracle has updated customers on the latest Fusion Applications news, but avoided any mention of when the long-awaited software suite would actually be available.
Lawson Software customers still don't know the fate of the company following Infor's roughly US$1.8 billion acquisition offer earlier this month, with just days to go before Lawson's annual CUE conference in Boston.
Oracle's announcement last week that it will stop developing software for Intel's Itanium processor has database startup EnterpriseDB looking to capitalize.
I like to think that most of us who use computers are reasonably bright and responsible. So I get really irritated by the mindset of some technology vendors who insist that treating us like children is not only okay, but also the responsible thing fo...
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A new report from shopper intelligence firm IRI has highlighted the failure of promotions to boost sales volumes. The Europe wide analysis into the pricing and promotion of FMCG goods reveals that as consumers continue to cut back on perceived non-essential items, volume sales have started to decline despite retailers’ focus on deals.
The amount of food and non-food goods sold on promotion was up by 2.7% in the last year, continuing a period of promotional intensity for many countries in Europe. However, the report’s findings show that overall volume sales fell by 0.1% across Europe as squeezed consumers cut back on perceived non-essential categories.
The personal care category was found to have the biggest year on year increase in promotions, up 7%, with the household category up by 4.4%. The average across all categories was 2.7% with non-food up 4.9% overall. However, personal care and household were the only two categories surveyed where both sales volume and value are falling.
Tim Eales, Strategic Insight Director at IRI, suggests that promotions have reached a tipping point: “The UK, which has traditionally had the highest level of trade promotions in Europe, is showing signs of a decline in promotional intensity. FMCG manufacturers may be losing patience with expensive trade promotions that are not bringing the volume rewards they use to. Promotions have helped shoppers meet the rising cost of their grocery shopping baskets, but they eventually become used to them. After a while their loyalty towards brands and stores erodes which makes it difficult to raise prices in the future.”
The report states that food and non-food promotions are not working in the way they used to, and manufacturers are reacting by reassessing their trade promotion strategies to regain some of their margin. 2013 will continue to be a challenging year for FMCG manufacturers and retailers but IRI concludes that new paths for growth can be identified ‘if the two sides work closely together to define specific merchandising strategies for online shoppers with tactics to create impulse purchasing’.
Consumers continue to be the ones in control, with more shoppers using a price comparison site to find the best value basket, becoming less loyal to specific brands and retailers in the process. As households have adapted to shopping in tough times, shoppers have become promotion weary – with price becoming the key motivator, putting increasing pressure on retailers.
Monitoring the competition for grocery retailers is therefore increasingly vital – both to understand competitor prices and promotions, as well as to get insights into a competitor’s product assortment. Find out how three out of the top five UK supermarkets with an e-commerce presence are working with Profitero to ensure they are attracting shoppers with the best value prices to drive sales. Contact us at email@example.com.
Profitero: Web based competitor monitoring for retailers and brands
Pricing intelligence company Profitero provides retailers with actionable price intelligence data, monitoring over 50 million products across 4,000 eCommerce retailers every day, observing pricing, promotions and stock availability. We work with the world’s leading retailers, enabling them to acquire new customers and grow profit margins by monitoring and responding to changes in competitor pricing and promotional activity as they happen. For more information on Profitero price intelligence and competitor monitoring, visit www.profitero.com or email firstname.lastname@example.org


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Advanced Micro Devices on Monday released its fastest chips yet. The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based company announced the six-core Opteron chips, code-named Istanbul -- a move that pushes the chip manufacturer out in front of server customers.
The six-core processor, considered to be the most efficient processor yet, combines lower costs, higher performance per watt, and more scalability, according to AMD. The processor is for two-, four-, and eight-socket servers.
Server customers, including Dell, HP, IBM and Sun Microsystems, will have access to the six-core AMD processors beginning this month, according to the company. Low- HE, high-power, frequency-optimized SE, and very-low-power EE versions of the processor will be available sometime in the third quarter.
The processor also has 34 percent more performance per watt, reduces probe filter between processors, and increases stream memory and bandwidth by 60 percent.
