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Despite heightened worries over their health following the pandemic, consumers consider the health of the planet even more critical, according to a recent survey by Innova Market Insights. Sustainability is especially essential to Millennials and Gen Z, as is their expectation that food and beverage producers will also put it first. Producers highlight their progress in environmental stewardship and are steadily moving toward a fully circular economy.
For wineries in drought-prone regions, lack of availability accelerated the transition to water-saving farming techniques and, when combined with wildfire losses, increased the reliance on bulk wine imports to backfill harvest losses, particularly for large producers.
“Sustainability is the key word,” says Cristina V Miranda, marketing director of the World Bulk Wine Exhibition (WBWE), the leading international trade fair for the wine business. “We cannot continue to transport all the wine bottled; the planet will not sustain it any longer.”
There is no question that shipping bulk wine in containers like Flexitanks has a much lighter carbon footprint than shipping bottles to the bottling site and then reshipping them to the wholesaler, retailer or consumer. It can also save on the added out-of-pocket and environmental costs of storage. While using bulk wine doesn’t make sense for all wineries, Buying and selling bulk juice globally can be an economic boon for custom crush facilities and large winery and vineyard operations.
There are many advantages to tapping into world wine varietals through bulk juice purchases. Wineries can take advantage of a global market to innovate for the younger consumer base that is boosting sales of single-serve canned wines. Wineries can go beyond cans and double down on sustainability with packaging innovations like paper bottles, bag-in-box, wine pouches, or wine on tap for on-premise locations.
Bulk wines are almost essential for wineries producing private label or custom wines for private clients, not only filling local production gaps but also gaining a worldwide range of cost-effective varietal options and premium juices with high-quality provenance.
Private label is a growth market in US food and beverage, with IRI reporting +8% dollar sales expansion in the first five months of 2022 over the previous year, outstripping national brand growth. The premiumization driving the wine industry overall is also building the prestige of private label brands, contributing to its growth. A retailer might make a 30% margin on a branded bottle of wine. On a private label bottle of wine, that margin might be closer to 50%, and margins can be even higher for premium private labels.
“The private label category has begun to stand out in the WBWE International Bulk Wine Competition,” says Miranda, “Supermarket chains now proudly display the award badges won by their store brands, which helps build consumer acceptance of price increases for these still affordable wines.”
Interest in private label brands has expanded beyond retailers, with restaurant chains moving past house wines to branded labels that deliver a better customer experience and build loyalty. Celebrities have also embraced creating their own wine labels, and more and more actors, singers and influencers are turning to custom crush and large vintners to help them. Some private labels partner with renowned wineries to develop premium brands with correspondingly high prices.
“The evolution in bulk wine quality has been intense,” Miranda adds. “And that is because wines are increasingly better made, but also because bulk wine buyers increasingly demand higher quality.”
The best place to join what is becoming a revolution is WBWE, which was held earlier this year in Santa Rosa, CA, to focus on the all-important US marketplace. This year, WBWE invites wineries and buyers from the US to WBWE Amsterdam on November 21st and 22nd to share the 14th anniversary of being the most important fair in the world for the bulk wine business.
“We look forward to this edition of WBWE with optimism,” says Miranda, “since this year is one of normality in the aftermath of the pandemic. Global uncertainty is evident, making business platforms as solid as the WBWE more essential than ever. The world has changed, and wineries must be flexible and adapt to market demands. Bulk wine is very popular because it is the core of current market trends like sustainability, alternative packaging methods and bottling at the destination. We will tackle all these topics throughout our conference this year.”
The Amsterdam fair will gather everything relevant to the bulk wine industry in one place for wine professionals to meet and create synergies to help them increase sales and profit margins. In just two days, producers will have the opportunity to demonstrate the quality of their wine and help match them with the objectives of wineries making bulk and bottled wine.
With inflation and cost of living increases accelerating the adoption of private labels, it is an excellent time to enter the private label sector. Producers like Bronco Wine Company, Premium Wine Group and O’Neill Vintners & Distillers have already signed up to exhibit at WBWE Amsterdam in November. Buyerslook forward to finding solutions to their needs in Amsterdam, whether searching for large bulk wine volumes or specific qualities for developing a canned wine brand or a new type of wine for a supermarket chain. WBWE Amsterdam is the place to conduct bulk wine business.
To learn more about this event, visit https://wbweusa.com/en/.
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Recycling as a national priority: Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia invites media representatives to see how paper recycling works
A media tour at Solnechnogorsk Experimental Mechanical Plant (SOEMZ), the one and only small-scale production facility in Russia to produce items and packing of pulp cardboard (moulded paper fibre manufactured by recycling), will be held on 13 December 2019. The plant with the recycling capacity of 40 tons of paper waste per day is the largest plant in the CIS and EU producing this type of products.
Russia has set off on an ambitious challenge of creating a circular economy. One of the primary goals of sustainable utilisation of resources is reducing the waste. Waste is not just waste anymore, it is a recyclable material, which should continue to serve economic purposes. This being said, recycling paper waste is one of the vital elements in this system.
The Russian pulp and paper industry recycles more than 50% of paper and cardboard waste. Paper is a top product recycled in this segment and the paper recycling industry is one of the most promising segments given all the global and domestic market opportunities. Russia generates about 7.1m tons of recyclable paper waste, and only 4m are being actually collected.
The programme of the media tour to Solnechnogorsk Experimental Mechanical Plant (SOEMZ)
Media tour date
13 December 2019 (Friday)
1 Butyrsky Tupik, Solnechnogorsk, Moscow Region
09:00 – 09:15 Gathering of the guests at Khovrino metro station
09:15 Departure of the bus from Khovrino metro station
10:30 Arrival at SOEMZ
10:30-12:00 Tour of SOEMZ production facilities
12:00-12:20 Press scrum
13:20 Departure from SOEMZ
14:20 Arrival of the bus to Khovrino metro station
Participants of the media tour:
Evgeny Ryzhov, Director of the Department of Light Industry and Forestry Complex of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation;
Aleksey Sergeev, CEO of the League of Waste Paper Processors Association;
Denis Kondratyev, Deputy General Director of the League of Waste Paper Processors Association.
The goal of SOEMZ is to expand its market share and increase its profit margin by replacing items and packaging of polymer and other materials with pulp cardboard products.
The plant produces such products as boxes for fruit and vegetables, eggs, Cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, cup holders, disposable paper trays, paper flower pots, fruit blisters and transportation packaging, packaging for lettuce transportation, locating boxes for industrial packaging, packaging for HoReCa, retail, cosmetics, medicine, eco packaging.
To learn more about the plant, its products and to see SOEMZ photo and video gallery, please visit: https://soemz.com/.

domain: news


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Tech Firms Increase Efforts To Control More of the Internet’s Backbone
December 17th, 2013 By:THN News
(The Hosting News) – Tech giants such as Google and Facebook are increasing efforts to control more of the internet’s “backbone,” causing tension with the telecom companies that run the Web, states a report from The Wall Street Journal.
These companies have “ramped up their investment in Internet infrastructure” over the last year by striking long-term agreements to lease dark fibers, building their own networking hardware, and funding underground cables.
The goal of tech companies is to reduce costs by improving the performance of their internet services and have enough capacity to support growing traffic from online video, photos, and games, continues The Wall Street Journal’s report.
Google alone controls more than 100,000 miles of private fiber-optic cables around the world, a move that took years to accomplish, states a person familiar with its assets.
Sprint Corp.’s network only covers less than 40,000 miles in the U.S.
In June, Facebook started using dark fiber cables in Europe to extend its network and connect to its new data center in Sweden.
Amazon and Microsoft are heavily investing in their network infrastructure due to their growing cloud-computing business.
In recent years, Google and Facebook have invested in new Asian submarine cables as well.
“If you’ve got enough money and enough bandwidth requirements, at some point it makes sense just to build it,” stated Michael Murphy, president of NEF Inc.
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* On-premises technology is designed to handle volumetric network-based DDoS attacks or floods, reflective and amplified spoof attacks, like DNS and NTP attacks, as well as application layer attacks - such as slow loris, slow read etc
* Unique, slim-line appliance family delivers 10 Gbps full-duplex performance in a 1/4 wide, 1 RU form factor, enabling Hosting providers to deploy a combination of SmartWall TDS appliances to deliver the performance, connectivity and security required
* Providers are now enabled to offer creative new offerings, such as DDoS and cyber threat protection, enhanced security SLAs as well as visibility and reporting through an analytics portal that can be leveraged as a premium service offering


