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The most important sale of the yr is all set to go stay on November 26. Throughout the sale, there shall be numerous enticing offers and reductions on smartphones, laptops, TVs, equipment, audio merchandise and different digital units.
However these reductions will not be solely restricted to electronics but additionally apps and video games, particularly on Google Play Retailer. The excellent news is that reductions on apps and video games are additionally accessible in India and right here’s an inventory.
Video games which are presently free on Play Retailer
Shadow of Dying: Darkish Knight: Free
The role-playing title is obtainable without spending a dime on Play Retailer. The sport normally prices Rs 85.
Area Shooter Galaxy Assault: Free
Priced at Rs 20, the sport is presently free on Play Retailer.
Epic Heroes Battle – Premium: Free
The sport is presently accessible without spending a dime throughout the ongoing sale
Lopis Roguelike Card RPG Recreation: Free
Lopis Roguelike Card RPG Recreation normally prices Rs 10. Nevertheless, it’s presently accessible without spending a dime on Play Retailer.
Video games which are discounted on Google Play Retailer
Riptide GP2 Renegade: Rs 45
After a reduction of Rs 64, the sport is promoting at Rs 45 on Play Retailer.
Chess Coach Professional: Rs 399
The sport has obtained a flat low cost of Rs 221 throughout the ongoing sale.
Physician Who: Rs 249
Initially priced at Rs 400, the sport is obtainable at Rs 249 on Play Retailer
Apps which are presently free or discounted on Play Retailer
FiLMiC Professional: Rs 700
The digital camera app normally prices Rs 1,300. Nevertheless, after a reduction, it’s presently accessible at Rs 700
Star Stroll 2- Evening Sky View: Rs 100
After a flat Rs 149 low cost, the app is promoting at Rs 100 on Play Retailer.
Pulsar Music Participant Professional: Rs 220
The MP3 participant has additionally obtained a reduction of Rs 130.


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If you’re looking for brand experience inspiration and are wondering what other companies are up to this year, why not look to Netflix for a few ideas. The brand has just revealed that it plans to match the shows it suggests to customers based on their mood at any given time.
The company is keen to offer an even greater level of personalisation to TV fans in order to gain an even greater level of consumer trust, The Drum reports.
Co-founder and chief executive officer of Netflix Reed Hastings said: “We seek to find the right movie or series to put in front of you at the right time. We do this through continuous learning and understanding what each person watches and whether they leave after ten minutes or whether they come back to complete the series or not.”
Last year, the company confirmed that it would be redirecting marketing spend from the US to other markets, focusing on online where it is better able to target audiences, especially those on smartphones. The amount of money Netflix has spent on paid advertising across internet display ads, radio and television has decreased in recent years.
It also announced that it would be focusing on promoting Netflix original shows like The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Bloodline, rather than advertising the cost of the service and the benefits that signing up to Netflix would bring.
Making your brand communications and marketing messages more personal is a sure-fire way to attract new customers so perhaps take a leaf out of Netflix’s book this year.

domain: news


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IDG.net: Red Hat CEO talks about VA Linux Systems' IPO successDec 11, 1999, 19:36 (0 Talkback[s])
(Other stories by April Jacobs)
"The highly successful initial public offering of VA Linux Systems, Inc. caused a buzz across the industry this week. The company's focus on turnkey Linux-based systems may help increase confidence in open source in the corporate market. Network World spoke with Red Hat President and CEO Matthew Szulik to get his perspective on the VA Linux IPO - and what's ahead for Linux."
"What does the VA Linux IPO mean for Red Hat's future in the market?"
"This is further good news for the open source and Linux marketplace at large. It has created an opportunity for customers looking to buy turnkey Linux hardware and software as an alternative to Unix."
"How does it specifically fit into the Red Hat scheme?"
"With VA Linux shipping systems with Red Hat Linux, it has expanded our channels of distribution and provides an avenue to turnkey solutions for customers."


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This past weekend, ahead of the official December 9 release of the largely touted Air Jordan 11 “Win Like ’96” edition, the shoe released on Nike SNKRS as a part of Nike’s new augmented reality initiative. Yet also looking to fuel this campaign on the ground, Jordan Brand also released the shoe in four key cities critical to Michael Jordan’s championship run in 1996.
En route to his 1996 NBA Finals victory, Jordan and the Bulls had stops in four cities all rivaling formidable opponents – Seattle, Miami, Orlando and New York. Each of those cities played a role in the Air Jordan 11s early release at malls across the country, which saw the shoe available via a Santa Claus sitting in front of a massive Air Jordan 11 box. Customers at those locations were able to unlock the shoe early and cop before the wider launch next month. And while malls in these aforementioned locations were unlocked first, others across the U.S. followed suit once news begin to trickle out regarding the first four.
Take a look at the some of the images from this weekend and let us know if you copped early or plan to grab a pair on December 9.


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The CEO of Amazon Jeff Bezos is now the richest person in the world for the second time. He was the richest man in the world a couple of months ago after he passed Bill Gate. But his kingship lasted for a day.
A post-earnings surge in Amazon.com Inc. shares Friday pushed Jeff Bezos to the top of the Bloomberg Billionaires Index for the first time, vaulting him ahead of Bill Gates who had held the top spot as the richest person on Earth for more than four years.
When Forbes published The FORBES 400 list of richest Americans earlier in October, Bezos was the second richest person in America, worth $7.5 billion less than Gates. According to the Forbes Bezos first joined the Forbes 400 in 1998, one year after Amazon went public, with a net worth of $1.6 billion.
Bezos is now the richest person in the world with a $93.1 billion fortune, up $10.3 billion from Thursday. He is currently $3.1 billion richer than Gates, who ended the day with a net worth of $90 billion.
Via | Forbes |
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Intel gains toe hold in smartphone apps processor market
October 10, 2012 // Peter Clarke
Intel recorded a 0.2 percent share by unit shipments of the global smartphone applications processor market in the first half of 2012, up from zero previously, according to market researcher Strategy Analytics. Meanwhile, Qualcomm maintained market dominance with 48 percent revenue share.
Strategy Analytics also provided some much-needed good news for ST-Ericsson: Its NovaThor applications processors showed 28 percent sequential growth in 2Q12 to help ST-Ericsson register the highest quarterly shipments in over four years.
Smartphone applications processors are clearly in demand, and the market' rising tide should be lifting all boats. Sales of smartphone applications processors reached $5.5 billion in the first half of 2012, up 61 percent from the first half of 2011, according to the Strategy Analytics' latest Handset Component Technologies service report.
Following Qualcomm in smartphone applications processor sales in the first half of the year were, in order, Samsung, MediaTek, Broadcom and Texas Instruments, respectively, according to the report.
MediaTek achieved 13-fold year-on-year growth as it addressed the low-to-mid range smartphone segment. Broadcom ranked number four in the first half of the year with the help of low-end Android smartphone design-wins at Samsung, according to the report.
"Qualcomm's early LTE modem leadership has helped the company to stay ahead of the competition," said Sravan Kundojjala, senior analyst with Strategy Analytics, in a statement.
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This month, Trinamic Motion Control is offering you to win one of four TMCM-1043 development kits for its highly integrated, NEMA 17-compatible TMCM-1043 stepDancer stepper motor module.
Offering designers an easy-to-use PC-based GUI that allows one-click modification of motor drive current, micro-stepping and other key parameters, the intuitive kits are custom designed and developed for...MORE INFO AND LAST MONTH' WINNERS...
December 15, 2011 | Texas instruments | 222901974
Unique Ser/Des technology supports encrypted video and audio content with full duplex bi-directional control channel over a single wire interface.


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Fitbit is recalling 1 million of their Ionic smartwatches after reports of a “very limited number” of burn injuries.
The wearables company, owned by Google, said they received “at least” 115 reports from Ionic users in the U.S. and 59 from overseas that watch batteries were overheating.
In the U.S., 78 people reported burn injuries from the watches, including two reports of third-degree burns and four reports of second-degree burns. There were another 40 reports of burn injuries from international users.
PEOPLE has reached out to Fitbit for comment. In a statement to Reuters, the company said that the affected watches are less than 0.01% of the units sold. Fitbit has sold around 1 million Ionic watches in the U.S. and about 693,000 internationally.
“These incidents are very rare and this voluntary recall does not impact other Fitbit smartwatches or trackers,” the company said.
Anyone with Ionic watches with the model FB503CPBU, FB503GYBK, FB503WTGY or FB503WTNV “should immediately stop using” them, CPSC said. Users can contact Fitbit to receive a pre-paid mailer to send the watch back and will receive a refund of $299, along with a discount code for 40% off select Fitbit devices.
The watches, which Fitbit stopped producing in 2020, were first introduced in 2017 and tracked fitness activity, heart rate and sleep. They were sold at Best Buy, Kohl’s, Target, Amazon and the Fitbit website until Dec. 2021.
Let your Fitbit-wearing friends & family know!


