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Reports released by ComScore told us that Amazon Kindle Fire now accounts for more than 50 percent of Android market in the US market. For Google, this is certainly a disappointing development, because a fork of Android and an alternative to Google Play store is dominating the US tablet market.
Kindle Fire has doubled its market share to 54.4 percent in February 2012, from 29.4 percent in December 2011. Also at the same month, various Galaxy Tab models combined took the second place at 15.4 percent, followed by tablets released by Motorola, Asus and Toshiba. US consumers can get a variety of tablets in market from the tiny Dell Streak with 5” display to the giant Excite 13 with 13” display.
Previous rumors told us that Amazon developed a 10” tablet along with the 7” Kindle Fire, but so far, there’s no sign that Amazon will launch such a thing. Google is working on an affordable 7” tablet and it will directly compete with Amazon’s offering. Overall, Amazon Kindle Fire provides a more restricted environment compared to other Android tablets, but the low $199 price tag is often cited as the major factor for its success.
Images for the new BlackBerry Curve model surfaced recently and it is rumored to be announced at the BlackBerry World event. The BlackBerry Curve 9320 is expected to arrive in India and perhaps T-Mobile UK. These are not the first images of the BlackBerry Curve 9320 leaked, but they are the clearest ones yet.
The Curve 9320 is likely to run BlackBerry OS 7.1 and considering it is a budget handset, the specs will be fairly mediocre. It will have a single-core CPU, 2.44” display (320×240 pixels), 512MB of RAM, 3.2Mp rear-facing camera, 1450 mAh battery and HSPA connectivity. Also, just like many BlackBerry handsets, it will employ a physical QWERTY keyboard.
Previous images showed that the Curve 9320 will have a dedicated, physical BBM key, but the new images don’t detail that so it is quite unclear if the final product will have the key. It isn’t clear how many handsets RIM will launch throughout the year, but at the very least, budget-conscious consumers will find the BlackBerry Curve 9320 on the shelves later this year.
If you are completely enchanted by the huge 3300mAh battery of the Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX, you are not alone. Under normal usages, the phone is clearly the king in terms of longevity, while other handsets easily flail as they quickly run out of juice in less than seven hours. Just like any phone manufacturer, Motorola wants to make the point as to why its handsets are superior over others in the market.
Motorola performed an experiment by pitting the DROID RAZR MAXX against popular phones, such as the LG Spectrum and iPhone 4S. Before the test began, all smartphones were fully charged and they ran the VZ Navigator app, then they were strapped inside a car for a long drive around.
If you use turn- by-turn navigation app each day, you’ll know how it stresses on your smartphone’s battery life. The LG Spectrum was the first to went down at 2 hours, 27 minutes and followed by the iPhone 4S at 3 hours, 45 minutes. When the car reached its destination and the experiment ended at 4 hours, 12 minutes mark, the DROID RAZR MAXX’s battery was still chugging along at 40 percent capacity.
It should be noted that during the test, the LG Spectrum and Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX ran under Verizon’s LTE network, while the iPhone 4S still used the standard 3G connection.
DigiTimes, a popular rumor-monger in the tech world, reported that Samsung is once again the likeliest candidate for delivering the next Nexus handset. While some have expressed a desire to see a different manufacturer to win the competition, it seems Samsung has a few strong advantages that can give the South Korean company a leg up in this competition.
Although some phone makers have proven themselves by developing innovative smartphones with striking design flair, it is still difficult to argue with the fact that, since last year, Samsung has been at the forefront in hardware innovations. Some also cited Samsung’s ability to fully control the components supply line, which can help the company to keep the price manageable.
This would also allow Samsung to consistently provide bleeding-edge components to Google’s signature devices for many years to come. When it comes to releasing the next hottest Android smartphone, it appears Samsung continue to hold an edge, something that companies like HTC, LG and Sony may not be thrilled about. Perhaps, other phone makers should stop relying on Google, for example, HTC is developing a fork of Android for Facebook and the Taiwanese company is likely to be designated as the manufacturer of the “Facebook phone”, if Mark wants it.
Google knows that it would be foolish to upset its most important partners in the industry, manufacturers of Android devices, by assigning the Nexus smartphone directly, without a fair competition, to its subsidiary, the Motorola Mobility.
ETNews, a Korean publication reported that something interesting is brewing on the mobile industry and LG may eventually release a new smartphone with wireless charging capability. Before the iPhone 4S was released, we often heard that Apple was mulling whether to add wireless charging to its next smartphone.
Samsung may also consider using it on the Galaxy S3, whether as built-in capability or as a separate accessory. ETNews is known for its spot-on reporting on rumors related to Samsung and LG; and it believes that LG will introduce a smartphone with wireless charging next month. LG is no stranger to this technology, earlier this year; it released a charging pad for the Revolution.
The phone to be released is likely the LG D1L which seems to be a variation of LG Optimus 4X HD (with LTE and Snapdragon S4 processor) and it was showcased at the MWC event not so long ago. LG claimed that the technology consumes 20-30 percent less power and instead of using separate bulky back cover, the phone may incorporate a wireless charging coil attached to the chassis. Some experts believe that LG may use Fujitsu’s solution, which is known for its highly efficient wireless charging.
After 10 years in business together the two will part ways, Sony Ericsson partnership comes to an end; Sony has decided to buy out long time mobile phone partners Ericsson with Sony paying Ericsson over 1.05 billion Euros for the remaining 50 per cent stake in the company. Lately Sony announced its various Xperia smart phones in which Xperia ion is going to be launched in US with AT&T carrier as confirmed by AT&T, also a similar phone named Xperia S is also announced in other continents & will be soon in US too. The phones are nearly similar apart from looks. Xperia Ion is Sony’s first Smartphone which has the capability to connect to all new LTE 4G Network. The LTE 4G networks allow phones to connect to internet and surf various website at lightning speed.
The device has impressive looks & comes with 1280 x 720 pixels delivering splendid & colorful graphics. It comes 12MP rear camera with LED flash & autofocus which is genuinely a very good camera giving out HD stills & 1080HD video recording, the front camera is 1.3MP which is sufficient for video calling with face detection. The smart phone consisting 1GB ram mortised with 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Dual Core processor which is above in comparison with an average Smartphone. It comes with 16GB built in memory expandable up to 32 GB via memory card. The Ion is equipped with all latest connectivity capabilities like HDMI port and compatible dock cable, so you can connect it to your HDTV for games, movies & messaging too. Apart from this it also carries mobile version of its Bravia engine to display all graphics, the very same technology used in Sony bravia HDTV.
Again the android based platform with 2.3 gingerbread & amazing thing about this it’s upgradable to 4.0 ice-cream sandwich later, so no worries for apps android world is has tons of apps always waiting. There are a number of tweaks to the interface but for the most part it’s a fairly standard Android experience that’s slick and easy to use. The phone is expected to be out in second quarter of 2012 & seems a good deal.
Sony Xperia ion demo video
This is a demo video showing the all new Xperia™ ion, which will be available on the US market, and carried exclusively by AT&T. Xperia™ ion is the first Xperia™ LTE smartphone, and it features a 1.5 GHz dual core processor with Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 Mobile Processor, 1 GB RAM, a 4.6-inch, 720×1280 resolution reality display, 12 MP camera with Exmor R™ mobile sensor, NFC, and much more!
Sony Xperia ION Key specifications:
GSM EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900
UMTS HSPA+ 850, 1900, 2100
LTE Band IV and Band XVII
OS & Processor
Google Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)
1.5 GHz Qualcomm Dual Core processor
4.55”, 1280 x 720 pixels 16M color TFT
Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine
Scratch-resistant, shatter proof sheet on mineral glass
Flash memory: 16GB eMMC
Expansion slot: microSD, up to 32GB
12.1 megapixel camera with LED flash and Auto focus
Sony’s Exmor™ R for mobile CMOS sensor
HD video recording (1080p)
3D Sweep Panorama
Accelerated Adobe Flash Video
Front-facing camera (1.3 megapixel, 720p)
xLOUD Experience – audio filter technology from Sony
HTC One X Android Smartphone which is announced in February 2012 is scheduled to be available at AT & T stores during May this year (You can also pre-order this device now). The flagship device from HTC is a super sleek Android smartphone packed with NVIDIA Tegra quad-core processor and is suitable for both, Windows and Android 4.0. As the name suggest The HTC One X is something special brings out the best processor with brilliant features you can dream of, e.g. quad core processor, scratch-resistant ‘Gorilla Glass’ 4.7” with HD display, 1 GB ram, 8MP rear & 1.3MP front camera with HD everything, 32 GB inbuilt memory HDMI input connect to TV & others worth checking out.
The display is crystal clear with warm colors better that iPhone 4S making hard to find a pixel, if its not the best smart phone but what it makes sure its among them. Apart from expandable memory after being provided 32Gb of space some still think that memory card slot should be provided also its does not have the LTE technology which indeed is latest among the smartphone. With superb sound quality, superb audio reception, superb songs quality 3G reception & if anything missing just add superb tag to it. This phone is beyond limit of words the, I wonder where was HTC missing lately I guess now this is the answer.
The phone has sleek design an intelligent phone with truck loads of features making it little heavier but a worthy phone. Again an android based phone with latest 4.0 ICS version of android with dominating 4.7inch display the best ever seen on the smart phone you have to struggle to find the problem with this phone. I thought the loaded phone will not suffice the battery requirements what it needs but it was impressive, with the things which the phone is powered with the battery managed it to a lot. As HTC says quietly brilliant this guy surely scores it & it gets better making it a good deal proving that HTC has not compromised with anything.
HTC One X Video Tour on HTC Channel:
Extraordinary quad-core power gives you lightning-fast web browsing, remarkable picture quality and hyper-realistic gaming effects — all on a giant, 4.7-inch HD screen. Then there’s the amazing camera that captures every moment with crisp, vivid, beautiful photos.
HTC One X Key specifications:
Dimensions: 134.36 x 69.9 x 8.9 mm
Weight: 130g (w/ battery)
4.7-inch Super LCD2 capacitive touchscreen (720 x 1280)
Corning Gorilla Glass
Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
Quad-core 1.5GHz Tegra 3 processor or Qualcomm Snapdragon (depending on LTE radio)
While we are seeing more evidences that a new RAZR will come out of Motorola’s assembly line very soon and while the media is providing sneak peeks on the DROID RAZR HD and the DROID Fighter; a new model called the Motorola MT887 was spotted in China.
Two photographs emanated from China; one of them is quite blurry, but we can still see a phone bearing the MT887 model number. The smartphone is emblazoned with the China Mobile logo, uses a 4.3” display and Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0).
Motorola has previously released an ICS update to the Verizon DROID RAZR MAXX and it may use the same ICS build as the handset uses the same 4.0.3 build number with the one leaked by a Motorola engineer previously. The specification is roughly similar to the DROID RAZR MAXX except for the Android 4.0 build and 720p display.
Motorola has released numerous variants in China and the company seems to be comfortable with local market. This being the case, the Motorola MT887 might be confined only to the Chinese market. Verizon is preparing itself for a bigger version of the DROID RAZR MAXX and the MT887 could simply be an incremental upgrade for the DROID RAZR MAXX.
An ITC judge posted a notice today stating that Apple has violated a patent owned by Motorola Mobility. According to the notice, Apple doesn’t violate Motorola’s patents, except one related to 3G technology and the finding is subject to a further review by a six-member commission.
A few months ago, Google acquire Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion along with its trove of patents, so this is clearly an indirect win for Google. In current tech war, a company with the most patent ownership is likely to have stronger position. The global conflict spans four continents and at the ITC alone, a dozen cases are being investigated.
The investigation is scheduled to be completed by August 23 and if a decision for import banning is warranted, it would be a subject to review by the appeals court and President Obama. An Apple spokeswoman said that a ruling in Germany said that Apple didn’t infringe this particular patent.
“We are pleased that the ALJ’s initial determination finds Apple to be in violation of Motorola Mobility’s intellectual property, and look forward to the full commission’s ruling in August,” Becki Leonard, a spokeswoman for Motorola Mobility, said in an e-mailed statement.
The case was filed on October 2010 by Motorola Mobility amid allegation by Apple that Google’s Android stole elements of iOS. Apple repeatedly denied infringing any patent and with Microsoft, it has filed complaints in Europe that Motorola Mobility uses standard-essential patents to block competitions unfairly.
Lately when Samsung announced its new super smartphone galaxy S III, rumors are pouring in the market regarding the specs, looks & price, there is still no concrete information about it but Slashgear reported that Samsung Galaxy S III release date might be as early as in May this year. Though we are eagerly waiting for the official announcement about this new guy(S III). If we talk about looks which seems that it surely beat the market and with 4.6 inch display it is going to make a change, having 5 touch sensitive button at bottom making it delicious. The design is sleek slim sober and awesome well Samsung is bringing something I must say. Apart from the looks, let’s have a check on its hardware as its rumored it will be with quad core 1.4 GHz chip which indeed makes it most advanced phone in terms of its processor, Although processor is quad core ram remains the same i.e. 1GB.
With touch wiz 5.0 which indeed a latest version which was 4.0 in the predecessor with same ram. The front camera is 1.3MP which I think is not because in some says its 3MP some says it’s same as previous i.e. 2MP but personal opinion am surly it will be not 1.3MP its progressive time & it will surely not bring down the camera down. The rear camera is same as 8 MP where another latest rumor just dropped in that it will be 12 MP well whatever it is one thing can be trusted is that Samsung will bring something good it will not let it users down.
Similar to galaxy S II it will be also android based phone but this will be the first phone with android 4.0 ICS (ice cream-sandwich) which indeed is the latest version of android OS. Well, with Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen and HD almost everything it’s going to be a great phone, rumors have made its point that this phone is going to be something as one thing we can sure about, it will be released in the 3 quarter of this year & eagerly waiting for this next generation smartphone will it bring something or not people have a eye on this & hope Samsung fulfill the expectations of it users.
Expected Specifications of Samsung Galaxy S III
2G Network: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network: HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100
4G Network: LTE 700
Dimensions: 131.3 x 63.7 x 8 mm
Weight: 126 g, Touch-sensitive controls
Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Size: 720 x 1280 pixels, 4.6 inches (~319 ppi pixel density)


