text:
- Subscribe NowLimited Time Offer
Vitrue deal shows city can build business
Call it the Facebook effect.
Lured by the siren song of social media, Oracle Corp. has agreed to buy Atlanta social media technology firm Vitrue Inc., escalating the arms race unfolding among the software industry’s heavy hitters.
Vitrue, launched in 2006 by serial entrepreneur Reggie Bradford, helps businesses execute social media marketing campaigns and measure their effectiveness. The company offers a social marketing platform that helps organizations reach audiences on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube online, or via mobile devices.
The acquisition, which TechCrunch reported at $300 million, is a big win for Vitrue’s executives and investors. It also underscores Atlanta’s ability to build valuable tech companies.
“Vitrue has proven that you can build a great ... business here in Atlanta,” said Adam Steinberg, an executive at Silverpop, an Atlanta-based digital marketing technology provider.
The region has the infrastructure — talent, advertising agencies and global brands to support a marketing technology company, Steinberg noted.
While Atlanta has been knocked for having a dearth of local venture capital, Vitrue proves a good company will attract capital from elsewhere. The company raised more than $30 million from far-flung investors, including Foster City, Calif.-based Scale Venture Partners; London-based Advent Venture Partners; and Cambridge, Mass.-based General Catalyst Partners.
“Capital goes where great companies are,” Steinberg said. “You don’t have to be in New York, or Silicon Valley, you can be in Atlanta and still build a great company.”
Urvaksh Karkaria covers Technology.
If you are commenting using a Facebook account, your profile information may be displayed with your comment depending on your privacy settings. By leaving the 'Post to Facebook' box selected, your comment will be published to your Facebook profile in addition to the space below.
- Most popular
- Kaiser Permanente to put IT campus in Atlanta; create 900 jobs
- Braves executive encourages bike riding to new Cobb stadium
- Post offices open late for last-minute tax filers (LIST)
- Glenwood Place celebrates groundbreaking
- Amazon’s cloud biz blows into Atlanta
- 20-acre residential development eyed for downtown Duluth (SLIDESHOW)
- Report: Billionaire Tony Ressler, Grant Hill bid on Hawks
- Georgia-Pacific and Aldi in big bathroom brawl
- MARTA to Gwinnett County? The people want it
- 3344 Peachtree's 'forever' type of architecture (SLIDESHOW)
PHP/Perl Programmer Antonline.com | Atlanta, GA
Trade and Investment Officer: Finance and Professional Services; Security British Consulate-General, Atlanta | Atlanta, GA
Sales Agent, Insurance Direct General Corporation | Atlanta, GA
Retail Sales - Sales Consultant CarMax | Roswell, GA
Client Services Associate Recruiting | Atlanta, GA


text:
In a bid to retain longtime iPhone users, Apple has partnered with Best Buy to offer customers a free iPhone 5 if they have an older iPhone model and are eligible for an upgrade.
USA Today first reported the news a few days ago and we’ve confirmed the promotion will run through June 29th. According to USA Today:
Under the program, customers who trade in an older working model iPhone 4 or 4S can earn a credit of up to $150, which can be used to cover the purchase of a new 16 gigabyte iPhone 5, at the retailer’s current $149.99 price. The price factors in a $50 instant rebate that stays in effect until June 29.
Best Buy previously tried this promotion on June 1st and had wild success. That sale only went on for 1 day. Because of its popularity they decided to run this one for 9 days. Smart move!
This program is available in the stores only.
In this highly competitive market, Apple has to love promos like this. It keeps their customers around for at least another 2 years and it gets the newest phones in the hands of more people. Like wildfire, word of mouth about a new phone leads to even more sales! Android is dominating the market right now and Windows Phone is slowly creeping up.
Are you an iPhone user looking to upgrade your phone? Will this promo help keep you with Apple or are you considering other options?
Via: Apple Insider

domain: news


text:
TORONTO — Belmond Ltd., which comprises some of the world’s most prestigious hotels, has just been sold to LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.
The French luxury goods company acquired Belmond for US$2.6 billion, or $25.00 per Class A share in cash. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2019, subject to the approval of Belmond’s shareholders and clearance by the relevant competition authorities.
Established over 40 years ago with the acquisition of Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Belmond currently owns and operates a global collection of 46 hotel, rail and river cruise experiences in 24 countries. Some of its iconic properties include Cap Juluca in Anguilla, Hotel Splendido in Portofino, Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro, and Maroma Resort & Spa in Mexico. Its legendary trains include the likes of the Belmond Royal Scotsman and the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.
Through this acquisition, LVMH will significantly increase its presence in the ultimate luxury hotel market.
On what Belmond will bring to the LVMH brand, Bernard Arnault, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of LVMH, said: “Belmond delivers unique experiences to discerning travellers and owns a number of exceptional assets in the most desirable destinations. Its heritage, its innovative services, its excellence in execution and its entrepreneurship resonates well with the values of the Group and is complementary to our own Cheval Blanc maisons and the Bvlgari hotels activities.”
Roeland Vos, Belmond’s President and Chief Executive Officer, added: “Today’s announcement is the result of the strong execution of our strategic vision that builds on our pioneering legacy and is an exciting development for all stakeholders, including our employees. We are confident that, as part of LVMH’s world-class family of brands, Belmond’s ability to deliver timeless, one-of-a-kind luxury experiences will reach new levels.”
In the 12 months ended Sept. 30, 2018, Belmond recorded total revenues of $572 million and adjusted EBITDA of $140 million.


text:
For Moosejaw store manager Matt Oates, the Banff Mountain Film Festival gives local outdoorsmen the opportunity to see their passion come to life on the screen.
Since updating software last fall, Residence Halls Association, or RHA, has gotten positive feedback for it’s RHA TV On-Demand program. On the RHA website, students can watch up to 20 movies for free each month.
As more students turn to online sites for a cheaper way to watch movies, local theaters and movie rental stores might be hit by the shift. More than 27 million U.S. customers are subscribed to Netflix, according to Netflix’s 2012 financial statement released last week. The number of customers increased by more than 2 million between its third and fourth quarters in 2012, and rose by 5.48 million since the fourth quarter in 2011. Brian Ballast, district manager for the Lansing-area Family Video, said many of the customers of the Family Video locations in Lansing are MSU or Lansing Community College students. But the number of young movie renters might dwindle as Netflix rises in popularity.
To bring about some fairy-tale student appeal, the University Activities Board, or UAB, hosted an on-campus screening of Paramount Pictures’ new movie, “Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters” Thursday in Wells Hall.
One backpack of unknown origin, multiple stops in cities across the globe and one mysterious unidentified owner. That’s the story behind the recently premiered feature film, “The Owner,” a collaborative movie created with the help of three MSU alumni.


text:
Heating an average-sized home usually costs hundreds of dollars throughout the fall and winter months. In fact, the Department of Energy (DOE) says climate control — heating and cooling — is the biggest energy-related expense for U.S. homeowners. However, the French startup company Qarnot has a new product that can actually help homeowners earn money while heating their home.
Qarnot’s newly launched Q1 isn’t your typical space heater; it’s actually a crypto-mining rig that produces enough heat to warm a small living space. According to designboom, the rig can mine a variety of cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum, Bitcoin, Litecoin and more, all while warming your home in the process. Specs for the Q1 include dual AMD graphics processing units (GPUs) with 8GB of random access memory (RAM).
Crypto-mining rigs work by verifying transactions in a general ledger, known as a blockchain, to produce units of the respective cryptocurrency. This process isn’t as easy as it sounds, though. Crypto mining requires high-end computing hardware that consumes a significant amount of resources. As a result, these rigs tend to produce a significant amount of heat.
Some crypto-mining entrepreneurs have taken their business to regions with a cool year-round climate to overcome this challenge. A recent report by Business Insider, for example, found that Iceland now uses more electricity for crypto mining than it does to power homes. The nation’s cool climate helps crypto entrepreneurs lower their overhead by providing a natural way to cool their rigs.
Qarnot is taking a different approach to the problem of crypto-mining heat. Rather than exploring ways to cool the rig, the company is marketing its Q1 as a dual-purpose product that can mine cryptocurrency while heating the user’s home or place of business.
The Q1 is surprisingly simple to use, making it attractive choice for first-time crypto miners. It takes just a few minutes to set up, after which users can begin mining their desired cryptocurrency. It’s important to note that users connect their Q1 to their internet modem or router as it does not support Wi-Fi. Additionally, users must enter their cryptocurrency wallet address on the product’s mobile companion app.
With a retail price of $3,500, the Q1 isn’t cheap. Assuming the price of top cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum continue to rise, however, it could prove well worth the investment.


text:
President Donald Trump is poised to sign legislation to overturn Federal Communications Commission rules forbidding internet service providers from selling data they have vacuumed up about the online habits of their customers. Privacy groups are understandably perturbed. But I wonder whether all the brouhaha is just shouting at the horse to come back long after he’s left the barn.
Yes, it’s a little disturbing that Verizon and AT&T will be able to start behaving like Google and Facebook. But Google and Facebook are already behaving like Google and Facebook. They recognize what we ourselves refuse to see: that we are no longer entirely human.
We may not (yet) be sporting wired implants, but with so much of life spent online, we are increasingly integrated into the digital world. Our smartphones and tablets and computers long ago ceased to be our servants. They are also not our masters. Whether we are at work or at home, in the street or in the car, at school or on vacation, the devices that were once our tools are now our partners and our symbionts. The day has become unimaginable without our ability to connect at leisure.
We march through the world shedding digital information with every step we take. Whether we are browsing online or browsing in a store, our symbionts surround us and embrace us … and steal from us. We like to call the bits we leave behind “our” data, but the truth is that what we shed in our online travels we also abandon — if not as a matter of law, then as a matter of practical fact. Most of the time we do little to protect our leavings. We dribble data in our path and never look back, on the cheery assumption that nobody will ever want to examine what we have tossed aside.
For the Internet behemoths — Facebook Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google — the data constitute a treasure-trove. Their business models are built around finding ever more complex methods of mining what we leave behind for information that advertisers will buy to target us, anonymously but effectively. Yes, the algorithms work imperfectly — all of us have stories of being served ads for products we hate — but they work.
The giant internet service providers — Verizon Communications Inc. and AT&T Inc. in particular — look enviously upon the ability of other tech companies to monetize our digital trails. The ISPs peer greedily into their vaults, packed with data potentially even more detailed than what Google and Facebook collect, and wonder why the companies whose signals ride their fiber optic networks can exploit this vast collection and the owners of the network cannot. In their version of the story, the ISPs try to dip their toes in the water, and a Washington establishment that sits in awe of Google and Facebook reacts with horror and bans them from the beach. With the FCC rules out of the way, it’s everybody into the sea.
This isn’t the end of privacy. Privacy ended already. The FCC rules about to be cast aside, like many other regulatory and legislative barriers, represented mere fingers in the dike.
Nowadays a Wal-Mart or Nordstrom’s might use your mobile phone, connected to the store’s Wi-Fi, to follow you around the store, combining browsing habits with buying history to personalize offers that are then sent straight to the phone. In his fascinating if disturbing book “The Aisles Have Eyes,” Joseph Turow sharply criticizes this practice, but also tells us where it came from: the need to compete with Amazon, which with its reams of data about customers can both target ads and price discriminate minute-by-minute. If the brick-and-mortar stores couldn’t find a way to exploit similar technologies, they would be left in the dust even faster.
A National Security Agency data center opened three years ago in Utah is estimated to be able to store several exabytes (a quintillion bytes) of data, and although the organization is no longer allowed to store most data on our telephone calls, privacy advocates believe that considerable information about our internet usage might be preserved there. (I am not saying they’re right.)
And don’t forget the hackers, who do a lot more than occasionally raid the database of a retail shop. Now that it is possible to scan every port on the Internet (the IPv4 space) in mere minutes, any connected device is likely to be attacked. If the device is poorly protected, it will be hacked. Not might be. Will be.
Most likely we will see another online civil war, such as the one being fought now between users of ad-blocking software on the one hand, and, on the other, websites that support themselves with advertising income.


text:
More on consumer spendingst
St. Patrick’s Day
Each year, we investigate how U.S. consumers plan to mark this Irish holiday.
St. Patrick’s Day Data Center
Dive into historical data on how consumers spend and celebrate March 17.
What’s trending in back-to-college shopping


text:
The Bangalore, India company was founded in 2007, and built itself up selling CPM banner ads across devices. It has more recently expanded to payments, and to HTML5 ads via its acquisition of Sprout. Today, it is the self-proclaimed largest independent mobile ad network in the world, with strong traction on smartphones across the world. One recent report named it the largest mobile ad network in key European markets, for example, although it has only moved into North America in the last couple years. Founder and chief executive Naveen Tewari said today that his company is reaching 340 million consumers in over 165 countries through more than 44 billion mobile ad impressions every month.
Meanwhile, competitors have been getting snatched up — Admob to Google for $750 million and Quattro to Apple for $275 million in 2010, and Greystripe to Valueclick for $70 million in April. Other rivals have also been raising significant new rounds this year, though. Millennial Media raised $27.5 million at the start of the year, and Jumptap brought in $25 million in May,
InMobi is calling this new round the largest mobile investment of the year, which might be true if game developer Storm8 hasn’t yet closed the $300 million round it has been working on. InMobi has previously raised two venture rounds worth a total of $15 million from Kleiner Perkins and Sherpalo Ventures.
The money will go towards expansion in Asia, especially China and South Korea; it has already been busy hiring, as our readers will have noticed. InMobi is also one of the companies that has stood to benefit from Apple’s crackdown on incentivized app installs this past spring, although the company hasn’t disclosed revenue numbers.


text:
Soccer fans rejoice in the news Optus has revealed its plans for the English Premier League after forking out $50 million for the exclusive broadcasting rights.
The Aussie telco has done a deal with SBS to sub licence the exclusive free-to-air rights of one match per round for the next three seasons.
It was a surprise move for the telco to bid for the broadcast rights as it had no broadcast partner. The win usurped Foxtel’s bid which had previously broadcast the matches on its subscription TV service.
The rest of the matches will be broadcast across a range of TV and internet-enabled devices.
“With Optus, football fans are spoiled for choice,” said Allen Lew, CEO of Optus, in a statement.
“As the only telco in Australia to own and operate network infrastructure across all three mobile, fixed and satellite platforms, we are in a unique position to deliver the English Premier League and the 2018 FIFA World Cup, to more Australians, in more ways than ever before.
“Broadcast has been a key part of our services since the inception of Optus’ satellite business. We have developed rich expertise in broadcasting and have a long history in delivering high quality live broadcasts via our satellite fleet.”
For those after all the matches, Optus is launching a dedicated 24/7 football channel on its subscription TV platform, Optus TV with Fetch. Fetch TV is a subscription based set-top box with various entertainment packages available.
Apps and extra content will be available from the telco, along with a satellite broadcast platform for those who don’t have access the company’s broadband.
SBS managing director and chief executive, Michael Ebeid said: “International football is at the very heart of SBS and our purpose to inspire understanding between our diverse multicultural communities. We are pleased to partner with Optus to deliver a deal that gives football fans much more international football on free-to-air TV throughout the year.
“These innovative agreements disrupt the old models of TV delivery in Australia and also ensure SBS can responsibly invest in an ongoing commitment to providing fans with universal and free access to international football, in our rapidly changing media landscape.”
Global apparel retailer UNIQLO has launched “LifeWear: Made for All,” a new multimedia campaign. It features personal, insightful interviews with tennis legend Roger Federer, renowned NYC artist Futura, UNIQLO Team Sweden’s table-tennis champ Anna-Carin Ahlquist, Uniqlo U Artistic Director Christophe Lemaire of the UNIQLO Paris R&D Centre, the company’s social mission partners, and other voices […]
Independent communications group The Haus has appointed Alex Erasmus to the position of Group Strategy Director. Erasmus joins from Red Havas, where he spent the last four years. Most recently, he was National Head of Strategy. He comes with a wealth of experience across PR, social, content, digital, experiential and sponsorship, making him the perfect […]
The Consumer Data Right has been billed as a revolutionary new way for Australian businesses and customers to share data. Over two parts, smrtr’s co-founder and CTO Boris Guennewig looks at how it is changing how consumers and businesses use data. The Consumer Data right – as the name would suggest – is all about […]
Captify has today announced the next evolution of its use of Xandr’s platform, Xandr Curate. Programmatic buyers will be able to activate Captify’s live, intent-driven audiences – built by billions of real-time searches from global publisher and e-commerce sites – across curated multi-seller video private marketplaces (PMPs) in one of the largest omnichannel, global exchanges. […]


text:
U.S.: The Good News: Exports Are Up. The Bad News: Exports Are Up
With Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan dominating the economic news recently, you might have missed an interesting development in the April data on foreign trade: Exports posted their first increase in six months. It's a clear sign that after nearly two years in dire straits, economies outside the U.S. are getting back on their feet. And it's not just the financial markets that are stronger. Foreigners are starting to buy more goods and services.
However, rising foreign demand is not all good news for the U.S. In fact, it plays right into Greenspan's fears about red-hot domestic demand. Sagging exports and a widening trade deficit have been a safety valve for the U.S. economy. They have offset some of the potency of U.S. spending by consumers and businesses, thus venting the extra price and labor-market pressures that such demand would otherwise have created.
Consider that, although domestic demand grew 5.7% over the past year, the fastest yearly clip since 1984, the economy has grown at a slower 3.9% pace. That's because the wider trade gap subtracted from overall growth, and the softness in exports depressed manufacturing, helping to slow inventory growth.
The problem is that, based on his June 17 testimony before Congress, Greenspan believes that the economy's maximum noninflationary growth is currently about 3%. If the drag from trade is lessening, then that puts increasing pressure on domestic spending to slow down. If it doesn't, then a quarter-point rate hike by the Fed--now almost universally expected on June 30--may not be the last.
TO BE SURE, FOREIGN TRADE was a continuing drag on growth in the second quarter, but stronger global demand means that the drag will lessen. The April trade deficit, including goods and services, held steady at March's gap of $18.9 billion, only a bit wider than February's $18.5 billion deficit (chart).
Adjusted for inflation, the April merchandise deficit was much larger than the first-quarter average, suggesting that the widening trade gap is likely to cut more than a percentage point from second-quarter economic growth. Still, that would be less than the 2.4 points it subtracted in the first quarter, and the drag in the second half should diminish further.
The 1.2% increase in April exports was broad, including gains in shipments of autos, consumer goods, capital goods, and raw materials. Adjusted for inflation, overall merchandise exports advanced a solid 2.9% in April, and they have grown 7.8% from a year ago, the fastest annual growth rate in more than a year (chart).
It should not be surprising that the export turnaround coincides with the recent gain in manufacturing output. Excluding autos, to eliminate the effects of last year's strike at General Motors Corp., factory output in the second quarter is growing at the fastest quarterly pace in a year and a half.
MOST IMPORTANT, EXPORTS to all Pacific Rim countries are up 2% from a year ago. Last summer, Pac Rim exports were 20% below their year-earlier level. Stronger growth in Korea, along with nascent recoveries in nearly all the Southeast Asian countries, all buoyed by continued solid growth in China, are lifting demand for U.S. goods. Most analysts believe that the surprisingly robust first-quarter growth reported by Japan was a statistical fluke and, while not signaling a recovery, it may mean the worst is past.
The only real problem area for U.S. exports right now is Latin America, where the lagged effects of Asian contagion are playing out. U.S. shipments to Mexico are about flat from a year ago, but exports to the rest of Latin America are still down a steep 15% from this time last year, mainly reflecting recessions in Brazil, Argentina, and Chile.
Exports to Europe in April rose 8.5% from a year ago, a pickup from the annual pace in recent months. Stronger growth in Europe will boost U.S. shipments in coming months, especially since all of Western Europe accounts for 25% of U.S. merchandise exports. The preliminary report on euro zone gross domestic product showed growth at a sluggish annual rate of 1.6%, yet the showing was a bit better than expected. Moreover, based on GDP data, especially in Germany, first-quarter domestic demand in Europe rose strongly, while overall growth was dragged down by foreign trade and inventory liquidation.
Looking to the second half in the euro zone, the drag from trade will ease, and with inventories exceptionally lean, some restocking will boost production. Also, domestic demand should keep picking up, given recent gains in measures of consumer and business confidence. New strength in German manufacturing orders and industrial production reflect the general trend of euro zone improvement, which is bolstered by low interest rates and a favorable exchange rate.
THE TROUBLE WITH U.S. TRADE will continue to be on the import side of the ledger. Despite the strong export showing in April, imports rose by just as much, reflecting booming U.S. demand and a strong dollar. Higher oil prices inflated the value of April imports, but even adjusted for inflation, spending on foreign goods increased sharply.
Without some cooling in U.S. demand, import growth will not slow anytime soon. Greenspan noted especially the impact on demand growth from wealth gains arising from stock values and home prices, saying that increased wealth had accounted for about 1% of the economy's 4% growth rate. He also said that even if the rapid growth in capital gains ends soon, there is still enough such stimulus in the pipeline to support outsized demand growth for months to come.
Reflecting ever-rising imports, which now account for about a third of all nonoil goods purchased in the U.S., protectionist pressures have surfaced this year. Most recently, on June 22, the Senate by a vote of 57 to 42 defeated a bill, passed by the House of Representatives, that would have slapped quotas on imported steel--an act contrary to international trade statutes.
In addition to seemingly irrepressible U.S. demand, a strong dollar will continue to draw in foreign goods. After plunging 11% from last August to mid-January, following last fall's market turmoil and Fed rate cuts, the trade-weighted greenback has regained 7% of that drop (chart). If the Fed makes more than one hike in U.S. interest rates, further dollar strength is likely, since the rest of the world will not be in a position to match any U.S. increases anytime soon.
The problem is that, despite the faster growth in exports in the months to come, ever-rising imports will prevent any significant improvement in the trade deficit this year. But the drag will lessen, and that will mean a smaller safety valve for pressures on U.S. prices and wages.
To continue reading this article you must be a Bloomberg Professional Service Subscriber.
If you believe that you may have received this message in error please let us know.


text:
Star Wars: Episode V -- The Empire Strikes Back Videos
Sep 19, 2016 -
Marvel's Star Wars comic is going to unveil a new episode of Yoda's history, one that predates The Phantom Menace.
May 04, 2016 -
Jim and Terri talk Star Wars for May the Fourth.
Apr 12, 2016 -
The original Star Wars trilogy is heading back to the big screen for the first time in over a decade.
Most Popular Videos on IGN
Feb 21, 2016 -
Rebel Base addresses the very serious campaign to ban the Jedi Master from the streets of London.
Feb 02, 2016 -
From robots getting tortured for fun to kids being slaughtered, Star Wars can be pretty messed up.
Jan 20, 2016 -
The iconic blaster from The Empire Strikes Back can be yours (for a couple hundred grand).
Dec 31, 2015 -
Need a refresher on the entire Star Wars saga before The Force Awakens? Don't worry, we've got you covered.
Dec 15, 2015 -
Just because these Palpatine facts are stupid doesn't mean they're not true!
Dec 04, 2015 -
The first word spoken in The Force Awakens has been revealed but can you remember the first word said in the other 6 ...
Dec 02, 2015 -
We take a closer look at the brand new packaging for Episodes 1-6.
Nov 24, 2015 -
Feel the Force around you with our complete timeline detailing every Jedi Knight ever in the Star Wars canon universe!
Oct 29, 2015 -
Nobody ever said fighting the Empire would be easy. To the brave pilots of the Rebel Alliance, we salute you with thi...
Oct 25, 2015 -
There have been a lot of amazing Star Wars posters though the years so we wanted to take a second to appreciate some ...
Sep 02, 2015 -
The Star Wars Universe has a ton of badass, iconic helmets, but the selection of regular hats is considerably less cool.
View Next 15 Videos
Jul 29, 2015 -
This book focuses on how all the costumes in the Original Trilogy of Star Wars came together.


text:
WD-40 CEO Garry Ridge to Discuss Success Strategies
COLUMBUS, Ga. — Garry Ridge, president and CEO of the WD-40 Co., will describe how his company expanded its product line and doubled its sales at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, April 16 in Columbus State University’s University Hall auditorium. The program, part of the Turner College of Business Entrepreneurship Speaker Series, is free and open to the public.
In addition to its trademark cleaner, lubricant and anti-corrosive spray solution, Ridge’s San Diego-based company has added 3-IN-ONE Oil, Solvol and Lava heavy-duty hand cleaners, plus other household cleaning commodities, to its product line and does business in about 50 countries (see http://www.wd40company.com).
His CSU presentation, “Garry’s Top 10+1 Tips For a Successful Business,” will address his entrepreneurial philosophy, motivation and unique approach to leadership that has spurred his company’s success.
He also will discuss his forthcoming book, Helping People Win at Work, written with Ken Blanchard, a San Diego-based management consultant, author, university lecturer and co-founder of The Center for FaithWalk Leadership, which is dedicated to helping leaders “walk their talk” in the marketplace.
Ridge, right, is widely regarded as an original thinker on leadership. An Australian, he looks to the tribal organization of native Aboriginals for inspiration in his own leadership.
Ridge’s company is a “model of a lean and people-focused learning organization,” said Columbus State management professor Kirk Heriot, who directs the entrepreneurship speaker series as the Ray and Evelyn Crowley Endowed Chair of Entrepreneurship in the Turner College of Business.
Ridge joined WD-40’s management structure in 1987 and climbed to its top level by 1997. He transformed a working environment from one of regular day-to-day operations to an environment where employees are encouraged to constantly learn and share knowledge with each another.
Ridge told the management journal Smart Business the most important business lesson he has learned is “there are no mistakes, only learning moments.”
“Creating an environment of continuous learning is where all of the success lies in business,” he said.
Ridge also told the journal he believes in servant leadership “with an edge.”
“I think there are four qualities that are important: care for people, be candid with people, hold people accountable and responsible,” he said.
Outside his company, Ridge has served as national vice president of the Australian Marketing Institute and the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association.
Among his awards are Director of the Year (2003) for Enhancement of Economic Value from the (San Diego) Corporate Directors forum and the Arthur E. Hughes Career Achievement Award in 2004 from the University of San Diego.
For more information, call 706-562-1674.


text:
The smartphone -- which is powered by Android 2.1 -- hit all the right hardware notes thanks to a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 3.7" (480x800) AMOLED display, multi-touch, and a generous 1400 mAh battery. What could possibly go wrong with Google's full backing, a sleek exterior design, and geek-friendly hardware specs?
Well, everything has gone wrong according to Flurry Analytics. Flurry, if you recall, is the company that first spotted a few dozen iPad devices running iPhone OS 3.2 right before the official launch of the device. Flurry estimates that Google has managed to sell only 135,000 Nexus One smartphones in its first 74 days of availability – Flurry uses the 74 day benchmark because that's how many days it took for the original iPhone to reach the one million mark back in 2007.
If Flurry's numbers are accurate, the Nexus One appears to be actually losing momentum rather quickly considering that Google sold an estimated 80,000 units during the month of January and has only added another 55,000 sales in the past month and a half.
For comparison, another Android device which has made headlines in the past few months is doing quite well in the marketplace. Flurry estimates that Motorola sold 1.05 million Droid smartphones during the first 74 days of availability.
The reasons for the Nexus One's failure are plentiful. The device is barely known about outside of the tech circle, the phone has to be purchased directly from Google, and T-Mobile doesn't quite have the same clout as AT&T or Verizon. The Motorola Droid is backed by the United States' largest wireless carrier, Verizon. Apple's iPhone, on the other hand, is the crowning jewel of second place network AT&T.
“Despite the fact that the Google Nexus One is the most advanced Android handset to date, and enjoyed substantial buzz leading up to its release, the launch has been overshadowed by lower than expected sales,” stated Flurry on the company blog. “In our previous reports we offered several possible reasons including unconventional choices in marketing, pricing and distribution.”
The Nexus One is supposed to launch on Verizon's network later this spring, so hopefully Google will see an uptick in sales at that time.


text:
KRWG.ORG-The Region's Home Page
Tue August 18, 2009
Las Crucens flock to Clearance Sale at last Blockbuster Store
By Marco Grajeda
Las Cruces, NM – The last Blockbuster store in Las Cruces officially closed its doors this week. Company officials made the announcement Monday making this the third location to close shop in just one year; but as KRWG's Marco Grajeda reports, on Tuesday the store was looking very much alive with a number of people taking everything from five dollar movies to ten dollar TV's.


text:
The country singer’s latest foray into cannabis comes through hemp-infused coffee
Willie Nelson is famous for two things – his country twang and his love for cannabis. The country singer is a long-time supporter of marijuana reform and has never been shy about admitting his use. He started a cannabis company in 2015 called Willie’s Reserve, offering marijuana, edibles and accessories in legal states and is now expanding his portfolio with a line of health and wellness products. Getting the new line, Willie’s Remedy, rolling, is Nelson’s own hemp-infused coffee.
The new coffee is described on Willie’s Remedy’s website as a medium-dark blend of Colombian roast that is “infused with certified organic, full-spectrum hemp oil grown in Colorado.” Each eight-ounce cup provides seven milligrams of CBD.
Willie’s java was first released in Colorado in September of last year. However, Nelson didn’t make a big deal out of it until now, announcing a nationwide launch. A bag of the coffee is available from the website at $36.
Nelson has often campaigned for farmers in the U.S., including with the creation of his Farm Aid concerts, which were designed to raise funds for farmers. He argued that hemp production would help the farmers and mark a return of a once flourishing industry. Even the country’s forefathers grew hemp to use in a variety of products and the plant was later grown during World War II to be used for parachute webbing, naval towlines and other goods.
It would seem that his efforts, either indirectly or directly, are paying off and farmers are finally going to receive some of the support they have desperately needed. The 2018 Farm Bill will expand hemp production in the U.S, allowing many farmers to finally be able to put food on the table.


text:
By Gemma Goldfingle2011-09-13T07:00:00+01:00
Westfield Stratford City will this morning open its doors.
The £1.45bn development brings 1.9m sq ft of retail and leisure space and has 300 shops including Marks & Spencer, Forever 21, Superdry and Waitrose.
Department store John Lewis anchors the scheme with a 260,000 sq ft store. The £35m store is the retailer’s only full-line shop to debut this year.
Many retailers are showcasing new format stores including Zara, Goldsmiths and Ann Summers.
Marks Spencer, Pets at Home and Wickes have decided to close their doors on Boxing Day as a thank you to their colleagues after a tough year.
UK supermarket chains have joined forces to broadcast a number of adverts on Channel 4 as part of an anti-racism message.
Grocery giant Sainsbury’s is set to extend its opening hours in the run-up to Christmas, joining rivals Aldi and Waitrose in making the move.
Site powered by Webvision Cloud


text:
Keston’s experience is no different to that of many other manufacturers of consumer goods – on rare occasions, it becomes necessary to deal effectively with public criticism or negative media reports. And in this age of the Internet and social media, you have to deal with them quickly.
When an unreasonably one-sided story about Keston Boilers broke on the front page of a trade newspaper and appeared at the same time on the publication’s website, alleging that a product failure had led to a fire, it threatened to spread virally across the Internet.
PRG brought the story to the attention of its client, held a phone conference hours later with company directors, then contacted the paper’s publishing director to present a carefully constructed argument explaining why the report was unbalanced.
It was too late to halt circulation of the newspaper, but by convincing the publisher to remove the story from the website, our effective crisis PR prevented it from remaining visible in Internet searches and damaging the brand for years to come.
Generating positive news coverage remains the focus of our PR activities at PRG. For five years we regularly generated positive media coverage for Keston which, when compared to the cost of buying equivalent advertising space, delivered a return on investment of anything from 3:1 to 10:1.
The crisis management activities we put into effect following the close call caused by the newspaper were so cost effective that Keston increased our PR budget year-on-year.
Take a look at the website here: www.keston.co.uk


text:
In many ways, they keep doctors on schedule. Many say they can’t operate without them. We’re referring to sales representatives, who introduce doctors and hospitals to pharmaceuticals and medical devices. A sales rep might even be in the operating room to teach a doctor how to use a new device. Keep in mind that they aren’t doctors, but sales folks.
A new study from CMI/Compas shows that half of doctors now refuse to see sales reps, with those in the most desirable fields for sales – oncologists and internists – least likely to have a face-to-face meeting. Among oncologists, 20 percent will refuse any meeting with a sales rep while 40 percent will limit access. Two-thirds prefer to learn about a new drug through email, direct mail or education from a peer. Half of cancer doctors said they would meet with a rep to talk about a new drug.
When it comes to drugs newly on the market, doctors are less resistant to a sales pitch. Among primary care doctors, only 24 percent do not allow sales reps make a pitch. That includes pediatricians and family practitioners. The majority of internists – 78 percent – prefer email or fax while 67 percent will meet with a rep.
Perhaps it is not surprising that urologists, cardiologists, neurologists and endocrinologists were the least resistant to a meeting with a sales rep. Setting out the welcome mat the most frequently were urologists with 86 percent saying they like their face-to-face meetings with reps. That may explain why so many were sold on polypropylene transvaginal pelvic floor mesh for women and hernia mesh for men and women. Thousands of lawsuits have been filed by women injured by mesh and injuries range from mesh migration to nerve pain, chronic infection and disability.
The access to physicians is actually narrowing thanks to the Physician Payment Sunshine Act which was finalized in February. Under the Act, a group sales force or drug/device manufacturer must be reported by any doctor or hospital they attempt to contact. In an effort to be transparent, all and any payments must be disclosed. Consumers deserve to know whether their doctor has received a fee as a consultant or any compensation from a drug or device maker. Additionally, the public deserves to understand whether research has been compensated by the subject of the research and how much. Payments or anything of value over $10 must be reported. Data collection began August 1.
Civil penalties for failure to report will not exceed $150,000. Combined penalties may not exceed $1,150,000.
One positive thing about a visit from a sales rep is they can point out any FDA black box warnings on the drugs they sell. Doctors may not always be aware of the latest warnings, innovations or even improvements because of their busy schedules.
The Sunshine Act promises to put even more roadblocks between manufacturers and doctors and is part of what the Food and Drug Administration says is a shifting focus back to the patient and away from years of a cozy relationship with manufacturers. The shift remains to be seen.


text:
DALLAS, Aug. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- This coming September, Peter Koeppel, President of Koeppel Direct, will be speaking at the electronic retailing industry's biggest event of the year, the ERA D2C Convention.
The ERA D2C Convention is sponsored by the ERA, Electronic Retailing Association, the only trade association in the world that represents leaders of the direct-to-consumer marketplace. Koeppel and many other notable speakers will participate in educational sessions along with nearly 200 exhibitors and sponsors. From September 11th- 13th at the Las Vegas Wynn Resort, members will gather and learn from direct response experts on many topics related to maximizing revenues through direct-to-consumer marketing on television, online, mobile and on radio.
Koeppel will be speaking about his areas of expertise in DRTV media buying and measuring media attribution, which have increased growth in his firm, making Koeppel Direct a leader in the direct response media industry. On Wednesday, September 12th at 10:15 AM, Koeppel's session will address efficient strategies on how to keep up with today's direct response consumers. With many consumers turning to the web, marketers' abilities are hindered when attributing leads and sales to specific media based on dedicated phone numbers. Koeppel will be exploring some best practices that can be employed to determine accurate attribution and providing effective solutions.
Every year since 2009 the ERA D2C Convention has grown and at this year's show they expect more than 4,000 attendees and 200 exhibitors and sponsors. Koeppel's speaking engagement will take place in the D2C Learning Lounge and is called, "The Solution to Missing Media Attribution".
About Koeppel Direct
Founded by Wharton MBA Peter Koeppel, Koeppel Direct has become the leading direct response media firm in the United States since its inception in 1995. The privately held company is based in Dallas and has employees around the U.S.. This world-class direct response television media buying agency specializes in Multi-Channel Direct Response Television - DRTV, online direct response, radio direct response and print direct response campaign management and optimization.
SOURCE Koeppel Direct


text:
Specifications of Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s 200MP camera revealed
More information has been released about the 200MP camera sensor of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Tipster @UniverseIce says it is “100% confirmed” that the Galaxy S23 Ultra will have a 200MP camera with 1/1.3″ sensor, f/1.7 aperture and 0.6µm pixels. Although the camera sensor is slightly larger than that of the Apple iPhone 14 Pro 1/1.28-inch sensor, it will likely be smaller than other flagship Android phone sensors coming in 2023.
TheElec reported in May that Samsung has developed a new 200MP camera for the Galaxy S23 models. @UniverseIce shared last month that it is confident that the Galaxy S23 Ultra will have the unreleased ISOCELL HP2 camera sensor.
@UniverseIce also said that the design of the Galaxy S23 Ultra is expected to be the same as the Galaxy S22 Ultra with the physical footprint “almost unchanged”. In addition, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is rumored to be powered by Qualcomm’s next-generation Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and a 5,000 mAh battery.
Source: @UniverseIce via GSMArena


text:
Consumer Reports tested 170 tire models from 30 brands to create its annual list of the top tire makers.
"The best tires shine for all-weather grip, braking distances, rolling resistance, and tread life,” said Gene Petersen, Consumer Reports tire program manager. “By choosing a top-rated tire, drivers can often enhance the performance and safety of their car.”
The best tire brands in 2019 were Michelin, Continental and General.
Consumer Reports said most models of Michelin tires offer a good blend of grip, handling, and long wear.
Consumer Reports said General is a second-tier brand for Continental that sells tires at a lower price, but there is no skimping on performance.
See which tires Consumer Reports recommends for SUVs, trucks, winter and other conditions on Consumer Reports' website.


text:
Exchange has seen volumes fall to a fraction of their levels six months ago
Nasdaq NLX has opened talks with its
founders over the terms of their participation in the European
futures exchange in a bid to revive trading volumes after a
period of slower activity.
NLX, which has seen this year volumes fall
to a fraction of their levels six months ago, has started talks
with its 15 founding participants, made up of investment banks,
clearing broker and prop traders, about the commercial terms of
their involvement in the venture.
This article is available exclusively to subscribers
Please log in to continue reading.
Not yet a subscriber?
Click here to take a free trial.
Already have an account? |
Please fill in your details below and a customer service representative will contact you.


text:
Payson’s Own Pumpkin Patch
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
This year, master gardener and Town of Payson Mayor Kenny Evans supervised the crop to maximize production. All proceeds go directly back into the garden which donates thousands of pounds of food to local food banks each year.
To kick off the annual sale, pre-school students from the Safe Haven Child Development program get first dibs picking out the biggest pumpkin they can carry for a nominal fee.
The pumpkin patch is open every afternoon from 3 p.m. until dark.
But hurry, last year the patch sold out by the first weekend.


text:
IDDC Commissioned Reports Indicate the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Leisure & Travel-Related Industry
Indiana Destination Development Corporation commissioned Rockport Analytics to conduct the five-week survey (from May 5 to June 5, 2020), intending to help inform both industry stakeholders and state leaders on current business and consumer confidence.
Rockport Analytics has constructed an index based on several components: mortality rate, lost jobs and unemployment claims, lost revenue and company viability, consumer habits and multiple tourism variables (hotel and travel disruption, overlaying with consumer sentiment).
To see the reports, click here.
About Rockport Analytics
Rockport Analytics is an independent market research and consulting company specializing in economic impact and feasibility studies for the travel, tourism and hospitality industry.
For five weeks, Rockport sent out the business and consumer surveys asking the same questions week to week. The survey was conducted from May 5 – June 5 and sent out to hundreds of businesses and consumers each week. This methodology captured the specific changes and trends that both businesses and consumers face week to week. Responses of those surveyed came from 90 counties, representing all ages, and key demographics.


text:
As Chick-fil-A expands internationally, a company executive said charitable giving to Christian organizations was inhibiting the chain’s growth.
After a heavy investment of money and time, the company has wrapped the Johnnie Walker brand around a movement that many regard as anti-Semitic.
The Trump brand name may have been the fashion line’s ultimate downfall, but it’s potentially still the company’s most valuable asset.
Some beer companies need to decide whether their product is about developing a taste for the finer things in life or an aid to preying on women.
A boy character is a good idea, but unless Mattel addresses American Girl’s increasing triviality it will have converted the iconic dolls into just a bigger set of Barbies.
Just like Taylor Swift, Hillary Clinton is playing the twenty-first-century PR game by twentieth-century rules.
Donald Trump’s $2.4 billion in free media, while making him more popular with Republicans, made him less popular with everyone else.
Donald Trump represents the first candidate for whom success could only come after a culture war apocalypse.
The moral and civic vulgarity of our political class is more consequential, more dangerous, than Donald Trump’s offenses against polite taste.
Donald Trump resonates with our world to the point of emanating daily shock waves because he is not of our world.
Some parents brand themselves with their children the way accessory designers select a new trademark. That may be what a child’s unusual name indicates. But it might not.
- I Didn’t Vote For Trump In 2016. Here’s Why I Hope He Gets Four More YearsMy hope for another four years of Trump is that conservcontinue reading >
- New York Times Admits Obama Admin Deployed Multiple Spies Against Trump Campaign In 2016The New York Times admitted on Thursday that the Obama continue reading >
- Heartbroken Dad Of Trans Teen Breaks Gag To Beg For End Of ‘State-Sponsored Child Abuse’‘I had a perfectly healthy child a year ago, and thatcontinue reading >


text:
Roku, the top streaming service in the US and the world’s top platform for producing and managing real-time 3D (RT3D) content, and Unity have announced a strategic product and commercial partnership. This partnership will make it easier for mobile app marketers to extend their app install campaigns to TV streaming inventory. Through this partnership, mobile app marketers will have the only seamless TV streaming campaign execution experience possible by combining Unity’s user acquisition technology and experience with Roku’s premium inventory.
Roku – Unity solution for app marketers
The solution, which is currently in beta testing, links Unity’s Luna app marketing platform to Roku’s premium TV streaming inventory by fusing Unity’s campaign management and optimization technology with Roku’s Action Ads. With a smooth transition from ad view to download, Roku’s Action Ads offer advertisers the advantages of click-through measurement along with an easy-to-use discovery flow for viewers. They can therefore evaluate the effectiveness of their streaming TV campaigns from the point of initial ad exposure to the download of mobile apps.
TV streaming and Roku Action Ads
The first-to-market collaboration coincides with the expansion of TV streaming advertising. GroupM projects that global TV streaming ad revenue will reach $25.9 billion in 2023, an increase of 13.2%. Given that, at least 82 of the top 100 games use Unity to expand their user bases and that Roku has nearly half of all broadband homes in the United States, these two platforms are ideally positioned to assist app marketers in utilizing more screens and devices to engage potential users and spur incremental growth. Through this partnership, marketers can now take advantage of Roku Action Ads for a seamless experience in addition to closing the measurement loop for improved optimization.
App marketers and TV streaming campaigns
With the Roku remote, users can start the game download on any mobile device and go back to watching TV shows without any hassles. Additionally, app marketers can now track every aspect of their TV streaming campaigns, from the first TV ad exposure to the final mobile app download, which opens up new, more affordable growth strategies. When Roku’s scaled inventory is combined with Luna’s campaign management technology, app marketers hoping to boost performance on home TVs will have never-before-seen opportunities.
After logging in from Unity, app marketers will go to Luna and choose Roku from a list of marketing channels. This makes it simple for marketers of mobile apps to purchase cross-channel advertising on a single platform. After the beta test, Luna will collaborate with a select group of partners to expand to Roku.
Here’s what they said
Miles Fisher, Senior Director, Head of Emerging and Programmatic Sales at Roku said,
Mobile app marketers seek to maximize their budgets and ad opportunities. TV streaming has become the right performance channel to enable growth and provide channel diversity in a highly competitive market. Roku’s scale, tech, and direct connection with the viewer are uniquely positioned to make the largest screen in the home work harder for mobile performance marketers on Unity.
Omer Kaplan, SVP of Revenue and Operations for Unity Grow added,
The driving force behind this partnership is to turn CTV into a high-scale performance channel for apps and games. Savvy app marketers today know that they have to harness every available channel to drive truly incremental and cost-efficient growth, and CTV represents a huge and largely untapped opportunity. By coupling that scaled inventory with Luna from Unity’s robust campaign management and optimization technology, this partnership unlocks unique value for app marketers who are looking to drive performance on home TVs. We believe that there is no better combination of partners more suited to making CTV a successful performance marketing channel to add to app advertisers’ UA toolkit.
Spotify’s app on Roku will now feature video ads thanks to cooperation between Roku and Spotify. In the US, Canada, and Mexico, Roku is the most popular TV streaming service. The cooperation between Spotify and Roku, which dates back over a decade, and the launch of the Spotify app on Roku, is strengthened by this collaboration. The new invention, according to the businesses, is the first step in bringing Spotify’s CTV partner network online. Through the relationship, Spotify will be able to offer additional video content, offering marketers more opportunities to engage with the platform’s more than 500 million MAU users. Spotify Video Inventory will be available on Roku as part of the Roku Audience Network. It will be accessible as a component of Spotify’s Video Everywhere ad service.
What’s in it for advertisers?
The ability to contact customers on any device is the key to successful digital marketing. Although it also applies to marketers, it is a best practice for user experience. Larger screens are now available in homes thanks to the expanding app ecosystem on Smart TVs. As consumer patterns change, businesses who don’t have a presence on this wider screen through CTV advertising are losing out. Additionally, viewers are increasingly turning to streaming to watch and listen to all of their favorite material. It includes everything from music to stand-up comedy routines to podcasts. In order to reach consumers where they are focused, advertisers are refocusing their marketing budgets. They are converting to linked gadgets from linear television. Brands will have an extra chance to reach the combined audiences of both streaming channels by partnering with Roku.
Spotify’s CTV Partner Network
The agreement with Roku is a first step in expanding Spotify’s CTV Partner Network. The quantity of visual experiences on Spotify has been growing, and these experiences will now include video ads. A beta version of DJ, which provides music recommendations and comments from an AI disc jockey, was released by the streaming service in August. Spotify introduced Blend in 2021. It is a shared social listening platform that enables users to make custom playlists to share their individual musical preferences with friends and family.
The Video Takeover Ad experience from Spotify reaches customers listening to music on their smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers. Soon after, CTV devices will be added, starting with the Roku platform. Future additions to this offering by Spotify will include even more video ad offerings, like video podcasts. In order to reach more users, the new Spotify app on Roku will include artist snippets and video clips mixed with ad formats like Sponsored Sessions. In order to give users a more participatory experience, it will also include Call to Action cards for podcast advertisements.
For more than a decade, Roku users have had access to the Spotify video app. While most people use Spotify to listen to music and podcasts, they also use it to create playlists, search for content, and watch artist videos and audio podcasts on their screens. Roku has been busy releasing new ad experiences on the platform in addition to adding video ads to the Spotify app on CTV. In a recent announcement, the business said that it was expanding its collaboration with Shopify to enable customers to buy goods from Shopify merchants using Roku Action Ads. Viewers can make purchases straight from their TVs and pay with Roku Pay.
Here’s what they said
Lee Brown, Spotify global head of advertising & business platform said,
As a longtime leader in the streaming space, we’ve had a front-row seat to audiences choosing streaming to enjoy content and advertisers following suit to reach them. It’s long been our goal to make Spotify available to anyone on any device and this partnership with Roku answers the call from advertisers who want even more ways to reach our users. Both our brands have been at the forefront of the streaming revolution and together we’re continuing to invest in more opportunities for advertisers to connect with our immersed users.
Alison Levin, VP, ad revenue and marketing solutions at Roku commented
As longtime partners, we’re excited to launch Spotify’s TV streaming video ads that will reach both of our streamers on platform and drive measurable campaign impact for brands. Roku and Spotify are uniquely positioned to make the largest screen in the home work harder for brands. We are thrilled to partner with Spotify on this at launch.
Roku and Shopify have partnered up in a first-of-its-kind commerce shopping integration. The partnership first came into existence in 2021, when Roku granted Shopify rights to use its advertising platform. Roku has now announced that their customers will be able to purchase products from Shopify merchants directly on their TV screens via Roku Action Ads. This integration comes as an extension to their present relationship.
Peter Hamilton, Roku’s Senior Director of Ad Innovation said,
Bringing a Shopify purchase experience to television for all merchants is an industry first. Roku democratizes access to TV advertising, and now we’re collapsing the funnel for Shopify merchants.
What are Roku Action Ads?
Roku Action Ads are an advertisement that consists of a down-funnel action design, providing services such as sending a text message, providing, and scanning a QR code, and making a purchase. Shopify is the latest addition to the list of clients leveraging Roku Action Ads alongside Walmart, and food delivery service, DoorDash.
Roku stated in their announcement that this partnership was “the first streaming commerce integration for independent Shopify merchants.” They also stated that it would establish an entirely fresh advertising channel for businesses.
How will it work?
Roku streaming users will be able to make purchases from Shopify through just one click on their Roku remotes. Here’s how:
- When a Shopify ad appears, the viewers can click on “OK” on their remotes to know more about the product.
- The users can then purchase the product using the on-screen function and complete the transaction using Roku Pay during check-out.
- The payment and shipping information would automatically be recognized from the customer’s Roku Pay details.
Image Credit: Roku
What’s in it for Advertisers?
This experience will help marketers to curtail the advertising funnel from brand awareness to purchases on big screens at home. It will strengthen the Roku-Shopify relationship, allowing the latter to launch ad campaigns with the help of Roku’s certified identity.
According to Roku, in addition to their audience being able to reach independent Shopify merchants, this integration will allow Shopify and advertisers to achieve in-depth insights into Roku’s customer data, purchase trends, and point-of-sale access.
The prime users of this collaboration will be Men’s Apparel Brand True Classic, the game-based, at-home workout challenge connector device Ergatta Rower, and wellness brand Olly.
Saaj Parikh, Director of Marketing, Ergatta, in her statement, said,
Our commerce efforts are all about meeting our target consumers where they are and providing a seamless path to purchase. Integrating the Shopify shopping experience with Roku was a no-brainer for us.
Paige Decker, Vice President of Growth at True Classic also stated that the Roku Action ads addressed their needs for “offering an amazing purchase experience and having a sound channel measurement.” She further added,
It helps us by providing a frictionless path to purchase for customers while allowing us to measure the impact of this strategy with end-to-end Shopify integration. Merging performance-based tactics on TV is a win-win.
Shopify and Roku have announced a collaboration to provide a Roku app for creating CTV ads and managing campaigns to all Shopify businesses’ dashboards. The goal is to get a piece of the $16.4 billion spent on local TV advertising by small and medium-sized enterprises.
The inclusion of Roku in Shopify’s marketing solutions will make it the first-ever TV streaming app available in the Shopify App Store, allowing SMBs to strengthen their brands and generate income through TV advertising.
Roku’s platform, which is designed for merchants to employ on their own and with low ad budgets, has already shown to be successful, with one advertiser’s brand seeing a 63 percent increase in consideration.
Related News: TikTok Partners With Shopify In The Middle East
Roku And Shopify Collab: What Does This Mean For Sellers?
Thanks to Roku’s app, Shopify sellers of any size will be able to quickly construct TV advertising campaigns utilizing exact demographics and measurement across their marketing pipeline. This is a great leap forward from the traditional linear and cable TV advertising solutions, which have limited targeting and measurement possibilities.
Amir Kabbara, Director of Product, Shopify, said –
At Shopify, we’re focused on helping our merchants reach more consumers, boost their sales, and build thriving businesses.
By launching the new Roku app in the Shopify App Store, merchants can bring their products directly to TV screens, while allowing consumers to discover exciting new brands right from their living room
Shopify users can download the Roku app from the Shopify app store, following which they can easily choose their audience, budget, timing, and duration for their ad – and finally, submit the creative. Quickly, users will be able to commence their campaigns and communicate their brand message to the millions watching TV at home.
Interesting Read: Here, There, Everywhere, It Is Cross-Screen Advertising!


text:
Embattled cryptocurrency XRP has experienced a surprising price surge on Saturday.
The cryptocurrency’s price reached $0.50944, increasing by 56% to set a record of the biggest single-day percentage gain since December 21, 2017.
There are speculations that the members of a Telegram group named Buy and Hold XRP influenced the price rally.
They are presumed to be using the ‘pump’ tactics employed by the WallStreetBets traders that heavily bought the shares of the struggling GameStop company, and drove its shares to value up by a whopping 1,587% since January.
Pump is when individuals purchase large quantities of a cryptocurrency to increase the price and demand the particular crypto.
The Buy and Hold XRP Telegram group reached the member limit of 200,000 set by Telegram within 24 hours. A second group with the same name was created to accommodate the overflow of XRP fans from the first group.
The Director of research at blockchain and crypto news site The Block, Larry Cermak confirmed this in his tweet where he said “XRP is being pumped by basically a pump and dump Telegram group and is up more than 50% in the last 45 minutes.”
The current price of bitcoin is $34,461.12, climbing up by 2.65% in the last 24 hours. Bitcoin has a current market cap of $641.52B and market volume of $48.89B. In the last 24 hours, bitcoin has dropped to $32,229.55 and experienced a $34,715.66 high. Currently, 18,616,218.75 bitcoins are in circulation.
Stats and Image from Coin Desk
XRP has so far been badly affected since the SEC filed a lawsuit against its parent company Ripple, alleging it sold unregistered securities to the public illegally.
Many crypto exchanges have delisted XRP from trading on its platform following the news, making the price submerge to $0.20 from $0.5.
— Sponsored —


text:
Just call them wheelers and dealers.
That's essentially what Slatington Elementary students were as they took part in a recent Book Swap.
Kristie Borger, Title I Reading Specialist, said the students received tickets for every book they brought in. The tickets were then placed in baskets, and later picked for prizes.
Borger, who estimated about 2,500 books were brought in by the students over a one-week span, said the book swap served dual purposes.


text:
India is an interesting market for smartphones. The country is growing quickly with low-end, affordable smartphones from multiple vendors pushing through hardware and upgrading consumers. Now the co-founder of Micromax (www.micromaxinfo.com), an India handset maker, Rahul Sharma has revealed the company will be looking to release a Windows Phone next year.
Global market intelligence firm, IDC previously noted that the Indian smartphone market tripled its shipments year-over-year in the second quarter of this year. The same quarter also saw more than 50 per cent growth over Q1 2013. It's a lucrative market, which Nokia is already in the process of tapping into with the Lumia 520 proving to be the most popular Windows Phone in India, according to previous AdDuplex reports.
So, we know that India's an important market, but what are the plans for Micromax? The company wants to expand into Europe and - as noted above - is looking at Microsoft's Windows Phone. In an interview with the IndiaTimes, Micromax co-founder Rahul Sharma was asked if the sale of Nokia to Microsoft has had any impact on the company. Here's the quoted response:
Even though Microsoft will be incorporating Nokia into the Redmond beast, Micromax still views Windows Phone as a growing platform with potential even for emerging vendors. It'll be interesting to see how Micromax attempts to differentiate itself from Nokia and other Windows Phone OEM partners. More "phablets" running Microsoft's mobile OS? We certainly wouldn't turn any down.
Get the Windows Central Newsletter
All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.
Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.


text:
ABN AMRO Bank customers may soon have access to a Bitcoin wallet provided by their banking service provider. The Dutch banking major recently ran a survey on its website, to gauge its customers’ interest in Bitcoin.
The survey was part of ABN AMRO Innovation Centre’s initiative to understand whether the Bitcoin community in Netherlands prefers to use a Bitcoin wallet developed by the bank or not. The initiative doesn’t come as a surprise as the bank’s Innovation Centre is known to be working on Bitcoin and blockchain related technologies. With increasing Bitcoin adoption, the bank can gain more customers by offering them a way to store not just fiat currency but also digital currencies like Bitcoin.
According to ABN AMRO’s announcement, the banking major has plans of offering Bitcoin wallets within its secure environment. It will also offer a unified place for ABN AMRO’s Dutch customers to manage all their finances. All transactions to and from ABN’s Bitcoin wallet will happen over its own website and application, which will allow the bank to include Bitcoin transactions
Read more ... source: NewsBTC USA
Advertise on the Bitcoin News
Do you like The Bitcoin News ? Thank you for Support us !


text:
A majority of Americans believe NAFTA helped support strong economic growth in the U.S. and withdrawing from the deal would result in negative consequences for them.
Posted Wednesday August 23, 2017 in Business
FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index fell by more than two points in June as a result of increased costs for labor, fuel, and equipment, reflecting less favorable conditions for trucking.
After the U.S. ELD mandate is fully implemented at the end of this year, truck utilization could climb to 100%, squeezing capacity and creating demand for as many as 60,000 additional drivers.
The ELD mandate was the top industry issue on trucking fleets’ minds last year, according to the American Transportation Research Institute’s annual Top 10 list.
Posted Friday August 11, 2017 in Business
Newly released U.S. Transportation Department figures show that trucking posting the second-highest increase of all freight modes since the end of the Great Recession.
The value of U.S.-Canada freight flows increased by 11.4% to $51.2 billion between May 2016 and May 2017 as the value of freight on all five major modes increased from a year earlier.
The American Trucking Associations (ATA) released its Freight Transportation Forecast report for 2017 through 2028 today and has projected continued growth for the transportation and trucking industry.
Posted Monday July 24, 2017 in Business
American Trucking Associations (ATA) is projecting U.S. freight volumes to grow 2.8% this year, followed by 3.4% annual growth through 2023 – a trend that could lead to potential capacity shortages.


text:
Art lovers now have a new simple and secure way to buy curated digital artwork at home with the LG Art Lab on LG Smart TVs with Blade Wallet, the fastest growing wallet on the Richardson-based Hedera Network.
LG Art Lab said that since its recent launch on the Hedera network, the company has promoted innovation and provided accessibility to the digital art world, solidifying its position as a leading curator of digital art.
Hedera and the LG Art Lab team collaborated with enterprise Web3 solution providers, Blade Labs, to introduce simple, secure purchasing of NFTs. LG Art Lab also said that it continues to reduce the friction of transitioning between Web2 and Web3 activities, accelerating personal and enterprise adoption of Hedera’s distributed ledger technology.
Along with providing greater accessibility, LG Electronics said it is committed to exclusively offer authentic digital artwork for LG Art Lab, through trusted and established art sources from across the globe.
Championing artists while democratizing the art world
The LG team said that it continues to champion artist rights by introducing mutually agreed royalties to the NFTs available through its marketplace, empowering artists to automatically receive royalties every time their work is sold and re-sold, without any requirement of additional intervention or work.
By focusing on accessibility and authenticity, LG Electronics said that it is helping further democratize the art world and empowering creators through LG Art Lab, a fully interactive digital marketplace that allows users to trade high quality digital artwork and enjoy them on LG’s Smart TVs.
Hedera’s distributed ledger technology is known for delivering enterprise-grade security, speed, and scalability.
Blade has become the most globally adopted wallet on Hedera and is responsible for the creation of over 40 percent of all accounts on the network.
A global ecosystem partnering with TV innovator
Hedera’s robust ecosystem is built by a global community, on a network governed by a diverse council of industry-leading organizations, including abrdn, Avery Dennison, Boeing, Chainlink Labs, DBS Bank, Dentons, Deutsche Telekom, DLA Piper, EDF (Électricité de France), eftpos, FIS (WorldPay), Google, IBM, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), LG Electronics, The London School of Economics (LSE), Magalu, Nomura Holdings, ServiceNow, Shinhan Bank, Standard Bank Group, Swirlds, Tata Communications, Ubisoft, University College London (UCL), Wipro, and Zain Group.
The LG Home Entertainment Co. is an industry leader in televisions and audio-video systems and recognized as an innovator for its leadership in OLED TVs which is revolutionizing the premium TV category.
Get on the list.
Dallas Innovates, every day.
Sign up to keep your eye on what’s new and next in Dallas-Fort Worth, every day.


text:
The city's economic development strategy includes a new website designed to entice businesses to set up shop in Salinas.
What do you think of Salinas' new logo and slogan?
The city of Salinas today unveiled a new strategy to entice new companies, expand existing companies and grow local startups with the hope of bringing badly needed jobs to the Salinas Valley.
The economic development strategy comprises a number of components, including a new logo, a new website, marketing materials and a lot of shoe leather invested in educating the world about Salinas. ...


text:
Trey Songz Finally Sold His Brickell Key Condo After 20 Months
After more than a year and a half of steady price reductions, R&B superstar Trey Songz has finally found a buyer for his Brickell Key condo. The sale has not yet hit the public records, but according to MLS data, the final sales price was $710,000. That is a huge reduction from the original listing price of $1.05 million in 2016!
Despite the $340,000 price chop, the singer still came out ahead. He had paid just $437,000 for the unit back in 2010, so realized a profit of just over $230,000 after commissions. No word yet on the identity of the buyer, but they closed the deal with a conventional mortgage.
The unit is located in the Courts on Brickell Key, where the average sales price over the last year has averaged $436 per square foot, the same rate that the buyer paid.


text:
Vice President of Small Business Banking (Corpus Christi) at Bank of America
Accion Texas Inc., the nation’s largest microlender, has named Bank of America’s Joe Gonzalez to its board of directors. Gonzalez brings more than 20 years’ experience in banking and finance, customer service and government to Accion’s board. Gonzalez currently is the vice president of small business banking for Bank of America in Corpus Christi, Texas
Sign Up for Newsletters & Alerts
Receive San Antonio Business Journal's Morning Edition and Afternoon Edition newsletters and breaking news alerts.


text:
EC Predicts 3.8% Growth in Bulgaria in 2018
Economic growth in Bulgaria in 2018 will accelerate to 3.8% after reaching 3.6% in 2017, according to the European Commission's spring forecast published on Thursday.
"The Bulgarian economy will continue to grow steadily," the commission said. According to the report, domestic demand is expected to be the main driver of growth, while export inputs will remain negative. Inflation will continue to increase this year as a result of strong private consumption.
Positive trends in the labor market will continue with steady wage increases and rising employment, the European Commission said. It expects public finances to remain robust, backed by the favorable macroeconomic environment and despite rising public investment and wages. The forecast is for both the EU and the eurozone to grow 2.3% this year. Growth for both is expected to fall to 2.0% in 2019 when barriers in some countries and sectors become more tangible, monetary policy is in line with the real environment, and growth rates in world trade are slowing down, according to the spring forecast. The document notes that the growth rate in the EU and the eurozone in 2017 exceeded expectations, with a record value of 2.4% over the past 10 years.
- » In October 2018, Total Consumer Confidence Indicator Decreased by 3.2% Compared to July
- » Bulgaria Expects Budget Surplus of 2.6 % of GDP as of End-October
- » Euro Area Annual Inflation Up to 2.2%
- » Producing Bitcoin Currency Could Void Climate Change Efforts
- » Bulgarian Pensions to Increase by 5.7% From 1 July 2019
- » Bulgaria’s Debt for 2017 Amounts to BGN 25,908 Million, or 25.6% of GDP


text:
Posted Dec 03, 2012
In 1962, the Dayton department store family raised some eyebrows by entering the cheap world of discounting. They called their stores Target, and they would change what a discount store could be.
This year’s Glamorama, themed “Fashion Rocks,” featured what’s hot off the runway, as well,
Two buildings at the venerable Schmidt Brewery on West Seventh Street have been converted into artist lofts, or hou
The Minnesota Vikings continue their training camp with practice in Mankato, Minn on , Friday, Aug. 1, 2014.


text:
Walmart to break ground on new Supercenter in Maryland this fall
July 18, 2011,
Denton, Md. - Walmart is about to start construction on a new Supercenter store here that is slated to open in a year.
The ground-breaking is set for Sept. 19 for the new site, located here at 610 Legion Road. It will measure 152,888 square feet upon completion in Summer 2012.
It is expected to create at least 250 jobs for its region.
"Walmart is excited to begin the construction of this Supercenter site in an effort to bring greater development to Caroline County, offer quality jobs with good benefits and a variety of goods at our everyday low prices to those in the community," said Mary Wilson, Maryland Market Manager, Walmart. "We look forward to partnering with elected officials, community leaders and surrounding businesses to help address the needs of the local community."
Walmart currently operates 35 stores and 12 Sam's Clubs in Maryland.
Related Content By Author
Live From New York: Fashion Comes Across the Pond
Home & Textiles Today eDaily


text:
The new and used car markets can be a bit of a challenge during the month of April with plenty of distraction for the retail consumer often leading to a patchy month in terms of both demand and sales.
Thankfully this year has been very different and it would seem from both market comment and factual retail-based data that there has been a much more confident period of trading.
The new car market posted registrations up 10.4% on the same period last year and this should not be a surprise given the market last year had been distorted by the Government VED changes that came into effect in March 2017.
At 8.8% down to date this year, new car registrations look set to balance over the remaining months of the year and it seems as though a final figure of around 6.5% behind 2017 is where the figures will finish as predicted by Cazana earlier in the year.
It would have been good if the national press had reported this as enthusiastically as they covered the large drop in registrations last month.
From a used car market perspective retail activity has been consistently strong with plenty of incentives to buy a used car in place from both dealers and finance companies alike. These have hit the mark with the retail consumer.
Competitive interest rates coupled with better used car PCP offerings have perpetuated sales by demonstrating value for money.
However, stock has been difficult to find and as such many businesses have anecdotally reported that the “profit corridor” has been squeezed.
The chart below provides high level data on profit corridor performance by fuel type for all vehicles up to 10 years old by key fuel type.
This is based on Cazana retail back methodology and is shown as a gross percentage.
The chart shows that the profit corridor has been on a downward trend since April 2017 for both fuel types.
During 2017 this is likely to have been caused by the pressure of improving the presentation of used cars for sale and the associated increase in costs.
Whilst matters improved in the early part of the year as retail consumers were in abundance, the profit corridor since February has seen a decline as it has been more difficult to get hold of stock.
However, this is a much smaller reduction than many may have expected.
The impact of lower wholesale stock levels has also been evident from a retail pricing perspective and this has manifested itself across most market sectors and more interestingly fuel type.
The chart below looks at the ex-PCP market profile that has been the subject of so much discussion in the industry as whole.
The data here is based on Cazana Retail pricing as a percentage of original cost new.
This chart is important as it shows a number of key Retail pricing insights.
Firstly, it shows that diesel propulsion is the only fuel type to be on a downward trajectory over the last 12 months.
This is not surprising given the volumes of vehicles returning to the market but the year on year drop is just 3% which is by no means as severe or damaging as either the press or the trade anecdotal comment might portray.
Secondly, the chart demonstrates that retail pricing as a percentage of cost new across all fuel types has risen in 2018 as a direct result of the upturn in retail demand.
It also reflects the fact that electric vehicles are beginning to come into their own now that range is less of an issue and both the consumer and dealers understand how appropriate these vehicles can be for certain customers.
An increase of 8% of original cost new over the course of a year is substantial and likely to continue as residual values bring themselves in line with other fuel types.
However, the market remains volatile as the chart clearly shows and the volume of data is significantly lower than the market appreciates although this will improve quite rapidly as more cars come to the market.
To conclude, April 2018 in isolation has been another encouraging month in what is widely expected to be the year of the used car.
With new car sales in decline and more used cars coming to the market profit opportunities are still available, but the key is to work with the latest real-time data to facilitate the best understanding of the market and to maximise on the profit corridor opportunities that are on offer.
Detail is key and being able to work with Big Data will make the difference in what is a really invigorating market.
Author: Rupert Pontin (pictured), director of valuations, Cazana
If you are not a registered user your comment will go to AM for approval before publishing. To avoid this requirement please register or login.
Login to comment
No comments have been made yet.


text:
Narrow your search
Send graphics and ring tones to your Nokia phone.
Correct multiplayer bugs and game balance in Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast.
Play Internet flash video (.flv) files.
Get 13 new maps, eight locomotives, new skinning tools, and more for Railroad Tycoon 3.
Fix bugs and add new features to Command & Conquer: Generals.
Fix a bug corrupting tournaments in Chessmaster 8000.
Upgrade your copy of Chessmaster 8000 to version 1.04.
Turn your Windows Mobile phone into a wireless Internet hotspot.
Update Empire Earth from version 1.04 to 2.0.
Upgrade to Halo v1.06 with this patch.
The company says that it will cut 15 percent of its staff as it refocuses its business on "premium smartphones, virtual reality, and connected lifestyle products."
Its flagship phone, the One M9, has not caught on, and HTC says it will continue to invest in other areas, including virtual reality, as it looks to turn itself around.
Chief executive Marissa Mayer delivers better-than-expected sales. But admits Alibaba gains are "top of mind" for investors.
But the nation's largest wireless did post a profit for the second quarter and phone subscriber growth that topped expectations.
Balancing and bug fixes.
The Internet media and search company still hasn't gotten its advertising business on track. All the while, CEO Marissa Mayer looks to be getting more serious about Yahoo's future in search. Will it help?
The carrier lost $2.38 billion in the quarter thanks to charges related to its wireline assets and its brand.
The company now tallies 3.45 million Creative Cloud customers, but the average subscriber is paying less. Adobe says the acquisition of Fotolia should improve its financial picture.
Now that Yahoo has claimed its cash windfall from the Alibaba IPO, Marissa Mayer and company unveil Yahoo's mobile revenue for the first time.
Company's first-quarter profit blew past Wall Street's expectations, due in part to FIFA titles. But it's delaying two highly-anticipated games to ensure success.


text:
Nexus One Dev Phone Out of Stock
A couple of weeks ago, we arranged that registered developers could buy an unlocked Nexus One via their publisher page in Android Market. We think it’s a good development platform and a nice phone. Apparently, you agree. Somewhat too many of you, in fact; we blew through the (substantial) initial inventory in almost no time, and they’re back-ordered from HTC, who are doing a pretty good job of managing runaway success amid a worldwide AMOLED shortage. Everyone appreciates that it’s important to the platform to get phones in the hands of developers, so we’re working hard on re-stocking the shelves; stand by.
It is good to see that the Nexus One still has legs right now, it will be interesting to see if sales continue to be brisk with the announcement of the G2 this week.
You might also like
Seavus Group has announced the launch of Soc.io Mall, which is being dubbed as the one place to get anything and everything for your Android device, whether it be apps, games, ebooks, or music.
A new build of the Droid X Android 2.2 update has leaked out. This time, the build leaked out on My Droid World, and appears ready to be installed for
Speaking today on the joint conference with Google, Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam made it clear that Verizon and Google are committed to a long and healthy relationship together. “I don’t


text:
Vodafone's new pricing for international roaming will simplify over 20 different call rates for over 200 countries. For these countries, which include India, Vietnam, Fiji and Canada, roaming internationally will cost $1 per minute for a voice call.
Numerous exclusions to the unlimited calls advertised as part of Vodafone’s “Infinite” plans raises questions of whether customers are being misled, the Federal Court heard this week.
Taiwanese mobile phone manufacturer HTC announced yesterday that its hotly anticipated Desire HD smartphone, the successor to the HTC Desire, will be available from early November exclusively through VHA (Vodafone Hutchison Australia).
Is Telstra's Australia's best mobile carrier? According to GoodGearGuide's readers it is, winning 38 per cent of the votes in our latest online poll.
Telecommunications management company Stratatel has released a discussion paper revealing that companies and organisations are being overcharged for phone services, often unintentionally.
Apple's iPhone 4 is just days away from its Australian launch, and the telco price war is heating up. While people in the US got their hands on the iPhone 4 on 24 June, Aussies have been left with hanging until 30 July.
Ericsson has won a contract worth an undisclosed amount to build a nationwide transmission network for mobile telco VHA, involving the construction of thousands of upgraded microwave radio and optic fibre links around the country.
Vodafone Hutchison Australia (VHA) has announced it will launch Google's Nexus One smartphone in Australia on 1 July.
Vodafone Hutchison Australia (VHA) has continued the transition begun after Vodafone and Hutchison Telecommunications merged last year, with the company announcing the multi-branding of all 3 Mobile stores in Australia
Vodafone will sponsor the upcoming Ashes Series, making the announcement on 2 June under a bevy of red at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
VHA (Vodafone Hutchison Australia) has finally announced its dedicated Apple iPad data pricing, just two days ahead of the iPad launch in Australia on Friday May 28.
Australia's three main telcos -- VHA, Telstra and Optus -- have all announced today that they are offering a series of mobile broadband plans for the upcoming Apple iPad.
RIM's second touch screen BlackBerry smartphone, the BlackBerry Storm2, will land down under this week on the Vodafone and 3 networks.
Vodafone Hutchison Australia (VHA) has announced today that its Vodafone and 3 Australian mobile networks will provide unlimited standard national voice calls network to network on the latest cap plans.
Most Popular Reviews
- 1 Evapolar USB air conditioner review
- 2 Hisense Series 7 ULED 4K UHD TV review
- 3 LED Lenser P7R Professional Torch review
- 4 Aftershokz Wireless Trekz Titanium Bone Conduction Bluetooth Headphones review
- 5 Review: Periscope users rejoice with Feiyu’s G4 Plus 3-Axis Gimbal for Smartphone video
Join the Good Gear Guide newsletter!
Latest News Articles
- Linksys EA9500 Max-Stream AC5400 MU-MIMO Gigabit router review
- Paris motor show turns on to electric cars
- Israeli startup says its new software would have prevented Tesla hack
- Microsoft moves Cortana and Bing into Microsoft Research to accelerate new features
- Google Maps for Android adds 'OK Google' voice, navigation commands and other search tricks
GGG Evaluation Team
First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.
For work use, Microsoft Word and Excel programs pre-installed on the device are adequate for preparing short documents.
The Fujitsu LifeBook UH574 allowed for great mobility without being obnoxiously heavy or clunky. Its twelve hours of battery life did not disappoint.
The screen was particularly good. It is bright and visible from most angles, however heat is an issue, particularly around the Windows button on the front, and on the back where the battery housing is located.
My first impression after unboxing the Q702 is that it is a nice looking unit. Styling is somewhat minimalist but very effective. The tablet part, once detached, has a nice weight, and no buttons or switches are located in awkward or intrusive positions.
- CCPMO AnalystNSW
- FTOutbound TelesalesVIC
- CCContract Web Developer (160915/WD/vmp)Asia
- CCiOS DeveloperNSW
- CCContract Junior Programmer (J2EE/SQL) 160927/JP/551Asia
- CCBI Reporting AnalystACT
- FTTeam Leader Full Stack, Python, FinanceNSW
- FTTest SpecialistSA
- CCSoftware TesterACT
- FTIT Pre-Sales EngineerSA
- FTBusiness Development Manager | ICT intelligent systems integrationVIC
- FTAndroid DeveloperNSW
- CCInformatica Developer (MDM)NSW
- FTTest Manager (HP Quality Centre / ARIBA)NSW
- CCBusiness Analyst - Telecom ProjectNSW
- FTNetApp Storage ConsultantWA
- FTCertification and Accreditation Security ConsultantACT
- CCIT Security ArchitectACT
- FTSenior Front End DeveloperNSW
- CCBusiness ArchitectNSW
- FTDesktop/Application SupportVIC
- CCContract Systems Analyst (IT Security) 160928/JP/653Asia
- CCVideo Conference Support Officer- VoIP, LAN, WAN, RemedyNSW
- CCSolutions ArchitectACT
- CCSenior .NET DeveloperVIC


text:
If This 'Jane Walker' Logo Is to Be Believed, Diageo Thinks Women Are Intimidated by Scotch Whisky
In an effort to promote its products to women, Diageo has announced that it will be selling a limited-edition run of 250,000 bottles of its Johnnie Walker brand of blended Scotch whisky under the name “Jane Walker.” For the run, bottles and packaging will feature a silhouetted woman wearing a top hat and high heels, replacing the brands iconic Striding Man logo.
Stephanie Jacoby, vice president of Johnnie Walker, spoke to Bloomberg about the intended message behind the Jane Walker campaign. “Scotch as a category is seen as particularly intimidating by women,” she said. “It’s a really exciting opportunity to invite women into the brand.”
While this may sound good-natured, there’s a great amount of risk that comes with marketing to women, or to any specific group of people. Are women really intimidated by Scotch whisky—and by that, we mean all women? Clearly, such a generalization can do much more harm for a brand than good, especially if it’s paired with packaging or labeling that panders to a stereotype, such as by depicting a woman in high heels.
It’s not as if Diageo didn’t have any recent examples to look toward as warnings against such marketing. The Doritos debacle isn’t even a month old at this point, and if anything was made clear by the outrage following the suggestion by PepsiCo’s CEO that “lady Doritos” could become a thing, it’s that women don’t like to be told that they are dainty or delicate or in any way different from men with regard to how and what they eat.
Now, it should be said that not everything about Jane Walker is problematic—for every bottle produced, Diageo is donating a dollar to organizations that promote women, including Monumental Women and She Should Run. This does, however, raise the question as to why Diageo couldn’t just donate to these charities in the first place while also creating campaigns to bring more women into the whisky industry. Surely, such a program would go a lot further in bringing more female consumers to the brand, rather than alienating them with stereotypical imagery on packaging and in marketing campaigns.
Despite the repeated failures of such campaigns over the years, it’s unlikely that this will be the last we see of demeaning female-focused marketing. As marketers look for ways to make products appealing to the smallest of social substrata, it’s likely that we will continue to see the occasional misfire, such as with “lady Doritos.” Whether or not we need gendered branding, it is clear that marketers think we do. Until we convince them otherwise, that’s where they’ll be putting their money.


text:
Xbox dropped some megaton news earlier this week, announcing that Microsoft has bought Bethesda. That means Arkane, id Software, MachineGames, Bethesda Game Studios, Tango Gameworks, and ZeniMax Online Studios are now all first-party Xbox developers. We put together a handy list of all studios and franchises Xbox now owns, if you’re interested.
Microsoft isn’t stopping there, however. It is actively looking to buy up more studios, where it makes sense, and will use them to bolster both its console exclusive offerings and the value of Game Pass. All games from studios Microsoft owns will be part of your Game Pass subscription on the same day they launch.
In an interview with Cnet, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella admitted that the company is open to acquiring more studios in the future. “We’ll always look for places where there is that commonality of purpose, mission and culture,” he said.
While Microsoft has already established a new studio in Santa Monica called The Initiative – likely in a bid to grab some talent from Sony’s Santa Monica studios – Xbox is more keen to buy up studios that are already established. Why? Because it’s much easier than building something from scratch, and presumably because of the time investment involved in that process. With a studio that’s already established, you’re also getting all the games they are currently working on.
“You can’t wake up one day and say, ‘Let me build a game studio,’” Nadella said. “The idea of having content is so we can reach larger communities.”
The Xbox strategy is built around Game Pass – bringing users into an ecosystem, rather than relying on them opting into new hardware. This strategy is most clear in Game Pass for PC and xCloud on mobile. Microsoft wants people to play its games regardless of where they play them. That’s likely one of the reasons the Xbox Series S is so cheap – it’s an affordable way to get players into next-gen, while the hardcore fans can instead opt for the more powerful Xbox Series X.
However it plays out, next-gen is definitely going to be interesting.
Source: Read Full Article