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Fandango breaks ticket sales record on Christmas
Not only did “Les Misérables” sell more advance tickets online than any other musical or Christmas Day release, but the movie musical powered Fandango to its best-ever single day for ticket sales, reported TheWrap. The previous high for the 12-year-old company came on May 4, the day that “Marvel’s The Avengers” opened.
“Our record-breaking sales point to a tremendous variety of holiday film choices that are connecting with audiences,” said Paul Yanover, president of Fandango, said in a statement. “Our top-selling day is also a testament to an ever-growing base of consumers who recognize Fandango—and its multiple conveniences—as the best way to go the movies.”
The Los Angeles-based online ticketer did not reveal how many tickets it sold on Tuesday nor how many it sold on its previous best day back in May.
The top-selling movies on Fandango on Christmas Day were “Les Misérables,” “Django Unchained,” “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” “Parental Guidance,” “This Is 40,” “Jack Reacher” and “Lincoln.”
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Street trading app StreetDots bags £350,000 seed investment
Company that allows street traders to book daily pitches will use funding to expand from 30 spaces to 70
StreetDots, the street trading technology start-up featured in Tech Pitch, has closed £350,000 in seed funding from private Singapore fund B.O.H LLC.
Founded by Atholl Milton – founder of Bunny Chow – and Darren Callcott, StreetDot works with Landlords to open street trading pitches or ‘dots’ that can be booked daily by traders via an app.
Everything from rent to documentation and licensing is handled through the app, mitigating the hassle of paperwork and admin for both parties.
The finance will be used to expand StreetDot’s network from 30 spaces currently to 70 in the spring. It will also help target retail and restaurant brands and develop new features ahead of a £4.5m Series A early this year.
Milton said: “Street trading is one of the oldest ways of doing business, yet the last to be modernised. It’s hard to believe that in 2017 it is still very much a paper-based sector.
“StreetDots is changing this and has already transformed dormant space across the UK into vibrant street food hubs. We are looking forward to opening our network to other types of traders and redefining the retail landscape of our cities and beyond.”
Laksh Vaaman, head of B.O.H, commented: “Like our other investments, StreetDots is a true disruptor. It’s exciting to see how quickly it has gained buy-in from big name land partners, traders and consumers in such a short time. We look forward to helping them grow.”


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Warhorse Studios published a video providing an overview of the newest DLC to Kingdom Come: Deliverance called From the Ashes when it was teased earlier this month. The video features Creative Director Daniel Vavra along with Senior Designer Prokop Jirsa talking some of the updates players may expect when the DLC starts next month.
After listening to feedback from players, instead of just giving them the choice of having a home from the game, players will be able to build entire villages. To be able to stay as accurate as possible, the choice to govern a village will soon come with a quest, and while buildings arrive with unique perks, players are also responsible to make decisions which will have different consequences in the game.
Vavra also claims in the video this is not the only DLC to be published this year, and more will be coming later.
When playing Hardcore Mode, there’ll not be any autosaves, no health or stamina bar, no speedy travel, and several other obstacles for players to conquer. Unusual “bonuses ” are also readily available to create the game even tougher. Players might have to select at least two when they start a brand fresh game in Hardcore Mode, such as Haemophilia or even Numbskull, and finishing the game in this nation will unlock new achievements.
You can have a look at the whole review below. While the From the Ashes DLC does not have an specific release date, it will be available in July after the Steam Earnings are finished. Kingdom Come: Deliverance is currently available for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.


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- 6 updates
- 80 per cent of all trips made by people are on roads
- 90 per cent of all goods moved in London every day are on roads
- Streets also account for 80 per of London’s public spaces
The plan has been the result of studying the challenges facing London’s roads and the best examples of street management and urban design across the globe.
Its mission statement says:
"Increasingly, successful world cities are being measured on the environmental and design quality of their public space.
The RTF calls for major investment to support not just the efficient and reliable movement of people and goods, but high quality roads, public spaces and revitalised high streets to improve the liveability of the capital and ensure it remains attractive and competitive among world cities."
The Mayor's Roads Task Force’s plans include:
1.A world class public realm and re-imagined iconic streets and places, for example London Bridge, Oxford Street, Tottenham Court Road and King’s Cross and in high streets, new developments and quarters across the capital;
2.Roofing over arterial roads to create new surface space, reconnecting severed communities, while providing for strategically important freight and business traffic;
3.Changing the way goods and services are delivered, for example shifting HGVs and freight out of peak hours as seen during the London 2012 Games and switching deliveries to vans, bikes or powered two wheelers;
4.Embracing ‘next generation’ travel demand, to encourage a greater shift to more sustainable modes such as walking, cycling and powered two wheelers;
5.Efficient road links and tackling junction ‘pinch points’, which will support businesses, including tradesmen and small businesses reliant on vans, as well as access to suppliers and markets;
6.Even greater use of intelligent systems and technology, to reduce delays at traffic signals, smooth traffic flows and provide road users with the best possible real-time information to help plan journeys;
7.Enhanced road links and connectivity including new river crossings, to support new developments and unlock thousands of new homes;
8.Smarter charging for the use of road space, including tolling for new infrastructure;
9.New capacity for sustainable modes, including bridges for walking and cycling and more dedicated lanes;
10.More area-wide 20mph zones, to improve liveability and safety;
11.High levels of accessibility across transport modes, including recognising the role of the car particularly in outer London;
12.Good quality parking, for cars, bikes, Blue Badge holders and powered two wheelers; and,
13.Village-style streets in new developments, with good access for buses, walking, cycling and freight and ‘car-lite’ development.
For more information, visit TfL's website.
The Mayor's Roads Task Force report aims to ensure the capital can cope with major population growth, support jobs and thousands of new homes in the coming years.
The ambitious £30 billion road improvement plan for London was produced by a task force set up by Mayor Boris Johnson.
The 20-year vision includes improvement to the North and South Circular roads, new "flyunders" and major schemes at Vauxhall, Waterloo, Elephant and Castle and Old Street.
There are also plans for improved bus services, more 20 mph zones, and proposals to improve cycling and walking.
The announcement includes plans to gentrify the Elephant and Castle roundabout.
Here's an image of what it's like now:
And what it will look like after the multi million pound refit:


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Apple is gearing up to release its new iPhone in the fall, likely in September, but even still one analyst thinks the company is going to beat Wall Street estimates for iPhone unit sales during the second quarter – Apple’s Q3 – this year. In a note published by Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty, a well known Apple tracker, she says she believes Apple will report 39 million iPhones sold in the three months ending in June when it publishes its next earnings report, crushing Wall Street estimates of 35 million units sold.
That would be the second time in a row iPhone unit sales beat Wall Street estimates. Last quarter, Apple’s Q2, the company reported 43.7 million iPhones sold beating Wall Street estimates of 38 million units. It would also represent considerable iPhone unit sales growth over last year, when Apple reported 31.2 million iPhones were sold during the quarter. Growth is increasingly important for Apple, particularly as it enters China and as it competes more directly with Android phone makers selling super low-cost handsets.
Huberty thinks Apple’s large bump in sales, and the reason it may be the Street consensus, is due to the frequent and easy-to-find sales for the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c. The iPhone 5s is just $79 on contract at RadioShack right now, for example, and Apple recently held a major promotion where owners of older iPhones could trade them in for newer devices.
Apple hasn’t yet announced when it will report its Q3 earnings, but expect them around late July.


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After its record-breaking success on Netflix, it was rumored that Wednesday may not return to the streaming platform for a second season. The Addams Family spin-off dethroned Stranger Things as the top series in the streamer's history, and according to Netflix's Top 10 database, took the No. 1 spot for the week of November 21 – November 27, 2022, with 341.23 million hours viewed.
Jenna Ortega's breakout role as the iconic Addams Family character solidified her title as Gen Z's scream queen and helped her land her first-ever Golden Globe nomination for Best Television Actress in a Musical/Comedy Series. The fan-favorite series has yet to be officially greenlit for a second season — and on January 3, The Independent reported that its fate of returning to Netflix was up in the air because its production company, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), inked a major deal with another streaming service.
According to Deadline, MGM closed an $8.5 billion merger with Amazon in March 2022, which means that the rights to the Tim Burton-led series *could* go to the e-commerce company. This also suggests that season 2 could premiere on Amazon's streaming service, Prime Video, which is home to shows like The Summer I Turned Pretty and Hunters.
However, IndieWire reported on January 3 that it's unlikely Wednesday will move to Prime Video. According to the outlet, a source familiar with the merger confirmed that the Wednesday deal between Netflix and MGM was solidified before the Amazon purchase.
Netflix, Amazon, and MGM have yet to confirm whether Wednesday will make its way to another streamer. Per Deadline's report, Amazon has stated it is not planning to make all MGM content exclusive to Prime Video, so it's possible that Netflix may attempt to strike a deal to keep the dark comedy on their platform.
Sam is an assistant editor at Seventeen, covering pop culture, celebrity news, health, and beauty. When she isn't draping her cheeks in blush, you can probably find her live-tweeting awards shows or making SwiftToks.


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Intel Corp., the foremost maker of microprocessors for the personal computer industry, this week announced two breakthroughs that should permit manufacture of even faster chips in the future.
The company says it has found new materials -- metals, actually -- that will help it halt leakage of electrical current. That's now one of the biggest barriers to increasing processor speed.
The innovations in processor design come in the nick of time.
For decades, one of the great drivers of the computer industry has been Moore's Law, a theory saying that computer chips roughly double in speed every 18 to 24 months.
The idea was floated back in 1965 by Intel co-founder Gordon...