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|By PR Newswire||
|December 18, 2012 12:31 PM EST||
CHESTER, England, December 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
- Three quarters of motorists admit to being distracted behind the wheel
- One in 10 driving convictions is for using a mobile phone while driving
The UK is a nation of 'distracted drivers'. Three-quarters of motorists admit to taking their eyes off the road, increasing their risk of being involved in an accident, says MoneySupermarket.com.
Research by the UK's number one comparison site found three quarters of motorists (76 per cent) have been distracted while driving, endangering themselves and those around them. Over half of those surveyed (54 per cent) admitted to changing music while driving; 47 per eat, 47 per cent drink, and a further one in six (16 per cent) send texts from a mobile phone. A shocking six per cent admitted to using apps on a smartphone or tablet, updating their Facebook status or tweeting.
The research also found that motorists, as well as distracting themselves, are easily distracted by others. Over a third of people (35 per cent) admitted to being distracted by children or other passengers and one in five (20 per cent) said a good-looking person made them take their eyes off the road.
Kevin Pratt, car insurance expert at MoneySupermarket.com said "We all lead busy lives and find ourselves trying to multi-task, even when driving. But motorists need to be vigilant as taking your eyes off the road for only a second could have disastrous consequences for yourself and other motorists and pedestrians. Using a mobile phone to text, call or tweet when behind the wheel is not only very dangerous but also illegal."
Convicted drivers rife on the roads
Further analysis of over 14 million car insurance quotes run on the site over 12 months as part of the MoneySupermarket Monitor on Car Insurance, found the total number of actual driving convictions declared on insurance quotations was 2,724,948 (or 19.3 per cent). Ten per cent of those were for using a mobile phone while driving.
Of that 10 per cent there was a heavy bias in gender. Male drivers were found to be the most likely to get caught using their phone behind the wheel holding 72 per cent of the convictions versus just 28 per cent of women.
A further breakdown of the searches reveals those aged 30-39 years old had the highest conviction rate for mobile phone use at 1.63 per thousand, closely followed by 25-29 year olds with a rate of 1.57 per thousand. Those aged 17-19 and then 50 and over are more cautious and are least likely to be caught behind the wheel using their phone. Drivers in south and mid Scotland are most guilty of this offence, registering a rate of 2.1 and 2.0 per thousand respectively, while those in the South West of England are least likely to get caught, with only 0.71 per thousand registering a conviction.
Kevin Pratt concluded: "If you are caught driving while using a mobile phone you run the risk of not only receiving a £60 fine and three penalty points on your licence, but it is also likely to increase your insurance premium by a substantial sum. Our analysis shows convicted drivers can expect their insurance premiums to increase by 20 per cent or £92 a year on average as a result.
"Motorists should not only keep their eyes on the road but on their insurance premium as well. On average, motorists save themselves around £394 by shopping around for their insurance premiums through MoneySupermarket.com."
Notes to editors:
 Research undertaken by Opinium Research based on an online of 2,012 British UK adult drivers (18+) carried out 2 - 6 July 2011. Results have been weighted to a nationally representative criteria.
Three quarters are guilty of driving distractions and an equal proportion have been distracted by something out of their control.
Driving distractions British adults admitted to doing when driving:
Percentage of Driving Distraction motorists Changed stations on the radio/changed CD/ changed music on my IPOD 54% Had a drink 47% Eaten a snack 47% Made calls on a non hands-free mobile phone 16% Sent text messages on a mobile phone 16% Slowed down to watch accidents 21% Been romantic 8% Applied aftershave/perfume/lipstick/make-up 7% Fall asleep/ doze 4% Used apps on my smartphone/tablet computer 3% Updated my profile/been on facebook via my mobile phone/smart phone 3% Tweeted via my mobile phone/smart phone 1% Other 1% None of these 22%
Top distractions that have happened to motorists when driving
Percentage of Driving Distraction motorists Been distracted by what is happening on the street 38% Been distracted by others in the car e.g. children, friends 35% Taken a phone call 28% Been distracted by animals 25% Been distracted by good looking people 20% Been distracted by SatNav 18% Been distracted by nice cars 13% Been distracted by advertising 12% Other 1% None of these 28%
Two per cent of those surveyed said they have been convicted or fined for doing one of the above whilst driving.
 MoneySupermarket Monitor on car insurance:
14,202,078 million quotes run on the MoneySupermarket car insurance site between 1st October 2011 - 30th September 2012.
Full driving distractions data can be found here:
 Average saving of £394 with MoneySupermarket.com when shopping for car insurance. Based on online independent research by Consumer Intelligence during Nov 1st - Nov 30th 2012.
* Code CU80 is for the; 'Breach of requirements as to control of the vehicle, mobile telephone etc', may receive three penalty points: https://www.gov.uk/penalty-points-endorsements/endorsement-codes-and-penalty-points
MoneySupermarket.com compares (at 29th Nov 2012)
- 130 car insurance brands and 99 home insurance brands
- 9 broadband providers and 20 energy providers
- 30 unsecured loan and 5 secured loan providers
- 62 mortgage lenders and 27 credit card providers
- 63 savings providers and 38 current account providers.
- Over 920,000 mobile phone deals
We help our customers to save money on all of their household bills by providing a free, easy to use online service so they can compare a wide range of products in one place and find the product most suited to their needs. Our size means we are able to offer our customers exclusive, market-leading deals, including some they can't even get direct from providers.
By having considerable volumes of informed customers actively looking for products and ready to purchase, we offer our providers an efficient and cost effective customer acquisition solution across all of our channels. This enables our providers to target their marketing spend in an effective and completely measurable way.
Our revenue comes predominantly from fees paid to us by product providers when a customer clicks through to their website and actually applies for or purchases a product. It is a success based marketing fee.
Our customer commitment
- We make it easy to find the brands you expect to see
- We strive to ensure a product cannot be found cheaper by going direct
- We let you remain in control of your personal data
- We are independent and impartial
- We make it easy to switch and save
- We strive to always show the most competitive product available
For further information, please contact:
"BSQUARE is in the business of selling software solutions for smart connected devices. It's obvious that IoT has moved from being a technology to being a fundamental part of business, and in the last 18 months people have said let's figure out how to do it and let's put some focus on it, " explained Dave Wagstaff, VP & Chief Architect, at BSQUARE Corporation, in this SYS-CON.tv interview at @ThingsExpo, held Nov 4-6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA.
Nov. 21, 2014 03:15 PM EST Reads: 592
Technology is enabling a new approach to collecting and using data. This approach, commonly referred to as the "Internet of Things" (IoT), enables businesses to use real-time data from all sorts of things including machines, devices and sensors to make better decisions, improve customer service, and lower the risk in the creation of new revenue opportunities. In his General Session at Internet of @ThingsExpo, Dave Wagstaff, Vice President and Chief Architect at BSQUARE Corporation, discuss the real benefits to focus on, how to understand the requirements of a successful solution, the flow of ...
Nov. 21, 2014 03:00 PM EST Reads: 645
The major cloud platforms defy a simple, side-by-side analysis. Each of the major IaaS public-cloud platforms offers their own unique strengths and functionality. Options for on-site private cloud are diverse as well, and must be designed and deployed while taking existing legacy architecture and infrastructure into account. Then the reality is that most enterprises are embarking on a hybrid cloud strategy and programs. In this Power Panel at 15th Cloud Expo (http://www.CloudComputingExpo.com), moderated by Ashar Baig, Research Director, Cloud, at Gigaom Research, Nate Gordon, Director of T...
