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Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma today said the Government will soon announce incentives for labour intensive export sectors, notwithstanding high growth in the shipments during December.
“I do plan to announce export sops to labour intensive sector soon,” he told PTI here, adding the Ministry has already reviewed the performance of different export sectors.
While the minister did not specify the exact date of announcement of sops, sources in New Delhi said it would be before the Union Budget which will be presented in the Lok Sabha on February 28.
Among others, the textiles sector is likely to get sops, they added.
In the Budget of 2010-11, the Centre had allocated Rs 2,500 crore for the exporting sector of which about Rs 600 crore still remains “unutilised”.

domain: news


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South Korean startup unicorn Yello Mobile has brought another investor into its lineup, with global investment company Macquarie Capital adding $10 million in convertible bonds to the pool, the startup announced Friday.
This is the fourth funding round in the past 12 months for the startup-of-startups holding company with the second-highest valuation in South Korea. With two rounds in February and one in April, investments from these four rounds reach $93 million. The company says the newest funds are to continue normal business activity.
“It’s $10 million. Of course it’s not small money. At the same time it’s not a drastic injection. So we’re just going to be on track of how we’re doing, and we’re going to spend the money wisely on developing platforms, helping our operations, further consider expansions outside Korea,” Yello Mobile’s chief of staff Kay Kim, who oversaw the fundraising, said in a phone interview.
Yello Mobile is a holding company with some 60 majority-owned startups that aim to produce synergy across five verticals -- shopping, media, ad tech, travel and offline-to-online -- in Korea and greater Asia. Since its 2012 founding, it has acquired startups ranging from Pikicast, a content-curating media app, to fintech company JTNet, with a range of units like ecommerce platform Yello Shopping Media. Yello Financial Group and Yello Digital Marketing are independent sister companies.
Yello has been one of the most active Korean startups in fundraising this year, and its CEO Lee Sang-hyuk is No. 34 on Forbes’ list of Korea’s richest people. But its business performance has come under fire by local media and investors that have questioned its lofty valuation. Yello’s over-the-counter share prices plunged from mid-2015 to mid-2016 as the company incurred heavy operating losses due to high spending on marketing and advertising.
Its $4 billion valuation -- Korea’s second-highest behind Softbank-backed $5 billion ecommerce giant Coupang -- has not changed in the four funding rounds this year, and all of these injections were in the form of convertible bonds, a type of loan. Sister company Yello Digital Marketing last month also received $15 million from Partners For Growth, a debt solutions private equity investor in Silicon Valley.
Yello Mobile’s other investors, including Japan’s SBI Holdings and Hong Kong's Diamond Union Overseas Limited, were not involved in the latest funding round, while its longtime Silicon Valley investor Formation 8 has shuttered to new investments.
Yello Mobile, which on its own generates no cash but earns revenue from shares in its startups, aims to help its liquidity by merging with its e-commerce unit Yello Shopping Media by the end of this year. This is also to “add more simplicity” to the startup’s organization before going public, with a target of managing just one-third of the entities it has now, Kim said. The company has pared its startup head count to 60 from over 80.
“We’re going through the process of merging entities into a smaller number of entities that we can manage easier,” Kim said.
Kim said that Macquarie -- an Australian company that usually invests in infrastructure and securities -- approached the startup after the company’s $30 million funding round early this year. While Yello isn’t “desperate for money,” it hopes to benefit from adding a known name to the investor table, he added. Macquarie hasn't responded to a request for comment.
With 3,000 employees under its umbrella, Kim says Yello has a quarterly cash balance of $25 million-$30 million, and was profitable for three straight quarters this year. The third-quarter results would be released next week, he added.
Kim says the company is focusing on paving the way to an IPO likely on the Korean bourse, where investors are most familiar with the company, adding that they are considering macroeconomic conditions to figure out the timing.


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Clearing the way for a potential class-action lawsuit regarding wireless spam, a judge has rejected two marketing companies' argument that a federal law banning text message spam is unconstitutional.
U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken in Seattle ruled last week that the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which has been interpreted to require that companies obtain users' "prior express consent" before sending them text ads, is not too vague to be enforced.
The companies had argued that the federal law did not adequately define the term prior express consent. But Wilken ruled that previous court decisions and rulings by the Federal Communications Commission provided "ample guidance" about how to determine whether users had given marketers permission to send text ads.
The decision means that Illinois resident Christopher Kramer can move forward with his lawsuit against mobile ad company B2Mobile and lead-generation company LeadClick for allegedly sending ads to his cell phone.
Kramer alleged in court papers filed last year that B2Mobile, LeadClick and Autobytel sent him 10 text messages without his permission, including 9 texts that arrived after he expressly opted out of receiving ads. He alleges that the SMS ads directed him to the site www.cars499.com, which in turn directed him to Autobytel's car portal, MyRide.com.
Among other allegations, Kramer said in his complaint that B2Mobile obtained phone numbers from outside companies. Autobytel allegedly had a deal with LeadClick, which allegedly had a contract with B2Mobile.
Autobytel was dropped from the case after it settled with Kramer earlier last year.
B2Mobile and LeadClick attempted to convince a judge that Kramer's lawsuit against them should be dismissed on the theory that the law banning wireless spam without consent is vague given that it doesn't specify the types of actions that will constitute consent. "Because the TCPA is impermissibly vague, mobile advertisers are unable to predict what business practices are adequate to obtain consent to avoid liability, or to defend themselves when large class actions are framed against them on the basis of a single recipient of a text," LeadClick unsuccessfully argued in its court papers.
B2Mobile and LeadClick did not respond to Online Media Daily's requests for comment.
In a blog post about the case, cyberlaw expert Venkat Balasubramani says that the court's ruling serves as a reminder that it can be risky for marketers to send unsolicited ads based on other companies' representations that the users consented to receive the ads.
In other recent cases, marketers who were sued for allegedly sending text-message spam attempted to argue that the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act doesn't apply to wireless ads. The law itself prohibits companies from using automatic telephone dialing systems to make calls to cell phones unless the owners have consented.
But courts have uniformly held that the law applies to SMS ads. In the most prominent case, the influential 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in 2009 that book publisher Simon & Schuster might have violated law by allegedly sending unsolicited text messages promoting Stephen King's "Cell."


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July auto market favorable for consumers
Posted on Tuesday, July 15, 2014 at 10:10:55 AM
July is shaping up to be a great month for consumers interested in a new vehicle and affordable auto financing. With a number of quality deals to be had, now could be the perfect time to hop into the market.
According to Cars.com, there is a large amount of vehicle incentives and lease deals available this month. These are designed to encourage people to purchase by providing an opportunity to get a vehicle on a favorable financing plan. For example, the 2014 Kia Forte includes 0 percent financing for 60 months, as well as a cash bonus.
"July is turning out to be a great time to buy a SUV or full-size truck," said Jesse Toprak, chief analyst for Cars.com. "Consumers can find some of the most generous incentives for large vehicles during the summer, which makes now the time to buy as opposed to winter when the discounts are generally not as high."
If buying a vehicle is something that interests you, you should first make sure your finances are in order. According to Edmunds.com, determine how much you can afford and whether you want to buy new, used or lease. With the large number of deals out there, a little bit of research could land you the perfect vehicle.


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Harley-Davidson India has begun delivering motorcycles. Most of their motorcycles are on offer.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many motorcycle manufacturers have come up with new strategies to minimize losses and one of the most popular strategy is to deliver motorcycles directly to a customer’s house. Harley-Davidson India is also making use of the same strategy and will be providing motorcycles directly to their customer’s doorstep.
But there’s a catch, as Harley-Davidson India has not provided the option of buying motorcycles online, customers will have to contact a dealer directly for checking model availability. When all things are confirmed they will have to visit the dealership for documentation and other formalities.
It’s a good initiative by Harley-Davidson India, but it also comes with a condition, motorcycles will be delivered without any extra delivery charge if the customer’s address is within 40 KM of a dealership. If a customer’s address is not within 40 KM then the customer will have to pay extra for every additional kilometre (KM). The home delivery option is available for a limited time period.
Harley-Davidson India recently started selling motorcycles through CSD (Canteen Stores Department).
What Do You Think? – Comment Below!


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The biggest decline in home ownership in the last 20 years has been among middle-income 25 to 34-year-olds.
The government should give £10,000 to every citizen under 55, a report suggests.
Rising prices dampened shoppers' spending in January, but sales of sports goods are stronger than usual.
Are these the worst examples of business jargon?
Is central bank independence at an end?
How credit cards changed the way we spend
How the US Federal Reserve sets interest rates
The chancellor eases up as the economy stutters.
How hosting refugees can be good for business
Europe has finally got its economic mojo back. Here's why the UK should be cheering.
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Showroomprive.com eyes German, Belgian and Dutch markets
Having launched in Spain about a year ago, in the UK in March and more recently in Italy only 3 weeks ago, private sales website Showroomprive.com is already thinking about its next target: Germany. Founder Thierry Petit is also interested in the Netherlands and Belgium.
“There are many reasons why we are looking into other markets”, he said. “First of all, we now have the financial means to do so since venture capital firm Accel Partners acquired a minority stake in our business in August last year. Furthermore, these three countries are key for our expansion, given that Germany is the biggest European market, while the Belgian and Dutch markets are very active with numerous fashion brands”.
Thierry Petit wants to make the arrival of his website in each different market as successful as possible. “For Germany, we are planning to launch in 2012 just before Christmas. You always need a strategy”. The founder also spoke of searching for a German name for the website, as well as having different regulations. The return rate, for example, would be between 25 to 30%, which is a lot more compared to the 4% rate in France. “The European market invented discount and it is very strict when it comes to price rules”.
Since the very beginning of Showroomprive’s international expansion, Thierry Petit realised the importance of paying close attention to the consumer behaviour of each country. “We have enjoyed great success in Spain, with 800,000 members so far, and expect its first turnover to reach 10 million euros. So much so, that we expect that figure to have almost tripled to 25 million in the second year. In fact, our Spanish market is already close to the French one. We also got off to a great start in Italy, where consumers love big brands. As for England, we are falling a little below our objectives. British buyers are used to sales: they want quick delivery even if the product is at a reduced price, while we work in a way that the less you pay, the longer you have to wait”.
But the founder has no regrets. “We are still trying, and this could also open doors to other countries in Northern Europe. Just being present in numerous countries allows you to be in contact with other brands, as well as securing bigger and more important sales. In our ready-to-wear sector, Showroomprive.com currently offers 20,000 to 30,000 pieces”, explained Thierry Petit, who is also happy with the increase in the website’s activity. “We foresee a total turnover of 180 million euros this year, against 130 million in 2010”. The founder positions Showroomprive at 2nd place amongst other private sales websites in France, falling behind vente-privee.com.
Copyright © 2023 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.


