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Hackers are still scrambling to break into Apple's iPad 2 code and now the scramble has become a race: Well-known iOS hacker George Hotz has apparently accepted a second hacker's challenge to be the first to dump the iPad boot ROM, which then will be...
Although Research in Motion made its name by delivering secure corporate email, it has had to move quickly to adapt to the ever-shifting world of social networking.
Apple's iPhone is inching closer to Nokia's top spot in smartphones globally, according to first-quarter 2011 results reported by IDC on Thursday.
Intel's new 3D transistor technology should position the chip maker to grab hold of a piece of the burgeoning tablet market that it's been missing out on.
Motorola and Telstra last night jointly unveiled the eagerly-anticipated Motorola Xoom Android tablet, and the Motorola Atrix Android phone, confirming the devices will be available in Australia from 24 May and 7 June, respectively.
AT&T Wireless and Samsung Mobile announced the thin and light Infuse 4G smartphone during a press event Thursday in New York.
The European Payments Council (EPC), which represents the European banking industry, has released a draft version of guidelines it hopes will give the use of NFC (Near Fi...
It sounds like a B-grade movie plot: Millions of smartphone owners are being tracked by their phones. Their mobile apps are eavesdropping on them, too. And information about their whereabouts is being sold to third parties.
Attention, Nexus One owners: the latest variant of Gingerbread is here! But don't get too excited as this "special" Nexus One version of Android doesn't deliver all the digital goodies that other handsets are getting.
One of Research in Motion's biggest challenges in a world of the iPhone and Android has been how to keep its products fun and fresh while maintaining the high level of security its corporate users have come to rely on.
Underpromise and overdeliver—always a good strategy. Apple said it would take a few weeks to issue an iOS update to fix a handful of bugs related to the storage of location data, but it's taken just seven days between that announcement and the appear...
Microsoft engineers working on Windows Phone 7 said they're too busy right now to fix a problem caused by an unofficial update tool that some people have used, but they're willing to work with the developer to help him put things right.
Optus today launched a cloud service called Smart Safe that allows customers to back up and store content from a compatible mobile phone or PC onto its cloud storage infrastructure.
Microsoft will invest in the BlackBerry platform from Research in Motion, becoming the default search provider in BlackBerry browsers and maps, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said during a surprise keynote appearance at BlackBerry World today.
Microsoft's investment in putting its Bing search and maps in BlackBerry mobile devices by the fall holiday season pits Research in Motion and Microsoft against Google in a massive scramble for mobile search customers.
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During this week's Mobile World Congress in Spain, Google announced it is getting into mobile payments with a technology ca
At the same time Google and Samsung are scooping up startups to build out a mobile payment system that competes with Apple, new data from retailers reveals some initial success with smartphone-powered marketing campaigns.
With Apple’s launch of Apple Pay this week—technology that will let consumers swipe their phones to make purchases at chains like Starbucks and Walgreens—Ron Stoupa, chief marketing officer of
Launching a revolutionary digital wallet is going to prove challenging even for Apple as it lobbies retailers large and small to invest in the technology.
If trends among millennials are any indication, cash, checks and credit cards could all be going the way of the passenger pigeon.
During Facebook’s earnings call on Wednesday, CFO David Ebersman said the company’s Gifts service contributed a “very small” portion of the company&rsqu
Starbucks is selling Square's mobile card readers for $10 in the coffee retail giant's 7,000 locations nationwide, extending the companies'
Of the potential marketing-related features revealed on Wednesday with regards to the iPhone 5, it's the Passbook app should grab the attention of retail chains.

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According to a new leak, theAirPower could be launched with the iPhone 12. Information that may arouse the attention of those who have been waiting for the release of this wireless charger from Apple for a long time.
If there is one accessory Apple fans are eagerly awaiting launch, it's AirPower. Announced with the iPhone X in 2017, the wireless charging pad is unfortunately not always available. Indeed, the project was canceled last year due to technical constraints.
Unlike existing charging mats that require users to place their devices in specific locations, the AirPower had a rather interesting concept. It had to incorporate coils under its entire surface to allow energy transfer, regardless of the location of the recharged devices. A concept that Apple has unfortunately struggled to implement.
Recently, however, rumors of a possible return of the wireless charger have emerged on the Internet, along with several photos featuring the accessory.
If Ubergizmo is to be believed, this could happen with the iPhone 12s.
Availability from October?
For reasons related to the Covid-19 crisis, Apple has reportedly postponed the announcement of the new iPhone series. While this would normally take place next month, it is now scheduled for the second week of October. Some sources also suggest a presentation on Tuesday, October 13 for marketing from the following week for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Max.
We should therefore be able to use AirPower from that date. Information that should be taken with caution as the originator, @LeaksApplePro, has not provided any other clues other than this possible availability with the iPhone 12.
The leaker mentions more precisely in his publication the return of a "thing" which could be the famous wireless charging mat.
An iPhone without a wired interface?
Like the iPad Pro, the iPhone 12 should say goodbye to the lightning port. However, recent rumors have indicated that there is no wired interface. The terminal could thus bypass the traditional charging port. This suggests using induction energy transfer to recharge the battery.
If this information is true, AirPower should indeed be released this year alongside the new iPhone series …


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Rising star Fernanda Ly appears in the March 2016 issue of Vogue China, wearing romantic looks for a feature called, ‘She’s a Rebel’. The pink-haired beauty poses for Daniel Jackson wearing the designs of Erdem, Louis Vuitton and Roberto Cavalli amongst others. Stylist Tiina Laakkonen selects a mix of dreamy ruffles as well as lingerie inspired gowns for Fernanda to wear. / Hair by Esther Langham, Makeup by Dotti
Related: Fernanda Ly Lands Teen Vogue Cover
Fernanda Ly – Vogue China – She’s a Rebel
Fernanda Ly – Louis Vuitton Spring 2016 Campaign
The Australian model can also be seen in the spring-summer 2016 campaign from Louis Vuitton. Photographed by Juergen Teller, Fernanda Ly poses alongside Doona Bae in futuristic inspired looks. Fernanda landed her first major runway show walking for the French label’s fall-winter 2015 show.


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A public presentation of two books authored by Aniebo Nwamu, CEO of Eyeway Publishing Limited, will take place on Monday, May 24, 2021. The venue? Zoom.com – the link to the venue [https://us05web.zoom.us/j/88651175255?pwd=R1NWM1RMS2U5Z2UrcjFWRDE1N2huUT09] has been shared via social media to invitees comprising mainly writers, journalists, publishers and other CEOs. Academics and professionals have been invited. A few politicians including senators and reps are also expected.
Nwamu’s books [pictured] were printed and published in October 2020 by Rhyce Kerex Publishers. Copies are already available in bookstores nationwide, but digital copies are, for now, available only on Eyeway.ng.
The books’ author hopes to answer questions from participants who have read the books.
Franklin Mark will host the virtual launch from 7:55pm.


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Here a hack, there a hack, protect yourself from hack attacks
June 23, 2021
One of the major concerns occupying US government officials in the last few years has been the hacking of American businesses, health care facilities, utilities, and the government itself. Ransomware hacks are especially concerning. If these large entities get hacked, what hope do average Wisconsinites have for keeping their information safe?
On June 9, JBS USA, the world’s biggest supplier of beef with a facility in Green Bay, confirmed it had paid a ransom of $11 million to criminal hackers who had invaded the company’s operations on May 30. JBS conferred with both internal and third-party cybersecurity experts on whether or not to pay that ransom. It also consulted with the FBI.
“This was a very difficult decision to make for our company and for me personally,” JBS CEO Andre Nogueira said in a press release. “However, we felt this decision had to be made to prevent any potential risk for our customers.”
The company revealed that it spends more than $200 million annually on IT, even though the US government has long advised that entities not pay ransomware hackers. Through press releases, JBS credited its own “robust IT systems and encrypted backup servers” for a swift recovery from the hacking. The company had shut down all its beef-producing plants, including the one in Green Bay. There was no production on June 1 and production resumed around 10 a.m. on June 2, according to WBAY in Green Bay.
James Lee, CEO for Identity Theft Resource Center, explained to WBAY cyberattacks like these happen in stages through different entities.
“One group will actually find a flaw in the company, another group will exploit the flaw, the third group will actually conduct the attack and the fourth group actually collects the payment,” Lee said. “So it runs just like a legitimate business would run, except it’s an illegitimate business.”
The hack of JBS didn’t only impact the Green Bay facility. Branches in Australia and across North America also suffered shutdowns. Other hacked companies have also paid ransoms. A Russian ransomware group called DarkSide previously held the Colonial Pipeline up for $4.4 million in bitcoin but recovered $2.3 million when the US government seized the money from DarkSide accounts. The $2.1 million difference occurred because in the interim the worth of bitcoin fell.
If companies like these that spend millions every year on IT and security can get hacked, what hope do consumers have in protecting themselves? Lee and former NSA hacker David Kennedy (as told to Insider) have advice companies and consumers can take advantage of:
- Make sure your software and applications are up to date, especially when updates contain improvements to security.
- Maintain regular backups. Back up your phone, tablet, and computer to a secure place, such as an external hard drive.
- Educate yourself on what phishing emails and text messages look like. Criminals fashion these messages and emails so they seem to come from common entities (Amazon, Apple, Social Security Administration, etc.). They seek to tempt consumers to click on a link, which then loads malware onto their device and gives criminals access.
- Use two-factor authentication to optimize security.
- Don’t use the same password for many accounts, and don’t use easily discovered passwords that rely on memory cues like a child’s name or birthdate or a phone number. Instead, use a combination of symbols, numbers and letters to make it harder to discover.
- Change your passwords regularly and don’t reuse passwords.
- Don’t over-share on social media platforms. This includes “checking in” at certain spots or revealing your spending habits.
- Be skeptical. Phone calls, emails and text messages that offer you something that sounds too good to be true most likely are too good to be true.
- Guard your personal information like gold, because it is valuable to criminals. Keep numbers such as your social security, bank account and others safe and do not share.
- Check to make sure platforms that have your personal information haven’t been compromised at https://haveibeenpwned.com/ or another data breach detection site. Then take action.