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Disney is cleared to acquire a majority stake in the video streaming technology platform BAMTech ahead of schedule. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued an early termination notice yesterday, deciding there were no antitrust concerns raised by the deal.
Originally developed as an in-house streaming platform by MLBAM , the digital division of Major League Baseball (MLB), for streaming online coverage of baseball games, the platform was spun out into a separate unit in 2015. Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) acquired 33% of the unit in August last year for $1 billion. That investment also gave Disney the option of buying a majority stake, which it used earlier this year -- investing a further $1.58 billion to pick up an additional 42% of BAMTech. MLB and its 30 team owners will keep 15% of the company, and other investors including the National Hockey League (NHL) will retain minority shares.
BAMTech supports a number of video streaming providers including the PGA Tour, HBO's HBO NOW streaming service and of course, MLB and the NHL. Its primary competitors in this space are NBC's Playmaker Media and Turner Sports' iStreamPlanet, who recently announced a partnership for streaming various events. (See NBC's Black Is Ready to Play.)
Disney's investment in BAMTech is in part driven by a desire to launch its own direct-to-consumer services for children's and sports content (via the ESPN brand.) The media giant recently announced it would be ending its relationship with Netflix and launching its own streaming services in 2019. (See Disney Joins OTT Bandwagon.)
Details are sparse for both initiatives, but Disney is very clear about moving forward with a direct-to-consumer streaming strategy. It did disclose that the ESPN service will feature "10,000 live regional, national and international games and events a year, including Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, Grand Slam tennis and college sports."
It also announced a partnership with streaming company iflix for distributing its content outside the US shortly after. Disney will have its own channel on iflix, which will include content from Disney's TV properties as well as Marvel and Pixar movies. (See Disney, iflix Team Up to Take Down Netflix.)
iflix claims more than 5 million subscribers worldwide. It is currently offered in Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Brunei, the Maldives, Pakistan, Vietnam, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Lebanon, Egypt, Sudan, Cambodia, Nigeria and Kenya.
While the acquisition of BAMTech helps cement Disney's OTT strategy, it will face significant competition. A number of other content providers including CBS and Viacom are launching their own OTT services, and others are waiting in the wings. (See CBS Streaming Service to Expand Globally.)
And there are suggestions that consumers may be getting frustrated by the number of OTT services available and the growing complexity involved with getting the content they want online. (See Too Many Streaming Services, Say Millennials.)
Disney has a unique brand and undoubtedly valuable content. BAMTech will give it a solid, proven platform to distribute that content. But the company should be concerned about the sheer number of new OTT services being launched, and how frustrating and expensive this is could all become for the average consumer.
— Aditya Kishore, Practice Leader, Video Transformation, Telco Transformation


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9.5 million people work in the catering sector in the EU - don't leave them alone!
Berlin, Germany - 28 April 2020 - Empty hotel rooms, closed restaurants and closed bars: Measures to protect against the spread of the coronavirus have brought the hospitality industry in the European Union (EU) almost to a standstill. As reported by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), according to the EU Labour Force Survey some 9.5 million people in the current 27 EU states (excluding the United Kingdom) were working in this sector in 2019. According to this survey, just under 1.6 million people were employed in the hotel and restaurant industry in Germany, which was four percent of all employed persons.
In the popular tourist destinations of Greece, Cyprus and Spain, the hotel and restaurant industry is of particularly high importance for the labour market: in Greece, around ten per cent of the workforce in 2019 worked in catering and accommodation establishments, in Cyprus and Spain nine per cent each. The share was also high in Ireland and Malta (8% each) and Portugal (7%). Croatia, Italy, Austria and Bulgaria each accounted for six per cent. The EU average was five per cent.
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Xiaomi has announced that it is investigating a report of an alleged Redmi 6A explosion that caused the death of an India woman.
This is coming after a tweet by a man on September 9, stating that his aunt was found dead due to a blast by her Redmi 6A.
According to the company, says customer safety is of utmost importance and extreme seriousness. Xiaomi India says its team is trying to get in touch with the affected family and determine the cause of the incident.
The man’s tweet also included screenshots of the shattered Redmi 6A and the woman lying in a pool of her blood. The man called out Xiaomi to take responsibility for the incident. The man stated that his aunt used her smartphone basically for calling and YouTube and the explosion may have been due to the phone’s battery.
At Xiaomi India, customer safety is of utmost importance and we take such matters extremely seriously. At this point, our team is trying to get in touch with the affected family, and determine the cause of the incident. (1/2)
— Xiaomi India Support (@MiIndiaSupport) September 9, 2022
Xiaomi India has not provided much optics on the investigation it had commenced, but we expect to get a definitive report of what actually happened.
The team should be able to identify the proximate cause (s) of the alleged explosion. It is unclear whether the details of such an investigation could be made public but safety issues as this should also involve the regulatory agencies. Xiaomi also did not provide a timeline for the conclusion of the investigation but it must be comprehensive.


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Poor Harry Styles.
With his formative years spent in the snug womb that was One Direction, it seems the now-solo pop-rock musician missed out on the one thing that brought us all together over the last five years: Brussels sprouts, roasted and not boiled.
“I think sprouts is gonna be, like, the new kale,” he told host Nick Grimshaw, adding that he’s partial to sauteing them or adding them to a curry.
It was a sweet proclamation, but one that makes a person question where Sony hid Styles between performances and media appearances all these years.
Like One Direction itself, Brussels sprouts became a big deal here in the US around 2012 and are now a staple at rustic gastropubs across the globe. It’s possible that Styles was a little distracted from the culinary scene at that time, what with the selling millions of albums globally and the Beatles-esque hoards of screaming teenage fans.
Here in New York, as Serious Eats reports, restaurants like Ilili, Ssäm Bar, Alta and countless more made Brussels ubiquitous, whether by caramelizing them, frying them, adding bacon and maple syrup to them — anything besides the atomic-age boiling method that once stigmatized the vegetable.
Now it’s become a side dish as commonplace as french fries, an order that even the pickiest eaters can agree upon. At its best, it’s a healthy and delicious alternative. At its worst, a telltale sign of restaurant mediocrity.
So welcome to 2017, Harry. Just wait till you try goat cheese.


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Analysts surveyed by FactSet are projecting adjusted earnings of 49 cents per share on revenue of $712.1 million. During the same quarter last year, the Columbus, OH-based footwear retailer earned 44 cents per diluted share on revenue of $665.5 million.
Comparable-store sales are expected to fall 0.6% during the most recent quarter, according to FactSet, compared to a 3.9% drop last year.
Canaccord Genuity remains cautious on DSW heading into the quarterly report. Management's decision to refrain from repeating last year's "deep" promotions has resulted in steep traffic declines and weak comparable-store sales growth, according to the firm.
"We do not want to get in front of a stock that is attempting to re-train its consumer to shop at full price, and thus remain cautious on the shares, particularly given the recent post-election bounce," the firm, which has a "hold" rating on the stock, wrote in a note today.
Canaccord believes DSW will maintain its full-year earnings per share guidance of $1.32 to $1.42 given the uncertainty about consumers' response to reduced promotions in what is anticipated to be another promotionally-driven holiday season.
MKM Partners maintained a "neutral" rating on DSW ahead of the results and said it expects sequential improvement from the 2016 second quarter.
"There may be some risk to the company's fall boot business from the unseasonably warm weather, but this may have been at least partially offset by an extended sandals season. Overall, we believe business remains generally difficult and view the stock as being close to its fair value here," the firm wrote in a note this morning.
Deutsche Bank upped its price target to $25 from $22 and maintained its "hold" rating on shares today as it sees upside to third-quarter consensus estimates.
The upside is driven by: easy comparisons over last year, strength in the footwear category, a successful launch of kids' footwear, which aided traffic, continued digital momentum and increasing private label penetration boosting margins, the firm said.
Shares of DSW were up 2.23% to $23.41 at the start of trading on Monday. The stock is down about 4% year-to-date.
DSW operates 481 stores in 42 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.


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Market reports from ShareCast
Europe close: Stocks dip amid concern around outlook for summer tourism
Friday 22 January 2021 19:13
(Sharecast News) - European shares extended losses at the end of the week as fears of extended Covid travel curbs on the continent, downbeat UK retail sales and weak business survey readings all hit sentiment.
London close: Stocks finish weaker amid travel restriction concerns
Friday 22 January 2021 16:43
(Sharecast News) - London stocks closed in negative territory on Friday, as weak data and worries about the effect of prolonged lockdowns and travel restrictions knocked sentiment.
US open: Stocks head south, investors reconsider Biden's stimulus package
Friday 22 January 2021 15:26
(Sharecast News) - Wall Street stocks opened in the red on Friday as market participants continued to mull over Joe Biden's Covid-19 stimulus plan.
Asia report: Most markets weaker, CNOOC plunges
Friday 22 January 2021 11:37
(Sharecast News) - Most markets in Asia finished weaker on Friday, with Chinese oil giant CNOOC seeing some serious losses in Hong Kong.
Europe midday: Shares extend losses after weak PMI readings
Friday 22 January 2021 11:22
(Sharecast News) - European shares extended losses as fears of extended Covid travel curbs on the continent, downbeat UK retail sales and weak business survey readings all hit sentiment.
London midday: Stocks fall as lockdown worries dent travel & leisure sectors
Friday 22 January 2021 10:55
(Sharecast News) - London stocks were in the red by midday on Friday as weak data and worries about the effect of prolonged lockdowns and travel restrictions knocked sentiment.
London open: Stocks fall after retail sales, borrowing data
Friday 22 January 2021 08:21
(Sharecast News) - London equity markets fell in early trade on Friday as investors digested disappointing UK data, with travel and leisure shares under the cosh.
Europe open: Shares lower on tighter Covid curb plans, UK retail sales
Friday 22 January 2021 08:20
(Sharecast News) - European stocks fell on Friday as tighter travel restrictions hit travel stocks and UK retail sales disappointed.
London pre-open: Stocks seen flat as investors mull retail sales
Friday 22 January 2021 07:39
(Sharecast News) - London stocks were set for a flat open on Friday as investors mull the latest UK retail sales data.
US close: Stocks finish mixed as Biden gets to work
Thursday 21 January 2021 23:14
(Sharecast News) - Wall Street stocks closed in a mixed state on Thursday, after major indices hit fresh record highs in the previous session on Inauguration Day.