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“The Huawei P Smart Z is rumoured to be the brand’s first smartphone with pop-up selfie camera”
Huawei has made quite a name for itself when it comes to mid-range and flagship smartphones. However, the brand has kept away from newer trends such as slider designs or elevating selfie camera to maximise the display size. That’s about to change now as Huawei’s upcoming P Smart Z might be the first to sport an elevating selfie shooter according to the previous rumours. Now, the smartphone has been spotted on the website of Amazon in Italy, revealing crucial details.
Huawei P Smart Z price
According to the previous rumours, Huawei was likely to sell the P Smart Z for around €210 (Rs 16,000). However, the Amazon listing in Italy shows a slightly higher price €279, which is roughly Rs 21,645. The listing also suggests that the smartphone will be made available in three hues Black, Green, and Blue. Unfortunately, there was no word on the availability and launch timeline of the handset.
Huawei P Smart Z specifications
Unlike the pricing, the Amazon listing of the smartphone corroborated with the specifications revealed by the earlier leak. Amazon Italy reveals that the upcoming smartphone will come with a 6.59-inch screen with full-HD+ screen resolution. The handset is rumoured to be powered by the HiSilicon Kirin 710 chipset, which will be backed by 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. As for the imaging, the Amazon listing reveals that the phone will have a dual camera setup on the rear comprising of a 16MP f/1.8 primary camera backed by a 2MP f/2.4 depth-sensing unit. For selfies, the phone gets a 16MP shooter, which is hidden in the elevating mechanism on the top.
For security, the smartphone features a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner along with face unlock. Lastly, a hefty 4,000mAh battery completes the spec sheet of the Huawei P Smart Z. We should know more in the coming days, so stay tuned.


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LinkedIn, the professional social networking site owned by Microsoft, has begun testing every change to its service to ensure minority groups are not disadvantaged.
The company is now using equality metrics to assess the impact of any new features, updates, or design modifications it makes, it said in a blog post on Tuesday.
The professional networking site, like most Internet-based services, has long used A/B testing, experiments in which a change is rolled out to a small, representative group of users, as well as a control group, to assess its impact. But LinkedIn says it is now considering inequality when reviewing these experiments.
LinkedIn is using the Atkinson Index, a well-known measure of income inequality, but instead of using it to measure wealth differences, it is applying it to metrics relevant to the company, such as how many job listings are recommended for a user, says Guillaume Saint-Jacques, a LinkedIn researcher who has helped apply the technique at the company internally.
LinkedIn wants to be sure any changes do not disadvantage users when viewed through the lens of legally protected characteristics—such as race, gender, or age. Regarding gender, for instance, the site will examine whether a change encouraged engagement more from men than from women. But Saint-Jacques says the company also takes a far more expansive view of equality.
“For a lot of protected categories, such as ethnicity or religion, we don’t have the data,” he says. The site doesn’t routinely collect information about people’s race, religion, gender, or age—although users can choose to provide that data.
Instead, he says, the company’s data scientists and product managers look at the least well-off users, according to certain LinkedIn-specific metrics, such as social capital (how many connections to other LinkedIn users does the person have) or engagement (how much does the user post, comment, or take action such as applying for jobs on the site). They try to make sure that those users who rank low on these metrics do not see the metrics fall still further as a result of any changes the company makes.
He says that often users who rank poorly according to these metrics also tend to come from underprivileged socioeconomic backgrounds. So by improving how these users experience LinkedIn, the company is also probably helping with income inequality. And because income inequality is also linked in many cases to race, perhaps with racial inequality as well.
Saint-Jacques says that too many companies, when examining the fairness of their algorithms, have focused solely on the workings of the algorithm itself or the data the algorithm ingests. In other words, they’ve assumed that if their process is fair, they are okay.
While process is important, Saint-Jacques says, companies should devote just as much effort to looking at the fairness of outcomes: What impact does an algorithm or update have on different groups of users.
“Even if you treat people the same way, that can actually not make the outcome equal,” he says.
LinkedIn has begun applying inequality tests even to site changes that seem, on the surface, as if they ought to be neutral—such as altering the background color of a page or changing whether people reset their password with a text message or an email. It turns out, Saint-Jacques says, that even these seemingly neutral changes can wind up having a disparate impact on certain subsets of users.
And the key, the company said in its blog post, is to not look simply at the average impact of a change. “Even if no average impact is detected, we found many instances where there was an inequality impact,” it said.
The company noted that it found, somewhat to its surprise, that changes that improved the site’s speed and reliability, especially for low-bandwidth users, improved many of its equality metrics. It also found that pushing notifications about new features to less-engaged users had a big impact on improving equality.
Saint-Jacques says that the product managers are not compelled to always make decisions that will increase equality—only that they must consider the impact on inequality as part of their decision-making calculus.
For instance, he says, there are cases where a certain change to the site might help “influencers,” business leaders who tend to post a lot of content to LinkedIn and generate a lot of engagement from other users. But the same change could also disadvantage users with low social capital. The company might still implement the change, Saint-Jacques says, but it will have at least discussed what the equality tradeoffs are and looked at ways of possibly mitigating the adverse impact on less-active users.
This story has been updated to clarify that LinkedIn users can opt to provide data on race, gender, and ethnicity but that the company does not use any other method to infer such information. The update also corrects an error: Users who rank low on LinkedIn’s internal metrics often come from underprivileged backgrounds, not privileged ones as the article originally stated.
More must-read tech coverage from Fortune:
—How the coronavirus stimulus package would change gig worker benefits
—Inside the global push to 3D-print masks and ventilator parts
—Apple focuses on what’s next amid coronavirus outbreak
—A startup is building computer chips using human neurons
—Listen to Leadership Next, a Fortune podcast examining the evolving role of CEOs
—WATCH: Best earbuds in 2020: Apple AirPods Pro vs. the Sony WF-1000XM3
Catch up with Data Sheet, Fortune’s daily digest on the business of tech.


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NEW DELHI :
The government are the usage of location-tracking on smartphones to determine imaginable Covid-19 infections or to keep other folks indoors. Apps permitting electorate to monitor whether or not they have got come in touch with inflamed persons are temporarily expanding on Google and Apple app shops.
Most of those apps use smartphone places and tally them towards govt databases of inflamed group of workers. They can alert customers if they arrive in touch with someone who has been inflamed and direct them to keep indoors.
An instance of that is Corona Kavach, introduced through the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeiTY). But whilst Corona Kavach turns out to rely on customers to voluntarily input their knowledge, Government suppose tank Niti Aayog, has reportedly been making plans aa extra complex app — referred to as COWIN-20. It additionally makes use of location and Bluetooth get entry to in order to perceive proximity between customers, say studies.
Delhi-based Innefu Labs has created an app, referred to as Unmaze, which will additionally tell the government if a quarantined consumer breaks isolation. Innefu Labs is the corporate that created the Delhi Police’s Automated Facial Recognition System, which used to be used to monitor down perpetrators throughout the hot riots.
The app is to be had to the government totally free and a minimum of 3 police departments plan to release it underneath their very own banners this week, stated Tarun Wig, founding father of Innefu Labs.
Apps are a method for corporations and governments to use location records to deal with the well being disaster, however many have extensively utilized geo-location records to create informative maps about Covid-19 infections.
These maps aren’t simply consultant however will also be utilized by reduction staff and government to plan their actions, stated Nikhil Kumar, nation head of Here Technologies.
For example, a real-time feed of other folks going to trying out centres may well be used to monitor which centres are extra inundated with sufferers and allocate extra assets to them. Here Technologies has constructed a real-time map of Covid-19 infections around the globe this is out there to everybody.
The records for such maps is sourced from govt assets. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has used the National Informatics Centre’s Bharat Maps platform to enter records from hospitals thru NDMA into the platform, Kumar stated. It then requested Here Technologies to combine this carrier into the corporate’s databases.
Of direction, India is neither the primary nor the one nation to bring to mind the usage of location-based monitoring to struggle the COVID-19 outbreak. In reality, different international locations together with China, have used location-data in conjunction with Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) pictures and bank card transaction data to monitor inflamed sufferers or save you the illness from spreading. While the underlying era has existed for some time now, Kumar stated location era has sure benefits throughout an epidemic situation. Location records can assist perceive focus of infections and plan deployment of well being products and services accordingly.
Also, for the reason that underlying era already exists and organisations like NIC and NDMA have already got them, it calls for nearly no new investments, and may also be achieved temporarily.
Such apps paintings best possible if they are able to monitor the location records regularly. This has raised questions on govt surveillance.
In a weblog put up as regards to every week in the past, the Electronics Frontier Foundation stated that governments have achieved not anything to display that location surveillance will make a vital distinction in containing the virus.
“Unless they are able to, there’s no justification for his or her intrusions on privateness and loose speech, or the disparate affect those intrusions would have on prone teams. Indeed, governments have no longer even been clear about their plans and rationales,” the basis wrote.