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CLARK FREEPORT – The Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia has embarked on a three-city tour in the Philippines to increase the number of Filipino tourists coming to Indonesia, the world’s largest island country.
On Wednesday, the Wonderful Indonesia Team, headed by its director for marketing Ricky Fauzi, held an activity at the SM City Clark here regaling mall goers as well as the public with an immersion in Indonesian culture, particularly its traditional dances and its dancers wearing carnival costumes.
Native Indonesian coffee from Mindaling, North Sumatra, Flores East Nusa Tenggara, Toraja South Sulawesi and Bali as well as snacks were offered to mall goers and members of the media covering the event.
Visitors were also treated to a virtual reality experience presenting 10 priority destinations.
On March 8 to 9, the Wonderful Indonesia Team were at the Glorietta 2 Activity Center in Makati where Manileňos were invited to visit Indonesia.
From July 12 to 14, the Wonderful Indonesia Team will go to Davao City in Mindanao where it will join the Indonesia Consulate General in the area for its planned activity.
The Wonderful Indonesia Team will replicate its success in 2018 as it strive to promote Indonesian destinations – Bali, Borobudur, Lombok and Jakarta among others – in the Philippines.
In Clark, the Wonderful Indonesia Team was supported by travel agencies led by Ties That Travel, MAVP Travel and Tours, The Travelorder, Flight Destinations Travel and Tours, Joy Meets World Travel and Tours, and Amega Travel and Tours Services.


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"How do you hire women, and keep them in your team? It starts with company culture.”
With those words Gameloft’s Fiona Cherbak launched into a panel discussion at GDC Europe 20015 about how game developers can work together to encourage more women to make games, and some day correct the gender imbalance that still dogs the game industry.
While fielding questions from a live audience, Cherbak and a panel of women executives from across the game industry spoke frankly about the social and workplace challenges that face game developers who aren't men.
The panel tackled tough issues, spoke to the benefits of hiring and retaining valuable staff, and offered unique solutions for encouraging young female talent to join the game industry.
The presentation was practical, funny, and well worth your time to watch for free over on the GDC Vault.
About the GDC Vault
In addition to this presentation, the GDC Vault and its new YouTube channel offers numerous other free videos, audio recordings, and slides from many of the recent Game Developers Conference events, and the service offers even more members-only content for GDC Vault subscribers.
Those who purchased All Access passes to recent events like GDC, GDC Europe, and GDC Next already have full access to GDC Vault, and interested parties can apply for the individual subscription via a GDC Vault subscription page. Group subscriptions are also available: game-related schools and development studios who sign up for GDC Vault Studio Subscriptions can receive access for their entire office or company by contacting staff via the GDC Vault group subscription page. Finally, current subscribers with access issues can contact GDC Vault technical support.
Gamasutra and GDC are sibling organizations under parent UBM Tech


text: Elica will be partner of Nicos International for the eighth edition of Cristalplant Design Contest, the contest where young designers are invited to create new solutions and concepts using Cristalplant as basic material. Elica has already experimented it with success in the creation of its YE hood, designed by Fabrizio Crisà, that was the first hood realized with this material. All the projects can be presented until February 29, 2016 and the winners will be awarded next April during the week of 55th Salone del Mobile in Milan. Two winners will be selected: one for the young designers category (born after 1/1/1981) and the other for the senior designers category (born before 1/1/1981). The prototypes will be presented at Eurocucina 2016, with the possibility of creating a product in collaboration with Elica Design Center to be included in the edition 2018 of the company’s catalog.


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Ted Whitten, the owner of Ted’s Plumbing in Anniston, had no idea the Alabama Legislature approved a new tax credit for small businesses last month, but the plumber said every little bit helps.
“Any kind of tax credit is good, especially if it helps small business owners” he said. “This kind of break is beneficial especially with the economy being so slow since the 2008 recession. When it comes time to hire I will definitely take advantage of it.”
House Bill 36, signed into law by Gov. Robert Bentley in April, gives small businesses a $2,500 tax credit for every employee they hire making $40,000 per year or more. An additional $1,000 credit is also available for those who hire an unemployed veteran who has been discharged within the last two years.The sponsor of the bill, Rep. Kyle South, R-Fayette, said it’s an extension of an earlier $1,500 tax credit the state approved for businesses that hire someone making $10 per hour.
“This bill has the same requirements as the Employment Act of 2011” he said. “But takes it a step further for those people making higher wages.”
Alabama lawmakers in recent years have passed multiple tax credits intended to spur new hires, but economists aren’t so sure any one incentive can make a big dent in unemployment.
“Some folks will benefit from the credit but when you’re talking about $40,000 a year this is not a very significant motivation,” said Ken Grissom, director of the Jacksonville State University Small Business Development Center. “Obviously it will help. And those who are considering hiring should definitely take advantage of it. But I don’t know if it’s enough incentive to cause someone to take on an employee.”
Carla Thomas, a family practice physician in Anniston, agreed. She said that while anything benefiting small businesses is a great idea, she wouldn’t go out of her way to take advantage of the credit.
“It’s great for those who already want to hire,” she said, “but it wouldn’t make sense to hire someone just to get the tax credit.”
Rosemary Elebash, the Alabama state director for National Federation of Independent Business, sees the bill as a small step in the right direction for a problem that is twofold, according to surveys of the group’s members.
Click here to read the entire article posted May 14, 2016 – annistonstar.com


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Honda is considering a low-cost budget car below its Brio compact for the Indian market which could be based on one of its Japan-only 660cc Kei cars, reported the Times of India.
Hironori Kanayama, president & CEO of Honda Cars India, said the entry car market will continue to remain strong, and added: “We are studying the market... (but) we do not have such a small engine, except for the Japanese market where we have the 660cc Kei cars."
He said, however, that the option of a 660cc engine may not be viable in India, because customers have different tastes. "We need some time to make a decision on what needs to be done in this market. But we know that this market will be very stable, and will grow more."
The budget segment is dominated by cars such as the Maruti Alto, Hyundai Eon and Tata Nano. The paper noted Honda has so far struggled to keep prices of products under check, but a recent focus on localisation and India R&D has made the company confident of making cars at competitive cost.
Asked whether the company will develop a new engine for the new small car, Kanayama said that appears to be the most probable option. "We have not yet made any decision, and this depends on the market and the result of our study.”


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"Congressman's Wife Died After Taking Herbal Remedy Marketed for Diabetes & Weight Loss" is the headline from CBS News, and it also caught my eye when it was reported by the NY Times. These reports caused me to ask the question, "How safe are supplements?"
"White Mulberry Leaf" was the cause of death for the Congressman's wife. She took it as a supplement, either taken in the form of a capsule or tea. Either way, it wasn't previously considered dangerous, but now, it's toxic. It's something I could imagine myself trying back when I used to let the promise of a new supplement sway me easily.
The overall risk of taking supplements outweighs any potential benefit. Now that I've read more of the published reports from the FDA and Kaiser Health, who've both been sharing the toxic and unexpected consequences of the White Mulberry Leaf supplement. Knowing that even tea could be deadly causes me to stop, share, and notice.
Yes, supplements are more dangerous than medications. Unlike medications, FDA does not have the authority to approve dietary supplements for the safety and effectiveness of the labeling before they are sold in stores or online. This means manufacturers have a loophole to take liberties with the label and the content in the bottle. This means the label isn't always an accurate reflection of the consumer's consumption.
Periodically the FDA will inspect dietary supplement manufacturing facilities to verify that companies are meeting all manufacturing and labeling requirements. Still, it appears to be a more reactive process to adverse actions vs. a proactive approach.
When taking medications, consumers have the benefit of knowing the ingredients are fully disclosed, so they can decide if potential adverse reactions are worth the risk. More importantly, when the ingredients aren't declared on the label, the consumer is unaware of any conflict or danger. These undeclared ingredients also become a more severe problem when they interact with current medications, which can cause unexpected harm.
When adverse, unexpected reactions are reported, the FDA gets involved. But by then, the harm is done. And shutting down these manufacturers and recalling the harmful products isn't easy with the internet's direct-to-consumer sales model on social media platforms and global shopping sites like Amazon or online pharmacies.
FDA found medications not approved for use in the USA in supplements, along with undisclosed seizure medications, blood pressure medications, and more! The consequences of consumers unknowingly ingesting these substances are why the FDA sends a clear warning for the high risk of heart attack, stroke, and more.
Currently, 213 "tainted" and dangerous weight-loss products are listed on the FDA's website. Unfortunately, the list includes only the ones the FDA is aware of. New products are being manufactured daily.
There's no guarantee that supplements are safe or effective. Tainted dietary supplements are so prevalent the FDA categorizes these nutritional supplements into seven categories to help consumers search before buying.
If you still need more reasons why supplements aren't "worth" the risk. Here's a quick glimpse at the consequence and risks to metabolic health.
Fructose, fruit juice concentrates, new-fangled high-carb concentrates like glucose polymers, and sugars smuggled into supplements make them unhealthy. Initially, those ingredients were my biggest concern. They influenced me to stop taking any pill, gummy, capsule, drink, or fizzy tablet dissolved into water for "Immune Support, Energy Boost, and Dietary Supplementation."
The science and research journals all reported that those ingredients sabotage a healthy metabolism, causing interference with weight loss, increased appetite, activating fat storage, and decreasing overall energy later in the day. But that shouldn't be the evidence that anyone needs to stop taking supplements; what's more convincing is the FDA's website.
© Ovvia™ 2022


