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WASHINGTON - The U.S. trade deficit increased in June as solid consumer spending pulled in more imports, while the strong dollar restrained exports.
The Commerce Department said the trade gap jumped 7 percent to $43.8 billion in June, up from $40.9 billion in May. Imports rose 1.2 percent to $232.4 billion, while exports edged lower to $188.6 billion from $188.7 billion.
U.S. manufacturers have been held back by the strong dollar, which makes their products more expensive overseas.
Last defendant in Madoff case sentenced
NEW YORK - A judge sentenced the last defendant in the Bernard Madoff case on Wednesday to six months in prison, marking the end of a prosecution that lasted more than six years.
Irwin Lipkin, 77, had pleaded guilty in 2012 to helping conceal the fraud from regulators by falsifying records as comptroller of the firm. He is among a total of 15 defendants charged in the case, including Madoff, who either pleaded guilty or were convicted at trial.
A frail-looking Lipkin, who was hired as one of Madoff's first employees in the 1960s, had admitted he knowingly certified false documents.
"I would like to apologize to the court and to everybody else who may have been hurt by the things that I've done," he said.
Frontier plans discount on fees in a bundle
Passengers on Frontier Airlines face a lineup of fees on everything from carry-on bags to sodas.
The Denver-based airline has heard the complaints. On Wednesday, Frontier said it will discount several common fees if the customer buys them all in a bundle.
Frontier President Barry Biffle defends the low-fare, high-fees model, which is called "unbundling," saying it allows more people to travel because they can opt not to buy services they don't need. He insists that Wednesday's announcement isn't a retreat on fees, which are hated by many passengers.
Frontier isn't eliminating any fees, but it will bundle several of them at a deep discount to ordering them a la carte. The package is called The Works, and it includes one checked bag, one carry-on bag, the best available seat and no fee for changing the ticket later.
Quarterly loss nearly triples for Tesla Motors
Tesla Motors' upcoming Model X SUV cast a long shadow over the company's second-quarter results.
Tesla's net loss nearly tripled to $184 million in the April-June period as it invested in tooling and factory capacity for the new SUV, which is scheduled to go on sale next month.
The Palo Alto, Calif.-based maker of electric cars also lowered its expectations for full-year sales because it is not confident suppliers will be able to meet its production goals for the Model X. It now expects to sell between 50,000 and 55,000 Model S sedans and Model X SUVs this year, down from a previous target of 55,000.
In other news
Mazda is recalling its biggest SUV to fix suspension parts that can rust and come loose, causing a loss of steering control. The recall covers 206,000 CX-9 SUVs from the 2007 through 2014 model years, mainly in the U.S. and Canada.
Private payroll processor ADP said Thursday that companies added 185,000 jobs last month, down from 229,000 in June. The federal government will issue its official jobs report for July on Friday.
From wire services


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Facebook's longtime stubbornness about its "like" button has finally crumbled—at least for users of the social network in certain European countries. The new feature, which Facebook says launched on Thursday as a "pilot test," is hidden behind the standard "like" button. When some users hold that button down for a moment, they reveal Facebook's newest addition: "reactions."
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and co. have deemed seven expressions worthy of official button status for FB users only in Ireland and Spain: like, love, haha, yay, wow, sad, and angry. Long-tapping or long-clicking on "like" brings up animated faces for most of the new ones, with the exception of "love" as a heart and "like" as the blue, old-school thumbs-up.
"We studied which comments and reactions are most commonly and universally expressed across Facebook, then worked to design an experience around them that was elegant and fun," Chief Product Officer Chris Cox wrote in an announcement (which also includes video of the feature). Cox also indicated that, following a test period of indeterminate time, the company "hopes to roll [reactions] out to everyone soon." An official company description of the service was published at The Verge. It described usage insights, including how users had been filing bug reports for years to ask for non-like options. Weirdly, the post also revealed that the company turns to Ireland and Spain to test new features because those users have the fewest international friends.
We're surprised to see such a range of buttons—especially since five of them are different flavors of "liking." It'll be interesting to see how the simple, binary concept of "liking" a post evolves with this slight boost in nuance—not to mention how weird it'll be to try to use some of these concepts as verbs. ("I totally haha'ed my sister's ugly baby photos," etc.)
The "sad" and "angry" reactions better resemble what Zuckerberg talked about during a September Q&A session when he finally confirmed that something along the lines of a "sympathy" button would soon join "like" on the site. This followed years of stubborn refusal to offer anything in the way of a "dislike" button, which Zuckerberg had publicly criticized as too similar to other sites' "downvote" options. In kind, these reactions appear to be cumulative on a respective Facebook post, as opposed to adding or taking away from others. (Also, each user can only use one reaction, meaning, for example, you can't "wow" and "angry" the same post.)
As with other new Facebook features, the new reactions appear to be turning on for users in waves, as none of our Irish comrades have gotten to dump a bunch of "wow"s and "haha"s onto their social media friends just yet.
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The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said it is investigating three burglaries in Lockhart, including one where a car was used to crash into a Metro PCS store and left behind.
Deputies responded to multiple alarm calls at about 6 a.m. at 7045 Clarcona Ocoee Rd. and found a blue Toyota smashed inside the front door of the wireless service store, sheriff’s spokeswoman Jane Watrel said. Two neighboring businesses — a Little Caesars and a Chinese restaurant — were also burglarized, Watrel said.
The suspects fled the scene before police arrived, Watrel said.
This is a breaking-news story. Check back for updates.