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With the prices of onion and tomato, two essential vegetables, going north, families are being forced to replan their monthly domestic budgets and purchase in moderation.
The prices are unlikely to come down until fresh stocks, especially of onions, hit the markets. The prices began rising over a month ago and old onions (the red variety usually procured from onion-growing belts in Maharashtra) cost even more now.
In the retail market of Mysuru, onions cost between ₹50 and ₹60 a kg. Larger onions cost even more and the premium quality fetches ₹5 more per kg. Meanwhile, the hybrid variety of tomato is being sold at ₹55 a kg while the local variety is fetching between ₹40 and ₹45.
At the Horticultural Producers’ Co-operative Marketing and Processing Society (HOPCOMS) outlets here, onions are being sold at ₹55 a kg and tomatoes at ₹40 a kg.
HOPCOMS managing director Anand told The Hindu that onion prices in the wholesale market of the APMC here have gone up, forcing retailers to revise their selling price. The purchase price of onion is ₹40 a kg, plus 5% tax. “Despite the spiralling prices, we are selling onions at our outlets with a wafer-thing profit margin. Even the price of tomatoes has remained on the higher side, with the selling price hovering around ₹40 a kg,” he said.
Datta, manager at a HOPCOMS procurement centre, said there has been a drop in supply of onions from the major onion markets in north Karnataka and Maharashtra. This is following a fall in production owing to untimely rains.
“We have no agreement with the farmers on onion procurement. Therefore, we procure them directly from the wholesale dealers at the APMC [yard]. We pay them according to the day’s market rate with tax,” he said.
A cashier at a grocery shop in ‘I’ Block of Ramakrishna Nagar said customers keep asking why the prices have skyrocketed and why they have not stabilised even after so many days.


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The “Pressure Is Off”: Instagram Expands Its Test of Removing Like Counts
For the past few months, Instagram was running a test in Canada that hid likes from public view. Instagram has now expanded this test to 6 other countries. An Instagram spokesperson confirmed it by saying: “We are now rolling the test out to more countries so we learn more from our global community and see how this can benefit people’s experiences on Instagram.”
One of the reasons they are experimenting with hiding the like-count to “remove pressure” on users. While individual users can still see their total like counts in the test, but they are not publicly displayed. In a recent Interview Instagram chief Adam Mosseri explained that: “We don’t want Instagram to be such a competition. We want it to be a place where people spend more of their energy connecting with the people that they love and the things that they care about.”
There is a dangerous side to social media we are all aware of, however, how would the implementation of such a change impact those working within the industry? Could this mean the death of the influencer?
‘Creator Shows’ Featuring Celebrities and Influencers Are Coming To Snapchat
Snapchat launched its original content efforts two years ago and has now announced it will be unveiling a new program called Creator Shows, featuring a host of celebrities and creators. These ones will be big names, from the likes of Serena Williams to Arnold Schwarzenegger, as well as online stars like Emma Chamberlain or Rickey Thompson.
Snapchat is therefore focusing on personality-driven shows to generate attention and drive engagement.
The creators taking part in the first iteration of the Creator Shows are Emma Chamberlain, Loren Grey, and Rickey Thompson. Thompson will weigh in on fashion and lifestyle trends on “Trend or End” while Gray will offer beauty advice on “Glow Up”. The shows will begin airing this month and are all exclusive to Snapchat. While the company hasn’t revealed viewership numbers for its original shows, it has stated that daily time spent watching those shows have tripled over the past year.
Moreover, Snapchat will be testing a new section to house these creator shows instead of Discover. The aim if for the “Shows” section to make it easier for users to find and engage with Snapchat’s original content.
TikTok Appears To Have Acquired Jukedeck, A Music AI Startup
TikTok owner, ByteDance has reportedly bought Jukedeck, a UK startup that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to automatically generate original music.This was first reported by Music Ally after the startup’s founder and CEO Ed Newton-Rex along with some other colleagues updated their LinkedIn profiles to show ByteDance as their place of employment. Jukedeck’s CEO now lists his position as director of ByteDance’s AI lab.
Although TikTok videos tend to be based around licensed music, take the example of hit “Old Town Road”, an app like Jukedeck could offer a lot of opportunities for TikTok users, given that they would get more creative control to customise their tracks. In addition, it could also be beneficial in terms of licensing. TikTok currently has to pay for the catalogue of music that it offers, so the more royalty-free tracks, the less it would have to worry about who owns the rights to the music.
Pinterest Introduces New Tools To Help Calm Anxiety And Reduce Stress
Pinterest, in collaboration with emotional health experts at Brainstorm, Stanford’s Lab for Mental Health Innovation, the Vibrant Emotional Health and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is rolling out a collection of emotional well-being activities that people who are experiencing anxiety or are in distress can do within its app.
People who search for things like “stress quotes”, “work anxiety” or other terms alike will now be given the possibility to explore a range of guided “emotional well-being” activities created to improve their mood and overall well-being. This “compassionate search experience” will be available within the next couple of weeks to users in the US on both iOS and Android. The app, however, would be looking to expand to all of its users in the future.
Pinterest wants its platform to be “an inspiring and welcoming place for everyone” and while the collection of guided activities is “not meant to replace professional care”, notes Annie Ta, Pinner Product Manager, it may very well help someone in need.
Facebook To Change The Ad Layout On Its Mobile News Feed
Facebook has announced that as of the 19th of August, mobile News Feed ads will be compressed in order to “match the look and feel of the new Facebook design introduced earlier this year”, meaning that now more than ever, those first few lines will have to make an impact. Facebook ads placed in mobile will show three lines of text as opposed to the seven that were available. Users will have to then click if they want to “see more”. Maximum media height for photos and videos will reduce to a 4:5 aspect ratio compared to the previous 2:3. This is a crucial change for those advertisers who use Facebook ads, as they will now be forced to make them more engaging given the competition for attention in News Feeds.


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NEW YORK (
Research In Motion
took a couple broadsides this week:
introduced its intended BlackBerry killer Droid Pro and an IT survey showed that RIM's business user market is eroding.
Motorola unveiled its Droid Pro for
Tuesday night in San Francisco ahead of a wireless tech conference there this week. The
Android-powered Droid Pro combines a 3.1-inch touchscreen with a full portrait keyboard that seems to answer many BlackBerry fans' burning requests.
The arrival of the Pro comes as RIM continues to fall behind in the smartphone race, which is led by Android phones and
iPhone. And while consumer demand has driven the touchscreen trend, it seems the influence is spreading to business users who are eager to swap their BlackBerries for a new generation of application-driven Web-friendly devices.
The trend is a destructive one for RIM's prized enterprise niche.
RIM is expected to lose 29 percentage points of market share in North American-based businesses, according to a Morgan Stanley survey of chief information officers released Wednesday.
According to the Morgan Stanley tally, RIM's share of the business market will fall to 14.6% in 2012 from the 45% level in February of this year.
RIM continues to enjoy a healthy international expansion as its BlackBerry phones enter new markets, but the
, particularly its inability to adapt quickly to the touchscreen competition.
The release of the
this summer was a small step but not likely enough to get RIM back in the leader pack.
The competition will dramatically heat up for RIM in the coming weeks as
and its phone partners release
aimed at the Android and Apple market.
--Written by Scott Moritz in New York.>To contact this writer, click here: Scott Moritz, or email: email@example.com.To follow Scott on Twitter, go to http://twitter.com/TheStreet_Tech.>To send a tip, email: firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Tucked inside a report today from The Information about a trio of brothers working on Apple‘s Project Titan car initiative are claims that the project is having trouble with leadership and computing power and so has pushed back the car’s delivery date to 2021 from 2020.
The report says Apple is busy buying lots of in-house servers to cope with the massive amounts of data needed to direct autonomous or semi-autonomous cars on the road. Tesla has offloaded some of its data to Amazon Web Services. Apple is unlikely to do so.
Compounding problems is the departure earlier this year of Project Titan leader Steve Zadesky. The 16-year Apple veteran cited “personal reasons” for leaving the post.
It’s still unclear if the Apple Car will be self-driving or merely semi-autonomous. Releasing a semi-autonomous vehicle first seems like a typically Apple approach, and might relieve the company of building a fully-mature cloud data infrastructure before launch.
(Image: Moter Trend)


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Unlocking the Hidden Benefits of Industrial Data
We’ve heard extensively about how companies are analyzing data born on the consumer Web to improve customer service, boost probability, and otherwise remake the business-to-consumer relationship. But industrial data is also experiencing an analytic revolution, and it promises to remake how work gets done on factory floors, along railroads, and in mining operations around the world.
The so-called industrial Internet journey is not nearly as well-documented as the big data revolution taking place on the public Web. But thanks to the “Internet of Things” explosion and the newfound willingness to monitor and track everything with sensors, corporations are rushing to find ways to boost productivity and effectiveness.