"Based on close collaboration with our customers, we believe there is a clear value shift changing the economics of the server market," said Patrick Patla, vice president and general manager of AMD's server business.
Timing Off Again?
Unlike AMD's first quad-core processor, Barcelona -- which was six months behind schedule after AMD faced several glitches -- Istanbul surpassed expectations on availability.
In fact, Istanbul is available five months ahead of schedule, according to the company. Its early launch surpasses even the launch of AMD's 45nm Shanghai processor, which was available three months earlier than expected.
AMD had announced Shanghai's availability just as rival was announcing its 45nm Nehalem chip. Now the release of AMD's latest Opteron chip comes just days after Intel announced it would begin production of its eight-core Nehalem-EX processor this year. The Nehalem systems are slated for 2010.
The back-to-back announcements are not surprising: The two rivals are competing to provide more processing power for server customers who want faster ways to keep up with demanding applications, all while saving on cost.
Big Step Forward
"The introduction of six-core Opteron AMD processors is a big step forward for the IT industry," according to Armondo Acosta, product manager of Dell PowerEdge servers. "The really exciting part about this AMD processing technology is we've seen a 61 percent increase in just raw performance, and this is really beneficial to our customers."
On AMD's blog, Acosta said Dell plans to introduce Istanbul in six servers, including the Dell PowerEdge rack servers and three other blade servers.
Intel and AMD are not only competing against each other, they are competing against an unsteady server market.
The x86 server market dropped 28.8 percent in the first quarter of 2009 to $5.1 billion worldwide, the lowest x86 server revenue since the third quarter 2003, according to IDC. The top-five server vendors all experienced x86 server-revenue declines of 20 percent or more in the quarter. HP, an AMD customer, led the market with 36.5 percent revenue share; and Dell, another AMD customer, retained second place, securing 21.4 percent revenue share.
The good news, however, is that IDC expects x86 systems to rebound the fastest compared to others in the market.
"As you know, the server market is in the middle of a serious contraction, which is driven by customers extending the life cycle of their servers and extending even further into the data center," said Matthew Eastwood, an IDC analyst. "That said, this is a great time for AMD to launch a new platform."
"We expect customers will begin reinvesting in refreshed in late 2009 and early 2010 to prepare for the economic recovery," he added. "It was critical for AMD to demonstrate both their ability to execute and to showcase their technology road map if end users are going to continue to consider their technology as part of this refresh."


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Just yesterday Google released a new version of the Google Maps Android App that brought a new UI as well as gestures to the app. It’s a pretty big step forwards in terms of a new look and matches the new look Maps that was launched at this years Google IO back in May.
One of the biggest concerns for users who installed or upgraded to the new Maps App, was that not only was Latitiude missing, but the ability to save maps Offline was missing as well, Google addressed this last night by saying on their Lat-Long Blog :
The offline maps feature for Android is also no longer available. Instead we’ve created a new way for you to access maps offline by simply entering “OK Maps” into the search box when viewing the area you want for later. Finally, My Maps functionality is not supported in this release but will return to future versions of the app. People who want to create powerful custom maps can still do so with Maps Engine Lite on desktop.
But this does not appear to have been enough, Google has this afternoon taken to Google+ to advise that they’ve been working through the night to give an easier way to access Maps offline. To that end a new update being pushed out, will add a “Make this map area available offline” card below the search box, but if you’re liking the newly introduced ‘Ok Maps’ command, you can still use that too.
Google has also added a “Where’s Latitude?” link to the bottom of the side menu that will provide information on the future of location sharing, specifically to the Google Latitiude support page.
Apparently this update will be rolling out starting today through Google Play and yet again they are ready and waiting for feedback on this update too. Shake your phone with Google Maps open to send feedback.
Have you received this update yet? What do you think of it?


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Bow Tie Pop-Up With Designer BowTie Mike
With Father’s Day quickly approaching, a bow tow pop-up shop might make it easier to find dad that perfect gift.
