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FELIXprinters now joins the likes of 3DPRINTLIFE, Stratasys and Triton3D as an authorized supplier of 3D printing products, solutions, and services to the U.S. Government.
The Dutch 3D printer manufacturer entered into a distribution contract with TeamOne, a leading distributor and supplier of 3D printing hardware, materials, and accessories in the U.S., and a General Services Administration (GSA) Mass Award Schedules (MAS) contractor for the U.S. government. The U.S. Government is arguably TeamOne’s most significant client, so by entering into the distribution agreement with TeamOne, FELIXprinters now has its products listed on the U.S. government contract Schedule 36 3D Products and Service Team One Contract #GS-03F-050GA, and on GSAadvantage.com for US government procurement, including federal, state and local governments.
Team One already partners with established OEMs to provide advanced technologies and solutions for government procurement demands in IT products, office products, and 3D products and services. Through this partnership with TeamOne, FELIXprinters has truly expanded its presence and reach in the US 3D printing market, in a year where they also launched its BIOprinter and high temperature 3D printing platform.
The U.S. government’s GSA MAS program aims to be “the premier acquisition resource for additive manufacturing technologies that spans the manufacturing lifecycle from design-to-rapid prototype-to-mission critical part”, and has enlisted over twenty vendors in 3D printing solutions to benefit from access to government spend on contracts, from streamlined procedures, government resources, support teams, and e-tools. This is to encourage vendors to compete to provide the most advanced Additive Manufacturing (AM) hardware and solutions to a wide range of government agencies that need them, such as the Department of Army, Department of Navy, Department of Air Force, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Department of Justice, Department of Commerce, Army Corps of Engineers, among others. These AM solutions will be applied within the military, primarily in areas of rapid prototyping, obsolescent and legacy part manufacturing, reverse engineering, research & development, system integration, and to maintain operational readiness.
Wilgo Feliksdal, co-founder of FELIXprinters said,
“We are delighted to be working with Team One in the States, and are extremely encouraged by our inclusion on this US government contract. This could help establish FELIXprinters as a prominent player in the US 3D printing sector, and it comes in a year when we have launched two new 3D printers, our BIOprinter (also on federal contract) and an upcoming platform for high temperature printing. We continue to innovate, to listen to customer requirements, and then serve them with competitively priced 3D printing solutions which have at their core ease of use and above all else accuracy, reliability, and repeatability.”
TeamOne has added all of FELIXprinters 3D printers: the Tec 4, Tec 4 L, Pro 3, and large-format Pro L & XL, which are desktop printers for industrial production, which large build sizes, are meant to be easy to assemble and upgrade, feature high quality consistent prints, aim for minimal downtime, and are marketed as eco-friendly.
Founded in 2010 in the Netherlands, FELIXprinters initially began with developing a desktop FFF 3D printer, the Felix 1.0, and then successfully expanded into the professional and industrial segments with its award-winning Felix Pro series of 3D printers. Earlier in 2019, the company claimed to have sold over 5000 printers worldwide, through a reseller network of 40 partners across 53 countries and six continents, to clients including Tesla, BASF, Microsoft, Phillips, Volkswagen, and a number of leading Dutch universities. The company recently announced the commercial launch of its BIOprinter (the first developed in the Netherlands) for scientific, research or medical applications, co-developed with the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and Training4CRM, with support from the EU Horizon 2020 Program.
The company also recently supported the development of 3D printed plant-based seafood using the BIOprinter, which could extrude multiple food inks simultaneously, and saw the production process scaled up. The company’s products and solutions have particularly earned a reputation in sectors of automotive, architecture, food, and government.
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Today has officially announced the high-anticipated iPhone 12 event. The event will take place on October 13, and that is a few days away actually. Due to the COVID-19 restriction and social distancing, the event will be virtual and streamed from Apple Park.
If you are someone, who fancy playing online casino games at southafricancasinosites online casino on an iPhone device then surely the iPhone 12 will be the one for you. It will enhance your online casino gaming experience.
You might be wondering what you should expect when you start using the iPhone 12. But there are certain things you should look forward to. All we can do for now is share them with you.
What to Expect from the iPhone 12
At the iPhone 12 October event we are looking forward to some immense features. Apple is expected to unveil four new iPhone 12 models before the end of this year. These models will include; 5.4-inch iPhone 12, a 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Max, a 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro, and a 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max.
However, the difference between these iPhone devices will be the camera technology. The 5.4-inch iPhone 12 and 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Max will come with some exciting triple-lens camera on the back. As if that is not enough, the back of the mobile phone will also have a new LiDAR Scanner.
Apple iPhone 12 Other Events
Outside the iPhone 12, there are also other Apple possibilities that will come into effect. The event will also introduce Apple’s Airpods Studio, AirTag item Tracker and a brand new feature of Apple TV and Siri Remote. This will also come with news about the new Apple Silicon transition for the Mac.
It’s not a lie that everyone is buzzing for the exciting day. And for casino online gamblers surely they will be making plans to get this amazing gadget to improve their online casino gaming experience.

domain: news


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If you weren’t already considering Sweden, Norway or Denmark for a summer trip this year, you might want to add them to the list. Scandinavian Airlines just announced that any traveler who books a round-trip flight from the U.S. to Stockholm, Oslo or Copenhagen is eligible for a free five-day car rental from Avis to tour the Scandinavian countryside. Um…yes, please!
Personally, we plan to spend much of those five days driving around searching for Alexander Skarsgård and his brothers. But if that’s not your idea of fun, you can also cruise along the fjords of Norway, enjoy almost 24 hours of sunlight near the Arctic Circle and learn how to hygge from those who invented the trend.
In order to score the free rental car, you must book your trip between February 15 and March 15 of this year for anytime between May 18 and August 16, 2018, and all car rentals should be booked by March 31. Contact Scandinavian Airlines for more information.


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It’s no news that this year marks 10 years since the first iPhone was released. To celebrate the event, rumor has it that Apple will launch an anniversary edition called the iPhone X which will have an OLED display.
An analyst at Cowen & Company, Timothy Arcuri says the decision to use an OLED display will add about $50 million to the company’s cost for the second quarter. This will in turn reduce profit margins.
Sources say that Apple has an agreement with Samsung to be the sole supplier for the 5.8-inch OLED display in the iPhone X. The outcome of that partnership has thrown a spanner in the works of other manufacturers like Huawei, Vivo and OPPO who wish to purchase OLED displays from Samsung. This has led them to form a partnership that will invest in a smaller company that manufactures OLED screens.
Timothy Acuri also provided hints of what to expect next week when Apple announces its shipments for Q4 2016. According to him, he predicts a total shipment of about 76 million units which is not much different from that of the previous year. Revenue may however be higher due to the large share of the costlier iPhone 7 Plus which he estimates to have shipped 23.5 million units as against the iPhone 7′ 35 million units. Predictions for other products such as the iPhone SE, iPads and Apple watches are 8 million, 13.5 million and 5.4 million units respectively.
For Q2 2017, Mr Acuri predicts iPhone sales entering 50 million units, 10 million iPads, and 5.4 million Apple Watches.


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MORE jobs could be lost across Coventry and Warwickshire after beleaguered entertainment giant HMV became the latest casualty on the high street.
The ailing music chain yesterday announced it had appointed administrators.
The move puts about 4,000 staff at risk of redundancy nationally, including workers at stores in Coventry, Nuneaton and Leamington.
HMV’s 238 outlets will remain open while administrators Deloitte attempts to find a buyer for some or all of the business, although it is likely there will be widespread store closures as a result of the collapse.
The announcement comes shortly after the failures of both Jessops and Comet caused the closure of 422 stores and the loss of more than 8,000 jobs.
Business leaders across Coventry and Warwickshire have branded the news ‘disappointing’ and say more emphasis needs to be put on city centres to attract shoppers.
Louise Bennett, chief executive of Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Retail experts predicted that there may well be several high profile casualties after Christmas and sadly that has proved to be true.
“HMV, like Jessops, have been a fixture on the high street of every major town and city for decades and it is sad to see those names dropping away.
“The face of retailing is clearly changing rapidly with the growth of online shopping and therefore there has to be more emphasis on city and town centres attracting customers and visitors in ways other than purely retail offer, but that is easier said than done.”
The company’s administration also means that vouchers and gift cards, many of which were given as Christmas presents, will be worthless.
Squeezed by internet retailers and supermarkets, whose scale has enabled them to offer CDs and DVDs at cheaper prices, HMV’s boss Trevor Moore warned before Christmas that the entertainment group was in trouble.
Mr Moore said the group would fail to meet expectations for the year to April and that it would breach the terms of its loan agreements later this month. Suppliers including Universal Music came to HMV’s rescue in January 2011 with a deal which helped the retailer shed some of its huge debt pile.
But according to the Financial Times, they baulked at a request last week from HMV for about £300million in additional financing to pay off its bank debt and fund an overhaul of the company’s business model.
HMV sought to diversify into live venues and consumer electronics and was forced to sell off several parts of its business, including the Waterstones book retailer, to reduce its debt pile, while closing loss-making stores.
But Neil Saunders, managing director of retail consultancy Conlumino, said the collapse of HMV was inevitable.
Shoppers sad at HMV's demise
SHOPPERS in Coventry were saddened by the prospect of HMV disappearing from our high streets:
Ross Hester , aged 26, of Willenhall, Coventry, said: “I usually visit HMV about once a week, mostly for DVDs I collect. I was quite shocked when I heard the news but wasn’t really that surprised. A lot of people are downloading, which I suppose I will have to do if it closes.”
Shah Popal , aged 19, a Coventry University civil engineering student, from Earlsdon, added: “I usually go into HMV to buy games and electrical equipment.
“I remember going when I was younger, when everyone used to rush in for the latest releases.
“Now I get my music and DVDs online because the prices at HMV are a bit high.”
Gemma Hyde , aged 18, a Coventry University law student, of Whoberley, said: “I’m absolutely gutted because I love buying CDs and going to HMV where they are at a good price.
“I don’t like to download music because nothing beats the feeling of holding a new CD and taking off the wrapper.”
Anthony March , aged 69, a retired heavy goods vehicle driver, of Solihull, said: “It’s such a shame because HMV is such a big name, a long-established British brand.
“I was in a HMV last week and the news surprises me because it always seems busy whenever you go in.
“What’s the alternative if it goes? Not everyone can go online.”
Ayo Lama , aged 18, a Coventry University journalism and media student, of Spon End, said: “It’s a shame when you think that HMV has been around for such a long time.
“The internet is great for customers but it leads to too many stores going to the wall.
“I download music but also buy CDs to do my bit for my favourite bands.”
Tell us your HMV memories
Email letters@ coventrytelegraph.net, write to Letters Editor, Telegraph, Thomas Yeoman House, Canal Basin, Coventry, CV1 4LY, or post your comments below