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Sony surprised the gaming community with the announcement of the PlayStation Classic. The miniaturized version of the original PlayStation will launch on Dec. 3, with 20 pre-loaded games and a price tag of $99.99.
Video Games September 20, 2018
A Square Enix job listing revealed that the developer is looking at the 'Final Fantasy VII Remake' as 'a new creation' that 'surpasses the original.' The job listing, however, may hint that the release date will not be soon.
Video Games April 23, 2018
Screenshots posted at the 30th Anniversary Exhibition of the 'Final Fantasy' series revealed that Cloud will look different in the 'Final Fantasy VII Remake' after Square Enix made design changes. There is still no release date for the game though.
Video Games February 8, 2018
Producer Yoshinori Kitase has revealed brand new 'Final Fantasy VII' details to fans. Kitase shared to social media new concept artwork revealing the forthcoming games environment, characters, and more.
Video Games January 21, 2018
Square Enix has made a major change in the development of the 'Final Fantasy VII Remake.' Is the company's decision a good or bad thing for the highly anticipated RPG?
Video Games May 29, 2017
Square Enix President Yosuka Matsuda revealed that gamers who are looking forward to the 'Final Fantasy VII Remake' and 'Kingdom Hearts 3' might have to wait a while. Up to how long will fans of each series have to wait?
Video Games May 27, 2017
A Square Enix executive hinted that a remake for 'Final Fantasy VIII' could arrive in the future. Hardcore fans of the franchise, however, would prefer for the video game company to first finish the highly anticipated 'Final Fantasy VII Remake.'
Video Games May 21, 2017
Game director Tetsuya Nomura has revealed two screenshots from the highly anticipated 'Final Fantasy VII Remake.' The images give a glimpse of the combat system that will be implemented for the title.
Video Games February 19, 2017
For excited gamers, updates on the 'Final Fantasy VII' remake have been too few and far in between. However, a new rumor claims that the title will be released on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One this year.
Video Games January 10, 2017
Square Enix has launched a holiday sale for the iOS and Android versions of some of its classic games. Included in the offers are several 'Final Fantasy' games, 'Chrono Trigger' and 'Secret of Mana.'
Video Games December 23, 2016
Shinji Hashimoto, the brand manager for 'Final Fantasy', talked about the upcoming games of the franchise and its direction moving forward. Among the titles he discussed are the remake of 'Final Fantasy VII' and 'Final Fantasy X-3'.
Video Games November 12, 2016
Square Enix has released the Android port for 'Final Fantasy VII' almost a year after the iOS version. Is the game worth downloading, despite coming with a price tag of $15.99 and a couple of bugs?
Video Games July 7, 2016
The final 'Super Smash Bros.' focused direct is coming next week, with new details on how Cloud Strife will play.
Geek December 9, 2015
Breaking ‘Final Fantasy’ tradition, Square Enix has partnered with Epic Game to supply the gaming engine for the ‘Final Fantasy VII Remake.’ The game, teased heavily over the past week, features a new battle system and will be even released in multiple parts.
Video Games December 9, 2015
A press release by Square Enix hinted that 'Final Fantasy VII Remake' will be split up into several episodes. Gamers, however, have raised other possible meanings to the information that Square Enix revealed.
Video Games December 8, 2015
The PC port of 'Final Fantasy VII' may arrive for PlayStation 4 soon.
Geek November 30, 2015
Expect some major announcements to come out of Nintendo's last 'Super Smash Bros.' focused video conference.
Geek November 16, 2015
Square Enix and Nintendo have finally partnered up to bring a bit of 'Final Fantasy VII' to a Nintendo platform. Announced during Nintendo direct, Cloud Strife is set to join the line-up of playable characters in Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. franchise as DLC.
Video Games November 13, 2015
Square Enix has no plans of letting up on the HD remakes, but it's polishing up more than just Final Fantasy games. The company will also set the classic video games into an HD remake.
Video Games October 23, 2015
It's been 20 years since the PlayStation debuted, and it's time to finally crown the Best Game of All Time — and that honor goes to Hideo Kojima's stealth-action masterpiece 'Metal Gear Solid.'
Geek September 18, 2015
New cheats in Final Fantasy VII for iOS let you skip all random encounters and play with maxed out stats from the get-go.
Geek August 21, 2015
It's not the PlayStation 4 remake, but gamers can now play 'Final Fantasy VII' on the go with the iOS release of the game.
Geek August 19, 2015
If you've ever wanted to play 'Final Fantasy VII' as a 2D side-scroller, you're in luck: fans put together a re-imagined version of the game as a side-scroller.
Geek August 17, 2015
'Final Fantasy XV' is a gorgeous game, but it doesn't look like Square Enix is all that concerned with recycling its tech as the 'Final Fantasy VII' remake won't be using the game's engine.
Geek August 11, 2015
Big changes are coming to the combat system in the 'Final Fantasy VII' remake.
Geek July 30, 2015
The remake to Final Fantasy 7 is happening, but fans fear Square Enix might make big changes. We're not sure if the company will, but we are sure no new characters will be added.
Geek June 29, 2015
'Final Fantasy VII' is coming to the PlayStation 4 this fall, but it just isn't the one you want the most.
Geek June 22, 2015
Square Enix is bringing 'Final Fantasy VII' to iOS this summer. The PS4 version of the PC port has been pushed back, but Sony's latest console is also getting an HD remake of the classic JRPG.
Video Games June 17, 2015
Sony unveiled games that PlayStation 4 users should expect to come soon, headlined by the exclusive 'Uncharted 4: A Thief's End,' the long-delayed 'The Last Guardian' and the remake of 'Final Fantasy VII.'
Video Games June 16, 2015
Shinra Technologies has announced that it will be launching a beta version of its game streaming platform in Kansas City this summer. The platform could eventually revolutionize the gaming industry.
Video Games March 14, 2015
While it isn't fully functional, one fan's vision for what a 'Final Fantasy VII' sequel could have looked like is darn impressive.
Geek March 5, 2015
Feature | Science


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In a culmination of a 20-city journey that began in January, 24 startups pitched off against one another in front of a panel of investors to win the coveted Startups Club Demo Day Finale and the Rs. 10 Lakh prize from 8th to 10th Dec 2017 at Taj Vivanta, Bengaluru.
The winner was Pune-based interior mapping startup, Vacus Tech, whose product Free Space Tech is based on RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) technology. Other than a cash prize of Rs 10 Lakhs, Vacus gets a chance to participate in the accelerator’s events and receives International access, along with investments and mentoring from some of the top names in the industry.
The Demo Day also brought together eminent speakers such as Mr. Rahul Bhalchandra, Founder YLG Salons; Mr. Subhrat Pani, Founder of One Assist; Mr. Vivek Mansingh from Yournest India VC Fund; Mr. Shashank Kumar from Razorpay; Mr. Akkai Padmashali from Ondede; Mr. K C Raghu, Founder of Pristine Organics; Mr. Michael Marks from Innoventure Partners and Mr. Arnaud Castignet, Head of PR – E-Residency, Government of Estonia.
"Demo Day once again proves itself to be the pre-eminent platform for Startups in India. The depth and diversity of companies involved is truly impressive and we have seen this improve over the years. I think the Startups Club ecosystem will continue to develop to be one of the most sought after communities in the years to come" says Mr. Michael Marks, Advisor, Startups Club.
"This is the only movement of its kind targeting the grass root level entrepreneur across 20 cities in India. This will grow from strength to strength in the years to come. The next year will be bigger with the initiative reaching 29 states. We are excited to see the things to come" Mr. Mahesh Bhalla, Chief Mentor and Investor, Startups Club.
"The Demo Day is unique in the fact that it gives entrepreneurs an opportunity to pitch to investors directly in front of a live audience. We want to make this more accessible and more useful to the entrepreneurs in the years to come" Mr. Vivek Srinivasan, Co-Founder, Startups Club.
The Demo Day also featured 4 Master Classes on topics related to finance and marketing to help entrepreneurs strengthen their fundamentals and discover new ways of doing things.
The event also marked the release of ‘The Next Book’ which is released every year at the Demo Day Finale and chronicles the journey that was taken by Startups Club Demo Day. Arnaud Castignet conducted a special workshop on accessing the EU through Estonia.
The Demo Day included an ‘Innopreneur Zone’ where startups from universities working on their prototypes were able to showcase their projects and raise money through crowdfunding for their projects.
The three days provided entrepreneurs and investors an opportunity to network with one another. An opportunity to learn from the in-depth masterclasses and also an opportunity to learn from the experience of some of the speakers. Most importantly an opportunity to listen to 25 pitches and discover some the best upcoming startups from India.
The event also included 3 ‘Tek Tak’ which is a series of talks hosted by Mr. Vivek Srinivasan, Co-Founder, Startups Club to take a look at the trends that will change the future and businesses in general.


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Code discovered in iOS 14 reveals Apple is working on an 'iPhone 9 Plus' - a larger version of its upcoming budget device
- Code in iOS 14 confirms two versions of Apple's upcoming budget devices
- The devices will reportedly use Apple's A13 Bionic chip
- It's still unclear what the price or the release date will be
Apple is readying even more new iPhones than initially thought.
According to a report from 9to5Mac, code discovered inside iOS 14 shows evidence that the company is planning to release an iPhone 9 Plus, which will act as a larger alternative to an upcoming line of more budget-focused devices.
The discovery of the code is the a first in terms of legitimate references from Apple's about the upcoming iPhone 9 (which may still be called the iPhone SE 2) and has been rumored for about a year.
The iPhone XR (pictured above) is among Apple's newest 'budget' offerings, despite retailing at a rather hefty $599. A rumored iPhone SE 2 is anticipated to cost $399
The phones will likely replace the current lineup of iPhone 8's which come in two different sizes - a 4.7-inch display and a 5.5-inch display.
9to5Mac reports that both phones will use Apple's A13 Bionic chip which is used in its current premium devices, including the iPhone 11 Pro.
The devices will also reportedly feature a 'solid-state home button' which is essentially the same home button on the iPhone 8.
Instead of being a physical button like devices prior to the iPhone 8, it uses a 'Taptic' engine to simulate the physicality of clicking.
Since the phone is on the budget side, it will reportedly use Touch ID - a fingerprint scanner - as opposed to the premium Face ID on Apple's more expensive devices.
While price is still unclear, a prior report from DigiTimes suggested the Apple the line of devices could reatail for about $399, making them a full $300 less expensive than the iPhone 11.
DigiTimes' report is based on packaging orders received by a Taiwan based company for two iPhone models, though the existence of those differing models has yet to be acknowledged by Apple.
Both of the new devices will reportedly come equipped with an LCD display as opposed to Apple's more expensive OLED display - a difference that will likely lower the price significantly.
According to a prior report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has often correctly forecast Apple's yet-to-be-released hardware, the phone was supposed to hit the market as soon as March 2020 after going into production in January but a coroanvirus pandemic will likely delay that process.
Apple previously warned employees to prepare for a shortage of replacement iPhones due to the coronavirus, according to reports this month.
A leaked internal memo circulated to Apple Store workers suggested replacement devices for heavily-damaged iPhones will be in short supply for as long as four weeks, according to Bloomberg.
The shortage relates to supply chain issues caused by the shutdown of a major manufacturing planet in China to prevent the spread of the virus.