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TIMELY ICONS: Cartier’s new Icon watch advertising campaign is austere, bold and meant to evoke the brand’s tenets: craftsmanship, tradition and classic design. The black-and-white print ads feature iconic timepieces, including the Tank Francaise and Santos, and lists the years in which they were designed — 1904 and 1917, respectively — to convey the longevity of the styles.
“We’ve seen the behavior patterns of our clients before the crisis and after the crisis,” said Cartier North America president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Perrin. “[When making] purchases, [customers are] making sure to get the best quality, the best craftsmanship, the product that lasts the test of time. That’s what Cartier has always been about.”
The campaign bows in newspapers including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s and The Los Angeles Times beginning on Saturday through March 12.
Also at Cartier, Guillaume Alix has been named vice president of marketing and communications. Alix has been with Cartier in various roles since 1997, most recently as chief of staff for Cartier president Bernard Fornas. Alix succeeds Oliver Stip, who departed last year.
— Sophia Chabbott


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Superstar Twitch streamer Michael “Shroud” Grzesiek has explained to his fans that when you buy certain high-tier Valorant skins you essentially “pay to lose.”
As one of the most popular Valorant streamers in the world today, Shroud shared how high-tier Valorant skins like the Ruination bundle have certain distracting visuals and audio effects which may lead to a disadvantage when you play.
Shroud’s hot take on the Ruination bundle
While checking out the new Ruination bundle on his stream, Shroud explained that “using these kinds of skins are definitely pay to lose. This is why I use so many basic ones.”
“Those skins are cool but you are not getting an advantage,” he continued. “You’re getting a disadvantage because it’s so loud, it’s so annoying, and it’s so in your face.”
After purchasing the Ruination bundle, Shroud tested out the Guardian and demonstrated his theory. “See, if you don’t think that’s pay to lose, you’re out of your mind. Any normal Guardian does not have this lingering effect when you shoot it. That’s like four seconds,” said Shroud.
The Ruination Guardian has a unique audio effect after firing that could block out other important audio cues, like enemy footsteps or enemy utility usage.
Despite all this, 27-year world-renowned Twitch streamer still buys almost all of Riot Games’ high-tier Valorant skins because he thinks they’re just too cool to pass up.
The former Counter-Strike pro sees Riot Games’ expensive Ultra, Exclusive, and Premium skins as distractions when you play the game. While he has some of his Valorant settings set to high, most pro players prefer to play on low settings to help them see and hear everything that’s happening in their games.


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The Future of Healthy Eating At Work
British startup Healthy Nibbles has launched an unmanned retail concept aimed at providing healthy and sustainable food choices in the workplace.
The tech-enabled innovation, which also aims to address the need for relevant, customisable concepts, delivered in a socially distanced environment, comes at a time when businesses are being forced to think differently about the delivery of health and wellness offerings.
With increased flexibility and distancing measures resulting in changes to occupancy levels across the majority of offices and co-working spaces in the UK and other countries globally, Healthy Nibbles says it has been working closely with businesses to solve this new challenge.
Healthy Nibbles Founder, Sara Roberts states “Flexibility and health are going to be key drivers in any F&B solution, both in the short and longer-term, as cities, businesses and homes continue to undergo a seismic shift in response to COVID-19,”
“Different sectors are feeling the effects in different ways; growth, reduction and entire workforces moving to longer-term home working. It is our role to offer flexible solutions that respond to these changes, such as delivering to homes, supporting co-working facilities, facilitating the changing needs of larger organisations as they reduce the number of employees in their offices, and so on.”
Through its new unmanned retail concept, which utilises technology, data and insights, Healthy Nibbles says it has created an intelligent solution that can quickly adapt to these types of changes in a cost-effective and sustainable way.
The units, which operate like mini-markets, bring together the best in self-service convenience technologies, design-led build and healthy food brands across chilled, frozen and ambient, to deliver high-quality food 24 hours a day.
Remote monitoring capabilities, meanwhile, enable the tracking and monitoring of stock levels, so that refreshes can be carried out on a required basis. This means each unit can be easily tailored to suit specific environments, as well as individual employees, whilst limiting waste.
To put nutritional wellbeing at the forefront of the customer experience, the company is also committed to working with impact-driven brands such as Mindful Chef and Modern Standard coffee, to deliver thoughtful, healthy meals that fuel health and performance, Roberts revealed.
“All of our brands have also been benchmarked against 15+ UK and international nutritional standards, as well as being benchmarked against the B Corp impact assessment,” she added.
And the strategy seems to be paying off. Despite the disruption caused by COVID-19, Roberts says the brand has experienced an 87% increase in revenue, compared to the same period last year, as well as securing clients including the BBC, Lacoste, Vitality, Transport for London, The Office Group and Three Mobile — demonstrating the continued demand for healthy snacking.
With workplace wellbeing evolving from being a location-specific concept towards a more community-driven model, this presents another huge opportunity for brands like Healthy Nibbles, and Roberts believes it can play a key role in that evolution.
“I believe workplace wellness will assume its rightful position as a seat at the board table, moving away from a fragmented and siloed discipline to one that underpins business, with nutrition, mental health, overall wellness, sustainability and impact all forming key components in governance and reporting.”
Thanks to its use of data and analytics, a seamless client and end-user experience and unrivalled insight into consumer behaviour, Healthy Nibbles is primed to leverage that shift.


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Indian economy may lose ₹7-8 lakh crore due to lockdown, warn experts
- The sectors that are most severely impacted are transport, hotel, restaurant, and real estate activities
- A host of international agencies have cut India's economic growth estimate for FY21 on concerns about the fallout of Covid-19 outbreak
New Delhi: The world's biggest lockdown that shut a majority of the factories and businesses, suspended flights, stopped trains and restricted movement of vehicles and people, may have cost the Indian economy ₹7-8 lakh crore during the 21-day period, analysts and industry bodies said.
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Have you ever downloaded a large 20GB+ game on Steam only to find out that it won't run due to corrupt or missing files? Fortunately for you, we've created a brief how-to guide on how to resolve these issues so you don't have to come up with an intricate work around or have to re-download your games. As a matter of fact, there are only seven easy steps to fixing this issue!
Mantle update, frame pacing fixes, and more arriving soon
AMD let us know that it's on-schedule with its highly anticipated Mantle API update for Battlefield 4, and will be delivering it January 30th. Following the update it will release Catalyst 14.1 Beta drivers, which are required to run the Mantle API in Battlefield. The new drivers will include the mantle update as well as a host of additional updates that include phase two of its frame pacing fix, HSA implementation for Kaveri APUs, and more.
A complete in-depth Q&A on Steam Machine pricing, specs, release dates, and more!
Final versions of Valve’s highly anticipated Steam OS (officially written "SteamOS") and Steam Machines that run it aren’t even out but the misinformation and the company’s legendary opaqueness have created perhaps one of the most misunderstood tech projects in recent memory. There’s simply been so much misinformation that even we can’t keep up with what’s actually fact and what’s fiction at this point. So to help you keep up on current events, we’ve tried to cull all of the relevant SteamOS and Steam Machine information into one single in-depth FAQ.
When big blockbuster games get ported to PC, we tend to be cautious about our excitement, as PC gamers have been shafted over the years with tons of bad console ports. Our blood boils when we see crucial missing options like Vsync, Anti-Aliasing, and high-resolution textures. Worse even is when the games flat out don't work as they should. We’ve put together a list of ten titles that run poorly on the PC because they’re lazy console ports.
Best of CES 2014: Steam Machines, Razer’s Project Christine, and more
The dust has settled on this year’s CES and we are glad to report that the PC rocked the show. The highlight of the event was Valve’s official unveiling of 13 Steam Machines and many of the small form factor chassis look awesome and we can’t wait to try them out. It wasn’t all about SFFs, however. CyberPower’s lunch-box shaped Battle Box PC proved that there is still plenty of room for innovation with larger cases. And then there were new innovative PC gaming devices like the updated Oculus Rift and PrioVR virtual reality suit. In addition, the biggest surprise of the show was Razer’s highly modular Project Christine PC.
Established audio manufacturer steps into the world of gaming
Audio-Technica, a company that has been around for over 50 years, has unveiled a new line of gaming headsets this week at CES 2014. Known for designing, manufacturing, and selling audio equipment, this is the first time that the company is offering two headsets that will cater to gamers.
Company has high expectations for Kaveri APU, HSA, and their unified gaming strategy
At AMD’s press conference during CES 2014, senior vice-president Lisa Su talked about the company’s future growth and expectations. In 2011 through 2012 she revealed that there was an estimated AMD APU install base of 80 million users. Suwent on to show that future growth in 2014 is expected to increase to 150 million with that number doubling in 2015 and beyond for combined PCs and non PC devices.
Updated: Now with specs and even more Steam Machine pictures!
Note: We have since updated the gallery below with more pictures and specs following Valve's CES Steam Machine unveiling.
Up until now, most of the images you've seen of the Steam Machines have been leaked images or renders. With CES 2014 now under way, we decided to round up official Steam Machine pictures and everything we know about the Steam Machines so far. So make sure to peruse the gallery below and let us know what your favorite Steam Machine is so far.
14 partners revealed at CES 2014 who are manufacturing official Steam Machines
Valve showed off units and hardware specifications at CES 2014 this week with prices ranging from $499 all the way up to $6,000. In the list were units manufactured byDigital Storm, CyberPowerPC, and iBuyPower that were already revealed prior to CES 2014.
Nvidia's new 64-bit CPU to be based around Kepler and feature 192 CUDA cores
We had the chance to attend Nvidia’s CES 2014 press conference and the company touched upon a number of topics such as GeForce Experience, G-Sync Monitors, and GameStream, but it was Nvidia’s announcement of its new “super chip” K1 that was the talk of the show.