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Felicis, a now 17-year-old venture firm based in San Francisco and Menlo Park, announces today that it has closed its ninth flagship fund for $825 million compared to the $600 million core fund, which it announced in the summer of 2021. The vehicle brings the company’s total assets under management to exactly $3 billion, and it took just three months to raise it, they say.
It’s a feat in the current market, but Joanna Rupp, managing director of private equity at the University of Chicago — who is one of Felicis’ limited partners — suggests it boils down to the numbers, saying in a statement to TechCrunch, that Felicis “has delivered strong results for the foundation.” (Some of Felicis’ exits include IPOs of Shopify, Adyen, Recursion, and Matterport, as well as acquisitions, such as selling Credit Karma to Intuit and selling Fitbit to Google during the year 2021 after the company first went public in 2015.)
The question is whether Felicis’ returns will look this strong for years to come. His most recent fund was aggressively invested in the foamiest market ever in terms of dollars invested and startup valuations. Investor Chamath Palihapitiya summed up the fears of many institutional investors at a recent investment conference, saying that despite the “gradual amounts of capital” startups have raised during the pandemic and the resulting “valuation appreciation” they have enjoyed, “it’s not going to what lead is the actual money that (VCs) will get back.”
In an interview this week, company founder Aydin Senkut said he wasn’t concerned and suggested that the best returns for Felicis may be yet to come, for two main reasons.
First, while the firm’s partners have pumped a lot of money into the market in a short period of time, they’ve invested a lot of it in earlier-stage companies. One of these is Prenuvo, a Redwood City, California-based startup that has created an alternative to traditional magnetic resonance imaging that can be used to screen and diagnose more than 500 conditions, including most stage 1 solid tumors, and the last case garnered a $70 million Series A round led by Felicis.
Another is Meilisearch, the four-year-old Parisian creator who is behind an eponymous open-source search engine project and completed a $15 million Series A round led by Felicis last fall.
“If you go wrong a little earlier, on average, the check sizes go down a little more and you (get more from the company) in the deal,” says Senkut.
Felicis also goes for winners, he emphasizes, and in his experience it doesn’t matter what the “entry price” is if you back the right horses. “People who just look at reviews are missing a big part of the equation,” says Senkut. “The entry point is important, but it depends on which companies you choose and whether they exit or not,” he adds.
He notes that when Felicis invested in a deal with 100x sales multiples in 2014, “everyone thought we were crazy,” but the company, he continues, “grew 1,000x sales from there.” That deal was an investment in what is now Australia’s most valuable private company, Canva, which was valued at $40 billion by investors in autumn 2021, although another of Canva’s biggest investors, Blackbird, put his own valuation of the company at $40 billion. Dollar dropped $25.6 billion last summer.
Other companies that have received big checks from Felicis recently — and which the firm would write again, Senkut suggests — include Supabase, a two-year-old Pleasanton, Calif.-based open-source database-as-a- Services (DBaaS). ) company that raised $80 million in Series B funding led by Felicis last May; Weights & Biases, a 4.5-year-old San Francisco-based machine learning company that raised $135 million in Series C funding in Fall 2021 led by Felicis; and Runway ML, a four-year-old New York-based video editing software maker that is one of the two startups behind popular AI text-to-image model Stable Diffusion and has raised $50 million in Series C funding , led by Felicis in December.
In fact, in conversation, Senkut proudly speaks about the merits of each one, saying about Runway, for example, that it’s exactly the type of investment that Felicis likes because it’s the “original creator of the intellectual property” it’s built on, and that it has a large and growing customer base, including a variety of Fortune 500 companies, who are already using its technology for a variety of purposes, including CBS’s “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and New Balance, according to a recent Forbes article.
Saying you’re cost-conscious “sounds smart and makes some LPs feel better,” says Senkut. “But you don’t have to worry about valuations when you’re investing in a company that’s one in 10,000 in terms of its potential.”


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Verifying devices are TR-069 adherent and market ready, the new Broadband Forum BBF.069 CPE Certification will drive a new level of interoperability within the broadband industry
To see this release with full charts and graphs associated, please visit: http://www.broadband-forum.org/news/download/pressreleeases/2012/BBWFBBF.069.pdf
- Huge growth potential for TR-069 and the Connected Home as broadband achieves mass market status in every region
- With more than 15 million new IPTV subscribers added over the past year, it is clear that broadband multiplay is gaining momentum
- In the first round of testing for BBF.069 CPE Certification, UNH-IOL confirms devices from Broadcom, Cisco, D-Link, Huawei and Lantiq have achieved certification
- Testing now open at UNH-IOL for all CPE vendors seeking BBF.069 Certification
AMSTERDAM, Oct. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- According to the latest figures published by the Broadband Forum and prepared by broadband industry analysts Point Topic, broadband subscriptions have soared to over 624 million, presenting a huge opportunity for the future of the connected home. Amid this news, the Broadband Forum has launched its BBF.069 CPE Certification Program and announced the first certified devices, on the opening day of the Broadband World Forum. Congratulations to the companies whose products have achieved the first BBF.069 certifications at the official testing laboratory, University of New Hampshire-InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL): Broadcom, Cisco, D-Link, Huawei and Lantiq. (The Global Registry of certified products is available on the Broadband Forum website at http://www.broadband-forum.org/certifiedtr069.php.)
The BBF.069 CPE Certification Program has been developed to verify if devices are TR-069 compliant. TR-069, also known as CPE WAN Management Protocol, is the remote management standard used around the world to provision and manage the Connected Home. According to Ovum Reports, TR-069 is already used to manage more than 147 million devices, making it the global standard for remote management, but with 624 million broadband subscribers today there is tremendous room for Connected Home services growth.
There has never been a more critical time to launch the Certification Program as the number of broadband subscribers, applications, devices and services continues to grow and a mass market for broadband is achieved globally.
"This is a real celebration as the BBF.069 CPE Certification Program launches, signifying another step forward in supporting innovation within the broadband ecosystem," said Robin Mersh, CEO of the Broadband Forum. "Device conformance is critical in enabling interoperability and provides the key to expediting the exciting growth and potential of connected home services around the world."
The Broadband Forum BBF.069 Certification is an industry first and sends a clear and simple message to the industry confirming that CPE vendors meet operator and service provider requirements. Certification has substantial advantages for all participants in the value chain, offering service providers an enhanced level of confidence that certified CPE devices will interoperate better with their remote management Auto-Configuration Servers. It also helps equipment and system vendors reduce testing overheads, and enables them to easily market their products - increasing their ability to address a much larger market overall.
The BBF.069 CPE Certification has been welcomed by service providers such as Michael Fargano, Industry Standards Program Manager at CenturyLink's Office of CTO who commented, "Building on our commitment to customer service excellence and our active engagement in developing the TR-069 protocol, we at CenturyLink are pleased to support the launch of BBF.069. This certification program is a great step forward in helping service providers like us rollout new products and services with great confidence and success, knowing that they are certified and will be easily provisioned and managed by CenturyLink. It all comes down to happier customers, and that is what CenturyLink focuses on every day."
In June 2012, the Broadband Forum selected the UNH-IOL, an independent provider of broadband testing and standards conformance services for the networking industry, as the official test house for BBF.069 CPE Certification. This selection was based on the UNH-IOL's leadership in TR-069 testing since 2006 with the Broadband Forum. The certification is now offered through the UNH-IOL's recently launched Home Networking Consortium.
"The UNH-IOL's experienced technical team worked closely with CPE vendors to bring the first wave of Broadband BBF.069 certified devices to market. We will continue to build on the positive momentum initiated during the first rounds of testing with a strong focus on certifying an increased number and broader range of devices for the home networking environment through the new testing program," said Erica Johnson, director for the UNH-IOL.
As the market adoption of TR-069 proliferates, the reality of TR-069 is that it has massive potential. IPTV services alone have brought 69 million new Set Top Boxes into the Connected Home, and TR-069 provides a simple inclusive platform for managing all these devices. Globally 15.9 million subscribers were added over the last 12 months, and 3.57 million over last quarter. In every region we are seeing great pick up of IPTV service, with China, France and the United States leading the industry in adoption. Over the last quarter, Russia has also made amazing strides in rolling IPTV services out.
And as providers make the investment in fiber deployments, customers are also benefiting from the speed and stability that that brings. Point Topic reports strong 12-month growth rates for FTTx (27%) and FTTH (23.4%) and for the first time the market share for DSL fell below 60%.
With high speed broadband options on the rise, customers are quickly layering on services, applications and devices that enrich their lives. TR-069 takes the complexity out of expanding the Connected Home and provides the simple and stable experience that helps service providers around the world exceed customer expectations. The new BBF.069 CPE Certification program takes another step forward in developing interoperability; ensuring products are market ready and easy to integrate into any Connected Home.
Companies with certified products express their support and strong backing of the Broadband Forum BBF.069 CPE Certification Program:
Greg Fischer, Broadcom's Vice President and General Manager, Broadband Carrier Access: "Broadcom was among the first to deploy TR-069 enabled products throughout the world, giving carriers the ability to remotely manage subscriber equipment on their networks. We are pleased to achieve Broadband Forum TR-069 certification on our Carrier Access Residential Gateway software platform. By extending our proven ability to integrate TR-069 on residential gateways to HomePlug AV adapters, we are achieving new levels of management across all connected devices in the home network. This gives carriers a whole new level of remote configuration and diagnostic services in the home, resulting in lower costs and better customer service."
Kamel Chbaro, Engineering Manager at Cisco: "With today's devices using different protocols, varying interfaces, and a range of APIs, TR-069 has never been more important and has been a focal point of Cisco's activity for many years. The Broadband Forum's BBF.069 CPE Certification significantly impacts the future of the industry and further supports Cisco's commitment in enabling service providers to monitor and manage devices within the connected home. Ultimately, the TR-069 specification helps our customers accelerate software architecture advancements, while simultaneously speeding up our market penetration."
Hans Liu, Product Planner at D-Link: "D-Link depends on its reputation for connectivity and TR-069 has long been an integral part of our marketing strategy. It demonstrates that our products can connect in any environment and interoperate with other parts of the network. We welcome TR-069 Certification as the badge which will help us to become even more successful in marketing our products."
Yang Zhirong, President, Home Device Product Line of Huawei: "Huawei fully supports the Broadband Forum's BBF.069 certification program as a key element to the success of interoperability and, with such a huge influx of new devices coming online, it has the potential to deliver significant improvements for the broadband industry with a new level of maturity for the connected home. Huawei's adoption and support of TR-069 provides a springboard for the future of device conformance and interoperability, and achieving certification gives Huawei's customers around the world confidence and assurance in our technology and services enabling a faster time to market."
Rainer Spielberg, VP of Marketing of Lantiq: "TR-069 has become de-facto remote management standard for customer premises devices. Its flexibility, from addressing critical field updates to configuring services based on subscription, makes it a mandatory standard for all the new generation broadband networks. Broadband Forum's initiative to provide certification based on conformance and interoperability would help the operators build seamless networks and manage them remotely. Lantiq's participation in the Broadband Forum certification program BBF.69 is a step to assure our customers that they have a highly conformant and interoperable TR-069 stack on which they can build their solutions."
Broadband Forum Certification Program is open to Broadband Forum members only.To learn more about this certification program, or to schedule testing for your devices, go to http://www.broadband-forum.org/technical/test_cert_programs.php.
About the Broadband Forum
Broadband Forum, a non-profit industry organization, is focused on engineering smarter and faster broadband connections. Our work defines best practices for global networks, enables service and content delivery, establishes technology migration strategies, engineers critical device & service management tools, and is key to redefining broadband. Our free technical reports and white papers can be found at www.broadband-forum.org.
About the UNH-IOL
Founded in 1988, the UNH-IOL provides independent, broad-based interoperability and standards conformance testing for data, telecommunications and storage networking products and technologies. Combining extensive staff experience, standards bodies' participation and a 32,000+ square foot facility, the UNH-IOL helps companies efficiently and cost effectively deliver products to the market. For more information, visit http://www.iol.unh.edu/, or connect with the UNH-IOL on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/UNHIOL, on Twitter at @UNH_IOL and on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/company/unh-interoperability-lab.
SOURCE The Broadband Forum