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Smallholder farmers to benefit from US$16 million grant from World Bank
President George M. Weah has announced a funding of US$16 million grant from the World Bank under the Smallholder Transformation Agriculture Revitalization Project (STAR-P) of the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) to support smallholder farmers in the country.
The President made the pronouncement on Friday, February 12, 2021, when he launched this year’s National Agriculture Fair at the Central Agriculture Research Institution (CARI), in Suakoko, Bong County. The fair is held under the theme, “Investing into Agriculture for Development and Prosperity”, and it features products from along the agriculture value chain.
President Weah has therefore charged the Minister of Agriculture, Jeanine Cooper to provide data on farmers in the rice, cocoa, palm oil, and rubber subsectors.
He added that he will later set up a technical committee that will include the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), Commerce Ministry, State for Presidential Affairs, Justice Ministry, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Their task he said would be to work with the banks to ensure qualification, allocation, and disbursement of the stipulated funds.
“When I say we should eat what we grow, and grow what we eat, I mean it. We must utilize our soil,” said President Weah.
Additionally, President Weah said that his government is collaborating with the World Bank to ensure that farmers have access to low-interest rate lending from local banks.
“It is time for Liberians to take ownership of producing more food and as a result, we will begin to decrease our dependency on imported food,” he said.
He noted that the display of Liberia-made products at the National Agriculture Fair provided sufficient and reasonable conviction why the government must invest in farmers to collectively promote the agriculture sector and become potential exporters of Liberian products on the global market.
Liberia’s Agriculture Law, enacted in the 1970s, mandates the MOA to hold an annual National Agricultural Fair to showcase agriculture produce grown in the country. The fair was last organized in Tubmanburg, Bomi County in 2008.


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Business Travel Show Europe Kick Off, 23 February,
Global Travel Risk Summit Europe, April 2023,
3rd Annual Sustainable Business Travel Summit
British Airways’ (BA) parent company is thought to be considering a bid to acquire the Portuguese national carrier TAP Portugal.
According to a report in the Sunday Times,the International Airlines Group is keen to expand further, following the successful merger of BA and Iberia.
The paper cites industry sources saying that informal talks between IAG and TAP have already been held.
Other airlines that IAG is thought to be keeping an eye on for potential future acquisition include Finnair and Bmi.
Richard Tams, BA’s head of sales and marketing UK and Ireland, said the merger with Iberia was the “first step to something much bigger”.
Speaking at the Advantage Travel Conference in Madrid, he said the new group formed by the two carriers, was “creating a platform for greater consolidation”.


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Nine in 10 Black Friday ‘deals’ are the same price or even cheaper in the six months before the day, according to new research.
An investigation by consumer group Which? found that of 201 Black Friday deals last year from six major retailers, 184 of them - or 92 percent - were the same price or cheaper in the six months prior to Black Friday.
Only 17 of the deals did not fall into that category, and only one product was at its cheapest price on Black Friday alone.
Which? analysed Black Friday deals at Amazon, AO, Argos, Currys, John Lewis and Richer Sounds, comparing them with their price during the six months before and after Black Friday 2020.
Ele Clark, Which? retail editor, said: “Our latest investigation has shown that the vast majority of Black Friday deals are not as good as they appear to be, which is why it’s so important to do your research before diving into the sales.”
Which? advised consumers to do more research before making purchases on Black Friday to avoid being duped.
According to its research, four in 10 (39 percent) of those buying baby and child products last year did little or no research on price. For home appliances, that figure was three in 10 (28 percent), and for tech products, it was one in five (18 percent).
“Take time to identify the products you really want and check that the ‘deal’ you’re seeing represents a genuine saving,” Clark said.
The Which? investigation also found that in the six months after Black Friday, almost all (98.5 percent) of the products were cheaper or the same price at some point.


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Nissan Motor Co Ltd (7201.T)
20 Feb 2017
* PSA Group in talks to buy GM's Opel/Vauxhall brands
(Adds UK business minister comments)
LONDON, Feb 20 The head of Britain's biggest
trade union is likely to meet the CEO of PSA Group on
Friday amid growing concerns over the future of Vauxhall plants
if the French carmaker buys the business from General Motors, a
union source told Reuters.
路透伦敦2月18日 - 英国金融时报周六报导称，英国政府已向PSA(标致雪铁龙)集团就该国退欧后的贸易和供应链做出担保，以在一项可能进行的收购交易后保护Vauxhall汽车厂。
PARIS/LONDON, Feb 18 The chief executive of
Peugeot manufacturer PSA Group will meet British Prime
Minister Theresa May to discuss his firm's planned acquisition
of General Motors' Opel and Vauxhall operations, a
government spokesman said on Saturday.
LONDON, Feb 18 Britain has offered Peugeot
manufacturer PSA Group assurances on post-Brexit trade
and supply chains in an attempt to protect Vauxhall car plants
after a possible takeover, the Financial Times reported on
JOHANNESBURG, Feb 13 South Africa's automotive
sector capital expenditure is projected to rise to 8.2 billion
rand ($615 million) this year from 6.4 billion rand in 2016, the
auto industry body said in a document seen by Reuters.
WASHINGTON, Feb 12 The chief executives of 18
major automakers and their U.S. units urged President Donald
Trump to revisit a decision by the Obama administration to lock
in vehicle fuel efficiency rules through 2025.
* Car exports account for half of Japan's trade surplus with
MOSCOW, Feb 10 French carmaker Renault's
struggling Russian venture Avtovaz reported
on Friday a 39 percent reduction in losses last year after
pushing through efficiency improvements and cost-cutting


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KUALA LUMPUR: Honor Malaysia has launched the little brother of its flagship phone Honor 50 - the Honor 50 Lite.
Making a return with the Google Mobile Services (GMS) and the latest Android 11, the Honor 50 Lite comes with a quad camera, consisting a 64MP main camera, an 8MP wide angle camera covering wide angles up to 106 degree, and 2MP duos of the macro and depth camera for taking the tiny details.
Besides that, the phone can be powered up to 40 per cent battery life in just 10 minutes charge with the help of 66W Honor SuperCharge technology.
Its TÜV Rheinland-certified LCD display features 1.05mm super narrow bezel, giving a viewing pleasure of 94.4 per cent screen to body ratio.
The Honor 50 Lite is priced at RM999.


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Catalysr, a Sydney-based organisation supporting ‘migrapreneur’-led startups, is calling for applications to its 2018 pre-accelerator program.
News Corp Australia has partnered with Slingshot Accelerator to launch News Bolt, an internal innovation program for its 8,000 staff across the country.
The Victorian Government has launched Foundry658, a program geared towards growing the state’s “creative and cultural” businesses.
Energy Australia is set to conduct trials with three startups that graduated from the accelerator program it ran in conjunction with Startupbootcamp.
We had a chat about everything Qantas AVRO and what kind of Startups and Scaleups Qantas and Slingshot Accelerator are looking for:
Coca-Cola Amatil has partnered with BlueChilli to launch the Xcelerate accelerator as it looks to identify opportunities to grow outside its core business.
The life of a stereotypical university student as presented in popular culture seems pretty sweet: sleeping through lectures, drinks at the uni bar between classes, and house parties on the weekend. Reality is often harder, with many students managing work and their coursework as the amount of quality facetime they get with academics shrinks. In […]
We had a chat about the ideas the Caltex team is looking for in the Caltex Spark Accelerator, and what participants can expect from the program.
The University of Queensland has appointed a Chief Student Entrepreneur to inspire and mentor fellow student innovators at the university.
Now in its fifth year, Telstra-backed accelerator program muru-D is still going strong, today revealing the intake for its fifth Sydney program.
Corporate accelerator Slingshot has revealed the 10 startups taking part in this year’s HCF Catalyst program, the program’s third intake.
Richard is accountable for leading the transformation of Caltex’s retail and consumer fuel business. Richard has worked in retail and consumer goods for twenty years in Australia and the UK with a broad range of leadership experience across commercial functions. Before joining Caltex, Richard was a member of the leadership team at Coles Supermarkets where he […]
Running Techstars Adelaide, the first program for Techstars in APAC, has been an incredible learning experience and intro to the Aussie startup ecosystem.
San Francisco-based accelerator Acceleprise, focused on Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) startups, has raised US$7 million in funding for its second fund and announced its expansion to New York and Melbourne.