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Entries in 'Retail' (784)
UK retail sales in March fell by the largest amount in the last 12 months due to the late timing of Easter this year, says the British Retail Consortium.
Online retailer Xbite says it can become one of retail’s elite players with its new brand Shop4.
UK games retailers want to see a PS3 and Xbox 360 price cut before the end of the year.
Samsung has opened a number of new standalone stores in eight cities across the UK.
Skylanders fans now have a place to gather thanks to a new social initiative from GAME.
A pink version of Nintendo’s 2DS handheld will be released in the UK in May.
Some Amazon customers are now being presented with Metacritic ratings in certain video game product listings.
Digital distributor 7 Entertainment has been found to be reselling PC keys obtained from Humble Bundle.
Global games retailer GameStop has reported a like-for-like sales increase of 7.8 per cent for the quarter ending February 1st.
GameStop has teamed up with IBM to launch what it calls the GameStop Technology Institute.
Pricing for Watch Dogs has been confirmed for India, with a variety of preorder bonuses being offered by retailers.
Delivery company Yodel will soon be part-owned by Amazon.
As well as not ushering in tax breaks, last week’s Budget may have brought with it another bad piece of gaming news.
Dixons and Carphone Warehouse have been given more time to discuss their possible £4bn merger.
UK retailer GAME has added to its already extensive digital cards offer with the introduction of Battle.net credit.
Microsoft’s Xbox One has been the best-selling games console for four weeks in a row, MCV understands.
This is a brave new world for games retail.
Former PlayStation Europe boss Chris Deering last night fronted the official unveiling of a new games retail service at GDC.
3,100 Walmart stores will from next week begin offering customers the chance to trade-in their games.
Two Game4u stores will hold midnight launches for Infamous Second Son.
Retailer GAME has been named as the exclusive stockist of a new Skylanders figure.
US customers are no longer able to purchase an Xbox 360 for $99 as part of an Xbox Live subscription offer.
Southern Europe has some of the most valuable gaming markets on the continent.
Don Bradman Cricket 14 will release in India at an MRP of Rs 4,299, distributor Sunder Electronics has announced.
UK developers have hailed Steam’s decision to let them hold their own sales.


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The Wall Street Journal reports on a disturbing trend, but one we’re not all that surprised about.
According to the paper, “as consumers max out their credit lines and banks clamp down on lending, many older and middle-class Americans are resorting to pricey, often-risky alternatives to stay afloat. Some are depleting their retirement accounts, tapping 401(k)s for both loans and hardship withdrawals. Some new fast-cash options allow homeowners to squeeze equity from their houses — without the burden of monthly payments. Americans are resorting to these more extreme measures due to the combination of dwindling jobs, falling home prices, shaky credit markets and a sharp run-up in food and energy prices. Consumer confidence hit a 28-year low in May, according to the latest Reuters/University of Michigan survey of consumer sentiment. Consumer spending and income inched up 0.2 percent in April from March, but after adjusting for inflation were flat, government data show.”


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11 Aug 2021, 11:58 UTC · By: Cristian Gnaticov / Stay safe, hydrated, and for heaven’s sake, please forget that negative camber exists, unless you’re driving a race car.
10 Aug 2021, 14:13 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / After calling back 188,207 vehicles last year, Subaru adds 165,026 to the tally because of a production issue affecting the fuel pump supplied by Denso
10 Aug 2021, 11:06 UTC · By: Cristian Gnaticov / The Tesla Model S Plaid stood still for 10+ seconds after the lights turned green and still managed to beat the Subaru Crosstrek.
3 Aug 2021, 15:19 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / The Outback Wilderness will be joined by the Forester Wilderness for the 2022 model year, and the reveal is right around the corner
2 Aug 2021, 06:09 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / Here are all the new cars released by Rockstar in the GTA Online Los Santos Tuners update proving what they’re capable of on the drag strip
29 Jul 2021, 11:44 UTC · By: Sebastian Toma / Consumer Reports has issued the results of a reliability survey, and 12 engines from the last 11 years are affected. Here is what the manufacturers have to say.
27 Jul 2021, 16:10 UTC · By: Sebastian Toma / Subaru has published the first teaser image of the upcoming 2022 WRX, which is set to be showcased at the New York Auto Show.
23 Jul 2021, 08:09 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / It's truly a breath of fresh air when a carmaker doesn't hike the price for the new model year. Subaru is even better, with a new gen car and lower MSRP
20 Jul 2021, 10:51 UTC · By: Cristian Gnaticov / Keiichi Tsuchiya put the new Toyota GR 86 and Subaru BRZ through their paces at the Sodegaura Forest Raceway, in Japan, with manual and automatic transmissions.
16 Jul 2021, 14:14 UTC · By: Sebastian Toma / CGI automotive artist Carlos colorsponge shows us his view of a 2006 Subaru Impreza STi turned into a time attack monster. His creation was dubbed THE SIXTH
15 Jul 2021, 12:20 UTC · By: Vlad Mitrache / It's good news across the board concerning the upcoming Subaru WRX STI, with the only downside being we'll have roughly one more year to wait for its launch
29 Jun 2021, 15:17 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / There's a brand-new Subaru WRX right around the corner, and in STI flavor, the rally-bred sedan is expected with 400 horsepower on tap
26 Jun 2021, 08:48 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / It may not be as exciting as the Honda Civic Type R, but a soft remapping of the ECU can elevate the Hyundai Veloster N to Civic Type R-rivaling output figures
25 Jun 2021, 18:57 UTC · By: Dragos Chitulescu / There's a new rival for Travis Pastrana and his Gymkhana-spec Subaru STI in town, and Supra fan boys will think that there can be only one outcome.
25 Jun 2021, 13:45 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / The 2010-2014 Outback is known for its reliability, so it's a great choice for those looking for a used car; there are some common issues that can occur, though
20 Jun 2021, 20:12 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Subaru tried to enter the U.S. truck market twice with the BRAT and Baja, and neither sold well. Alas, a BRAT/Baja revival won't happen too soon
18 Jun 2021, 12:56 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / TSMC could eventually build a Japanese plant specifically focused on chip manufacturing as part of a joint venture with Toyota, Mitsubishi, and Sony
18 Jun 2021, 11:24 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / The Japanese carmaker is the latest big name in a series of companies forced to suspend their operations due to the lack of semiconductors
18 Jun 2021, 08:10 UTC · By: Cristian Gnaticov / Set to arrive at dealers this summer, the 2022 Subaru Impreza starts at $19,755 and goes up to at least $27,355 for the Limited trim level
14 Jun 2021, 16:39 UTC · By: Mircea Panait / Subaru didn't change much from the 2021 model, but the 2022 Ascent is now available with a murdered-out appearance if you dig that look for a family hauler


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WILLIS, Texas — ULTRALED has launched a new line of serviceable LED lights that are offered in both single (1156) and double (1157) contact bulbs, in addition to 194 clearance light bulbs.
The new bulbs utilize a combination of traditional bulb/socket base and the latest in SMD technology, creating a single source SSL. Officials for ULTRALED, which is a division of Heavy Duty Bus Parts Inc., said that the bulbs are the first of their kind within fleet-based operations.
ULTRALED field-tested the LED lights, among other new LED technology, at Willis Independent School District, where they reportedly received excellent reviews.
“There is something to be said about upgrading the incandescent lights in your fleet to LED lights in five minutes with the change of a bulb during routine maintenance and most likely never having to replace that bulb again,” said Allan Hammond, shop supervisor at the district.
“The overwhelming success of our serviceable ULTRALED School Bus Stop Arm Replacement Bulb encouraged us to further develop our LED lighting line to help fleet owners/operators upgrade outdated incandescent lighting to LED technology at both a reasonable price point and greater efficiency,” said Brandon Billingsley, CEO of Heavy Duty Bus Parts.
Branden Smeltzer, general manager of Heavy Duty Bus Parts, added that “numerous customers across the country tasked us to develop an answer to the expense of upgrading existing fleet vehicle lighting to LED technology without the need to replace the entire lamp. These three new products are our answer to our customers' request, and we are already seeing large demand in the initial launching of these products."