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The cosmetics industry is responsible for creating 120 billion packaging units every year. This massive industry is innovating at a great pace and adopting more eco-friendly and long-term alternatives. Cosmetic sustainable packaging is desired by both manufacturers and consumers alike.
This massive shift of preferences towards eco friendly cosmetic packaging is due to an increase in environmental cautiousness all around the world. This ongoing pandemic forced us to rethink our daily choices. The environmental awareness level is at an all-time high. According to a study, around 62% of the consumers are happy even to pay a few extra bucks just for eco friendly cosmetic packaging.
With this article, we aim to cover every aspect of how sustainable cosmetic packaging suppliers are coping up with this sudden transit in market needs. We have explained all of their steps and tactics to deal with the rapidly increasing demand for cosmetic sustainable packaging below.
Plastic-Free Cosmetic Sustainable Packaging
Non-recycling plastic is one of the biggest threats to the environment currently. Plastic usage has been increased by 17% just between 2010 and 2017. We have filled our landfills with Plastic. By 2050, there will be more plastic in Ocean than even fishes. That’s how serious of a threat Plastic is.
So, getting rid of plastic is one of the first steps towards sustainable cosmetic packaging. Instead of Plastic, bio-degradable materials like clothes, glass, Aluminum or even sugarcane tube have been used.
The use of bubble wraps and other such polluting accessories has also minimized. The most recent and ecological alternate to bubble wrap is paper with seeds embedded in it. They don’t only reduce the pollution, but also grow into a plant if the environment allows.
Zao makeup, a French cosmetics manufacturers are leaders in the areas of eco friendly cosmetic packaging. All of their products are made up of PCR tube and come in aluminum. Metal makeup tube is both durable and sustainable. They have an effective refill system so you don’t have to pay up for sustainable packaging every time.
It might sound ironic but some brands have found an effective solution for polluting packaging i.e no packaging at all. Yeah, you heard right! No packaging or naked packaging involves just the product container. No extra packaging at all.
A UK cosmetics brand “Luck” were the first ones to come up with this idea. Then other brands followed in their footsteps and in just a few years, naked packaging was normalized. Now, most of the shampoos, oils, and gels come naked without a box. This is a very smart approach towards eco friendly cosmetic packaging which doesn’t involve any extra cost.
This is the latest development in the pursuit of eco friendly cosmetic packaging. It seems as we are going back in time and opting for the ancient means. The first soap bar was invented thousands of years ago.
In recent times, we innovated these soap bars into liquids that were much easier and convenient to use. But now just to minimize the use of Plastic, most of the brands have started to convert their liquid products like Shampoo, Soap, moisturizers into Solid bars.
Since Liquid products require a container that is most likely to be Plastic, so the manufacturers completely changed their products.
While we are talking about reviving ancient practices for eco friendly skincare packaging, this is another traditional approach.
Mi zhou invented a cosmetic sustainable packaging that is self-decomposing. It melts away leaving no polluting agents behind. These containers are molded from vegetable-based oils and then laced with pigments from minerals and other organic compounds.
I know it is lagging behind in terms of durability but it has Beeswax coated on just to protect it from the liquid to leech out. The consumer will only have to be a little cautious as not to place it on a wet place before putting them on the soapdish in order for them to dissolve.
Sugarcane cosmetic sustainable packaging:
Sustainable cosmetic packaging suppliers are also going for sugarcane packaging. Many famous brands have also developed a liking towards it. With sugarcane tube, sustainability is guaranteed. They can be easily recycled. They don’t cause any serious environmental damages.
The only downside is that sugarcane is mostly obtained from plants so it can add to deforestation. But still, it is much more sustainable and ecological than Plastic. Stora Enca recently came up with sugarcane cosmetic tubes. It reduced Plastic usage by 70%. Since the sugarcane is grease-free, it is safe to use as eco friendly skincare packaging.
L’oreal has also launched his first sugarcane-based cosmetic sustainable packaging. According to their director of packaging, they want to eliminate the use of Plastic by choosing such eco-loving alternatives.
Last but not least, Recycling is the most effective method in the fight against pollution in the arsenal of sustainable cosmetic packaging suppliers. Even plastic becomes unharmful once recycled.
That’s why most of the brands are promoting the culture of refilling. Many big brands like Bleach London, Ellis Faas have created refill stations for empty containers. Customers take or send the containers there and have them re-filled as it saves some bucks.
The biggest problem in recycling was motivating the consumers in returning back the used container. So for the sake of cosmetic sustainable packaging, brands had to put some prize just so consumers will return the plastic containers.
MAC cosmetics have rolled out a “Back-To-MAC Program”. Here consumers will get a gift in return for 6 empty cosmetics shoppers.
Creating 120 billion packaging units every year, the responsibility of keeping it sustainable rests solely on sustainable cosmetic packaging suppliers. We have seen some recent developments in eco friendly cosmetic packaging but it isn’t enough. According to research, around 76% of American consumers can name a cosmetic brand that has done well in the area of cosmetic sustainable packaging. Even now, we have a very long way ahead of us.
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Every Ethereum NFT can now be on Solana with Wormhole’s new ETH-SOL bridge
The NFT frenzy caught on last year and is only getting bigger. And now, porting NFTs to the Solana blockchain just got easier.
The move helps provide a bi-directional highway for more than 6.68 million NFTs that have ever been sold on Ethereum to move cross-chain to SOL and bring SPL assets—which have seen north of 2,633,632 SOL in volume—to ETH.
By opening up these flood gates, Wormhole will connect disparate communities of artists, musicians, and content creators between the Solana and Ethereum ecosystems.
Hendrik Hofstadt, Director Special Projects at Jump Crypto and former co-founder of Certus One, the lead contributor to Wormhole, explained in a statement, “Imagine a “wrapped/bridged NFT” as a kind of check or claim that grants you the right to redeem the original NFT on the chain it came from.”
How to NFT, the Ethereum and Solana way
In order to list Solana NFTs on OpenSea, the owner needs to bridge them to Ethereum. This will lock their original NFT on Solana and mint a “wrapped” version on Ethereum to list on OpenSea.
The initial transfer takes about five minutes and the SPL asset will run like any native ERC-721 non-fungible token. Conversely, anyone can also take ERC-721 NFTs and transfer them to Solana so users can list, for example, their BAYC NFT on Solana markets.
Wormhole has additionally launched a UI that allows users to check which original NFT (on the original chain) is backing the asset so the authenticity can be verified.
1/ We're excited to see NFTs crossing the bridge already https://t.co/nSFQmvSQRe!
— Wormhole (@wormholecrypto) September 22, 2021
This allows people to find where a Wormhole-bridged NFT was originally minted so that they can verify its authenticity—addressing what could otherwise be a key concern for such a bridge.


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Mary Katrantzou for Adidas Originals Is Coming-------
In case there was any doubt: The sneaker trend in fashion isn’t going anywhere. Thank Adidas for that. News recently broke that the sportswear label has teamed up with Pharrell Williams for a long-term partnership, and it was announced today that Mary Katrantzou is designing a capsule collection of Adidas Originals footwear and apparel. That’s a lot to look forward to.
The London-based Katrantzou is known around the globe for her innovative digital prints, so we’re anticipating plenty of bold colors and graphic motifs—but if last week’s interview with the designer told us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected. She’s been moving away from kaleidoscopic prints and exploring more pared-back ideas, and this high-street partnership may be the perfect opportunity to experiment.
The Adidas Originals by Mary Katrantzou collection hits stores this November. Calendars marked.


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Fintech startup Flutterwave has partnered up with China’s e-commerce giant Alipay. The partnership will reportedly yield easier and more efficient payment and lending transactions between China and Africa.
Flutterwave is a Nigerian-founded and Lagos-based financial technology startup company. According to Tech Crunch, it focuses on providing business to business payments service for other enterprises in the country. Its payments API allows lending institutions, commercial lenders, and businesses to provide payments in a fast and affordable manner.
With more than 1 billion users around the globe, Alipay’s payment platform will allow African users and business access to a global scale. In the press release by Flutterwave, chief executive officer Olugbenga Agboola said that “this integration makes it easier for African merchants to accept Chinese customer payments.” In the same way, this partnership paves the way from African users and merchants to “accept or install Alipay as a payment type to accept payments from its billion users.”
Pymnts notes that that joint venture resulted from chief Agboola’s reported acceptance towards Alibaba’s Africa eFounders Fellowship. During his trip to China, Agboola said that what he wanted most out of his trip and meeting with Jack Ma was an “African payment infrastructure that plugs directly into Alipay.”
The fintech startup recognizes the importance of the Chinese company plays in connecting them to the world. While the financial technology firm has successfully tapped into the African landscape – servicing Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, and many more – it also wants to thrive on a global level.
From this collaboration, Flutterwave is expected to make revenue by charging a standard 2.8% on all its international transactions, notes Pymnts. Through this, 60,000 merchants and businesses who are currently using Flutterwave will now gain access to worldwide payment solutions.
Besides Alipay, Flutterwave maintains in its press release that it will retain its current roster of services, including its lending services and other payment channels.