Nov. 21, 2014 03:00 PM EST Reads: 847
ARMONK, N.Y., Nov. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that it is bringing a greater level of control, security and flexibility to cloud-based application development and delivery with a single-tenant version of Bluemix, IBM's platform-as-a-service. The new platform enables developers to build ap...
Nov. 20, 2014 11:00 PM EST Reads: 1,133
Focused on this fast-growing market’s needs, Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation (Nasdaq: VTSS), a leading provider of IC solutions to advance "Ethernet Everywhere" in Carrier, Enterprise and Internet of Things (IoT) networks, introduced its IStaX™ software (VSC6815SDK), a robust protocol stack to simplify deployment and management of Industrial-IoT network applications such as Industrial Ethernet switching, surveillance, video distribution, LCD signage, intelligent sensors, and metering equipment. Leveraging technologies proven in the Carrier and Enterprise markets, IStaX is designed to work ac...
Nov. 20, 2014 09:15 PM EST Reads: 1,185
"There is a natural synchronization between the business models, the IoT is there to support ,” explained Brendan O'Brien, Co-founder and Chief Architect of Aria Systems, in this SYS-CON.tv interview at the 15th International Cloud Expo®, held Nov 4–6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA.
Nov. 20, 2014 07:30 PM EST Reads: 1,330
C-Labs LLC, a leading provider of remote and mobile access for the Internet of Things (IoT), announced the appointment of John Traynor to the position of chief operating officer. Previously a strategic advisor to the firm, Mr. Traynor will now oversee sales, marketing, finance, and operations. Mr. Traynor is based out of the C-Labs office in Redmond, Washington. He reports to Chris Muench, Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Traynor brings valuable business leadership and technology industry expertise to C-Labs. With over 30 years' experience in the high-tech sector, John Traynor has held numerous...
Nov. 20, 2014 06:00 PM EST Reads: 1,151
Bit6 today issued a challenge to the technology community implementing Web Real Time Communication (WebRTC). To leap beyond WebRTC’s significant limitations and fully leverage its underlying value to accelerate innovation, application developers need to consider the entire communications ecosystem.
Nov. 20, 2014 04:45 PM EST Reads: 858
The 3rd International @ThingsExpo, co-located with the 16th International Cloud Expo - to be held June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY - announces that it is now accepting Keynote Proposals. The Internet of Things (IoT) is the most profound change in personal and enterprise IT since the creation of the Worldwide Web more than 20 years ago. All major researchers estimate there will be tens of billions devices - computers, smartphones, tablets, and sensors - connected to the Internet by 2020. This number will continue to grow at a rapid pace for the next several decades.
Nov. 20, 2014 01:00 PM EST Reads: 1,386
The Internet of Things is not new. Historically, smart businesses have used its basic concept of leveraging data to drive better decision making and have capitalized on those insights to realize additional revenue opportunities. So, what has changed to make the Internet of Things one of the hottest topics in tech? In his session at @ThingsExpo, Chris Gray, Director, Embedded and Internet of Things, discussed the underlying factors that are driving the economics of intelligent systems. Discover how hardware commoditization, the ubiquitous nature of connectivity, and the emergence of Big Data a...
Nov. 20, 2014 12:30 PM EST Reads: 1,655
Almost everyone sees the potential of Internet of Things but how can businesses truly unlock that potential. The key will be in the ability to discover business insight in the midst of an ocean of Big Data generated from billions of embedded devices via Systems of Discover. Businesses will also need to ensure that they can sustain that insight by leveraging the cloud for global reach, scale and elasticity.
Nov. 18, 2014 09:00 PM EST Reads: 1,934
SYS-CON Events announced today that Windstream, a leading provider of advanced network and cloud communications, has been named “Silver Sponsor” of SYS-CON's 16th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on June 9–11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York, NY. Windstream (Nasdaq: WIN), a FORTUNE 500 and S&P 500 company, is a leading provider of advanced network communications, including cloud computing and managed services, to businesses nationwide. The company also offers broadband, phone and digital TV services to consumers primarily in rural areas.
Nov. 18, 2014 08:15 PM EST Reads: 1,461
SYS-CON Events announced today that IDenticard will exhibit at SYS-CON's 16th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. IDenticard™ is the security division of Brady Corp (NYSE: BRC), a $1.5 billion manufacturer of identification products. We have small-company values with the strength and stability of a major corporation. IDenticard offers local sales, support and service to our customers across the United States and Canada. Our partner network encompasses some 300 of the world's leading systems integrators and security s...
Nov. 18, 2014 08:15 PM EST Reads: 1,387
IoT is still a vague buzzword for many people. In his session at @ThingsExpo, Mike Kavis, Vice President & Principal Cloud Architect at Cloud Technology Partners, discussed the business value of IoT that goes far beyond the general public's perception that IoT is all about wearables and home consumer services. He also discussed how IoT is perceived by investors and how venture capitalist access this space. Other topics discussed were barriers to success, what is new, what is old, and what the future may hold. Mike Kavis is Vice President & Principal Cloud Architect at Cloud Technology Pa...
Nov. 18, 2014 01:30 PM EST Reads: 1,947
Cloud Expo 2014 TV commercials will feature @ThingsExpo, which was launched in June, 2014 at New York City's Javits Center as the largest 'Internet of Things' event in the world. The next @ThingsExpo will take place November 4-6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center, in Santa Clara, California. Since its launch in 2008, Cloud Expo TV commercials have been aired and CNBC, Fox News Network, and Bloomberg TV. Please enjoy our 2014 commercial.
Nov. 13, 2014 05:00 AM EST Reads: 3,502
From a software development perspective IoT is about programming "things," about connecting them with each other or integrating them with existing applications. In his session at @ThingsExpo, Yakov Fain, co-founder of Farata Systems and SuranceBay, will show you how small IoT-enabled devices from multiple manufacturers can be integrated into the workflow of an enterprise application. This is a practical demo of building a framework and components in HTML/Java/Mobile technologies to serve as a platform that can integrate new devices as they become available on the market.
Nov. 10, 2014 12:30 PM EST Reads: 2,611
The 3rd International Internet of @ThingsExpo, co-located with the 16th International Cloud Expo - to be held June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY - announces that its Call for Papers is now open. The Internet of Things (IoT) is the biggest idea since the creation of the Worldwide Web more than 20 years ago.
Nov. 10, 2014 12:00 PM EST Reads: 5,908
Located in booth #314, the Bsquare team will present DataV demos and discuss how DataV will help customers put their data to work to improve business outcomes. DataV is unlocking new initiatives across a wide landscape of customers in industries such as industrial manufacturing, transportation, retail and mobile. The solution is designed to complement a new project start or help to enrich an existing machine investment.
Nov. 6, 2014 03:15 PM EST Reads: 2,335
The Physical Web incorporates beacons that can be put in any small retail store, for example, so that every store now has "an app" for its customers. In this Birds-of-a-Feather session at Internet of @ThingsExpo, Scott Jenson, Product Designer at Google, will discuss the Physical Web and how it is an open standard so any device can broadcast a URL wirelessly, so any phone/tablet/watch nearby can see, and rank those devices. When the user taps on one, they just go to that web page. It's really that simple. It's about thinking small, enabling micro-information (what is in my prescription bottle...
Nov. 3, 2014 05:00 PM EST Reads: 2,518
BSQUARE is a global leader of embedded software solutions. We enable smart connected systems at the device level and beyond that millions use every day and provide actionable data solutions for the growing Internet of Things (IoT) market. We empower our world-class customers with our products, services and solutions to achieve innovation and success. For more information, visit www.bsquare.com.
Nov. 3, 2014 03:00 PM EST Reads: 3,506