text:
‘Green’ Investing Remains Priority Despite Economy
Even with the economy down, business owners continue to be optimistic about giving to environmental causes, according to a survey released by SunTrust Bank Private Wealth Management. The survey found that 69 percent of business owners claimed, â€śEven if there is an economic downturn that moderately affects my business, I plan to maintain my current level of giving to environmental causes in the coming year.â€ť
The study surveyed more than 200 business owners with at least $10 million in annual revenue about their outlook on “green” giving and investing. Most respondents believed it is a â€śgoodâ€ť or â€śaverageâ€ť time to invest in mutual funds or other financial instruments that are specifically marketed as â€śgreenâ€ť or environmentally responsible. In addition, 40 percent of respondents believe it is a â€śgood timeâ€ť for all businesses to adhere to the highest possible environmental standards.
However, the survey had some caveats: while attitudes and preferences toward green investing remain strong, most business owners had neither invested personal money nor business money in mutual funds or financial instruments marketed as â€śgreenâ€ť or environmentally responsible. Only 31 percent had invested personally this way and only 28 percent had allocated business funds to these investments. But nearly half of the business owners donated personal money to organizations devoted to helping the environment, such as the Sierra Club, the Audubon Society, the Wilderness Society or some other such organization.
Energy Manager News
- BMW Tests Fuel-Cell Car
- Researchers Develop Cell that Can Store Solar at Night
- Energy Efficiency Program Saves Texas College $4.4M
- White Efficiency â€¨Poses Challenge for Solid-State Lighting
- Senators National Energy Policy Vision Leads to a Hopeful Future
- Google Builds Data Center on Site of Old Coal Plant
- EPA Honors 3 Facilities for Combined Heat and Power
- Cheese Factory Installs Anaerobic Digestion


text: Bunge has previously been active in global sugar marketing and trading, but has had ambitions of becoming a producer since sugar and sugar-based ethanol are seen as natural extensions to its core agribusiness activities. The planned acquisition of the Agroindustrial Santa Juliana mill in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, for an unspecified amount, is "an important step in Bunge's strategy to become a global and fully integrated player in the sugar and sugar-based ethanol market," said chairman and CEO Alberto Weisser. He added that by integrating this new business and the employees that come with it into its other agribusiness activities, Bunge will expand it expertise and insight into the management of the entire sugar value chain. Moreover, Bunge's entry into the sugar production fray will allow it to leverage its risk management and logistics expertise, increase our connection to farmers and expand the product portfolio that it offers to its customers. The mill only commenced operations last year and presently has a capacity mill 1.6m metric tons of sugarcane a year. But Bunge has quick and bold plans to more than double this over the next few years. Its target is 4m metric tons "in the next few years". Raw material should be in no short supply. Current owner the Tenorio Group purposefully positioned the mill in southwestern Minas Gerais, in the midst of a major sugarcane growing region. It is also close to large domestic sugar and biofuel markets - and for export purposes it has rail connections with the ports of Santos and Vitoria. As for the biofuel angle to the business, the mill produces its own energy by burning a residual biomass left over from the sugarcane milling process. Other recent acquisitions effected by Bunge include an oilseed processing plant and a portfolio of edible oil brands in Romania, which is said to have been part of a larger strategy to improve the efficiency and growth position of its business in Southeast Europe. Bunge also announced the creation of a joint venture with Sinograin, which manages China's central grain and edible oil reserves, to build its fourth soybean processing plant in that nation.For its second quarter and half-year results, released at the end of July, Bunge reported a 65 percent increase in overall net sales for the quarter ended June 30 2007 to $9.9bn. Net income shot up 460 percent to $168m compared to $30 last year. These results signalled that the firm could be emerging from a tough period that has beset its bottom line.


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Development on Quake II has been pushed back by about three months, according to our friends at Game Informer Online.
Originally scheduled for a December 1998 release date, the game was then shifted to February/March 1999. Now, apparently, Activision has said officially that Quake II, in development with UK-based Hammerhead Studios, will arrive this spring, which translates into the May/June slot.
Although the Nintendo 64 version is being shown around, the PSX version isn't, and though no reason was given as to its delay, the four-person death match mode looks to be the biggest delay.
What's our opinion? Damn! Bring it out! Hurry! Hopefully, the wait is worth it.


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In Ethiopia, it is common for children to go to sleep hungry. Food insecurity is high among rural areas, and over 20 percent of children under 5 suffer from chronic malnutrition.
For many people in rural areas of Ethiopia access to sufficient water and adequate sanitation remains out of reach. Pastoralist communities in Ethiopia have some of the lowest water and sanitation coverage rates in the world, a situation exacerbated by climate change and population growth.
USAID interventions in areas of chronic and emergency water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) needs and subsequent development investments in sustainable access to safe water represent a success in moving families from relief to development programming.
Beekeeping is an ancient tradition in Ethiopia, stretching back into the country’s early history—between 3500 and 3000 B.C., according to some history books. Collecting and selling honey and other bee products produced in homes and home gardens is common throughout the country.
Because of its fine leather and commitment to top quality, Ethiopia has recently become a magnet for international retailers seeking high-end shoes. Ethiopian shoe companies offer it all—fine-dress, casual and sport footwear.
Ethiopian designer Fikirte Addis feels like she is "ready to fly.” A one-time child psychologist with a passion for design, Addis took a risk in 2009 by launching her own fashion brand—Yefikir Design.
Last updated: January 27, 2016


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Software giant Microsoft and leading content delivery network (CDN) Akamai are working together to deliver high-definition video to PCs through Microsoft’s Silverlight Web video player.
Microsoft has developed a new Web server technology called Internet Information Services 7.0 (IIS7.0) Smooth Streaming, which is designed to provide consumers with instant start-up times and no buffering by adapting the encoding rate of the video stream in real time based upon changes in the speed of the consumer’s broadband connection.
Such “adaptive streaming” technology, which relies on constant communication between a Web server and a software client on a consumer’s PC, is already used by Flash video specialists such as Move Networks to deliver high-quality streaming for programmers like ABC and Fox. Such programmers believe that delivering higher-quality video will lead to longer viewing times and thus, boost Web advertising revenues.
The Smooth Streaming upgrade for Silverlight, released as part of Microsoft’s new IIS7 Media Pack software, allows programmers to encode their content in a variety of bit rates and aspect ratios, says Microsoft’s Steve Sklepowich, group manager for Silverlight Media. “Typically, you would do eight to 10 data rates with different configurations,” says Sklepowich.
For Microsoft, partnering with the biggest CDN should provide a boost to Silverlight as it seeks to grab a share in the Web video space from the near-ubiquitous Flash player from Adobe.