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AFRICANGLOBE – Ethiopian workers walking through the parking lot of Huajian Shoes’ factory outside Addis Ababa in June chose the wrong day to leave their shirts untucked. The company’s president, just arrived from China, spotted them through the window, sprang up, and ran outside. Zhang Huarong, a former People’s Liberation Army soldier, harangued them in Chinese, tugging at one man’s polo shirt and forcing another worker’s into his pants. Amazed, the workers stood silent until the eruption subsided.
Zhang’s factory is part of the next wave of China’s investment in Africa. It started with infrastructure, especially the kind that helped the Chinese extract African oil, copper, and other raw materials to fuel China’s industrial complex. Now China is getting too expensive to do the low-tech work it’s known for.
African nations such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Rwanda, Senegal, and Tanzania want their share of the 80 million manufacturing jobs that China is expected to export, according to Justin Lin Yifu, a former World Bank chief economist who teaches economics at Peking University. Weaker consumer spending in the U.S. and Europe has prompted global retailers to speed up their search for lower-cost producers.
Shaping up employees is one part of Zhang’s quest to squeeze more profit out of Huajian’s factory, where wages of about $40 a month are less than 10 percent of what comparable Chinese workers may make. Just as companies discovered with China when they began manufacturing there in the 1980s, Ethiopia’s workforce is untrained, its power supply is intermittent, and its roads are so bad that trips can take six times as long as they should. “Ethiopia is exactly like China 30 years ago,” says Zhang, 55, who quit the military in 1982 to make shoes from his home in Jiangxi province with three sewing machines. He now supplies such well-known brands as Nine West and Guess.
Almost three years after Zhang began his Ethiopian adventure at the invitation of the late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, he says he’s unhappy with profits at the plant, frustrated by “widespread inefficiency” in the local bureaucracy, and struggling to raise productivity from a level that he says is about a third of China’s. Transportation and logistics that cost as much as four times what they do in China are prompting Huajian to set up its own trucking company, according to Zhang.
That will free Huajian from using the inefficient local haulers, but it can’t fix the roads. It takes two hours to drive 30 kilometers (18 miles) to the Huajian factory from the capital along the main artery. Oil tankers and trucks stream along the bumpy, potholed, and at times unpaved road. Goats, donkeys, and cows wander along, occasionally straying into bumper-to-bumper traffic. Minibuses and dented taxis, mostly blue Ladas from Ethiopia’s past as a Soviet ally, weave through oncoming traffic, coughing exhaust.


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To market apps effectively, developers need to stay up-to-date on mobile marketplace trends. The latest stats can discern what countries show the most impressive growth in downloads and revenue, providing real-time insights
In a recent post, we shared the industry’s best practices on app localization so developers can launch in new markets. But certain markets are better than others when it comes to mobile apps. Learn
Your mobile app can’t hack it in the US? Launch abroad and double your user base, using these research-backed insights.


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Among Us becomes bestselling Nintendo Switch game overnight
Among Us which is a popular multiplayer game that witnessed tremendous growth amid the COVID19 pandemic recorded another significant achievement to it's name. On December 15, Among Us launched on Nintendo Switch and developer Innersloth announced on Twitter that the game topped the Nintendo Switch best-sellers list overnight.
Among Us was first launched in June 2018 for Android, iOS devices and later for Microsoft Windows in November 2018. Initially, Among Us was not noticed by the gaming community but two years after its launch, the game became highly popular and went on to break multiple records and collect several accolades.
Recipe for success
In September 2020, Among Us registered a record 1.5 million players across three platforms- PC, iOS, and Android. Among Us has various elements that constitute for an immersive and engaging gameplay like the need to communicate with your teammates for a better outcome, staying alert, and if you're an imposter you are required to be stealthy in your approach.
Also, cross-platform play is one of the major contributing factors for Among Us recording such high player count. Cross-platform play in Among Us was introduced when the game was launched for PC in 2018 which allowed friends to play with each other from different plaforms.
Today, Among Us is one of the best multiplayer games there is, and the fact that it won the Best Multiplayer Game Award and Best Mobile Game Award at The Game Awards 2020 just adds more shine to it. Innersloth also revealed a new map The Airship for Among Us at The Game Awards 2020.


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Main research reports for ConocoPhillips, SAP and CSX
Wednesday, July 6, 2022
Zacks Research Daily features the best research results from our team of analysts. Today’s Research Daily features new research reports on 16 major stocks, including ConocoPhillips (COP), SAP SE (SAP) and CSX Corp. (CSX). These research reports have been handpicked from the approximately 70 reports published today by our team of analysts.
You can see all research reports from today here >>>
Conoco Phillips shares have gained +43.4% over the past year against US industry Zacks Oil and Gas – Integrated’s +45.9% gain. The Zacks analyst believes there are significant opportunities for the company in the Bakken shales, where it has about 750 undrilled locations that could provide access to huge reserves.
Notably, the company has revised up its scheduled 2022 return of capital to shareholders to $10 billion, reflecting an increase from the previously mentioned $8 billion. In addition, the company’s balance sheet is significantly less leveraged than that of the sector to which it belongs.
However, ConocoPhillips is heavily exposed to fluctuations in oil prices, which makes things difficult for the company. In addition, it has generated a lower dividend yield than composite stocks belonging to the energy sector in recent years.
(You can read the full research report on ConocoPhillips here >>>)
SAP shares are down -39.6% over the past year against Zacks Computer – Software industry decline of -15.4%. The Zacks analyst believes the suspension of Russian operations amid the ongoing war in Ukraine is expected to affect both the company’s revenue and non-IFRS operating profit in the near term.
Low adoption of software licenses and support offerings remains a headwind. Fierce competition and rising costs to improve cloud-based offerings are also likely to put pressure on the company’s profitability.
However, SAP’s performance is gaining strength in its cloud business, including the new Rise with SAP solution. The momentum of the SAP Business Process Intelligence platform, particularly S/4HANA solutions, as well as the consistent traction seen in SuccessFactors Employee Central, Ariba and Fieldglass, Qualtrics and other cloud-based offerings are noteworthy.
(You can read the full SAP research report here >>>)
Shares of CSX declined -13.6% over the past year compared to the -9.4% decline in the Zacks Transportation – Rail industry. The Zacks analyst believes supply chain disruptions are hurting company operations. Weakness in the commodity segment due to lower auto volumes is a concern. High costs, primarily due to escalating fuel expenses, pose a threat to CSX’s bottom line. CSX’s high capital expenditures are also concerning.
However, CSX benefits from higher coal export volumes, domestic intermodal shipments and favorable pricing. With the demand scenario expected to remain strong, despite the current bloodbath in the market, management expects double-digit operating profit and revenue growth for 2022 compared to the respective figures released a year ago.
(You can read the full CSX research report here >>>)
Other noteworthy reports we feature today include Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ALNY), DTE Energy Co. (DTE), and NVR, Inc. (NVR).
Note: Sheraz Mian leads the equity research department at Zacks and is a well-known expert on overall earnings. He is frequently quoted in the written and electronic press and publishes the weekly Earnings Trends and Revenue overview reports. If you would like to receive an email notification whenever Sheraz publishes a new article, please click here>>>
To read today
ConocoPhillips (COP) bets on oil-rich Bakken Shale assets
Strong Momentum in Cloud Business Drives SAP Performance
Healthy freight demand helps CSX despite supply chain issues
Alnylam’s (ALNY) marketed drugs contribute to growth in the face of competition
According to the Zacks analyst, Alnylam’s portfolio of approved drugs has seen strong adoption since its launch, while the pipeline is progressing well. However, fierce competition in the target market remains a problem
Strong DTE Energy (DTE) investment support, low solvency issues
According to the Zacks analyst, DTE Energy’s investments in infrastructure and expansion projects tend to boost its long-term growth prospects. However, its weak solvency position remains a bottleneck.
Growth of Skechers direct-to-consumer (SKX) commercial aids
According to the Zacks analyst, Skechers’ direct-to-consumer business is benefiting from growth in both international and domestic markets. During the first quarter of 2022, direct-to-consumer sales increased by 15.7%.
Expansion strategies help Evercore (EVR), rising costs all
According to the Zacks analyst, Evercore’s efforts to build its customer base in consulting solutions could support revenue growth. However, rising compensation costs will likely keep earnings under pressure.
National Vision (EYE) Robust new store growth despite cost concerns
Significant growth in National Vision’s store count for the America’s Best and Eyeglass World brands is expected to help revenue, according to the Zacks analyst. Margin squeezes on rising spending are daunting.
NVR benefits from a disciplined business model and high inflation
According to the Zacks analyst, NVR’s disciplined business model and focus on maximizing liquidity and minimizing risk bodes well. Still, supply chain issues and inflationary pressures are pressing concerns.
Acquisitions benefit Toll Brothers (TOL), higher tariffs for all
According to the Zacks analyst, the lack of competition in the luxury new home market and buyout synergies have been driving Toll Brothers. However, higher mortgage rates are risks.
Watts Water (WTS) will benefit from a strong product portfolio
According to the Zacks analyst, Watts Water benefits from a diversified product portfolio, geographic expansion and effective cost management. A solid balance sheet and buyout synergies are tailwinds.
Capacity expansion, cost reduction to help Albemarle (ALB)
According to the Zacks analyst, Albemarle should take advantage of its shares to increase its global capacity in lithium derivatives. Its cost reduction actions will also support margins.
Kronos Worldwide (KRO) Gains on Rising TiO2 Demand and Prices
According to the Zacks analyst, higher demand for titanium dioxide (TiO2) will boost the company’s sales volumes. Higher average selling prices for TiO2 will also support its margins.
Rising spending, growing competition Garlic MercadoLibre (MELI)
According to the Zacks analyst, MercadoLibre is hurt by rising spending on warehousing, free shipping subsidies and mPOS discounts. In addition, increased competition in e-commerce poses risks.
Falling Marketplace GMS and assembly costs are hurting Etsy (ETSY)
According to the Zacks analyst, a slowdown in consumer spending is hurting Etsy Marketplace’s gross merchandise sales. Additionally, rising costs due to the move to off-site ads remain a concern for its profitability.
Escalating Costs and High Debts Harm Community Health (CYH)
According to the Zacks analyst, the company’s high costs can put pressure on margins. The increase in debt remains a concern as it leads to an increase in interest charges.
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today you can download 7 best stocks for the next 30 days. Click to get this free report
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ALNY): Free Stock Analysis Report
ConocoPhillips (COP): Free Stock Analysis Report
CSX Corporation (CSX): Free Stock Analysis Report
DTE Energy Company (DTE): Free Inventory Analysis Report
SAP SE (SAP): Free Inventory Analysis Report
NVR, Inc. (NVR): Free Stock Analysis Report
To read this article on Zacks.com, click here.
Zacks Investment Research


