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About 64 percent of users have made at least one purchase every month, while 9 percent say they have bought at least one virtual good every day, according to the 2010 Digital Goods Report. The report is based on a survey of 2,221 users between the ages of 13 and 64 across the PlaySpan Marketplace, Facebook, and Ultimate Game Card purchasers.
This group of users is certainly more inclined to buy virtual goods, but the data shows that virtual goods business models are catching on in the U.S., after first taking root in Asia.
Social networks are leading the market, with 32 percent of respondents making purchases in social networks. The median spent in social networks is $50 spent per year on digital goods in games and other apps on social networks. The median for massively multiplayer online games is $40 per year; casual games are $40 per year, as are free-to-play games. The media for PC games with online play is $37 and the median for console games with online play is $20.
PayPal was the most common method for paying for digital goods at 43 percent. About 32 percent of people paid with credit cards and 30 percent paid with PlaySpan’s Ultimate Game Card. Facebook Credits, still in its infancy, accounted for 7 percent of purchases.
While males are playing significantly more games and are the primary drivers of total virtual goods sales, North American women 25 and older are spending disproportionately large sums of money on virtual goods. On social networks, the average female spent $55, compared to only $30 for males. Females also spent twice as much, $50, compared to $25 for males when buying in-game currency. Here’s a link to data from past surveys.
How startups are scaling communication: The pandemic is making startups take a close look at ramping up their communication solutions. Learn how


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Long thought to be one of the linchpins of the cable bundle, the National Football League has acknowledged that it needs to appeal to a wider audience of consumers by going over-the-top (OTT) and bringing in consumers who want to watch the games via the Internet.
As part of the announcement to bring Thursday Night Football to both CBS and Comcast’s NBC, the country’s most popular sports league said Monday it was “is in active discussions with prospective digital partners for OTT streaming rights to Thursday Night Football,” with a deal “expected in the near future.”
Most companies out there, whether they’re dependent on advertising revenue or looking to sell additional hardware, would likely jump at the chance to host NFL games.
Here are some of the more likely educated choices:
I’m not a betting person, but I would put my money on Facebook to be awarded the OTT rights. Less than two weeks ago, Facebook Sports Stadium went LIVE into production. It’s a dedicated place to experience sports in real-time with your friends and the world. With 1.5 Billion user population and 650 million sports fans, Facebook is the world’s largest stadium. Everyday people turn to Facebook to celebrate, commiserate, and talk trash with their friends and other fans.
With Facebook Sports Stadium, all the content on Facebook related to the game is in one place, and it comes in real time and appears chronologically. The ability to air this content within this platform is the next natural step.

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The Borgias is a Showtime TV series that tells the story of “the original crime family,” the titular Borgias family, in 15th century Rome. The first season debuted this past April, and soon a game based on the show will be coming to Facebook, developed by the same team behind Weeds Social Club and the upcoming Dexter: Slice of Life.
The game will follow the first season of the show, putting players in the role of an up and comer within the Borgias family. It will feature a mission-based structure and a high level of customization, letting players create their own villages and businesses.
There may be a lot of crime-themed games on Facebook, but according to Marc Fernandez, Ecko|Code’s executive vice president of product development, what will will set The Borgias apart will be a combination of setting and game mechanics.
“I think that one of the biggest distinguishing factors is the environment we’ve created,” he told Gamezebo. “We’ve gone to great pain and a lot of effort to create Roman architecture from that time period. So the way that St. Peter’s Basilica looked like, the Pantheon, different neighborhoods, and the architecture itself definitely is something that will set us apart by the way the game looks.
“And also I think another thing that will set us apart is the complexity of the game,” he added. “Yeah there’s a lot of crime games out on Facebook, but at the same time I think that you’ll be surprised at the level of game mechanics that our game brings to the table. It’s definitely a step up.”
No specific release date has been announced for The Borgias, but it’s expected to launch sometime after Dexter: Slice of Life in October.
Stay tuned to Gamezebo for the full extensive interview with Fernandez later today.


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Travelport GDS business declining 9% in Q2
August 14, 2008: Thanks to the continue strong perfomance of GTA (26% revenue increase), Travelport was able to grow adjusted net revenue by 1% and adjusted EBITDA by 8% in the second quarter.
Travelport Limited, the parent company of the Travelport group of companies, today announced its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2008. Travelport recognized net revenue and adjusted net revenue of $703 million for the second quarter of 2008, representing a (2%) decrease and 1% increase, respectively, over the same period last year. Travelport achieved EBITDA of $187 million and adjusted EBITDA of $203 million in the second quarter of 2008, representing an increase of 55% and 8%, respectively, over the same period last year.
Travelport CEO and President, Jeff Clarke, stated: “Travelport’s results in the second quarter of 2008 continue to show the resiliency of our business even during a difficult operating environment. The softness in the first quarter accelerated into the second quarter with total GDS segments declining 9% year-over-year. GTA continued to perform well and grew net revenue 26% in the quarter. Travelport was able to grow adjusted net revenue 1% and adjusted EBITDA 8%. Excluding the impact of Worldspan, Travelport grew adjusted net revenue and adjusted EBITDA by 4% and 16%, respectively.”


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The long wait by most beginner riders in Malaysia has now turned to reality when Kawasaki Malaysia launched the bike yesterday (24 September 2013) at the Elite Speedway. But somehow, after all these years of making review films to the green team of Malaysia; we were once again left out from the invitation list to the launch of the long awaited Z250.
But all that aside, as a portal or platform to motorcycle enthusiast out there; we are passionate in sharing and giving out the information that we have regarding the bike even if we were not present to the launch event. The first of the thing that everyone must be curious to know is the price. Kawasaki yesterday announced the price will be set at RM21,589 which from our perspective, looks to be a very strong contender with the current hot selling KTM DUKE 200.
The baby of the Z800 are now looking to be a much more accommodating to the local beginner riders who are looking for a steady bike with stunning looks and ease of usage to be a daily commuter. With the introduction of three colors from RED, WHITE and the traditional GREEN, the Z250 are looking to grab some pieces of the cake in the beginner level of motorcycle market.
As much as we want to share about our insight on the new Z250, we are unable to give a proper write ups on this piece due to our uninvited circumstance. But, we are confident that the bike will definitely be as good as the Ninja 250 similar to the one that our test rider had tested previously (CLICK HERE TO WATCH). Therefore, we are looking forward at what else can the Z250 give us to enjoy the already great 250cc platform.
For that, we are hoping that everyone will stay tune with us in Malaysian Riders whether it’s on our website, on our FACEBOOK PAGE and our high priority YOUTUBE CHANNEL. Please do stay close with us via all these channels and medium to get the latest updates and the future review on all motorcycle that we can get our hands on.


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Binance Pay Now Used by Ukrainian Supermarkets, a Luxury UAE Hotel, and an Argentinian Airline
Binance Pay lets users spend their crypto on real-world goods and services, and without fees, when buying from any merchant on the platform.
September 2022 saw four big additions to the Binance Pay ecosystem.
Any merchant ready to accept crypto should take advantage of Binance Pay and its 17 million users.
September has been a busy month for Binance Pay, with a lot of exciting partnerships and announcements for the platform. This article will cover all the latest news from the Binance Pay ecosystem.
Binance Pay is a contactless, borderless, and secure cryptocurrency payment technology designed by Binance. The platform allows you to send, spend, and pay with crypto anywhere in the world. And the best part for users? There are absolutely no fees.
It’s a great way for friends and family to transfer funds without any charges. You can also use Binance Pay to spend crypto when shopping — as long as the merchant has signed up to the platform and technology provided by Binance.
Check out our list of merchants that accept Binance Pay. The good news is that as the platform grows, you’ll be able to buy even more of your favorite things with crypto — completely fee-free.
September 2022 alone saw some major developments for Binance Pay — from integration across Bahrain and Europe’s first supermarket chain to a luxury UAE hotel and a South American airline.
Binance Pay now available in Bahrain at 5,000 points of sale
September 2022 brought news of a partnership between Binance Pay and Bahrain’s EazyPay (Eazy Financial Services). The latter is licensed and regulated by the Central Bank of Bahrain and specializes in point-of-sale (POS) and online services.
The result is that there are 5,000 POS terminals and payment gateways across Bahrain that now accept Binance Pay. Customers in the kingdom can quickly and safely pay with crypto at popular merchants such as Al Zain Jewellery (a jeweler founded in 1930) and Lulu Hypermarket (part of the Middle East’s biggest retail chain).
EazyPay’s integration of Binance Pay into its POS terminals and payment gateways means crypto-first customers can spend crypto instead of fiat when shopping — all they need to do is scan the QR code using their Binance App. And remember: there are no fees!
Ukraine’s Varus the first supermarket in Europe to accept Binance Pay
September 2022 also marked a first for supermarket shoppers in Europe looking to pay with crypto, when it was announced that Binance Pay would be partnering with Varus, a 20-year-old supermarket chain with more than 100 stores across Ukraine. The integration of Binance Pay means Ukrainian customers can use their crypto holdings to buy food, drink, and other household goods when shopping at Varus.
The first step of this partnership is facilitating the purchase of products for delivery in nine major Ukrainian cities, including Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, and the capital, Kyiv. Customers in those cities can seamlessly shop with crypto via the Varus app. It’s another win for the wider mission of making crypto more accessible globally, and a first for this kind of supermarket partnership with Binance Pay in Europe.
Five-star Dubai hotel joins the Binance Pay revolution
Let’s return to the Persian Gulf, where one of the UAE’s top hotels has become the latest merchant to join the Binance Pay movement. First opened in 2016, the Palazzo Versace Dubai is situated on the shore of Dubai Creek.
Part of the Italian high-fashion house’s global hotel network, with 215 guest rooms and 169 residences, the five-star Palazzo Versace Dubai on the Jaddaf Waterfront has developed a reputation as one of the top luxury hotels in the region. September 2022 saw the hotel take its place at the cutting edge of crypto with the news that it would accept payment in BNB, BTC, and ETH, thanks to Binance Pay.
“Palazzo Versace’s ability to now accept payments in virtual assets is a reflection of how the hospitality industry in Dubai is at the forefront of innovation as we move into a more digital world. We look forward to building on this partnership together,” said Nadeem Ladki, Head of Business Development for Binance in the MENA region.
Binance Pay takes to the skies with Flybondi in Argentina
A low-cost airline in Argentina was another September 2022 addition to the Binance Pay family. In arguably the most innovative move of the month, Flybondi announced it would let customers buy tokenized tickets — which they are calling ‘NFTickets’ — using crypto and Binance Pay. The mechanism has been designed by Flybondi with the help of blockchain travel specialists TravelX.
The tokenization of Flybondi’s ‘NFTickets’ means customers can transfer or resell them to other people after purchase, and update the passenger details accordingly. Under the airline’s terms, all details attached to an ‘NFTicket’ have to be confirmed three days before departure, but, unlike a standard airline ticket, an NFTicket can be reassigned — be it by sale or transfer — without restriction.
“We’re very happy to use blockchain technology to give the greatest freedom to our customers,” said Flybondi CEO Mauricio Sana, as reported by Bloomberg Línea. Best of all, the whole process can be paid for in crypto, thanks to Flybondi and TravelX’s use of Binance Pay. The possibilities are endless.
Binance Pay is for everyone
As can be seen from the activity in September 2022 alone, Binance Pay continues to grow in options and reach. As more merchants join the program, crypto users will have ever-greater opportunities to spend their holdings on everyday items.
And for the merchants out there ready to embrace the future, Binance Pay is opening up a customer base of more than 17 million users. Want to find out more? Visit our Binance Pay pages for everything you need to know.
Don’t delay; integrate with Binance Pay today.