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Raising Lamb for Meat and Selling it at the Farmers Market
Capture Premium Lamb Prices by Selling at Farmers Markets
Reading Time: 7 minutes
By Matthew Ernst – Nikki and Scott Royer took on the duty of managing her family’s 125–acre farm in Clinton, Indiana, in 2000, after Nikki’s father’s untimely death. “My parents had showed and sold purebred cattle,” said Nikki—now the fifth generation in her family to work the farm, “and there was a large herd to maintain and care for.” Nikki and Scott had started a small ewe flock even before their 1994 wedding. They wanted to develop a more diverse income from the farm, and saw raising lamb for meat as a niche market to grow the farm business. “You couldn’t find any lamb in the grocery store,” said Nikki. In 2003, they started selling lamb at farmers markets.
Today, Royer Farm Fresh Beef, Lamb & Pork sells beef, pork and more than 5,000 pounds of lamb year–round at farmers markets in Indianapolis and Terre Haute. Some sales are also made directly from the farm and by online orders. The family is also raising chickens for eggs and meat, but “lamb is definitely still our niche,” says Nikki. “And we have seen our lamb sales grow as our beef or pork customers try lamb and like it.”
Rising Farmers Market Numbers
The number of farmers markets in the U.S. has doubled in each of the past two decades. This creates more opportunities for those interested in selling homemade food, produce and meat nationwide in a classic form of direct farm marketing. In 2004, the year after the Royers first sold lamb at an Indianapolis–area farmers market, the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) counted 3,706 farmers markets nationwide. In August 2012, there were 7,864 farmers markets counted nationally, a 9.6 percent increase over 2011 numbers.
More farmers markets means that the burden of organizing and starting a market is not as likely to fall on producers today as it was 20 years ago. But shepherds farther away from population centers must be willing to drive to reach more customers. “We drive 90 to 100 miles each way every Saturday to serve two markets in the Indianapolis area,” said Nikki Royer, who also sells at the Terre Haute, Ind., market, 20 miles from their farm.
Raising Lamb for Meat: Still a Niche Product at Farmers Markets
Farmers market customers tend toward a more diverse diet than typical consumers. Even so, farmers market sellers say lamb still faces a hurdle to sell. “You can’t go to a farmers market to sell only $200 worth of lamb and have it worth your time,” said Nikki Royer. To increase weekly sales volume, she said, lamb should be paired with one or more other meats at farmers market.
Mac Stone agreed. He is a Georgetown, Ky., farmer who also directs Kentucky State University’s Center for Sustainability of Farms and Families. “Our family sells about 15 lambs each fall through the Lexington (Ky.) farmers market,” said Stone. The family also sells beef and poultry under their Elmwood Stock Farm name; Mac’s wife, Ann Bell, manages all the marketing and her brother and father manage produce and beef production and labor. Mac manages the farm’s lamb and poultry projects and helps staff the Saturday farmers market booth. “We definitely are able to move more lamb because we have beef and chicken,” said Stone.
Flockmasters raising lamb for meat who are unable to offer meat from other species at a farmers market should not overlook the market’s potential value. Some farmers markets allow vendors to sell locally grown products not produced on their own farm. “I feel like if you want to have a strong local food structure, you have to allow some reselling (at farmers markets and other direct markets),” said Nikki Royer.
A shepherd might be able to partner with someone already selling meat at a farmers market. If that is a possibility in your area, work with the vendor to provide information to the customers about the lamb. “Many farmers market customers want to know that they’re buying from the person who raises it,” said Mac Stone. “If you’re selling to someone who is reselling, be very clear about whose lamb it is,” he added. “Offer to allow the seller to list your farm name and describe how the lamb was raised. The farmers market customer wants some relationship with the farm where the product is raised,” said Stone.
Of course, you also might be able to sell lamb alongside the produce items more conventionally offered at farmers markets. Smaller markets offer opportunities to try all sorts of market pairings. At their larger farmers market stand, Mac Stone said, Elmwood Stock Farm has found it helpful to segregate meat from vegetable sales. “We have our meat table separate from vegetables,” he said. “We think that sells more.”
Farmers Market Lamb Selling Tips
If you do have access to a local market, but you do have the ability to offer more products and an interest in interacting directly with customers as you build a market for lamb, then farmers market selling could be for you. Here are some important tips suggested for selling lamb at local farmers markets:
Regulations, Food Safety
Work with local and state agencies to ensure you’re following all pertinent regulations; farmers markets often provide resources to guide new vendors through such issues. Determine whether the lamb has to be processed at a state–inspected or a USDA–inspected facility to sell at your local market, and be sure to obtain all necessary memberships, licenses, and product liability insurance. “Some places may also require that your on–farm (freezer) storage is inspected,” said Kentucky’s Mac Stone.
Relationship With the Processor
When they set out to transform the family’s beef seedstock enterprise into a full–time direct meat marketing effort, Nikki and Scott Royer quickly saw a strength in having a state–inspected processor less than five miles from their farm. “There is a shortage of processors,” said Nikki Royer. “Especially those used to cutting up lamb.”
Mac Stone said that the producer–processor relationship can extend all the way to how a product is packaged. “We work with a processor that can vacuum pack each cut individually,” he said. “It costs extra, but the (farmers market) customer can see the product.” Stone cautioned lamb sellers to watch out for sharp bones that can puncture such packaging. “Damaged packaging will create ‘shrink,’ or sales loss,” he said. “The less handling the better.”
How much to charge for products at direct markets can be tricky. “We don’t print prices on the packages, just weights,” said Mac Stone. “That allows us to adjust seasonally.”
Setting a target sales level per cut or per animal helps producers keep a handle on their profits. “We set a target price of $250 in meat sales per lamb to cover our cost of production, processing, and the time we spend marketing,” said Mac Stone. “So even though we keep our leg at $10.95 throughout the whole season (late summer through fall), and they sell slower, we still sell out. Our ground lamb and stew meat sells rapidly at $8.50 per pound. We maintain each price to recover our target price per lamb.”
For those selling a greater volume of lamb year–round through direct markets, dealing with a large inventory of specific cuts can be a challenge. “You need to be creative with your marketing,” said Nikki Royer. She and Scott adjust their processing orders to move the whole animal and meet seasonal customer demand. “We put our leg of lamb into kabobs during the summer,” she said. “We also use different seasonings in ground lamb during the summer.”
Whether selling year–round or just in the late summer or fall, lamb marketers at farmers markets say quality sells. “I like to pull several packages out of the freezer to let the customer pick which they want,” said Mac Stone. “A lot of times, they’ll take them all.”
Nikki Royer also said they see customer volume increasing. “We encourage customers to purchase larger portions, like a quarter beef or a whole lamb,” she said. Royer Farm Fresh allows its customers to pay a deposit in spring to reserve a lamb for later in the year.
Transportation and Handling
Product transportation and handling is also critical for selling meat at farmers market. “When we started selling at a farmers market in 2003, we just had a couple of coolers,” said Nikki Royer. “Now we have freezers holding different products mounted on several trailers.”
Mac Stone added that it is important to present the meat professionally. “It’s extremely important that the presentation of the product is clean and simple,” he said. “We use homemade dividers in our coolers to keep cuts separated so we don’t have to be digging around to find certain cuts. The less handling, the better.”
Opportunities: Grass–Fed, Local
Both Mac Stone — whose lambs are grown on certified organic pasture — and Nikki Royer said that it is important to let people know how their meat is produced. “Grass–fed lamb is always desirable to our customers,” said Mac Stone.
Nikki Royer said they have added some Katahdin–Dorper breeding to their 80–ewe Suffolk flock to allow their lamb to be 100 percent grassfed. This was a move dictated by economics as much, if not more, than customer demand. “We traditionally lambed in January; we’re now lambing on pasture in April and May because of higher feed costs,” she said.
Some research suggests that the way lambs (and other animals) are fed is not quite as important to consumers as the location of the farm and the quality of the meat. Results of a 2006 survey of Nevada consumers, published by University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, found consumers were willing to pay as much of a premium for “local and lean” lamb as for “grass–fed/lean” lamb. Meat that can be marketed as both “grass–fed and local,” according to the Nevada study, would receive an even higher price premium from the consumers surveyed.
Not For Everyone
To be sure, selling at farmers markets is not for everyone raising lamb for meat. The Royers put in long market Saturdays, rising early to arrive at the opening of Indianapolis–area Saturday markets some 90 miles from the farm. Other family members staff their Terre Haute market stand, about 20 miles from the farm.
Farmers’ markets require constant interaction with customers, and Nikki Royer said that means the producer receives all customer feedback—good and bad—firsthand. “You definitely have to be willing to interact with customers,” she said.
But raising lamb for meat and selling it directly to farmers market customers could capture premium retail prices and increase farm profitability. For some shepherds (including the Royers) investing time and energy into building that market could result in a new, sustainable income stream by selling lamb direct to the customer at farmers markets.
Do you raise lamb for meat and do you sell it at the farmers market?
Adapted from Choosing Direct Marketing Channels for Agricultural Products by Megan L. Bruch and Matthew D. Ernst (University of Tennessee Extension, 2010).
Originally published in the May/June 2013 issue of sheep! magazine and regularly vetted for accuracy.