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Inquiries for credit insurance are up 25%. That is a large increase when you consider most people don't even know what credit insurance is. So what is credit insurance and why is it selling so briskly?
Credit insurance is a way for businesses to protect their accounts receivables. For most companies, accounts receivables are among their three top assets. Indeed, customer default is more likely -- and often more severe -- than a fire, flood or theft. With credit insurance, if a company's customer defaults, is unable to pay for some reason or simply goes out of business, the seller still collects what it is owed.
As for the brisk sales, there are two principle drivers: a dramatic increase in exports by U.S. companies and continued unease about the U.S. economy.
We all saw how quickly the economy went south only a few years ago. Since that time the recovery has been slow. In fact, many economists say the world's economy is actually more vulnerable now than it was before the crisis. American companies realize it could all happen again.
Moreover, companies that were savvy enough to survive the economic crisis have come to realize they need to become more sophisticated when it comes to the risk/reward ratio. Even for small and medium-sized businesses, risks have become increasingly complex. Physical and financial risks, once clearly segregated, are beginning to overlap. Plain old property/casualty just does not cut it anymore.
As a result, many American risk managers are taking a lead from their European counterparts. While half of all European companies use credit insurance, only one in 10 American companies do. However, U.S. premium written, presently about $800 million, is expected to double in the next three years.
Likewise, some agents have noticed this trend and have begun selling credit insurance in the same way their European counterparts do -- as a way to provide their clients a competitive advantage. European users know that credit insurance does a lot more than merely ensure payment. (This does not make EU companies invulnerable to default, however. Above, Coface analysis from five of the region's notorious economies highlights vulnerabilities.)
When a client's accounts receivables are insured, the client's financial standing also improves. Banks, realizing that the credit insurance buyer's revenue stream is insured, are more willing to extend credit. And they may do so at lower rates. As a result, the company can borrow more for less. Credit insurance also enables companies to be more aggressive with the credit terms they offer customers. This ability to offer better credit terms means better sales -- especially overseas.
Between the reduced credit risk, improved financial standing and increased sales, the cost of credit insurance is a wash for many clients. The more sophisticated users can even come out ahead. No wonder demand is way up. Credit insurance can make risk managers look golden to top management.
To compete in the global marketplace, American companies have no choice but to adopt more sophisticated approaches to risk management. Already widely used in the rest of the world, credit insurance is a product whose time has come in the United States.


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Among tablet owners, Millennials (born 1977-1994) spend on average 23% of their total video viewing time (time spent watching video on any device, including TV, in a 7-day period) with their devices.
Archives for May 20, 2013
The number of Interbrand 100 brands with an Instagram account has grown to 67 as of May 1st.
79% of smart phone owners qualify as smart phone shoppers.
81% of mothers will engage more with a brand if they are offered a reward.
US retail e-commerce spending grew by 13% year-over-year to reach $50.2 billion.
From mid-October 2012 through the end of November, Carnival launched a custom music playlist called Carnival Cruise Tunes.
In 2013, the MMA predicts companies will invest $3.16 billion in the mobile web, translating to about two-thirds of spending. By 2015, that share will drop down to 58%, as mobile apps get significantly more investment.
In 2013, mobile and tablet advertising got strong results across brand health metrics, raising ad awareness, purchase intent and brand favorability.
This year spending on mobile marketing will reach $10.46 billion. By 2015, spending on the channel will approach $20 billion.


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Epson Director of Commercial Sales Makes CRN 2019 Women of the Channel List
Patty O'Brian, the director of commercial sales at Epson America, added to the list of 2019 Women of the Channel by CRN, a brand of The Channel Company.
CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Patty O’Brian, director of commercial sales at Epson America, to its 2019 Women of the Channel list. The list recognizes leaders in all facets of the IT channel ecosystem.
As director of commercial sales, O’Brian drives demand for Epson products in the channel, defining a sales strategy, aligning sales efforts, and identifying efficiencies within Epson’s channel business to accelerate revenue growth. Her experience includes more than 35 years in the industry, and Epson credits O’Brian with “a unique perspective to the channel market through her wealth of sales experience and vast knowledge of Epson products and services.” The company adds that O’Brian’s work ethic and commitment to excellence are “integral” to Epson’s channel success.
“CRN’s 2019 Women of the Channel list honors influential leaders who are accelerating channel growth through mutually-beneficial partnerships, incredible leadership, strategic vision, and unique contributions in their field,” says Bob Skelley, CEO of The Channel Company. “This accomplished group of leaders is driving channel success and we are proud to honor their achievements.”
CRN editors choose the list from a wide variety of channel leadership applicants and select the final honorees based on criteria like professional accomplishments, demonstrated expertise, and ongoing dedication to the IT channel.
“CRN plays an important role gauging where the channel market is going and recognizing the many talented people in the industry who are leading trends and developments in the market,” adds O’Brian. “The growth of Epson America’s channel program is a result of our excellent partnerships and our tireless commitment to making sure that our partners have innovative inkjet printers, business tools, and the support needed to effectively help resellers grow their own businesses.”
To see the full 2019 Women of the Channel list, visit www.CRN.com/WOTC.


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5 Facts That Show How Wasteful Americans Really Are
Raise your hand if you end up having to throw away half the food in your fridge before you get to eat it.
Never hate, but let's get real. There's no reason to that wasteful especially when taking into consideration the state of the world today. So many people go without food that it's almost a sin how much food we as a society just throw into the garbage because we can't consume it as quickly as we're purchasing it.
A survey conducted by Penn State University has revealed that a whole 32% of food in American households alone is thrown away. This is super important to note since Super Bowl Sunday is coming up. It's no secret that Super Bowl Sunday is one of, if not the biggest food days of the year in this country. Lots of pizza and beer. This means there's more paper and plastic-ware used as well as a mountain of beer cans that eventually go straight to the garbage.
In an effort to not make the situation worse, it's worth noting that the Penn State survey also highlighted
- over 66% of households waste between 20% and 50% of the food they buy
- the average household wastes $1,900 worth of food each year
- consumers waste $240 billion worth of food every year
- wasted food is allegedly responsible for 3.3 gigatons of greenhouse gas
Moral of the story, when heading to the grocery store to do your Super Bowl party shopping or even just stocking up for your family, meal prep so you know exactly what it is you need and how much. Maybe, if we're more mindful of what we're putting into our carts, we won't be so wasteful.


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Each character can select unique intros, victory poses, and custom skins in Mortal Kombat 11. Here are all we found at the reveal event.
All of the changes we’d like to see come to the Gambit mode in Destiny 2.
PAX South has all kinds of cool merch to buy, but only one kind is going to help you survive Sony’s brand new open world survival game.
Brian Altano sits down with Eric Jensen of Sony Bend to talk through the combat systems and mechanics involved in taking down hordes of Freakers.
New event brings new challenges and rewards Continue reading…
Fortnite has been an incredible, record-breaking success with its free-to-play battle royale formula. According to a recent report from SuperData, not only was Fortnite the top grossing free game of 2018, it also brought in “the most annual revenue of any game in history” with $2.4 billion thanks to its skins, emotes, and season passes. The […]
Hacker gets into administrator’s account, forces server rollback Continue reading…
Treyarch recently confirmed in a Reddit thread that a new mode called Ambush is coming to Blackout, after the news leaked through the companion app. Ambush, according to the news site CharlieIntel, is a limited-time mode that restricts your arsenal to only sniper rifles and melee weapons, making perks like Skulker and Dead Silence more valuable. You […]
Another one time in-game Fortnite event happened today and it was game changing! Check out this video to see what happened with the ice king and ice sphere!
Another in-game event went live in Fortnite this morning, covering the entire map in snow and kicking off the Ice Storm event. Earlier this week, a mysterious ice sphere appeared above Polar Peak. A silhouette of the Ice King, the final reward of Season 7’s Battle Pass, was visible inside. Television sets across the map began […]


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W2 Global Data, an identity verification service provider, has raised £3m in its Series A financing round.
The funding, which came from Mercia Technologies and the Development Bank of Wales, will be used to further expand its sales and marketing efforts. Capital will also be used to broaden and accelerate product development and extend its global reach.
Founded by Warren Russell in 2011, W2 enables customers to streamline customer acquisition and manage regulatory risk by performing real-time identity verification, anti-money laundering and anti-fraud checks against consumers and corporates on an international scale.
The company targets firms in the regulated, government and business community across the globe, and is primarily focused on selling to the gaming, payments and foreign exchange markets.
Julian Viggars, chief investment officer of Mercia Technologies, said: “Having initially backed W2 through our managed funds, we are delighted to continue to support the business and its highly experienced management team as it becomes the latest Emerging Star to join our direct investment portfolio. SaaS technology continues to be one of Mercia’s key areas of focus and we see significant potential for delivering shareholder value over the medium term as W2 continues to grow.”
The company’s single platform offers instantaneous age and identity verification, AML checks, fraudulent behaviour analysis, black and white lists, affordability assessment, facial comparison and ongoing monitoring, all powered by machine learning and intelligence. ts customers include gohenry, Caxton, Lottoland, wirecard , Uaccount, DigitalPayments, Transact Payments, GPS, Brabners, and GVC Holdings.
Richard Thompson, senior investment executive at development bank of Wales, added: “We are thrilled to once again be co-investing with Mercia in this latest round to support Warren and his team. W2 has made tremendous progress in recent years and we are excited to see what this funding will bring to the business. With this investment and the increasing demands in regulatory compliance W2 are well positioned to become a leading player in their market.”
Copyright © 2018 FinTech Global