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It’s going to be quite the week for the adidas NMD with Thursday, April 6th serving as a sort of adidas NMD Day with almost 20 different NMD Series releases arriving at retailers. Jordan Brand is bringing back the Air Jordan 13 Low “Brave Blue”, one of the fan-favorite colorways of the original 1998 low-top. Nike Basketball is also tuning up their lineup for the warmer months with the coming Nike Basketball “Summer Pack” slated to release on Thursday. Check out a full rundown of the latest Sneakers Releasing This Weekend and stay tuned for more updates throughout the week right here on Sneaker News.
Read the rest of Sneakers Releasing This Weekend – February 8th, 2017
The post Sneakers Releasing This Weekend – February 8th, 2017 appeared first on Sneaker News.
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GASP: Kim Kardashian teased KKW Beauty's new powder contour palettes, and it's dropping soon
We’ve said it before, and we’ll gladly say it again: the Kardashian Klan has been killing it with all these summer beauty releases. And now, beauty queen Kim Kardashian is sure to slay us again with her new KKW Beauty powder contour palettes, which are coming soon.
Kim has really been owning the beauty game this summer, thanks to a new brush and highlighter release that rocked our worlds. And since we all know that Kim is the queen of contouring, it’s really no shock that she’s releasing a powder contour palette. It’s sure to take our beauty looks to the next level.
The Kardashian Kween first started teasing her powder contour palettes last week on Instagram, as she shared a behind-the-scenes photo of herself and some models wearing her new contour and highlighting product.
Low and behold the new powder contour teases, courtesy of Kim.
She gave beauty lovers a closer look at the sure-to-be sold out contour product.
The kits feature gorgeous minimalist packaging, which of course, has a millennial pink hue.
The kits also seem to come with a dual-sided brush, which is sure to make application speedy and not to mention flawless.
And even better news? Each powder contour palette features a mirror so you can create all sorts of epic beauty looks while you’re on-the-go.


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WELLINGTON, Fla. -- A small crowd hunkered down outside the AT&T store on State Road 7 Friday morning, in anticipation of the iPhone 5 release.
Several people sat in lawn chairs outside the store, which opened an hour early at 8:00 a.m. to unveil the new phone.
AT&T officials say pre-sale numbers for the iPhone 5 set record highs.
Many Treasure Coast residents lined up outside phone stores early Friday as well, ready to buy the latest Apple -- - now available in U.S. stores and in eight other countries.
"I just had to have the new phone," said Jordan Nichols, 19, an Indian River State College student, who was first in a line of seven at 5:25 a.m. at Verizon on St. Lucie West Boulevard in Port St. Lucie.
He walked away shortly after 8 a.m., new phone in hand and a smile on his face.
He said his mom woke him at 4:45 a.m. so he could get to the store early. He has the iPhone 4S, which he plans to sell after he picks up his new phone.
In Stuart, 12 people were in line at 7:30 a.m. at the Verizon Wireless store on U.S. 1 just north of Monterey Road.
First there was Jacob Perez, 35, who said he didn't think he'd be the first in line.
"Busy day, trying to get done early," Perez, a property manager, said when asked why he was there so early.
Inside the Stuart Verizon Wireless store as customers browsed and Toto's "Africa" played in the background, manager Lori Klangwald said lines were expected.
"We did have a lot of success with the online pre-orders and also instore pre-orders, so seeing a line outside in addition to the success of the pre-orders is fantastic," she said.
Klangwald said she didn't have any numbers for iPhone 5 pre-orders. Still, she said numbers keep climbing with each new iPhone release.
"iPhone launch day, it's always a great time, it's always a great environment, good energy," Klangwald said. "Everyone seems happy."
Perez's favorite thing abut the iPhone is it's reliability.
"It never crashes," he said.
He said he has an iPhone 4 that he plans to sell.
By 7:30 a.m., about a dozen folks stood or sat behind Perez. Just before 8 a.m., the line was up to about 20.
Twice as many people were lined up at the AT&T store in Vero Beach, three of whom began their wait at 10 p.m. Thursday. No one else showed up until 4:30 a.m.
"We played Frisbee for part of the time in the parking lot," said Chris Cronin, 23. "I also watched a few movies on Netflix on my phone."
A barista from Starbucks, within the same shopping plaza, walked to the front of the line at the store holding two containers of coffee about 7:55 a.m.
When the store opened at 8 a.m., customers consumed the coffee as they purchased their new phones.
Many other people across the counties have already pre-ordered their new phones.
Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers and the Associated Press contributed to this report


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The United States International Trade Commission expects to complete its investigation into allegations of patent infringement between Apple and Samsung at the end of next week, it said Thursday.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has rejected claims of an Apple patent that figures prominently in a patent infringement lawsuit against Samsung Electronics, according to documents filed by the South Korean company in a U.S. federal court.
Patent firm Eolas Technologies lost an appeal against Google, J.C. Penney, Yahoo and Amazon.com in a long-drawn lawsuit involving key Web patents.
Google has acquired from the SR Tech Group a portfolio of U.S. patents and patent applications that includes several speech related patents.
A court's decision not to prevent multiple Samsung handsets from being sold in the U.S. despite their being found to infringe Apple patents will go before an appeal's court in early August.
Though roundly ridiculed when it debuted in 1995, Microsoft Bob, or something resembling the short-lived on-screen assistant, will ultimately return, vowed Bill Gates, co-founder and chairman of Microsoft.
Samsung Electronics has requested a new trial for a patent related to a US$1 billion infringement ruling against it in a case brought by rival Apple, due to a re-examination of the patent at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Apple has asked the U.S. International Trade Commission to stay a ban on certain iPhone and iPad models pending an appeal.
Boston University is seeking to ban Apple from selling some of its products, besides demanding damages for the alleged infringement of a semiconductor patent invented by a university professor.
Apple is appealing a US$368 million award granted to patent holding company VirnetX by a federal court in Texas.
The U.S. International Trade Commission has launched a pilot program to test whether early rulings on identified crucial issues in some investigations could limit unnecessary litigation, saving time and costs for all sides.
The U.S. International Trade Commission has decided to investigate HTC for patent infringement based on a complaint Nokia filed in May that targets several phones from the Taiwanese handset maker, including the HTC One.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission will launch an investigation of the business practices of so-called patent trolls in an effort to understand whether those companies are harming competition and consumers, the agency's chairwoman said.
Intellectual Ventures, a large patent-licensing firm, has filed a second patent-infringement lawsuit against Motorola Mobility while its first patent lawsuit is still pending in a Delaware count.
The USPTO has confirmed four claims of Apple's overscroll bounce patent, including claim 19 of the patent, according to a document filed with a Californian court on Thursday. That claim played a crucial part in Apple's US$1.05 billion dollar lawsuit ...
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Last November, BitTorrent made a move into Netflix and Amazon territory with the news that it would be releasing its first original piece of video content, Children of the Machine. Today, the peer-to-peer networking platform, which has 170 million active users, is kicking that strategy up another notch: it is entering a bigger partnership with Rapid Eye Studios — the production house that is behind Children of the Machine — to identify, produce and distribute more original video content for a new initiative called BitTorrent Originals, aimed initially at the 14-25 age bracket.
As part of this, part of BitTorrent’s team from Bundles — BitTorrent’s paid content service covering different kinds of media from books to music and video — will relocate to L.A. and work in Rapid Eye’s offices. There will be initially three people moving, including Matt Mason, BitTorrent’s chief content officer. “It signals how serious we are about being a media company,” a spokesperson tells me.
Indeed, this is a big step ahead for BitTorrent and another significant step away from its older reputation as a den of unlicensed, free premium content sharing.
“This landmark deal with Marco (Marco Weber, CEO of Rapid Eye Studios) is a major milestone for us and an aggressive expansion into the media space for BitTorrent, Inc.,” said Eric Klinker, CEO for BitTorrent, in a statement. “In the last two years, we’ve become a trusted and valid channel for creators and publishers to reach a monthly global audience of 170 million fans directly. Expanding into the world of original content is a move that makes us a serious player in the media business, and takes us another step closer toward our goal: creating a sustainable digital future for creators of all kinds.”
The Originals push complemented by the company launching enterprise-style services like Sync, communications services like Bleep for chatting, and also BitTorrent’s more radical stance as a holdout against the issues that cloud-based services face over snooping from the NSA and other organizations. (As a P2P service, there is no cloud for BitTorrent and all content stays local.)
It’s still pretty early days for the initiative and BitTorrent tells me that it is not announcing any financials around the deal — that is, no information about how much either side is investing, what sort of revenue shares will come out of the deal, and whether it involves BitTorrent actually investing in Rapid Eye more directly.
The idea behind Originals is that it will show first-run video content that it will sell through its Bundle “pay gate” model, for a period of between 30 and 60 days. After that, Originals may end up being sold through other channels, be they Amazon, Netflix or the silver screen. “All of those are possible,” the spokesperson tells me.
As background, Bundles is the distribution platform that BitTorrent has been slowly building up that lets creators sell content using a variety of different payment methods, including partial payments, to “unlock” certain parts of the content and advertising. Perhaps most notably, the model is disruptive in that it lets content creators keep 90 percent of the proceeds that their work makes through the platform.
BitTorrent says that it will be giving some parameters for what will be considered for its Originals: the content should be aimed at young adults between 14 and 25, and it needs to be new and fresh.
Children of the Machine begins filming this spring, with Marco Weber (Igby goes Down, Unthinkable, The 13th Floor) and Jeff Stockwell (Bridge to Terabithea, The Dangerous Live of Altar Boys) writing and producing the eight-episode, 60-minute sci-fi series, BitTorrent says.
It will be released in late 2015, and the company projects between 60 million and 80 million viewers globally. A premium version of the series will be available for $9.95, and they are already thinking of merchandising around it, including a video game.