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Three years after the computing industry vowed to almost double the world’s computer memory speed with the DDR5 spec, it’s almost here at last. SK Hynix officially unveiled the world’s first modules for DDR5 memory. The company informs that in Q3 2021, it expects to start offering them, but they are ready anytime they can be supported by systems.
SK Hynix said that this DRAM provides raw bandwidth of up to 5,600Mbps, perhaps not the maximum 6,400Mbps that the DDR5 spec requires, but a full 1.8 times longer than the previous DDR4, and all at a lower voltage of 1.1V instead of 1.2V, for what SK Hynix reports will be a 20% power savings. So you don’t be confused about the math; power consumption is measured in watts, not volts.
SK Hynix has commented that it expects the DDR5 modules to be commercialized in Q3 2021.
In simple terms, the latest announcement would not imply much to your typical machine builder or consumer, partly because improvements in RAM speed have not given a major boost in a while for typical games and apps, and partly because it may be several months before you can buy them, much less slot them into a device.
Intel has confirmed that it will support DDR5 for future processors, but DDR5 has not been formally adopted by AMD and may not be accepted until 2022.
But finally, DDR5 ‘s capability could catch your eye. 128 GB modules are definitely, as AnandTech points out, and 2TB server-grade modules aren’t out of the question.
Today’s announcement is all about demonstrating that a company can actually produce such a module and involve other manufacturers in creating an ecosystem around the technology. In this situation, SK Hynix notes that companies such as Montage, Renesys, Synopsis, and Rambus are all signed on, not exactly the kinds of businesses that send us gadget lovers RAM.
There’s always ridiculously expensive off-spec DDR4 if you need speed earlier; you can already buy a pair of 5,100MHz sticks for ~$900 and try to overclock them to 5,600MHz.