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Global clothing brands who produce garments and accessories in Turkey are having to rethink their operations after Saudi Arabia imposed a ban on all goods made in Turkey.
Mango, M&S, and H&M are among those affected by the ban, according to a report by the Financial Times.
A spokesperson for Spanish retailing giant Mango told the FT they were “looking into alternatives” following customs problems for products of Turkish origin entering Saudi Arabia.
Transport companies and trade bodies have also warned Turkish and global clients about the Saudi ban on Turkish imports.
Maersk, the world’s largest container shipping line, emailed clients to advise they “take necessary precautions to minimise . . . potential losses.”
Speaking to the FT, Mustafa Gültepe, chairman of Istanbul Apparel Exporters’ Association (IHKIB), said that all retailers producing in Turkey and exporting to the Gulf state were affected.
“We are talking about all global brands that have stores in Saudi Arabia, produce in Turkey and sell over there,” he explained.
Textiles is a vital industry for Turkey. The country is among the biggest textile producers in Europe and the Middle East, exporting $17.7bn worth of ready-to-wear clothing in 2019.
The sanctions ‘unofficially’ introduced by Saudi Arabia earlier this month go beyond the clothing industry, however, affecting all Turkish imports, and tourism and investment to Turkey.
Until recently, Saudi Arabia and Turkey have shared strong bilateral trade relations, with a surplus to the Turks. According to the FT, Turkey exported $3.2bn to Saudi Arabia in 2019, with $1.9bn worth of goods and services flowing the other way.
The trade dispute between the two Muslim-majority states surfaced at the start of October when Ajlan Al Ajlan, the head of the Saudi Chamber of Commerce, called for a boycott of “everything Turkish.”
Saudis quickly amplified the hostile call on social media, leading to the Arabic equivalent of “Boycott Turkish products” trending online. The move is said to have forced some clothing retailers and suppliers to move their operations away from Turkey, according to Saudi news portal Sabq.
Ajlan Al Ajlan, the head of the Saudi Chamber of Commerce, called for a boycott of “everything Turkish”
Turkish businesses have been vocal about the long delays their exports now face at Saudi customs borders.
Although Saudi officials deny there is a boycott of Turkey, many believe the de facto ban stems from Riyadh and its close ally the United Arab Emirates’ desire to punish Ankara for meddling in the Arab world. The two Gulf two leading states and Turkey are regularly on opposing sides on a host of international issues, from Qatar to Libya and Palestine. Trade has become the latest battleground.
On Saturday, the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), the Turkish Exporters’ Assembly (TIM) and the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) were among eight Turkish business associations to voice their dismay at Saudi Arabia’s “increasingly negative attitude towards our country’s companies.”
The joint statement said the issue had “gone beyond bilateral economic relations and become a problem for global supply chains.”
“Any official or unofficial initiative to block trade between the two countries will have negative repercussions on our trade relations and be detrimental to the economies and people of both countries,” it added.
The boycott of goods isn’t the only Saudi-imposed ban on Turkey. In 2018, Saudi-owned television networks suddenly announced they were dropping blockbuster Turkish dramas from their schedules.
At the time, Istanbul-based journalist Par Suraj Sharma wrote in Middle East Eye that the television ban “adds a new dimension to growing tensions between Turkey and the Saudi Arabia-United Arab Emirates axis in the row over Qatar’s support for, among other things, the Muslim Brotherhood, which the Saudis and Emiratis have branded a “terrorist” organisation.”
The rift between Turkey and the Gulf’s two largest economies became acute after Ankara’s decision to stand with Doha. The Turks sent troops to a garrison in Qatar in 2017, in defiance of Riyadh and Abu Dhabi’s embargo on their small, but wealthy regional neighbour.
Tensions rapidly escalated the following year, when journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered inside the Saudi’s Istanbul Consulate on 2 October 2018.
It is widely believed that the 59-year-old dissident writer was assassinated on the orders of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose policies Khashoggi was critical of.
Initially, Saudi Arabia denied any knowledge of the killing, but as evidence emerged Saudi officials were forced to admit the death. Riyadh then claimed the journalist was murdered in a “rogue operation” by a team of agents sent to persuade Khashoggi to return to the kingdom.
Twenty one people were charged with involvement the journalist’s brutal death. However, a trial held behind closed doors in Saudi Arabia last year was described as a sham. Human Rights Watch said the trial did not meet international standards and that authorities “obstructed meaningful accountability”.
The hostilities between Ankara and Riyadh and its ally Abu Dhabi remain palpable, with Libya the latest frontier. While President Erdoğan has thrown his weight behind the internationally-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), UAE is backing the forces of renegade commander Khalifa Haftar.
Late last week, Saudi Prince Abdurrahman Bin Musa’ad Al-Saud said the informal boycott of Turkish imports should remain until “Ankara reviews its policies with the Kingdom.”
Main image, top, of Turkish modest fashion retailer Modanisa.com’s SS 2019 collection. One of the Istanbul-based firm’s top markets is Saudi Arabia


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Nintendo has some pretty big titles coming our way and if you want more Super Mario Odyssey and Metroid: Samus Returns, you will be happy to learn that Nintendo has confirmed that they will be streaming both games live at Gamescom which will take place later this month.
Neither of these titles has been released yet, which means that these livestreams will give gamers an idea of what they might be able to expect when they are available.
Super Mario Odyssey will be headed to the Nintendo Switch. It is different from the other Mario titles, but from the gameplay videos, it looks like it has interesting mechanics that will deliver a fresh experience. Metroid: Samus Returns is for the Nintendo 3DS handheld console, and is not to be confused with Metroid Prime 4 which was announced for the Nintendo Switch at E3 a few months ago. It is a highly-anticipated title among Metroid fans. The streaming times for Super Mario Odyssey are expected to begin at 2PM UK time on Wednesday, the 23rd of August, while Metroid will be livestreamed at 11PM UK time on Thursday, the 24th of August. This will give us a good look at both games and get us excited.


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Hello and greetings fellow otaku,
Here is a bit of breaking news for those of you who are subscribers of the popular manga magazine Yen Plus. It has been recently announced that Yen Plus parent company Yen Press will be discontinuing the print version of the magazine in favor of a digital edition online. They also announced that along with this new format, there will be major changes with the content. Yen Press plans to announce the changes at a later date.
Yen Plus originally debuted back in August of 2008. The magazine featured such popular manga series such as Soul Eater, Bamboo Blade and a manga edition of James Patterson’s Maximum Ride series. As always, stay with Anime Full Circle for the latest on this developing story. And until next time, remember that there is a ton of great anime and manga out there. All you have to do is find it. Ltrs.


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The Novato City Council this week approved an ordinance restricting sales of tobacco products, a week after sidestepping a vote to hear more from concerned merchants.
The ordinance, first approved Jan. 10, was set for a final vote Jan. 24 until retailers emerged to complain the ordinance would hurt their businesses.
The issue was set aside for a week as Mayor Denise Athas talked with merchants. On Tuesday, council members voted unanimously to move forward, saying the ordinance offered solid steps to eliminating youth access to tobacco.
“I think in general we have a good ordinance in front of us,” Councilman Eric Lucan said. “Might there be an opportunity in the future for a little tweak here and there? Absolutely. But I’m confident in what we have here.”
Councilwomen Pat Eklund and Pam Drew said they supported the ordinance and said they would prefer to move on without future changes.
“I think it’s a good ordinance,” Drew said. “I think it’s been a good process. I would actually like to see the process end tonight.”
The ordinance requires businesses with pharmacies to stop selling tobacco-related products. Most Novato businesses with pharmacies have already done so, city officials said. Flavored tobacco products and small or single-pack cigarettes, cigarillos and cigars are also banned under the ordinance. Marijuana and electronic cigarettes are considered tobacco products under the ordinance.
At the same time, the ordinance creates a tobacco retail licensing system. Businesses will pay a license fee of $50 or less annually. If a retailer sells tobacco to a youth, or in any way violates the ordinance, their license could be revoked.
Hank Do, owner of Novato’s Specialty Tobacco Outlet, said a first-time offense resulting in a 30-day revocation of a license could be a death sentence for a smoke shop.
“That’s harsh for anyone in the business,” he said. “I mean, no matter what, if you make a mistake, you can’t do business for 30 days? That’s my life savings.”
Enforcement is set to begin in 2018. Before then, officials will work with retailers, said Jessica Deakyne, Novato’s management analyst.
“Staff and county staff from the Tobacco Related Disease Control Program are committed to meeting with the retailers and hearing their concerns about the ordinance,” Deakyne said on Wednesday.
Mitesh Popat, chief medical officer at Marin Community Clinics, expressed support for the ordinance.
“Our kids are a vulnerable population,” he said. “As a society, as a community, we should protect those who cannot be protected — those who are not aware of what marketing is being thrown at them, what flavors are being imbued in products that are known carcinogens.”
Elizabeth Emerson, with the American Cancer Society, said she also supports the ordinance.
“We also wanted to thank you for this discussion of a tobacco retailer licensing ordinance to prevent youth access to tobacco and electronic smoking devices, not only for this current younger generation but for all the future generations that will be impacted by your decision,” Emerson said.


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Momentum Media Marketing To Manage Sparknetworks Under A Marketing & Affiliate Sales Agreement
August 18, 2016 at 4:15 AM (PT)
SPARKNETWORKS Founder/Pres. PAT BOHN has signed a deal with MOMENTUM MEDIA MARKETING, which will manage marketing and affiliate sales for the company effective SEPTEMBER 1st. MOMENTUM Founder/Pres. SHAWN SMITH will manage SPARKNETWORKS, with HILLARY HOMMY named VP/Strategic Projects.
“SHAWN SMITH and the people at MOMENTUM have the unique broadcast experience, industry positioning, and marketing capabilities, in CANADA and the UNITED STATES, that make them the perfect group to manage SPARKNETWORKS,” said BOHN. “I have known SHAWN for more than two decades and feel extremely comfortable that he will meet and exceed the needs of current and prospective SPARKNETWORKS clients. The company’s recent acquisition of BROADCAST DIALOGUE is indicative of the leadership position SHAWN and MOMENTUM are taking with regard to serving media owners and managers in CANADA,” added BOHN.
“PAT and his team have built a remarkable resource for Canadian broadcasters for world-class content, innovative tools, and industry services,” said SMITH. “The opportunity to manage SPARKNETWORKS, allows MOMENTUM to offer industry clients and prospects even more services, more options, and more client support. These operational synergies are also an additional significant benefit to all our client, vendor, and employee partners.”