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At the beginning of this year the Samsung Galaxy Fold was proudly presented as the first foldable smartphone from the Korean manufacturer. Unfortunately, the launch does not go very smoothly, after all, you can still not buy the Galaxy Fold. The folding phone will be re-released in September 2019. In the meantime, however, there have been several rumors about Samsung intending to release a foldable phone again despite the setbacks with the Fold.
Several times, there has been talk about a model that you can fold in a different way, namely horizontally instead of vertically. In addition, it seems likely that Samsung will also develop a regular successor to the Galaxy Fold.
Over time, LetsGoDigital has come across various Samsung patents for a wide variety of foldable phone designs. This time, however, we are reporting on a design that shows a lot of similarities with the already introduced foldable phone from Samsung. It could very well be his successor; the Samsung Galaxy Fold 2.
In total three patents have been published. At first sight, these foldable phones show many similarities. However, the placement of the hinge in one of the three models is placed horizontally, instead of vertically. When folded, you have a short, wide device in your hands.
To get a better idea of this new type of foldable phone, LetsGoDigital has designed a series of product renders based on the patent sketches.
Samsung foldable phones: one folds vertically, the other horizontally
The design patents were applied for by Samsung Electronics and were published on 26 August 2019 in the EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office) and the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Office) database. The registration date is remarkable, the three patents were applied for very recently; on 14 August 2019.
Normally there is a significantly longer time between applying for a patent and the actual publication date. In general this takes several months, however, these patents were published only 12 days after the application date. Have these patents been speeded up at the request of Samsung? It seems plausible.
We start with the patent that shows the most similarities with Samsung’s current foldable smartphone (Model B). Seven sketches are included. Just like the Galaxy Fold, this device has a modest front screen, with large bezels on both the top and bottom. On the back we see a triple camera, just like Samsung’s current folding phone.
The differences become clear when you open the smartphone. Once unfolded you have a large tablet format screen at your disposal. The enormous notch of the current Fold, however, has made way for a much more modest notch, which still contains two cameras.
This notch is placed either at the top right of the screen – as is currently the case – or at the top left (Model C). This is the only difference between these two patents.
The third patent (on which our 3D renders are based) shows a foldable smartphone that has a similar screen when unfolded like the other two models. The notch of this device is positioned exactly in the middle. The folding line of this phone is not placed vertically, but horizontally.
When folded, you have a completely different type of device in your hands. Not an elongated, narrow phone, but a short, wide device – like a PDA was often designed in the past. The front screen of this model also has a different format than the other two devices.
This Samsung smartphone seems to have just as many cameras as the Fold; 6 in total. The back of this foldable phone shows a triple camera, a double camera is incorporated in the notch and finally we see a single camera on the front.
2nd generation Samsung foldable smartphones
Last month, Digitimes published an article stating that the 2nd generation of foldable smartphones from Samsung are currently being developed. The Korean manufacturer is also planning to release a model that can be folded horizontally. This device would have a 6.7-inch flexible screen. It is quite possible that this device is similar to the one Samsung has recently patented. After all, this model would perfectly fit the current Galaxy Fold portfolio.
It is as yet unclear when Samsung wants to release its 2nd Gen foldable phones. IFA 2019 starts next week, hopefully the new release date of the Galaxy Fold will then finally be announced. Chances are that we will have to wait until the beginning of 2020 before new foldable devices are introduced by Samsung, these models are likely to be exhibited at MWC 2020.
It seems obvious that the Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 will also be compatible with the fast 5G network. This is also the case with the Huawei Mate X. The current Fold only offers 4G LTE support. However, since then Samsung released several 5G smartphones, including the Galaxy S10 5G, the Galaxy Note 10 and the Note 10+. It seems likely that Samsung will also release a 5G model of the Fold 2.
Samsung Galaxy Fold release at IFA 2019
The current Fold has a 4.6-inch HD+ front-screen. Once unfolded, you have a 7.3-inch flexible screen at your disposal. Shortly before the release it was decided to postpone the launch. This happened after several review copies showed defects. In the meantime, Samsung has made various adjustments, through a press release all improvements of the Samsung Galaxy Fold were explained.
At the same time, it was announced that the updated version will be launched in September this year in a limited number of countries. Although this was announced more than a month ago, no further details have yet been released. It is still unknown whether the price has changed and in which countries the device will be released. Initially, the device would launch in four different colors for a suggested retail price of € 2,020.
In the meantime Huawei has announced that the release of the Mate X will be suspended again. This device was also expected to arrive in September, however, it has now been postponed to “somewhere between September and November 2019”.
In addition, another foldable smartphone is expected soon, the Motorola RAZR. This foldable smartphone has also been talked about for a long time, but it looks like the introduction is now really near. Earlier this month, LetsGoDigital reported exclusively that this device is also coming to Europe. This device will be released for € 1500 at the end of this year or early 2020.
IFA 2019 will start on Friday 6 September and will last until Wednesday 11 September. One day before the exhibition starts, Samsung has scheduled a press conference at 11:00 AM, then the new portfolio of electronics products will be announced, including the new 8K QLED TV line-up. Undoubtedly the Galaxy Fold will also be discussed during this exhibition.
Note to editors: The 3D renders presented in this article are copyright protected and designed by LetsGoDigital. You can use our artwork for free, as long as you include a clickable source link into your story. Thank you very much for understanding.