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Time Is on Our Side
I saw her today at the market open, some Apple shares in her hand.
I knew she was opening her Robinhood app. At her feet was a Starbucks latte…
No, you can’t always get what you want.
The market rallied today, but we certainly aren’t dancing in the streets. There was practically nothing in the way of market-moving news, so Wall Street was left to roll the tumbling dice all by its lonesome.
With no real satisfaction to be had, here are a few of the biggest (and I use that word lightly) stock stories that didn’t make our cut today:
- We Un-Built This City: Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) will slash its workforce to cut costs ahead of risk-related reprimand. Oops?
- Hothouse Blues: Lennar Corp. (NYSE: LEN) beat third-quarter revenue and earnings targets and guided higher. But nothing could stop LEN profit-taking on the news.
- Smoke on the Water: Carnival Corp. (NYSE: CCL) will ditch 18 ships in its fleet — a capacity reduction of about 12%. It also projected a third-quarter loss of $2.9 billion, blowing estimates for a $1.66 billion loss out of the water.
- And Fire in the Sky: DraftKings Inc. (Nasdaq: DKNG) signed a multiyear agreement with Walt Disney Co.’s (NYSE: DIS) ESPN for exclusive daily fantasy sports content, including ESPN’s website and fantasy app.
Now, with those beasts of burden out of the way, let’s see what market news really got under my thumb today.
But first, a word from our sponsor: Everyone is talking about 5G, but nobody’s talking about what it takes to make 5G happen!
The biggest tech companies have invested hundreds of millions — even billions — to acquire a critical 5G resource. And one company is positioned to reap the biggest rewards. (Its shares trade for under $10 to boot.)
Going: Curb Your Enthusiasm
Another Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) event happened today. Honestly, I didn’t watch it, and it happened so late in the day (10 a.m. Pacific time — that’s 1 p.m. to those of us on Eastern time) that Great Stuff would’ve been delayed. And we can’t have that, now can we?
But don’t worry. We’ve both been around long enough to know how these things go.
Apple unveiled incremental improvements to its Apple Watch and its iPad lineups. It revealed software release dates and talked up improving demand heading into the holiday shopping season.
The company may have even hinted that the newest iteration of the iPhone would arrive in October. All the analysts are saying it will be October, so it must be true. And this iPhone will have — gasp! — 5G capabilities.
Once again, Apple is playing from behind on the technology front.
Android phones have had 5G for several months now. But cutting-edge technology isn’t why people buy Apple products. They buy for the ease of use. They buy for the design. They buy because all their friends have them — or so I’m told by some of my Apple friends.
Today’s Apple product launch event will accomplish all of these things. So, I guess that’s a good thing, if a boring thing for tech-enthusiast investors.
Going: Chips Need Ham
No, we’re not talking bacon — mmmm, bacon. We’re talking Needham Analyst Rajvindra Gill and his latest take on Nvidia Corp. (Nasdaq: NVDA).
I know it’s not pronounced “Need Ham,” but I can’t help but read it that way. And now you’re cursed as well. Mwahaha!
That’s a lot of scrapple from Nvidia, but Needham’s Gill was unfazed. He reaffirmed his buy rating on NVDA and lifted his price target from $600 to $700.
Gill didn’t just ham it up with platitudes, however.
He believes the deal “will create the leading artificial-intelligence computing platform in the semiconductor industry,” and contribute significantly to Nvidia’s bottom line “once revenue growth accelerates.”
Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley Analyst Joseph Moore was more cautious on whether you should goetta in on NVDA. “It will take time to assess Nvidia’s objectives,” Moore noted, but “the opportunity appears most clear in the smartphone space, where … it seems clear that Nvidia can enhance Arm’s offerings.”
The takeaway is clear: If Nvidia can successfully leverage its graphics processing might with Arm’s smartphone expertise, we’re possibly looking at the new semiconductor sausage king of smartphones. Take that, Abe Froman.
Gone: Generally Speaking
Get comfortable, Great Stuff Picks readers, because this story won’t go away anytime soon.
Yesterday, Nikola responded to Hindenburg’s claims. Today, Hindenburg responded to Nikola’s response — with large, edgy bold font nonetheless.
Tomorrow will probably bring a response to the response’s response. Honestly, it’d be easier if they both just met on the playground at lunch at this point.
But Hindenburg’s gassy response to Nikola’s response isn’t the juicy tidbit of news that you need to know right now. That honor lies with General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) — the new owner of an 11% stake in Nikola.
During a conference with RBC Capital Markets, GM CEO Mary Barra told attendees that GM “has worked with a lot of different partners and we’re a very capable team that has done the appropriate diligence.”
The statement both implies that GM is no slouch when it comes to making deals and that Nikola isn’t hiding anything — or, if it is, GM knows and deemed the risks acceptable.
The bottom line here is that while Nikola has the name, the ideas and the technology, GM runs the production show. GM could make this happen by itself. And with $2 billion on the line, there’s no reason to think it won’t. That’s good news for both NKLA and GM investors.
Despite GM’s assurance, NKLA traded down roughly 6% today. Apparently, many investors just found out about the Securities and Exchange Commission’s involvement — even though it was widely reported yesterday.
Once again, this weakness in NKLA works in your favor if you haven’t already gotten in on this major player in the electric vehicle market. And for Great Stuff Picks readers, continue to hold NKLA. I still believe you’ll be rewarded for your patience.
In today’s Quote of the Week, I show you how to see through the vague veneer of tech market BS.
And we know that tech companies are usually those “shoot for the moon” types that hype up their manufacturing might, right?
Heck yeah, Mr. Great Stuff, especially when it’s game-on time for new consoles.
Exactly right! Well today, reports came out that Sony cut its PlayStation 5 estimates from 15 million to 11 million units.
Oh no! That’s like … 4 million fewer PS5s in the works. Why?
I’ll stop replying to the voices in my head for the quote: Sony “has come up against manufacturing issues, such as production yields as low as 50% for its SoC.”
Let’s stop it right there so I can hit you with the red flags, quick and dirty:
- SoC: system on a chip. An all-in-one, can-do computer chip workhouse.
- “Yield” is a fancy shmancy figure that’s all the rage in the semiconductor biz, since it measures how many microchips function correctly inside one big chip. Lower yields, worse chips. Yes, this glosses over the nitty gritty nerdy goodness, but I said quick and dirty.
- Chip whiz and Great Stuff Pick Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (Nasdaq: AMD) designed those PlayStation 5 chips.
- Longtime chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM) built those PlayStation 5 chips.
- Neither has ever hit yields as low as 50% on production-level chips. No company in its right ethereal corporate mind would go into production with those results.
Something else is up, and it isn’t just Microsoft’s Xbox hopes. This probably has more to do with Sony’s side of the production street than AMD, TSM or anything else. In other words, if it smells like a classic case of “lower your expectations before we miss them” … then it probably is.
Now, one other note for your detective’s cap: Only Bloomberg has reported on this story … so far (I am but an email stuck in time, after all). And when I see Bloomberg’s only source is everybody’s favorite mysterious “people in the know,” I have about as much confidence in the whole situation as I do with gas station sushi.
Like Icarus, even Sony strays too close to the production sun sometimes.
Great Stuff: Feedback! Get Yer Feedback Here!
I told you that it was a grab bag of greatness today in the mixed market waters — and it’s all the more reason for us to hear from you! What stock soap operas and market malaise are you most interested in this week?
Any teeming thoughts while you’re looking at headlines these days?
Some of you have already written in to share your feedback and weird flak, and we love it all.
Oh, and thank you Aashish J. for what just might be the most heartwarming email we’ve seen in a sea of heartburn-inducing and jumpin’ jack geopolitical rants! (But you bet we get a kick reading those too.)
Whatever’s on YOUR mind, share it with firstname.lastname@example.org.
Until next time, stay Great!
Editor, Great Stuff


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SpiceJet launches another promotional airfare schemetext_fields
New Delhi: Budget carrier SpiceJet Monday launched another promotional fare scheme offering up to 75 percent off the base fare plus fuel surcharge for travel between April 1 and June 30 2014.
The new promotional scheme comes after the low cost carrier (LCC) launched two previous discount scheme that led to other airlines also offer the promotional fares.
The airline said that under its ‘Super Summer Sale’, passengers can avail 75 percent off on base fare booked from Feb 24-Feb 26 for the travel period between April 1 and June 30 2014.
“These advance purchase offers are a win-win for customers, for airlines, and for the travel industry and the economy overall, as it leads to significant demand stimulation, customers get to enjoy deeply discounted fares, airlines get to reduce wastage of seats,” Sanjiv Kapoor, chief operating officer, SpiceJet said.
Under the new scheme, the airfare between New Delhi and Mumbai will drastically come down to Rs.3,373 from the spot fare of Rs.11,148.
“These flash sales are becoming a regular feature in the first few months of the year. Besides stimulating demand, these are also prompting Indians to plan their travel in advance, as these sales encourage travel planning in a particular timeframe and at least a month in advance from the date of the promotions,”said Vikram Malhi, general manager, south and southeast Asia, Expedia.
“We are already seeing strong demand on the key leisure destinations like Goa, Kerala and bookings have more than doubled post the announcement. We expect other airlines to follow suit with similar discounts as these prices are sure to strike a chord with the leisure traveller,”said Sharat Dhall, president, Yatra.com.