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Tags: Apple, Apple App Store, Apple apps, Apple sued
Apple seems to be getting sued a lot recently. First, it was the elderly woman suing Apple for a broken nose, and now we have parents suing the company. A host of parents have banded together to file a class action lawsuit against the technology giant for game apps that, according to the parents, have turned their kids into addicts. The main reason for the uproar seems to be expensive in-app purchases made by the parents’ kids.
Really? Parents are blaming Apple for their kids becoming addicted to apps? First off, Apple doesn’t even make the games that they put on their devices. The apps are made by developers who just use Apple devices as platforms for their product. It’d be like suing Sony because you are addicted to some television show you watch on your Sony t.v.; it just doesn’t make much sense.
However, the main thing here is that it isn’t Apple, or even the app developers’, fault that kids are becoming “addicted”, it’s the parents’ fault. First off, the parents should monitor what their children are doing on their devices. Don’t just hand over your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch all willy nilly without first checking up on what your kids are doing with them.
Second, explain to your kids that it is NOT OK to just go buying stuff whenever they please for that game they are playing. If you get a bill that shows you recently spent $100+ in app purchases, tell your kids that what they are doing is wrong. If that doesn’t work, then take the device away from them! No access to the device means no chance for your kid to go buying stuff. Problem solved.
What’s even worse is that these parents are suing Apple, the biggest technology company in the world. Not only will they probably not win, but even if they do, it won’t make any type of financial dent in Apple’s funds and has also given world-wide recognition to the idiocy and poor parenting skills of these individuals. Good luck living that down.
Source: The Stir – Outraged Parents Sue Apple Computer for Turning Their Kids Into Addicts


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Professional forecasts in your own home: a completely new generation of weather stations is being presented today in Hanover at CeBIT, the world’s largest computing trade fair. End customers receive forecasts sent directly to their home device several times daily: a quantum leap from conventional solutions. The data is distributed through e*Message’s nationwide wireless network.
A world’s first revolutionizes weather forecasting for home users. Weather stations connected to the WETTERdirekt network provide predictions for fifty regions throughout Germany, thus offering significantly more precise forecasts than all previous solutions. The weather data is continuously updated via satellite over e*Message’s wireless network at no extra charge. Thirty-six symbols on the display provide full weather information for the given day and the three days to follow. The forecasts are supplied by a leading weather portal that analyses data from all over the world, including air currents and high and low pressure systems. Conventional weather stations are not comparable, since they only process local weather data, and display forecasts using only five symbols.
WETTERdirekt transmits the data using the e*Motion technology, based on the e*Message wireless network with 800 transmitting stations that cover more than 98% of the German population. “Our technology has prompted a quantum leap in the weather station market. The new product confirms that our e*Motion platform is established in the consumer electronics market,” said Dr. Dietmar Gollnick, CEO of e*Message.
The e*Motion technology is energy-saving, ready for the mass market, and available everywhere with good indoor reception. It allows manufacturers to add value to a multitude of devices by integrating a wireless chip.
Paging has several advantages over GSM technology—advantages that pay when the application data needs to be updated constantly. The e*Message chip and network are by far the most economical option in purchase and operating costs. Moreover, the network coverage is much better and the power consumption is only a fraction of that of GSM devices.
WETTERdirekt’s satellite-based weather stations are available starting in mid-March from better opticians, department stores, home electronics shops, practically all DIY shops, housewares retailers, and mail-order merchants. The new WETTERdirekt models are priced between €49 and €69.
Up to now, the German market for weather stations has had a volume of some 700,000 units annually. Experts predict that the launch of the new WETTERdirekt stations will at least double this figure. Because climate change is increasingly affecting everyday life, there is not only a growing need for current, constantly available forecasts, but also a growing demand for weather stations with reliable information.
Other wireless applications with integrated chips are already in development. “We expect that our technology will be found in other consumer electronics products within the year,” Gollnick explained. A wireless chip could be integrated in clocks, MP3 players, car radios or navigation systems, for example, to let these products receive additional information economically and efficiently over the e*Motion platform. Dietmar Gollnick added: “Thanks to e*Motion, what used to be ‘a piece of hardware,’ something that’s ‘used as bought,’ becomes a self-teaching day-to-day campanion affordable for everyone.”


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Apple has just sent out invitations for its next special event on September 9th. The event will be held at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco at 10:00 am. It is widely expected that the new Apple TV model will be announced during the event.
We all know that Apple TV’s are great, and we have already taken an in-depth look at how to use a Smart DNS service to stream content that is otherwise blocked due to restrictive (and deeply unfair) licensing terms that seek to maximize copyright holder’s profits by “geo-restricting” content (only allowing viewers located in certain geographic area to access services.)
Fantastic as watching cool stuff on your Apple TV is, there are times when you want to watch shows and movies when you are using other devices. Perhaps you like to watch South Park on your iPhone as you commute to work, or maybe watch movies while at work on your MacBook.
HBO NOW, the new standalone streaming service from HBO, has gone live on Apple TV and other iOS devices yesterday. Although you can’t sign up to HBO NOW on your desktop, you can access the new service on hbonow.com via Mac or PC after signing up on Apple TV, iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.
Announced at Apple’s Spring Forward event last month, HBO NOW standalone streaming service is now available exclusively on Apple TV. HBO NOW doesn’t require a cable subscription and costs $14.99 per month. If you sign up in April (no long-term commitment required) you’ll get a 30 day free trial.


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The Novartis Board of Directors announced today, that it is nominating Ms. Elizabeth Doherty and Mr. Ton Buechner for election to the Board at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Shareholders to be held on February 23, 2016.
Ms. Doherty is a finance professional with a career spanning more than 35 years in the fast moving consumer goods industry where she developed strategies and programs to improve business outcomes and drive shareholder value. Ms. Doherty is a British national and seasoned professional having served as a CFO and member of the Board of Directors on numerous corporations.
Mr. Buechner is the CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board of AkzoNobel, a Dutch multinational active in the fields of decorative paints, performance coatings and specialty chemicals. As a business leader and engineer by training, Mr. Buechner has successfully led global companies with portfolios targeting both business to business and direct to consumer activities.
Decades ago, the founder-led biotech was rare and considered the tougher path to follow. Now there is a trend of founder-led biotechs that have risen in prominence in recent years, going from startup to well known with lightning speed. Scientists-turned C-suite occupants know their technology inside out. They’ve got credibility both at the bench working with their research teams and in the boardrooms selling their future products.
Pfizer’s revenue could reach $101.3 billion in 2022, with major contributions coming from the company’s BioNTech-partnered COVID vaccine and an antiviral therapeutic that has shown stellar clinical data, SVB Leerink analyst Geoffrey Porges projected in a Monday note to clients.
In a survey commissioned by GlaxoSmithKline’s consumer health division of 2,000 working people in the U.S., almost 70% admitted to clocking in while sick, often because they couldn’t afford to lose a day’s pay. Black and Latina women were 10% more likely than white women to shun taking sick time for fear of fallout from their boss, according to the company’s 2021 Temperature Check Report.


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Last week, Sonoma County officials unveiled proposed regulations to govern medical cannabis business operating in the unincorporated areas of the county. Given that much of the county’s rural and agricultural land lies in these areas, these regulations will have a significant impact on the future of medical cannabis businesses—particularly those in cultivation—operating in Sonoma County. The proposed cultivation regulations have several key features:
Outdoor cultivation would be limited to properties zoned for agriculture or “resources and rural development.” Outdoor cultivation would not be allowed in land zoned as “rural residential.”
Outdoor cultivation would require a minimum parcel size of
2, 3, 5, or 10 acres depending on the size of the cultivation operation.
The maximum size of any outdoor cultivation operation would be 1 acre.
Multiple operators could jointly cultivate outdoors, but only one agricultural parcel with the total canopy not to exceed the 1-acre limit.
Indoor cultivation would be allowed on industrial, agricultural and other residentially zoned properties; however, indoor cultivation operations larger than 5,000 square feet would be limited to industrial zoned properties.
No minimum parcel size would be required for indoor cultivation.
The maximum canopy size permitted in any indoor cultivation would be 22,000 square feet.
Multiple operators could jointly cultivate in a single indoor facility on agricultural or industrial zoned properties, but the total canopy could not exceed 5,000 square feet on agricultural parcels or 22,000 square feet on industrial properties.
At a meeting hosted by the county last week, many of the 200-plus attendees expressed concerns that regulations were too restrictive or that they would be unable to comply. That appears to be the unfortunate cost of transitioning into a highly regulated environment. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. The good news is that growers and other stakeholders still have a chance to voice their opinion before the Sonoma County Planning Commission starting Oct. 13 when they will discuss the proposed regulations.
Aaron Currie is an attorney with Dickenson, Peatman & Fogarty who assists cannabis businesses in compliance with state and local laws. Contact him at email@example.com


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"I will be really proud to see more advertisement on Google Maps and Google Earth. Wouldn't it be great if you could look up locations of hotels, and also get a list of top five-rated ones?"
The engineers at Google, which generates almost all of its pounds 3.5 billion revenue from advertisement, work with a concept.
"We have to imagine if we had a button to turn all the advertisement off - we would never want to turn it off," Mr. Jones added.
"The advertisement has to be that good for the users," he said.
In the United States, Google has tied up with Valpak, the country's number one coupon supplier, to provide offers to users of Google Maps and local directory services.
Microsoft also offers a similar product called MSN Virtual Earth. The two rivals are racing to add new technology and services.
Google Earth covers a third of the world's population in high-resolution imagery, which is detailed enough to show cars. The database, which gets updated every month, also offers 3D images of buildings and tracks geographical changes over time.
Recently, many media reported on concerns raised by officials in countries such as India and Thailand that detailed satellite pictures on Google Earth may be a risk to national security.
"There are countries where information hasn't been freely available, and to those countries, I imagine the idea of other countries' satellites taking pictures of them from outer space is very uncomfortable. That would be China, former Soviet Union and possibly North Korea," Mr. Jones said.
He explained that satellite photography is regulated by international treaties and isn't restricted by borders, but he added countries restrict the quality of the images taken by commercial satellite companies, which sell data to Google.
"Commercial pictures have been available for a long time, but people's awareness as well as the number of people who use them has increased. That's the difference," Bowden added.
On the other hand, Google is helping governments and many other international organisations with a product called Google Earth for Enterprise, which let experts take their own data and organize and analyse it themselves.
"People come to us looking for information and they want to understand it," Mr. Jones said. "A map can show you what you're looking for and put it in context. That very sense of place is everything Google Earth is about."