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‘The industry is demanding it’: Spotify adopts Nielsen Brand Effect for verification on ad platform
Spotify announced Sept. 11 it’s adding Nielsen Brand Effect to its third-party verification suite — another sign the platform is trying to meet advertisers’ demand for proof that it drives sales.
Back in 2011, Spotify got away with saying its audience was “unique” and quite “big,” according to a pitch deck. Now, as the publicly traded company matures, Spotify’s adding another measurement solution from Nielsen — it already uses Nielsen Digital Ad Ratings — so that advertisers can better analyze brand awareness, perception and purchase intent. The company also recognizes the need for verification has become more necessary over the past year.
“When I started [in 2013] our pitch to brands was, ‘Hey, we’re cool and sexy, align with Spotify,’ but the industry has changed so much in the last five years. That’s not good enough anymore,” said Brian Benedik, Spotify’s global head of advertising. “Proving lift, awareness and intent: Those were nice to have a few years ago, but now the industry is demanding it. Erosion of trust and questioning brand safety has really driven the need for all publishers and platforms to provide third-party verification. [Our work is] very much in response to what brands are demanding.”
Spotify has 180 million total monthly active users, about 101 million of whom use its ad-supported version, the company reported in July. Those ads include audio and video ads. Over time, Spotify has added more third-party verification. Nielsen Brand Effect will be available for ads in the U.S., Germany, U.K., Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, The Netherlands, Spain and France, for now.
Platforms have been under pressure from advertisers to be more transparent about their ads. Spotify was one of the first streaming music platforms to work with Nielsen and provide advertisers with an independent view of their audiences, said Jessica Hogue, Nielsen’s svp of digital solutions.
Spotify touted Allbirds and Dunkin’ Donuts as successful members of the beta test for Nielsen Brand Effect. Spotify said that Allbirds used Nielsen Brand Lift to analyze a campaign they ran on Spotify in the spring. The shoe maker ran audio, video and display ads on Spotify to U.S. users and reported a 4.7 times lift in brand awareness, 1.5 times lift in favorability and 6 times lift in associating the word “comfort” as a tenant of the brand. Lift, in this case, refers to the difference between people who were exposed to the ad versus those who weren’t. Separately, Dunkin’ Donuts had a 65 percent lift in ad recall in a campaign about its cold brew iced coffee.
Beyond verification, Spotify has been experimenting with its ad experience. It’s running a test in Australia called Active Media where it’s allowing users to skip ads, by choice, instead of blocking ads, a problem Spotify has acknowledged. Benedik said Spotify’s interest in skippable ads in part stemmed from the functionality of the larger ecosystem, where users get to choose what songs to listen to and create playlists. Spotify plans to share insights on that test in the future, Benedik said.
Spotify also has been working to get more small and medium-sized business into its ad network. At the end of last year, Spotify launched a self-serve tool called Ad Studio, which it wants to expand through more integrations.
“It’s the journey to becoming a platform, not just a publisher. Today we work with thousands of brands, but we envision a future where we’re working with hundreds of thousands of brands, and the only way to get there is to provide efficiency to the business,” Benedik said.
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New reports show that President Trump’s economy continues to surge, as first quarter numbers for 2019 indicate a powerful year, with the US GDP showing 3.2% growth.
President Trump said on Friday that “The country is doing very well, in every respect.”
“We’re knocking it out of the park, as they say,” said Trump, adding, “and we’re very happy about that.”
President Trump: “The country, though, is doing very well in every respect. We’re just doing well. We’re knocking it out of the park, as they say. And we’re very happy about that.” pic.twitter.com/390bhfdwbh
— The Hill (@thehill) April 27, 2019
While economists and the press have expected far slower growth rates, Friday’s numbers came as a surprise, as well as a win for the president as the 2020 election draws nearer.
For Trump, the country’s strong economy and low unemployment rates will serve as a major pillar in his campaign in the upcoming election, as he seeks to fend off Democrat challengers largely focused on social issues.
From The Hill:
Economic growth in the U.S. blew past expectations in the first quarter of 2019, easing fears of an impending slowdown that kicked off the year.
U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) grew at an annual rate of 3.2 percent in the first quarter of 2019, according to an initial estimate of growth released Friday by the Commerce Department.
Economists had expected U.S. GDP to grow roughly 2.5 percent between the first quarters of 2018 and 2019, typically one of the weaker periods for the American economy. Shaky financial markets, lagging retail sales and weak job gains all improved over the course of the first four months of 2019, improving the overall economic outlook along the way.
Increases in consumer spending, private inventory investment, nonresidential fixed investment, exports and nonfederal government spending helped drive strong first quarter growth, the Commerce Department said.
The second estimate for first-quarter growth, based on a fuller set of data, will be released on May 30.
The surprisingly high first quarter growth rate is the latest sign of strength for the U.S. economy well into its 10th year of expansion since the Great Recession. The economy grew at a solid 2.9 percent rate in 2018, but slowing growth and severe financial market turmoil to end the year raised concerns of an impending slowdown.
Despite a sluggish start to 2019, the U.S. economy has added an average 180,000 jobs per month this year while the stock market has reached record highs.
The persistent strength of the economy is also welcome news for President Trump, who is banking on consistent growth and low unemployment to survive a difficult reelection bid in 2020.
Trump told reporters Friday morning that while he couldn’t comment directly on the GDP numbers, “The country through is doing very well in every respect.”
White House officials are barred from commenting on closely watched economic data within the first hour after its release.
“We’re knocking it out of the park, as they say. And we’re very happy about that,” Trump said shortly after the report was published.


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Your already lukewarm impression of the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 is about to get even worse (and colder?). The WSJ is reporting that the XPERIA X10 will cost around 6,000 Swedish kronor which equates to around $879 dollars. Eight hundred and seventy nine Washingtons. And before you scream that can't be right, remember our good friends at WMExperts spent a good $867 on the XPERIA X1 earlier this year--this kind of obscene pricing seems to be par for the course for high end Sony Ericsson devices.
Now we know why Sony Ericsson is desperate to find a US carrier to subsidize the phone, there's no way it can find a market at that price. And even when you consider carrier subsidies, it'll still be the most expensive Android phone around. When other Android devices are available for $400-$500 off-contract and sub-$200 with contract, even after carrier's subsidize the $879 price you're still looking at a $400-$500 premium over every other Android phones. It's just ridiculous.
We know this is just a report and not official word from Sony Ericsson but in a world where you can get top-notch devices for under $200 on 2-year contract, you're asking for failure with a ridiculous cost.
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BrewDog will celebrate the opening of its new “beer-hotel” in Ohio this weekend.
The brewery said the hotel, named the DogHouse, is the “world’s first craft beer hotel,” according to BrewDog’s website.
Other features include a lobby bar with games and activities, a marketplace for takeaway food, international continental breakfast daily and select dog-friendly rooms. Guests also will have views of the brewery throughout in order to watch the brewers work.
All rooms include in-room refrigerators stocked with BrewDog beers, in-shower fridges, in-room taps, 42-inch flat screens and plenty more.
In addition to the craft beer escape, BrewDog also has unveiled its on-site, interactive beer museum. This 6,000-square-foot space provides a journey through the brewing process, a deep dive into the history of craft beer, and a hands-on experience of "the fundamental four" ingredients that contribute to the creation of a craft beer.
Established in 2007, BrewDog has grown from selling craft beer in the United Kingdom to exporting to 60 countries and 49 bars around the world.
The first night patrons can sleep at the DogHouse hotel will be Aug. 26, according to the website.
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The Pokemon Company has teased “more information” on its upcoming Pokemon Sword and Shield titles this week. The new Galar Research Update will drop on August 7 at 6 AM PT / 9 AM ET / 2 PM BST / 11 PM AET.
We don’t yet know what information could be included in the update–the major details such as the games’ release date and legendaries have already been revealed. It’s possible we could learn more about the games’ evil team, who haven’t been revealed yet, or see some new creatures.
The most recent Galar Research Update brought news on Gigantamaxing, the Galar Pokemon League, and on the game’s Gym Leaders, among other details. We also learned Sword and Shield have version-exclusive gyms–for more check out all the differences between Pokemon Sword and Shield.
The games launch for Nintendo Switch on November 15. It’s unclear as of yet how many Pokemon will appear in the game, but we know you won’t be able to transfer every old monster to them–a decision that has proven so controversial that the games’ producer, Junichi Masuda, had to issue a statement addressing the drama. For more on the titles, be sure to check out our Pokemon Sword and Shield pre-order guide.
In other news, The Pokemon Company announced its plans for a Pokemon Center pop-up store in London in October. The store will be located in Westfield, Shepherd’s Bush, with further details to be revealed in the coming months.
from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/more-information-on-pokemon-sword-and-shield-comin/1100-6468903/


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LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7, 2014 /CNW/ - ModiFace, the leading facial visualization and imaging technology company, today announced the launch of a 3D Augmented Reality Makeup and Anti-Aging Mirror to help beauty brands and retailers market their products to consumers standing at cosmetic counters as well as shopping at home. This new proprietary technology can simulate makeup products such as blushes, lipsticks and eye shadows and anti-aging skincare effects such as dark spot correction, facelift, browlift, cheek volume enhancement and jaw contouring on any consumer standing in front of the Beauty Mirror in real time and in full 3D.
The new Beauty Mirror offering applies ModiFace's patented photorealistic skin and shade simulation technology to achieve full photo-realistic 3D simulations shown on camera images, allowing makeup and skincare effects to be displayed on the user's face without requiring a photo upload. Each deployment is customized and precisely calibrated to match the brand's product portfolio. Consumers can:
- Try any number of cosmetic colors – instantaneously and virtually – simply by tapping a shade palette on the Beauty Mirror screen
- See the effects of skincare products simulated on a split screen with 'before' and 'after' images showing potential results
- View all makeup and skincare effects from different angles as they turn their face from side to side
The Beauty Mirror technology is available as a standalone kiosk that includes a touch screen monitor with a camera for in-store use, as well as a mobile app that can be used on a tablet at store counters or on a consumer's own tablet or smartphone.
"Our new 3D Beauty Mirror is a marketing breakthrough for retailers and beauty brands, particularly for cosmetic counters. It's not only a try-before-you-buy tool in the store or at home, but also a way to capture consumers' interest as they walk store aisles," said KyungMoon Lee, ModiFace Executive Director of Engineering. "Shoppers who would otherwise walk by without stopping can be instantly drawn in and experiment with shades and effects virtually even if they don't have the time for a hands-on makeup session or if a salesperson is busy with another customer. That makes it a powerful tool for increasing sales."
The ModiFace 3D Beauty Mirror will be demonstrated at the company's booth at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show this week in Las Vegas (Venetian Ballroom booth #70026). A sneak preview can be seen at the following links:
Cosmetics 3D Mirror:
Skin-care and Anti-aging 3D Mirror:
ModiFace is the leading virtual beauty company with unique anti-aging, skincare, cosmetics, and hair simulation technology across all platforms (web, in-store kiosk, Facebook, iPhone, iPad, Android, and in-ad-unit). Based on more than a decade of advanced facial recognition research at Stanford University, ModiFace's patented technology currently powers virtual makeover applications for Medicis, L'Oreal, Make Up For Ever, Inglot Cosmetics, Obagi, Jane Iredale, Allergan, Vogue, Seventeen, Marie Claire, and BASF. ModiFace's set of mobile applications on iPhone/iPad/Android devices have been downloaded nearly 30 million times and have resulted in half a billion virtual product try-ons. For more information, visit
For further information:
Alexis Engel, 847/415-9348, [email protected]