domain: news


text:
Florence Pugh addresses the controversy surrounding her sheer looks
“I think the scariest thing for me are the instances where people have been upset that I’ve shown ‘too much’ of myself.”
By Ella Sangster
WHEN FLORENCE PUGH stepped out in that sheer, hot pink Valentino dress last July, she knew it was going to be a thing. “I was comfortable with my small breasts,” she said in her Harper’s BAZAAR September 2022 cover story. “And showing them like that — it aggravated [people] that I was comfortable.”
Almost a year on and it seems the dress started something of a sartorial shift for Pugh. Since then, she’s developed a close relationship with Valentino’s Creative Director Pierpaolo Piccioli, and was recently announced as the new face of the Maison. The star has worn many Valentino looks in that time — many of them also sheer.
“I speak the way I do about my body because I’m not trying to hide the cellulite on my thigh or the squidge in between my arm and my boob: I would much rather lay it all out,” she said. “I think the scariest thing for me are the instances where people have been upset that I’ve shown ‘too much’ of myself.”
Recalling that pink gown, she added: “When everything went down with the Valentino pink dress a year ago, my nipples were on display through a piece of fabric, and it really wound people up. It’s the freedom that people are scared of; the fact I’m comfortable and happy,” she said. “Keeping women down by commenting on their bodies has worked for a very long time. I think we’re in this swing now where lots of people are saying, ‘I don’t give a shit.’”
The Oppenheimer star continued, “Unfortunately, we’ve become so terrified of the human body that we can’t even look at my two little cute nipples behind fabric in a way that isn’t sexual. We need to keep reminding everybody that there is more than one reason for women’s bodies [to exist].”
In honour of Pugh’s unapologetic style (as well as all of the resplendent gowns), ahead, we round up some of the star’s most memorable looks.
Our favourite Valentino looks Florence Pugh has ever worn
At the Met Gala.
At the re-opening of Tiffany & Co.’s Landmark store in NYC.
In Valentino pre-fall at the New York City premiere of A Good Person.
In an embellished set during Paris Fashion Week.
Wearing a coral gown at Cannes Film Festival.
At the premiere of Don’t Worry Darling at the Venice Film Festival.
In a ‘naked skirt’ at Valentino’s fall/winter 2023 runway show.
The dress that started it all; In a barbiecore number at the Maison’s couture show in Rome.


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An old classic PC game is about to revive thanks to cryptocurrency.
RF Online, a 3D MMORPG game released in 2004 in South Korea and developed by CCR, adds play to earn cryptocurrency through a new server.
CCR will call it Battle Coin Server, a global server collaborating with companies from 34 different countries and scheduled to launch in Q2 22.
The Battle Coin Server
“Season Race.” Players will contest in competitions to succeed in missions and rankings receiving battle coins.
Level-Up, Enchant, and Mine Races are just a few to mention.
According to the Battle Coins each player earns, he will participate in airdrops rewarding him with BTC and ETH at the end of the season. Netmarble is also working on a mobile version of RF Online.


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A new app dubbed BeepTool allows users to video conference, HD calls, text and share files on any devices and aims to be Whatsapp of the emerging markets.
Anytime, anywhere in the world via WiFi or 3G/4G/LTE — without draining minutes from service providers, BeepTool is compatible on iOS, Android, Mac, PC and HTML5 and gives users access to free calls and text messages to anyone.
According to John Enoh founder and CEO of BeepTool, Africa has a communication problem even if two-thirds of sub-Saharan adults have mobile phones.
He says either the voice and SMS rates are simply too high for many of them to get the most of their devices aaprt from 2go and Whatsapp, but their usefulness ends where the WiFi signal cuts out. WiFi in Africa is still unavailable to millions.
“Our argument is that if people could stay on WiFi 20 percent to 80 percent of there time or have already paid for data on there GSM provider, why should they also pay high rates for voice calls?” asks Enoh. “BeepTool, with its growing user base of more than 10,000, is making a bold bet that it can offer the classic VoIP capabilities — plus extremely affordable rates to call from BeepTool to mobile phones and landlines around the world. The rate to call a mobile phone in the UK from Africa, for example, is less than US$0.01.”
Enoh who grew up in rural Nigeria where people still rely on their farming incomes to make ends meet sees BeepTool as the best way for businesses to connect domestically and to others in the diaspora.
But just two months after launch, BeepTool aims to sign up 400,000 users in three years so that it may break even. Enoch says the service is free as its foremost goal is to make communication affordable and accessible to low earners who are the bulk of African population.
“Connect & route calls free to any mobile or Landline in Africa via BeepTool. Beeptool let you calls and text with anyone, anywhere for free. Currently, phone carriers charge lots of money to make calls and send texts. It doesn’t have to be this way. Everyday, hundreds of thousands of people use Beeptool to save money on their cellphone bill. Make free phone calls to any countries of this world,” concludes Enoh.


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The move will also help Flipkart scale up its reach across the country, especially in tier II and III towns, it said
The Big Billion Days
The shopping event will begin with sales on fashion, home furniture, appliances, toys, books, beauty, smart devices on October 10.
Conceptualised and executed by Lowe Lintas Bangalore, the campaign is a series of 8 unique films, set in 8 relatable, humorous situations
Flipkart recently received USD 2.4 billion from Japan's SoftBank, making it the third most funded private company globally
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For this week’s ICE Totally Gaming and London Affiliate Conference (LAC), we developed an article for the conference issue of iGaming Business. Our thought leadership piece on affiliate marketing in 2018 discusses how operators and affiliates can collaborate and work together to improve the channel.While you can check out our article by picking-up the latest issue of iGB at ICE and LAC, or read it online on the iGB site, we’re also publishing the whole piece here. Part one is available below, while we’ll publish part two tomorrow.
---iGaming affiliate marketing is currently facing a moment of reckoning in the core UK market amidst greater scrutiny from the country’s Gambling Commission (UKGC) and advertising regulators. Both operators and affiliates can, however, consider 2018 as a window of opportunity to streamline a powerful and ultimately indispensable acquisition channel.
After all, a mature affiliate programme can drive as much as a third of a UK brand’s acquisitions, according to Income Access data. The country also remains the heartland of affiliate marketing. A recent company survey revealed that two out of three global affiliates (64.7%) promote UK brands.
From ROI to RegulatorsA major reason for affiliate marketing’s enduring presence in operators’ acquisition arsenals has been its cost-effectiveness, as its performance-based model means that brands only pay for converted players. Its return on investment (ROI) remains far stronger than pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, for instance. The average cost-per-click (CPC) for ‘online gambling’-related UK AdWords keywords is £25.45, second only in expensiveness to ‘casino’, with CPC averaging £58.57, according to WordStream.
The channel also provides better ROI than media buys with high-traffic websites. Even if programmatic contextual targeting is improving click-through rates (CTRs) – Google/Ad Age report a 44.3% increase in CTRs from programmatic – operators are still paying for ad impressions rather than conversions.
Affiliates are also increasingly fronting the risk of media buying. “In the last five to seven years, many media buy and data-driven affiliates have come to the forefront,” says Allan Turner, Chief Marketing Officer at online casino and bingo operator BGO Group. “This really enabled the affiliate channel to drive traffic – all the way from very broad traffic sources targeting the public to very targeted high-value, gaming-specific traffic.” He adds that the channel’s flexibility remains one of its key benefits.
This very flexibility – from media buying and social media to native advertising – has unfortunately facilitated the dishonest tactics of a small minority of affiliates, leading to greater oversight from the UKGC and the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). Last September, the ASA censured four operators for an affiliate’s native advertising campaigns referencing their brands in a ‘fake news’ story involving a fictional gambler.
Even if the ‘fake news’ were true, the tactic would have fallen foul of the ASA’s all-important July 2017 update on iGaming affiliate marketing, which specified that “ads must be obviously identifiable as such”. The update emphasized operators' fundamental role in ensuring affiliate compliance: “When it comes to non-broadcast affiliate marketing, primary responsibility for observing the CAP [Committee of Advertising Practice] Code remains with the Gambling operator.”
Against this backdrop, operators have adopted various approaches to ensure compliance. Last September, Sky Bet closed its affiliate programme, citing “changing regulatory requirements”, while the same month Paddy Power-Betfair introduced a one-strike policy for affiliate compliance.
---Tomorrow, you can read part two of our iGB article. We look at the specifics of streamlining an affiliate programme and operator-affiliate collaboration.


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NEW DELHI: Bharti Airtel
on Friday announced the closure of its agreement with Reliance Jio Infocomm
to transfer the 'Right to Use' of Airtel's 800 MHz spectrum in three circles to Jio.
Airtel said it has received Rs 1,004.8 crore (net of tax) from Jio for the proposed transfer.
Besides this, Jio will assume future liabilities of Rs 469.3 crore relating to the spectrum, the statement added.
Bharti Airtel's deal with Reliance Jio Infocomm involves the transfer of the `Right to Use' of Airtel's 800 MHz spectrum in Andhra Pradesh (3.75 MHz), Delhi (1.25 MHz) and Mumbai (2.50 MHz) circles to Jio, the companies had said earlier this year.