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Meetings technology company Cvent has launched a copy-generating artificial intelligence tool for platform users, the company announced Wednesday.
AI Writing Assistant is available freely now on Cvent’s event marketing and management platform and can assist in creating event content. Among the content it can generate are emails, websites, event titles, session and video descriptions, supplier communications and request-for-proposals responses, according to Cvent.
Users input a tone description—such as playful, formal or enthusiastic—and copy length from concise to verbose, as well as a copy description or a first draft for the AI Writing Assistant to craft or rewrite.
The new tool went from conception to production in roughly six weeks, a Cvent spokesperson told BTN by email. Cvent conducted “extensive product testing” with AI Writing Assistant through a pilot phase with Cvent platform users and saw “overwhelmingly positive” responses, the spokesperson said.
“AI has quickly become a powerful workplace enablement tool,” Cvent VP of product management McNeel Keenan said in a statement, adding that the company is confident AI Writing Assistant will be a “game-changer for planners and marketers who are looking to maximize output with minimal effort.”
[email protected] (Angelique Platas)


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Coronavirus: VAT cut for IOM food and leisure sectors extended – BBC News
A scheme designed to boost the Isle of Man’s hospitality industry is being extended until the end of March.
The Manx government cut VAT from the standard 20% to 5% in the leisure and accommodation sectors from
Manx Chief Minister Howard Quayle said the hospitality sector was still “severely impacted” by border closures.
Further support for affected companies would be announced “in the coming days”, he added.
In brighter news, Mr Quayle said the “vast majority” of Manx businesses were now running again following the lifting of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions on the island.


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Bank Zero, a South African digital bank, has expanded into commercial banking by launching a business banking app. The app-based bank aims to disrupt traditional banks with its zero monthly fee model.
Founded in 2018, Bank Zero entered the South African market in 2021 as a tech-driven alternative to traditional banks. It relies on its website and mobile app for account openings and transactions without physical branches.
A key selling point is no monthly account fees and free electronic payments, debit orders, card swipes, and prepaid purchases. Bank Zero also does not offer loans. Most digital transactions are free, though some withdrawals and third-party transfers have small fees.
The digital bank was founded by seven investors, including former First National Bank CEO Michael Jordaan as chair. Yatin Narsai, former head of IT and retail banking at FNB, is Bank Zero’s CEO. The bank has significant Black and women ownership.
Jordaan said Bank Zero offers an innovative approach far from legacy banks’ costly, inefficient systems. Narsai stated the commercial banking launch was complex, but the end product was “ground-breaking.”
The business banking app aims to enhance productivity and security. All processes, from setting up teams to making payments, are handled in the app. Bank Zero said its costs are about 85% less than traditional banks’ packages.
CFO Liné Wiid said the app’s ease of use brings huge time savings versus traditional manual paperwork and branch visits. Narsai highlighted security features like flagged changed account details and documentation for approvals.
Other app capabilities include downloading transaction history, setting up business debit cards, and integration with accounting platforms like Xero. Card payment terminals can also be supplied through a partnership.
Narsai said Bank Zero completely rethought commercial banking for the digital era with no legacy systems. The bank promises the app will significantly improve business productivity and lower costs.
The launch comes as digital banking competition rises in South Africa. Bank Zero entered the market after other rivals like TymeBank and Discovery Bank. Last week, MTN Group also launched a mobile money business wallet.


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Eddie Stobart drivers facing redundancy at Tesco’s Doncaster DC look set to commence a second period of strike action next week, after talks between the operator and union Unite broke down. Unite rejected an improved severance deal for its 180 member drivers tabled at talks on the 19 October, despite Eddie Stobart claiming the enhanced package was worth an additional £1m. Further talks had been expected towards the end of this week but have now collapsed against the threat of […]
The threat of a tanker driver strike could now be averted, as the Unite union and fuel distribution companies reach agreement over a new set of proposals. Unite has also been given an extended industrial action mandate of 21 May to allow it time to discuss the new proposals with its 1,200 tanker driver members. Peter Harwood, Acas chief conciliator, who has been heading up the negotiations, says: “Following a further two days of intensive discussions, a final set of […]
Tesco has taken delivery of 28 Volvo FM tractor-units for operation in Northern Ireland.
Parcel carriers FedEx, Royal Mail and DHL have been named among the top 20 Business Superbrands in the annual Superbrands list.


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Year in Review for Montana Tourism Industry
HELENA, MT – Tourism is a leading industry in Montana and continued its strong economic performance in 2017 supporting over 53,000 jobs. Tourism provides jobs in lodging, restaurants, retail and many indirect positions supporting real estate, construction, architecture and banking. Non-resident visitors spent $3.3 billion according to the preliminary traveler expenditure report from Institute for Tourism & Recreation Research (ITRR).
The year started off strong in the winter with the second highest recorded skier visits with 1.5 million skier days, five of Montana’s 14 ski areas attracted record skier visits. Deep early season snow and increased air service brought more people to the slopes improving Montana’s economy, lodging receipts for the first quarter were at record numbers with 6% increase from the year before based on lodging tax collections.
After the strong winter start an early spring melted valley snow prompting early biking, hiking and fishing opportunities. National park visitation launched at a record pace in Glacier National Park, with June and July setting new records. Yellowstone National Park visitation held steady from its record numbers the year before. One strong performing national park was Little Bighorn Battlefield in eastern Montana with four years of continued growth and a 5% bump from the year before.
By summer temperatures rose and forest fires became an issue that persisted into the fall. ITRR released a report stating that the smoke and fires had a negative impact on tourism spending of $240 million for the year. Fortunately, many visitors still visited and enjoyed Montana activities. In response to the communities impacted with the loss of business revenue due to fires, Montana’s Department of Commerce set up an expedited grant and loan program for small tourism businesses.
By autumn, most major Montana airports were announcing increased service with new non-stop cities, new airlines and increasing seats and also important infrastructure investments with terminal upgrades and runway improvements.
“With increasing air service, private industry capital investments and strong statewide and regional marketing programs, Montana has all the ingredients for growth in the visitor economy, said Dax Schieffer, Voices of Montana Tourism Director. “With these strong fundamentals, I’m very optimistic for the thousands of families and businesses to see continued success in the hospitality sector into 2018.”
Voices of Montana Tourism serves as a united voice for Montana’s tourism stakeholders. Since its creation in 2011, Voices has led the effort with education and outreach to communicate the immense value a sustainably-grown tourism industry provides for all Montanans.


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Inside honey specialist Comvita’s experiential Wellness Lab in Auckland, customers are invited into the lives of bees, thanks to its immersive design features that tap into the five senses.
Customers book into a sensorial 45-minute honey tasting journey, hosted by resident beekeeper and bee-breeder Noelani Waters, partnered with a custom-designed audio and visuals displayed in a 180-degree theatre room.
The Wellness Lab was created in collaboration with leading gastrophysicist and sensory science expert, Professor Charles Spence, who has previously worked with perfumers, mixologists, and chefs, including the world-renowned Heston Blumenthal.
Every element of the space has been carefully designed and sourced to reflect Comvita’s commitment to Kaitiakitanga – a Māori concept of guardianship and protection over nature.
“New Zealand’s Mānuka honey industry is a uniquely vibrant one which encapsulates many of the principles and values so important to our nation,” said Comvita’s group chief executive David Banfield.
“It enables us to tell our tale of efficacy, quality, product excellence, sustainability, and the broader principle of Kaitiakitanga, and position New Zealand as a global leader on the world stage.”
According to Comvita’s head of marketing David Bathgate, the store also exists as a direct response to the exponential growth of e-commerce seen in the last few years.
“As consumer behaviour fundamentally changes towards the act of shopping, we know that the future of retail will be to deliver immersive, memorable experiences that cannot be found in a traditional online store,” Bathgate said.
“The future of retail lies in the delivery of meaningful multi-channel consumer experiences, and we’re incredibly proud to be at the forefront of this movement.”
The Wellness Lab can hold eight people at a time, and costs $20 each, with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to a nominated charity.