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Gen Z Has More Disposable Income Than Thought. Here's How Much.
Gen Z has a lot more disposable income than many thought.
According to a new study, that age bracket now has a disposable income of $360 billion, according to Gen Z Planet, a research group.
Gen Z is considered the people born between 1997 and 2012 and follows the Millennial generation.
In 2021, the age bracket’s disposal income reached the mark with $263 billion coming from full- or part-time employment wages. Another $57 billion comes from discretionary spending from their parents and $40 billion from a “side hustle.”
“With a figure this big, just imagine the opportunities,” said Hana Ben-Shabat, founder of Gen Z Planet. “It’s critical to understand the size and the evolution of Gen Z spending power as it constantly changes. More Gen Zers are joining the workforce every year, and many are taking on entrepreneurial side hustles to make extra cash.” She also noted that “For at least three years, the industry’s been using outdated figures that underestimated the true potential of Generation Z’s spending power. An updated figure will better guide retailers and brands as they market to this generation.”
Gen Z Planet said the age bracket is very cautious and long-term oriented after living through the 2008 recession and the COVId-19 pandemic.
Roughly 85 percent of Gen Z who participated in a recent study said they save a quarter to half the money they receive from their parents.
“Like Millennials before them, Gen Zers face the very real danger of being misunderstood,” Ben-Shabat said. “Brands, marketers, and retailers that take the time to truly understand how this entrepreneurially minded and financially switched-on generation thinks and behaves will quickly benefit from their growing spending power.”


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Inchcape Fleet Solutions is celebrating being named as one of the top companies to work for in the UK for the second consecutive year.
Inchcape Fleet Solutions has launched a company car salary sacrifice scheme.
Statistics show Vauxhall and Ford dominance may be dwindling.
Inchcape Fleet Solutions is continuing its investment in online services for customers.
Inchcape Fleet Solutions shows support for National Customer Service week.
One of the largest vehicle evaluation days ever organised by Inchcape Fleet Solutions was held recently for a 520-vehicle fleet.
Inchcape Fleet Solutions’ Environmental Management System has become a multiple award winner.
Inchcape Fleet Solutions is boosting out of hours customer support with the introduction of a personalised in-house service to deliver an improved experience to company car and van drivers.
Inchcape Fleet Solutions won a competitive tender to manage the charity’s 520-strong fleet composed of around 340 company cars and 180 vans last year, when a two-year contract with a one-year option to extend was signed.
Inchcape Fleet Solutions is evaluating electric vehicles and carrying out feasibility studies on a wide range of zero emission cars and vans.
Inchcape Fleet Solutions is implementing an ‘emergency action plan’ to drivers that require roadside assistance should AA patrols hold a proposed two-day strike next month.
Fleet News offers a range of reports, whitepapers, in-depth features and manufacturer brochures to enhance fleet decision-makers' understanding of key issues and products.
Fleet News is published monthly, in print and digital formats.
Register now to see if you qualify for a free subscription.


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The royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is not expected to translate into an immediate boost for British tourism.
Industry experts say the nuptials will act as a powerful marketing tool to entice tourists in the years to come. But there won’t be more visitors during the wedding month of May.
“Don’t expect visitors from abroad to come for this royal wedding; it is a pageant for domestic consumption,” said Tom Jenkins, CEO of European tourism association ETOA.
The 2011 wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton did not result in a noticeable uptick in tourist arrivals or spending, according to the UK Office for National Statistics.
This wedding shouldn’t be any different.
“There was no discernible increase in bookings for the UK as a consequence of the royal wedding,” said Olivier Jager, CEO of the ForwardKeys, a travel research firm that monitors 17 million flight bookings a day.
Analysts expect that any spike in visits from royal fanatics will be counteracted by the desire of other tourists to stay far away from the hubbub.
Related: Royal wedding coverage from CNN
Still, the wedding could boost visitor numbers over the long run.
Deirdre Wells, head of the British travel association UKinbound, said coverage of the wedding is “the best free advertising we can wish for as a country and reminds people that they should come to the UK.”
Wells predicts visitors will feel compelled to book UK trips in the coming years after watching the wedding on TV.
“Meghan and Harry’s wedding will continue to keep the UK in focus, especially from a US perspective, which is likely to sustain the current [tourism] momentum,” said Alexander Göransson, an analyst at the market research firm Euromonitor.
Related: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry invite public to wedding day
Visitor arrivals to the UK have been rising for years, with the country welcoming nearly 38 million people in 2017, according to Euromonitor. It’s the sixth most visited country in the world.
Tourism is worth £127 billion ($176 billion) annually to the UK economy, according to UKinbound.
Related: How much does a royal wedding cost?
The wedding will be held in Windsor, which is about 25 miles outside central London.
It could be tricky to get a hotel booking near the wedding venue. But travel agents said that getting a room anywhere else, especially in London, shouldn’t be a problem.
“It’s not going to have a huge impact on London [hotel] capacity,” said Wells.
US travel agents said they’ve had to reassure clients who previously booked travel in May that overcrowding won’t be a problem.
“[Clients have] asked me if I felt they should postpone and reschedule after the festivities as it might be ‘too busy’ in London. I emphatically told them no,” said Diane Bean, a travel agent based in Maine who runs the company Off On Vacation.
“I’ve found that prices are still stable for Great Britain as a whole,” she added.
Nancy Strong, CEO of Strong Travel Services in Texas, said she’s considering traveling to Windsor with her granddaughter for the wedding day. But she said that clients aren’t “clamoring” to visit.
“Am I going to go? Yes, I probably will,” she said. “When the English put on a party, they know how to do it and do it well.”
CNNMoney (London) First published March 13, 2018: 7:10 AM ET


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Yesterday, Valeo confirmed that it is in talk with German company Leoni AG on selling its wiring business. The activities in question had sales of 545 mill. EU in 2006. Leoni AG sad that the acqusition would gain the access to the French market for the first time.
More on this news: http://www.abcmoney.co.uk/news/042007128251.htm


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Kateyef, a popular sweet-stuffed in pancake during Ramadan continues to attract people in spite of being available to a few locations due to the massive constructions work carried out across the country.
The demand for the sweet, which is used to break fast during Ramadan, was evident by the long queues seen outside these shops at Markhiya signal and Bin Mahmoud area.
The sale of these sweets made of wheat begins at 3pm and lasts for three hours, traffic at link roads of Najma and Markhiya during this time is high and flooded with vehicles. Earlier, the sale of ‘Katayef’ was a sort of celebration in old Doha streets which were dotted with its shops. But, most of these outlets had to be removed following the massive construction activities in Qatar.
Many vendors have stopped selling the cakes after the demolition and that’s the reason there is a huge demand for the existing few vendors.
Majid, a salesman at a sweet shop, said:”Although it is a difficult exercise, we enjoy the process of making ‘Katayef’. For us, it is more than a business during Ramadan as it is imbued in the month’s spirit of giving. A lot of manpower is required for its preparation. But, once we eat this delicacy, all our tiredness caused by fasting is gone and we start feeling fresh again.”
Hamzakutty S, an Indian expatriate, said,”During Ramadan, I come here every day along with my children. We consider it as part of celebration.”


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( Picture taken from NY Post )
In what could be a sign of things to come, Patrick Hughes, owner of Hellcat Annie’s and Scruffy Duffy’s, is putting up his two popular NY bars for sale. The price tag? 25 Bitcoin or 800 Ethereum.
Like many establishments which went belly up due to the ongoing pandemic, Hughes’ two bars were similarly not spared. He used to command 50 staff but has since trickled to about 5 in a bid to ride out the current crisis.
Crypto is on fire, it’s a hot currencyPatrick Hughes
The premise for accepting Bitcoin and other highly liquid cryptocurrencies like Ethereum is simple. Loose monetary policy has enabled “free” money printing in a bid to sustain the pandemic-hit economy. The global reserve currency, the United States Dollars – has been weakening against major currencies like the Euro and the Pound sine March 2020. Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies have become a hedge against inflations. Business owners like Hughes would definitely want to preserve the value of money received rather than see it being eroded over time.
However, a bigger push factor fueling the acceptance of cryptocurrencies as a payment method would be the digitalisation of the global economy. Never before in the history of mankind has anyone from anywhere be able to access financial services easily, all thanks to blockchain. And this access is only made possible through the global mandate of digitalisation.
We have heard of taxes payable in Bitcoin and high value goods which are transacted in Bitcoin. And now businesses and companies are sold in Bitcoin. Perhaps, elevating the global wealth level and narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor would be the raison d’être of cryptocurrencies.