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Lumia 630, which was revealed by us via Zauba records as RM-977 and RM-978 for the very first time, has confirmed itself for BUILD announcement by passing certifications in Thailand and Indonesia. Below is the certificate from Indonesia for the Dual-Sim variant RM-978 of Lumia 630.
The certification from Thailand lists
A diagram leak, which looks taken from Lumia 630 “Product sheet” confirms 4.5 inch display and size specs of 129.55 x 66.7 mm for the device. The display size of 4.5 inch is something we have been reporting since long based on the Lumia 630 appearance as RM-977 in Zauba
Lumia 630, which is earlier revealed to be the first dual-sim Lumia, has been now leaked in a press photo. evleaks has just posted the above image and while there are no signs of Dual-Sim here in the above image, one can notice the on-screen touch buttons. The earlier leaked
The first ever dual-sim Lumia, Lumia 630 is under intense testing in India. The two dual-sim variants of Lumia 630, RM-977 and RM-978 were found by us in Zauba records. Now, RM-978 has seen lots of travel to India in last few days, as can be seen in the above
After posting screenshot of Lumia 630 the Dual-sim, dual-standby variant of Nokia Moneypenny evleaks has now leaked screenshot of Single-sim variant Lumia 635. Nokia Moneypenny has 4.5 inch, 854 x 480 resolution display and is under testing with dual-sim variant codes RM-977 and RM-978 and single-sim variant code RM-976. The
Sometime back we heard it from Chinese site WPDang that the dual-sim Lumia will have dual-standby feature and the screenshot leaked by evleaks just confirms that. Dual-standby means both Sims will be active at any given time, unlike latest dual-sim smartphones which usually have only one Sim active. So, you
evleaks has just revealed that Nokia Moneypenny will be known as Lumia 630 / 635 depending on the configuration. They have earlier revealed it as Dual-Sim Lumia. That much info is good enough to guess that it is the first Dual-Sim Lumia revealed by us.
The device is under testing in
There are many entries for a Nokia phone with RM-977 code on the Zauba.com, a logistics site covering Export-Import info for India. One of them reveals Dual-Sim flavor of the 4.5 inch screen device. This device has also been sent to India for evaluation on 21-Nov-2013.
So, this looks like the
A new low-end Lumia device has been revealed in an Indian Import listing. It is codenamed RM-977, and as per the listing it is a single sim device with touch and a screen size of 4.5 inch. This code RM-977 is still unclaimed by any other device, so it is


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The world’s largest electric vehicle symposium returns to North America next week.
The Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA) is gathering global leaders representing the entire electric drive supply chain at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento, California from June 11 to 14 for the 36th Electric Vehicle Symposium & Exposition (EVS36). Over 3,000 participants are slated to attend.
Throughout its 53-year history, the Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS) series has rotated among North America, Europe and Asia, drawing leaders in innovation, government, and industry from around the world to explore the technical, policy and market advances of electric transportation. EDTA, the Washington, DC-based trade association promoting battery, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell electric drive technologies and infrastructure, will mark the series’ first post-pandemic return to North America when it hosts EVS36 in Sacramento next week.
“The transition to e-mobility is accelerating around the globe and the stakeholders driving that change will be at EVS36,” said EDTA President Genevieve Cullen. “As the seat of government in the largest vehicle market in the United States, Sacramento is the ideal gathering point for the world’s EV leaders to map the crucial next steps for electrification.”
The four-day event kicks off on June 11 with a family friendly, free-to-attend Public Day where guests can test drive over a dozen of the latest EVs from Volvo, BMW, Toyota, Daimler, Ford, Lucid, Nissan, and more at the Ride, Drive & Charge. The public can also visit 139 exhibits and meet with the event’s 21 sponsors on the Exposition floor and enjoy great food and music.
On the opening day of the Symposium, EDTA will welcome a powerful line up of EV leaders, including California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, Assistant Secretary for Transportation Christopher Coes, SMUD CEO Paul Lau, California Energy Commissioner Patty Monahan, and CharIN CEO Claas Bracklo. Other keynote sessions throughout the event will feature a diverse set of voices from industry and government discussing the global drivers of electrification. The EVS36 program includes over 300 speakers participating in plenary discussions, lectures sessions and interactive dialogue sessions who will be exploring the technology, policy and market advances that are “Driving the Transition to E-Mobility.”
In keeping with series tradition, the World Electric Vehicle Association (WEVA), whose members are EDTA, the European Association for Electromobility (AVERE) and the Electric Vehicle Association of Asia Pacific (EVAAP), will also name three cities as “E-Visionaries.” The awards recognize outstanding efforts to electrify transportation in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, and will be presented during the closing plenary on Wednesday, June 14.
Learn more about EVS36 and check out the full lineup of speakers, sponsors and exhibitors at www.EVS36.com. More information about the Electric Drive Transportation Association can be found at www.electricdrive.org.


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There’s never been a mobile gaming sensation quite like Pokémon Go, and in summer 2016, Niantic’s game had millions of people wandering their neighborhoods to catch digital monsters. You could see.. Macworld
Pokemon Go daily users and engagement drop drastically. As you probably expected.
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Earlier this week, Niantic announced that it had acquired the rights to produce a game set in the Harry Potter universe. But what does that mean for Pokemon Go? As popular as Pokémon GO is, the game.. Source: Wochit Headline News -
Gather your wands and put on your pointy hats because Harry Potter is coming to augmented reality. Niantic, the maker of of the smash AR game 'Pokemon Go' just announced that their next project will.. Source: Wibbitz Top Stories -
Watch Video"Harry Potter" fans already have more than a dozen books, official merchandise, two film franchises, a play, two theme parks and the digital empire of Pottermore, but now they're getting.. Newsy
Niantic, the makers of the unbelievably popular Pokémon GO, is working on its next game: “Harry Potter: Wizards Unite.” That sound you hear is a million childhood memories firing in minds across.. The Next Web
Last year, Pokémon Go‘s first big event was centered around Halloween. Given how successful (and profitable) that was, it’s no surprise Niantic would hold a similar event this Halloween. What’s.. geek.com Also reported by •Polygon


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Raises interesting questions about tomorrows open. But how Apples earning report tomorrow 2PM PT/5EST) will have a lot to do with how November opens/the week finishes.
Please keep us posted on that tomorrow TIm!
This is the opposite of what happened yesterday.
If, as I expect, Apple's earnings are good to great, and if, as I expect, the Employment Situation lives up to the early indicators, Friday could be a very interesting day.
The Caveat here.. If Employment Situation is too strong, it may raise fears of further tightening by the Fed.
But I will make every attempt to follow up this eve on Apple Earnings.
Earnings were solidly above expectations, but Apple project soft growth for upcoming holidays. Equity futures are a little soft.
"Apple Inc. reported better-than-expected financial results for its fiscal fourth quarter Thursday, but shares sank in after-hours trading when the company delivered a disappointing forecast for the holiday period.
The trillion-dollar company delivered earnings per share of $2.91 on revenue of $62.9 billion for its latest quarter, ahead of the FactSet consensus expectation of $2.78 in EPS and $61.5 billion in revenue. Apple’s iPhone revenue positively surprised as well, coming in at $37.2 billion for the quarter, whereas analysts had been calling for $35.6 billion. The average selling price for an iPhone during the quarter was $793, far above the $751 projection.
Thanks for that and doing what you promised to do TIm!
From the looks of the equity futures, we are now in the mode where we shrug off disappointing news. Either way, employment situation later this morning will be interesting.
Now I'm a little confused.
"Apple’s forecast for the December period calls for revenue of $89 billion to $93 billion. Those are staggering numbers that would beat Apple’s quarterly record of $88.5 billion set last year in the holiday quarter. But it also represents sales growth of less than 5% from that performance last year, when the $1,000 iPhone X helped juice sales."


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Merc A-Class registers 400+ bookings in 10 days
It's official: heart overrules head as the cheapest Benz garners the highest bookings in the shortest timespan for a Merc in India
When Mercedes-Benz launched the A-Class in India over a week ago, the big question was: it looks fantastic, but will it sell on the basis of its looks alone? The answer has arrived quite quickly in the form of confirmation from Mercedes-Benz. Confirmation of over 400 bookings for the new A-Class in less than two weeks after its national launch.
Now, 400 may not sound like a lot, but it is the highest number of bookings in the least amount of time registered by Merc in India for any of its cars. Pretty impressive, considering the A-Class, no matter how brilliant, is still a Rs 20 lakh+ hatchback at the end of the day.
On the occasion, Mr. Eberhard Kern, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India said, “Already a global sensation, the success of the A-Class in India reiterates Mercedes-Benz’s stand that young India has now come of age and Indians who lead a global lifestyle today, value trendy design, dynamic driving and quality when it comes to their personal mobility preferences. The overwhelming success of the A-Class inspires us to push ahead even more aggressively with our New Generation Cars for the Indian market.”
Merc said it would not consider assembling the A-Class in India until it saw sufficient demand in the market. Isn't that a figure convincing enough, now? Will this send BMW and Audi scurrying back to grab hold of their 1 series' and A3s?
Read our review of the Mercedes A-Class Sport here