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A new report shows that its not all bad news when it comes to the airline industry in South Africa.
Skywise Airline, which only officially launched in February this year, effectively went out of business earlier this month when it was grounded by ACSA, while SAA continues to report heavy financial losses and remains a burden on the fiscus.
However, domestic airlines have maintained customer satisfaction in the latest South African Customer Satisfaction Index (SAcsi) – at 69.7 out of 100.
The brands included in the survey: Kulula (72.8), Mango (71.3) and SAA (66.8). Founded in 2006, Mango is a subsidiary of South African Airways.
Kulula’s score increased slightly on last year’s measure and the airline held its leadership position for the second year in a row.
Mango’s score was on par with the industry average and SAA score was below par for the second year in a row, SAcsi said.
The sample size for the industry survey was 1,275 and the research was conducted between May and July 2015 via telephonic and online interviews.
The SAcsi model combines three drivers of customer satisfaction: customer expectations, perceived quality and perceived value. The calculated customer satisfaction index is statistically linked to two outcomes: customer complaints and customer loyalty.
Customer expectations and perceived quality were on par with the previous study, with customers expecting more from Mango than last year.
While the overall average for perceived value increased this year to 71.2 out of 100, SAA’s score (65.5) is significantly lower than the overall industry score.
Both Kulula and Mango were given higher scores this year for perceived value.
Prof. Adré Schreuder , founder of SAcsi and CEO of Consulta, said that the number of complaints has risen since last year.
Although there were more complaints from both Kulula and Mango customers, the complaints level is low with less than 10% of the respondents indicating that they had any
complaints (Kulula 6.6% and Mango 7.3%).
SAA’s complaints ratio was at 11.4%.
Delayed and cancelled flights are the biggest bugbear for customer, SAcsi said.
Kulula customers also listed baggage damage and loss as issues, while Mango customers mentioned system and app errors as well as boarding gates closing early.
SAA customers complained about hidden charges, bad attitudes by SAA staff and dirty toilets.
“Airline industry customers are not a very loyal to any particular carrier,” said Schreuder, adding that although Kulula is the leader in loyalty, both loyalty and retention scores are lower across all brands surveyed.
“This drop in loyalty could be due to increased economic pressure on consumers, which drives them towards greater price sensitivity.”
Relative to the international scores, South Africa’s airline industry’s score of 69.7 compares with that of the USA, which reported an overall satisfaction score of 71 out 100 in 2015.
Kulula received positive mentions about its staff’s friendliness and competence in the verbatim comments by customers, whereas SAA customers made the greatest number of negative comments about SAA staff.


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With two flagship phones i.e., iPhone 6s and 6s Plus already stealing the show and making folks stunned with mesmerizing features, another announcement from Apple has spread waves. The latest buzz in the middle is that Apple is working on the iPhone 6C and it is believed that this comparatively cheaper version iPhone 6 would be available to users next year.
The announcement came after the release of iPhone 6 Plus and the main aim of launching this headset was that Apple trying to make their flagship phones to low-income class. This launch of iPhone 6C will make things amazing for the fans and will undoubtedly create even more fervor about the headset. For general information, iPhone 5C was the last affordable headset where there was no TouchID and also the design was not that impressive. Likewise, the same will be observed in the case of iPhone 6C nest year.
Although the exact date of the release of iPhone 6C is not known, however, the buzz is that the iPhone 6C release date in the U.S. may fall somewhere in April or May 2016. An insane rush will be observed upon its release as the aim of this phone is to reach all income range audience.


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O’Reilly Automotive Inc. (Nasdaq: ORLY) temporarily expanded its board of directors to 11 members from nine, as two longtime leaders plan to retire.
The Springfield-based auto parts retailer announced the new slots were filled by company CEO Greg Henslee, 56, and PVH Corp. (NYSE: PVH) executive Dana Perlman, 37, according to a news release. With $8 billion in annual revenue, PVH Corp. owns clothing brands including Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein and Heritage Brands, according to its website.
Board Vice Chairman Charlie O’Reilly, 77, and independent lead director Paul Lederer, 77, are scheduled to retire from the board in May at the end of their current terms. O’Reilly has served on the board since 1966 and Lederer has been a member since 2001. Both are reaching the board’s mandatory retirement age of 78. O’Reilly Automotive spokesman Mark Merz said the board likely will return to nine members after their retirements.
“The board thought it was absolutely in the best interest (for Henslee and Perlman) to have the opportunity to work with them before they transitioned off the board,” Merz said.
Henslee has led O’Reilly Automotive as CEO since 2005 and Perlman has worked as treasurer and senior vice president of business development and investor relations for PVH since 2011, according to the release.
“Greg Johnson and Jeff Shaw have done a fantastic job since moving into their co-president roles earlier this year, which has allowed Mr. Henslee to focus more on the company’s strategic direction and leadership development in addition to his operational focus. His extensive automotive aftermarket knowledge and experience will be tremendous assets to the company’s board,” O’Reilly Automotive board Chairman David O’Reilly said in the release. “Ms. Perlman brings extensive global retail, investment banking and business development experience to the company.
“The composition of O’Reilly’s board continues to evolve, and Ms. Perlman’s experience, expertise and skill set are welcome additions as we enhance our board and align it to provide the governance and oversight necessary to position the company for continued, long-term profitable growth.”
O’Reilly Automotive, which on Oct. 20 opened its 5,000th store, reported third-quarter earnings of $283.7 million, a 2 percent increase.
ORLY shares were trading at $216.16 as of 10:19 a.m., compared with a 52-week range of $169.43 to $286.57.
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Two buildings in a budding Republic industrial park just might be the welcome mat officials need.
“We think it’s a good thing if every employee has a number of choices. Maybe they’ll want to stay and make a career at Amazon and we welcome that,” says Juan Garcia, Director - Associate …


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Walmart expands shoppable TikTok efforts into magnificence and out of doors manufacturers
According to Lubomira Rochet, the company’s chief digital officer, social commerce is a growing focus of L’Oréal’s digital endeavors around the world. And Walmart’s TikTok shoppable endeavors are attracting interest from others, including Procter & Gamble Co., which are running a TikTok ad supporting the launch of Slate by Gillette, a new brand of disposable razors available exclusively from Walmart.
“This was an idea from the Gillette team, who knew the TikTok audience would be a good match for the Slate and Walmart consumers we want to reach,” says a P&G brand spokeswoman.
While the December event was more of a shoppable variety show, Morrison and her 3.5 million TikTok followers will lead a group in a 60-minute beauty tutorial with beauty tips and information on trends that are more the standard beauty -Influencer tariff match. The selection of participating brands came from a mix of input from Walmart dealers and the participating developers, says White.
Brands didn’t buy into this livestream, he says. “We think authenticity is important to our customers and to TikTok employees. At some point this could be a path we will go, and we will explore our path to get there. “
TikTok takeover on hold
Walmart’s growing TikTok presence comes from the fact that the company’s pending involvement in the social platform remains pending. The Wall Street Journal reported last month that the Biden administration tabled a contract proposal under which Walmart would join Oracle as part of an ownership group that will put TikTok on hold in the US while it continues the Trump administration’s efforts to address security threats checked by Chinese tech companies. The Chinese government would also have to sign the deal.
None of this diminishes Walmart’s appetite for TikTok marketing or social commerce. “We are certainly seeing the content of the trading floor continue to grow and evolve,” says White. “Social commerce as part of this is the place that has really taken off lately. And even in the area of social commerce, we consider the live stream to be purchased as the next wave. It’s big in China, but it’s created here. We want to be at the forefront of innovation and help shape this space for the industry. “
TikTok is vital because of its rapidly growing usage, says White. “As App Annie noted, consumers will spend 21.5 hours a month on TikTok. That’s a lot of time. People spend more time there than in many places on the Internet than anywhere else they are in person. And we want to be there for you. “


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If you haven't been watching the luxury and near-luxury market closely, you might be surprised to find thatMotor Corp.'s mighty Lexus nameplate actually is being undercut by its once pathetically overpriced German adversaries. What happened?
Analysts say that unfavorable exchange rates, inefficient plants and high labor costs battered European automakers in the late 1980s and early 1990s. But the Japanese really shook up European luxury carmakers when they introduced the flagship Lexus and Infiniti models in January 1989: They were $10,000 less than their closest German competitors and - by any measure - far better values.
Shifting currency rates helped level the playing field after that, this time briefly putting the Japanese at a disadvantage, but the stubborn Germans also started ruthlessly cutting costs while developing cars that were easier to build. Donald N. Smith, a manufacturing expert at the University of Michigan's Office for the Study of Automotive Transportation, says Mercedes probably has taken 20% to 25% of labor cost out of its vehicles in recent years.
Jim Mateyka, an analyst at A.T. Kearney, Inc., points out the Germans now are outsourcing more components, stressing modular assembly and are shifting new assembly operations to lower-cost venues such as the U.S. And most experts say implementing Japanese production techniques played a key role in saving Porsche AG from near disaster.
But most analysts say production changes haven't yielded the biggest cost savings. In fact, one manufacturing expert who asks not to be identified, says the U.S. assembly plants of Mercedes andare "horribly inefficient" compared with the U.S. operations of Motor Corp. Like most German facilities, they use too many people and make too many inspections and repairs at the end of the assembly line, rather than building the vehicles right the first time, he says. AG's plant in Mexico gets low marks for the same reasons.
Instead, analysts speculate the Germans chopped the lion's share of costs by no longer "over-engineering" their cars with needlessly complex features and systems. Mercedes used to offer an ultra-sophisticated all-wheel-drive system that cost $8,000. It now offers a much simpler system for less than $3,000.
However, Mr. Mateyka says the Germans probably are the world's best when it comes to engineering vehicle platforms that can be used as the foundation for a stunning number of competent global products., for instance, is using only four vehicle platforms to produce 4 million vehicles annually. It used to need 20.
AG's 3-Series is another example of how German automakers may manage to make a buck and still be price-competitive without the most efficient manufacturing: In just the U.S. and Germany, it offers 26 versions of the same car, from the $23,870 4-cyl. 318ti hatchback to the $46,470 M3 convertible.