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Adults Only: Parents say ideal vacation includes open bar, separate room for kids
Wednesday 26, February 2014
When it comes to booking a family vacation, it appears Canadian parents are more inclined to book a trip that better serves their interests over that of their kids.
Recent study reveals that Canadians are more likely to plan a vacation with their family if it is at a discounted price (49 percent) and if there is an open bar (27 percent).
Additionally, 31 per cent of parents surveyed want a hotel or resort that offers adult-only activities and 17 percent want accommodations to include a separate room for the children. That's not to say that parents are ignoring the needs of their kids altogether; 26 percent of respondents say the hotel or resort must also offer special activities for the kids to keep them occupied.
While it has been a cold and snowy winter for much of Canada, 79 percent of Canadians surveyed said that they are not planning to go away this March compared to 46 per cent of Americans, who are arguably having a warmer winter. Indeed, only 21 percent of Canadians surveyed say they will travel to escape winter. Instead, they are opting to stay home during their time off. Thirty-six percent of Canadians surveyed reported that a "staycation" in their hometown is less affordable than it used to be. Time to fill up the fridge, Mom? Twenty-two percent of Canadian parents surveyed found that when their kids are home during their March break, household spending tends to increase.
"A trip or activities for the whole family during March Break can be costly and time-consuming to plan," says Angela Self, co-founder of Smart Cookies. "But doing your research ahead of time to hunt for discounts will help you find the best deals for either getting away or planning a fun staycation."
The survey also reveals that of all Canadians who travel, over half (65 percent) book their vacation online, compared to 75 percent of their tech-savvy neighbours south of the border. However, the majority of respondents from Atlantic Canada (52 percent) prefer not to book online. Reasons for traveling also differ. Of the most popular reasons Canadians travel, stress relief topped the list (45 percent), followed by more time with the family (34 percent) and to experience other cultures (34 percent).
"With so many Canadians using the Internet every day, it's very surprising that one in three don't book their trips online," says Angela. "Online resources and savings tools are excellent ways to save you time and money."
Other survey findings include:
More and more travellers think that researching and planning a European city break is half the fun and they're not interested in pre-arranged trips or escorted tours. Self-guided tours offer a lot of advantages but require some guidance and good resources.
With the recent wild fires, disrupting flights and increasing air pollution, environmental quality is a growing factor in attracting tourists.
The hotel price comparison site www.trivago.co.uk has put together a list of the fifteen most spectacular hotel rooftop terraces in the world.


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At the 11th edition of Fruit Attraction, which was held in Madrid last week, Blue Whale presented its new logo, already revealed on June 20th for the 50th anniversary of the company.
For its 50th year of existence, the fair was also the opportunity for Blue Whale to reaffirm its commitments for today and the next 50 years to come. Christophe Belloc, president of the company, addressed the guests: “We have been cultivating good things for 50 years, in several areas. We grow good fruits, our producers are located in the best production basin of France, we cultivate well for our producers, but also for the planet because we produce with the best agricultural practices.”
Today, the HEV (High Environmental Value) certification applies to 25% of the production surfaces of Blue Whale. Next year, all our producers will be HEV certified,” announced Christophe. The company also offers products with the label “zero pesticide residue”, as well as organic products.
The reception was followed by delicious drinks offered by the company.


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NPD: Bigger Screens, HDR Driving TV Replacements
U.S. consumers continue to gravitate to larger and larger TV screen sizes with the number of installed sets measuring 60-inches and larger, up 15% from a year ago, according to data recently released by U.S. market research firm NPD.
At the same time, the average age of a television in an average U.S. home is younger than ever before at 4.9 years, down from 5.4 years in 2019.
The findings were part of NPD’s TV Ownership Trends Report which found the average size of a replacement TV jumped to 51 inches from 49 inches in November 2019, and 47 inches in November 2018.
“This year home entertainment became even more crucial as consumers spent more time at home due to the Covid-19 pandemic. TV sales, among other tech items, saw strong interest and as a result we saw notable shifts in the installed base,” stated John Buffone, Executive Director, Industry Analyst within NPD’s Connected Intelligence. “Without the ability to go to the movies or live entertainment Americans shifted spending to technology that offered at-home opportunities to consume content.”
So far this this year, U.S. TV sales are up 19% compared to the same period a year ago, NPD found. Through Cyber Monday week, 65-inch TV sales increased 27% from the same time in 2019, while 70-inch and above TVs increased by 82%. In total 65-inch and above TVs made up 21% percent of TV sales to endusers, increasing from 18% in 2019 and 13% in 2018. NPD forecasts that by 2022 65-inch and larger TVs will account for 27% of sell-through retail sales.
NPD said screen size has increasingly become a key purchasing motivator for a TV replacement model, along with features including high dynamic range (HDR) and popular media streaming apps.
NPD research found HDR now impacts 13% of replacement TV sales and the availability of apps reportedly drives 31%, up from 23% last year.
“This year consumers saw the value in bigger screens and newer, more modern technology to support their entertainment needs,” stated Stephen Baker, vice president, industry advisor for The NPD Group. “This commitment to new technology and the value it can provide to the consumer will be key for the continued growth in larger screen TVs in 2021 and beyond.”
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By Greg Tarr
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Computer criminals are injecting malicious code into hundreds of thousands of Web pages, including several associated with iTunes, in a stealthy attempt to trick users into purchasing rogue antivirus software.
Discovered on March 29, LizaMoon was initially spotted on 28,000 Web pages, many of which were associated with iTunes RSS and XML feeds — pages used to update podcasts. According to a Google search, more than 380,000 Web pages are now compromised.
Like all scareware ploys, LizaMoon tries to convince users they have a computer virus that can only removed by purchasing (fake) antivirus software.
What makes LizaMoon particularly dangerous is that users who stumble on a corrupted Web page would not necessarily know they’d been infected — simply visiting a genuine-looking Web page could land users in trouble.
Meanwhile behind the scenes, the rogue antivirus software can automatically download on users’ browsers and then pop up later, scaring them into purchasing a fix for a problem they don’t have.
There is some good news for iTunes users, however. Apple prevents the malicious LizaMoon code from automatically executing on users’ computers.
To help avoid becoming a LizaMoon victim, it’s important to employ and update your antivirus software, which can help block the corrupted Web pages and keep your system secure.


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Nike has confirmed it has signed supply deals with PGA Tour golfers Kyle Stanley and Nick Watney, covering equipment and apparel.
The agreements were announced on the same day as Nike confirmed it will be making a major announcement in Abu Dhabi on 14th January. In all liklehood that is expected to be confirmation of world number one Rory McIlroy's multi-million dollar transfer to Nike.
The Stanley and Watney deals are expected to be the first of many golf equipment and apparel deals confirmed in the next few days, with previous contracts having ended on 31st December.
According to Golf Channel, Lucas Glover and former Open champion Stewart Cink have switched from Nike to TaylorMade.