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Ahead of its earnings report, Walt Disney's (DIS) quarterly story remains something of a split personality, as its studio segment boasts more hits but its media networks unit — notably ESPN — encounters obstacles.
Questions over its recent talent bloodletting at the sports cable network will now likely add to by-now-routine scrutiny over its subscriber figures when the media conglomerate reports after the close Tuesday.
For Disney's fiscal second quarter, Street analysts are looking for profit and revenue growth of 4% to $1.41 a share and $13.45 billion, respectively.
Late last month, ESPN laid off about 100 of its on-air talent, as network chief John Skipper said that the network navigates "changes in technology and fan behavior." Subscriber loss concerns continue to dog the network.
A shift in viewership habits and the proliferation of online platforms have, over the years, hit media companies where it hurts: paid subscriptions and advertising revenue.
Last week, HBO and Warner Bros. parent Time Warner (TWX) reported a decline in advertising revenue at its Turner network, while Viacom (VIAB) shares dove, despite a beat, amid concerns that its flagships channels were losing ground in distribution.
Notably, "three of four biggest weekly sell-offs in media in the last decade have happened in the last three years, which shows the degree of uncertainty that has crept into the sector," wrote Barclays media analyst Kannan Venkateshwar.
Additionally: Hulu, of which Disney is a joint owner, launched on Wednesday a live-TV beta service that promises around 50 channels for $39.99 a month, adding to the fray of over-the-top "skinny" bundle providers that includes Dish Network's (DISH) Sling TV and Sony's (SNE) PlayStation Vue.
Disney shares fell 0.5% to 111.42 on Monday, still below a 112.09 buy point after undercutting that level last week. Viacom slipped 1.1% after diving 13.5% last week. Fox dropped 2.5% Monday, on top of its 4.6% weekly loss.
IBD's TAKE: It's not all doom and gloom for media companies in the subscriber wars. There's one — perhaps surprising — media company that is still adding accounts while others bleed subscriptions.
Disney's media networks unit makes up the bulk of total revenue — over 42% in the December-ended quarter — which is why ESPN alone receives so much attention. And the strength of the legacy sports news brand may not carry as much weight in the future.
"In every evolution of OTT, the number of clicks needs to get to a program guide or a network viewing option is actually increasing," said Venkateshwar in his broad note on U.S. media. "Given the importance of consumer inertia in usage patterns, this is not a trivial shift."
The interface of streaming platforms also means that coverage is divvied up by content and not by network, he added.
"Instead, the default interface is organized by sport and/or teams... . As a result, it is tough to see the brands of individual networks retaining any value in the coming years," wrote Venkateshwar.
But Disney still has some tricks up its sleeve.
ESPN and BAMTech are slated to launch a direct-to-consumer sports streaming service "probably" this calendar year, said CEO Bob Iger in the company's most recent earnings call, though it is designed to be a supplement — and not a replacement — to the main ESPN network. Disney has a one-third stake in streaming technology firm BAMTech.
And massive hits for Disney's studio segment as well as optimistic projections for its movie pipeline, which is packed with "Star Wars," Marvel and Pixar films, have some analysts staying bullish.
"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" has so far earned over $427.6 million globally, debuting domestically this past weekend with a $145 million haul, according to Box Office Mojo. And Disney's March release of "Beauty and the Beast" remains the U.S. box office leader in 2017 with $487.6 million domestically, for a total of $1.19 billion worldwide.
"We continue to be buyers of Disney as we believe the robust film slate will continue to broaden the company's moat and drive significant value across key segments," wrote Piper Jaffray analyst Stan Meyers on Sunday. He has an overweight rating on the stock.


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High-living former District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency boss Harry Sewell is back. After getting the boot last November following LL’s stories about how he used his agency credit card at a luxury shoe store and Miami nightclubs, Sewell filed a lawsuit Friday against his old agency for firing him over more than 600 charges.
In his breach of contract lawsuit, filed Friday, Sewell concedes that he used his agency credit card for personal purchases. But Sewell says that didn’t violate his employment rules, claiming that he reimbursed the agency for personal expenses and stopped using government cards entirely after he issued a new credit card policy in October 2013.
Sewell claims that his November ouster both cost him six months of severance pay and embarrassed him. Sewell’s attorneys didn’t respond to a request for comment, while a DCHFA spokeswoman declined to comment to LL, saying that the agency hasn’t been served with the complaint yet.
Credit card photo by Shutterstock


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Home Tags Cats
Are you a dog person or a cat person? If your answer is both, it might be a good idea to look into what types of dogs play nice with other cats. We talked to experts and owners, here are the most cat-friendly dog breeds.
Thanks to a new update, your feline friends can enjoy now enjoy Snapchat lenses too.
An increasing number of pet cafes are being called out for animal abuse – here’s what to do if you spot one
Singaporean pet cafe owners have reportedly abused animals as well.
The world’s largest pet food manufacturer is backing a controversial startup pursuing lab-grown mouse meat
An animal-free pet food startup called Wild Earth recently scored $450,000 from Peter Thiel. The company's current products are made with koji, a type of fungus, but Wild Earth has plans to make pet food from cultured mouse meat. Other startups aren't pleased.
A parasite found in cat poop has been linked to a higher likelihood of entrepreneurial behavior in people who get infected
People who test positive for Toxoplasma gondii are more likely to start their own business than uninfected people, a team of researchers found. Humans can become infected with Toxoplasma gondii if they consume contaminated water or ingest something that came into contact with cat feces.
Americans spend an average of $126 every month on their pets. From cats and dogs to fish and reptiles, here's how much pet owners spend every month to take care of their animal.
Disneyland is home to a squad of feral cats who have free rein in the park — and you can adopt one if you work there
Disneyland has a large population of feral cats who help to control pests in the park.
Artist Nickolay Lamm consulted hypothosizes how cats view the world compared to humans. They can see better in the dark but are nearsighted.
Welcome to the future.


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Tokyo, November 28, 2013, Ricoh is launching a project to develop a series of new online pieces in collaboration with "frontline creators," people who map out the future in the form of fiction, manga, and video games. Based on the concept of freely imagining the year 2036, we explore different scenarios and ways in which people will work and communicate with one another in the future. Ricoh researchers follow up by talking again to the creators about the futures they have mapped out, to help expand their visions further.
In the first story, a science fiction author Hideaki Sena, known for his novel "Parasite Eve" takes his turn in imagining the year 2036. He is due to be followed by a well known manga artist and then a popular game creator. Throughout this three-part series, young and energetic illustrator Zain visualizes images of the future conjured up by each of the creators. Her sophisticated illustrations will bring the creators' visions to life, and will be featured as content on the website, alongside the conversations with researchers.
Ricoh is constantly proposing work styles that offer people new value, at the interface of people and information. That has been part of Ricoh's DNA since the 1950s, when the company pioneered "Office Automation." Meanwhile we have all been enthralled by images of the near future since we were children, as fiction, manga and video games have continued to fire our imaginations. Bringing together researchers, whose job is to conceptualize new products and services with an eye to the future, in collaboration with creators, who map out the future with their imagination, will help to generate even more creative ideas and act as a driving force for change.
The corporate tagline "imagine. change." embodies Ricoh's goal of leveraging the collective imaginations of its people to drive change and deliver new value to customers.
Ricoh is a global technology company specializing in office imaging equipment, production print solutions, document management systems and IT services. Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh Group operates in about 200 countries and regions. In the financial year ending March 2013, Ricoh Group had worldwide sales of 1,924 billion yen (approx. 20 billion USD).
The majority of the company's revenue comes from products, solutions and services that improve the interaction between people and information. Ricoh also produces award-winning digital cameras and specialized industrial products. It is known for the quality of its technology, the exceptional standard of its customer service and sustainability initiatives.
Under its corporate tagline, imagine. change. Ricoh helps companies transform the way they work and harness the collective imagination of their employees.
For further information, please visit www.ricoh.com/about/
Information in the news releases is true and accurate at the time of publication.
Manufacture, sales, price and specifications of products may be subject to change.


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MSE students say they have something “in store” for online giant
It’s difficult to disparage the convenience of online shopping. A couple of button pushes on your computer or mobile device, and the product you desire is on your doorstep in a few days.
But what if you really don’t want to wait a few days? What if you could get that specific or hard-to-find product right now, and all it would take is a short drive?
Nick Bevelock, Gordian Braun and Stelios Kapantais—students in the Thomas S. Johnson Master of Science in Entrepreneurship (MSE) Program—may have found the solution. They, along with 15 other hopefuls, will present their entrepreneurial concepts during the semifinals of the 2015 UF Big Idea Competition today and Friday at Heavener Hall.
The team’s concept is Lokire, an online marketplace where brick-and-mortar stores can compete with the likes of Amazon.
Lokire works like this: Local stores post their inventories online at Lokire, which updates each store’s offerings in real time. Through Lokire’s customer interface, shoppers can search for a specific product and be provided matches to those products from stores in a close proximity. Then, shoppers can choose the closest store and reserve or purchase those products.
Lokire provides something that Amazon, despite its enormous success and popularity, can’t: Instant gratification.
“In a best-case scenario where you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get your product in two days,” Bevelock said. “With Lokire, you can get it within an hour.”
Bevelock said Lokire is the type of innovation that would “bring efficiency to local shopping and bring it into the 21st Century.” He said the team’s research uncovered that 1 in 4 customers avoid brick-and-mortar stores because of a “limited awareness of nearby stores or the risk of items not being available.” Lokire solves both of those issues.
Plus, those brick-and-mortar stores receive an obvious and huge benefit from having more foot traffic in their establishments. Those shoppers are more likely to make supplemental purchases. Additionally, if they have a good experience, they’re likely to return.
Lokire’s roots began as a class project Braun devised. As the team continued to work on the project, they realized Lokire had potential as an actual business.
“When we were writing our business plan, one of the sections was a market analysis,” Bevelock said. “That’s what solidified it for us. We thought there was a real opportunity here, and we should pursue it.”
That market analysis showed that while online purchases have become increasingly popular, the most common method is ROPO (Research Online, Purchase Offline). According to a 2014 report from retail firm Interactions, 88 percent of consumers review products online before ultimately purchasing them in stores. Lokire is hoping to leverage that trend.
“There is no dedicated place on the Web where they can go and find this information,” Bevelock said. “If they do, it’s a quick Google search and not very accurate. They don’t know if it the product is there or the size they have it in. Our concept would solve all these different variables.”
The team’s makeup is a unique blend. Braun, a native of Mannheim, Germany, has international experience as an attorney, banker and entrepreneur; Kapantais, of Athens, Greece, is a seasoned businessman with experience in marketing and managing apparel shops; and Bevelock, has a BS in Microbiology from UF, where his focus was creating and researching mutant bacteria for the production of biofuels.
Kapantais said he is confident in the team’s chances this weekend.
“We believe we can do it,” Kapantais said. “I think we have one of the best business plans in the event. Also, just the feedback we’ll get from the judges and entrepreneurs will be valuable.”
Winning the competition would not only be a major confidence boost for the team, but the first place prize of $25,000 would be a significant addition to their fundraising initiative. Braun said the team is seeking investments totaling $1.5 million for the company’s first two years of operations.
“This competition is very important to us,” Braun said.
ABOUT THE UF BIG IDEA COMPETITION
Today: Sixteen semifinalists, divided into four groups, will take part in oral presentations and question-and-answer sessions with judges in Heavener Hall. The four group winners advance to Friday’s final round at Emerson Alumni Hall.
Friday: The remaining four teams make their final presentations, and the winners will be announced at a banquet later that evening at Emerson Alumni Hall.
First place is awarded $25,000, second place receives $10,000 and third place receives $5,000.