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It’s time to support the local Fullerton business like The Bowery in Downtown Fullerton.
Delicious zombee and macabre themed donuts found right here in Fullerton.
Deadlines, transfer updates and other services from Fullerton College’s Transfer Center will be available online
Hapa Cupcakes & Cakes is the ultimate answer to all of the sugar cravings students might be experiencing during the quarantine.
Some Fullerton restaurants are allowing customers to purchase alcoholic beverages to continue social distancing during the COVID-19 outbreak.


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Japan Trade Balance Swings to Defict in October
Japan recorded a trade deficit of JPY 449 billion in October 2018 compared to a JPY 278.6 billion surplus in the same month a year ago, much worse than market expectations of a JPY 70 billion gap. Imports jumped the most since 2014, as rising energy prices boosted oil imports while exports rebounded less than expected.
11/19/2018 12:18:06 PM
Imports jumped 19.9 percent year-on-year to JPY 7.69 trillion, much faster than a 7 percent rise in September and higher than market estimates of 14.5 percent. It is the biggest annual gain in imports since January of 2014 and the highest value since March of 2014. Purchases of mineral fuels soared 36.3 percent, driven by petroleum (33.7 percent), LNG (49.3 percent) and coal (14.3 percent). Also, imports increased for: electrical machinery (10.1 percent); machinery (28.1 percent); chemicals (24.2 percent); manufactured goods (20.1 percent); transport equipment (11.7 percent%) and others (16.7 percent). Among major trading partners, purchases went up mainly from China (16.1 percent); the US (34.3 percent);, Australia (35.2 percent); the EU (10 percent); Saudi Arabia (18.4 percent) and South Korea (22 percent).
Exports increased 8.2 percent year-on-year to JPY 7.24 trillion, missing market expectations of a 9 percent surge and after an upwardly revised 1.3 percent decrease in September. Higher shipments were recorded for: transport equipment (9 percent); machinery (7.7 percent); electrical machinery (8.2 percent); manufactured goods (9.2 percent); chemicals (13.5 percent) and others (1.4 percent). Among major trading partners, sales rose to China (9 percent); the US (11.6 percent); the EU (7.7 percent); South Korea (1.7 percent); and Taiwan (6.4 percent).
The trade surplus with the US shrank 11 percent year-on-year to JPY 573.4 billion while the trade gap with China jumped 52.1 percent to JPY 406.2 billion.
Considering January to October 2018, Japan recorded a trade gap of JPY 401 billion, compared to a surplus of JPY 2.4 trillion in the same period of 2017.


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U.S. small and middle market enterprises (SMEs) are feeling very optimistic about the international market according to the 2018 American Express Grow Global Survey.
They forecast that revenue derived from exports will increase by more than 50% over the next five years, up from only 18% who projected this level of increase in 2017.
The third annual survey of over 500 domestically-based companies selling outside of the U.S. found that nine out of ten (90%) see international markets as a major growth opportunity. Exporters expect short- and long-term increases: 75% predict that the percentage of their company’s total revenue from exported goods or services will increase over the next 12 months and 76% expect growth over the next five years.
While SMEs who export are optimistic about international opportunities, more than two thirds (71%) said that changing global economics are a significant challenge. Exporters expressed caution due to uncertainty around trade agreements (39%) and U.S. trade policies (38%). Over the last 12 months, many exporters changed their exporting strategy due to trade agreements and policies (32%) as well as political instability (28%).
Despite their concerns around the global trade landscape, exporters are investing in their international operations. Respondents report that, on average, they invest 36% of their annual sales and marketing budget into entering and growing international markets.
“Exporting is often seen as a challenging path to growth, but our research finds that small and mid-sized companies that begin exporting generally see the strategy quickly become a substantial part of their business and provide secondary benefits in recruitment and domestic operations,” said Brendan Walsh, Executive Vice President in the Global Commercial Services division at American Express. “We continue to see optimism and success among U.S. exporters, and we encourage SMEs to consider international sales by doing their due diligence about the potential range of opportunities.”
Identifying International Market Opportunities
Changing global economics impact opportunities around the world. When asked which region offered the greatest opportunity over the next five years, a quarter (25%) of exporters said North America (Canada/Mexico), down from 34% in 2017 and 2016. Now North America is virtually tied with Asia (26%) and Europe (25%) as the top regions for international growth opportunities.
Areas that experienced increased optimism were the Middle East (10%, up from 5% in 2017) and Oceania (5%, up from 1% in 2017).
In new analysis this year, the surveyed exporters identified government contracts as an opportunity to explore global growth. Nearly a third (32%) of the respondents identified new international markets based on U.S. government contracting opportunities they qualify to fulfill, and 16% of respondents said they are currently doing business internationally because of a government contract.
Technology Helping to Scale Export
More than three quarters (78%) said exporting became a substantial part of their business within three years or less of selling globally, and a major reason is online technologies have helped companies find new international markets – especially receiving inbound requests through their website.
More than four in ten (45%) identified new international markets to target based on their company’s website traffic, and 30% said they are currently doing business in international markets because a customer found their product online. When exporters’ website traffic alerts them to a new market opportunity, the next steps they take include further researching the market (60%), exploring the market for partners (59%) and traveling to the market itself (55%).
Additionally, respondents are adjusting their exporting strategies due to emerging technology trends in the industry. Four in ten (43%) said technology that makes exporting easier to scale has changed their strategy in the last 12 months.
The technologies most likely to have a significant impact on their plans to sell internationally include fintech (36%), artificial intelligence (35%) and the internet of things (35%). Interestingly, the adoption of supply chain technology (e.g., machine learning, robotics, etc.) divides companies: 34% said that the adoption of this technology will lead their company to increase efforts in international trade, while 31% said it will lead them to be more cautious.
Global Lessons for Domestic Operations
As U.S. exporters remain optimistic on revenue growth through international business, companies also often experience positive impacts on their domestic operation as a result of exporting.
A strong majority of SME exporters agree that selling to countries outside of the U.S. has led their company to implement changes to the products or services that they offer (83%) and make adjustments (when necessary) to the way they market to domestic customers (84%).
A significant amount of exporters report that selling internationally also impacts domestic hiring, in terms of attracting and retaining new talent (85%).
Along with positive impacts to domestic operations, eight in ten (80%) companies said that selling internationally opens up more flexible financing options. In addition, their exposure in international markets helped them become aware of new financing options (75%) and had a positive impact on their ability to obtain financing (79%).
Resources for SMEs to Get Started and Grow Global
While technological advances help companies find new global markets and make them more accessible, companies rely on additional resources to help them grow their international business. Small and mid-sized companies said they most often learn about international markets where they do business by networking (45%), seeking out resources in markets of interest such as employees and distributors (43%), joining trade and business associations (39%) and reviewing the online materials of potential trade partners and customers (38%).
Additionally, nearly one-third tap the resources of government agencies (30%) like the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Export Assistance Centers (USEACs) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (27%), as well as corporate training programs (31%), such as the American Express Grow Global which brings together global trade experts, exporting officials and business leaders to provide valuable resources for U.S small and middle market companies to sell internationally. The program includes free events and online resources that connect owners and decision makers with exporting officials and international buyers.