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Sources and hints have provided a fairly good feel for the products we can expect Apple to announce on September 9. Instead of just another list, John Martellaro has some ideas about what we should be watching for as the event proceeds. Especially Apple's strategy and messaging.
While the iPhone continues to evolve, its counterpart,
R2D2 the iPod touch, has fallen out of step. Kelly makes the case for why the iPod touch should not only stick around but get a little bit of the "updated iOS device" love that's going around.
Dueling narratives have taken shape around Drake's appearance at a benefit for victims of the Katrina hurricane disaster of 2005. Tidal claimed Apple prevented it from streaming Drake's performance, but Drake's management said that's not the case. As with most things, the truth most likely lies in the vast middle ground, and Bryan Chaffin offers his thoughts on what really happened.
In August of 2014, John Martellaro reviewed, in detail, the Amazon Fire Phone. Even though it was missing some key features, he found it to be a solid smartphone with good looks and a good looking GUI. However, the creepy factor of a feature called Firefly doomed the product from the start. The failure tells us something important about Apple and the consumer marketplace.
Google's newly-announced OnHub promises to revolutionize home networks. But with Google's advertising focus for the device centered around the eliminiation of buffering, many early OnHub purchasers will likely be disappointed when they learn that it's their ISP, and not their router, that was the cause of their connectivity issues.
In the modern discussion about Apple, we hear about iPhones, Macintoshes, iPads, music, subscription TV, Apple Watches and even electric cars. Where's the discussion about Apple and robots?
Macworld might be on hiatus, but that doesn't mean Apple conferences are over by any stretch of the imagination. Kelly takes a closer look at what's out there and why you should absolutely be attending.
Now that the Apple Watch is in ready supply, it's time to start promoting it via advertising. And that's exactly what Apple is doing with four new video ads that show, often in a story-based environment, how the Apple Watch can be used to advantage. Bravo.
Apple's 12.9-inch iPad Pro is almost a certainty, given what we now know. However, it's important to put the product into perspective. Being a pro-level product, it won't be for everyone, and that suggests merely incremental sales over what Apple is doing now. That's not a bad thing.
When one couldn't buy an Apple Watch in March, Apple was promoting it heavily. The result was frustration. Now that one can go into an Apple store and buy one, there is no highly visible marketing to create demand. The result is ennui.
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50 Cent was in Kenya to see through his project that is set to feed a very good number of the hungry families who day in day out go to bed without having passed anything through their throats except for saliva. All proceedings from 50 Cent's water brand, 'Vitamin Water' will go to this great cause.
A video of the Kibera tour is now available and guess who was responsible of taking 50 Cent around the slums? Non other than number nane's finest, Octopizzo. 50 Cent toured Kibera courtesy of the Chocolate City Tours, which takes tourists/visitors around the slum showing them all they need to know about it. Octopizzo just happens to own this touring company.
Check out the video below.


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Citi announced Monday (July 16) the launch of Citi Payment Insights, a new service that gives institutional clients access to real-time payment information and the ability to action payments on demand via the CitiDirect BE electronic banking platform.
In a press release, Citi said Citi Payment Insights empowers clients by giving them a complete view of the transaction lifecycle within Citi’s global network and across the correspondent banking ecosystem by integrating the transparency provided by SWIFT’s gpi initiative. Citi said the enhanced visibility is being launched in 50 markets and includes processing status, processing timelines, charges deducted across correspondent banks and the amount credited to the beneficiary. “This new service highlights our dedication to provide a frictionless experience to our clients in a rapidly changing business environment,” Naveed Sultan, Citi’s global head of treasury and trade solutions, said in the press release. “We are constantly searching for innovative solutions to help our clients succeed in the digital economy.”
According to Citi, the institutional payments industry has historically suffered from an inability to fully trace payments throughout the global financial system. Payment inquiries can at times rely on lengthy manual and paper-based processes between banks. By using SWIFT gpi and other cutting-edge technologies such as APIs, cloud computing and Big Data, Citi can digitize clients’ payment experiences.
Royal Dutch Shell is one of the early users of this new service, Citi said in the press release. Darsh Johal, head of global cash management for Royal Dutch Shell, said, “Digitalization is an integral part of our Cash Management 2020 strategy. We are excited to see our requirements translate into tangible platform features that benefit both Shell and Citi. We have received positive feedback from the users who participated in the pilot that they found the service to be very intuitive.”
He said the firm looks forward to eliminating more than 75 percent of targeted inquiries over time.


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Shares of retailers and other consumer-services companies ticked up amid growing optimism about the outlook for the holiday-shopping season. Better-than-expected reports from Wal-Mart, Abercrombie & Fitch and Foot Locker last week lifted investor sentiment in the troubled sector. Shares of Wal-Mart Stores were flat after e-commerce giant Alibaba said it will pay $2.88 billion for a 36% stake in China's second-largest big-box retailer, Sun Art Retail Group, one of Wal-Mart's rivals in the country. Alibaba's move echoed Amazon.com's acquisition of Whole Foods Market.
-Rob Curran, email@example.com
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
November 20, 2017 16:19 ET (21:19 GMT)


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Fraley v. Facebook
- Court Upholds Facebook Settlement, Allows Continued Use of Kids' Images in Ads : A federal appeals court has upheld a 2013 settlement agreement in Fraley v. Facebook, a consumer privacy class action involving Facebook's use of young children's names and images for advertising without consent. That practice is currently prohibited in seven states. Questions were also raised about the cy pres determinations. In dissent, Judge Bea stated that the "district court abused its discretion in approving the final settlement." In an amicus brief to the Ninth Circuit, EPIC urged the appeals court to overturn the deal, explaining that the settlement is unfair to class members and authorizes continued privacy violations. In 2010, EPIC and a coalition of consumer privacy organizations filed an extensive complaint with the Federal Trade Commission that eventually required Facebook to improve its privacy practices. (Jan. 14, 2016)
- Report Reveals Rise in Teens' Desire for Online Privacy: A report released by the Intelligence Group, a "youth-focused, research-based consumer insights company," reveals that teens want more online privacy than ever before. According to the report, only 11% of teens currently share "a lot about themselves online" - a 7% decrease from the same age group last year. By contrast, 17% of young adults aged 19- to 24 and 27% of adults aged 25 to 34 currently share "a lot about themselves online." The report also indicates that "about 18% of teens share content on social media at least once a day, including status updates, photos, pins, or articles, compared with 28% of 19- to 24-year-olds and 35% of 25- to 34-year-olds." Recently, EPIC objected to a settlement agreement that would allow Facebook to use images of teens in online advertising. EPIC has also filed comments with the FTC supporting stronger regulations to protect children's data online. For more information, see EPIC: Fraley v. Facebook, EPIC: COPPA and EPIC: FTC. (Apr. 25, 2014) More top news »
This case addresses the question of whether Facebook violated the rights of its users by incorporating their names and likenesses in advertisements called “Sponsored Stories.” Sponsored Stories showed a user's name and profile picture to their friends when they liked pages belonging to commercial companies, brands, products, organizations, and other similar pages. The implication was that the user had endorsed the page in question and would recommend it to their friends.
This case was filed as a class action in California superior court and was removed to the United States District Court for the Northern District of California on March 11, 2011. After its motion to dismiss the case was affirmed in part and denied in part, Facebook reached an initial settlement with the proposed class. The settlement allocated $10 million to various non-profit groups, though did not provide any relief to actual class members. EPIC opposed this proposed settlement on the grounds that it did not follow the doctrine of cy press, a doctrine which allows a court to distribute non-distributable portions of a class action settlement fund to the “next best” class of beneficiaries. The proposed settlement did not follow this doctrine because it excluded organizations that represented the silent class members who have sought stronger privacy protections for Facebook users and routinely represented class members before federal and state agencies.
The case was reassigned after the presiding judge recused herself and the initial settlement was rejected in August of 2012. A revised settlement was proposed in which users were given some control over their appearance in sponsored stories by individual advertisers and allows parents of minors to opt their children out of all advertising. Additionally, users were able to file a claim for up to $10 from a settlement fund of $20 million. The proposed settlement was preliminarily approved on December 3, 2012. On January 2, 2013, notices of the proposed settlement were sent out to the 125,000,000 potential class members.
EPIC continues to oppose the proposed settlement and will be supporting Public Citizen's efforts to appeal the settlement by filing an amicus brief in support of that appeal.
EPIC is interested in this case for three reasons. First, EPIC and a coalition of consumer privacy organizations are responsible for the 2011 consent order between the Federal Trade Commission and defendant Facebook concerning the protection of consumer privacy that is impacted by this settlement. Second, EPIC has routinely advised courts in consumer privacy class actions to ensure that the settlement is aligned with the purpose of the litigation and that the cy pres allocations advance the interests of class members. Third, in Marek v. Lane, a case that bears a striking similarity to the matter currently before this court, Chief Justice John Roberts expressed concerns that reflect views EPIC and others have routinely expressed about class action settlements in consumer privacy cases.
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- Notice of Appeal of Proposed Settlement, June 28, 2013.
- Opening Brief of Appellants Schacter et al.
- Amicus briefs in support of Appellants
- Brief of Federal Trade Commission
- Brief of EPIC
- Brief of Center for Digital Democracy,
- Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood Letter Rejecting Fraley Settlement, February 12, 2014.
- Amicus Briefs in Support of Neither Party
- Answering Brief of Appellees Mainzer et al.
- Answering Brief of Appellees Facebook
- Reply Briefs
United States District Court for the Northern District of California
- Final Judgment
- Preliminary Approval of Class Settlement and Provisional Class Certification Order
- Amended Settlement Agreement and Release
- Joint Motion for Preliminary Approval of Revised Settlement
- Second Amended Class Complaint for Damages
- EPIC, Letter to Judge Seeborg Objecting to finalized Settlement, August 20, 2012.
- EPIC, Letter to Judge Koh Objecting to Settlement Because of Inadequate Relief for Class Members, July 12, 2012.
- EPIC, et al Opposition to Proposed Settlement, July 11, 2012.
- EPIC, Comments to the Federal Trade Commission In re Facebook, Dec. 27, 2011.
- EPIC, Supplemental Complaint, In re Facebook, Inc., Jan. 14, 2010.
- EPIC et al., Complaint, In re Facebook, Inc., Dec. 17, 2009.
- EPIC: In re Facebook
- Court Documents for Fraley v. Facebook, Inc.
- Chief Justice Roberts Statement Regarding Denial of Certiorari in Marek v. Lane, 134 S.Ct. 8 (2013)
- McArthur Foundation Withdraws from Fraley Settlement (September 19, 2013).
- Fed. Trade Commission, Protecting Consumer Privacy in an Era of Rapid Change (2012). This report recognizes that teens are a sensitive group, owed extra privacy protections.
- Letter from Donald S. Clark, Secretary, FTC, to Marc Rotenberg, Director, EPIC (July 27, 2012).
- Federal Trade Commission Press Release, Facebook Settles FTC Charges, November 29, 2011.
- Federal Trade Commission, Proposed Settlement, November 29, 2011.
- Federal Trade Commission, Eight Count Complaint, 2011.
- Letter from David Vladeck, Director, FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection to Marc Rotenberg, Director, EPIC (Jan. 14, 2010).
- Facebook Made My Teen Into an Ad. What Parent Would Ever 'Like' That?, The Guardian (February 15, 2014).
- Facebook Deal on Privacy Is Under Attack, The New York Times (February 13, 2014).
- Parents Resume Privacy Fight vs. Facebook over use of Children's Images in Ads, The Washington Post (February 13, 2014).
- Facebook Social Ads Settlement Under Fire from Children's Advocates, The LA Times (February 13, 2014)
- Facebook Advertising Settlement Challenged by Consumer Group, Businessweek (February 13, 2014)
- Facebook Faces Opposition to Privacy Settlement, Associated Press (February 13, 2014)
- Objections to class-action deal over Facebook “Sponsored Stories” flare, Ars Technica (February 13, 2014)
- Why privacy settlements like Facebook's "Sponsored Stories" lawsuit aren't working Gigaom, (September 19, 2013).
- MacArthur Foundation to Decline Facebook Settlement Funds Bloomberg, BNA (2013).
- Why We Turned Down $290,000, Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (February 13, 2014).
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Privacy in the Modern Age