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Panasonic develops new water purification system using photocatalyst technology
Japanese multinational electronics company Panasonic has developed a new water purification system that is capable of decontaminating groundwater in isolated areas.
The newly developed photocatalyst system can detoxify polluted water by harmful heavy metals, such as arsenic, chromium, and persistent organic matter at a reaction rate of up to 100 times that of conventional methods.
The photocatalyst is recyclable and easy to collect from the polluted water after detoxification, making it suitable for small-sized water purification systems in developing countries with requirements for safe and low cost water.
Read more : http://www.water-technology.net/news/newspanasonic-develops-new-water-purification-system-using-photocatalyst-technology


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Upcoming video game The Last of Us Part 2 has an official game store page on PlayStation. It gave us some vital information on what the game’s file size will be.
The Last of Us Part 2 storage space requirement
The official PlayStation page revealed that TLOU2 will require players to have a free storage space of at least 100 GB if they purchase it digitally. It also revealed that the physical game will have two discs to play. Just like Red Dead Redemption 2 and the recently released Final Fantasy VII Remake.
Even though the game was first announced to be delayed indefinitely, Sony then announced later on that it will launch on a later time. It will now launch on June 19, which was sooner than some fans expected. It will be released on PlayStation 4.


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A Southern California class action firm “is accused of bribing cash-strapped 20-somethings to serve as lead plaintiffs and submit false testimony.” The firm, Newport Trial Group, is active in many categories of litigation readers of this site may find familiar, including suits over alleged food and cosmetic mislabeling, slack fill, and failure to advise customers that their phone calls were being recorded, and its founder has also been listed as counsel in multiple suits against large corporations over web accessibility and claims of patent infringement by non-practicing entities. [Jenna Greene, American Lawyer Litigation Daily courtesy Texans for Lawsuit Reform]
Ironically, the complicated and protracted litigation that led to the new setback arose not from the numerous suits the law firm or its founder filed against household-name national companies, but from one against a purveyor of nutritional items and supplements such as colloidal silver. Excerpt:
The district court judge, James Selna, explained his reasoning in a June 12 decision that does not bode well for the firm.
Natural Immunogenics, he wrote, “has put forth sufficient evidence to support its contention that defendants operated a fraudulent scheme to manufacture litigation.”
“Specifically, NIC has established that in camera review may reveal evidence that defendants have a pattern of manufacturing litigation, which involves the [Newport Trial Group] defendants identifying companies vulnerable to false advertising or wiretap litigation, recruiting individuals to serve as lead plaintiffs, instructing the individuals on exactly what steps to take to give them the appearance of having suffered actionable injuries, and concealing and misrepresenting the contrived nature of the lawsuits from the courts.”


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It has been confirmed that Derby's Debenhams will close for good as the chain's new owners announced plans to shut all of its stores.
The iconic retail chain has been in financial difficulties for some time and there has been growing concern for the future of staff, with the Derby store surviving a recent raft of branch closures.
It has now been confirmed that the company's brand and website have been bought by online fashion retailer Boohoo in a £55 million deal.
However, this deal does not transfer ownership of the brand's stores, meaning liquidators will continue closing the retailer’s sites once they are allowed to open again when Covid-19 lockdown restrictions are lifted.
Adam Tamsett, general manager at the Derby Centre, said: “We’re sorry to hear that all Debenhams stores will close following the news of the sale to Boohoo.
"Debenhams is a much-loved brand with a long history in Derby and our thoughts are with all Debenhams’ employees affected.
“Our customers can rest assured that we are working closely with both existing and new brands to deliver a great mix of stores and experiences, and we’re confident that we will continue to be a popular venue for shoppers and retailers.”
Russell Rigby, one of Derby’s leading commercial property agents, says the closure is another blow for the retail industry as it goes through a "dark time" amid the coronavirus pandemic.
He does not believe there is another retailer currently in a position to takeover a store of the size of Derby's Debenhams, which spans over three floors of the city shopping centre.
Mr Rigby, who runs Pride Park-based Rigby and Co, said: "It has been coming as Debenhams has been trading with some difficulty for a long time now - it has been played out publicly, but it doesn't make the end any easier.
"It's sad and you feel for the staff. It is quite a dark time for retail.
"While there are retailers which could go into spaces of more modest proportions, that Debenhams store is a big one.
"I'd find it hard to imagine another retailer filling it all, but perhaps it could be split over different levels.
"I know that Cale Street, who are running the mall, are starting to think very creatively and imaginatively about bringing in other uses for space in the centre, not just out-and-out retailers."
It looks unlikely that many of the remaining 12,000 jobs across the company will be saved.
Boohoo said the deal represents a “fantastic opportunity” to target new customers and launch into the beauty, sports and homewares market for the first time
The company highlighted that Debenhams has six million beauty shoppers and 1.4 million Beauty Club members.
Boohoo said: “The group intends to rebuild and relaunch the Debenhams platform, helping further the group’s stated ambition to lead the fashion ecommerce market, and grow into new categories including beauty, sport and homeware.”
Boohoo has previously bought a number of well-known high street brands out of administration, turning them into online-only operations, including Oasis, Coast and Karen Millen.
Boohoo chief executive John Lyttle said: “The acquisition of the Debenhams brand is an important development for the group, as we seek to capture incremental growth opportunities arising from the accelerating shift to online retail.”
Founder and executive chairman Mahmud Kamani said: “Our acquisition of the Debenhams brand is strategically significant as it represents a huge step which accelerates our ambition to be a leader, not just in fashion e-commerce, but in new categories including beauty, sport and homeware.”
Geoff Rowley, joint administrator for Debenhams and partner of FRP Advisory, said: “We are pleased to have secured the future for this great brand, and to have created the opportunity for a new Debenhams-branded business to emerge in a different shape beyond the pandemic.
“I expect that the agreement with Boohoo may provide some job opportunities but we regret that this outcome does not safeguard the jobs of Debenhams’ employees beyond the winding-down period.”


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The good folks over at Audi know a thing or two about speed. Today Audi is back with a look into the future, offering a look at the 2019 Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo. This incredible machine was designed as a turn-key race car, and its set to make its official debut at the Paris Motor Show. The ride features an aggressive look to match its power, doing so while rocking an Evo kit for existing customers around the world.
The 2019 Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo comes with updated aerodynamics and a modified look on the front end. A new splitter has been added for upgraded downforce, while also improving airflow to the rear brakes. The new bonnet was key to keeping the car cool, enhancing the durability of the motor in the process. The ride is powered by a massive 5.2-liter V10 engine which pushes 580 bhp. Audi’s goal was to create a racing car for gentlemen drivers, as opposed to professionals.
The car features all of the aforementioned details, though if you have picked up an LMS in the past few years, you can retrofit the improvements to your existing ride. Check out the latest design from Audi in the images below and let us know what you think in the comments below. Keep it locked for much more from Audi coming very soon.