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Parkway Center Mall set to close
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The slow demise of Parkway Center Mall is nearing completion.
In the wake of Kmart announcing a few weeks ago that it was closing its longtime store at the 442,742-square-foot shopping center close to the Fort Pitt Tunnels on the Parkway West, Parkway Center owner Kossman Development Co. has notified the remaining small businesses at the mall the property is to be closed down and they will need to vacate.
"They’re all on short-term leases,” said Steve Weisbrod, vice president of development for Kossman. “They’re making final arrangements now.”
Noting the cost of operating the center doesn’t justify keeping it open for such a small number of tenants, Weisbrod put the number of businesses still operating there at six or seven, including a GNC store, a comic book shop and a judo studio.
He added the closing of the mall is expected to coincide with Kmart’s final day of operation, which is scheduled to be Jan. 6, pending a liquidation sale.
Parkway Center has operated as an enclosed mall, which is much smaller than regional malls such as at Ross Park and the Mall at Robinson, thus making it harder to establish the kind of critical mass of shops and restaurants needed to draw shoppers, some real estate observers said.
A Giant Eagle grocery store on the northern flank of Parkway Center will continue to operate under a recently extended five-year lease, Weisbrod said.
Weisbrod added he expects a full redevelopment will be needed — a process that was difficult to achieve with Kmart continuing to renew its five-year options on its store there.
“I would think that most of it would have to be torn down and rebuilt in some fashion,” he said.
Tim Schooley covers retail, real estate, construction, hospitality, arts and entertainment, and government. Contact him at email@example.com or 412-208-3826.
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BOSTON (MarketWatch) -- Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and Sanofi-Aventis soared Wednesday after the companies struck a deal that could keep generic competition for their blockbuster blood-thinner Plavix off the market until 2011.
Late Tuesday, partners Bristol-Myers and Sanofi
Shares of Bristol-Myers rocketed 11% to close at $25.24, while U.S.-traded shares of Sanofi jumped 10% to $47.88.
An early loss of market exclusivity for Plavix would be crippling for Bristol-Myers. With 2005 worldwide sales of over $6 billion, Bristol's take from Plavix sales accounts for about 30% of its earnings per share.
Sanofi would also be vulnerable to a generic rival for Plavix, sales of which contribute up to 15% to its earnings per share, according to Prudential Equity Group.
Marketed jointly by Bristol and Sanofi, Plavix is used to prevent blood clots that can lead to heart attack or stroke. Sanofi holds the U.S. key patent for Plavix, which is set to expire in November 2011.
Apotex, which had its generic version of Plavix approved by the FDA in January, hasn't been the only drugmaker seeking to put out a generic version of the blockbuster.
Indian generics maker Dr. Reddy's Laboratories
Bristol and Sanofi said that they have approached Dr. Reddy's about a possible settlement but that the outcome is still uncertain.
"We'll also be communicating with Teva and Cobalt in due course," said Bristol spokesman Tony Plohoros said Wednesday.
U.S.-traded shares of Dr. Reddy's more than 8% in the early going, setting a new 52-week high. The stock closed at $32.75, up 7%. Teva closed down marginally lower at $42.21.
The news prompted several analysts to upgrade their ratings on New York-based Bristol
UBS upgraded Bristol to neutral from reduce, saying the news eliminates the key risk to owning the drugmaker's shares. Merrill Lynch and Citigroup also issued upgrades, with the latter saying that if the settlement is upheld Bristol could become more attractive as an acquisition target.
Bristol and Sanofi's suit against Apotex was slated to go to trial in June. The trial date is now suspended, pending a finalization of the settlement.
The companies said under the agreement, Sanofi will grant Apotex a royalty-bearing license, with the understanding that Apotex won't put out a generic version of Plavix on the U.S. market until September 2011. Sanofi and Bristol will make royalty payments to Apotex in return. The royalty rate was not disclosed.
Apotex might also be able to market its drug before that date if another drugmaker is successful in having Plavix's patents declared invalid. Sanofi and Bristol are also legally entitled to a six months extension on their market exclusivity if they agree to run pediatric trials for Plavix. If they chose to do so, Apotex will pay the companies royalties in order to market the product during that six month period.
Bristol-Myers and Sanofi also advised that it was possible that their agreement with Apotex may not be cleared by antitrust regulators. If the deal is turned down, the court case will be reinstated.
The companies added that as Apotex already has FDA clearance to market a generic version of Plavix, it could launch the product "at-risk," meaning it would be responsible for paying damages to Sanofi and Bristol-Myers if found guilty of patent infringement later on.


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Independent labels in the US are being given “inferior” contract terms for iTunes Radio inclusion with little room for negotiation, according to a report.
Digital Music News sources from several indie labels and distributors, have said that Apple is sending “pre-filled, inferior contract terms” to indies.
The labels are being handed “significantly less favourable terms than what the majors are reportedly receiving,” according to one source, with another saying “[Apple] will not make much in the agreement negotiable, if anything.”
DMN says that “the basic payout for indies seems to be $0.0013 per ‘royalty-bearing stream’ with marginally higher rates for premium, iMatch subscriber streams. That rate increases to $0.0014 in year two.”


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This year’s BIFGA (British Independent Fruit Growers’ Association) Spring Farm Walk was an opportunity for its members to visit one of the leading top-fruit fruit farms in Kent. In fact, the opportunity was so welcome that around 100 people attended the event at AC Goatham & Son’s Howt Green Farm near Sittingbourne in early May.
AC Goatham & Son, an award-winning family business run by father and son Clive and Ross Goatham, is very open about the fact that its strategy is based on a long-term view. Given that this growing business now boastssome two million trees on 28 farms, the strategy is clearly a winning formula. From its investment in state-of-the-art storage facilities to the trialling of new growing methods, those who attended the Spring Farm Walk at Howt Green Farm were given many insights into Goatham’s forward-thinking approach.
The walk began with visitors gathering in the farm’s state-of-the-art storage facility. They were introduced to the sponsors of the event by BIFGA Chairman John Breach. As the saying in the fruit industry goes, “You can’t grow it if you can’t store it.” It was fittingthat two of this year’s sponsors were Orchard Cooling and Storage Control Systems (SCS), both of which have worked on the farm’s cold stores. The first block of stores was built some ten years ago, the second one in 2013, and the latest one was completed in 2018. Howt Green Farm now has a storage capacity of 30,000 bins.
Orchard Cooling’s Paul Kennett said: “As engineers and electrical specialists, we have worked with Ross and Clive for quite a few years and we are very proud to be able to sponsor this event in their stores and to see the business grow and hopefully ours growing with it.” Speaking to The Fruit Growerafter the event, Paul noted that Howt Green Farm’s stores are user-friendly and energy efficient. “We have mainly used secondary refrigeration with glycol and external chillers with low-charge hydrocarbon gas, HFC (hydrofluorocarbon)chillersand an energy-saving software controller linked to the stores’ control system. These are accessible on a mobile phone, to keep an eye on things.”
Paul also noted that the stores, most of which have capacities of 200 to 300 tonnes, operate with very low primary base charge in the chillers. This keeps down the requirement for large amounts of refrigerant gas, as with DX systems. Paul added: “The stores have user-friendly controls and energy-saving features on fan control and liquid pumps. Defrost is minimal due to the very large surface area of the bespoke coolers inside the controlled atmosphere (CA) stores.” He also pointed out that the secondary refrigeration systems use DTX food-safe glycol that complies with the EU’s F-Gas regulations.
The visitors were also introduced to Jake Taylor, construction coordinator at SCS – a Kent-based supplier of atmosphere-modifying and monitoring equipment and cold store construction company. Jake reminded growers that there are many different elements to consider when building a CA store, including location, planning and design. He informed the visitors that SCS can help to eliminate hassle by helping top-fruit businesses through every stage of the process. “We have helped customers with the planning stage in the past, and we can supply a design for you, such as incorporating different size stores, chilled passageways, packhouses, freezers and ripening rooms, as well as accommodation blocks.” Jake emphasised that SCS can provide a package incorporating groundworks, steel frame, cold store construction, electrics, refrigeration and CA under one umbrella, tailored to the client’s needs.
Given that Kent has already experienced hailstorms this year, it was quite timely that hail insurance provider Weatherbys Hamilton was another of this year’s sponsors. Jonny McIrvine, a partner at the insurance broker, explained that Weatherbys, working with Dutch hail insurance specialist OFH, is now insuring more than 60 policies and just under £10 million of fruit. He said: “The OFH policy works in a very different way to the standard policies in the UK. It allows you to choose the value of the fruit that you insure; it does not require you to insure all your fruit or all the fruit in an orchard. You can pick and choose what you insure and where. If you have a loss, it will be adjusted before you pick. You know before you pick what you will be getting from the insurance and you will get that in December of the same year.” Jonny also highlighted that hail insurance is assisted by the subsidies that are available to Producer Organisations from the Rural Payments Agency.
Entering the ‘pink sector’
Goatham’s Technical Director Nigel Stewart led the walk around the farm, informing BIFGA members that the business acquired Howt Green Farm in 2008. “At that time the varieties included Bramley, Conference pears, cherries, Cox, Discovery and plums. The Cox, Discovery and plums all met their end, but we still have the original Bramley, cherries and two blocks of Conference on the farm.” Nigel added that, whilst the farm comprised 53ha when Goatham’s bought it, it now occupies 142ha as the firm has acquired new land over the past decade. In keeping with the business’s forward-thinking approach, the grubbed orchards have been replaced with V-system Conference pears, cherries, Gala, Braeburn, Bramley and a new variety for the UK, Flanders Pink.
Nigel added, “There is a 3ha reservoir for irrigation, holding 22 million gallons, and we have an application in to double that. As you can appreciate, given the size of the farm, we are probably going to need all of that. The final planting, except for the last 8ha, will be finished this coming autumn. A total of 136ha will be completed and it will just leave the original Bramley orchard, a small cherry orchard and the two original Conference pear orchards. Everything else will have been replanted.”
The walk around the orchards began with a visit to a Flanders Pink block that was planted two years ago. The variety (a Kanzi x Greenstar cross) was bred in Europe and discovered by Goatham’s two years ago. Commercial director Carol Ford revealed that Goatham’s, the sole marketer of this apple in the UK, is confident that the variety will successfully emulate the competition. She said: “We are all very excited about it. We thought it had a chance of doing something quite spectacular in the marketplace., and we have plans to plant more trees over the coming years. It’s quite an exciting product, and we are just trying to make sure that we have done all of the research, from both a grower and consumer perspective.”
Carol explained to the visiting group that Goatham’s has been carrying out extensive research on how consumers react to the Flanders Pink apple, including how people respond to it at the point of purchase and how its taste compares to other pink apples. The firm’s Director of Farming, Peter Bukowski, added that the variety “has had a pretty good start so far, but it’s still early days.” He added: “This is the second crop and we are still learning, but it hasn’t suffered from any diseases, so it has been no different to growing Gala.”
Focused on the future
A new Gala planting was the next stop, when Peter briefly discussed the farm’s thinning regime for these apples. He said: “We are not using any products during flowering time, and we always like to deal with a problem when we see it on the tree. And when we have plenty of apples on there, that’s when we like to thin chemically. We have been using Brevis for the last few years and it’s had a very good effect. We started trialling that three years ago and everything went well, and we are very happy with it.”
The group also visited one of the farm’s top-performing Gala orchards. Whilst only in its fourth leaf, having been planted in 2016, the orchard yielded 52 tonnes/ha last season and is expected to produce 65 tonnes/ha this year. Peter said: “It’s amazing that this planting is only three years old. An average of 65 tonnes/ha of Gala is what we are happy with.”
Given the firm’s high level of expertise and willingness to try new growing techniques, good yields are not solely the result of good fortune. BIFGA members learned, for instance, that Goatham’s has invested heavily in the innovative V-system for Conference pears. Nigel revealed that he hopes that when mature, these high-density plantings will yield 50-55 tonnes/ha. “The UK’s top-fruit industry supplies just 9% of all the Conference pears that are consumed in the UK, so we have a massive market to fill. They come into cropping a lot quicker than they used to, so we think it’s the right thing to do.” Peter Bukowski explained that the trees have four stems, but sometimes a fifth stem is added to slow down the growth and enable the business to pick some extra pears.
The walk also included a quick stop at Howt Green Farm’s small, nine-year-old cherry orchard that Peter had just pruned. He said: “We’ve just finished pruning them and will put the covers on soon. I like to put them on after flowering because some of the varieties are cross-pollinated.” He added that the farm carries out good hygiene practices and has not had any major problems with SWD. The varieties included Penny, which last year cropped at 25.1 tonnes/ha; Regina, which yielded 27.5 tonnes/ha, and Kordia, which produced 30.5 tonnes/ha.
The visitors were also shown around some of the farm’s more established trees, such as an old Bramley orchard that was earmarked to be grubbed. Nigel said: “It’s been a very productive orchard, but we are trying to reduce our Bramley area.” Also being replaced were two blocks of Braeburn that the group walked past towards the end of the walk. Evidently, the Goatham’s management is acutely focused on the future and is unafraid to invest in tomorrow’s varieties. As the BIFGA visitors learned, such varieties will include Flanders Pink as the company completes the farm’s new plantings over the coming few years.
The Fruit Grower has been the fruit industry’s leading magazine for over 30 years
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Contact: Chris tanton