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“Wi-Fi is an infrastructure enabler — so software service providers are offering interesting options for sales associates to give them information about loyalty program members, about individuals entering the store, and about what customers purchase,” says Andreatta. “The next step is giving associates information before they approach a customer, such as alerting the associate that a customer has arrived or that they interacted with that customer the last time they were in the store.”
2. Wi-Fi helps identify traffic patterns and dwell times throughout the store
As the cost of Wi-Fi installation has dropped and the capability to manage services has improved, rolling out new Wi-Fi access points is now easy, says Andreatta, allowing retailers to use the technology to identify and understand traffic patterns in a store — which can result in useful insights. By tracking a customer’s phone as it moves through the store, retailers can gather data that helps determine peak traffic behaviors, conversion rates and dwell times in the stores. Stores can use analyze the results to help plan or reconfigure store layouts and merchandise displays.
Sometimes the insights can be unusual and surprising. For example, Andreatta says, a counter-based mall bakery put Wi-Fi access points near their POS terminals to understand how often customers came to the counter. They found that franchises were turning off their ovens too early for the number of customers arriving at key hours, leading to missed opportunities to attract customers with the smell of freshly-baked bread.
3. Wi-Fi and beacon integration can increase engagement
As consumers have become accustomed to receiving highly relevant alerts, coupons and promotions based on what they are researching online, they have come to expect the same, if not better, experience in the store, says Suzanne Dickson, senior global product marketing manager, WLAN, Zebra Technologies. By integrating wireless access points and the resulting analytics or loyalty program data with the “micro locationing” of Bluetooth-enabled beacons, consumers can receive timely, customized alerts/promotions to their devices, as well as marketing games/contests to increase the in-store engagement and excitement.
For example, this Thanksgiving Macy’s launched a “Walk in and Win” game on its mobile app. In over 700 stores, shoppers at more than 700 Macy’s stores with the retailer’s mobile app were given the chance to instantly win prizes, through push notifications triggered by their proximity through beacons placed throughout the store. “Aside from motivating users to download the app for the game, this contest inherently promoted their loyalty program and mobile app which can be used on all return visits,” says Dickson.
Easy, fast, user-friendly onboarding is key for Wi-Fi
A robust, in-store Wi-Fi network offers a variety of opportunities, but it’s essential that customer access is pain-free. “There needs to be an easy, fast, and user-friendly onboarding process, so the guest can access Wi-Fi worry-free without burdening an IT department,” says Dickson, adding that while the busy holiday shopping season is the best time to take advantage of Wi-Fi’s powerful potential, retailers have to overcome many challenges, including the possibility of downtime. “Retailers have to minimize or eliminate any network downtime that can impact business-critical apps,” she says.
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According to IHS-owned market research firm iSuppli, revenues from major mobile app stores will grow 77.7% to $3.8 billion this year. iSuppli estimates that major app markets like those offered by Apple, Google, Nokia and RIM sold $2.1 billion worth of apps in 2010 and just $830.6 million in 2009. “With consumers continuing to show robust, unflagging interest in downloading games and other applications to devices like smart phones and tablets, collective revenues from the four stores will climb sharply this year,” said IHS mobile media analyst Jack Kent in a statement. According to the report, consumers’ hunger for mobile apps won’t be slowing down any time soon. The firm suggests that app store sales will continue to grow linearly — as most analysts these days seem to believe all growth is linear — with revenues ballooning to $5.6 billion in 2012 and $8.3 billion in 2014. Hit the break for the full press release. More →
The only webOS-related news we really want to hear out of HP’s camp is here’s when the Pre 3 and TouchPad are launching, but we suppose last week’s quiet App Catalog update is also welcome news. The new version of HP’s webOS App Catalog features several changes, some more important than others. The first thing users might notice after updating is the presence of HP’s logo on the Catalog icon — an inevitable branding change that should probably have happened quite some time ago. More important, however, are two key new additions: promo code support, which will allow users to download paid apps for free with a code obtained from a developer, and carrier billing support, which will allow paid apps to be billed along with monthly cell phone service charges. The new version of the App Catalog is also said to be a bit more responsive, and it requires webOS 2.0 or higher to run. More →
Good news for webOS owners as Palm has extended its half-off application sale until July 23rd. Slated to end on July 9th, this sale slashed the price of almost all apps in the app catalog by 50%. Lest you start worrying about the financial implications of such a sale on the struggling webOS developers, this developer-friendly promotion is being subsidized by Palm with each developer receiving the full price for every purchase. So webOS owners what are you waiting for? Fire up the app catalog on your handset and support the webOS developer community by taking advantage of these two extra weeks of discounted applications. More →
In a webinar for developers on Thursday, Palm announced that it will be launching a developer-friendly promotion on all paid apps in the App Catalog. Starting June 18th and ending on July 9th, the promotion will slash the price on every paid app in the App Catalog by 50%. In a move sure to please developers, Palm will subsidize the promotion and pay developers the full retail price for each app purchased. WebOS owners looking to save some cash and support the webOS developer community can do so by purchasing a few dozen apps when the promo kicks in. More →
In a statement on its blog Saturday, Palm has apologized to webOS users for a recent bug in its App Catalog which made it virtually impossible for users to download both free and paid applications. After selecting to purchase an app, end users received a pop-up notification stating “Install Failed” upon the completion of the download. The following is Palm product manager Joe Hayashi’s statement:
If you’ve experienced any issues downloading or updating apps from the Palm App Catalog recently, rest assured that Palm is actively working to remedy the situation. If you’ve purchased an app, the transaction has been properly recorded and as soon as this issue is resolved, you’ll be able to access all apps you’ve purchased (or, in the case of free apps, requested to download).
If patience is not one of your strong points, the folks at PreCentral are reporting that going into device settings, turning off network time and reverting the devices calendar to any date before Saturday, May 10th will temporarily remedy the issue. Of course we can’t imagine this work-around will be too attractive since it will mess with people’s calendars, but as the saying goes “desperate times, desperate measures.” Luckily, the work around isn’t necessary as Palm has just fixed the issue. More →
WebOS devices have long since extended their reach beyond the cozy confines of United States, but unfortunately paid apps have yet to be made available as they are in the US. This could all change in one week’s time, however, as Palm has notified developers that they will be able to sell apps through the App Catalog in Canada, the UK, Ireland, Germany, Mexico and Spain starting on the 31st of March. If all goes according to plan, a large number of paid apps will be available on day one simply because Palm has made it easy for developers to get in on the international market: resubmit the app, check off where you want it to be sold and relax while the app is rushed through the approval process. More →
Not exactly the most surprising news, but in short, the Palm Pre Plus and Palm Pixi Plus got official moments ago, with Verizon Wireless signing on to carry both devices (at a rumored 200,000 initial units each) starting January 25th. Pricing was not announced. In addition to the two refreshed devices, which add more memory, a refined and refreshed look as well as Wi-Fi on the Pixi, Palm also announced some SDK improvements. First off, there’s a new PDK (plug-in development kit) that will allow game developers to start making great 3D games, and starting today, you’ll see games start appearing in the App Catalog from publishers like EA Mobile.
Switching gears, Palm also said that Flash support via a plugin would be appearing shortly in the App Catalog and there are more goodies like video recording (with Apple-stolen) video editing capabilities, and additional sharing functionality. Thoughts?
Yes, webOS junkies, you did indeed read the headline right — paid apps have finally started to go live in the App Catalog after many months of anticipation. The last time we looked we only saw Air Hockey which costs $1.99, but we’re pretty sure that Palm is going to do its best to rapidly accelerate the roll-out.
Thanks to everyone that sent this in!
We’re not sure who should be more excited about this news, to be honest. On one hand, developers can finally take a major step toward actually making money from webOS. On the other hand, Pre owners are now a giant leap closer to having more than 30-something apps. It really could be a toss up. The bottom line is the slow and painful ordeal that is Palm’s handling of all things app-related took a step forward today as Palm announced to developers that paid app submissions to the App Catalog are now being accepted. While paid apps aren’t slated to hit the App Catalog for a while yet, any news is good news at this point. So, Pre fans, what are some apps you’re desperately hoping to see pop up in the App Catalog once the faucet is finally turned on?
We hope you’re sitting down, Pre people… Believe it or not, there’s a new app in the App Catalog this morning! More than one even! First up, the star of the show, Open Table has released its ever-popular reservations app for the Palm Pre. For those who aren’t familiar with the Open Table service, it allows you to find restaurants in your area and reserve a table at a time of your choosing all from within the app. You can even invite attendees with Open Table’s Pre app and it will add the reservation details to your calendar for you. Sweet. The app is free of course, since Open Table makes its money through deals with restaurants, and it’s available in the App Catalog immediately. Joining it is Fliq Bookmarks by Mark/Space, a bookmark sync utility that works alongside The Missing Sync to sync your Pre bookmarks with Safari. Not quite exciting but hey, at least it’s something. Let us know what you think if you’ve checked out either of these new apps.
If there’s one thing the world needs right now, there’s no doubt in our minds it’s another on-device application store. Lucky for us, LG seems to agree. The electronics giant has launched its mobile app store in Asia and is setting its sights on going global (Europe and South America, no US yet) by the end of 2009. The creatively named “LG Application Store” will see 1,400 applications right out the gate — quite impressive for an app store at launch — with about 100 of those applications available for free. We can’t say we’re overly impressed with the ratio of free to paid apps, but anything is better than the selection of 30 that Pre users are currently forced to pick from. If and when LG’s offering makes it to the US however, we would expect the number of free (and total) apps to have grown substantially — pending some level of success of course.
Eighteen days after the Palm Pre was released in retail outlets across the US, Sprint users have managed to push the Palm App Catalog past the one million download mark with 1,015,038 downloads as of yesterday. This means that for the 150,000 or so Pre handsets RBC analyst Mike Abramsky estimates Sprint sold thus far (official numbers have not been released by Palm or Sprint), each has downloaded an average of about seven applications and the average application has been downloaded roughly 33,800 times. These numbers are made even more impressive when the fact that only 30 applications are currently available in the App Catalog is considered. Remember, the SDK has to this date been available only to a select few and most of the applications found within are still in beta. Let’s also not forget that countless Sprint customers are still waiting for new shipments of the Pre which, as expected, has proven difficult to keep in stock. If all of Sprint and Palm’s ducks were in a row prior to launch (handset supply, open SDK, etc) just imagine where we’d be right now.