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Displaying items 49-60 of 837 » View wsbtradio.com items only< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11-70 Next >
Always thoughtful and focused in his work as a planning commissioner, Michael P. Murphy Sr. helped shape the community of Wheaton, especially the city's bustling south side. Among the projects Mr. Murphy had a hand in during nine years on the Wheaton...
WASHINGTON — Libertarians believe government should have a compelling reason before it restricts an individual’s liberty. Today’s liberals believe almost any reason will do, because liberty is less important than equality, fraternity,...
WASHINGTON — Libertarians believe government should have a compelling reason before it restricts an individual's liberty. Today's liberals believe almost any reason will do, because liberty is less important than equality, fraternity, fighting...
ReutersTEL AVIV, June 6 (Reuters) - PepsiCo is in talks to buy Israel's SodaStream International, whose machines make carbonated drinks from tap water, for $2 billion, the Calcalist financial newspaper reported on Thursday. SodaStream, which also makes...
Whole Foods Market has agreed to join Costco and Target as an anchor at the proposed $140 million Hamilton Crossings shopping center in Lower Macungie Township. Jeremy Fogel of the Goldenberg Group of Montgomery County, one of two developers planning...
During the summer, I like to be ready for all sorts of spontaneous weekend hangouts. I wear biking-appropriate footwear, always pack an umbrella, and—humble brag—I'm sort of a master of transporting booze to Millennium Park's Downtown Sound...
Chicago ShoppingPool owners have been itching to open their backyard oasis for months, and now that we are on the verge of taking the plunge into summer, let’s make sure you know how safely unleash pool season. Before you even take the cover off your pool, check...
ReutersBy John Chalmers June 6 (Reuters) - The day after Wal-Mart Stores Inc published Simco Group's name on its list of banned Bangladesh suppliers, the garment maker learned it had lost an order from U.S. retailer J.C. Penney Co Inc for 500,000 pairs of...
Although I've only experienced it via the Internet, I've become a big fan of the Museum of Bad Art in Dedham, Mass. It's a collection of sincerely rendered but technically and/or thematically preposterous works, some of which were obtained from trash...
Tags: Travel, Traffic, Whole Foods Market, Road Transportation, Arts
An economic upturn sent more customers to La Caņada Flintridge-based Sport Chalet Inc. stores in the past year, an official from the sporting goods chain announced last week. "Sales were higher across all of our channels," Craig Levra, Sport Chalet's...
The Lake Bluff Village Board is giving a proposed Target store some extra incentives to move into the west side of town. "The idea of a Target store and the additional out lot buildings will help generate revenues that aren't currently here," said...
Tags: Waukegan, Lake Bluff, Local Government
John Paterakis Sr. didn't believe it when Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke told him nearly two decades ago that Harbor East's Marriott Waterfront Hotel would spur revitalization from the Inner Harbor to Canton. The city had picked Paterakis' H&S Properties...
Jun 6, 2013 |Story| Chicago Tribune
Jun 6, 2013 |Story| Aberdeen News
Jun 6, 2013 |Column| Orlando Sentinel
Jun 6, 2013 |Story| Reuters
Jun 4, 2013 |Story| Allentown Morning Call
Jun 5, 2013 |Story| Chicago Tribune
May 28, 2013 |Story| Chicago Shopping
Jun 6, 2013 |Story| Reuters
Jun 5, 2013 |Column| Allentown Morning Call
May 30, 2013 |Story| La Caņada
May 14, 2013 |Story| Chicago Tribune
May 10, 2013 |Story| Baltimore Sun
Original site for Target topic gallery.


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In this issue
Welcome to the TabTimes Monthly newsletter for July, which was a busy month in the tech industry. New smartphones announced from many popular manufacturers, and a few tablets, too.
More than new hardware, software was a big deal this month, Apple released the public beta of iOS 9, and Microsoft began rolling out Windows 10. These are big deals for all of us, at least if you are a user of tablets and computers.
Google did not make any big moves with their software, but they announced big things in their financials.
We spent time with tablets from Samsung, Apple and Sony, reviewing the Sony Xperia Z4, Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 (one year later) and pitting the latest generation iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 against their respective predecessors.
Our team on Android Authority took a good look at where Google's Nexus program is headed, and for us as tablet users and lovers, 2015 may not include a new device for us. Darn.
Enjoy your August folks, see you when school starts.


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A number of council-run car parks will be free to use after 3pm to help boost the non-essential retail and hospitality venues reopening today.
Announced on Monday, April 12 as businesses across Nottinghamshire reopen after months of closure, Rushcliffe Borough Council-run car parks will be free of charge from mid-afternoon.
The usual structured daytime parking rules will be in place until 3pm each day to ensure a healthy turnover of spaces.
Rushcliffe Borough Council’s executive manager for neighbourhoods Dave Banks, said: “It’s been incredibly tough times for so many businesses as they have been closed in recent months and we want to support them with this offer with convenient parking for motorists.
“It allows all to park for free after 3pm and give customers even longer to visit their favourite retail outlets, pubs or restaurants that are open again for business.
“We hope residents and visitors take advantage of this free parking to visit our towns and villages to support business owners as they recover from the pandemic.
“Any charges at our car parks are re-invested back into facilities that ensure they are safe and attractive with maintenance on lighting, resurfacing, ticket machines and improvements such as the highly popular RingGo service and electric charging points.”
Signs are now in place highlighting the arrangements for car park users that it is anticipated will be in place for at least four weeks.


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May 8 (UPI) -- Uber unveiled models of its flying taxi Tuesday at its Uber Elevate Summit in Los Angeles.
Uber is partnering with NASA to develop the air taxi service as a way to way to cut down commute times and reduce pollution.
"We think cities are going to go vertical in terms of transportation and we want to make that a reality," Dara Khosrowshahi told CBS News.
Customers could access the service via a phone app similar to the ground taxi service, Khosrowshahi said.
The plan is to launch a demo and testing program in 2020 with ride sharing for customers by 2028.
The flying taxis, which takeoff vertically and land at ports on rooftops or on the ground, will fly between 1,000 to 2,000 feet above ground at speeds up to 200 mph, according to an Uber white paper. The vehicles resemble helicopters, but are quieter with four prop rotors on each wing and electric propulsion to cut down on emissions.
Uber estimates the price of using air taxis would be 50 cents per mile compared to 35 cents per ground mile.
"Imagine traveling from San Francisco's marina to work in downtown San Jose -- a drive that would normally occupy the better part of two hours -- in only 15 minutes," the paper states.
The taxis will be manned by a pilot first with the goal for the planes to eventually fly autonomously.
The Kitty Hawk model, called Cora -- unveiled in March -- also resembles a helicopter with less noise and flies up to 110 mph with flights 3,000 feet above ground.


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Google has announced (opens in a new tab) that the API for its latest Chromium-based extension platform web browsersManifesto V3 (MV3), has been delayed again, with the company’s update expected by March 2023.
The latest development comes just a month before original deadline January 2023, announced in early September 2022, was to enter into force. Google seems to be in disarray over the change on how to proceed delay until January 2024 took place in late September, although only for Google Chrome users in enterprises.
The extensions are currently built on top of the Manifest V2 (MV2) API, which offers developers robust functionality to efficiently privacy toolssuch as uBlock Origin and Decentraleyes will continue to grow. Google wants to limit this functionality with MV3 by reducing the number of permissions available to developers, which it claims will increase user privacy and productivity.
Manifest V3 Privacy Implications
While Google is in debt maintained (opens in a new tab) that it intends to support extensions that block content after the transition, some app developers are discovering that this may not be the reality.
TechRadar Pro noted in our original due date report that uBlock Origin lead developer Raymond Hill had developed an MV3-compatible version of the extension, but noted that the functionality was so limited that there was “not much sense” to release.
Register noted that functionality and privacy complaints also come from Electronic Frontier Foundation (opens in a new tab)and Jean-Paul Schmetz (opens in a new tab)CEO of privacy suite provider Ghostery, to name a few.
However, it also happens that perhaps so far the transition to MV3 has happened while the API has been an experimental mess full of bugs.
Register it turned out that Chromium’s bug reporting system has a litany of errors (opens in a new tab) only applies to this, while the new Service Workers feature, replacing background scripts that stop and run as needed, largely broken (opens in a new tab)and lasts at least from November 2020.
However, it’s not all bad news: users looking for real safe browsing experience are not yet out of options.
Alternative browsers built on Chromium, the same base engine as Google Chrome, such as Microsoft Edge, are largely included in this change. However, more focused on privacy Bold (opens in a new tab) and Vivaldi (opens in a new tab) both have built-in ad and tracker blockers that shouldn’t be affected by switching to MV3.
Mozilla Firefox, which claims to be one of the few browsers not built on Chromium, plans to implement MV3 while retaining some MV2 features. As TechRadar Pro reported in late September by Mozilla intends to keep the WebRequest (opens in a new tab)an integral API to block web content and trackers.
By Register (opens in a new tab)