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From Aprigo to CloudLock: Data Protection Startup Talks Strategy Shift, New Name
Do we really need another tech company with “cloud” in its name?
Apparently the answer is yes. But Waltham, MA-based CloudLock offers lessons far beyond the merits of its name. The company, formerly known as Aprigo, has officially changed its product focus as well as its moniker. All told, this is an interesting snapshot of a young tech startup navigating the turbulent field of data storage and security while making some tough decisions about its future.
Last July, CloudLock announced that its “Aprigo Ninja” software for managing Google Docs was available online in the Google Apps Marketplace. The product was aimed at business customers in a wide range of fields including education, government, manufacturing, retail, finance, insurance, and high-tech. What the company discovered from that move was the sheer number of businesses using the Internet cloud as their primary platform for computing—and how fast that market was growing. So CloudLock decided to drop its on-premise, subscription-based software and sell only a cloud-based version.
“It’s about building the right business model,” says Gil Zimmermann, CloudLock’s co-founder and CEO. “There’s a better market opportunity around cloud data protection.”
That sounds obvious enough. But the decision meant losing plenty of on-premise software customers—the company says that product had been selling well—and going through some changeover in employees. “This is what makes a true pivot difficult. It’s having to walk away from something good to pursue something great,” says Zimmermann, a veteran of EMC (NYSE: EMC), the Hopkinton, MA-based data storage giant.
CloudLock built its cloud-based software to run on Google App Engine (Google’s cloud computing platform). It currently works with Google Docs, but it’s slated also to work with Microsoft Office 365, the cloud-based version of Office, by late 2011. CloudLock has dozens of paying customers, with hundreds in the pipeline, says Zimmermann.
Some fundamental things haven’t changed. CloudLock’s focus is still on helping organizations identify, monitor, visualize, and protect exposed data, change security permissions, migrate data, and perform other kinds of gnarly (but business-critical) IT functions. CloudLock previously raised $3 million in Series A financing from Cedar Fund back in 2008. The company currently has 14 employees.
Asked to summarize the lessons he has learned so far, Zimmermann says, “It’s not easy to let go of something you’re doing that is working. It’s scary when something comes up that could be better. But be open-minded and try it out. See what works, and when it does work, double down in a way that can make sure it’s real.”
Another telling lesson: “Differentiate between ‘everyone wants to talk about it,’ and ‘are they willing to buy a product?’”
Lastly (and perhaps most importantly), he says, “When you’re pivoting, not everybody is going to be happy about it.”
Trending on Xconomy
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Increased parking charges in an East Devon town are having a detrimental impact on independent businesses, it has been claimed.
Cllr Geoff Pratt said that the new charges, which were introduced in April, had led to a drop in footfall and was affecting the businesses in Ottery St Mary.
At last Wednesday night’s full council meeting, he called for the increases that saw parking charges at the Canaan Way car park doubled to be revoked.
He said: “Ottery St Mary is a small market town with little tourism. The increase in charges have already seen a drop in footfall and income for independent shops, whose workers are have to pay more.
“Will the officers agree to a meeting with me and Cllr Vicky Johns to consider revoking the increase in charges for Ottery St Mary?”
But Cllr Ben Ingham, leader of the council, said it would be unfair to just reconsider one town.
He said: “When we look at and review the budget, we will be looking at the charges in all of the car parks. The total income from car parks last year was £2.7m – and that £2.7m is the same amount of money and savings that we will have to find for next year and if we don’t we will have to raise council tax.
“I understand the call but for Ottery St Mary to be considered in isolation would be grossly unfair for the other settlements that are affected by this.”
The new charges, which were ratified by the council’s cabinet last Autumn, saw the charges at Underhill car park in Lympstone, Canaan Way in Ottery St Mary, Coombe Lane in Axminster, and Dolphin Street in Colyton, which had cheaper parking rates, brought in line with the rest of the council run car parks.
Fees at the Canaan Way car park used to be 50p per hour with a maximum charge of £1.50 for three hours, but the revised tariffs saw that rise for £1 for an hour and £3 for three hours.


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American Express Co. said first-quarter earnings rose due to expense controls and higher revenues.
The New York-based company, which both issues plastic and owns a card-processing network, said revenue, net of interest expense, rose to $8.2 billion from $7.89 billion a year earlier.
The company reported a profit of $1.43 billion, or $1.33 a share, compared with $1.28 billion, or $1.15 a share, a year earlier.
Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expected a profit of $1.30 a share on $8.36 billion in revenue.
Shares were down 1.6% to $86 in recent after-hours trading
"While consumers remain cautious about taking on additional debt, we continued to see a modest increase in Card Member loan balances, said Chairman and Chief Executive Kenneth Chenault.
AmEx has been increasingly focused on attracting new customers and merchants. The company recently launched a no-fee card that rewards customers for how often they use it, not just how much they spend. It also is trying to expand acceptance among small merchants.
Last month, American Express said it was raising its quarterly dividend by three cents a share to 26 cents, beginning in the second quarter. It also said it would buy back up to $4.4 billion of common shares this year and up to an additional $1 billion in the first quarter of 2015.
Write to Robin Sidel at email@example.com


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Welcome to 2008, readers, and if Axiotron's announcement that its long-awaited Modbook
is finally shipping -- several weeks ahead of schedule
-- is any indication, it looks to be a good year indeed for consumer electronics fans. First unveiled nearly a year ago at Macworld 2007, the MacBook-based, Wacom-modified Modbook has definitely seen its share of delays, although in the days and months since, the 13.3-inch slate has gained the distinction of being one of the few pieces of non-Cupertino, Apple-approved hardware. The world's first OS X tablet can be yours immediately starting at $2,290.


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GE India to expand medical device manufacturing production
General Electric's healthcare division would start shipping low cost medical devices manufactured in India to markets worldwide. This was confirmed by a senior executive of the company today.
Three manufacturing hubs located in Bangalore would begin production on an extended line of products, such as ultrasound equipment, ECG units as well as other maternal and infant care machinery. The equipment would be exported to Africa, Europe, Asia and Latin American markets. Also, these India made units would be 40% cheaper compares to the competition and is expected to corner about 15% of total market.
According to GE President and CEO for Global Ultrasond Anders Wold, "India offers the ideal template to custom make products for other emerging markets globally." The world market for medical and diagnostic devices is estimated to be worth USD362 billion by 2015, according to reearch conducted by Global Industry Analysts.
The spokesman for GE Healthcare India confirmed the initial statement, saying "India has the right minds to produce low-cost gadgets, highly qualified doctors for advice, an ideal market that has a demand for these products and the capability to manufacture these products here. China on the other hand has cost-advantage in manufacturing products there."


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- The city council of Palo Alto, California voted unanimously Monday to approve one of the Bay Area's strictest single-use plastic bans, as reported by the Mercury News.
- The ordinance prohibits the distribution of plastic straws, utensils and stirrers in food service establishments starting January 2020, along with produce/meat bags in grocery stores and farmers markets in July 2020. Businesses will be required to only print receipts upon request.
- Some attendees of Monday's meeting, however, criticized the ban's limited scope. "We need to focus on reducing all of our disposable foodware," said UPSTREAM Program Director Miriam Gordon. Replacing single-use plastics with other disposable products, Gordon maintained, merely "transfers the environmental burden from our oceans to our climate and habitat."
Per the ordinance, all straws, utensils, stirrers and produce bags must be compostable or reusable, and businesses are to distribute plastic products only upon request, according to a staff report. The ban does not apply to plastic food or beverage containers, and hospitals caring for patients who require plastic straws will be granted an exemption — a previous point of contention, as reported by Palo Alto Daily Post.
The ban's implementation represents phase one of Palo Alto's 2018 Zero Waste Plan to divert 95% of its waste from landfills and reduce 80% of greenhouse gases by 2030. The second phase — slated for 2021 implementation — would require all food service establishments to charge for non-reusable cups and containers, provide reusable foodware to all dine-in customers, and install dishwashers. The final phase, which the city plans to implement in 2025, would require establishments to provide reusable foodware for all takeout orders.
Palo Alto is the latest in a string of Bay Area cities to crack down on single-use plastics: San Francisco and Alameda have prohibited plastic straws and utensils, while Berkeley has enacted a sweeping ordinance aimed at eliminating all single-use foodware. Palo Alto, however, is the first in the pack to prohibit plastic produce bags.
As part of its "zero waste" effort, the city council also passed an ordinance (effective July 2020) mandating deconstruction of buildings and structures — as opposed to demolition — and source-separation of materials to increase landfill diversion. More than 40% (approximately 19,000 tons) of the city's landfilled waste is the result of demolition, construction, renovation and remodels of structures, according to the staff report.
Successful implementation of the foodware and deconstruction ordinances, the report estimates, will decrease landfill disposal by more than 8,220 tons and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 22,770 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.