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The best-selling Shakespearean "Star Wars" parodies continue with "William Shakespeare's The Phantom of Menace." CNET doth reveal an exclusive look at the new book's cover.
2014 felt like a transitional, evolutionary year for consumer tech. And while you'll see plenty more of that in the new year, 2015 also holds the promise of some breakthrough new products.
2015 is looking to be a great year for gaming. Here are the titles we're most looking forward to.
The most sought after new titles that gamers want for the holidays.
The film, written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by Danny Boyle, is on location at the former Apple CEO's childhood home in Los Altos, Calif.
These are the most interesting upcoming laptops, desktops, hybrids, and tablets hitting stores this holiday season.
If you're looking to upgrade your home theater in the next few months, these are some of the new products to look out for.
Wondering what's coming up in the world of mobile? CNET runs down the handsets making their way through the pipeline that are worth paying attention to.
Counting down the five hottest phones expected for Fall.
From the PlayStation TV to OLED TVs to the iPhone 6, here are the most anticipated gadgets of the last four months of 2014.


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Casetify is launching a new series of accessories for Apple devices based on Neon Genesis Evangelion. The “Project-CSTF: Protection from Impact” collection lets you drape your iPhone, AirPods or Apple Watch in cases that show off your love of the acclaimed mid-90s anime series.
The likely highlight of the series is the limited-edition AirPods Pro case based on Evangelion’s Unit-01, transforming your Apple earphones case into a purple mecha head. Although it appears too big and unwieldy to slip into a pocket, Casetify says the outer case is “for ornamental purpose and not for harsh impact, scrapes or vigorous activities.” (In other words, it’s meant more for desktop display than everyday protection.) However, it also appears to include a standard on-the-go AirPods case (including an “EVA-01” logo) that fits inside the Unit-01 head. The Test Type-01 case will be available in AirPods Pro / AirPods 2 variants and will retail for $122 — nearly half the cost of the Apple’s latest true wireless earphones.
The lineup also includes MagSafe-compatible iPhone cases featuring Evangelion mechs (and $52 MagSafe chargers styled like the series’ Umbilical Cables) along with iPhone cases displaying the pilots’ likenesses. You can even order a limited-edition $122 wireless charging dock (including the MagSafe Umbilical Cable) that looks like the anime series’ ejection stands. Finally, the series will include Apple Watch bands emblazoned with the series’ logo.
The accessories officially arrive on July 20th at midnight Pacific Time. In the meantime, you can join a waitlist to order the new products. Meanwhile, those near Tokyo can visit an outdoor exhibit from July 20th to 25th (from 11:00-19:00 Japan Time) in Shinjuku Kabukicho Cine City Square.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/casetifys-evangelion-series-lets-you-put-airpods-in-the-robot-174954995.html?src=rss


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June 10, 2013
Last Friday seems the whole country went nuts over National Donut Day. Even we moseyed on by the Doughnut Plant at the Chelsea Hotel for our favorite tres leches variety (and get a free Classic Mini Cake doughnut with Carnival sprinkles!). Oh, and we may have taken advantage of the buy a drink, get a donut free deal at Dunkin'. Yeah, it was a good sugar-filled day.
However, if you live in New Orleans, you're one lucky duck. See, every Friday from 9-11 a.m. for the rest of the month, the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel will celebrate the city's original ode to the donutthe beignetby serving them at their Roux Bistro restaurant for only
Read entire article on Hotel Chatter


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NEW DELHI: In a significant development, Member of Parliament from Gurdaspur, Punjab, and renowned actor Sunny Deol recently on Tuesday met with Union Textile Minister Piyush Goyal to discuss the long-standing issue of Dhariwal Mill. The mill, located in the town of Dhariwal in Gurdaspur, has been a subject of concern, particularly regarding the pending […]
Technical textiles are the future, the Indian technical textile market will grow faster than 12%, says Union textiles minister
Socialist leader Sharad Yadav was a champion of the struggle for the rights of the backward, Dalits, the oppressed and the poor, said Union minister Piyush Goyal as he paid his last respects to the former Union minister and veteran parliamentarian on Saturday. After landing at the Delhi airport from New York, Goyal headed straight […]
India-Australia ECTA will generate employment for 10 lakh youth in India
Union minister of commerce and industry Piyush Goyal has said that sustainability should be the hallmark of the Indian consumer electronics industry. He was addressing Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association (CEAMA) 43rd Annual Function ACE Dialogues 2022 in New Delhi. The minister congratulated the Award winners and appreciated the industry for their passion and […]
The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, has lauded Karnataka as a state where "wiser people look to invest".
Union Minister Piyush Goyal participated in the run for unity programme jointly organised by the Department of Food and Public Distribution and the Department of Consumer Affairs to commemorate the 147th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on October 31, 2022, as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas.
The partnership between India and its diaspora all over the world will truly help us fast-track the country’s journey to being a developed nation, said Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal in Los Angeles, US.
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Piyush Goyal, said that India is on the path to becoming a powerhouse, driving global growth by 2047.


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Sep 14, 2020
Brazil Lifts 8% Tariff on Imported Rice, is Soybeans and Corn Next?
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
When the Brazilian Minister of Agriculture floated the idea several weeks ago of temporarily suspending the 8% tariff on soybean, corn, and rice imported from non-Mercosul countries, the backlash from commodity groups was swift and harsh forcing the Minister to quickly backtrack on the proposal.
The situation has now changed due to skyrocketing food prices especially for rice and beef. It appears that the fear of food inflation may now outweigh the objections from the various commodity groups. In fact, the Brazilian President has publically pleaded with supermarket owners that it is their patriotic duty to roll back food prices.
Rice is of particular importance since it is a staple of the Brazilian diet. Therefore, the Brazilian government announced last week the suspension of the 8% tariff for 400,000 tons of rice imported from non-Mercosul countries between now and December 31st. The rice imports are expected to come from the United States and Thailand because the rice in those two countries is the same type of rice consumed in Brazil.
After announcing the suspension of the tariff, the Brazilian Minister of Agriculture made public announcements that Brazil will not run out of rice before the new crop becomes available next March. She indicated that reduced domestic production has resulted in temporarily tight supplies and higher prices in the supermarket, but that the government has taken steps to insure adequate supplies and that the prices should stabilize.
Domestic supplies of soybeans and corn are similarly very tight resulting in record high domestic prices. While the high prices have been good for producers, they have been devastating for end-users such as poultry and hog producers in southern Brazil. Large end-users had already imported approximately 500,000 tons of soybeans from Paraguay by the end of August with more expected. Corn imports from Paraguay are expected to approach 200,000 tons.
It is entirely possible that the U.S. may end up exporting some soybeans and corn to Brazil in order to fill the gap before the new crops become available starting sometime in January. Odds of importing soybeans and corn from the U.S. will increase of dry weather results in planting delays in southern and central Brazil.
The very tight grain supplies in Brazil is the result of strong demand both domestically and internationally and a significant devaluation of the Brazilian currency which made Brazilian grain exports very competitive in the world market. As a result, exporters were willing to out-bid domestic consumers for available supplies.