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• Creates Advisory Board of international experts
• Expands Western European, US and Russian markets
• Half million handsets sold in first half of 2011
19th Sept 2011, London - Austrian telecommunications company emporia Telecom, is celebrating 20 years of business by looking forward to the future. It has appointed a new Advisory Board including John Clarkson from Cambridge University, Robert Bauer from the University of Linz, and Boris Nemsic, former CEO of Telekom Austria, to further international expansion and drive awareness for specially developed and manufactured easy to use mobile phones for older users.
According to Boris Nemsic, former CEO of Telekom Austria, due to the focus of larger manufacturers on the mass markets, network operators now need expertise on simplicity and security. "emporia has shown that with good ideas and uncompromising customer orientation it is possible to play a part in the extremely competitive environment of the global players,” he said.
Albert Fellner, emporia Telecom founder and Chairman of the Advisory Board, said: "emporia has always been a pioneer of simple use in a world where mobile phones are becoming increasingly complex. We have never lost sight of the value of good design, developing devices that people can use every day. Convincing network operators, dealers, and salesmen was not always easy, but we know that emporia has now opened a door for consumers that are demanding easy to use mobile phones.”
Robert Bauer from the Institute for Organisational Behaviour at the Johannes Kepler University will encourage innovation and creativity to support international expansion in an extremely attractive niche market. He said, "The major challenge is to grow whilst still remaining fast and innovative." Further penetration into the Western European market and expansion in Russia and the USA are expected to deliver strong company growth in the near term. In the first six months of 2011 emporia Telecom’s sales have already amounted to €50 million, with half a million mobile phones sold internationally.
John Clarkson, the Director of the Engineering Design Centre at Cambridge University said: "My aim is to bring the best ideas from research in the field of Inclusive Design and best practice in implementation closer together in new products by emporia.” This approach has already proved successful, even in well-developed markets such as the Netherlands. Eveline Pupeter-Fellner, Managing Director, emporia Telecom, said, "There are, despite 98 per cent of mature users already owning mobile phones, people who would still prefer simpler handling and security."
Notes for editors:
Albert Fellner will be presenting at the Senior Market Mobile 2011, London, September 20th. www.seniormarket.co.uk
Information on emporia:
emporia Telecom, a family-owned company founded in 1991, develops, manufactures and sells mobile phones for the older generation and for everybody who would like a high-degree of intuitive operating comfort. emporia Telecom is synonymous with simple, barrier-free communication. Customers are given orientation rather than a multitude of functions. emporia’s research and development department, which employs a third of the company’s workforce of 130, uses technology to simplify complex processes. It is geared almost exclusively to the needs of mature citizens and has become the global market and technology leader in the field of mobile phones for older people. emporia’s products have won many international awards and are recognised internationally. The company from Upper Austria, headquartered in Linz, is currently active in 30 countries. Further information may be found at www.emporia.co.uk
XL Communications Ltd
Call me: + 44 (0)77 3322 4654
This press release was distributed by ResponseSource Press Release Wire on behalf of XL Communications in the following categories: Consumer Technology, Business & Finance, Computing & Telecoms, for more information visit https://pressreleasewire.responsesource.com/about.


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The Indonesian Manufacturing Industry Becomes the Soft Target of Taiwan Investment
By : Ridwan And Aldi Firhand. A | Thursday, August 09 2018 - 22:54 IWST
INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta, Taiwan is increasingly serious about exploring opportunities for cooperation with Indonesia in the manufacturing sector to strengthen the economy of the two countries.
The manufacturing sector has the potential to be collaborated, including the shipping industry, metal processing, ICT & Smart City and food technology.
"If we look at the trade balance, Indonesia has a surplus against Taiwan. However, there is still a great opportunity to improve our trade balance by optimizing industrial resources so that they can complement one another, "said Director General of International Access and Industrial Access (KPAII), I Gusti Putu Suryawirawan, in Jakarta, Thursday (08/08/2018) .
In 2017, the total trade between the two countries reached USD 7.4 billion and Taiwan ranked 11th as a global import and export trade partner of Indonesia.
Meanwhile, Indonesia's direct investment in Taiwan amounted to USD32.2 billion. Meanwhile, Taiwan's direct investment in Indonesia is around USD 397 million, making Taiwan the 14th largest investor in Indonesia.
Putu said, Taiwanese industry players are encouraged to continue to increase their investment while partnering with entrepreneurs in Indonesia so that Indonesia is expected to become a production base for both domestic and international markets.
The availability of an integrated industrial area, including those outside Java, is a major investment potential for Taiwan. When viewed from the potential of the manufacturing sector with the characteristics of industrial estates, for example shipping companies have the opportunity to invest in the JIIPE Gresik industrial area or in Tenggamus.
Meanwhile, food processing and biotechnology producers can operate in the Kendal industrial area, Batamindo or Sei Mangkei.
"Furthermore, we also invite Taiwanese companies in Indonesia to actively participate in creating the Making Indonesia 4.0 roadmap in an effort to enter the digital economy era," he said.


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- Ocean Basket has started to offer a roadhouse-style dining experience with a waiter serving people in their cars on a plank.
- This is owing to level 4 lockdown regulations, where restaurants are only allowed to sell their food through deliveries, takeaways or by using drive-through facilities.
- Ocean Basket CEO Grace Harding says the roadhouse will allow them to save a few waiter jobs.
South Africa has entered the second week of its latest two-week level 4 lockdown, with restaurants – among others – bearing the brunt as sit-down dining has been disallowed. In an attempt to minimise the blow, some of seafood franchise restaurant Ocean Basket’s branches have launched a roadhouse-style dining experience.
Users on social media shared images of Ocean Basket in Lagoon Drive, Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal, offering this experience to customers. But Ocean Basket CEO Grace Harding said the idea originally came from another franchisee, who did it at his restaurant in Louis Trichardt, Limpopo.
“About a week ago, we were having our usual Thursday catch-up with our franchisees. The owner of [the] Louis Trichardt [franchise] shared how a friend advised them to serve people in their cars, using a ‘plank’.
“You can only do it if you have available parking and [you] can’t do it in a shopping centre. There [are] approximately six Ocean Baskets now doing that. So, the inspiration came from another franchisee,” said Harding.
According to Harding, the wooden plank used is just a “regular melamine board”. The car’s driver and passenger windows are rolled down, the wooden board is placed inside the car resting on the door frames, like a table, a waiter serves the meals and then removes the board when customers have finished dining.
In terms of government’s level 4 lockdown regulations, announced on 27 June, sit-down eateries will remain closed until at least 11 July.
“Besides the Umhlanga establishment, there’s one in Mokopane, Gateway, Stoneridge, Vanderbijlpark and Newcastle [offering the in-car dining option],” said Harding.
“They are never going to make a lot of money [during lockdown], but it keeps their spirits up and it keeps more people employed.
“If we were [merely] doing deliveries and takeaways, then only four kitchen staff would work and [because] they are working in shifts, they [would be earning] nothing. The poor waiters are the ones in the biggest trouble … so at least there are a few more people [working],” said Harding.
The food will, however, be served in takeaway packaging, “which is a pity because our food is more fun in a pan”, said Harding.
Source: fin24 – https://www.news24.com/fin24


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Gas prices spiking in CaliforniaOctober 4, 2012: 2:02 PM ET
Drivers in California could soon be paying nearly $5 a gallon for gasoline as prices in the wholesale market have surged this week.
Wholesale gasoline prices in Los Angeles jumped Thursday to $4.35 a gallon, according to Tom Kloza, chief analyst at the Oil Price Information Service.
The wholesale price is "by far the highest we've ever seen in that market," said Kloza. Once taxes and other costs are factored in, wholesale gas prices in California are at levels consistent with retail prices near $5 a gallon, he added.
"California is ground zero for one of the most dramatic price spikes in a while," said Kloza.
Gas prices have already surpassed $5 a gallon at a few filling stations in California, according to GasBuddy.com, a website that tracks retail prices.
For example, a station in West Covina, a suburb of Los Angeles, was charging $5.31 a gallon for regular gas on Thursday, GasBuddy.com reported.
Retail gas prices in California were already on the rise. The average price for a gallon of gas in the Golden State rose 8 cents overnight to $4.315 on Thursday, according to a daily survey by AAA.
By contrast, retail gas prices nationwide averaged $3.784 per gallon on Thursday, up a fraction of a cent from the day before.
The average price in California for retail gas is already well above the record high national average price of $4.114 a gallon, which was set in 2008 when oil prices rose to $140 a barrel.
However, the latest gas price spike in California comes despite relatively subdued prices for crude oil, the conventional driver of pump prices.
Oil futures for November delivery bounced back above $90 a barrel on Thursday after falling to $88 a barrel Wednesday. Overall, oil prices have been on the decline after rising near $100 a barrel in mid-September.
Analysts said the gas price spike in California stems largely from a series of refinery disruptions, including a power outage Monday at an Exxon Mobil (XOM) plant in Torrance, which normally produces 150 million barrels of gas per day.
"Extant refinery disruptions on the West Coast have sent the cash market aflame," said Stephen Schork, publisher of the energy industry newsletter the Schork Report.
Kloza said the surge in California gas prices probably won't last long. He estimates that prices will retreat sometime in October, although he said it is impossible to say exactly when.