Luxury bow tie designer BowTie Mike will host a pre-Father’s Day pop-up from 5 to 8 p.m. June 6.
The pop-up will feature a wide selection of the luxury bow ties, with some made onsite by BowTie Mike.
Founder of BowTie Mike, Michael Williams, started out creating bow ties from snack packages. Williams has since caught the attention of celebrity clients including, Denzel Washington and Grammy award winner Bilal.
These one-of-a-kind bow ties will be found at the AC Hotel – Dallas Downtown.


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Guam- The first of many cargo boxes for about 57 islands in Micronesia floated down from the sky as the 58th annual Operation Christmas Drop finally took off.
A ceremony was held earlier today at Andersen Air Force base where officials revealed over $96 thousand dollars worth of supplies was donated, while another $20 thousand dollars in cash was also raised. About 60 boxes were filled over the weekend with food, clothing, fishing supplies and other goods for islands that have populations as few as 35 residents or as much as 200 people. 36th Wing Vice Commander Colonel Tod Fingal says these are items that people need.
“Inside these containers are not what the children of these small islands or the men and women of these small island want for Christmas” said Fingal. “What resides within these containers is what those folks need for Christmas…and that’s a distinct difference. And that’s what we’re doing today.”
Operation Christmas Drop will have several missions this entire week. State-of-the-art parachutes that are being used on the boxes are also funded by the Tokyo Rotary Club.


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BOSTON, February 1, 2022 –Digi International®, (NASDAQ: DGII) (www.digi.com), a leading global provider of Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity products and services, today announced it has named Guy Yehiav President of its SmartSense by Digi division.
Over his 25-year career, the highly respected executive has helped build world-class technology companies like Oracle Demantra and Profitect, In his new role, Yehiav will lead SmartSense by Digi’s overall strategy, direction, development and implementation of enterprise software solutions as it continues on its aggressive growth path.
“We are thrilled to welcome Guy Yehiav to SmartSense by Digi,” said Ron Konezny, President and CEO of Digi. “His deep expertise in retail, CPG, supply chain, and complex manufacturing is an ideal fit for SmartSense by Digi’s sharp focus on enterprise IoT solutions for food safety, facilities monitoring, pharmaceutical safety, and supply chain visibility. As companies look to ensure their brand standards, protect their customers and eliminate inventory loss while improving efficiencies, SmartSense by Digi is well positioned for continued growth and success in 2022 and beyond.”
Renowned for creating a culture of innovation and inclusion while embracing new customers and pursuing vertical markets, Yehiav brings a track record of success spanning mergers and acquisitions, product portfolio planning, B2B enterprise software, SaaS metrics, conflict management, AI, and IoT solutions. Previously, he was General Manager and Vice President of Zebra Technologies, where he led organic and non-organic growth, M&A activities, leadership strategy, and customer success for the company’s Zebra Analytics business unit.
Earlier, he was CEO of Profitect before its acquisition by Zebra Technologies in 2019. He has also held senior positions at Oracle and was a founder and executive board member of Demantra, which was acquired by Oracle in 2006. Yehiav holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science and industrial management from Shenkar College of Israel and an MBA in entrepreneurship from Babson College. He is fluent in English, French, and Hebrew, enabling him to work with a range of clients from Israel, Europe, APAC, and the U.S.
“I have had many opportunities to help companies get started, grow faster, or transition to new phases,” Yehiav said. “To me, nothing is more exciting than steering a company into a profitable, productive, and innovative future with a clear customer success focus. Given SmartSense by Digi’s proven track record and remarkable team of innovators and experts, I am confident the road ahead will be as exciting as it is successful.”
For more information about SmartSense by Digi, visit: www.smartsense.co.
About Digi International
Digi International (NASDAQ: DGII) is a leading global provider of business and mission-critical Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity products and solutions. We help our customers create next-generation connected products and solutions to deploy, monitor and manage critical communications infrastructures and compliance standards in demanding environments with high levels of security, relentless reliability and bulletproof performance. Founded in 1985, we’ve helped our customers connect over 100 million things, and growing. For more information, visit Digi's website at www.digi.com, or call 877-912-3444 (U.S.) or 952-912-3444 (International).