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Inversoft has been named a winner of Owler’s 2016 HOT in Denver Award!
Each year, Owler recognizes the top trending companies in cities around the world. They filtered through over 15 million companies to find the most award-worthy businesses across 600 cities worldwide. Recipients are chosen based on several different metrics, including number of followers on Owler, insights collected from the community, social media followers, and blog posts over the past year.
“We’ve sorted through our database of millions of contributions from our community and landed on the top trending companies from around the world,” said Jim Fowler, CEO at Owler. “Being Hot In 2016 is an accomplishment to be proud of.”
Our team is exceedingly proud to be named Hot in Denver and represent our strong Denver tech community.
The YouTube comments section is a dark place where mindless, offensive words masked with anonymity are the norm; the infamous comments are some of the filthiest found online. YouTube has introduced new comment moderation tools to combat this very issue and tame the trolls.
YouTube rolls out new tools for better comment moderation
YouTube video creators can now pin comments, choose moderators and define blacklisted words or phrases. Additionally, a new beta feature is available to automatically identify potentially offensive/abusive comments and hold them for review before they are visible to the public.
A healthy and engaged online community is critical to a company’s success. This is a hot topic amongst CMGRs and top industry influentials and while most people can agree on the importance of a branded online community not all agree on the path to achieving this safe environment.
If you have an active online community, you already know that not every user is a good user. Trolls, bullies and URL spam inherently present problems and there will be consequences if you simply ignore the issue.
Support forums are now a requirement for almost any business that has customers. Most support forums are hard to use, unorganized and look terrible. To illustrate some of these issues, I'm going to pick on the Logitech forums, which are powered by Lithium (http://forums.logitech.com).
One of the first things customers do when looking for support in your forums is to search. If your search isn't awesome or has any odd bugs, it will probably drive your customers crazy and they might give up and return the product instead of trying to fix it.
Here's the Logitech search bar:
Online communities and the types of interactions they foster are why the branded online community has become a critical marketing channel for many. According to Wikipedia, an online community is an online social network of individuals who interact with one another to pursue common interests. Among companies that have online communities, the reported benefits include improved customer support quality, a better understanding of customer and prospect needs, higher user engagement, a more loyal customer base, and better cross promotion effectiveness. Research from Forrester indicates 60% of those surveyed have a branded online community and 15% were planning to add one in the following 12 months (1). Why has a branded online community become such a strategic aspect of marketing? We asked clients, partners and industry leaders what are the primary drivers for their companies. Here we share the top five reasons why a branded online community is so important.


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Grizzlies fans were rightfully hopeful when news got out that long-time team owner Michael Heisley planned to sell the team to a young billionaire out of the Silicon Valley, Robert Pera. Not that they really knew anything about Pera — he is 34 and filthy rich selling high tech electronic equipment to the developing world, mostly — but he had to be better than Heisley. Right?
We may never find out. The sale of the Grizzlies to Pera seems to have some challenges. To put it kindly.
As the NBA goes through its background checks on Pera, his company, Ubiquiti Networks Inc., is seeing a lot of controversies. And that could stall or kill the sale, suggests the San Jose Business Journal (via Ball Don’t Lie and Eye on Basketball).
The NBA is going through an extensive vetting process that will look into everything from Pera’s business associates, to his family, to his financial situation. That will include Ubiquiti’s recent controversies, such as an acknowledgement that the company’s products were illegally sold into Iran….
NBA officials will “look into (the Iran issue), they’ll question it,” said SportsCorp. President Marc Ganis, who advises on team deals. “They don’t want a front-page New York Times story six months from now about how an ‘NBA owner sold products to terrorist organizations,’ by way of example. They’re going to want to understand what (the Iran case is) before they sign off on it.”
Pera has a 63 percent stake in Ubiquiti, according to regulatory filings. That stock was worth $2 billion as of May but has dropped to $800 million.
I would love to be worth only $800 million.
But for buying an NBA team, that is on the low end. Especially when the sale price is a reported $350 million.
Pera has said he is looking for some local investors to be part of the franchise, so he wouldn’t have to come up with all the cash himself. And he still has the money to buy the team. But all this stuff is enough to get the rather conservative (financially) NBA to pause.


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Shake Shack soars on Q4 recovery. But will omicron erase those gains?
The latest COVID surge has meant reduced sales for the fast casual in recent weeks as it is forced to temporarily close restaurants and limit store hours.
Big Burger King franchisee Carrols says omicron hurt its sales
The company’s results were improving in the fourth quarter but worsened in the last two weeks of December.


text: XFX recently released a new marketing video that is worth a quick look. The company made a spoof of the Power Rangers and came up with what they are calling the X-Rangers. The X-Rangers had to defend all the Radeon HD 7970 graphics cards from Ntellector and Envicious before they destroy them, along with the rest of the city! You’ll either love or hate the video, so be sure to check it out and let us know! Go XFACTOR, XPERIENCE, XCELERATE, XFORMANCE, XPERTISE! Stereo 3D Attack was the best.


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Home veterinary care company reports 147% growth, expands to Nashville
Readivet is backed by local venture capital firm, Martin Ventures
Many pandemic winners saw their sales go to the dogs. Not all consumers who purchased a Peloton are still paying their $44-a-month fee, if they are keeping the bike at all. Others are canceling one or two of the streaming services they signed up for when they were living room-bound.
Unlike an exercise bike, the pandemic-driven decision to buy a puppy or a kitten yields far stickier spending behavior. People have and will continue to pay a premium for their pets.
As a result, covid-era petcare companies like ReadiVet — a concierge veterinary care startup — are fetching impressive returns and expanding rapidly. Over the course of the last 12 months the Dallas-based venture experienced 147% growth in revenue, doubled the the size of its 20 person team and expanded to two new markets — Atlanta and as of last month Nashville.
The company’s decision to add a Nashville presence was an obvious one, according to ReadiVet CEO and co-founder Landon Lawson, who cites the city’s explosive growth and ties to local investors as determinants. Martin Ventures — an esteemed Nashville healthcare venture firm — was an early ally of the startup, investing in its 2019 pre seed and 2022 Series A investment rounds.
“Martin Ventures has a history in investing in improving the patient and provider experience in human healthcare,” says Jordan Lipson, a principal at Martin Ventures. “It was only natural that we expand these efforts to include man’s best friend.”
ReadiVet is solving two of the $62 billion pet healthcare industry’s most pressing problems — supply and demand. According to research from ASPCA, the demand for pet healthcare services is expected to grow by 33% between 2019 and 2029, while the number of new vets entering the field is expected to fall 16%.
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The demand for at-home veterinary care
The demand for veterinary care skyrocketed during the pandemic, as a wave of people adopted pets for the first time while working from home.
Others, spending more time with the dog or cat curled up next to them on the couch noticed issues they wouldn’t have normally caught, explains veterinarian Brandon Meyers.
“All of it together, created a perfect storm,” says Lawson, who also noted that covid-restrictions closed down clinics, limiting many visits to curbside care.
Readivet set up shop in Dallas County, Texas in 2019. A year later, the startup added a second service area in nearby Collin County, to meet the inflating demand. Knowing fully well that the demand wasn’t isolated to Texas, Readivet set its sights on another southern metropolis — Atlanta. The startup began offering services in the Peachtree city last July.
Demand was just one part of the company’s impressive ascend. Like human healthcare, the pet care industry is plagued with problems, namely the quality of care and accessibility to treatment.
Lawson says Readivet is committed to providing pets and their parents with more personalized and convenient care. This is achieved by examining pets in the environment they are most comfortable in(their home), reducing exposure to other illnesses — like kennel cough — and relieving the headache and hassle of loading large (like Great Danes) or fractious (like cats) animals into the car.
Owners with busy schedules who struggle to break free from their desk, can book “owner-absent visits”, once a veterinary-client-pet-relationship is established.
“Provide us with access to a door code or physical key, and we can see your pet where they are most comfortable while you (the client) join the visit via video chat,” explains Lawson.
Routine wellness visits, sick visits, vaccinations, euthanasia and POC labs can all be done within the home. A standard at-home examine is $149 — a travel fee of $60 and exam fee of $89 per pet.
X-rays, surgeries, procedures and in-house labs are performed at ReadiVet’s physical clinics. The Nashville location is located on West End Avenue. All in-clinic treatments are administered by the same vet who cares for the pet in the home.
ReadiVet’s strategy is working. 90% of its patients book again within 6 months of their first visit and 96% book again within 18 months. Since launching in 2019, ReadiVet’s 10 vets have served more than 7,500 owners and cared for over 12,000 furry friends in Dallas, Atlanta and Nashville.
But the company’s growth hasn't been a walk in the park, says Lawson, who says the biggest hurdle for the company is hiring.
There’s only about 30,000 vets in the U.S., which pales in comparison with the 11 million pets that were added in 2020. One of the factors fueling the shortage is the lack of work-life balance those in the profession have historically dealt with.
The startup has been more successful than traditional clinics in attracting veterinarians thanks to its no nights, no weekends, no crowded clinics model. ReadiVet practitioners work 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and make a maximum of 7 house calls a day, a stark difference from the 12-hour, unmanageably busy clinic life.
The company has plans to ramp up hiring in 2023 and add 5 — 1 in Dallas, 2 in Atlanta and 1 in Nashville — to its 10-vet roster.
In the meantime, Lawson hopes ReadiVet can continue to give pets, their parents and their vets a new leash on healthcare.