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Federal inquiries, updated filing broaden scope of switch crisis
One particular 2nd prior to a drunken driver crossed the center line of a rural Pennsylvania highway and slammed into Esther Matthews’; 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt, black-box information displays, her car’;s engine turned off.
Matthews and her 13-year-previous granddaughter in the front passenger seat died at the scene. Despite the severity of the April 2009 crash, the Cobalt’;s airbags never ever deployed, and investigators employed by the Nationwide Highway Visitors Safety Administration in the following days could not figure out why.
Attorneys told the family it wasn’;t well worth the time or hard work to pursue a case towards General Motors due to the fact the automaker was weeks away from bankruptcy.
“A drunk driver hit her head-on, and that is what we went with,” Matthews’; daughter-in-law, Leanne Matthews, told Automotive Information. “We just dropped it.”
Now, Esther Matthews and 6th-grader Grace Elliott are 2 of the 12 fatalities that GM has linked to a defective ignition switch that can trigger airbags to fail in a crash. GM last week revised the quantity of deaths down from 13 right after it realized 1 victim was counted twice, but 1 examine explained there could be hundreds much more and the toll is all but certain to rise as investigations continue.
The circumstance has snowballed quickly for GM considering that it announced a recall of 1.6 million modest automobiles final month and mentioned it was “deeply sorry” about its response. A organization that started the yr on a wave of optimistic press surrounding its new CEO and its emergence from government ownership is out of the blue facing an investigation by federal security regulators, approaching congressional hearings and a possible criminal probe by the U.S. Justice Division.
GM has employed Anton Valukas, the lawyer who investigated the 2008 disintegration of Lehman Brothers, to aid lead an internal probe of the company’;s failures. GM shares fell virtually 10 % final week alone.
2 analysts estimated the cost of repairs at significantly less than $ 25 million. But that expense could be overshadowed by an inevitable flood of lawsuits and any reputational damage inflicted by the recall, which auto safety advocate Clarence Ditlow has likened to the infamous Ford Pinto fiasco of 4 decades in the past.
Ditlow, head of the Center for Auto Security, stated a federal automobile-fatality database lists 303 deaths in crashes involving the recalled Cobalts and Saturn Ions with no airbag deployment. GM disputed the validity of that conclusion, saying the data incorporate no evidence that the ignition defect was to blame in those accidents.
As the recall crisis grows, it threatens to place GM by means of an unpleasant rerun of 5 years in the past, when the company’;s near-collapse turned it into a political football and nationwide punching bag.
“Indirectly, one more value of the recall is the time that senior management will commit focusing on it,” Stephen Brown, an analyst with Fitch Ratings in Chicago, wrote in a report Friday. “GM presently has numerous considerable restructuring actions under way globally, as well the launch of essential new cars. The recall is probably to divert some management interest away from these other critical pursuits at a crucial time for the business. That the company’;s prime senior leaders are reasonably new to their positions could add to the issues.”
A switch from a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt, left, utilised a detent plunger and spring that had been about one.6 mm shorter than people employed in Cobalts that are not currently being recalled, correct. The longer plunger necessary much more hard work to flip the ignition key.
GM has till March 25 to give reams of paperwork to Congress, and it have to response 107 queries from NHTSA by April 3.
Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., chairman of the House Committee on Vitality and Commerce, stated he plans to hold a hearing “in the coming weeks.” Upton led an investigation of the Ford Explorer-Firestone tire recall in 2000.
Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., mentioned she would hold a Client Safety subcommittee hearing in April. Upton’;s committee and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation intend to examine GM’;s dealing with of the recall as nicely as any failures by NHTSA.
Meanwhile, dozens far more shoppers have filed complaints with NHTSA in recent weeks claiming that their automobiles shut off unexpectedly, in some instances top to crashes. An entry dated Tuesday, March 11, stated that in August 2011, a 2005 Cobalt “crashed right after going out of management when the ignition switched off on the interstate at 60 mph. The steering locked. The [antilock brakes] did not function. When it crashed into the guardrail the airbags did not deploy.”
The cloud in excess of GM has grown since it widened its recall on Feb. 25.
• Feb. 26: NHTSA says it will investigate GM’;s response to the recall.
• March 4: Letter from CEO Mary Barra tells personnel she will lead the response to the recall, promises “an unvarnished report of what happened.”
• March 5: NHTSA orders GM to supply solutions by April 3 to 107 inquiries about why it took so prolonged to situation the recall.
• March 10: The U.S. Property Vitality and Commerce Committee opens an investigation GM hires Anton Valukas of law firm Jenner & Block to lead an inner probe.
• March 11: Several news retailers report that the U.S. Justice Department is investigating no matter whether GM broke any laws.
• March 12: GM says it saw indicators of flimsy ignition switches in the Saturn Ion as early as 2001, 3 years earlier than it had previously disclosed acting NHTSA administrator David Friedman says GM had not provided enough details for the agency to have requested a recall sooner.
Earlier difficulty indications
GM previously said its engineers first documented ignition difficulties in 2004, but a new timeline it launched final week reveals even earlier signs of problems. In accordance to a timeline filed with NHTSA, GM just final month discovered a 2001 inner report associated to “reduced detent plunger force” — that is, not sufficient spring resistance — in the ignition switch of a preproduction Ion. The report stated that a layout adjust resolved the concern.
The recall is connected to a similar dilemma, which was quietly fixed in 2006 with the use of a longer detent plunger and more powerful spring to develop much more torque.
One more early incident occurred in 2003, when GM mentioned a services technician — presumably at a Saturn dealership — witnessed an Ion stall. The technician replaced the car’;s ignition switch, believing that it had been worn out from the additional weight of “many keys” attached to the driver’;s essential ring.
GM explained in 2 timelines it has filed with NHTSA that it sent dealers a support bulletin in December 2005 instructing them to inform buyers who complain about stalling to get rid of “unessential products from their important chain.” The bulletin also said dealers could give buyers a little insert for their ignition crucial to minimize the possibilities that the vehicle would accidentally turn off.
But depositions in a lawsuit relevant to a fatal 2010 Cobalt crash and news coverage at the time indicate that the bulletin had been released by May 2005, perhaps as early as February.
Close to that exact same time, Donna Justice was pleading with GM to get back the orange 2005 Cobalt that her 23-yr-old daughter, Jessica, had bought a handful of months earlier. Eventually, soon after Justice complained to the Far better Business Bureau, GM agreed to a refund, minus a deduction for the 2,800 miles on it.
“I’;ve never worked so challenging for some thing,” Justice explained last week. “I’;m sorry, that’;s my youngster — my only child — you happen to be speaking about. You cannot tell me that there’;s no fix.”
Justice, who lives south of Cleveland, said the Cobalt stalled repeatedly, but technicians at her dealership insisted they could uncover practically nothing mechanically wrong. They very first blamed heavy keys, even even though there have been only 3 keys on the ring.
“3 keys is not extreme,” Justice said. “It sounded a minor hokey.”
When the vehicle continued to stall even following the other keys have been removed, the dealership said her daughter, who is 5-foot-3, was sitting too near to the steering wheel and might have bumped the ignition with her knee. Ultimately, even just before GM agreed to a buyback, Jessica Justice stopped driving the Cobalt out of worry and purchased a Scion.
GM has said it will not get back the cars now currently being recalled, and a spokesman declined to talk about any previous buybacks.
In February 2010, NHTSA published its report revealing that when the airbags in Esther Matthews’; Cobalt failed, the ignition was in “accessory” mode and the speedometer reading through dropped from 47 mph to mph one particular 2nd before impact. The report noted that Matthews’; car had acquired repairs beneath a November 2005 airbag recall, but it by no means straight related the airbag failure with the ignition position.
GM wasn’;t aware of the crash when it began the Cobalt recall final month. A spokesman explained the organization additional the 2 deaths to its tally in late February, when it expanded the recall to consist of the Ion and 5 other nameplates.
The airbags might not have been adequate to conserve Matthews and Elliott, the 2 of whom had been unbelted. The driver of the Hyundai Sonata that hit them also was killed, even although his airbag worked correctly.
Matthews’; fantastic-grandson, who was twelve months previous at the time and was lower out of the vehicle in his kid seat by paramedics, was hospitalized for more than a month and is completely paralyzed below the waist. But the airbags would not have supplied him any further safety.
Nevertheless, the loved ones, who had not heard about the recall until being contacted by Automotive Information final week, has usually wondered what may well have been different if the Cobalt’;s airbags had worked.
Mentioned Leanne Matthews: “Every time I see a Cobalt, I just cringe.”
An early discovery, then a prolonged wait
GM’;s up to date chronology sent to regulators last week indicates that the firm saw indicators of a defect as early as 2001. Far more than a decade passed ahead of company officials made a decision on a recall.
2001: Initial proof GM has discovered of a problem in the now-recalled ignition switch appears in a preproduction Saturn Ion.
2003: Dealership replaces a “worn out” ignition in an Ion soon after witnessing the automobile stall while driving.
2004: 2 engineers report that the Ion’;s ignition can accidentally turn off by inadvertently hitting it with their knee. All around the time of the Chevrolet Cobalt’;s introduction, GM learns of an incident in which a Cobalt misplaced electrical power when the important was accidentally bumped. Engineers take into account many treatments to increase torque in the important cylinder, but no action is taken “soon after consideration of the lead time necessary, value and effectiveness of every single of these remedies.”
2005: GM receives much more reviews of customers’; autos stalling. A proposal to redesign the ignition crucial head is approved, then canceled for undisclosed motives. A bulletin sent to dealers instructs them to tell clients who complain of stalling to eliminate extra products from their key chains. GM develops a essential insert to avoid the crucial ring from hanging so reduced, but guarantee information indicate that only 474 buyers get one.
2006: A GM design engineer approves a modify in the ignition switch that increases the torque force, although the part amount is unchanged.
2007: GM staff are told throughout a meeting with federal safety regulators of a 2005 fatal crash in which a Cobalt’;s airbags did not deploy. GM starts tracking frontal-impact Cobalt crashes with no airbag deployment and discovers that of 10 such incidents, the ignition was in “accessory” mode when 4 of them happened. The Ion is discontinued.
2009: The Cobalt’;s ignition essential is redesigned from a “slot” to a “hole.”
2010: The Cobalt is discontinued.
2011: GM assigns a field efficiency assessment engineer to investigate a group of frontal-affect crashes in which airbags failed to deploy.
2012: GM notices that newer ignition switches have higher torque than individuals utilised in 2007-and-earlier versions but finds no proof in its data of a layout modify.
2013: A contracted technical specialist discovers that ignition switches in Ions and early-model Cobalts do not meet GM’;s torque specifications. Delphi Mechatronics offers GM in October with information revealing the 2006 ignition layout adjust. The matter is presented in December to GM’;s recall selection-producing committee, which requests far more evaluation.
2014: GM approves a recall of the Cobalt and Pontiac G5 on Jan. 31 and announces it publicly Feb. 13. The recall is expanded to consist of the Ion and other automobiles on Feb. 25.
You can reach Nick Bunkley at email@example.com. — Stick to Nick on