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BEIJING–U.S. chip-equipment suppliers are pulling out staff based at China’s leading memory-chip maker and pausing business activities there, according to people familiar with the matter, as they grapple with the impact of Commerce Department semiconductor export restrictions.
State-owned Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. is facing a freeze in support from key suppliers including
Lam Research Corp.
, the people said. The suspensions follow last week’s sweeping curbs imposed by the U.S. on China’s chip sector, ostensibly to prevent American technology from advancing China’s military power, though the impact might reach further into the industry.
The U.S. suppliers have paused support of already installed equipment at YMTC in recent days and temporarily halted installation of new tools, the people said. The suppliers are also temporarily pulling out their staff based at YMTC, the people said.
Chip-making equipment vendor Applied Materials Inc. on Wednesday slashed its sales projection for the current quarter by about $400 million, citing the restrictions. The company, one of the largest producers of chip equipment in the world, counts China’s leading chip-makers among its many customers. It generated more than 27% of its sales from China in the second quarter, or nearly $1.8 billion. A large portion of those sales go to multinational firms that operate in China and are expected to be exempt from controls targeting Chinese chip-makers.
Applied said it was pursuing export licenses and authorizations, but added that it expected a similar impact to sales in the first quarter of next year.
U.S. chip equipment manufacturers have dozens of employees stationed at YMTC’s factory. They play a crucial role in operating the factory and developing its manufacturing capabilities, as they bring in expertise on highly technical chip production tools, people familiar with the situation said. If the halt is extended, customers such as YMTC face being cut off from upgrades, maintenance expertise and future technology they need to develop chips.
YMTC, KLA and Lam Research didn’t respond to requests for comment.
While the moves might be temporary, they are immediate signs of business disruptions facing Chinese chip makers and U.S. technology suppliers as Washington escalates its efforts to stifle China’s emerging semiconductor industry. The U.S. export control measures, which restrict companies sending chips and chip-making equipment to China, are some of the broadest the U.S. has enacted against China’s semiconductor industry. They veer from previous actions that often targeted individual companies and a narrower subset of technology.
The rules, announced Friday by the Commerce Department, add new license requirements for advanced semiconductors and chip-making equipment destined to a facility in China. Licenses for facilities owned by U.S. and U.S.-allied firms would be decided on a case-by-case basis, while Chinese-owned facilities would face a presumption of denial.
Intel Corp. and South Korean memory maker
on Wednesday said they had secured exceptions to keep their China-based facilities running. Other U.S. and allied firms were expected to receive similar approvals.
Even before Commerce issued the rules, Nvidia Corp. in August warned its business could be impacted by new licensing requirements. The company, soon after, said it had secured authorization to continue developing some of the advanced chips in China that could have been impacted, as well as to support its U.S. customers and fulfill orders at a Hong Kong facility until next September.
“I believe the U.S. government intends to force the more advanced production facilities of Chinese companies like SMIC and YMTC to shut down entirely,”
a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said. “However, the more advanced Chinese production facilities of South Korean and other internationally-owned companies will merely be prevented from expanding beyond their current production footprint.”
The potential impact on Applied Materials and other leading U.S. chip-industry players underlines how American companies’ bottom lines are being increasingly impacted by the Biden administration’s bid to curb the growth of China’s industry. Chip-industry advocates have long argued that overly broad export controls could end up hurting U.S. industry by depriving it of money to fund innovation and keep ahead of China.
American companies dominate the global chip-production equipment supply chain, with a combined share of 41%, while China’s is 5% or lower, according to a Boston Consulting Group analysis.
The Commerce Department’s measures are far reaching because they restrict the ability of “U.S. persons” to support the development or production of some of the most cutting-edge chips in China.
“U.S. persons” would include those with American passports and green-card holders as well as U.S. companies, said
a former Commerce Department official and a partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.
KLA is known for its inspection and testing equipment and Lam Research for etching machines. Another major American supplier to China’s chip industry,
produces tools including those that deposit layers of materials on wafer surfaces—all critical steps in producing chips. China, the biggest market for the three U.S. chip equipment suppliers, contributes around 30% of the companies’ revenues.
Share prices of Applied Materials, KLA and Lam Research have all dropped by more than 20% over the past month.
Beyond the broad new restrictions targeting China’s chip sector, the U.S. last week placed YMTC on a list of companies the Commerce Department is concerned about, called an unverified list. Companies on the list could be added to a more restrictive export blacklist if its concerns aren’t allayed.
Based in China’s central Hubei province, YMTC is a maker of flash memory chips used for storage, and China’s largest maker of memory chips overall. It is responsible for about 6% of global memory output, according to market tracker TrendForce.
The company last year began shipping a type of advanced memory chip containing 128 layers, putting it within the scope of new U.S. restrictions. More layers allow a chip to store more data.
YMTC is controlled by the Hubei government and China’s national integrated circuit fund. Previously, it was a unit of Chinese chip conglomerate Tsinghua Unigroup Co., which in recent years has been heavily indebted and completed a yearlong asset restructuring in July.
—John McKinnon contributed to this article.
Chip-Industry Developments, Selected by the Editors
Copyright ©2022 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8


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Retailer-owned co-op Wakefern is the latest grocer to team with Takeoff Technologies on a "hyperlocal" ecommerce fulfillment center
Retailer-owned grocery cooperative Wakefern Food Corp. has joined forces with Takeoff Technologies, creator of the world’s first automated micro-fulfillment centers (MFCs), to open a fulfillment center in Clifton, N.J. Takeoff’s hyperlocal fulfillment centers increase speed and lower costs for retailers while improving the overall ecommerce experience for customers.
“We are excited to partner with Takeoff Technologies to see how their hyperlocal automation technology will benefit our cooperative, retail members and shoppers,” said Steve P. Henig, VP of digital commerce and analytics for Keasbey, N.J.-based Wakefern. “We are really proud of our e-grocery shopping platform, ShopRite from Home, and believe this partnership will enhance our online shopping service.”
ShopRite from Home program currently offers shoppers pickup and home delivery services across most of the banner’s locations. The partnership with Takeoff aims to expand the co-op’s ability to deliver superior e-grocery service and value under a scalable model.
The new fulfillment center will serve select ShopRite stores operated by Wakefern member Inserra Supermarkets in northern New Jersey and in New York. The change will be seamless for the chain's customers as they continue to place orders via ShopRite from Home.
Takeoff’s automated technology uses advanced robotics in the fulfilment center, where orders of up to 60 grocery items can be assembled in minutes, boosting efficiency and ensuring that customers get their online orders quickly.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Wakefern to help make their e-grocery service even better,” said Jose Aguerrevere, CEO and co-founder of Waltham, Mass.-based Takeoff, which has also worked on automated ecommerce fulfillment projects with Albertsons, Sedano’s and Stop & Shop. “Our hyperlocal approach and technology results in lower packaging costs and high last-mile efficiency.”
Added Takeoff co-founder and President Max Pedro: “Our e-grocery automation is a turnkey, scalable solution that uses robotics to unlock convenience for shoppers without the need to charge extra fees. It’s a win-win for grocers and shoppers.”
Takeoff and Wakefern’s partnership includes an agreement in place to open additional sites in the future.
The largest retailer-owned cooperative in the United States, Wakefern comprises 50 members that independently own and operate 353 supermarkets under the ShopRite, The Fresh Grocer, Price Rite Marketplace and Dearborn Market banners in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Virginia. Together with its member companies, Wakefern, which is No. 8 on Progressive Grocer’s 2019 Super 50 list of the top grocers in the United States, employs more than 70,000 people, and is one of the largest employers in New Jersey.


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Disney's 2017 bridesmaid collection is here, and we need our friends to get married right now
This past weekend, Disney unveiled their brand new wedding dress collection, designed by Alfred Angelo. As soon as the looks hit the runway, we were like “Oh, wow, we should get married right now.” Hey, there’s no harm in buying a super expensive wedding dress before you even have a partner, let alone a ring and a date set, right?
For those of us who aren’t exactly in the market for a wedding dress at this very moment, Disney also revealed something else: their bridesmaid dress collection. And WOW. While you might not be walking down the aisle anytime soon, surely one of your friends has to be in the near future. Figure out how you can talk them into buying one of these gorgeous dresses — and even better, they’re actually super affordable!
The dresses in this collection will be available early 2017. Cross your fingers that SO many of your friends get married this year.


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SHAHEEN STATEMENT ON MARKET BASKET ANNOUNCEMENTAugust 28, 2014
U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) released the following statement after an agreement to resolve the ongoing Market Basket standoff was announced:
"Market Basket stores are an important part of our communities and their return to normal operations is a win for their workers and people across New Hampshire. I was pleased to hear of the agreement and look forward to their workers being back on the job."
Next Article Previous Article


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- Tesla is recalling 26,681 vehicles over defective windshield defroster software.
- A software error causing poor defroster performance may decrease visibility and increase risk of crash, according to an NHTSA report.
- The recall impacts some 2021-22 Model 3, Model S, Model X and 2020-22 Model Y vehicles, which will receive a software update to fix the issue.
Tesla is recalling 26,681 vehicles over defective windshield defroster software that may reduce visibility, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Wednesday.
The recall applies to some 2021-22 Model 3, Model S, Model X and 2020-22 Model Y vehicles. A software error can cause "a valve in the heat pump to open unintentionally and trap the refrigerant inside the evaporator," causing reduced visibility and decreased defroster performance.
The issue could increase the risk of crash and fails to comply with federal requirements, the NHTSA said.
Get New England news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NECN newsletters.
Tesla is offering owners free over-the-air software updates in response to the recall. Notification letters will be sent to owners on April 1.
The company last week recalled over 800,000 vehicles for a seat belt chime issue. In December, it recalled 475,000 cars to address rearview camera and trunk issues.


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State tourism officials expect record revenues, record number of visitors during summer 2018By JOHN KOZIOL
Union Leader Correspondent May 03. 2018 10:02PM
LACONIA — Aboard the M/S Mount Washington, the flagship of tourism in the Lakes Region, state officials made some bold predictions Thursday for the upcoming summer season, saying they expect 3.4 million visitors to come to New Hampshire who’ll spend nearly $2 billion while here.
Both the projected number of visitors and their possible spending would set records, according to the NH Division of Travel and Tourism Development (DTTD).
The DTTD said that the unofficial start of summer — Memorial Day weekend — will see 650,000 out-of-state visitors who’ll open their wallets to the tune of $120 million-plus.
The message was presented during a modified shakedown cruise on the 230-foot M/S Mount Washington. The cruises were becoming old hat, admitted Jim Morash, who is one of the ship’s captains, but thanks to a call from Gov. Chris Sununu, the 2018 cruise was repurposed as a statewide tourism kick off.
“It’s one of those times when one of my wacky ideas worked,” said Sununu, adding that the event, although in the Lakes Region, highlights the fact that all of New Hampshire has much to offer visitors.
“What we do in travel and tourism is such a big part of our culture, such a big part of our economy,” said Sununu.
District 1 Executive Councilor Joe Kenney, who represents what he called the “fun part of the state,” which includes the Lakes Region and the North Country, reminded cruise attendees, many of whom were members of chambers of commerce, that “yes, ladies and gentlemen, shopping is a travel and tourism opportunity,” a reference to destination malls in Tilton and North Conway.
Taylor Caswell, who is the commissioner of the Department of Business and Economic Affairs, said DTTD, which is under his authority, markets “the heck out of New Hampshire,” noting that the proof is in the $12 million increase from the same time last year in meals and rooms taxes collected by the state.
Caswell reminded everyone what most people on the Mount Washington already knew: tourism is New Hampshire’s second-largest industry.
DTTD Director Victoria Cimino said New Hampshire has gained an increased share in both the Boston and New York markets, adding that as part of her agency’s summer 2018 campaign, a building near Manhattan’s Holland Tunnel would be wrapped with a giant New Hampshire tourism ad.
In addition to the traditional markets of New York, Boston, Montréal, and Toronto, the DTTD will also roll out the campaign in Hartford, Portland, Providence, and Burlington.
Amy Landers, of the Lakes Region Association, said that tourism was hugely important to the Lakes Region in 2017, noting that 355,000 visitors came there last year and spent some $225 million, adding that over the past three years, there has annually been a 2.7 percent increase in overnight visits.