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The West Point Mint Hoard of Silver Eagles by Bullion Shark LLC ……
In a surprise move, the United States Mint announced in late 2019 that it had sold 183,781 2016-W American Silver Eagles in a closed bid sale.
What made this move unusual is that before the announcement the collecting community was unaware that the Mint was carrying such a large quantity of unsold stock of the 2016-W Proof. Typically, all leftover Silver Eagles (coins unsold at the end of the year, if you can believe it) are removed from their packaging and melted down in a process known as “de-trashing”. This unprecedented sale by the Mint effectively raised the overall mintage of the issue by 30%.
The 2016-W Proof Silver Eagle is no ordinary Silver Eagle. The 2016-W Proof release marked the 30th anniversary of the series and unlike every issue in the series that came before, this coin featured a unique lettered edge. For devoted fans of the series, the release had a special cache due to the significance of its release.
Most of these coins have been spirited away to IRA accounts, it has been reported, but now entering the market for the first time is a small percentage of that unsold 183,781 2016-W American Silver Eagles in certified grades, with coins graded by PCGS and NGC. Dubbed the West Point (“WP”) Mint Hoard, the coins have graded out beautifully and are free of milk spots.
Additionally, both PCGS and NGC are keeping tabs on this release by reporting the number of coins graded in their own categories.
As a retailer of modern numismatic and semi-numismatic coins, we can report that collectors are indeed curious about the West Point Mint hoard issue. We have received a few hundred pieces, but it’s unclear whether more will be available, even to us, once this stock sells out.


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The redesigned Naira notes by the central bank of Nigeria (CBN} is set to increase cashless transactions and fintech penetration among the banked and unbanked population in the economy.
A report titled ‘Instant Payments-2020 Annual Statistics’ by Nigeria interbank settlement scheme (NIBSS) stated that COVID-19 had changed the e-payments landscape, and hastened the adoption of instant payments as people switch to electronic channels for funds exchange.
In 2012, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) introduced the cashless policy which was meant to curb excessive the handling of cash and curtail the volume of cash in circulation.
More importantly, the policy was introduced to drive the development and modernisation of payment systems capable of placing Nigeria among the top 20 economies in the world.
Godwin Emefiele, the CBN Governor said during the presentation of the 145th communique that over time the circulation of N500 and N1000 notes will reduce as he said its availability in large volumes is partly responsible for the inflationary pressure.
Nigeria’s headline inflation rate has accelerated for the ninth consecutive month to 21.09 percent in October 2022 from 15.60 percent in January, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
Gloria Fadipe, head of research, FCMB said there is a high chance for fintech penetration, based on the CBN directive on the withdrawal of funds by bank customers.
According to the directive from the CBN banking public can access bank branches in the 36 states of the federation to deposit their current N200, N500, and N1,000 notes, without any bank charges borne by the customer.
“Only the CBN can determine whether charges will be imposed on customers during withdrawals, based on that, customers will have no choice but to leave their money in their accounts and switch to electronic channels to avoid the further cost.”
“This will undoubtedly increase the value and volume of transactions through payment systems such as electronic/internet banking, mobile apps, ATM, Cards/PoS, eNaira, and agent banking,” she said.
Chinedu Onuoha, chief executive officer at Mzuri, said the currency redesign will shepherd more people into adopting digital payments.
“As we approach the January 31, 2023 deadline more and more merchants will be worried about the risk of collecting old notes which they may not be able to change, insisting on new notes means they have to forgo some sales.”
He further stated that a sudden demand for non-cash payment options will be imposed by these merchants in order to avoid running at a loss.
Josemaria Agulanna, Co-founder of Keble, said.”It’s no doubt that most people will use online banking and this will definitely improve the performance of neo-banks.”


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Around Tuesday morning, Amazon Prime Video accidentally released in India, a reddit post pointed out. The release was probably unintentional, since the service was only accessible through the Android app, which is not available on Google Play in India yet. The app now throws up an error and the catalogue is inaccessible. MediaNama accessed the app and browsed the catalogue over the day, and this is what we found: Catalogue Amazon has several titles in Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, and Telugu; there was also a relatively limited number of English-language films. The service also featured quite a few major features, like Sultan, Kabali, Kapoor & Sons, Rock On!!, and Fan. There were also some smaller critical hits like Titli, Citylights, and the restored version of Kamal Swaroop's 1988 surreal film Om-Dar-B-Dar, which has not had a home video release after…
- India’s I&B ministry blocks eight YouTube channels for ‘spreading fake news’ August 18, 2022
- Delhi police’s reply to IFF RTI shows FRT may worsen religious-bias in policing August 18, 2022
- Attend Our Briefing: Impact Of The Competition Bill On Startups August 18, 2022
- TLDR: Assam internet block, India G24, TikTok, Twitter, Big Tech, drones for healthcare, more August 18, 2022
- How Google’s location tracking led to a $42 million penalty in Australia August 17, 2022
MediaNama’s mission is to help build a digital ecosystem which is open, fair, global and competitive.
Do we have an enabling system for the National Data Governance Framework Policy (NDGFP) aiming to create a repository of non-personal data?
A viewpoint on why the regulation of cryptocurrencies and crypto exchnages under 2019's E-Commerce Rules puts it in a 'grey area'
India's IT Rules mandate a GAC to address user 'grievances' , but is re-instatement of content removed by a platform a power it should...
Why ‘group privacy’ should be recognised, and how ‘non-personal’ data becomes a regulatory blindspot
There is a need for reconceptualizing personal, non-personal data and the concept of privacy itself for regulators to effectively protect data
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October 12, 2016
For Immediate Release
ABOX Packaging Relocates Headquarters to Forney
FORNEY, TX – The City of Forney is proud to announce that the ABOX Packaging Company will soon be relocating its headquarters to Forney. ABOX Packaging recently acquired the Forney Sports Center and hope to begin operations from the 110,000-square-foot beginning in January.
“We are extremely pleased ABOX chose Forney, Texas to relocate its headquarters,” said Forney Economic Development Director Warren Ketteman. “The interest in our community continues to grow as companies discover what Forney is about, with its close proximity to two major interstates, highly-educated workforce and award-winning schools, all within a twenty-minute drive from Dallas.”
Employing over 140 certified professionals, ABOX is a full-service packaging company that provides many of the folding cartons, window packaging and beverage carriers, for products that you use almost every day. For more information about ABOX Packaging, please visit www.aboxpackaging.com.
For more information, contact:
James Fisher, City Manager 972.564.7300
Kyle Rouvaldt, Public Information Officer 972.571.0762