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The brand-new AM 310 Vanquish had its official launch at Aston Martin's Paris showroom.
The official launch of the new Aston Martin Vanquish has just been held at the Aston Martin showroom in Paris, and autosblog.fr was on hand to capture these first live images of the British-built supercar. On display was a model sporting Bridgewater Bronze paint, 20-inch alloys in a 20-spoke satin black design housing black calipers, and inside was a cabin finished in Winter Wheat shaded leather. The car is built on an updated version of the DBS's platform.
Although it's not entirely new, Aston Martin gave it a number of improvements and managed to lighten the platform through the use of carbon fiber in the rear structure and hallow-cast aluminum that replaces the solid cast aluminum at the front end. The front chassis structure is now 13 percent lighter and even the Vanquish's body panels are made from carbon fiber. All told, it weighs 1,739kg so 54kg less than the DBS and also boasts a 50/50 weight distribution. Power comes from a revised version of the naturally aspirated 5.9-liter V12 with 565hp and 457lb-ft of peak torque.
The front-mounted V12 is mated to the same six-speed automatic slushbox as was in the DBS. The 2013 Vanquish will arrive in European showrooms in late 2012 and the first U.S. deliveries will be in early 2013. Pricing will start at $279,995 in the U.S.


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Vestiaire Collective just closed another big round of funding in the middle of an economic crisis — the round closed in early April. The startup raised $64.2 million (€59 million) and the company has raised more than €209 million in total, according to Crunchbase. Vestiaire Collective operates a marketplace of pre-owned fashion items. Users can both sell and buy clothes and accessories on the platform.
There’s a huge list of investors in today’s round — Korelya Capital, Fidelity International-managed funds, Vaultier7, Cuit Invest and existing investors Eurazeo (Eurazeo Growth and Idinvest Venture funds), Bpifrance, Vitruvian Partners, Condé Nast, Luxury Tech Fund and Vestiaire Collective CEO Max Bittner are all participating.
With 9 million members across 90 countries, Vestiaire Collective has become a huge marketplace. And it makes sense that an e-commerce website focused on pre-owned items is working well. There has been a ton of backlash against fast fashion over the past few years.
People now also value circular business models as it becomes more affordable to refresh your wardrobe, especially during an economic crisis, and it is better for the environment.
As always, Vestiaire Collective will use the new influx of cash to expand to more countries. In particular, with Korelya Capital as a new backer, the company will expand to South Korea and Japan this year. While the company started in France, 80% of transactions are now cross-border transactions.
Originally, Vestiaire Collective asked you to send your items to its warehouses to check them before putting them on sale. The startup has been betting on direct shipping from the seller to the buyer in Europe and it has been working well. You can get reimbursed if there’s something wrong with what you ordered though.
Direct shipping has been available in Europe since September 2019 and it now represents over 50% of orders in the region. Up next, Vestiaire Collective will introduce direct shipping in the U.S. this summer and in Asia by the end of 2020.


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It is different this time around. Right? In 2000 and 2008 cheap money and caviar dreams led to the internet and the housing bubble. In 2017 eight years of cheap money has helped push asset prices to their highest levels in recorded history.
Corporate debt has never been higher.
Skepticism abounds, as many think we are right back where we were just before the internet and housing bubble.
Yet it is different this time around. Central Banks remain on the ready to avert previous disasters, and are deliberately slow to loosen their grip on the steering wheel.
Stocks pushing to new record highs are posting strong growth and profits, something that was lacking in 2000. The housing market has embarked on a methodical and measured recovery, not one of frenzied speculation.
The euphoria seen just prior to previous market collapses, is not visible yet. It has been quite the opposite. Doubt has stuck around this market since 2009, and recent record highs were not hit euphorically, but greeted with more doubt about its sustainability.
Another stark contrast between today and 2000/2008 is the condition of the consumer. The consumer hasn't had this much of their income at their disposal in over 20 years!
Mortgage payments as a percent of disposable income are at a 35+ year low.
And while the consumer isn't as big of an engine for economic growth as they used to be, they now have an ever increasing chunk of their income to spend and save. Factor in possible Tax cuts this year, which are being promised as the biggest we've ever seen, and consumer spending will continue to help keep corporate profits growing, which will help to keep this market moving higher.


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At CES this past January, IBM researcher Veena Pureswaran described the company’s joint plan with Samsung to get home appliances to exchange cryptocurrency with one another. The currency, called Ether, is similar to bitcoin, except that the traded commodity isn’t directly related to a financial value. Instead, Ether’s value is computing power.
What distinguishes the Ether and bitcoin cryptocurrencies from traditional money is the online system that records their every trade. Networks of people called miners use the software to collectively verify and record these cryptocurrencies’ every trade. Like ever-growing strands of DNA, the currencies’ digital addresses, called blockchains, store the details of each trade. Bitcoin and Ether run on their own software platforms, but in both cases, a blockchain makes the whole idea possible.
Letting connected devices barter computing power in the Ether cryptocurrency would address a basic issue of the coming Internet of Things era: paying for the cloud services that will allow devices to do useful things and talk to each other. Instead of relying on ads, fees from paying users, or selling data to third parties, hardware makers could use Ether as the basis for device-to-device communications and transactions.
Ether would blanket all of a connected home’s devices in a network of code to minimize computing costs, reduce the scale of operation, maximize device longevity, and guarantee consumer privacy for all stakeholders in a connected future. In short, Ether could be the Internet of Things’s wonder drug.
The company that is helping IBM and Samsung bring connected objects into Ether is Ethereum. Founded in 2014 by a group of bitcoin enthusiasts–including a 2014 Thiel Fellow named Vitalik Buterin–Ethereum is promoting a more widespread use of blockchain technology: blockchain applications for everything. Using Ethereum’s platform, coding a blockchain application should be as easy as creating a webpage in HTML.
Ethereum has built an open-source software platform that any coder can use to write blockchain-based applications. Additionally, anyone can join Ethereum’s network and offer up a computer’s computing power to the network. Then, the applications that are built on Ethereum’s software platform run on the collective power of all the computers that have joined Ethereum’s network, rather than in one centralized datacenter.
“Basically, what we’re doing is building the world’s biggest computer,” says Stephan Tual, Ethereum’s chief communications officer. He imagines a scenario where more and more people will volunteer their desktops’ computing power to run programs that were built on Ethereum’s software platform.
For Tual, the premise behind evangelizing the blockchain isn’t to dissolve a centralized source of power for political reasons, like Bitcoin was conceived to do; it’s to help businesses save the money and effort they would need to run these Internet of Things applications in the cloud. Ethereum is making the blockchain a reality for some of tech’s biggest players.
“What Ethereum offers is really making it easy to build this stuff without needing to worry about cryptographic principles that are, quite frankly, obscure for most developers,” says Tual.
There are applications that don’t lend themselves to blockchains, such as playing video games or running other applications that require similarly substantial computing resources. “Ethereum is a really slow computer. It’s a very big computer that always tells the truth, which is quite interesting, and also has no downtime, which is another cool property it has. But it is pretty slow, compared to your laptop, for example. Because it’s the lowest common denominator that determines how fast it’s going to run,” Tual says.
But blockchain technology is perfect for simple tasks that need to run constantly. Connected devices that perform crude, repetitive tasks, like monitoring temperature or turning lightbulbs on and off, would benefit the most from the blockchain’s peer-to-peer networking.
IBM and Samsung have employed Ethereum in their joint Internet of Things project called ADEPT, which stands for Autonomous Decentralized Peer-to-Peer Telemetry. Along with Ethereum, the companies plan to use two other peer-to-peer applications in the project: Telehash for inter-device messaging and BitTorrent for inter-device file sharing. Ethereum will execute code between the devices.
“The reason that they need this stuff is that they don’t want to pay,” Tual says, laughing. “It’s not altruism. They don’t want to pay for its maintenance.”
Ethereum’s network of computers is growing every day, as members are rewarded with CPU power for breathing life into Ethereum’s web of applications.
And the Ether cryptocurrency holds clear financial value to the people who are developing the Ethereum platform. Last summer, the company made $18 million on a pre-sale of Ether. That money now pays the salaries of Ethereum’s London-based management team, as well as its 30 developers in Berlin and Amsterdam.
While Ethereum will eventually spend that initial pre-sale fund, Tual hopes the company will reap the rewards of the foundation he says it’s currently laying for the Internet of 20 years from now. He says that Ether will most likely always be associated with a monetary value as long as humans develop the code for the blockchain applications. So long as there is demand to run these applications, Ether’s supply of available computing power will be valuable.
If ADEPT becomes reality, connected gadgets will also govern how much Ether their code will merit. “In doing so, devices can become revenue-generating opportunities in their own right,” IBM’s Pureswaran says.