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Lazada Indonesia last month once again collaborated with Jakarta Fashion Week (JFW), the biggest annual fashion show in Indonesia. It was Lazada’s fourth year joining the event as JFW’s official eCommerce partner, and the collaboration reflected Lazada’s new brand proposition of “Add to Cart, Add to Life.”
Lazada Indonesia Chief Marketing Officer Intan Ayu Kartika said: “In line with the spirit of ‘Add to Cart, Add to Life,’ Lazada’s collaboration with Jakarta Fashion Week, with the theme ‘Fashion of The Next Normal,’ adds colors to consumers’ lives through fashion expressions. We believe JFW is the right platform for designers’ creative ideas to meet the needs for fashion inspiration from fashion enthusiasts, and this aligns with Lazada’s position as a trusted place to find the latest fashion trends.”
Lazada invited local brands, sellers and designers to create and showcase looks inspired by post-pandemic fashion trends that emphasize comfort. These looks were presented at two exclusive JFW shows that had ‘Fashion of The Next Normal’ as the theme. The shows successfully captured various styles, trends and stories from eight Indonesian designers: Super Sentimental Secret Theory (SSST), Shining Bright Co., Elnov, Auctus, Heaven Lights, Ederra, NUC.ID and Maima.
Consumers in Indonesia were able to watch Lazada’s JFW shows via LazLive on the Lazada app. Viewers were also able to purchase exclusive collections presented during the event with Lazada’s ‘See Now, Buy Now’ feature.
Lazada also used the event to introduce LazLook to consumers in Indonesia. This dedicated fashion channel helps shoppers find trendy and stylish clothing and accessories specially curated for fashion enthusiasts. Through this feature, designers can showcase their works and get insights from consumers, enabling them to better understand shoppers’ wants and needs.
The collaboration with JFW reflects Lazada’s belief in the role that digital technology can play in helping the fashion industry grow and adapt in the new normal.
“This collaboration shows Lazada’s support for Indonesia’s fashion industry to be able to create freely and be more widely recognized by Indonesian consumers. Lazada is committed to presenting a fashion ecosystem that continues to grow, and one way to do this is by creating a platform that connects designers with consumers,” said Kartika. “Lazada believes that digital technology is a part of fashion reformation and can help the fashion industry adapt to the changes and developments of the times.”
Highlights from this week’s roundup include a partnership with a local model network, an e-waste disposal management campaign and a series that champions women’s voices.
This week’s roundup includes highlights from Lazada’s 12.12 shopping festival.
Lazada Indonesia celebrated the end of the year with a series of immersive shopping experiences.


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Samsung has halted all product shipments to Russia, the company announced on Friday. “Shipments to Russia have been suspended due to current geopolitical developments,” reads a statement from an unnamed Samsung representative sent via Samsung’s generic PR email address. “We are actively monitoring this complex situation in order to determine our next steps.”
It’s not just smartphones — according to Bloomberg, Samsung’s suspension includes “chips to smartphones and consumer electronics,” implying that the move deprives Russia of a wide range of products from one of the world’s largest electronics vendors.
Samsung also contributes to humanitarian efforts. “Our hearts go out to everyone who has been affected, and our top priority is to ensure the safety of all our employees and their families,” the company says. “We intend to actively support humanitarian efforts throughout the region, including refugee assistance.” To that end, we’re donating $6 million, including $1 million in consumer electronics products, as well as employee donations.”
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Samsung is the latest technology company to prohibit new product sales in RusAsia. Last we heard, South Korean-based Samsung would have been able to ship technology to Russia despite some export restrictions, but the company may have decided to halt shipments on its own.
Apple, FIFA developer EA, and Cyberpunk 2077 developer CD Projekt Red have all halted sales in Russia, and Microsoft has also announced a halt to “all new sales of Microsoft products and services in Russia.”
Google has paused all ad sales in Russia, Reddit has banned sitewide links to Russian state-sponsored media, Facebook has stopped recommending Russian state media globally, and Twitter has paused ads in Russia and Ukraine. Russia, on the other hand, has retaliated by throttling Twitter and outright blocking Facebook in the country.


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Brampton house prices drop nearly 2% as supply dwindles: report
Published January 6, 2023 at 2:21 pm
Home buyers in Brampton may have seen a bit of a price cut last month as the number of home sales across the GTA took a sharp drop compared to the same time last year.
The average price of a home in Brampton dropped by 1.8 per cent in December to $981,920, according to real estate website and brokerage Zoocasa, but the number of overall sales also dipped by more than 5 per cent compared to those in November.
“With only 409 new listings entering the market in December, inventory has become even tighter for prospective buyers,” the Zoocasa reports said while noting that properties in Brampton are moving faster compared to the rest of Peel Region. Zoocasa said Brampton properties are on the market an average of 36 days compared to 40 for the region.
The report found that while Brampton saw a 1. 8 average per cent price reduction, the average price for all home types across the entire region fell by 4.8 per cent. Caledon had the biggest month-over-month reduction, dropping 13.7 per cent from November to December.
According to the Toronto Real Estate Board (TRREB), 2022 saw the GTA housing market experience affordability issues due to a lack of housing supply and sustained interest rate hikes by the Bank of Canada.
“While home sales and prices dominated the headlines in 2022, the supply of new listings continued to be an issue as well. The number of homes listed for sale in 2022 was down in comparison to 2021,” said Toronto Real Estate Board Chief Market Analyst Jason Mercer. “This helps explain why selling prices have found some support in recent months.”
That lack of supply also impacted the rental market, Mercer said, with tighter rental market conditions translating into double-digit average rent increases.
Despite slow sales last month, there were some pricey pieces of real estate sold in Brampton in December. You can check out Insauga’s list of the five most expensive Brampton homes sold last month.insauga's Editorial Standards and Policies advertising


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Experts say there continues to be demand for cruise holidays, with some of the major liners intending to set sail by August 2020. Fewer ships sailing, capacity reduced by 30-50% for social distancing, on-board testing and a new buffet experience are some of the measures to be implemented to ensure a safe voyage.
Demand for cruise holidays has been on the rise for many years; the ability to sail anywhere in the world while enjoying all the comforts, luxuries and great food that cruise ships offer makes cruising the ideal holiday.
In terms of the economic benefits for ports of call, cruise ships make a huge impact to local economies across the globe.
Gibraltar is no exception, and from the 1930s, at least, cruise ship calls have provided business for shops, restaurants, taxis tours, coach companies and filled government coffers with entry fees to the Upper Rock Nature Reserve.
2018 saw 254 cruise ships stopping at Gibraltar, carrying a total of 406,998 passengers who, in turn, brought in £16.7 million into the local economy; with an estimated spend of £41.03 per passenger.
Malaga ranks 5th in the whole of Spain for cruise ships, and in 2018 it welcomed in 506,000 passengers.
But COVID19 has presented a difficult challenge for the cruising industry, at least in the short term; with cruise ships currently continuing to sail from port to port for maintenance and bunkers, but without any passengers and a limited crew . All while making substantial losses.
Every day, two or three of these giants of the seas sail silently into the Gibraltar Port, empty; when not long ago they would each disgorge several thousand passengers into the Main Street and the Nature Reserve.
Royal Caribbean has estimated losses from $250 million to $275 million each month that their fleet are out of action.
Norwegian Cruise Liners also revealed their loss for the first quarter of 2020 amidst the COVID pandemic; a whopping $1.9 billion. This is huge compared with their loss in the first quarter of 2019 which was $118.2 million.
However, CEO of Norwegian Cruise Liners Frank Del Rio, is confident that the company is “well positioned” to cope with an extended suspension of sailing, as he revealed that there continues to be a demand for cruise vacations:
“Our guests continue to demonstrate their desire for cruise vacations, and we continue to experience demand for voyages further in the future across our three brands.”
Indeed, Royal Caribbean’s Chief Financial Officer Jason Liberty revealed to the Motley Fool that 55% of their customers have opted for the “Future Cruise Credit” (FCC) scheme, which provides credit up to 125% on their next voyage with the company, instead of requesting a refund.
He revealed that 20% of those requesting the FCC credit have already rebooked on a future cruise with similar itineraries – many have used their 125% credit to upgrade to a bigger state room.
Not only this, but the forecasted dates for cruises to resume are also a very promising sign for the industry.
Although an end-date for the suspension of cruises is not yet known, Costa and Celebrity cruises are aiming to resume operations at the end of June this year; with Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Lines aiming for the 1st of August 2020 (except China sailings), and Virgin Voyages for mid-October.
CEO of Royal Caribbean Says Cruising will Change and Survive & Reveals What Cruise Holidays Might Look Like
During the interview with Barron’s Magazine, the CEO of Royal Caribbean, Richard Fain, stated that a combination of social distancing, testing, therapeutics, and personal protective equipment will be the “new norm” for the industry should the COVID19 pandemic continue.
We will see fewer ships sailing at limited capacity to begin with; it has been suggested that ships will begin operating at around 30-40% capacity and see a gradual increase.
He also stated that the larger ships will be much better suited to facilitate social distancing due to the extra space.
The largest cruise ship in the world, the Symphony of the Seas, for example, has a maximum guest capacity of 6,680 plus a crew of 2,200.
At reduced capacity of 30% for example, this would mean 2,004 passengers could be on board at any given time, and throughout a ship that spans 72.54 meters high and 362.1 meters wide with 23 restaurants, this seems a promising short-term solution.
The End or an Evolution of the Beloved Buffets?
We could see an end to the much beloved buffets within the hospitality industry, but not in Royal Caribbean at least, for now – what we will see is an evolution of the buffet procedure.
Richard Fain said: “(Where) everybody reaches in and everybody touches the same tongs, you’re not going to see (that) on land or sea, but it doesn’t mean that you don’t have a buffet. You might have it where all of the food is served to you by other people. And there are other possibilities. But the point is that it will evolve.”
This is welcomed news for holiday-goers where the all-inclusive buffet is one of the highlights.
Containing Outbreaks: An Industry-Wide Issue for Cruises
The cruise ship industry has been fighting a battle against the spread and / or outbreak of germs, particularly respiratory conditions such as the flu, for many years.
The Centre for Disease Control provides some reasons as to why this is the case:
“Travelers from diverse regions brought together in the often crowded, semi-enclosed environments onboard ships can facilitate the spread of person-to-person, foodborne, or waterborne diseases.”
Anyone who has been on a cruise is familiar with the term “washy washy, happy happy”, a mantra repeated throughout your holiday by smiling staff members holding bottles of hand sanitizers as you reembark the ship after a day of sightseeing.
At reduced capacity, more hand sanitizing and now with the possibility of more testing, tracking, social distancing and quarantine bays – it would seem that the COVID19 pandemic may act as a catalyst in solving, or at least lessening, an industry-wide problem.
In Gibraltar and other nearby Ports, all eyes are on the authorities to see what their reaction will be.
Tourism is an important source of livelihood for many people who are now looking forward to the future with uncertainty and are still reeling with disbelief that the hustle and bustle that Gibraltar used to take for granted until a few months ago (although it seems like an eternity) is going to be replaced by an as yet completely obscure “new normal”.