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Introducing innovations like mobile apps to port operations is one way to achieve productivity gains, improve operational decision-making and maximize revenue opportunities.
Optimism is rising across ports around the globe, on the back of growth in trade and increasing freight rates. For ports it is time to look at ways to apply innovation that will capitalize on this positive growth.
According to a recent article in Port Strategy, world trade is expected to increase from 2.2% growth in 2016 to 3.8% in 2017, with a similar level of expansion forecast for 2018. The article also cited growth in freight rates for Maersk in Asia as a positive reflection of that growth translating into more freight movement.
Port leaders around the world will be looking at how they can position their port to benefit from this growth. Introducing innovations like mobile apps to port operations is one way to achieve productivity gains, improve operational decision-making and maximize revenue opportunities.
While many industries have been aggressively adopting modern mobile apps based on commodity-priced hardware, the port sector has been more cautious. According to port consultant Thomas Vitsounis, writing in Port Strategy:
“In general terms, the use of apps will change the industry and everyone knows that. When it comes to ports themselves, things have so far moved slowly – but there has been a remarkable change. . . . in the past year, it is tremendous how quickly this industry has shifted. Ports are now thinking in these terms. There is some distance to go but it is absolutely essential to move in that direction.”
There are some exciting opportunities to leverage this in your port by applying mobile technology in areas like cargo management, yard logistics, reefer management or rail service integration.
Some risks also exist though: in terms of choosing the best mobile app technology, the right support partner and successfully integrating a mobile approach into your existing IT systems, especially your TOS.
Jade Logistics have prepared a white paper “There’s an app for that” looking at the issues around mobility in ports, and what to consider when building your business case.
Also read the press release about Mexican based Grupo CICE testing and implementing the Master Terminal suite of handheld apps.


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YouTube For Music? That's SoundCloud, Says Alexander Ljung
YouTube for videos. Flickr for photos. SoundCloud for music.
That’s Alexander Ljung’s pitch, and while it’s an audacious one, it has a couple things going for it. For one thing, people are flocking to his four-year-old music file-sharing service: Last May, the company had a million registered users; now it’s up to 2.6 million. Prominent placement in Apple’s new Mac App store won’t hurt, either.
And SoundCloud’s ambition is now being underwritten by two name-brand investors: Late last year Index Ventures and Union Square Ventures led a $10 million funding round for the company, a follow-up to a $3.3 million investment from Doughty Hanson Technology Ventures.
Ultimately, I’m not sure that there’s anything like the YouTube or Flickr userbase for SoundCloud, which makes it very easy to post and share audio files. Especially if SoundCloud is serious about making sure it isn’t used as Napster-like pirate service.
Because even though it’s easier than ever to make music — or any other kind of audio — it doesn’t mean it’s easier to make good music. And while people might flip through mediocre vacation photos you took, or a scan a semi-funny video of your kids, there’s a very limited audience for your guitar noodlings.
Still, 29-year-old Ljung (a Swede who has set up shop in Berlin, but is expanding into the U.S. via a San Francisco outpost) and his backers don’t need to reach YouTube-scale to be a success. And if they keep growing at the rate they’re going, they might find Google, Yahoo or other deep-pocketed buyers showing up sooner than later.
Here’s a quick interview I taped with Ljung this weekend, just after he’d announced his newest funding round.


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Society has recently made tremendous strides in bringing female excellence to the forefront. Women are no longer relegated to the background but are being recognized for their contributions and achievements in various fields. From politics and science to sports and entertainment, women are making their mark and breaking barriers.
This shift in mindset has opened up new opportunities and avenues for women to excel and lead. One platform that embraces women’s empowerment and highlights beauty and leadership is the latest US beauty pageant, Ms World 2023.
Bringing successful women to the spotlight, Ms World’s founder Melisa Gun brings a unique kind of pageantry to the US with European charm. It celebrates beauty, success, and creativity, combining traditional beauty contests with the new format that will allow women to show their talents and make their brand names known.
A new era of beauty pageants
As the world evolves, beauty pageants are also changing to reflect a more inclusive and diverse society. Gone are the days when beauty pageants were solely focused on physical appearance. Today, Ms World 2023 is at the forefront of this movement, exemplifying the shift in focus from physical beauty to overall excellence.
According to Melisa, unlike traditional beauty pageants, Ms World 2023 is breaking the mold by showcasing successful women who have already achieved something in their sphere. These women range in age from 18 to over 30, demonstrating that beauty and success are not limited by age. Melisa explains that the goal of this pageant is to show that a woman who can create a happy family, build a successful career, and prove herself to the world deserves the crown.
Ms World 2023 recognizes that successful leadership is not just about talent and intelligence but also personal branding and marketing. Participants are provided with ample training on how to develop and market their brands, as well as how to present themselves like true beauty queens, helping them establish themselves as leaders in their respective fields with grace and grit.
Ms World 2023: Celebrating femininity
Melisa is proud of the event’s inclusivity and diversity, as it celebrates women of various ages, backgrounds, and achievements. The pageant features categories for different stages in a woman’s life, including Miss (18-25 years old), Millennial (26-35 years old), Mrs (successful married women), Premier (36-45 years old), and Classic (46-50 years old). The pageant will be held at Caesars Palace Hotel in Las Vegas from December 13 to 17, 2023.
Melisa explains, “At Ms World 2023, we firmly believe that every woman is capable of creating great things. That’s why we have created different categories for women of different ages and stages of their lives. Each category has its own rules, ensuring that every woman has an equal chance to win the crown.”
She elaborates that the two winners – one from the United States, who will be named Ms World USA, and another from Europe – will be crowned Ms World. In addition to the cash prize of $25,000 awarded during the finale, both winners will serve as the official representatives of the pageant for one year. Their responsibilities will include various post-pageant activities such as a month-long feature in Times Square, collaborating with the event’s sponsors, participating in interviews with magazines and other media outlets, and appearing in the Ms World magazine, among other engagements.
Melisa emphasizes that Ms World 2023 is about more than just prizes and recognition – it is about celebrating female excellence and empowering women on a global platform. Through this event, she aims to demonstrate the importance of recognizing and celebrating women’s achievements beyond their appearance. By showcasing successful women from all walks of life, she inspires the next generation of women to pursue their dreams and achieve greatness.
Ms World 2023: Opening doors for greater excellence
Ms World 2023 is the product of Melisa’s passion for beauty. With years of experience as a model and luxury brand ambassador, Melisa has been working tirelessly to increase the influence of premium brands in the American market. Her success as Miss New York and cover girl for magazines such as Harper’s Bazaar, Playboy, L’officiel, and Vogue, as well as her featured ads on Times Square billboards, has made her a force to be reckoned with in the fashion industry. Today, she wants to share this success with more women, allowing them to celebrate their excellence and empower women on a global platform.
Ms World 2023 represents a new era of beauty pageants that celebrate female excellence in all its forms. It leads the way toward the growing importance of recognizing women for their talents, intelligence, and achievements, empowering them to pursue their dreams, break barriers, and achieve greatness.
The future of beauty pageants is bright, as events like Ms World 2023 are leading the way toward a more inclusive and diverse beauty industry. As the cultural landscape continues to change, so must beauty pageants adapt to reflect the values and aspirations of modern women.
Originally published at https://voyageny.com/ms-world-2023-puts-female-excellence-in-the-spotlight/


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NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- The Merrill Lynch Internet Holdrs HHH, +2.25% fell 98 cents, or 2.2 percent, to 1 1/2-month low $44.40 with all 12 components losing ground. Merrill Lynch technology strategist Steven Milunovich downgraded the Net sector to an "underweight" rating from "neutral" due to a further slide in its ranking within the technology sector amid earnings revisions and surprises. Of the sector tracking stock's most heavily weighted components, EBay EBAY, +1.34% lost 32 cents to $54.06, Yahoo yhoo dropped $1.10 to $40.53, Amazon AMZN, +0.91% slid $1.02 to $51.43 and Time Warner TWX, -28.57% slipped 18 cents to $15.60.
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US licensing company Authentic Brands Group (ABG) has reportedly been named as one of the several parties showing an interest in a takeover bid for British retailer, Ted Baker.
ABG, which recently acquired Reebok and holds a stake in David Beckham’s brand, is said to have joined the formal sales process, which was established by Ted Baker, after the brand said it had received a flurry of interest in a potential sale.
Reported by Sky News, it was not yet certain if ABG had made an actual offer for the label, but sources for the media outlet said it was among a number of other companies weighing whether or not to do so.
Ted Baker’s sale process kicked off earlier in April following an unprovoked takeover bid from private equity firm, Sycamore Partners.
Initially refusing the American company’s initial offers, the first of which was for 250 million pounds, Ted Baker said it had decided to launch a formal sales process after it said there had been a number of parties displaying an interest.
The retailer is currently going through a brand transformation, which has seen it launch a new website and undergo a brand repositioning strategy.
ABG has not yet responded to FashionUnited’s request for comment on this matter.


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Veg-Fresh Farms, Corona, Calif., has opened a sales office in La Quinta, Calif., to handle an expanding citrus and melon program.
The citrus is packed at five facilities near California and Mexico production areas, according to a news release. Veg-Fresh added Hugo Barajas and Jacob Gracia to head the organic and conventional citrus sales. They have a combined experience of 30 years in the citrus industry.
Melons will be handled through Corona and La Quinta, while managing growth in San Joaquin Valley and Brawley, Calif.
“We had a very successful 2019 with our Good-Life Organic and Del Bosque melon program and will continue to expand in 2020,” Dan Kerrigan, who works in the La Quinta office, said in the release.
“The desert is a key growing area for produce and with a couple of our employees already residing there, it was a natural addition to our California operations” Randy Cancellieri, general partner/owner of Veg-Fresh, said in the release.


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Uber faces a growing number of legal troubles these days – the latest involves a court settlement of $7.5 million for background checks.
Uber has agreed to pay the $7.5 million sum to a group of San Francisco drivers alleging the company acquired consumer background reports without asking them first.
Uber also agreed to pay $100 million to San Francisco and Massachusetts drivers in April and faces a nation-wide class-action lawsuit as well as a lawsuit from the New York Taxi Workers Alliance. And those are just some of the legal issues in the U.S.
Uber faces mounting legal troubles all over the globe right now. Travis Kalanick, Uber’s CEO and co-founder, might chalk some of that up to the price you pay for disruption but the drivers obviously see it a different way in this case and others.
An Uber spokesperson was not available for comment on this latest case, and neither were the lawyers representing the drivers.
However, the lawyers representing the drivers in this background checks case have filed a memorandum of understanding in court today and are reportedly in the process of drafting a formal settlement.
Uber seems eager to settle all these lawsuits as fast as possible as it continues to hemorrhage mountains of cash globally. Uber is burning $1 to $2 billion annually in China alone, according to some reports. Kalanick told Canadian publication Betakit in February Uber was profitable in the U.S.
The rideshare company recently raised $2 billion in leveraged loan debt and another $3.5 billion from Saudi Arabia recently to continue its quest for world domination and all the legal troubles sure to follow.