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Foxtel’s new box has been a loooong time coming. Now at least we know when we’ll be able to get our hands on the new iQ3 which has greater support for streaming media.
According to a release from Foxtel today, the iQ3 box will be available on Monday 23 March.
Foxtel is also hyping a few key features for the iQ3 ahead of the launch, including the ability to loop back to the beginning of a show that’s already started so you don’t miss anything; the ability to look back over the last 24 hours of programming and tune into any show you missed; Wi-Fi connectivity and Bluetooth remote capabilities and more recording space.
We’ll find out more detail on the new box come Monday, including pricing and how you can get it in your house.


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Eel genome unlocks mysteries of electric fish
Shocking secret Electric fish can unleash a wicked jolt, now scientists have used genetic studies to unravel how this remarkable ability evolved six times in the history of life.
A team of US scientists sequenced the genome of the electric eel — a fearsome denizen of South America that can zap you with an electric field of up to 600 volts — as well as studied genetic data on two other types of electric fish.
Even though six groups of electric fish have evolved independently in far-flung locales like the muddy waters of the Amazon and murky marine environments, they all seem to have reached into the same "genetic toolbox" to fashion their electricity-generating organ, say the researchers.
The new study, published in the journal Science, found that various electric fish rely on the same genes and biological pathways to build their electric organs from skeletal muscle despite the different appearance and body location of their organs.
Their electrical abilities stand as one of the wonders of nature alongside traits like bioluminescence in some insects and sea creatures and echolocation in bats and whales.
"It really is something truly unique in the animal kingdom," says study co-author Michigan State University zoology professor Jason Gallant.
"This only arose in fish because water is a conductor of electricity while air is not. Thus, birds or terrestrial animals could not come up with this," adds biochemistry professor Michael Sussman of the University of Wisconsin-Madison .
There are hundreds of species of electric fish worldwide with varying degrees of electric power.
Fish with weak electric power use it to navigate in dim waters and communicate with one another. Those like the electric eel — a serpentine freshwater relative of the catfish that grows up to 2.4 metres long — possess a powerful jolt that is used to stun or kill prey and repel enemies.
Scientists have wondered about how these fish first acquired electric powers and how this characteristic emerged six times in groups not closely related to one another.
"Electric organs start out their lives as muscle precursor cells. Through a series of developmental steps, they become larger, more electrically excitable and lose their ability to contract," says Gallant.
All muscle cells have electrical potential because any muscle contraction releases a small amount of voltage. Certain fish exploited that by transforming ordinary muscle cells into a larger type of cell called an electrocyte that generates vastly higher voltages. The electric organ is made of these cells.
"Each electric organ cell makes only a small voltage, similar in magnitude to our own muscles. The secret of electric organs is that the cells are aligned in stacks and electrically insulated so that the voltages add like batteries in a series," says another member of the team Professor Harold Zakon of the University of Texas at Austin.
The six groups include: South American knife fishes, African electric catfish, African elephant fish, stargazers, some skates and some rays.
Scientists think the electric organ first appeared in a fish 150 million to 200 million years ago, Gallant adds


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Mentos launches new on-pack promotion and prizes to encourage social media engagement
Mentos, the global number three candy brand, has launched a brand new and interactive on-pack promotion that it says is guaranteed to get people picking up Mentos rolls and packs in-store.
The new on-pack promotional mechanic is based on user-generated content and designed to get people talking, snapping and sharing, as consumers are now able to engage with the company’s special offers through social media. Mentos is asking shoppers to snap a selfie of themselves with their favourite Mentos roll or multipack and share the photo on their social media (Facebook and Instagram) using the hashtag #MentosMeandYou to be in with a chance of winning a range of prizes throughout the year, including some limited edition boxes of Mentos rolls and unique flavours not currently available in the UK. The brand has partnered up with Buyagift to win daily and monthly, with a final grand prize of 15 £1,000 vouchers for experiences ranging from an aerobatic flying experience, to a cookery master class with a Michelin star chef, to a relaxing spa break at Champneys and many more.
Sarah Elmer, Mentos brand manager, said: “Sharing a roll or pack of Mentos is one of the simplest ways to make someone smile, enabling the brand to inspire and bring some light relief to consumers through the chance to win a selection of very special prizes.
“We know that the refreshment category is under pressure at the moment, but we want to reassure retailers we are investing in our brands at Perfetti Van Melle to turn this around. We are confident Me & You is a promotion that will encourage repeat purchase and drive new shoppers to the category too.”
The campaign will be supported with a £1 million media campaign until the end of January next year.
Mentos are available in all retailers and cash & carries in the multipack and singles format, with RRPs of £1.29 and £0.60, respectively.
- Be sure to follow Sweets and Savoury Snacks World on Instagram for visuals of new product releases.


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Google is continuing its campaign to challenge Apple in the classroom, as it rolls out textbook support, including book rental capabilities, in its updated Google Play Books app for iOS.
Textbooks can be rented or purchased via the website, and then accessed in the iOS app itself. Once added to a personal book list on the website, the textbooks will show up in the app, though they will be displayed in the same section as regular books.
Google announced its plans to include textbooks in its Google Play store at its I/O conference earlier this year as a part of its Google Play for Education initiative. The plan, designed to get Google products into schools, competes with Apple’s push to expand its educational presence by offering a number of school friendly options that include its popular iPad.
Google’s textbook rental service, in conjunction with it’s low priced tablet offerings, should help it gain a foothold in educational institutions as it battles Apple on the educational battlefront.
The Google Play Books update also adds highlighting and note-taking for scanned pages as sepia reading mode, and the ever popular stability and performance improvements.
Google Play Books is available FREE for the iPhone and iPad the App Store. [DIRECT LINK]


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Americans lost $148 million in scam payments in the first nine months of this year, according to
the Federal Trade Commission. Target gift cards were the most preferred by scammers, followed by Google Play, Apple, eBay and Walmart.
Five World War II veterans gathered at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii 80 years after Japan launched its surprise attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet. They spoke with NBC News’ Kerry Sanders about the events of that day, how the nation came together and more.


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New York, New York, December 1, 2021 — Prove Identity, Inc. (“Prove”), a leader in digital identity, today announced the appointment of John F. Woods to its Board of Directors, effective November 16, 2021. Woods, who serves as Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of Citizens Financial Group Inc., brings more than three decades of strategic, financial, and risk management expertise to Prove’s board.
“We are thrilled to welcome John to our Board of Directors during this period of explosive growth and innovation at Prove,” said Rodger Desai, Co-Founder and CEO of Prove. “John is a recognized leader in the finance and banking industry who has helped shape corporate strategy at top financial institutions, and his unique expertise in managing financial risks and insights regarding how banks are addressing digital transformation makes him an invaluable advisor at such an important time for our business.”
“Prove’s technology is paving the way in the growing identity verification and authentication arena, and it is changing the way we navigate digital engagement and fraud prevention,” said Woods. “I’ve seen firsthand the growing complexity of balancing the migration to digital channels while mitigating fraud in the banking industry – consumers are expecting a seamless, simple experience while identity theft continues to grow. I look forward to supporting Prove as they continue to lead critical progress and innovation.”
As the CFO of Citizens, Woods is accountable for the full array of finance functions, including: Controller, Financial Planning, Treasury, Strategy and Corporate Development, Investor Relations and Procurement/Facilities management. Woods joined Citizens in February 2017 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and was named a Vice Chairman of the bank in February 2019. Before joining Citizens, Woods served as Chief Financial Officer for MUFG Americas. Prior to that, Woods held business unit Chief Financial Officer positions at JPMorgan Chase and other large financial institutions. Woods began his career in 1986 with Arthur Andersen culminating as a partner in the financial and risk consulting group. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce from the University of Virginia at Charlottesville.
Woods joins the board as Prove continues to scale and increase its foothold in the digital identity market. Prove’s growth was recently recognized by Deloitte’s 2021 Technology Fast 500 for the fifth consecutive year. Prove was the only Identity Verification company to be awarded five years in a row. Just last month, Prove announced that its Prove Pre-Fill™ and other onboarding solutions now include Know Your Customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) checks, including sanctions, watchlists, and politically exposed persons (PEP) screening at no additional cost. Prove also recently entered into a partnership with Paxful to accelerate the customer onboarding process for the crypto exchange – reducing fraud while enhancing security and compliance.
Prove’s solutions are used by more than 1,000 businesses across diversified industries, including over 500 banks, 3 of the top 5 retailers, 2 of the top 3 cryptocurrency exchanges, 2 of the top 3 healthcare companies, and 6 of the top 10 insurance companies in the U.S. To learn more about Prove, visit www.prove.com.
Prove Identity, Inc., formerly Payfone, Inc., is the modern way for businesses to enable their customers to prove their identities with just a phone. We offer phone-centric solutions that enable our customers to acquire new consumers and engage with their existing consumers by removing friction while bolstering security and enhancing consumer privacy and consumer choice. Our solutions are used by more than 1,000 businesses across diversified industries, including banks, financial services, healthcare, insurance, and e-commerce. For the latest updates from Prove, follow us on LinkedIn.
To learn more about Prove’s identity solutions and how to accelerate revenue while mitigating fraud, schedule a demo today.
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German sausage manufacturer MeisterWurst is set to expand its presence in India. The brand plans to grow in Goa, Jaipur, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, Shillong, and Pondicherry. The brand is available across the country through retail general and modern trade in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi/NCR, Kolkata, Guwahati, Goa, Coimbatore, Cochin Trivandrum, Pune, Hyderabad, Mangalore and Bhopal among other cities.
For its next phase of expansion, the brand has opted to take the mobile application and dark stores route.
“India is the biggest upcoming market, especially in food. We have been doing business here since the mid ’90s and know the place. We are now set to expand our online presence by introducing our products across India,” said Arthur Maurer, Founder MeisterWurst.