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County Antrim based company, Hampton Conservatories Ltd, opens a new showroom in London on 19th September 2012. The showroom, which is located at The Chelsea Gardener, just off London’s Kings Road, marks a key milestone for the firm, which has managed to achieve significant growth in export markets despite the current downturn.
The company, which employs 40 people at its premises in Portrush in County Antrim, designs and manufactures bespoke hardwood conservatories and orangeries for customers throughout the UK, Ireland, Europe and North America.
Speaking about his decision to open a base in London, Hampton Conservatories Managing Director, Mervyn Montgomery, commented: “Over the past few years, we have been successfully developing a strong client base for our business in the South of England. The Chelsea Flower Show is a key element of our marketing activity there every year and is essential to our business, as people can actually see the very high quality of our products. Our success at the Show has prompted us to establish a permanent showroom in Chelsea, at The Chelsea Gardener, to enable our London client base to see the exceptional design and finish of our products first-hand.”
The launch of the Chelsea showroom comes on the back of vigorous overseas marketing activity in 2012, which has seen the company exhibit at three of the world’s major international flower shows in the USA and UK, including the Chelsea Flower Show in May and the Philadelphia International Flower Show in March. In April, a Hampton Conservatory was one of the centrepieces at the highly acclaimed Macy’s Flower Show in New York, which is held each year to kick off the spring season.
Mervyn continued: “Despite the economic downturn, we’ve managed to achieve continued growth in our international business and build significant presence in export markets. We’re currently working on projects in France, Switzerland, Germany and Portugal, as well as several in North America, so we believe our new Chelsea base will not only be strategic in helping us build our clientele in the South of England, but will give us a base to further develop our business in Europe.”


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NetSuite has been hit with another customer lawsuit, this time from textile products manufacturer Kentwool, which alleges the cloud ERP vendor pulled the wool over its eyes in order to take its money.
In March 2014, Kentwool signed a one-year contract with NetSuite, under which the vendor would “customize, configure and implement its ERP [enterprise-resource-planning] software for Kentwool’s specific needs and uses,” according to the complaint filed last week in U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina.
NetSuite told Kentwool, which makes socks and other products, that it could tie together the company’s manufacturing, inventory, purchasing, financial, sales and shipping operations “into a single platform,” the complaint states.
Before inking the contract, Kentwool had a number of meetings with NetSuite, during which company officials said its software was “fully capable” of serving Kentwool’s needs, according to the complaint.
“More specifically, NetSuite represented to Kentwool that ‘NetSuite is a complete solution for manufacturing organizationsthat require inventory management with dynamic replenishment, production planning, warehouse management, financial accounting and costing, customer and partner relationship management, and e-commerce,’” the complaint adds.
Kentwool relied on these pledges when it decided to sign the contract, but all the while NetSuite knew its software didn’t have the functionality required to live up to the deal, the complaint adds.
A NetSuite project manager assigned to the Kentwool project even told the company that after an early sales meeting, he had “expressed doubt to his colleagues” that NetSuite could deliver, the lawsuit claims.
Meanwhile, NetSuite also told Kentwool the project would be completed by around Oct. 1, 2013, but that was not to be, according to the complaint: “The software failed, and continues to fail, to operate as originally represented by NetSuite.”
For example, “order approvals, an integral part of the purchase order and procurement functions of the software, were easily thwarted by simply entering transactions for a low dollar amount and then amending the order to amounts in excess of the approval limits selected by Kentwool,” the complaint adds.
NetSuite told Kentwool it could fix the problems, but allegedly failed to do so. Kentwool ended up paying US$318,000 to NetSuite, “well in excess” of the original estimate of $246,000, according to the complaint.
In December, Kentwool President Mark Kent wrote to the company expressing concerns about the software and demanding a remedy, the complaint adds. NetSuite responded with a revised statement of work that proposed charging Kentwool another $216,000. The vendor also asked the implementation period be extended to May of this year.
Kentwool then decided to terminate its agreement with NetSuite and ask for a full refund, according to the complaint.
Kent subsequently was contacted by NetSuite vice president Roman Bukary, whom he asked for a money-back guarantee from NetSuite if the project was to resume. Bukary declined to do so, citing SAS (Statements on Auditing Standards) rules against doing so. “Upon information and belief, no such limitations exist,” according to Kentwool’s complaint.
NetSuite didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. Kentwool’s suit is the second filed within a few months against the company for allegedly faulty implementations, following skin care product retailer SkinMedix’s action in May.
While aggrieved, Kentwool itself may not have done enough to protect itself, according to a number of industry analysts.
“Kentwool repeatedly says that it relied upon NetSuite’s representations of what its system could do,” said analyst Frank Scavo, managing partner of IT consulting firm Strativa. “But vendors can be tempted to over-promise during the sales cycle. So it’s dangerous to take the vendor’s word for anything. You have to do your own reference checks to confirm what the vendor is saying.”
However, cloud-based software like NetSuite receives continuous improvements, said Ray Wang, founder and chairman of Constellation Research. That means it’s also important to understand what may be on the vendor’s near and long-term road maps, he said.
What needs to happen is an industry push to avoid these types of customer complaints, in Scavo’s view.
“There are still too many lawsuits involving ERP vendors,” he said. “In manufacturing, there’s a philosophy called ‘zero inventory.’ Maybe software vendors should have a philosophy of ‘zero lawsuits.’ Look at all the reasons you are getting sued and do something to address the core problems. There’d be a huge return on investment for a program like that.”


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UK's HMRC extends CHIEF use for companies unable to switch to CDS
The UK’s HMRC will continue running its customs system beyond the 30 September deadline, amid ...
UK hauliers have been given an extension to apply for European Conference of Ministers for Transport (ECMT) permits, which may be their only option for moving goods across Europe in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The original deadline was midnight tonight, but the UK government has just announced it is extending it to 18 January 2019.
Freight Transport Association (FTA) European policy manager, Sarah Laouadi, told delegates at the Getting Logistics Ready for Brexit conference that ECMTs were a very real prospect.
“In the case of no deal, it is looking more and more likely that ECMTs may be the only option for UK hauliers travelling to the continent,” she said.
“The problem with relying on ECMTs is that there is a limit of 984 for UK vehicles, with the permit for each individual vehicle rather than the operator.”
Under ECMT rules, operators can travel through 43 countries, but are limited to three loaded trips each month, and each jurisdiction has its own additional clauses. For example, for the permit to be valid in Italy, operators must make their first trip into an ECMT nation in a loaded vehicle, or the ECMT is invalid.
Manager of international transport and trade procedures at the FTA John Lucy said: “You don’t want to be caught out on ECMTs, as the fines are high – €30,000-€40,000 in some cases. And you must remember that the licence is for an individual vehicle and does not cover an operator’s fleet.”
There have been promising noises, however, out of Whitehall and Europe, with a prospective deal on the cards to avoid having to implement ECMTs.
Ms Laouadi said the EU had offered to accept UK permits for the nine months of 2019 after March without the need for ECMTs, provided the UK reciprocated.
“This obviously covers 2019, but I would still advise operators to apply for ECMTs rather than risk it,” she added. “Also, cross-border trade and cabotage are not covered by ECMTs, so this needs to be considered – make sure you apply, as supply is limited.”
You can find out how to apply here.


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On October 11th, Devoteam – Red Hat Premier Business Partner – participated to Red Hat forum Paris as Silver Sponsor. Red Hat Forum is the open source technology event to discover innovations in the cloud, virtualization, middleware and storage.
Red Hat is the world’s leading provider of open source, enterprise IT solutions, helping customers navigate technology and business disruption through open innovation. With more than 70 experts in Europe, Devoteam plans to have +150 experts by 2020.
Our 10 Partner Commitments signed by Romain Danielou and Michel Isnard – Vice President EMEA Sales of Red Hat shows our strong commitment, to help customers successfully implement open source technologies.