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Rubber climbed for a fourth day to a one-week high as data showed bigger-than-forecast growth in U.S. employment and higher vehicle sales, boosting optimism that demand will grow for the commodity used in tires.
May-delivery rubber on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange added as much as 2.7 percent to 373.3 yen per kilogram ($4,441 a metric ton) before settling at 371.7 yen. The most-active contract reached a 30-year high of 383 yen on Nov. 11.
A report from ADP Employer Services showed businesses added 93,000 workers to payrolls in November, more than the 70,000 expected by economists, based on the median of estimates compiled by Bloomberg. General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co. reported improved sales last month as demand for pickups and sport-utility vehicles helped the industry match its fastest sales pace of the year.
“Data from the U.S. boosted investor confidence in economic recovery, leading to purchases of industrial commodities including rubber,” Kazuhiko Saito, an analyst at Tokyo-based broker Fujitomi Co., said today by phone.
May-delivery rubber in Shanghai rose as much as 2.8 percent to 32,045 yuan ($4,808) a ton. The price reached a record 38,920 yuan on Nov. 11.
Industrywide light-vehicle sales ran at a 12.3 million annual pace in November, matching the October rate that was the fastest since the U.S. government’s “cash for clunkers” program in 2009. Annual U.S. sales plunged to 10.4 million last year, the worst year since 1982, after averaging 16.8 million from 2000 to 2007.
The cash rubber price in Thailand increased to 132.05 baht ($4.40) per kilogram today from 131.55 baht yesterday, the Rubber Research Institute of Thailand said. The price climbed to a record 132.75 baht on Nov. 23 as rain and flooding curbed supply from the world’s largest producer and exporter as China- led demand climbed.
Bridgestone Corp., the world’s largest tiremaker, expects to cut its rubber use by 50 percent in the next decade to cope with rising raw material costs, Masayuki Ishii, general manager at the corporate communications division said in an interview.
The company will use 1.77 million tons of natural and synthetic rubber for tire production this year, up 24 percent from 2009. Of the total, 1.23 million tons, or 69 percent, is for output overseas, he said.
Natural-rubber demand in China will be 2.8 million tons this year, while local output may be 680,000 tons, according to Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co., the nation’s largest tiremaker. It gave the forecasts at an industry conference in Bangkok today.
Thai Hua Rubber Pcl., Thailand’s third-largest rubber exporter, has signed deals to supply around 1.8 million tons to Chinese tiremakers and rubber products companies.
The company and its affiliates, Thai Mac STR Co. and Hua Tai Rubber Co., will supply latex, standard Thai rubber compound and ribbed smoked sheet compound to eight Chinese companies including Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co., China’s largest tiremaker, Luckchai Kittipol, chief executive officer of Thai Hua Rubber, said on the sidelines of a seminar.
Supply from the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries, which accounts for about 92 percent of global output, may drop 3.8 percent in the three months to Dec. 31 as rains have disrupted tapping in Thailand, the group said on Nov. 25.


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Food Lion reduced prices on thousands of its products in July in an effort to become more competitive and attract new shoppers. Such price cuts might draw more customers in the short term, but it doesn't guarantee long-term loyalty, according to retail expert John Karolefski. "The larger question is whether the lower prices will be sustained or will go away eventually. That information will determine the success of the program at Food Lion or any other grocer deploying such a strategy," he writes.
Coconut water, gaining popularity as a healthful alternative to sports drinks, provides potassium and electrolytes lost during exercise and won't contribute to a sharp increase in blood sugar. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics spokeswoman Andrea Giancoli said coconut water won't replace sodium lost during exercise. However, "if you like it and you can afford it, there's nothing wrong with coconut water, as long as you're choosing a brand without added sugar," Giancoli said.
Jelly Belly Candy is planning a mystery-flavor promotion in January and will offer fans a chance at $10,000 if they can guess the flavor. The bean will be sold in specially marked packages and will offer no clue, with only a white color and a red question mark. Consumers will have through July 2013 to enter the Mystery Flavor Sweepstakes on Jelly Belly's Facebook page.
A cupcake design depicting an overflowing bathtub with Jelly Belly jelly beans as bubbles won the $10,000 grand prize in Jelly Belly's Cupcake Challenge. Photos of cupcakes decorated with the beans were judged on originality, appeal and adherence to contest rules.
A new treat designed by the daughter of Jelly Belly's creator is now available for those with a taste for the unusual. The Rat Dip is a rat-shaped gummy candy that can be dipped in more than 25 different flavors, including green apple, fruit punch and birthday cake.


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The Digital Signage Expo kicked off its tenth anniversary show Feb. 27 in Las Vegas allowing large manufacturers and small startup companies to show their new products to the world.
Chris Gibbs, president of Exponation LLC, which puts on the Digital Signage Expo, said the show’s tenth year has grown tremendously, especially in recent years. This year’s show includes more than 69,000 square feet of displays from more than 210 vendors, along with representatives from 77 countries and 120 different education sessions for attendees.
The 2013 show also included space for small startup companies so they could afford space to launch their products if they were attending the show for the first time.
“We believe it’s kind of a barometer of this industry,” Gibbs said.
Gibbs said trends at this year’s show are companies launching larger screens because consumers have said 42 inch and 60 inch screens are not big enough to fit their needs. Some screens are reaching 90 inches in size while getting thinner and more companies are creating video walls.
More hardware companies are also showing up, Gibbs said, due to more demand for digital signage from companies.
Tablet technology is also a hot item, Gibbs said because consumers are looking for interaction with the signs.
“You’re seeing society much more comfortable with touch devices, he said. “They want it to move. And if it doesn’t move they’re confused.”
SunBriteTV came to the show also looking to expand its presence with mass transit systems across the country with the company’s weather and sun glare resistant monitors, which don’t require air conditioning units to cool them or large protective cases to halt the elements. Company leaders said they have shot their monitors with a gun and paintball gun, sprayed them down with a pressure washer, lit a unit on fire four times and even smeared it in honey then let a bear jump on it and defecate on it and it still worked.
Tom Dixon, vice president of marketing for SunBrite, said the monitors have survived at temperatures ranging from 40 below zero to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
He said the company has also added the ability to have touch screen displays while keeping its strength.
“So with the integration, basically what we have is one durable, badass, all-weather, gigantic outdoor iPad,” Dixon said. “It’s where we’re going.”
One company trying to build a bigger presence in the U.S. mass transit market is Axiomtek, which featured its TV sets used to be placed on buses in Taiwan, which turn off automatically when the bus ignition is turned off. Axiomtek regional sales mananger Sampson Chen said the company worked with the largest outdoor ad media company in Taiwan as part of a project that fit the TV’s onto 2,000 buses there. He said they plan to duplicate the project in Brazil then find some customers in the U.S.
“The neat thing is we provide a high level of support,” he said.
Gibbs said the technology advances coupled with increasing affordability of new technology is making the new items more accessible to smaller companies, so momentum is continuing to grow for DSE, with vendors already signing on for next year’s show.


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What does the uber-expensive Magic: 30th Anniversary Edition spell for the future of reprints, proxies, and the Reserved List? David S. brings a hot take!
The unthinkable has happened: MagicFests for all of 2020 have been cancelled. When Sig predicted this possibility 3 months ago, he didn’t seriously think it would happen. He’s dusting off that article and updating his predictions for Commander card prices going forward.
Rob will focus on cards from Ultimate Masters for this week and he starts today!


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Residents of Riyadh can now download the Uber Eats app or visit the online site to order meals from a selection of restaurants throughout the city.
Uber Eats has partnered with over 100 restaurants, including Cafe Bateel, Manoosh, and Hamburghini, as well as international brands such as McDonald’s and Pizza Hut.
Mohamad Jardaneh, general manager of Uber Eats KSA, said: “We’re hugely excited to be launching in Riyadh today. People in the city can now use Uber Eats to choose from hundreds of dishes to get the food they want, when they want it, delivered at Uber speed – whether that’s dinner at home, lunch at work or a snack when out with friends.”
With Uber Eats launching in Riyadh, a city that relies on cash payments, the service will offer a cash payment option.


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Santa Monica, CA (PRWEB) June 27, 2006
When Brad Newman is stressed out he uses his hand, so are a growing number of people who have been introduced to his new product, “aromahand.” This aromatherapy product in a hand-like pillow has become a smash hit and is moving exclusively online to broaden its market to an international audience. The company has also released its edgy new commercial titled “I Love My Hand” which is expected to raise eyebrows as well as interest in the product.
The “aromahand” commercial will run on its website and features a montage of people talking about how they use their hand to reduce stress throughout their day. It is then revealed that they are talking about “aromahand”. "We think its a little edgy, funny and buzz worthy and we hope it will get people talking about ‘aromahand’", said Newman.
This intensely scented aromatherapy pillow is filled with lavender, sage, organic blends, and flax seed. Aromatherapy can have a beneficial impact on mood, creativity, and learning speed, along with aiding in the reduction of stress, insomnia and pain.
"During my hockey career, I always used massage and aromatherapy to keep me relaxed and on top of my game. The ‘aromahand’ was born from the powers of touch and scent,” said Newman. "I feel most of us want a sense of calmness, focus and serenity.” It has previously been sold at Whole Foods, the Ritz Carlton as well as other fine shops and boutiques.
The “aromahand” can now be purchased at the website http://www.aromahand.com for only $25 and can be shipped internationally. “Aromahand” has also been featured in numerous publications such as Massage and Bodywork Magazine, Chicago Scene Magazine, and LA Splash.
For more information on the “aromahand” and Brad Newman, please visit http://www.aromahand.com.
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