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High gas prices in Lloydminster could be the result of different revenue strategies among gas stations, says an analyst form GasBuddy.com. Prices for fuelling up in Lloydminster average above or close to $1.05 per litre, while areas such as North Battleford are seeing prices below $0.90 per litre.
Dan McTeague, a Senior Petroleum Analyst at GasBuddy.com, has been analyzing gas prices for close to 25 years. McTeague says many gas stations sell gas at a loss. The differences in gas prices often cover the gas station’s expenses.
“If I look at prices right across at $1.039, I’m not surprised at that number, simply because most gas stations are having to replace that at 92 cents per litre,” says McTeague.
According to McTeague, gasoline costs the same for everyone who’s selling it. That 12 cent difference is a retail margin that covers the costs of running a gas station.
“That’s pretty much what it takes for gas stations to do things like honour credit cards, pay for electricity, pay for their overhead,” says McTeague. “While other stations may have it much cheaper than that, say at about 98 or 97 cents a litre. That means they’re selling gasoline at a loss.”
McTeague says that gas stations who sell cheaper gasoline may be making up for the costs in different ways. Sales of other types of fuel like diesel or supreme, or of products like beef jerky or bottled water may offer more revenue for some gas stations.
“Whatever the case may be, the reality is that everyone pretty much starts at the same number. Whether you happen to be in Vermilion, whether you happen to be in Calgary, whether you happen to be in Lloyd. The only difference is what’s known as the retail operating margin,” says McTeague.
McTeague adds that many stations may sell gas at a loss per litre in order to get you inside their store. While they may be selling cheaper gas, they still have a high operating margin to make up revenue for.
“Understanding the economics of a gas station is that there’s not a lot of money being made selling gasoline in and of itself,” says McTeague. “If you can’t make money selling gasoline, you have to find another way in order to survive, because running a gas station isn’t free.”
When it comes to prices in bigger cities like Edmonton, McTeague says there are other ways gas stations can make money selling cheaper fuel.
“The amount of gasoline you sell there may be substantially higher, so your volumes are greater. You might be able to get a volume discount from your supplier,” says McTeague.
While this advantage may be available to gas stations selling more fuel, McTeague says it’s not always like that.
“I’m seeing a lot of gas stations that are offering fuel, in Edmonton, for $1.00. or a $1.01. If I go to the GasBuddy website, I’m gonna see some offering for $0.879. That is a classic gas war,” says McTeague. “There’s no one who can sell gasoline $0.879 unless they’re making it up somewhere else.”
McTeague also notes conditions may change for Saskatchewna gas sations once the province sees a federal carbon tax in the new year.


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Groupon and LivingSocial have done an admirable job building out large sales forces in a short period of time. But for the daily deals business to reach its potential, there’s little doubt both will need an easier system for merchants than working with a salesperson.
The future of deals appears to lie in real-time mobile offers, not one-size-fits-all daily offers delivered via email. Great in theory. But in practice that means choosing from a huge pool of deals in order to match the consumer with a relevant one nearby. It’s a daunting challenge that can’t be solved by feet on the street alone.
Groupon Now is almost exclusively self-service — that is, merchants upload their own offers and copy art in real time. LivingSocial has InstantDeals, which also relies on self-service by merchants.
Julie Mossler, a Groupon spokeswoman, noted that the most tech-savvy merchants like being able to control their offers and the fact that Groupon gives merchants who self-serve a larger percentage of the revenue their deals generated. LivingSocial Instant Deals, the company provided merchants with iPads preloaded with the software they needed to create deals as well as to keep track of redemptions.
But a quick check of both websites reveals that the right-here-right-now deals are limited both in number and in the markets in which they are available.
The idea of instant deals is appealing to consumers and, theoretically, to merchants, who are able to customize offers to meet specific business needs. And deal services will need merchants to self-serve if they are ever to be able to offer the number of deals that would make instant deals a viable business. So why is this segment of the wildly growing business that is daily deals taking a relatively long time to take hold?
A number of factors could be working against self-service. Instant deals are more attention and labor intensive than traditional deals – the deal is posted and expires in a matter of hours; consumers need to redeem deals quickly; and unlike deals with longer expiration dates, LivingSocial, for example, will refund an unused instant deals.
Another part of the problem, according to Ted Mann, digital director for Gannett NJ, which operates daily deals sites in several markets across the sate, is that merchants are still reluctant to create and post their own deals. “With instant deals, speed is the issue,” he said. “Merchants would rather call sales reps than [create and upload the ad or deal] themselves. And then there is the logjam of processing that occurs.”
Mann said that even when the tools are available and easy to use local merchants don’t want to access them for a very simple reason. “The Groupon Now model is exciting and intriguing,” he said, referring to the idea that merchants can adjust their offers to bring traffic in during slow periods. “But I don’t understand how a restaurant owner is able to put up a special at lunchtime no matter how slow his business is. Small business owners are running around like crazy. Even when their businesses are slow, they are still running.”
He said that, instead of posting deals themselves, many small business owners would call their sales reps and ask the rep to post the deal. “That whole system has to get hyper efficient on a massive scale or it won’t work,” he said.
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The Guardian US is entering the race for political ad dollars.
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text: It hasn't even had the official launch yet, but the Samsung Galaxy S III is already looking like one of the big hits of 2012. At least if rumoured pre-order figures are correct.Industry watcher/insider and blogger Eldar Murtazin has taken to Twitter to state '10 mln preorders for sgs3', which equates to 10 million pre-orders for the upcoming Samsung flagship phone. Someone, somewhere has obviously seen the handset in action and been impressed, if those numbers are the real deal. Presumably the mobile network chiefs. Althouigh the orders might just have been based on the success of the original Galaxy S II.The rest of us will have to wait for the launch to see if the reality lives up to the hype. That's likely to be until May, although Samsung's man in China has hinted that the phone could get a launch in April. Yes, this month, although it's unlikely to be seen on the high street until the summer is well and truly underway. As for the phone itself, that's now said to have a screen to rival Apple's Retina display, specifically a a 4.6-inch AMOLED HD+ screen, with a pixel density of 319 ppi, just under the 330 ppi Retina display of the iPhone 4S. There's also talk of an Exynos quad-core chip, an improved camera, NFC and 4G (which may or may not be here in some form this year). All will be revealed soon. We'll keep you updated when we hear more.


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Beat Saber Adds Linkin Park Tracks as Latest DLC
Beat Games hadn't Given Up and got Linkin Park In The End.
The rhythm game scene isn’t what it used to be. Gone are the days of yearly updates to both the Guitar Hero and Rock Band franchises and weekly additions to their soundtracks. One game that’s proudly carrying the torch forwards however is Beat Saber.
The virtual reality rhythm hit has been a huge success since dropping on Oculus and PSVR and is the perfect game for VR officionados and casual players alike. The game has been no stranger to recieving additional music packs, with songs from Imagine Dragons, Green Day and Panic! At The Disco being added since launch. Now, after teasing it on Twitter for a couple of days, Beat Games has confirmed who their latest crossover is with – everybody’s favourite nu metal band, the legendary Linkin Park.
Revealed with a stylish trailer, the latest music pack comes complete with 11 of the bands biggest hits, including Numb, In The End and What I’ve done and launches today. The full list is as follows;
- Bleed It Out
- Breaking the Habit
- Given Up
- In The End
- New Divide
- One Step Closer
- Somewhere I Belong
- What I’ve Done
That’s not all the pack comes with either. Head of Marketing for Beat Games, Micheala Dvorak, confirmed on the Playstation Blog that:
“With this music pack, we are releasing a brand new game environment – a fully enclosed game area inspired by the tunnel scene you might remember from the ‘One Step Closer’ music video. The environment is also accompanied by a new four-color lighting scheme.”
The latest additions to Beat Saber coincide with a huge milestone for Linkin Park’s first album. Hybrid Theory, which is also considered one of their best albums, was released 20 years ago this October, a fact that will no doubt make all of us out there feel incredibly old.
If you’ve not been lucky enough to play Beat Saber, you can check out our review, where we scored it an 8.5.


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NEW YORK (AP) — Along New York City's steamy sidewalks in the summer, there's long been a reliable respite from the heat: waves of air-conditioned comfort wafting from open doors.
Now the nation's biggest city is pushing businesses to cool it on such wastefulness. Under an expanded law that took full effect this week, most stores and restaurants could be fined $250 or more if they keep their doors or windows open while running the A/C.