Global Results Communications


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New Cosmo concept Authentic World Kitchen now open
The Authentic World Kitchen, the Cosmo group's new flagship restaurant in Nottingham, is now open.
First announced last year, the Nottingham Milton Street site has 350 seats, cost £2m to fit out and is the group's 17th UK outlet.
It includes a host of new innovations for the company, such as a higher standard of décor, updated branding, new dishes, a holographic receptionist designed to welcome guests in the lobby, and a selection of smaller, individual-sized dishes which fit on plates that slot into specially-designed boards mounted on the dining room's tables.
The latter concept has been designed to encourage diners to keep their varying cuisines separate, and help to cut down on food waste by limiting portion sizes and the amount of leftovers.
The restaurant offers Cosmo's buffet-style choice, featuring 150 dishes inspired by countries including Japan, China, Italy, India, Thailand, and Brazil, plus a British-style carvery.
The site also has two VIP rooms, three main kitchens and eight live cooking stations, with names such as La Cuisina Italiana, House of Spice and World of Asia.
James Brion, creative director and a partner at the Cosmo restaurant group, said: "We are extremely proud to open what we believe is one of the most imaginative and innovative world buffet restaurants anywhere in the UK. We are taking all of that to another level in Nottingham, with a host of brand new, fresh ideas that we are confident will bring a brand new experience to the city."
The Nottingham site is the third Cosmo outlet to have been opened in the past year, after launches in Glasgow and York. The restaurant group, which offers a set price all-you-can eat menu starting at £7.99 for lunch, operates 17 branches overall including in Derby, Sheffield, Coventry, Aberdeen, Belfast, Bristol and Swansea.
Buffet chain Cosmo's Derby site to be model for new openings >>
New Glasgow leisure complex signs TGI Friday's and Cosmo >>


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Two Weis stores earn certifications from GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership
SUNBURY, Pa. — Two Weis stores containing a new, environmentally efficient design have earned environmental certifications awards from the GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership, a voluntary Environmental Protection Agency alliance with food retailers to reduce refrigerant emissions and decrease their impact on the ozone layer and climate change, the grocer announced Wednesday.
The 62,000-sq.-ft. units are located in Forks Township, near Easton, Pa., and in Bellefonte, near State College, Pa. Each unit achieved a "silver" GreenChill certificate by meeting tough benchmarks for cutting emissions that harm the earth’s protective ozone layer and contribute to global warming.
"Only a handful of American supermarkets have achieved GreenChill status. To meet these high standards, both stores reduced their refrigerant charges by more than 50%," Weis VP store construction and development Kevin Small said. "We will continue to invest in programs and systems that help us reduce our overall environmental impact throughout our store base."
To achieve silver certification, a store must meet stringent environmental criteria, including the following:
Use refrigerants that do not damage the Earth’s protective ozone layer;
Reduce the size of its refrigerant charge by at least 50% from the industry average;
Reduce annual refrigerant emissions to 15% or less of total store capacity; and
Test refrigeration systems for adherence to GreenChill’s leak tightness guidelines.
Walgreens promotes Earth Day
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens is helping to promote Earth Day 2012 with the offer of a 20% discount on select beauty, personal care items and other grocery and household needs on Walgreens.com with the code 20NATURAL now through Sunday.
Twitter followers also can find out how to win a variety of eco-friendly products this Friday by searching for #WalgreensEarthDay on Twitter, the pharmacy operator noted.
Walgreens has a long-standing commitment to eco-friendly initiatives, such as reducing energy usage and creating ways to reduce its carbon footprint. Currently, the drug store chain has 134 solar panel installations at its stores, distribution centers and corporate headquarters. In addition, the company utilizes an energy management system that monitors electricity, water, lighting, refrigeration temperatures, heating and cooling, and waste management at more than 3,000 stores to help reduce energy usage and maintenance costs while extending equipment life.