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Written by Linc Bedrosian
Gov. Deval Patrick has been urged by Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley to request that President Obama "ask" the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to institute lesser catch reductions than are expected on Gulf of Maine cod and other stocks for the fishing year that begins May 1.
The catch restrictions expected from the Obama administration within days are "essentially a death sentence to the 80,000 jobs created by the industry and a loss of $2 billion to the commonwealth," Coakley wrote to Patrick on April 10.
State officials said the governor was preparing a definitive response.
"This remains an important issue for the Commonwealth and the Patrick-Murray Administration will continue to vigorously advocate for the fishing industry which is important to the character and economic vitality of Massachusetts," Reginald Zimmerman, a spokesman for the governor, said in an email.
Read the full story at Gloucester Times>>
National Fisherman Live: 3/10/15
In this episode, Online Editor Leslie Taylor talks with Mike McLouglin, vice president of Dunlop Industrial and Protective Footwear.
National Fisherman Live: 2/24/15
In this episode:
March date set for disaster aid dispersal
Oregon LNG project could disrupt fishing
NOAA tweaks gear marking requirement
N.C. launches first commercial/recreational dock
Spiny lobster traps limits not well received
The Gulf of Maine Research Institute is partnering with restaurants throughout the region for an Out of the Blue promotion of cape shark, also known as dogfish. Starting Friday, July 3 and running until Sunday, July 12, cape shark will be available at each participating restaurant during the 10-day event. Cape shark is abundant and well deserving of a wider market.
As a joint Gulf of Mexico states seafood marketing effort sails into the sunset, the program’s Marketing Director has left for a job in the private seafood sector. Joanne McNeely Zaritsky, the former Marketing Director of the Gulf State Marketing Coalition, has joined St. Petersburg, FL based domestic seafood processor Captain’s Fine Foods as its new business development director to promote its USA shrimp product line.


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A collection of notable security news items for the week ending March 26, 2015. Covers enterprise, controversies, application and mobile security, malware, reports and more.
Showing results 1 to 20 of 6,270
Microsoft's Windows 10 software development kit for writing universal apps is now available for download.
Microsoft wants Windows 10 to run on every PC worldwide, which is why they're offering it as a free upgrade to everyone running Windows 7 or 8.1. But the company's obsession with "genuine" Windows threatens to scuttle that grand plan.
At the WinHEC conference in China today, Microsoft showed off a new biometric authentication feature called Windows Hello. The ambitious technology, which uses fingerprint and iris recognition to replace passwords, will debut in Windows 10 devices later this year.
The company's recent results suggest a slowdown in firms leaving the ancient OS behind and upgrading to new systems. Why won't they update?
Users were warned not to restart their PCs, in case they wouldn't boot up again.
LaCie, the premium brand of Seagate Technology, announced the addition of USB-C technology to its Porsche Design Mobile Drive, making it the perfect match for Apple's new MacBook.
After admitting to a security breach, the luxury hotel chain has managed to remove malware discovered on systems related to customer financial data.
Let's go behind the specs and find out everything you need to know about getting Windows 10 running on a PC, but were too afraid (or confused) to ask.
AdaptiveMobile has uncovered a new mobile malware campaign which uses phone contacts to spread.
If you've ever bought a Windows PC or Android smartphone or tablet from one of the big name vendors then chances are that you are familiar - perhaps even intimately familiar if you've ever tried removing it - with crapware.
Around 16 million mobile devices worldwide were hit by malware as of the end of 2014, while attacks on communications networks rose during the year, according to new research by Alcatel-Lucent.
The region, first known as a computer virus factory, has since became one of the most advanced security hubs in the world, housing companies like Kaspersky, Bitdefender, and ESET. This is how it happened.
Security firm Kaspersky claims Regin is strikingly similar to QWERTY malware documented in Snowden files.
A backdoor has been discovered in popular consumer drones which can hijack your favorite new flying toy.
A French project to bring mobile libraries and connectivity to people in the aftermath of crises has been given a vote of confidence in a recent 'tech for good' list.
According to Lookout, mobile malware is on the rise internationally -- while adware is slowly being taken under control.
Microsoft is making Windows 8.1 available to its PC partners for anywhere from 'zero dollars' to $15 per copy, according to recently disclosed OEM licensing information.
Malware raises the cost of doing business by $1.3m a year, largely due to the burden of responding to false alarms, according to a survey.
Best Buy is going to be whacked by "external pressures" such as deflationary pricing and weak demand for electronics. The fix is more investment on technology and omnichannel e-commerce tools.


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NEWPORT City Council is committed to supporting the creation of a Business Improvement District (BID) in the city.
In an email seen by the Argus, the cabinet member for infrastructure, John Richards confirmed the council will support the chamber of trade in attempting to create a BID.
Cllr Richards, said: “Weare working with the Chamber of Trade on the development of a city centre BID (Business Improvement District). The Chamber of Trade will lead the process with assistance from NCC.”
The news will come as a boost to city centre traders trying to stop the steady exodus of shops.
Just last week clothes store Internacionale quit the city centre following Marks & Spencer out of Commercial Street.
Alan Edwards, president of Newport chamber of trade, welcomed the council’s backing but said now the key was to make people aware of how BID can help their business.
Mr Edwards, said: “I understand we have the support of the council and council officers and that’s positive but now we need to get traders on board.
“If you go round the shops in Newport and ask about BID they will probably look at you silly because they don’t really know anything about it.”
For a BID area to be set up, 51 per cent of the businesses within that defined geographical area would have to vote in favour of it.
Mr Edwards said the chamber will be hosting a meeting on January 31 at 6pm at the Castle Room at the Newport Centre.
For more information, contact Mr Edwards by email on firstname.lastname@example.org
How BIDs work
RUSSELL Greenslade is chief executive of Swansea BID.
Here, he explains how BIDs work and how they set up Swansea’s.
When was Swansea BID set up and why?
“Swansea BID was started in 2006. A paper came from the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office at the time, asking local councils if they wanted to set up a BID. Swansea Council seized the opportunity and set about the project, securing a successful ballot in 2006.
“A BID term is five years, after which it has to be voted in again by the businesses.
We secured a successful renewal ballot in 2011, at challenging economic times.
We are elected by the businesses, so if a BID doesn’t deliver, it doesn’t get voted for, in essence. Swansea was one of the original pilot UK BIDs.”
How do you set one up?
“The local authority has to lead on it and fund the ballot etc. Businesses are then consulted with to gain a successful ballot. Once a successful ballot is obtained, a private company is set up, with its own board of directors to run the Business Improvement District as a not-for-profit, limited- by-guarantee company, with people such as myself employed by the company to run it and deliver the business plan and move the company forward, to benefit the businesses and city centre.
How long does it take?
“Depends. Historically, onetwo years in some cases.”
What are the benefits?
“A BID is a direct response to businesses’ ideas, to improve their trading environment and enhance profitability.
Through a BID, businesses in the area can help control their trading environment, driven by a private sector management approach. A BID also enables and ensures better collaborative working between public and third sectors, with anything a BID delivers being above and beyond what local authority does in the BID area.
Collaborative working is key and is something we have developed very well in Swansea with the local authority, to benefit all.”