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Some of McDonald’s restaurants in Sweden have beehives on their rooftops. The initiative started out locally but is now growing. More franchisees around the country are joining the cause and have also started replacing the grass around their restaurants with flowers and plants that are important for the wellbeing of wild bees. To celebrate the initiative which is part of McDonald’s Swedens sustainability work, we created what could be the world’s smallest McDonald’s – a fully functioning beehive.
I love reading stories like this.


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France might have found the biggest name in China’s wine trade to help revitalize its sluggish wine sales in China, the country’s president Xi Jinping.
When Chinese president Xi Jinping and his counterpart Emmanuel Macron clinked glasses at the second edition of Import Expo in Shanghai over three glasses of French wines, searches on Chinese social media on the wines skyrocketed.
The three wines are a famous Right Bank Bordeaux, a grand cru Burgundy and a Languedoc, and his favourable compliment in particular on the Languedoc wine by Gerard Bertrand will most likely boost the wine’s sales in China, and by association Languedoc’s overall image.
In 2017, when Xi drank a bottle of Napa Valley Cabernet by Girard winery, the wine became an instant top-selling American wine in China, and even amid intensified China-US trade war, hiked punitive taxes failed to stifle market’s blistering demand.
Now, France, which for years has dominated the Chinese wine market is suffering sales drops and sharp squeeze from Australian wines, is hoping Xi’s backing would resuscitate its wine in China.
The three wines drank by Xi and Macron at the Shanghai event, for a start, will most likely see feverish interest, and click through the pages to find out more about the wines.


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Server virtualization has been and continues to be a top IT priority for good reasons like improving infrastructure manageability, lowering TCO, and improving business continuity and disaster recovery capabilities. In IT's quest to virtualize more workloads, however, videoconferencing has remained on its own island of specialized hardware due to its reliance on transcoding DSPs (digital signal processors), an incredibly compute intensive type of work. Transcoding is necessary for interoperability between unlike videoconferencing systems, and the performance of that specialized hardware has been difficult to match with software running on standard servers.
That is, unless you turn to a model that doesn't use transcoding. Enter Vidyo, whose virtual edition infrastructure delivers comparable performance to its physical appliances since it doesn't have to transcode calls between Vidyo endpoints. Desktop videoconferencing solutions for the most part are available in virtualized models. However, transcoding based videoconferencing is also becoming available virtualized, with LifeSize offering its platform in this model. In the cloud, Blue Jeans -- the poster child for videoconferencing as a service -- has a virtualized platform based on transcoding that also provides a high quality experience. It will be interesting to see how the performance of virtualized transcoding workloads compares to traditional infrastructure.
Innovation in videoconferencing today is about making this historically cost prohibitive technology cheaper and easier to deploy. Server virtualization is key to that goal. In conversations with end user companies considering their videoconferencing strategy, virtualization is something they express interest in and would consider the next time they refresh their technology. Here's what vendors in the upcoming Forrester Wave on desktop videoconferencing are doing with virtualization today:
Last week I attended Enterprise Connect 2013 where I had over two dozen one-on-one briefings with UC technology and services vendors. Highlights included Microsoft’s keynote by Derek Burney (Corporate VP, Skype Division) the content of which was almost entirely live-demos of Lync mobile and room-based video conferencing run on Lync Online (including using several mobile devices, not all Windows OS, with Smart’s Lync room screens – which performed better that at the Smart booth). The very heavy load on the venue’s Wi-Fi network (which the Cisco keynote demo suffered from the previous day) made the performance particularly impressive. [NB: Funny how comms’ folk are still impressed when the technology performs before a live audience the way it did in the lab.]
Another noteworthy demo was BT Conferencing and Dolby’s demo of very high quality sound-around audioconferencing. This was impressive due to the amount of time most of us spend on audioconferencing or videoconferencing calls where it’s near impossible for a remote attendee to break in, and where side-bar conversations in a meeting room are typically mostly or entirely lost. Moreover, it works equally well with a cheap headphone ($30 models actually work probably better than much more expensive ones that might cause ‘interference’ on the line) – and on Apple as well as Windows devices.
In his report, “The Top 15 Technology Trends EA Should Watch: 2011 To 2013” Gene Leganza names telepresence as a tech trend to watch. 42% of respondents to the August 2010 Tech Trends survey said telepresence would have a strong impact over the next two years. Why? Because telepresence deliver life like video across distances, making telepresence meetings as similar to live meetings as possible when participants can’t get together face to face – and in today’s economic situation companies continue to trim travel budgets and look for economies wherever they can. Many clients I have spoken with have paid for their telepresence deployments in under a year, and others have touted significant business gains from being able to meet more often and more effectively with a wider cross-section of experts, decision makers and other stakeholders. With this significant value statement, telepresence seems like an obvious choice so why has it not taken off? The answerer is simple and lies in Metcalf’s Law.
For those of us who following the collaboration software space, video in business has been a hot topic: We have seen year-over-year growth in videoconferencing implementations, a majority of businesses are interested in or implementing video streaming technology, and the emergence of vendors offering "YouTube for the enterprise" services that allow information workers to create and share business-related videos. What's driving all of this interest in video? From a business leader perspective, you could argue that video enables more efficient and effective communication and collaboration for increasingly distributed workforces. For rank-and-file information workers, exposure to consumer services like Skype, Facetime (the video chat capability on Apple's iPhone) and YouTube have made them comfortable with the idea of video communications, which brings me to the subject of this blog post: how is desktop videoconferencing -- communications via a video unit on the desk like a Webcam -- being adopted by businesspeople?
In our most recent survey of information workers (those who use a computer to do their job), we find that while 29% of workers use videoconferencing technology, only 15% have access to desktop video technology. The bulk of those using this tool are not the rank-and-file, but the managers and executives who have historically been the users of videoconferencing services. Considering the increasing acceptance of this more personal form of video in the consumer realm, these light adoption numbers raise the question about how this technology can spread throughout businesses. I'm currently working on a report on this very topic and I'm interested in hearing from you. Has desktop videoconferencing found its way into your business? If so, who led the charge and what was the rationale? If not, what is hindering implementation and adoption?
What do Umi, FaceTime, Qik, and Skype have in common? No, they are not failed attempts to win at Scrabble; they all are solutions for delivering consumer videoconferencing/calling with significant announcements in 2010.
10/6/2010: (today) Cisco announced Umi, a home telepresence offering using HDTV and cameras, and go-to-market plans with Verizon.
6/11/2010: Apple launched iPhone 4, touting FaceTime via Wi-Fi as a mobile consumer video calling solution; it announced continued go-to-market activities with AT&T as an exclusive carrier.
6/04/2010: Sprint announced the first 4G phone in the US, the HTC EVO and demonstrated the use of the Qik application to enable real-time video calling.
5/18/2010: Having announced partnerships with LG, Panasonic, and Samsung, at CES 2010 to enable embedded Skype video calling capabilities on consumer TV, Skype delivered the HD video camera that completes the solution offer.
Affirming Polycom’s faith in Andrew (Andy) Miller’s strategy (he has been the public face of Polycom’s drive to develop an open collaborative ecosystem), the board announced today that he will replace Robert (Bob) Hagerty as CEO. Mr. Hagerty is also leaving his position as Chairman of the Board, where he will be replaced by lead outside director, David DeWalt, the CEO of McAfee, who has been on Polycom’s board since 2005. Bob will be retained in an advisory role by Polycom’s Board of Directors, and will support Andy in executing his strategy, but primarily he plans to pursue a more relaxed pace of business activity following his departure.
Andy Miller joined Polycom approximately 10 months ago as executive vice president of global field operations, having been a senior executive in the industry for nearly two decades. Mr. Miller held senior roles at Monster and then IPC Systems (a communications reseller/integrator) after serving TANDBERG as CEO from 2001 to 2005. Prior to joining TANDBERG as CEO, Mr. Miller had been with Cisco Systems serving in a variety of senior marketing and sales roles. Mr. Miller has been a vocal proponent of delivering video and audio communications (not just conferencing!) in the context of the open, unified communications value chain. He is the executive I believe to have been most influential in the formation of the Polycom Open Collaboration Network, and I expect to see more from him and Polycom on that topic soon!
Over the past three years I have increased my analysis of the video communications market as our clients curiosity about video has mounted. I would like to invite you to continue this video research agenda with me by sharing your best and worst video experiences, but first some background.
Three years ago I published a report titled “Videoconferencing Rises Again” in which I predicted a rise in adoption and utilization of video conferencing. In researching this report, I heard a great deal about the ways in which video improved processes as diverse as corporate training, product development, and field force management – and the various video solutions that best served these processes. These processes were better served using a new breed of video solutions that relied on high definition resolution (codecs and displays), dependable IP-based networks, and intuitive user interfaces. Since then video conferencing deployments and utilization have risen again- - like the phoenix rising from the ashes.
These technological enablers have been supported by the remarkable adoption of video in consumer and social networking solutions, giving rise to a ‘video-native’ generation entering the workforce. In short order, Forrester clients have taken note and the number of our clients who have inquired about business video has nearly doubled each year as shown in this graph from my most recent video report titled “How Tech Strategists Can Ride The Coming Tidal Wave Of Business Video.”