Walgreens also is among the first of retailers hosting electric vehicle charging stations and has plans to offer this service at 800 locations. Drivers can already top off and charge while doing errands or traveling along major commuter routes in Baltimore; Chicago; Dallas; Denver; Houston; Kansas City, Mo.; Los Angeles; Orlando, Fla.; Portland, Ore.; San Francisco; Tampa/St. Petersburg; Seattle; and Washington.
“Environmental sustainability is part of Walgreens commitment to help our customers live well, stay well and get well, and that’s why it’s important to be a first mover with EV charging stations,” stated Walgreens director of energy and sustainability Menno Enters. “Sustainability is not only smart for our communities and planet but [also] makes good business sense. The feedback we are receiving from customers and team members about all of our sustainability initiatives has been very positive, and we will continue to find ways to lead in this space.”
Walgreens also is participating in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Challenge. As part of the challenge, Walgreens is committed to achieving its goal of reducing its energy usage by 20% across all of its stores and facilities by 2020. In 2010, the company installed a geothermal energy system at one of its stores in Oak Park, Ill. The company’s Mira Mesa, Calif., location received LEED gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.
SXC, Catalyst announce merger as PBM market continues to consolidate
LISLE, Ill. — SXC Health Solutions and Catalyst Health Solutions on Wednesday announced a merger agreement under which SXC and Catalyst will combine in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $4.4 billion. The announcement comes some three weeks after Express Scripts and Medco consummated their $29.1 billion merger.
The transaction will join SXC’s pharmacy benefit management tools, technology and expertise with Catalyst’s local and collaborative client-centric PBM business model, creating a leading independent provider of PBM solutions, the companies stated. “This is an extremely compelling combination that brings together SXC’s industry-leading tools and technology with Catalyst’s full-service PBM, best-in-class service and growing client base to create a company that is even better positioned to compete in the marketplace,” stated Mark Thierer, chairman and CEO of SXC, who will continue in that role in the combined company.
Shareholders from both companies still need to approve the deal. If they do, SXC shareholders would own about 65% of the combined company, and Catalyst shareholders would own about 35%.
Upon completion of the transaction, the combined company will represent $13 billion in revenue. The combined company will cover approximately 25 million members, with annual prescription volume of more than 200 million adjusted PBM scripts.


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See the reason that made Davido buy a multi-million-naira frog pendant
Davido, an award-winning afrobeat singer popularly known as DavidAdeleke has revealed why he bought a multi-million-naira frog pendant from Ice Box.
In a recent interview with GQ, the 30 Billion Gang boss was listing his ten essential items he can’t live without.
Davido breaks down his essential items: from his jewellery collection to his ‘hater blockers’ (sunglasses). Of course, nothing tops a glass of Martell cognac, specifically Davido’s go-to drink, The Sidecar.
On his jewelry collections, he said he made a frog pendant to get back at social media trolls.
He explained that because of his hoarse voice, trolls were calling him “frog” on Twitter (now X), and he decided to make something out of it.
Davido said: “I made a frog pendant because my voice is hoarse, and they [trolls] were calling me frog on Twitter. I was like, you know what? I’m going to make a chain out of that sh*t.”
British GQ is the premier channel for men’s style, lifestyle and entertainment. Every week brand new series, original documentaries and essential style guides make it the first port of call for living well and looking good for men.


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May 14, 2018
In celebration of 10 years of TV streaming, Roku May 14 announced it has unlocked free content for Roku customers and is offering discounts on select streaming players.
“The celebration falls just ahead of National Streaming Day on May 20, which encourages people to stream entertainment and recognizes the massive change in the TV industry,” according to a Roku press release. “This year marks the 10th anniversary of the first Roku player, the first ever device to stream Netflix to the TV.”
“For 10 years, Roku has facilitated the massive shift in the way people watch TV and we’re extremely proud of the contribution we’re making to streaming entertainment,” said Matthew Anderson, chief marketing officer, Roku, in a statement. “We can think of no better way to thank our base of nearly 21 million avid streamers than to offer free hit entertainment in partnership with some of the biggest and best TV networks like Shotime, Fox, EPIX, Smithsonian Earth and more.”