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Delivering approximately 900 new Subaru automobiles, the Monoceros Leader completed its maiden voyage from Japan to the west coast of the United States on Wednesday, November 14, 2018. At 200 meters long and 12 stories tall, the vessel has the capacity to carry over 7,000 automobiles, making it one of the largest vessels to read more
November 2018: Chiquita sticks with Hueneme, signing a long-term contract with the Port. The new contract builds on their thriving business relationship which began in 2004.
Oxnard Harbor District President Mary Anne Rooney stated, “We are proud to have Chiquita continue to call Port of Hueneme home again as a customer for another eleven years. read more
Community members brought new and gently used clothing, shoes and supplies to the Port to help us fill a shipping container for adults and children in need in Guatemala. This is a collaboration between the Port, El Lustrador Foundation, Chiquita, and the #ILWU Local 46.
Thanks for the donations, and for the volunteer support in read more
Cargo imports and exports hit an all-time high at the Port of Hueneme for FY2018 with 1.6 million tons of cargo moving through the Port. This represents an 8.1% increase over last year’s performance of 1.48 million cargo tons. The previous cargo record was set in FY2015 with 1.56 million cargo tons.
Oxnard Harbor District read more
The Port of Hueneme welcomed its first shipment of Subaru automobiles imported from Japan in mid-October, 2018. The Port’s customer, Wallenius Wilhelmsen Solutions (WWS), secured the new automobile brand coming to Hueneme as part of the organic growth happening within the industry. “WWS has been a long-time customer of the Port, and we will read more
The Fall 2018 issue of Dock Talk focuses on long lasting relationships at the Port. (Download as PDF)
In this issue:
Message from Mary Anne Rooney, President, Board of Harbor Commissioners
Welcome from Kristin Decas, CEO & Port Director
Project Highlights: What’s in the Works at the Port?
Spotlight: ILWU Local #46: Janet Ritza and Warren Shelton
Port of Hueneme, California, October 2, 2018 — The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has awarded $3 million to the Port of Hueneme to fund their ship to shore zero emission energy project. This project was a part of a joint application with the Port of Los Angeles for the statewide Zero- and Near Zero- Emission read more
On September 29, 2018, over 12,000 people, breaking attendance records, visited the Port on Saturday to celebrate its 7th Annual Banana Festival. The festival showcased the Port’s significant reach around the world in international commerce and highlighted the Port’s commitment to environmental stewardship and humanitarian work in Guatemala.
Traversing the festival grounds, visitors learned the read more
Port of Hueneme, California, September 19, 2018 — The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) awarded the Port of Hueneme the high accolade “2018 Comprehensive Environmental Management Award” at this month’s annual AAPA Energy and Environment Seminar in Jersey City, NJ. The Port was selected for its development and execution of a comprehensive plan read more
Port of Hueneme, California, September 13, 2018 — The Port of Hueneme was recently awarded $360,000 of Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) funding through the Department of Homeland Security, an increase over the last three years. Since 2015, the Port has received over $1.24 million in federal PSGP funding. As Mary Anne Rooney, President read more


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Government announces €1bn in supports for businesses
The Government has announced a major expansion of financial support for small- and medium-sized businesses impacted by the coronavirus crisis. It has introduced a range of new measures and an expansion of existing ones to aid SMEs and so-called micro businesses with the total value of supports estimated at €1 billion.
“This package is a significant step-up in the supports available for all businesses in all sectors at this very difficult time,” Minister for Business Heather Humphreys said. “The measures have been developed to meet the varying needs of Irish enterprise and they are very specifically targeted by size, sector and need.”
Among the measures announced were the expansion of two Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) loan schemes by €450 million to provide an extra €250 million for working capital and €200 million for longer-terms loans.
In addition, a new €180 million Sustaining Enterprise Fund for companies in the manufacturing and internationals services sectors is planned. It will be open to businesses that have suffered or expect to suffer a reduction in turnover or profits of 15 per cent or more, with up to €800,000 available to eligible businesses.
The Government also announced an extension of supports for online trading to €7.6 million, while funding for Microfinance Ireland has been increased to €20 million for Covid-19 loans carrying no interest or repayments for the first six months, and with rates cut from 7.8 per cent to 4.5 per cent.
Two other supports confirmed are a financial planning grant that offers up to €5,000 for companies looking to develop a new business plan and a €2,500 LEAN improvement grant for those looking to optimise their operations.
Free mentoring and online training are also available for all SMEs.
Enterprise Ireland will administer the suite of new supports and its chief executive Julie Sinnamon said the measures would help stabilise businesses, enable them to adapt to new ways of doing business, and position them for recovery once the crisis is over.
She said the coronavirus outbreak had had a significant impact on business with companies in some sectors seeing a collapse in demand, supply chain issues and cashflow challenges.
“We will help companies to plan and adapt their business models and roadmaps to recovery,” she said.
Ms Humphreys said further measures would be made available to businesses in the coming months.
“I want to reiterate to firms that we will continue to use all available tools at our disposal to support them and keep money flowing through the economy in the difficult months ahead,” she said.
Business group Ibec welcomed the additional supports and the signalling that more would be forthcoming. It advised, in particular, of the need for further help for mid-sized companies, saying they also face liquidity challenges.
“The current flexibility in EU state aid rules means that Government can do much more than in normal times to get exceptionally low-cost credit directly to businesses and we look forward to seeing further measures in this regard,” said director of policy and public affairs Fergal O’Brien.
Separately, Revenue on Wednesday confirmed it has implemented an EU Commission decision that allows the import of goods to combat Covid-19 from outside the EU, free of import duties and VAT.


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Last year, Apple Computer's new chief executive, Gil Amelio, held a company meeting to rally the employees.
At the gathering on Apple's campus in Cupertino, California, the hats and bumper stickers that were passed out read, "I was there when the comeback began -- July 22, 1996."
Almost a year later, Apple's comeback has yet to arrive. And last week, Amelio and chief technology officer Ellen Hancock joined the more than 4,100 former Apple employees who can wear their hats out the door.
Amelio and Hancock resigned from their positions because the company's board has not been happy with Apple's recent financial performance, the company said.
Amelio, a former board member who was hired as CEO in February, 1996, led Apple's US$400-million purchase of Next Software from Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and devised the strategy to merge the two OSes into the company's forthcoming OS, code-named Rhapsody.
With Amelio gone, Jobs will have an expanded role in the company, focusing on product strategies, marketing and sales strategies, and business partnerships.
Fred Anderson, executive vice president and chief financial officer, will oversee day-to-day operation during the CEO search.
Users, developers, and analysts have mixed reactions to the executives' departures, but no one seems surprised by the news.
"[Apple's] current business model ... doesn't make sense. The point is to get profitable, not necessarily to grow," says Kimball Brown, an analyst with Dataquest.
Brown said Apple needs to embrace its OS licensees to help it develop the market, even if that leaves Apple with a smaller share.
"The Macintosh market isn't shrinking; Apple is shrinking," Brown says.
The MacOS is still relevant to many corporate users, but not necessarily to the IS department itself.
"If Apple shut down today, we could get by without it," says Michael Lawrence, a systems analyst at Loyola University, in Chicago. "Macintosh is not critical to us as a technology. We tolerate it, but our choice would be for users to move to Wintel."
John Warnock, chief executive at Adobe Systems, in San Jose, California, says that last year, for the first time, Macintosh accounted for less than half of his firm's revenues. He says most Adobe sales to Macintosh users are upgrades, not first-time buys.
But most current users remain loyal.
"The MacOS is never going to go away," says Ann Wrixon, executive director of BMUG, Apple's largest user group, based in Berkeley, California.
"But news like this every couple of months doesn't help," Wrixon said.
Apple Computer Inc. can be reached at http://www.apple.com/.


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Expect the following stocks to be on the move Monday: Apple, Corning, cash strapped dot-coms, Intel, Silicon Valley Group.
Apple Computer (Nasdaq: AAPL)
So what do investors do for an encore following Apple's 52 percent plunge after its profit warning?
That's a good question. Apple's profit warning was ugly, but the aftermath was uglier. Some investors will inevitably think it was too ugly.
Look for the Apple debate to continue. Is this thing a potential bargain or a bomb?
Corning (NYSE: GLW)
The fiber optic company that has made investors very happy will make them a bit happier this week.
On Tuesday, Corning splits its shares, 3-for-1.
Barron's did its latest installment of its dot-com cash burn rankings and it wasn't pretty.
GenesisIntermedia.com (Nasdaq: GENI) took the top spot as a burn victim with a negative 1.6 months of cash remaining. It's waiting for a private placement.
Other companies on the list include Juno Online Services (Nasdaq: JWEB) with 3.9 months of cash left and Net Objects (Nasdaq: NETO) with 4.8 months left.
The Barron's ranking may not move shares, but it's worth a read. There's a lot of scrambling going on for private placements.
Intel (Nasdaq: INTC)
Intel Corp. has pulled the plug on its problem-plagued Timna processor, a long-delayed chip -- originally designed for low-cost desktop PCs -- that was slated to be released in early 2001.
The chip, which was to feature integrated graphics and a memory controller, was a casualty of changing market conditions and continued development problems, according to an Intel spokesman.
Silicon Valley Group Inc. (Nasdaq: SVGI)
Silicon Valley Group and ASM Lithography Holding N.V. (ASML) said they would merge in a stock swap valued at roughly $1.6 billion.
ASM, a maker of semiconductor equipment, will buy rival Silicon Valley for $41.55 a share.
Under the terms of the agreement, SVG shareholders will get 1.286 ordinary ASML shares for each SVG share. Based on the closing prices on Friday, ASML said this represented a 58 percent premium to SVG shareholders.
SVG holders will own about 10 percent of the combined company.