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The Las Vegas retail market got off to a good start during the first quarter and set the stage for a strong 2016, according to researchers and retail brokers.
The total vacancy rate of 8.2 percent is down from 8.7 percent during the fourth quarter of 2015. The direct vacancy rate dropped to 7.6 percent from 8.1 percent at the end of last year, according to Xceligent, the Kansas City, Missouri-based research firm that tracks the market for the Commercial Alliance of Las Vegas.
“I think the market has been expanding pretty steadily a couple of quarters now in Las Vegas, and the spring has really picked up,” said Lisa Callahan, principal with Sage Commercial Advisors. “There’s a good level of activity, and things are pretty positive in our market.”
The first quarter saw about 406,000 square feet in absorption, well above the 98,000 square feet in the fourth quarter of 2015. That’s a reversal of the third quarter of 2015 when there was a negative 102,000 square feet in absorption of retail space, said Tina Reith, director of analytics for Xceligent.
“We’re definitely off to a good start to the year,” Reith said. “Over time, the absorption level has progressed, and this is the most we have seen in the last five quarters.”
The absorption gain came despite the research firm reporting that four Fresh &Easy locations became vacant during the first quarter, putting 60,000 square feet of space on the market.
What helped was two former Target stores were leased – one to Burlington Coat Factory and the other to the Southern Nevada Health District — accounting for 160,000 square feet in absorption, Reith said.
Those leases brought down the vacancy rate in Las Vegas power centers to 4.8 percent, down from 5.8 percent a year ago, the report said. Some 1 million square feet of the 21.7 million square feet divided among 152 power centers remains vacant.
The valley’s 25 regional shopping centers totaling 12.7 million square feet have the lowest vacancy rate at 3 percent, the same as a year ago. Only 22,000 square feet of space was absorbed during the first quarter, a reflection of the limited space with only 380,000 square feet vacant.
The valley’s 265 neighborhood shopping centers fared the worst during the first quarter with a vacancy rate of 12.8 percent. That’s still an improvement from 14.5 percent a year ago. Some 2.5 million of the 19.6 million square feet is vacant. The good news is that it had the second-highest absorption rate at 114,000 square feet during the first quarter.
Strip centers also continued to fare poorly with a 12.1 percent vacancy rate. Some 2.2 million square feet of the 18.3 million square feet in 749 center is vacant.
Nearly 56,000 square feet of the space was absorbed, dropping its vacancy rate from 12.8 percent during the first quarter of 2015.
“A lot of the Fresh &Easy boxes are probably going to be occupied shortly,” Callahan said. “A lot of them are in the process now and some of the grocery boxes that were vacated by Food For Less and what went on with Haggen (and its bankruptcy) and Albertson’s acquisitions. We’re seeing some activity on those, and they will take a little longer to backfill but there is activity at least and those are positives signs in our marketplace.”
The retail market is already abuzz with the planned second-quarter opening of IKEA in the southwest valley.
A Conn’s HomePlus opened its second store in the valley in late March on Rainbow Boulevard, Callahan said. Dollar Tree has also taken space previously occupied by closed Fresh &Easy stores, she said.
“It will take a little while to absorb all the vacancy, and a little while to where we’re back to where we were,” Callahan said. “I think this trend will continue and the year will be very active and positive, and I think we will see a lot of absorption and vacancy rates decrease and rental rates increase.”
Average triple-net lease rates continued to hover between $1.30 and $1.40 per square foot per month, the report said. Average rates have increased .02 over the last five quarters and currently rest at $1.36 per square foot.
Nelson Tressler, executive managing director with Newmark Grubb Knight, said the retail market is headed in the right direction with tenants wanting to lease. In addition, there’s a lot of activity with buyers.
“I listed a center last week and had a couple of offers at or above asking price,” Tressler said. “There’s not a lot of good product out there, and that’s motivating buyers to get aggressive with their offers. Overall, it feels like the Las Vegas market is bullish and tenants are looking for space and buyers are looking for shopping centers to purchase and it’s good to be a landlord right now.”
Tressler said the retail market started it’s improvement in 2013 and 2014 and has gotten better every quarter since.
The biggest example of that improvement is how landlords have to give less and are less desperate to make the concessions than they had been during the Great Recession.
“The A centers are holding steady, but some of the B and C centers (unanchored stores and strip centers) that were struggling to get tenants to look their direction, now tenants are looking at them. Landlords who were super-aggressive on the rates don’t have to be now,” Tressler said. “We have seen rates in some of our centers go up 10, 15 and 20 percent in the last year as the center continues to get full.”
The tenants filling much of the space are local retailers, some which have multiple locations already, Tressler said. He said there hasn’t been an influx of out-of-state companies flowing to Las Vegas to get into the market, he said.
“I think it will continue to get better,” Tressler said. “It’s not going to be a spike. It’s not going to be the phone ringing off the hook and you can’t figure out where the calls are coming from. I think it will continue to be steady and continue to get better every month and every quarter and hopefully continue that way for a long time — a manageable normal growth and normal market and less peaks and valleys.”
That was echoed by Scott Marker, a senior vice president in the retail division with Collier’s International. He said it’s getting healthier at a better pace and not the high rate of speed during the market’s boom a decade ago. The marketplace had been up and down following the recession, but it’s trending positively and on a sustained pace now, he said.
“It wasn’t a healthy place (during the boom),” Marker said.
Marker said the vacancy rate was below 3 percent during the boom, and that market was in such a place that retailers paid landlords cash to get into the center. The market will probably never return to where it was, and that’s good, he said.
“A lot of the visionaries don’t think we will ever see that again,” Marker said. “I think we’re at a pace that makes sense and is sustainable. I would rather have that than values increase at such a rapid rate that collapse.”
Among the highlights of the first quarter report:
■ The perimeter of the McCarran International Airport had the highest vacancy rate at 18.3 percent. That was followed by 12.4 percent in the areas southeast of downtown and north of the airport.
■ Downtown Las Vegas had the lowest vacancy rate at 2.2 percent, while the Strip had a 4 percent vacancy rate.
■ The southwest valley had a 6.5 percent vacancy rate and the southeast that includes Henderson was 8.3 percent. The northwest valley, which includes the area north of Summerlin Parkway, had 8.3 percent. The west valley, south of Summerlin Parkway, was 6.1 percent.


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Riot Games has revealed details about the new Sentinels skin line for League of Legends. Those will be coming for five champions: Diana, Irelia, Olaf, Riven and Vayne. Pantheon on the other hand will be receiving a Ruined skin.
Sentinel skin line - release date
As the newest additions to the Sentinel skin line hit the PBE servers today, this means that Rise of the Sentinels, the event that will add them to the game, should start in 2 weeks. Patch 11.14 is scheduled for July 8th, and the event should last about a month.
Sentinel skins- price
It's not yet known how much the Sentinels skin line will be, although it will likely cost 1350 RP each, similar to the price point of the Ruined skins back that were released in January.
Sentinel skins - champions
As said before, six champions will be receiving new skins, although one of them, Pantheon, will be slightly different, as he will be getting a Ruined skin. The other five heroes are Diana, Irelia, Olaf, Riven and Vayne.
Riot has also shared a video showing us how the newest skins look in-game. The visuals look truly stunning, with everyone’s skills having that pale white tone.
Sentinels spotting in the PBE! 💫— League of Legends (@LeagueOfLegends) June 22, 2021
Sentinel Riven, Irelia, Diana, Olaf and Vayne! 💛
Ruined Pantheon & Prestige Edition! 💚 pic.twitter.com/orjnJknUDi
All images courtesy of Riot Games.


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Everyone in the gaming world is waiting with bated breath for Intel to finally release its Arc desktop GPUs. There have been discussions and hype trains about them for a long time now, and yet, there's still nowhere to be seen. That is, they were MIA until this past weekend, when Intel brought one to an eSports tournament. Sadly, they weren't actually powering any of the gaming systems. Instead, they were on display in glass cases. It was a missed opportunity to put a sticker on the case that said, "Break only in the event you need high frame rates."
Intel brought the mysterious GPUs to the Intel Extreme Master(Opens in a new window) pro gaming tour in Dallas, Texas, an ESL-sponsored gaming tournament that's been sponsored by Intel since 2006. A Twitter user named @theBryceIsRt(Opens in a new window) snapped several photos of the highly-anticipated GPUs. The most obvious feature is what looks like an eight-pin and six-pin power connector. This would align with earlier reports that Intel was looking to compete with cards like the RTX 3070 as opposed to flagship GPUs. If the latter were the case, we'd expect a dual eight-pin, or possibly the new ATX 3.0 sixteen-pin connector.Behold, the Arc in all its glory. (Image:
Another interesting tidbit of info is in the Twitter thread. One reply was written by the winner(Opens in a new window) of Intel's Xe HPG Scavenger Hunt, with a reported worth of $700. That would put it right in the RTX 3070 aftermarket pricing. While that GPU has an MSRP of $500, its actual street price is still higher. This Arc GPU is also relatively large and it's not clear if this is Intel's top-drawer flagship or not. Intel has noted its highest-end offering is the A770. It's rumored that there might be a "limited" SKU one step above the A770, kind of like Intel's i9-12900KS CPU, which is a binned part for overclocking. It could be called the Arc A780.
Unfortunately, we'll have to wait a few more months before we see any real specs or pricing info. Intel recently announced it was delaying the launch of its desktop GPUs to "later this summer." It will be launching the mobile variants first in Asia, with the desktop parts to follow. Both have taken longer than expected. In explaining the reasons for the delay, Intel says it's encountering various issues, some of which are software-related. Those "software readiness" issues are clashing with global COVID-19 lockdowns and supply chain disruptions, causing the delays.Now Read: