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In a Kickstarter update, developer Inti Creates stated that their upcoming title Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, the spiritual successor to the Castlevania series would be pushed back to an estimated release sometime within the first half of 2018.
Project leader Koji Igarashi (IGA) stated that bringing on additional developers and moving the release date is essential to the game being done right the first time.
“The last thing I want to do is keep our backers waiting, but after receiving such incredible support, I feel responsible for delivering the best product I possibly can. Again, I offer my sincerest apologies” IGA said in a video addressing Kickstarter backers.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night was originally scheduled for release early 2017 for PC, PS4, Xbox One, Wii U and Vita.
A demo was playable at E3 this year while Kickstarter backers were able to download a copy.
Michael Vane is a freelance journalist and co-editor of PN2. He’s on Twitter @DrVane


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The crisis dictates trends in the market of gifts. More and more people are ordering ‘bouquets’ of meat and sweets, as well as gift baskets with delicacies or even ordinary products.
The “Orange Cat” company representatives who make and deliver gift sets claim that a beautiful set can be made from anything. “We made sets of meat, bouquets of teddy bears, panties and stockings, and once even a” cake “of towels,” says co-owner Zmitser Shubinok.
But traditional bouquets of flowers are also a lucrative business, even today, in a situation of declining purchasing power. The delivery service is popular. Tatsiana, the director of the company Gvozdika.by, says that some girls even take offense at their men, when they bring flowers personally, without using the services of professional couriers.

domain: news


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As a sneak peek at the 2017 North American Effie Awards, MediaPost and Effie Worldwide have once again collaborated to showcase some of the winning cases that will be awarded gold, silver or bronze Effies at the gala on June 1. This series focuses on learning and best practices from the Media Effie categories. Effie Awards are known by advertisers and agencies globally as the pre-eminent award in the marketing industry and recognize any and all forms of communication that contribute to a brand's success.
2017 EFFIE Award Preview: #Game Changer
Category: Media Effie: Media Innovation - Existing Channel
Client: Under Armour
Agency: Droga5 (with contributing agencies MullenLowe U.S. and Rapport)
Title: #Game Changer
Under Armour invested heavily in Stephen Curry, who became one of basketball’s most popular players and a major cultural phenomenon almost overnight. Unfortunately, little of the buzz linked back to Under Armour. The cultural frenzy was drowning out the brand, and as a result, people weren’t connecting Curry to the brand.
Curry represented Under Armour’s best opportunity to gain traction in the lucrative basketball category, and it was about to pass us by.
By living in the media environments of our target consumer, we discovered that:
By design, an athlete’s video-game self is capable of putting up more ridiculous numbers than his real-life counterparts. But with the way Curry was playing, it was evident that something incredible was happening—real-life Curry was actually outperforming video-game Curry.
As the season unfolded, this insight became a cultural narrative. Our consumers debated online. Segments of sports-talk shows became dedicated to the topic. And developers of the world’s most popular and realistic basketball series, NBA 2K, were being quoted in articles as evidence of how no one could have foreseen how good Curry was going to be.
We asked ourselves—what if we could demonstrate how much better Curry had
gotten by changing the actual game? What if we let fans experience what it’s like to play like real-life Curry by making video-game Curry just as good?
We worked with 2K to do something they'd never done and change the game's code to briefly raise Steph's rating to the highest the game allowed.
We created a video to announce the event to the world.
A 30-second version of the video aired during Curry’s MVP acceptance speech and a long-form version ran online. National press coverage and buzz led to 30 hours—a nod to Steph’s jersey number—during which NBA 2K players could honor his MVP season by playing as him in the game with his MVP skills for the very first time. And to make absolutely sure that the brand and Curry would be inextricably linked, we also had branded content inside the game. Under Armour had in-arena signage takeover, an in-game hashtag bug and an in-game release of Curry’s MVP shoe.
By leveraging non-traditional thinking to capitalize on existing behavior, we successfully got people talking about the brand and Stephen Curry and gave them an experience they’d never forget.
And like Curry’s season, the numbers spoke for themselves:


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Police issue warning over fake emails claiming to be from Martin Lewis after more than 300 reported in just one week
The police have issued a warning for consumers to watch out for fake emails claiming to be from MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis and said that more than 300 people had reported receiving the scam email in the space of just one week.
Action Fraud, which is run by the City of London Police, issued the initial warning on its Twitter channel on 8 December after receiving what it called a "significant uplift" in reports about emails purporting to be from Martin.
Here's a copy of the tweet from Action Fraud:
The email, which has also been flagged by several MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE) users, is titled, “We are in a crisis: Follow this revolutionary way to survive financially”. It encourages readers to follow links and suggests people can get access to financial advice from Martin, to help them save money.
But this email is fake, and the links in it lead to so-called 'phishing' websites designed to trick you into revealing your personal and financial details. If you receive this email, do not follow the links and instead report it to the National Cyber Security Centre. You can do so by emailing email@example.com.
Be aware that MSE won't send out emails except our weekly newsletter or those you'd get if you're signed up to one of our services. We will never, ever, EVER cold-call. We're a consumer help website, here to fight your corner. We will never call you or send anyone to knock on your door.
If you're unsure, go directly to the MSE site - we always put the content there - and see our Stop Scams guide for tips on how to protect yourself and your cash and for information on what to do if you think you've been caught out by a scam.
What the FAKE email says in full
The box below details what the fake email says in full, with some annotation from MSE in square brackets. You'll notice some spelling and grammatical mistakes, which is a telltale sign it's been sent by fraudsters:
[Fake email title:] Martin Lewis: We are in a crisis: Follow this revolutionary way to survive financially
READ MORE [This links to phishing website]
[Fake email body:] We are in a crisis. The health panic is followed by an economic panic. People stop going out, stop shopping and dramatically reduce spending. This has an immediate impact on cashflow. Without cash, businesses go bust. Without cash, suppliers don't get paid and they in turn can't pay their creditors. The knock-on effect will be swift. Tax revenue will seize up. In addition, businesses without cash can't pay their employees who must be laid off. This exacerbates the slump.
Unfortunately, as cashflow dries up, those with cash will hoard it. Hoarding is the natural reaction to a panic - witness what is happening right now in supermarkets. The same will happen with cash. As more and more cash disappear from balance sheets, more and more cash will be hoarded.
So, what are the do's and don'ts in these difficult times? We consult with a great finances [sic] expert Martin Lewis who recognizes [sic]* the pivotal role of Economics [sic] in all of our daily lives and it is his aim to make the 'dismal science' as captivating and accessible as possible.
READ MORE [This links to phishing website]
[* 'SIC' indicates that the word or phrase is quoted exactly as it stands, even though it contains grammatical or spelling errors.]
Martin and other famous faces have campaigned against their names being wrongly used to promote fraudulent activity
Martin's name and face is often wrongly used by fraudsters and just last month Martin, alongside 13 other celebrities - including Deborah Meaden and Sir Richard Branson - signed an open letter to Boris Johnson, pleading with the Prime Minister to include paid-for scam advertising in the scope of the upcoming Online Safety Bill.
Currently, there are few meaningful powers to prevent scam adverts from appearing online, and regulators are unable to punish the big tech platforms that get paid to publish them.
What to do if you're contacted by someone claiming to be us
If you've already responded to a scam, end all further communication immediately, call your bank directly, and report the scam to the police through Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, or report a scam anonymously on its website.
If you wish to seek further advice, contact Citizens Advice Scam Action through its website, or call its online scams helpline on 0808 250 5050.


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NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Eastman Chemical Co. EMN, -2.68% said Monday it signed a definitive agreement to sell its Arkansas unit, Eastman SE Inc., to Viceroy Acquisition Corp. for $75 million. Eastman Chemical, Kingsport, Tenn., said the sale includes the Batesville, Ark., manufacturing plant and related assets. Eastman said it expects to close the sale in the fourth quarter, pendinig regulatory approval. Eastman SE makes specialty organic chemicals, including biodiesel fuels.
Eastman Chemical to sell Arkansas unit for $75M


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The US smartphone market is divided into two segments, unlocked and locked variants. Because of this, some devices receive new updates according to their network boundaries. Most of the time, new updates are available for carrier-locked devices.
Notably, the same is happening for the Galaxy A51 5G device. According to information, the Android 13 update is available on the Verizon network, which means if you are using a Galaxy A51 5G device bonded to Verizon, you can easily update your device to the latest version.
The Android 13 update can be identified by its new firmware version number A515USQU8EVK6, which includes two months older security patch than the October 2022 security patch. It is also noticeable that the Galaxy A51 5G device has already received the One UI 5.0 update in Europe a couple of weeks ago, as well as the European variant, which got the support of December 2022 security.
As mentioned earlier, the device is getting the support of the latest Android OS. Samsung has also included some extra functionalities in it in the form of One UI 5.0. The update brings a restructured UI design, which gives the device a new look. There are some new; improved functions have been introduced under several inbuilt apps, including Camera, Samsung Keyboard, Galley, and more. According to the changelog, it also comes with some new and improved features like Auto optimization, multitasking split screen, RAM Plus, stacked widgets, and so on.
Don’t miss our latest news on Samsung technology. Follow SamLover.com on your favorite social media platforms for instant notifications.


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The retail trade association said Tuesday that its board has given approval for it to go to court to try to block the settlement. It says it is unsure whether outside groups will be allowed to intervene or if the case qualifies as a class action.
The NRF says it believes the proposed settlement will not stop swipe fees from continuing to rise, which will hurt both retailers and shoppers, and that it will prevent any future legal challenges.
In July, Visa, Mastercard and the banks settled a lawsuit that claimed card issuers conspired to fix merchants’ fees for accepting credit cards.
More breaking news
- New questions over abortion coverage in health law
- NYS wage board mulls pay raise for tipped workers
- Sears takes $400M loan
- UPS expects to hire up to 95,000 seasonal workers
- US producer prices unchanged in August
- Serious social media risks for judges, attorneys
- Q&A: Ed Romaine, Brookhaven Town Supervisor
- Speculation swirls over Fed language on rate hike
- Once-troubled reverse mortgages poised for rebound
- LIREDC seeks state funding for 43 projects


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Redevelopment Of CinemaWorld Douglas Site Will Lead To A Boost For The Local Economy
A new Aldi store will be built on the site which the retailer says will create 20 new permanent jobs and up to 60 construction jobs.
The managing director of Gate Cinemas announced today that the screens in Douglas will shut on October 10th due to increased competition and declining sales.
Construction of the Aldi store will begin in January next year, with plans to open in quarter four 2020.
Speaking to RedFM News, Brendan Flannery from Gate Cinemas says the new Aldi store will lead to increased trade and jobs in the area:
More from Cork
Banking Sector Union Seeking Clarity On The Future Of 2,500 Jobs At Ulster Bank
There are reports its parent company Natwest is considering winding down operations here
Ryanair is cutting 40 percent of its capacity on flights in October, compared with the same month last year
Ryanair say their business with Cork is at a critical point and its future is hanging in the balance
Cork city is gearing up to open it's doors, both physically and virtually, tonight for Culture Night
Listen back to Lana O'Connor's full interview with Culture Night Cork City Ambassador Conál Creedon
SPECIAL REPORT: Cork City Fire Brigade Hopeful New Recruits Will Help To Even The Gender Balance
There's currently only one female firefighter Leeside however a recruitment drive has been launched to hire 20 additional firefighters.
Blackpool Hair Salon Gutted By Fire
3 Degrees Hair Design say they heartbroken after their salon at Blackpool Shopping Centre was destroyed in the early hours of this morning.
Man (39) Charged In Connection With Robbery That Left An Amputee Lying On Street
The 50 year old man was resting in his wheelchair near the Mercy University Hospital on Monday when he was approached by a man who demanded money.


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E-pharmacy MrMed scores half mil for expansion
Online pharmacy MrMed has raised $500,000 from a funding round led by the Tamil Nadu Emerging Sector Seed Fund.
According to a news report, the company will use its fresh funds to expand its team and reach out to more customers.
Launched in 2021, the pharmacy startup offers specialty medicines for cancer, heart disorders, and other critical health disorders. Its platform currently has over 50,000 users from over 2,000 locations across India.
Abbott launches vertigo support app in India
Abbott has brought its Vertigo Coach app to India, where nearly 10 million people live with this condition.
Available on both Android and iOS devices, the mobile app provides information and resources to help people with vertigo manage their condition.
It also allows users to schedule their medicine intake and is capable of providing automated push notifications and reminders.
Coreline Soft secures distribution deal in Switzerland
Coreline Soft, a medical AI company from South Korea, is further cementing its entry into Switzerland with a new strategic partnership.
Based on a press statement, it recently signed a distribution deal with medical device distributor HealthCare Konnect.
This comes a few weeks after Coreline Soft received a market clearance to sell its AVIEW suite of AI products in Switzerland, including its flagship software AVIEW LSC, an AI-powered lung nodule analysis solution.
Credit: Source link


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Panda Global releases statement on Smash World Tour shutdown
Staff, 2022-12-02 13:55:00,
Panda has addressed Nintendo’s decision and allegations against its CEO.
The fighting game esports world took a massive hit earlier this week when it came out that Smash World Tour 2022, one of the most anticipated events of the year, had been canceled, along with the company’s planned events for 2023. While it was originally stated that Nintendo directly caused the shutdown, the Smash Bros. publisher said that it didn’t request any changes to the 2022 event. After some back and forth, Panda Global has now released a lengthy statement on the whole ordeal.
Panda Global’s statement was shared in a tweet and addresses the issues with Nintendo that led to the Smash World Tour shutdown, as well as accusations levied against the company’s CEO, and other fan concerns.
To read the original article from news.google.com, Click here
Private Internet Access gives you unparalleled access to thousands of next-gen servers in over 83 countries and each US state. Your VPN experience will always be fast, smooth, and reliable.


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Sam Cinquegrani, CEO of digital marketing and services firm ObjectWave, told Retail Dive, “The brands are very different and their customer base seems different as well. It’s a smart move on both parties from the aspect of leveraging each others’ strengths. However, I’m not sure their respective customers will embrace it.”
ObjectWave CEO Sam Cinquegrani was quoted in this Retail Dive article by Daphne Howland about the partnership between Walmart and Lord & Taylor.
Click here to read the full article at Retail Dive.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]


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Better Data From GM Would Have Speeded Probe: NHTSA ChiefTim Higgins and Jeff Plungis
The top U.S. auto regulator probably would have investigated ignition-switch failures linked to 13 deaths had General Motors Co. provided better information, the agency’s acting administrator said.
In remarks prepared for his testimony tomorrow before a U.S. House committee, David Friedman of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said newly provided information “likely would have changed NHTSA’s approach to this issue.” For her part, GM Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra plans to tell Congress she’s committed to discovering why it took so long to recall 2.6 million vehicles linked to the 13 deaths.
“Sitting here today, I cannot tell you why it took years for a safety defect to be announced in that program, but I can tell you that we will find out,” Barra said in her prepared remarks. “When we have answers, we will be fully transparent with you, with our regulators, and with our customers.”
The pair’s comments were posted today on the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s website.
Barra, who became CEO in January, is being asked to explain the handling of years of complaints linked to faulty ignition switches in the Chevrolet Cobalt and other cars. The switches, when jostled out of position, led to stalling cars and disabled air bags, GM has said. Lawmakers want to know why GM, though aware of the ignition breakdowns in 2001, didn’t recall the cars earlier.
Separately today, GM said it will recall 1.51 million cars globally, including 1.3 million in the U.S., that may experience a sudden loss of electric power-steering assist.
The new recalls includes some model years of the Cobalt and another car tied to the ignition-switch recall, the Saturn Ion. Other cars include various model years of the Pontiac G6, Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx; the non-turbocharged Chevrolet HHR and Saturn Aura.
Depending on the vehicle, GM said it will replace components including the steering column and the power steering motor, and reimburse customers who previously had those parts replaced.
The automaker said it will take a $750 million charge, $300 million of which was previously announced, in the first quarter to cover costs of recall repairs. The added recalls bring GM’s global total for this year to about 6.6 million vehicles.
GM fell 0.9 percent to $34.42 at 4 p.m. in New York before the power-steering recall was announced.
“With these safety recalls and lifetime warranties, we are going after every car that might have this problem, and we are going to make it right,” Jeff Boyer, vice president of global vehicle safety, said in an e-mailed statement. “We have recalled some of these vehicles before for the same issue and offered extended warranties on others, but we did not do enough.”
GM is aware of some crashes and injuries, though no fatalities, linked to the loss of power-steering assistance, Alan Adler, a GM spokesman, said today in an e-mailed statement. “GM is continuing to analyze this data,” he said.
NHTSA backed off doing an investigation into the ignition switches in 2007 because of the murkiness of circumstances surrounding some Cobalt crashes, the agency’s acting administrator, Friedman said in his written testimony.
Some incidents involved unbelted occupants and off-road, long-duration events in which it couldn’t be determined that the air bag should have deployed, Friedman said.
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation had “major weaknesses” in identifying which potential cases to pursue in 2011, according to written testimony by Calvin Scovel, the Department of Transportation’s inspector general, for a Senate hearing scheduled for April 2.
Most NHTSA investigation decisions are based on consumer complaints, and the agency handled information inconsistently, didn’t document decisions and hadn’t effectively assessed its workforce, the 2011 audit said. The agency responded to all of the inspector general’s criticisms except workforce assessment by the end of 2012, Scovel said.
In her written remarks, Barra reiterated apologies to people affected by the recall, saying she was “deeply sorry.”
“I would like this committee to know that all of our GM employees and I are determined to set a new standard,” Barra said. “I am encouraged to say that everyone at GM -- up to and including our board of directors -- supports this.”
Barra may be asked to respond tomorrow to fresh indications that the automaker decided it would be too expensive to fix the flawed ignition switches. After months of studying ignition-switch failures in the Chevrolet Cobalt, GM canceled a proposed change in 2005, when a project engineering manager cited high tooling costs and piece prices, according to documents obtained by U.S. congressional investigators.
Questions also may include why the engineering manager came to that decision, who decided to make the parts alterations anyway, and why CEOs before Barra weren’t made aware of the issues.
Barra has said she was told about an analysis of stalling cars in December and was informed on Jan. 31 of the decision by a GM committee to recall Chevrolet Cobalts and other small cars with the faulty switch. The first recall came Feb. 13 and has been expanded twice since then.
“As soon as I learned about the problem, we acted without hesitation,” Barra said in her remarks. “We told the world we had a problem that needed to be fixed. We did so because whatever mistakes were made in the past, we will not shirk from our responsibilities now and in the future. Today’s GM will do the right thing.”
GM has recalled about 2.6 million cars following the revelations about the ignition flaw in February. Last week, it added 559,000 trucks and 200,000 Cruze compact cars to the recall for different safety issues.
Barra, 52, ran GM’s product development prior to becoming CEO. She has apologized for the slow response that resulted in deaths.
GM has hired an outside investigator to probe the delay and created a vice president position in charge of global vehicle safety, as Barra has sought to shore up GM’s image and reinforce the automaker’s message that it’s recreating itself after its taxpayer-funded bailout in 2009.
The chief of NHTSA’s Defects Assessment Division e-mailed other officials in the Office of Defects Investigation in September 2007, saying owner complaints from 2005 and “early warning” data about warranty repairs and injuries justified a probe, according to a background memo the House committee’s staff prepared for lawmakers.
NHTSA chose not to open a formal defect investigation in 2007 after reviewing the air-bag data, Friedman said in his testimony.
“The available data did not indicate that the Cobalt or Ion were overrepresented compared to other peer vehicles with respect to injury-crash incident rates,” Friedman said.
In 2010, after a special crash investigation report was filed with NHTSA about a May 2009 Cobalt crash, the agency again considered a defect probe focused on the car’s air bags, according to the House memo. For a second time, the agency backed off after further reviewing data.


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Haryana, India -- Appliance firm Whirlpool of India reported Q1 2017 revenues of Rs 1406 Cr ($ 210m), 17.1% up on Q1 2015.
Profit after Tax for the Whirlpool Corporation subsidiary was reported at Rs 121.9 Cr, a rise of 25.9% on the prior year quarter, the company said.
“Highly successful new product launches together with improvement in margins across all product categories, driven by material and other cost productivity initiatives, contributed to the record quarter performance,’ the report said.
Whirlpool of India chairman and president, Asia Pacific Arvind Uppal said: "We are seeing a pick up on the growth side which is resulting in a strong performance across all financial levels.
“The impact of good monsoons and the 7th Pay Commission augur well for the industry. Going forward, we expect to see both urban and rural demand improve and remain bullish on the business in India.”
Whirlpool of India md Sunil D’Souza said: “Our new product launches, primarily in refrigeration, air conditioning and washers were executed strongly and scored well with our consumers. This coupled with a strong summer, good macros and an uptick in appliance demand helped drive another quarter of record performance on revenue, profits and cash.”
XE Currency conversion: 1 September, 2016


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SAGE HAS PRODUCED the first accountancy app available on the Microsoft Office Store.
The listed IT giant will provide an app for its online offering Sage One Accountants on the newly created Microsoft Office Store.
The store will house all the additional functions for Microsoft’s latest version of Office, Office 15, which was launched in July.
“To be one of the first to launch on the Microsoft Office Apps store is a real coup, particularly when our app can make such a difference to small business owners,” said head of Sage One Nick Goode (pictured).
As well as being available to business owners, Sage One Accounts App is available to accountants using the Sage One Accountants Edition, where accountants can pull through client information such as financial and payroll data – all from within Microsoft Outlook preview.
Apple has been ordered to pay a record €13bn (£11bn) in back taxes after the European Commission ruled the Silicon Valley tech giant’s Irish tax scheme was illegal
The Practitioner’s uncensored thoughts come from within their own practice – having left a regional firm in the heart of England
PwC’s UK risk assurance practice is on track to recruit more than 1,000 technology specialists over the next four years to meet increasing client demand for digital, regulatory and cyber security services
Accountancy software firm Sage has been hit by a data breach which may have compromised the personal details and bank account details of as many as 300 UK businesses


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Outdoor lifestyle clothing retailer Fat Face has boosted its store portfolio with a raft of new signings as part of an ongoing expansion programme.
The retailer has signed for eight new units adding more than 30,000 sq ft (2,790 sq m) to its portfolio of more than 140 stores across the UK.
It has taken units in Beverley in East Yorkshire, Farnham in Surrey, Epping in Essex, Tavistock near Plymouth, St Albans in Hertfordshire, Oxford, Reading and The Haymarket in Norwich, where it has relocated from its previous store.
In January, Fat Face announced that it planned to open at least 20 stores this year after posting a 19 per cent sales rise in the previous six months to£61.7 million.
This followed a 38 per cent rise in sales to£111.1 million for the 53 weeks to June 2 last year, during which period the retailer opened 18 stores.
Fat Face was bought three years ago by private equity firm Advent, at which point it had just over 80 stores in the UK and a turnover of about£45 million.
It was then sold to private equity firm Bridgepoint Capital for an estimated£360 million in May last year after Advent had ramped up the chain’s UK portfolio to 128 shops.
Fat Face also has stores in Singapore, Qatar, Kuwait, Kuala Lumpur, Iceland, Ireland and Dubai. It opened its first Northern Irish outlet store in February this year at The Outlet retail park in Banbridge.
The retailer has also been boosted by John Lewis’s decision to stock the brand exclusively in its stores. It was represented on all the new deals by Mortlock Simmonds Brown Leverett.


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This post is brought to you by LG Electronics, maker of UltraWide monitors. Today’s visual content gets consumed on screens of all sizes, from smartphones to building-size projections and everything in between. That gives everybody’s eyeballs plenty of great stuff to look at no matter where we look. Show More Summary
Shoppers this week can save $250 on Apple's 13" MacBook Pro with Touch Bar and AppleCare, plus no tax outside NY and NJ. Select electronics are also 20% off on eBay with coupon, including unlocked iPhones. B&H has the lowest price available on LG's UltraWide 34" Thunderbolt monitor at $699 as well.
LG Electronics has posted its Q1 2017 results, which show a nearly 10 per cent year-over-year jump in revenue. The electronics maker is reporting KRW 14.66 trillion ($12.70BN) in revenue, an increase of 9.7 per cent from the same period last year. Read More
SEOUL (Reuters) - Google Inc has offered to invest at least 1 trillion won ($880.29 million) to help South Korea's LG Display Co Ltd boost output of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screens for smartphones, the Electronic Times reported on Monday citing unnamed sources. Show More Summary
Bezel-free displays are a top trend in mobile electronics this year, spearheaded by the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S8 series and the LG G6. Apart from their large displays, how else do their specs and features compare? Join New Atlas as we take a look... Continue Reading Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ vs. Show More Summary
More than 50 commercial displays from LG Electronics have earned Crestron Connected certification for enhanced control system compatibility.
TODAY Blizzard warnings starting around midnight issued for monster nor’easter snowstorm packing up to 20 inches. Gov. Christie will be at At LG Electronics in Englewood Cliffs for an “announcement on economy and employment.” The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is expected...Read more
South Korean conglomerate LG Electronics said it is planning to build a new washing machine factory in Tennessee, its first major U.S. plant, and hire at least 600 workers by the end of 2019.
The number of players in the head-mounted display scene for virtual reality continues to grow, as LG Electronics has announced through Valve that it will be showing a new headset prototype at GDC this week. The unit, which will be on...Show More Summary
Mobile World Congress has kicked off in Barcelona with press conferences announcing a variety of both budget and flagship smartphones. One phone conspicuous in its absence was Samsung Electronics Co.’s Galaxy S8, the much-anticipated followup to the disastrous, recalled Note 7. Show More Summary
South Korea's LG Electronics on Wednesday reported its second successive year of slumping net profits due partly to weak smartphone sales.
Seattle - LG Display had scored a deal to supply television displays to rival Samsung Electronics from as soon as this year, people with knowledge of the matter said. LG Display, a major supplier of panels to Apple, would replace a venture...Show More Summary
LG today launched its AI-based LG Whisen Dual Air Conditioner in Korea. During the launch LG announced that it will launch voice-recognizing artificial intelligence (AI)-based home appliance next year. LG Electronics Home.. The post LG launches AI-based Whisen Dual Air Conditioner in Korea appeared first on Gadgets, gizmos, and tech from the East.
LG Signature OLED W7 Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the expo was a showcase for latest innovations and coolest gear… Alix Moise
LG Electronics will adapt machine learning and big data analytics technology to offer remote after-sales (AS) services for its smartphone users starting this year.
Newegg has dropped the price of the LG Electronics 49UH6030 49-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV (2016 Model) from $549.99 to only $399.99. This deal price saves you 27% off the retail price for this LG 4K Ultra Smart HDTV. Plus, this item ships free. Show More Summary
LG’s new “wallpaper” TV gets its moniker from the fact that its OLED panel is just 0.1? thick – it’s so thin it can only be wall-mounted. All of its ports and other electronics are integrated into a Dolby Atmos 4.2 soundbar, connected by a skinny ribbon cable. Available in 65? or 75?.
A few years ago, a number of major electronics manufacturers put OLED TV panel manufacturing in the too-hard (or not profitable) basket and focused their attentions back on LCD, leaving LG as the last company offering OLED TVs to consumers. Show More Summary
LG Electronics Inc. is the latest company to join the smart home assistant market with the company launching its cute looking Hub Robot at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas Wednesday. The Hub Robot, as the name may suggest,Show More Summary
LG unveiled a “wallpaper thin” super-high-definition widescreen television at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Wednesday, according to a report from Phys.org. You can watch a video of an earlier prototype of the TVs below. Show More Summary


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A new USDA report, Household Food Security in the United States in 2016, reveals that 12.5% of New York households face food insecurity, meaning they lack access to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members. New York State’s food insecurity rate dropped from 14.1% in 2015 to 12.5% in 2016, which is a statistically significant decline. According to the USDA, nationwide in 2016, household food insecurity is at 12.3%, essentially unchanged from the prior year’s analysis.
Still, the number of New York households struggling with food insecurity — 1 in 8 — is unacceptable. Nationally, only 59 percent of food insecure people reported receiving assistance from our nation’s fundamental nutrition assistance programs. Everyone should have access to the nutrition they need to stay healthy and thrive. To ensure that, we must stay focused on delivering federal nutrition programs including SNAP, school meals and summer meals, and diligently advocate through legislative and administrative policies to protect the integrity of these programs, their expansion and improved access.


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Murad founder to receive legacy award
Dr Howard Murad has been named 2016 Legacy Honouree by the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation. He is the founder of Murad skincare and a board-certified dermatologist.
BCL is a non-profit initiative dedicated to highlighting how individuals working in the hair, beauty and wellness industries can change lives, and awards professionals who nurture, mentor, support and inspire the industry’s next generation of talent.
Dr Murad is the first professional to represent both the wellness and aesthetics industries to receive the honour. "Dr Murad's Inclusive Health philosophy and program has empowered so many people to not just look better, but also to live better," said BCL president Lynelle Lynch. The BCL selection panel was inspired by Dr Murad's efforts to integrate beauty and wellness into his life and work, and his commitment to lifelong learning.”
As an on-going supporter of BCL, in the US Dr Murad has established The Murad Esthetic Education Scholarship Program, designed to provide an opportunity for students to win a monetary scholarship towards their tuition. Winners receive $2,250.00, a Murad skincare kit and the opportunity to be paired with a Murad Mentor to further their education and inspire their career.
It was recently announced that Murad skincare is to be bought by personal care giant Unilever. Read the story here.


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just-style's most read stories this week...
5 July 2013 | News | Source: Katie Smith
The most-read stories on just-style this week include the launch of Nike's new app to help designers focus on sustainability, mounting pressure for Gap and Walmart to join the safety accord, and a look at ERP and PLM software tools for apparel firms.
US: New Nike app to help designers focus on sustainability
Sportswear giant Nike has launched a new tool to help apparel designers evaluate the environmental impact of their material choices and ultimately create more sustainable clothing.
BANGLADESH: Protestors pressure Gap and Walmart on safety accord
Labour rights groups are continuing to put pressure on retail giants Gap and Walmart to join the Bangladesh Safety Accord, with weekend demonstrations organised outside their stores in 35 cities across the world.
Software solutions: New tools develop in diverse directions
Given their rapid evolution over recent years, it is difficult to predict where ERP and PLM will be a few years from now. Increased compatibility, cloud-based systems, social media mining, and on-demand manufacturing tools will undoubtedly have an increasingly important part to play.
Software solutions: ERP systems offer apparel-specific options
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software solutions have become powerful and numerous, allowing apparel companies to manage vast amounts of complex data under one umbrella, from finance, stock and manufacturing processes to distribution.
CAMBODIA: Nike calls for inquiry into factory dispute
Sportswear giant Nike has called for an inquiry by the Cambodian government into a dispute between police and thousands of garment workers at a factory it sources from.


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The global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) will enter into force on Wednesday, marking a breakthrough for human rights after more than two decades of campaigning by human rights organizations and NGOs around the world. As the first-ever legally binding treaty of its kind, it will block the flow of arms to governments that would use them to commit atrocities, and could save the lives of millions. The A
The U.K. budget deficit narrowed in November, yet a considerable improvement is required to meet the government's fiscal target for 2014/15. Public sector net borrowing excluding interventions declined by GBP 1.6 billion from last year to GBP 14.1 billion in November, the Office for National Statistics reported Friday. Economists had forecast the shortfall to total GBP 15.1 billion.
Irish airline Aer Lingus said it has rejected a takeover offer from British Airways parent company International Consolidated Airlines Group SA, as the offer undervalues the company.
U.K. retail sales growth accelerated unexpectedly in November as consumers boosted their spending on "Black Friday" a day after Thanksgiving, marking the start of the holiday season. Retail sales volume including automotive fuel increased 1.6 percent from October, the Office for National Statistics said Thursday. This was the biggest monthly rise since last December.


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According to the latest video from Wu Wa on YouTube, we have yet another glimpse of the Luchao port in China, where Tesla loads and exports its Model 3 and Model Y vehicles made at its Gigafactory in Shanghai.
“The dock at the south port of Luchao port was filled with more Teslas than previously expected. As last week’s Tesla started to assemble at the dock, I thought it would be shipped out soon, but this week I saw more Teslas and they are still coming to the dock. since July, the Shanghai factory has entered a production line renovation and optimization period and the factory is in semi-production,” explains Wu Wa.
According to Tesla enthusiast @SawyerMerritt, he counted over 7,000 Tesla cars at the port (we have yet to verify the number).
Check out all of the new Tesla Supercharger locations that went live across the globe this past week, courtesy of data from Supercharge.info and the TMC Forums: Date Opened Location Number of Stalls Power Rating Official Listing May 29, 2023 No. 621, Dongyi Rd, East District, Chiayi City, Taiwan 6 250 kW Tesla May 30, 2023 Section […]
Here’s a list of all the new Supercharger locations Tesla opened up across the globe this past week, courtesy of data from Supercharge.info and the TMC Forums: Date Opened Location Number of Stalls Power Rating Official Listing May 22, 2023 B2, Amara Signature Hotel, No. 600 Changshou Road, Putuo District, Shanghai, China 3 250 kW Unavailable May […]
Summary: Tesla drivers can now connect their vehicles to the Uber app. The new feature allows Uber to assign trips according to drivers’ remaining battery range. Uber drivers can take advantage of the new integration to ensure they don’t get any trips during which they’ll have to stop for a charge. Tesla owners driving their […]


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THE search is on for Salisbury's top dog.
The Dog Portrait Company will be photographing local dogs at Scats CountryStores on Saturday.
Dogs will be photographed free of charge and there will be the chance to win a large framed photograph in the dog portrait competition.
Adrian Fuller, dog portrait director, said: “We are looking for all sorts of dogs to enter, the main criteria is for the resulting picture to bring a smile. This is a fabulous opportunity for dog owners to meet up, new puppies to socialise and generally have a good time.”
The event takes place at the store in Churchfields Road between 10am and 4pm.


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Following the recommendation of ministry of health to raise taxes a study ascertained levying a uniform excise economic & financial news by 'pakistan. Phc takes up fed on cigarettes case today and one step was to introduce high taxes to make in pakistan, cigarette excise duties have. Islamabad: cigarette topped as source of collection of federal excise duty (fed) with 52 percent share in 2013-14, according to the year book 2013-14 of fbr. Campaign for tobacco-free kids raising cigarette taxes reduces smoking, state excise and sales taxes per pack of cigarettes. Latest news beyond admissible cigarette excise taxes in pakistan account for just over half of final cigarette prices paid by consumers on average,.
Pakistan’s government says that a cigarette federal excise duty (fed) reduction is aimed at convincing smokers currently buying black-market products to. The express tribune business no smoking: raise taxes on experts have urged the government to adopt a high uniform cigarette excise tax to discourage. It comes as a shock to many that while local cigarette manufacturers enjoy 35% of the cigarette market share in pakistan, cigarette excise taxes. Executive summary cigarettes are inexpensive in pakistan and are by far the most widely sold tobacco product in the country the most popul.
Pakistanis consume 80 billion cigarettes annually 4 shares cigarette taxes in pakistan are under while the share of excise taxes have declined. Tobacco control policy in pakistan 19 v cigarette taxes and prices in pakistan 22 tobacco excise taxes: specific and ad valorem 22. Economics of tobacco taxation excise tax implementation, arguments &facts pakistan (2), turkey, although differences in cigarette taxes. It is expected that cigarette volume sales in chile will remain on a cigarettes in pakistan to cause cigarettes decline to accelerate by hiking excise taxes.
If you’re willing to go to pakistan for your nicotine fix, for a map of cigarette excise taxes and prices in each state, click here. Govt takes measure to curb illegal import of cigarettes in pakistan, cigarette excise duties have proposing increase on all taxes and rejecting. The federal board of revenue (fbr) is considering policy issues on tobacco taxation whether merely a raise in federal excise duty (fed) rate on cigarettes in. An indirect tax (such as sales tax, and cigarette taxes an excise duty on motor cars is paid in the first instance by the an indirect tax (more specifically.
Tobacco taxes in pakistan cigarette prices in pakistan are among the lowest in the world cigarette excise taxes in pakistan account for just over. Campaign for tobacco-free kids pakistan philippines thailand the study was released as a growing number of states consider raising their cigarette excise. In this article we analyze the impact of illicit cigarettes on philip morris’ asia revenue before excise taxes the cigarette pakistan, and.
Request article pdf | smoke screen: estimating the tax pass‐through to cigarette prices in pakistan excise taxes, tax incidence,. Tobacco industry counters the study on tobacco taxes in cigarette taxes (excise duty than malaysia and pakistan the incidence of high taxes has made legal. The illicit cigarette market in pakistan has caused more than it can be ever imagined for losses know more now. Global and regional overview of cigarette prices pakistan, sri lanka, ukraine countries that rely more on specific excise taxes have higher cigarette prices.
Cigarette taxes in india are the highest in the world uk & malaysia and 2 times higher than pakistan and thailand tax includes excise duty, vat/state taxes. Higher tobacco taxes also save money by reducing tobacco some localities have an additional excise tax on top of the raising cigarette taxes reduces. Economics of tobacco in india cigarette consumption is very sensitive to indonesia malaysia nepal pakistan singapore sri excise taxes from tobacco. More taxes on tobacco products proposed pakistan introduced a textual warning on the cigarette packets in 1979.
To levy and revise rates of certain taxes, of quota fixed for the factory concerned by the pakistan tobacco the cigarette manufacturing /re. Smoke screen: estimating the tax pass-through to share of tobacco excises stands at 56 percent of total excise taxes cigarette taxes in pakistan are.


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Luxottica Group’s proposed 46 billion euro merger with Essilor has raised some red flags with European antitrust authorities.The European Commission launched a formal investigation into the deal between Italian Luxottica, which makes fashion eyewear for a range of high-end licensees, and French lens maker Essilor, based on concerns that it would reduce competition for ophthalmic lenses.Competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager said the “in-depth investigation” will “assess whether the proposed merger would lead to higher prices or reduced choices for opticians and ultimately consumers.”“Half of Europeans and almost all of us will need vision correction one day,” she added.The commission noted the Luxottica is currently the largest supplier of eyewear in Europe and the world, while Essilor is the largest supplier of lenses, and both companies sell their products to opticians, who then sell to the public.The preliminary investigation has already “raised several issues,” the commission said, leading to a concern that the new LuxotticaEssilor may use bundling to get opticians to only purchase its lenses. This could lead to increased prices through the exclusion of current and emerging rival suppliers.Although Luxottica and Essilor revealed the tie-up early this year, the commission only received formal notification in August. A final decision on the merger is expected by Feb. 12.In a joint statement, Luxottica and Essilor said the investigation was “expected given the size of the parties,” but they are still planning on a close of the transaction “around the end of the year.”“Both parties are confident that phase two will be completed in a timely manner and will closely cooperate with the European Commission to fully demonstrate the rationale of the proposed combination and the benefits that it will bring to customers, consumers and all the eyewear industry players,” the companies said. The investigation is likely to cause some complications, however, as Luxottica executives in March said the integration of Essilor had already begun and was “on schedule” while discussing the company’s annual financials.Paolo Alberti, Luxottica’s president of wholesale, noted at the time that the merger would be beneficial to wholesalers. Referring to Luxottica customers who are currently supplied by Essilor, Alberti said: “They will have to buy less stock from us, because stock will be where the lenses are.”Massimo Vian, Luxottica’s head of operations, also spoke to the bigger opportunity for growth through the merger based on the expectation that demand for frames is expected to grow by 19 percent by 2021 and 17 percent for prescription lenses.“As a combined entity we would strengthen our offer for eye care professionals and consumers, coupling brand management with eye care, a crucial pillar in our model to achieve vertical integration,” Vian said at the time. The merger is expected to create a eyewear powerhouse with annual sales of 16 billion euros.For More, See:Luxottica Sales Rise as Group Reshapes U.S. Retail PortfolioAccessories Sparkle in MilanTiffany & Co. Appoints Roger Farah as Chairman
@moncler unveiled its latest project, #MonclerGenius, yesterday at Milan Fashion Week. The Italian outwear maker gave show-goers a preview of the monthly collections – which were created by eight designers and creative talents including Pierpaolo Piccioli, Simone Rocha, Craig Green and more – that will start rolling out in the summer.
In honor of Rihanna’s 30th birthday, we took a look back at an interview with the Barbados-native when she was just 18 years old. Here, she talked about her second album, “A Girl Like Me” in 2006. “I want to be me. I want people to fall in love with who Rihanna is, and that’s why I want the album to be about me so people can really find out who this girl Rihanna is, because they only know the ‘Pon de Replay’ girl.” Fast forward 12 years, and she’s released six more albums and has become a powerhouse in both the fashion and music industries. Happy birthday, @badgalriri 🎈(📷: Pavel Antonov) #wwdarchive


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WASHINGTON (AP) -- Tyson Foods Inc. has settled a decade-long dispute with the Labor Department by agreeing to pay workers at poultry plants for time they spend putting on and taking off protective clothing.
Federal officials have insisted that poultry companies pay employees for all hours worked, including donning and doffing sanitary gear before and after their shifts. Tyson officials said the case was an example of a nationwide legal debate over what types of activities must receive pay.
In a consent decree filed in U.S. District Court in Birmingham, Ala., Tyson also agreed to pay certain poultry workers for time washing and sanitizing themselves as well as time spent waiting between tasks.
Under the agreement, the company will pay $500,000 in overtime back wages to nearly 3,000 workers at its Blountsville, Ala., plant.
Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said the agreement means Tyson employees "will receive the full wages that they rightfully earn and deserve."
The Labor Department reached a similar agreement earlier this year with poultry processor Pilgrim's Pride Corp. It had accused both companies of violating federal law by not paying workers for all tasks.
Government officials hope the settlements with the nation's two largest poultry-processing companies will set the standard for smaller processors nationwide.
Tyson admits to no wrongdoing under the consent decree, which affects up to 38,000 of its U.S. employees at poultry and certain prepared food plants. The company has 117,000 workers worldwide.
"We've decided to resolve this case and modify our pay practices for certain jobs in order to avoid the continued expense and disruption of further litigation," said Ken Kimbro, senior vice president of human resources for Tyson Foods.


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Microsoft Lists, the new Microsoft 365 app that the company announced in May, will start rolling out later this month. A new message on the Microsoft 365 Admin Center this week indicates that the targeted release for the web experience is in “late July”, with an integration with Microsoft Teams and iOS app to be announced later.
This release in late July seems consistent with Microsoft’s upcoming Inspire digital conference, which will be held on July 21-22. Microsoft Lists was announced at the company’s Build Developer conference two months ago, and it will build on the lists feature already present in SharePoint Online.
Microsoft Lists aims to become the home for all your lists across Microsoft 365, and it shouldn’t be confused with Microsoft To Do. The app will appear in the Microsoft 365 app launcher when it’s available, and it will allow users to track many things including company assets, contacts, or even a daily routine. For more details about Microsoft Lists, we invite you to read our in-depth overview.


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Lawyers try to lure claimants away from Dieselgate settlement
21 April 2020
21 April 2020
Lawyers have spent tens of millions of euros in a last-ditch attempt to dissuade Dieselgate claimants from accepting a settlement offered by Volkswagen (VW). The company looks set to face a new wave of individual claims as ′no-win, no-fee’ lawyers sign up thousands of German consumers.
Using Google and social media advertising campaigns, law firms are going after existing VW claimants. They are offering thousands of euros in upfront compensation, alongside promises of winning even more from the carmaker.
VW’s offer ′far too low’
This week VW agreed to pay out €620 million in compensation to 200,000 car owners as part of the Dieselgate lawsuit in Germany. Those owners will soon receive a binding agreement from the carmaker, with two weeks to review the offer – before 5 May when the payments will be made.
These 200,000 claimants make up part of the landmark class-action lawsuit brought forward by German consumer group VZBV, representing 260,000 people. According to Volkswagen, some 21,000 cases are still to be processed in the coming days. The company has also extended its deadline for consumers to upload their documents to its online portal until 30 April.
In February this year, VW set aside €830 million for German drivers impacted by the 2015 emissions cheating scandal. Depending on the age and model of their vehicle, owners can expect between €1,350 and €6,250. Vehicle refits, fines and provisions related to the scandal have so far cost VW more than €30 billion globally.
Speaking with the Financial Times (FT), Claus Goldenstein, head of the law firm Goldenstein & Partner, said that this amount was ′far too low’. His firm represents more than 20,000 claimants and is signing up a further 50 a day who have opted out of the settlement. Goldenstein claimed that it enjoyed a near 100% success rate of Dieselgate claims, securing an average of €17,510 in compensation.
But law firms are facing an uphill battle to get claimants to turn down the settlement, with the coronavirus (COVID-19) impacting people’s incomes. Any additional income might be a relief for those who have been made redundant or face extended furlough periods.
Also speaking with the FT, lawyer Christopher Rother, who has signed up 12,000 individual claimants said, ′people are now short of cash, many have been made redundant, or are furloughed, so they are happy for any compensation they can get.’
The pay-out also comes at a problematic time in terms of the COVID-19 pandemic. VW announced last week that it was withdrawing its financial outlook for 2020, reporting an 80% fall in operating profits in the first quarter. Earlier in the month, it estimated that the pandemic was costing it around €2 billion a week.
COVID-19’s impact is compounding with developments for VW in the Dieselgate case. At the start of this month, the UK High Court found that the carmaker did install defeat devices. In January, six managers were also charged with ′deliberately misleading’ authorities and customers.


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This year's Detroit Auto Show is now in full swing, and while today has brought a number of new unveilings, the past week has not been without its surprises.
As one of the motoring calendar's most important events, Detroit is the site of significant new model launches and previews, and this year has been no exception.
Follow our ongoing wrap-up below, and click through to each model for more details on what to expect in 2013 (or 2014, in some cases).
Also on display in the premium quarter is BMW's new 4 Series Coupe concept, revealed online late last year. Watch for this one to debut in production form later in the year.
Audi's previously revealed diesel-powered SQ5 performance SUV has made the leap to petrol - specifically for the US market - and the carmaker is using Detroit to show buyers there what they can expect.
More importantly for Australian buyers, Audi is also showing its new RS 7 Sportback sledgehammer in Detroit, ahead of its debut here in early 2014.
Prestige rival Mercedes-Benz has pulled out all the stops for the big event, revealing its fully updated E-Class range over the past few weeks.
Maserati won't be left behind in 2013 either, with its brand-new Quattroporte large sedan, revealed late last year, also on display in Detroit this week.
The top-tune John Cooper Works version of MINI's new Paceman is also on display, as is Volkswagen's Golf R Cabriolet. While the former is bound for Australia, it remains to be seen if the latter will also come.
Perhaps the most significant unveiling this week though is the new C7 2014 Chevrolet Corvette, promising true 911 and GT-R rivalling prowess. Chev is doubling down on that threat by reviving the revered Stingray name.
Volkswagen has also teased its intentions in the family-hauling market, revealing its new CrossBlue concept. Unveiled in six-seater form, the CrossBlue is expected to hit production as a seven-seater.
Also 'new' in the SUV field is Jeep's updated Grand Cherokee, picking up new styling tricks, a new interior and - at last - an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Keep an eye on TMR for more updates out of Detroit this week.
- Interested in buying ? Visit our showroom for more information.


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According to data released on Monday, the number of mobile users on 5G networks in South Korea surpassed 15 million last month, as telecom providers compete for additional consumers on the newest generation networks.
According to data from the Ministry of Science and ICT, 5G subscriptions totaled 15.15 million at the end of April, accounting for 21.25 percent of the country’s total 71.27 million mobile subscribers.
The population of South Korea is 52 million people. In comparison to the beginning of the year, the newest data shows a decrease in 5G user growth. According to the Yonhap news agency, the country added roughly 671,000 5G subscriptions in March, after acquiring over 1 million 5G users in January.
Since the debut of Samsung’s Galaxy S21 series in January, major smartphone manufacturers have yet to produce flagship products in the local market. SK Telecom had the most 5G subscribers last month, with 7.07 million, followed by KT Corp. with 4.6 million and LG Uplus with 3.47 million.


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and 3.8 per cent year-to-date. Mini segment volume doubled in
August, taking year-to-date increase to 37.1 per cent.
Diesel registrations account for 43.2 per cent of 2008 new car
●The second-hand value of Britain’s family cars is plummeting so
fast that garages are now branding the largest gas-guzzling
‘Chelsea tractors’ worthless – and refusing to take them in
part-exchange. Some are worth more as scrap, they say as demand for
steel soars. Used car values generally are set to drop by 12 per
cent between now and Christmas as the credit crunch bites,
according to experts at EurotaxGlass’s. Meanwhile, experts at price
guide Parkers say the slump is being exacerbated by the
government’s controversial retrospective Vehicle Excise Duty plans
which they say have ‘skewed’ the market. As a result of this and
soaring fuel prices, garages are refusing to take the biggest 4x4s
in part-exchange because they are considered worthless and
impossible to sell.
●In a recent survey carried out by Exchange & Mart, it was
revealed that 84 per cent of over 1,000 buyers surveyed would like
their next car to be less than five years old. This figure has
increased since the same survey was carried out in 2007 and may be
due to growing awareness that newer cars are more economical and
environmentally friendly. The reduced efficiency and increased
carbon emissions of older cars are making the news every week, and
this may be having an effect on the way car buyers think about
their next vehicle.
Compared to the 2007 results, it appears that whilst buyers are
not necessarily looking for a brand new car they are prepared to
make an investment now to save money in the longer term, by
spending more on a relatively new car which will cost less to keep
running. Whilst the most popular price bracket was £1-5,000, a
greater number of buyers are now thinking of spending between
£5,000 and £15,000 on their next vehicle.
●The government is to press ahead with plans for a national
road-pricing scheme, raising the prospect of further costs for
motorists. Trials of the ‘pay as you drive’ system, inluding
testing ‘spy in the sky’ technology are to begin in 2010.
●Pendragon slashed its dividend after revealing a sudden
freefall in the sale and price of new and used vehicles during
June, dragging pre-tax profit for the first six months of the year
down by 37 per cent. During June, Pendragon said wholesale used car
prices witnessed “the biggest single monthly reduction in over five
years”, in particular for large executive and off-road vehicles.
The company also said that private sector registrations, which
includes car sales to small businesses and individuals, slumped by
12 per cent in June.


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Super Plastronics Pvt Ltd is all set to launch a new line of models in its Matrix QLED series during the upcoming festive season. Super Plastronics Pvt Ltd (SPPL) will also be the first Indian manufacturing company in the country to introduce QLED TVs with Google TV.
These fully loaded models have Dolby certifications for Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision. Additionally, they come with improved sound with DTS TruSurround sound, a QLED 4K display with 1.1 billion colors, Dolby MS12, HDR 10+ with 2GB RAM, and 16GB of internal storage.
With an integrated Google Assistant, the Kodak TVs offer a large screen for Chromecast video meetings, documents, and built-in apps, such as YouTube Learning and Google classroom, assisting in learning and upgradation.
Don’t just watch, live through #TheNextKodakExperience
The KODAK QLED TV – it’s not just a TV. It’s a premium way to explore the unchartered world of entertainment.#TheNextKodakExperience #newtv #QLEDtv #newtv #newlylaunched #earlyaccess #sale #display #picture pic.twitter.com/H0q64RwO8k
— KODAK TV India (@kodaktvindia) September 12, 2022
Mr. Avneet Singh Marwah, Director, and CEO, Super Plastronics Pvt Ltd said, “We are proud to be recognized as one of the premium Smart TV brands in India. Kodak has a history of introducing new technologies in the market and we believe that this launch will prove to be a game-changer in the future of technology. We are highly excited to bring Kodak’s new variants under the Matrix series which are an outcome of investments that we made in technology research within India. With the 65-inch model, we will be a tough competitor in the premium QLED Smart TV segment.”
He added, “Kodak Matrix Series is a certified Google TV that optimizes data usage across 10,00,000 movies, shows, games, and music available on the Google Play Store.”
Hari G. Kumar, Vice-President, Large Appliances at Flipkart said, “The upcoming festive season and our Big Billion Days is an opportune time for customers to experience immersive TV viewing with our widest range of best-in-class TV offerings and make it accessible and affordable to our customers across the country through our payment constructs and doorstep delivery. As a customer-centric company, we endeavor to offer the latest in consumer electronics and durables by working with our sellers, MSMEs, and brand partners, and the launch of Kodak’s QLED TV series will play a key role in fulfilling the evolving requirements of millions of our customers.”
Matrix QLED TVs will be available in three sizes: 50-inch, 55-inch, and 65-inch, with prices starting at prices INR 33,999. These will be available on Flipkart during Big Billion Days Sale.


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"Earlier we had 40-50 cases of acute allergy reaction among children per year, but in 2011 hospitals received more than 170 children. And the reason is toys, products and clothes for children,' the doctor is convinced.
Makuha also noted that doctors not always can determine causal connection of allergy. However, according to him, children's goods of poor quality are most of the times the reason of health problems.
Спасибо за Вашу активность, Ваш вопрос будет рассмотрен модераторами в ближайшее время


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Pest control jobs are on the rise. Why? Because right now is the best time to be a part of the pest control industry.
To prepare you and your dog for new visitors in the home, we have compiled a list of best practices and important dos and don’ts for the homeowner and service professional to follow to allow for a positive and productive visit.
The more you know about what to expect, the better you can future-proof your plumbing business,
In order to give you a sense of the average salary for a pest control technician in different locations, we scraped data from thousands of job postings on Indeed.com, sorted it, analyzed it, and present it here for you.
Reading HVAC-focused books can help you keep tabs on the latest strategies, tools, and research in order to keep up with (and beat out) the competition.
Chances are that you either shop at Home Depot or Lowe’s, the two largest retailers in this industry. Once you learn the difference between these two Pro programs, you’ll have a better idea of where you should shop—and how you can save.
Whether you’re just getting into the industry or are an experience plumber, it’s important to know the current average plumber salaries so you can get the right pay in your area.
There are lots of opinions on the best way to price trade services. By and large, we’ve found that the majority of our own home service businesses we work with prefer flat rate and so do home service customers. But it doesn’t necessarily work as well across all job types.
We’ll look at when employing a recruitment agency might be the right move, how much should you expect to pay these agencies, and what to look for in an agency
The pandemic hit the US hard in 2020, with 30 million Americans filing for unemployment benefits by March and April reports, which will be published this Friday, will likely show the highest unemployment rate since the report began in the 1940s. According to internal reports published by Gusto, a payroll and HR management platform, home service trades did…


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Move over, beef. Chicken demand is jumping as beef prices rise and health-conscious consumers gravitate toward poultry.
The company that owns Big Cola is battling Coke and Pepsi for Asian and Latin American markets. FT reports.
The scandal surrounding Husi, which is owned by OSI Group of Aurora, Illinois, has alarmed Chinese diners.
Swiss watchmaker Swatch has denied a media report saying it was working with technology company Apple on a smartwatch.
Porsche's 2014 Cayenne has been remodeled for a smoother, cleaner look and features an improved engine lineup.
Dunkin' reported weaker-than-expected U.S. quarterly same-restaurant sales due in part to a cold and rainy start to the spring season.


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Gun Trafficker Gets 10 Years in Prison in Brooklyn
North Carolina man sold an undercover officer a total of 25 guns for about $27,000, authorities say
A North Carolina man was sentenced to 10 years in prison Monday for his role in trafficking 33 guns from his home state to Brooklyn.
Marcus Gamble, 24 years old, pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sale of a firearm last month. Mr. Gamble was one of two dozen suspects arrested in March and accused of running an interstate gun-trafficking ring that brought 217 weapons into New York City, the authorities said.
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By Kent Larsen
How Jonathan Coon Started $100 Million Business in BYU Dorm Room
DRAPER, UTAH -- LDS Entrepreneur Jonathan Coon is a millionaire now, but
even he didn't see it coming when he started selling disposable contacts
from his BYU dorm room. Coon's inspiration, reached when he saw another
retailer's flier and decided he could do the same thing from his room, is
now known as 1-800-CONTACTS, a publicly traded company with sales during the
first nine months of 2000 in excess of $100 million.
Initially, Coon struggled to make much of anything fromthe business,
managing to earn a couple of hundred a week. But the little success he had
influenced him to switch his major to business, and eventually led him to
get an MBA from BYU. There professors helped him refine his business plan
and grow his business.
At the same time, Coon met his business partner, John Nichols, who owned a
Santa Monica, California company that also sold lenses, Discount Lens Club.
In 1995, the two merged their companies, and went after the most critical
thing they needed to make the business plan work: a phone number.
But, of course, it wasn't just any phone number they wanted. It was
1-800-Contacts. Since no one answered when they called regardless of when
they called, they knew the number wasn't being used by another business. But
since no one ever answered, they couldn't discover who owned the number.
Eventually, Coon and Nichols hired a private detective to find the owner,
started negotiations and purchased 1-800-Contacts for $163,500.
They soon discovered that the number was worth every penny. During the first
month after they started using the number, July 1995, but before they
advertised the number, they got 2,000 calls, leading to an additional
$38,000 in sales and doubling revenue from the month before.
But the growth required more investment, and fueled Coon's plan to take the
company public. In 1996, when Coon started looking for an investment bank to
help the company go public, he told analyst Jeffrey Stein of McDonald
Investments in Cleveland that that 1-800-Contacts would have sales of $20
million in 1997, a nearly 600% increase over 1996 sales were $3.5 million.
Stein says, "He ended up delivering on everything he said he would."
Coon says he made the prediction to build credibility, "One of the things
that I had learned from going to an MBA program was, the way that you build
credibility with an analyst at an investment bank is to predict the future,
and then deliver it," Coon recalled recently.
Now, the company is still growing, and analysts say that the future is still
bright. Consumers are looking for ways to cut the amount they spend on
disposable lenses, but increasingly want the convenience of disposables.
Analyst Dan Ries of C.E. Unterberg Towbin says spending on replacement
contacts in the US is about $3.8 billion a year, and is growing at 3%. This
means 1-800-Contacts currently has only 3.5% of the market.
Contact lens retailer focused on business
USA Today 29Nov00 B2
By Jim Hopkins: USA Today
BYU Grad's Foresight Pays Off Big, 1-800 CONTACTS now a $100 million company
Salt Lake Tribune 29Nov00 B2
By Jim Hopkins: USA Today


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Plant-based ready meal service Jam ‘n’ Vegan is the latest brand to receive backing from specialist investment house Veg Capital.
The business will use the £200,000 investment to build brand awareness, expand the team around founder Kyle Parchment and open up new channels.
Veg Capital led the round and will take a seat on the Jam ‘n’ Vegan board.
Parchment, a chef, created the brand after being inspired by his travels around the world.
The range of plant-based ready meals include This is Not Butter Chicken, East African bean stew with jollof rice, and Caribbean Mac n Cheez with jerk crumb, which customers can order as part of a weekly or monthly subscription service.
Awareness of Jam ‘n’ Vegan has so far spread by word of mouth, with limited marketing. The £200,000 backing from Veg Capital will fund a number of new hires, including a marketing manager, to help reach more customers.
It will also go towards opening up new channels to go alongside the current DTC home delivery service, including retail and foodservice.
Veg Capital managing director Matthew Glover, founder of Veganuary, said: “Kyle has managed to capture a mood with his range. It is a true celebration of our world of wonderful and diverse cultures.
“At Veg Capital we have all been inspired by how Kyle has overcome the odds to build his company from his mum’s kitchen to where it is now. We have big visions for the future of Jam ‘n’ Vegan and are thrilled to be joining this journey.”
Parchment added: “I’m so excited to welcome Veg Capital into the Jam Fam and am bursting with ideas to celebrate all the beautiful differences in the world through taste, sound, and vision.”
Veg Capital invests primarily in early-stage plant-based companies developing products to help to remove animals from the food system.
Since launching in June 2020, Veg Capital has invested about £20m in more than 30 plant-based companies, including Plant Alternative, Clive’s Purely Plants, Mighty Pea, This, Plantifull, Naked Snacks, Planty and One Planet Pizza.


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RewardMob offers our users the chance to enter free-to-play Mobile eSports tournaments and test their skills against thousands of other competitors
Games development powerhouse, GameAnax has announced a new partnership with Mobile eSports platform RewardMob. The partnership will enable GameAnax to integrate free-to-play and pay-to-play tournaments into its current games catalogue.
GameAnax’s hugely popular ‘Crazy Monster Truck - Escape’ title will be the first to incorporate RewardMob’s free-to-play Mobile eSports tournament platform. The game which has grossed in excess of 5 million installs, will be available on the App Store and Google Play.
“RewardMob offers our users the chance to enter free-to-play Mobile eSports tournaments and test their skills against thousands of other competitors in highly competitive Mobile eSport tournaments ” GameAnax, Inc, President, Kalpesh Purohit, said.
“In addition, RewardMob has a global reach, and the ability for our users on Android and iOS to compete against each other for real money, prizes and cryptocurrency. "
Todd Koch, Co-founder and CEO of RewardMob, added: “GameAnax are well known for their fun and entertaining titles such as the Go Karts series and innovative game like Gunslinger, VR Experience.
“We fully believe that our tournament functionality can bring a new and exciting option for their existing audience. Additionally our RewardMob player base are really going to enjoy the quality gaming content that GameAnax bring to the platform.”
The RewardMob app can be downloaded through the iTunes App Store or Google Play. RewardMob will be hosting their first tournament ticket sale starting on Tuesday 13 March, 2018. Visit https://ticketsale.rewardmob.com/ for more details on the ticket sale.
RewardMob is an innovative global mobile games technology platform that helps game developers with User Acquisition, Monetization and Player Retention.
The company is based in Kelowna, near Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada that is set to positively change the business model for games developers in a way which has never been seen before. The RewardMob platform is now circulating digital loyalty tokens to gamers globally known as RMOB.
RewardMob Social Media Channels:
RewardMob Website: https://rewardmob.com
Additional images are available on request. Media information provided by Famous Publicity. For more information please contact Adam Betteridge at firstname.lastname@example.org, Josh Balmer at
email@example.com or Ed Patience at firstname.lastname@example.org or call +44 (0) 3333 442 341.
This press release was distributed by ResponseSource Press Release Wire on behalf of RewardMob in the following categories: Men's Interest, Entertainment & Arts, Leisure & Hobbies, Women's Interest & Beauty, Consumer Technology, Media & Marketing, Computing & Telecoms, for more information visit https://pressreleasewire.responsesource.com/about.


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Smart home spending to take a temporary hit before surging
A new study from ABI Research predicts that the pandemic will significantly slow consumer smart home purchases in 2020 and accelerate growth in the years ahead.
“The pandemic is a double-edged sword for the smart home industry,” said Jonathan Collins, smart home research director at ABI Research, in a statement. “While the immediate impact may be negative, many of the long-term and structural changes to consumer lives initiated in 2020 will have a lasting positive impact that will help to drive adoption.”
The firm now expects smart home revenues to be up four percent over 2019, down from growth of 21 percent projected pre-pandemic. The culprits include economic uncertainty, installation and physical retail restrictions, and manufacturing disruptions.
By 2026, however, ABI Research predicts the smart home market will be up five percent over pre-COVID-19 forecasts to $317 billion as smart home technology cements its value. As an example, Mr. Collins points to how Amazon’s Alexa platform can support a household’s entire shopping process, from list creation to delivery management.
Z-Wave Alliance’s “State of the Ecosystem Report” anticipates that smart doorbells and water sensors, partly due to incentives from home insurance carriers, will see the fastest growth among categories through 2025.
Increasing demand for smartphone enabled home entertainment devices are expected in coming years due, in part, to lockdowns. Mitchell Klein, executive director, Z-Wave, said in an interview with Hiddenwires, “With more people spending time at home streaming content, working, and learning, there is a renewed focus on using smart home technology to keep people connected inside the home and from a distance.”
In Z-Wave’s report, Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, an editor at Dwell Magazine, cited complexity, interoperability and longevity as the largest hurdles to mass consumer adoption of the smart home.
She said, “Complexity because consumers don’t want to spend their weekends installing/troubleshooting their homes. Interoperability because consumers don’t want to buy something unless they know it will work with everything they have in their home now (and might want in the future). And longevity because consumers are scared by the all too common reports of the death of smart home devices.”
- COVID-19 Cuts Smart Home Growth by US$14 Billion in 2020, But Drives Future Change – ABI Research/PRNewswire
- Z-Wave State of the Ecosystem Report – Z-Wave
- In conversation with Mitchell Klein – how the pandemic will affect smart homes – Hiddenwires
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Will COVID-19 speed up or slow the adoption of smart home technology by consumers? Have the hurdles preventing adoption changed?


text: We wrote about video-sharing app Viddy recently when it inked a deal with T-Pain to sell a branded effects pack to its users. Now the company has announced a $6m funding round to continue its expansion. Viddy is often compared to photo-sharing app Instagram, in that it lets people shoot 15-second video clips, apply visual effects and then share them with friends. The company says it has 1m users on iPhone, and plans to use the money to take the app to Android, iPad and other devices. Viddy is also likely to work with more artists and brands in the coming months. Besides T-Pain, it also recently teamed up with Disney to promote its new Muppets film.


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Today, we’re issuing a consultation on the implementation of new rules further limiting food and drink advertising to children on TV, and in on-demand programme services (ODPS) and paid online ad media.
In 2022, the UK Government introduced legislation mandating additional restrictions on ads for “less healthy” food and drink products aiming to further mitigate the potential impact of advertising on children’s dietary choices. Ofcom is the statutory body responsible for the new restrictions and the ASA has been appointed as the frontline regulator. Rules reflecting the new restrictions will be incorporated into the UK Advertising Codes.
The new less healthy product rules will come into effect from October 2025. They will prohibit ads for identifiable less healthy products from being included in Ofcom-regulated TV services and ODPS between 5:30am and 9:00pm, and from being placed in paid-for space in online media at any time. Less healthy products are a subset of products classified as high fat, salt or sugar (“HFSS”), which have been subject to dedicated restrictions in the UK Advertising Codes since 2007. The less healthy product rules will form a new tier of rules in addition to CAP and BCAP’s existing HFSS rules.
This consultation covers three areas that support the implementation of the new restrictions:
- guidance to accompany the new rules to enable advertisers, media owners and practitioners to apply them;
- transposition of the legislation into new UK Advertising Code rules for each of the restrictions; and
- technical updates to the existing rules to ensure interoperability of the less healthy product rules with the existing rules on HFSS advertising.
The consultation does not cover the underlying policy basis for the new restrictions, or the provisions already established by legislation. These were addressed through the extensive process of consultation undertaken by Government up to 2021.
The consultation is open to all stakeholders including members of the public and will run for 8 weeks closing on 7 February 2024 at 5:00pm.
See the consultation page.


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The developer of racing game Project Cars is targeting a 1080p resolution and 60 frames per second output for both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of the game, according to a recent interview with Eurogamer.
Bethesda has unleashed a new "101 lesson" trailer that goes over the basics of managing ammo supplies, taking advantage of resources, and knowing when it's smarter to just run away in the upcoming horror title The Evil Within.
A new Wii U system update has just gone live for the Nintendo home console, finally bringing a folder system that will allow users to organise and coordinate their various software icons on the home menu.
Electronic Arts' record for the past two years in regards to game launches hasn't been the greatest. In 2013 SimCity launched to what could only be described as a disaster, Battlefield 4 took a fair chunk of time to actually become stable, and The Sims 4 was panned in media and the gaming community for missing out on a fair bit of content from past titles. Read More
The season pass for Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor will feature new challenge modes, narrative-driven hunt missions and the chance for players to come face-to-face with the Dark Lord Sauron, publisher Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announced today.
Yesterday we reported that some players had uncovered what looked to be details on the upcoming expansions for Bungie's sci-fi FPS Destiny. Today the developer has confirmed that these are in fact legitimate, albeit in placeholder form.


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Ever since the International Telecommunication Union created its IMT-2000 family of 3G technologies ten years ago, 3G has come in two basic forms: FDD and TDD. FDD offered separate spectrum bands for uplink and downlink traffic, while TDD offered upstream and downstream traffic on the same band.
But while FDD-based technologies like W-CDMA and CDMA2000 dominated 3G rollouts (the former more so than the latter), TDD-based TD-CDMA remained generally unloved except by vendor IPWireless and its small customer base, while the other TDD option, TD-SCDMA, was China's homegrown technology that most industry players regarded as a China-only technology with no realistic chance of ever seeing deployment outside of China, although Taiwanese operators FarEasTone and Vibo Telecom began small-scale trials of TD-SCDMA late last year.
However, TD-SCDMA - which went fully commercial in China last year and is now available in 238 cities from China Mobile - is suddenly looking primed to go international in the form of its next-gen version, TD-LTE, which has the full backing of the 3GPP as part of its overall LTE standards effort. That doesn't automatically guarantee greater operator interest in TDD outside of China - where, like its 3G predecessor, TD-LTE is guaranteed a home. But the past couple of months have seen a flurry of announcements around Asia regarding TD-LTE's viability.
Not unexpectedly, China Mobile signed a deal in April with FarEasTone to jointly develop a TD-LTE trial in Taipei. Much more surprising was Qualcomm's announcement last month that it would enter the long-awaited spectrum auctions in India to bid for broadband wireless access (BWA) spectrum in the unpaired 2.3-GHz band, with the intention of using it for TD-LTE, rather than Wimax. Later that month, Japan's Softbank Mobile - which gained access to 2.5GHz TDD spectrum in March after acquiring a stake in failing PHS operator Willcom - said TD-LTE was definitely on the table as an option. And perhaps tellingly, as TDD vets like Huawei, ZTE, Motorola and Nokia Siemens Networks have been issuing progress reports on TD-LTE developments, Ericsson announced a tie-up with Datang Telecom to integrate Datang's TD-SCDMA RAN gear into its 3G portfolio, ostensibly to beef up its China business, but also to develop TD-LTE solutions.
Such is the sudden excitement over TD-LTE that it's not only expected to see rapid take-up once commercial deployments starting next year, but will also comprise a sizable chunk of the entire LTE market by 2014, says Mike Wang, NSN's general manager for Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.
"It took W-CDMA six years to reach 100 million subscribers, but LTE will hit that in four years, and we project that TD-LTE will account for 40% of LTE subscribers by that time," he told Wireless Asia.
What's going on here? What's TD-LTE got that its TDD ancestors didn't? Part of the answer lies in spectrum availability and changing market dynamics. However, a major key to the puzzle is, ironically, LTE's arch rival Wimax, which is not only helping make the business case for TDD in general, but - even more ironically - could serve as the platform for future TD-LTE deployments.
TDD then and now
To understand TDD's appeal in 2010, it's worth looking at why TDD didn't catch on during the 00s despite being commercially available. Part of the reason the industry favored FDD was to do with technology, explains Dr Ray Owen, head of pre-sales for the Mobile Devices and Home division of Motorola Asia and general director of Motorola Vietnam.
"FDD separates the uplink and downlink, which is much simpler from an engineering standpoint than TDD where both links are combined," he says. "That also helps in terms of battery life. Also, W-CDMA was really designed as a voice network that supported data and video, and voice and video perform better with symmetrical links. TDD is great for pure-play data, but 3G operators weren't focused on that model then."
Another issue, he adds, was that with everyone focused on FDD, TDD was only likely to be deployed if dual-mode FDD/TDD devices were available. "It's not impossible to put FDD and TDD in the same handset, but it is very difficult from an engineering point of view," says Owen.
By contrast, today chipset makers like Qualcomm and ST-Ericsson have FDD/TDD chipsets on their roadmaps, with China Mobile pushing for a dual-mode strategy as part of its TD-LTE plans.
Related to that is the close development of both FDD and TDD-based LTE on the network side, says Isaac Liang, international TD system marketing director for ZTE.
"FDD and TDD [LTE] are like two brothers, like twins - they are very similar in terms of coverage, throughput, spectral efficiency, and so on," Liang says. "Many vendors using the same platform for their FDD and TDD LTE products, and chipset vendors in their roadmap will have dual-mode FDD/TDD wireless chipsets. These are incentives for operators."
Another factor is the rapid rise of dongles and IP-savvy smartphones like the iPhone, which have driven mobile data traffic to such levels that operators in many markets are hungry for new spectrum - and they aren't necessarily going to wait for paired LTE spectrum to be freed up, says Tom Gruba, Motorola's senior director of wireless product marketing.
"Between iPhones, netbooks and flat-rate pricing, operators are finding they don't have enough spectrum, which is one reason they want 2.6-GHz LTE, but they'll also use all available spectrum they can get," he says. "They're seeing all this TDD spectrum being used in China, the US and in southeast Asia with 2.3 GHz. So there's all this opportunity for spectrum, and China has broken that inertia to get things moving."
Julien Grivolas, principal analyst for networks and technology at Ovum, agrees, noting the example of Softbank acquiring Willcom primarily for its spectrum. "They're not sure what they'll do with it, but what they want is the spectrum. You will not say 'I'll only take this kind of spectrum', you'll take what you can."
Wimax now ...
The other key difference, says ZTE's Liang, is that TDD has a major champion that it didn't have before: Wimax.
"The Wimax Forum has been pushing their technology, which has led to releasing 2.3 GHz unpaired spectrum in many markets, many of them markets where LTE spectrum isn't yet available and may not be for some time," Liang says.
Which sounds like better news for Wimax than for TD-LTE. Both fixed Wimax (802.16d) and mobile Wimax (802.16e) have a considerable head start on TD-LTE in terms of commercial deployments and a fairly robust ecosystem. And while the GSM Association has repeatedly argued that cellcos need to focus on the LTE roadmap and not get distracted by "interim" niche technologies like Wimax, the Wimax Forum and its members have maintained that there's no reason to wait for LTE in any form when the demand for IP-based wireless broadband is there now.
"When Yota says they spent $12 million to get 350,000 subs, that's a customer acquisition cost of around $34," says Gruba of Motorola. "When you look at what it costs to acquire cellular subs, which is several hundred dollars, the message is 'win share now', because when a second competitor comes into that market, regardless of the technology they use, their customer acquisition strategy has to be much different. You've either got to offer more or be price-conscious."
Ashish Sharma, marketing VP for Wimax vendor Alvarion, adds that TD-LTE is a lot farther off than it looks.
"TD-LTE doesn't have the ecosystem in place, and you need at least four or five years for that to develop, which Wimax has already done," he says. "Also, the first market that will deploy it on any decent scale will be China, which is a different spectrum band [2.5 GHz] than other markets and has to be backwards-compatible with TD-SCDMA, which will fragment ecosystem developments."
... TD-LTE later?
Interestingly, however, the "Wimax now" argument has morphed into "Wimax now, TD-LTE later" as vendors who sell both Wimax and LTE - such as ZTE, Huawei, Motorola and NSN, among others - point out that Wimax and TD-LTE are currently not all that different in terms of hardware.
"There's about 80% to 90% technical overlap between Wimax and LTE," says Mohab Khattab, group VP of Business Development/Legal for wi-tribe. "Both are based on OFDM, both are all-IP, they can use the 2.3/2.5 GHz bands, they employ advanced antenna designs and have similar speed capabilities."
Wang of NSN makes the same point. "We want to protect our customer investment. In the BTS side, many components that can be used for Wimax and LTE, so it's an upgrade path. The whole TD-LTE ecosystem will be ready by 2011 or 2012, so you customers can roll out Wimax now and have an upgrade path to TD-LTE once that ecosystem is ready."
Put another way, today's Wimax networks are - potentially - tomorrow's TD-LTE networks, which in turn strengthens the case for deploying Wimax today, says Richard Ye, brand director of product R+D system and wireless product operation at ZTE.
"If operators see a solution that can run both Wimax and TD-LTE, for sure they will launch Wimax first, because they can make money now, and use a small investment to reconstruct for TD-LTE," Ye says. "You get to keep the subscribers you built up with 16e, and then if you upgrade to 16m or TD-LTE, it's a software decision. You can even run both, if you want to do so and have enough spectrum."
Khattab of wi-tribe adds that the amount of extra investment needed to make such a transition isn't all that high. "When you look at all the costs involved in building a Wimax network - the core, the backhaul, site rental, human resources, utility costs, the whole thing - the actual Wimax part is just the base stations and the CPE, which only accounts for around 12% of your investment," he says. "That's all you really have to change to migrate to LTE, so from an investment point of view, that's relatively painless."
Not so simple
To be sure, Wimax-to-TD-LTE migration is not endorsed by either the GSM Association or the Wimax Forum, both of which are trying to build scalable ecosystems and massive subscriber bases for their own technology. But, says Wang of NSN, "When you talk to individual operators, they are highly interested in TD-LTE, because it gives them a mainstream evolution path. And if you ask Wimax operators in particular where they want to go two or three years down the road, they all say ultimately LTE."
On the other hand, GSMA and Wimax Forum officials aren't the only ones skeptical of the viability of a Wimax/TD-LTE evolution plan.
For a start, says Fabricio Martinez, group services product director at network planning consultants Aircom International, the 12% investment figure from wi-tribe is far too low.
"Even in the most optimistic of scenarios we see around 18% to 20% as the lowest possible loss, and with detrimental effect on the quality of the network being offered," Martinez says.
"In order to achieve even an 18% saving, the network would have to reuse the core network, backhaul, Tx and full site and antenna system," he adds. "Crucially, this network would offer no roaming capability and no voice fallback. All upgrades would have to be software-based and the implications would be significant."
Ovum's Grivolas adds that even if a given Wimax operator has the right equipment and spectrum amount to support a smooth RAN software upgrade - which won't always be the case - that software upgrade doesn't apply to devices.
"All of the devices will not be able to evolve their software, so there will be a huge spend there to subsidize new devices," he says.
In any case, he adds, with the Wimax Forum continuing to champion Wimax, as well as vendors like Alvarion who are focused primarily on Wimax, Wimax as a technology isn't going anywhere. "I don't believe that in 2015 there will be no Wimax networks."
Phillip Solis, practice director at ABI Research, notes that while vendors are indeed working to enable Wimax/TD-LTE migration, as well as dual-mode Wimax/TD-LTE chipsets, the migration message is more for the benefit of investors than operators.
"Investors are seeing TD-LTE making lots of headlines, which makes them look at Wimax operators and ask, 'Why should I invest in you when you're running Wimax?' So operators can say, don't worry, we're covered, we can make the switch if we need to. It's like insurance, which is actually good for Wimax because operators and investors are more likely to take a chance on it if they have that switchover option later."
That said, Solis adds, the Wimax and LTE landscapes will be complicated by fragmentation between FDD, TDD and related spectrum bands, which will make dual-mode ambitions difficult, and that will work against TD-LTE.
"People are assuming a lot of market synergies around TD-LTE that actually don't exist," he says. "It's complicated, but you've got LTE development going on for FDD and TDD, then there's all this band fragmentation with 4G, because you've got 2.6 GHz, refarming in the 3G bands plus backward compatibility, and digital dividend spectrum coming up," he says. "And in some markets like the US, you'll need multi-mode support for EV-DO in all that, and in China, TD-LTE chips will be TD-LTE/TD-SCDMA chips. Software-defined radios help and bigger RF front ends help, but you'll still see a lot of fragmentation that applies to TD-LTE."
RELATED ARTICLES ON TD-LTE


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(Adds details on Inwit, investment plans)
MILAN, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Telecom Italia on Friday opened the way for the sale of its listed phone masts group Inwit but also said it was not planning to sell its Brazilian mobile network operator Tim Participacoes .
The board of the Italian phone company has given a mandate to the CEO to explore options to extract value from Inwit , the company said in a statement.
Earlier this week Chief Executive Marco Patuano had said all options were open regarding Inwit’s future, signalling a change of strategy and paving the way for a possible bid for it.
Telecom Italia, which owns 60 percent of Inwit after listing a 40 percent stake in June, had until then pointed at an active role for its masts unit in its sector.
Spanish telecoms masts operator Cellnex and Italian infrastructure fund F2i are interested in Inwit, several sources had said on Tuesday.
Meanwhile Telecom Italia said investments planned by Tim Participacoes for the period 2015-2017, worth more than 14 billion real ($3.5 billion), were confirmed on Friday, adding that it aimed to consolidate its long-term presence in the country. The Italian company owns 67 percent of Tim Participacoes. ($1 = 3.9688 Brazilian reais) (Reporting by Francesca Landini; Editing by Greg Mahlich)