Content from select channel partners is available for free in the Roku Channel through May 20, including premiere seasons of the Showtime series “Billions,” “Ray Donovan” and “The Affair”; the first season of EPIX’s dark comedy “Get Shorty”; episodes of hits from Fox, such as “The Four: Battle for Stardom,” “Beat Shazam” hosted by Jamie Foxx; and “Love Connection” hosted by Andy Cohen; as well as nature and wildlife documentaries from Smithsonian Earth.
Consumers can also save on several Roku streaming players in the United States. For a limited time, customers can get $10 off the Roku Streaming Stick ($49.99) and the Roku Ultra ($99.99), as well as $15 off the Roku Streaming Stick+ ($69.99). The offers are available at major retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, Target and Walmart.com, and at Roku.com through May 26.
“Roku pioneered streaming to the television with the launch of the Netflix player in 2008. Since then, the company has transformed how consumers enjoy TV, how content providers reach their TV audiences and how brands reach TV audiences,” read the release. “As of the end of the first quarter of 2018, Roku had nearly 21 million active accounts, and during that first quarter alone, Roku users streamed 5+ billion hours.”


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Survey Finds Up To 44 Million In U.S. May Be Victims Of ID Crime
A class-action lawsuit has been filed against CardSystems Solutions, where a security breach disclosed earlier this month compromised 40 million card accounts.
The number of Americans who've been victims of identity-related crimes could be as high as 44 million, according to a survey released Wednesday by Deloitte & Touche LLP and the Center for Social and Legal Research. A similar survey conducted two years ago found that 35 million Americans may have been victims.
The survey of 2,322 adults was taken in early May. Twenty percent of those surveyed said they've been victims of ID theft. When extrapolated across the entire U.S. population, the results suggest that 44 million may have been victims.
The survey found a growing awareness of ID-related crimes among the public; 87% of respondents said they've read or heard about consumer data being stolen or disclosed in error. Such stories have dominated the headlines in recent weeks; the latest and potentially the largest was a security breach at CardSystems Solutions Inc. that exposed more than 40 million payment card accounts to theft.
A class-action suit has been filed in California against CardSystems, Visa, and MasterCard seeking a declaration that CardSystems violated due standards of care in its data-security methods and that the card companies failed to provide timely notice of the nature and extent to which credit-card data was compromised.
According to the lawsuit, CardSystems had been alerted "by other entities" late last year that consumer data had been exposed and failed to take prompt remedial action or notify consumers. The suit alleges that CardSystems violated Visa and MasterCard rules against storing consumer information and also violated the Payment Card Industry Data Security standard by improperly storing credit-card and transaction data, failing to maintain a firewall, failing to restrict access to its computers, and failing to encrypt cardholder data.
The suit charges that MasterCard was remiss in not publicly disclosing the breach until June 17, even though it had been informed by CardSystems of the breach in May and had traced fraudulent incidents back to CardSystems in April.
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Amazon iOS Users Can Now Text Alexa Questions and Requests
Amazon has added a new feature to its Alexa app for iOS devices, which is designed to allow users to type Alexa commands rather than having to use voice commands to interact with the personal assistant.
In a statement provided to The Verge, Amazon says that Type with Alexa is a new feature that's available as of today in public preview capacity in the United States. Alexa iOS users can type anything that would normally require a voice command into the app.
Type with Alexa can be accessed by tapping on the keyboard icon in the top left of the main menu in the app. Amazon says that the feature is still in beta, so there could be some errors. Customers will need to be a part of the public preview program to access the type with Alexa feature.
Apple's built-in Siri assistant has had a type to Siri option since iOS 11, allowing users to type in requests rather than having to speak them aloud, and Google Assistant has a similar feature.
Top Rated Comments
Which it will continue to do anyway...
It's hard to imagine that Siri came out with the 4s all those years ago, and is still essentially garbage