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Economic reports signal growth
The economic recovery seems on track for slow but steady gains after new reports Tuesday showed growth in manufacturing activity, construction spending and contracts to buy homes.
Published 5:41 pm, Tuesday, December 1, 2009
NEW YORK - The economic recovery seems on track for slow but steady gains after new reports Tuesday showed growth in manufacturing activity, construction spending and contracts to buy homes.
The batch of new economic data lifted spirits on Wall Street. But analysts cautioned that the economy won't come roaring back from the worst recession in seven decades. Some say the rebound's modest growth could falter next year as unemployment keeps rising.
"We have a recovery, but it is going to be a slow one," said David Wyss, chief economist at Standard & Poor's in New York. "People are still reluctant to add workers."
In one hopeful sign, the Institute for Supply Management said its manufacturing index showed growth in November for a fourth straight month. The reading of 53.6 was slightly lower than October's 55.7. But any reading above 50 indicates growth.
Economists were especially encouraged that new orders - a gauge of future production - jumped last month. Of the 17 industries surveyed, 13 reported higher orders.
- FOX Business Beat: Disney bonuses withheld; no phone discount Fox5DC
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A second report on construction spending from the Commerce Department also signaled growth, with the first overall increase in six months. The increase was slight - just 0.04 percent. But it appeared to indicate that the construction sector is stabilizing.
The October rebound was fueled by a 4.4 percent surge in residential construction, the largest gain in more than a decade. Builders rushing to begin work before the expiration of a tax credit for first-time home buyers propelled the increase. The credit has since been extended and expanded to some existing homeowners.
A third positive report showed that the number of home buyers who signed contracts to buy previously occupied homes rose for the ninth straight month in October. This increase, too, came as buyers rushed to take advantage of the home buyer tax credit.
Every region enjoyed year-over-year gains in pending sales, according to the report by the National Association of Realtors. Typically, there's a one- to two-month lag between a contract and a final deal so the index tends to anticipate future sales.
On Wall Street, major stock indicators posted strong gains, partly on the belief that the latest reports pointed to a sustained economic rebound. The Dow Jones industrial average traded above 10,500 for the first time since October last year. The Dow ended the day 126.74 points, or 1.2 percent, higher at 10,471.58, its highest close since October 2008.
The broader Standard & Poor's 500 index gained 13.23, or 1.2 percent, to 1,108.86, while the Nasdaq composite index rose 31.21, or 1.5 percent, to 2,175.81.
In the ISM report on manufacturing, analysts were impressed that new orders jumped past 60 for the third time in the past four months. The last such streak was in 2005.
"U.S. factories continue to benefit from rising global demand, a weakening dollar, inventory rebuilding and a modest pickup in consumer spending," said Sal Guatieri, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets.
The fate of the recovery will depend, in part, on whether consumers will spend even as unemployment keeps rising. The jobless rate for November, a figure the government will release Friday, is expected to remain at a 26-year high of 10.2 percent.
According to estimates to be released today, consumers were willing to buy in some sectors last month.
Electronics sellers and online merchants thrived in November, particularly the start of the holiday shopping season, but clothing and luxury merchants struggled, according to the estimates.
The figures come ahead of reports set for Thursday by major retailers on November sales.
Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst at market research firm NPD Group, says that what's comforting is that shoppers, who had slashed their spending all year, bought plenty of items for themselves this past weekend. That means there's plenty of gift buying to go, he said.


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Apple later got here out and mentioned the vans have been associated to a mapping project, but they were undoubtedly the catalyst that led to the invention of Apple’s secret on a car. Apple has developed a lot of the necessary software, processing hardware, and AI algorithms for an autonomous car, however it still wants sensor hardware. LiDAR sensors are designed to let the Apple Car detect and map its surroundings. Apple is testing LiDAR setups within the Lexus SUV autos that it has driving on the streets of California. Foxconn is the principle assembler of iPhones, and in addition recently unveiled an electric vehicle chassis and a software platform to assist carmakers bring models to market faster. Contract manufacturer Magna is purportedly one other chance, however Apple may select to fabricate the car itself.
- Not solely is Endurance one of the best automobile safety plan on the market, however


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An eye-tracking study by Artificial Intelligence company GumGum has found that the most widely-used formats of mobile ads were “unnoticed”, as 1,200 trialed users scrolled through web content on their mobile phones.
The mobile ad formats in question were the most commonly-used Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) formats, such as banners, which were only seen for an average of 1.43 seconds.
Banner ads which were permanently fixed at the bottom of the screen were even less effective according to the study, garnering just 0.8 seconds on average of viewing time.
With figures from eMarketer projecting that advertisers will spend over £139 billion on mobile in 2018, the findings highlight that billions of pounds could be wasted on ineffective advertising.
“Old ad standards simply aren’t working because consumers are becoming ‘banner blind’,” said Phil Schraeder, president and COO of GumGum.
“They’re so savvy about these formats, they’re willfully ignoring adverts online. It’s time for advertisers to consider new, rich media formats that are integrated into the content we see online.”
While standardised IAB mobile ad formats did not perform well, the study – which created heat maps as a visual representation of where user attention was most concentrated – showed that ads integrated into the editorial performed best.
Users spent over 300% more on these integrated adverts – such as those dynamically tailored to the page where they are served – compared to the average of the standard IAB ads – and resulted in a 50% boost in consumer brand recall.
The question of whether mobile advertising is matching the pace of a “mobile-first world” was raised recently on PerformanceIN by Marfeel’s Alexian Chiavegato, who claimed the reality of advertising on mobile “trails far behind the glory”.


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Back in March Xiaomi promised to bring the Mi 11 series to India and while the Mi 11 Ultra did arrive in April, the more affordable members of the series have been MIA. That will change in a couple of weeks’ time.
The company tweeted that the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite will arrive on June 22 at 12 noon. It didn’t specify which variant, so we assume this means the 4G version. There’s a 5G model with some differences, the biggest of which is the Snapdragon 732G vs. 780G chipset.
Anyway, we’ve already reviewed the Mi 11 Lite (4G) and even did a video on it if you want to learn more about the phone….
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Mobike has become the latest company to release its dockless bikes on the streets of London.
The Beijing-based bike-hiring company rolled out the first of 750 bikes in the West London borough of Ealing on Tuesday, joining four other new arrivals taking on existing schemes.
The company's silver and orange bikes can be picked up and parked without the use of a dock. Riders unlock a bike by scanning a QR code with the Mobike app, which is available on Android and the Apple Store.
New users pay a promotional deposit of 29 pounds ($38.50), and rides cost 50p for 30 minutes.
The launch saw Mobike competing against rival Chinese company Ofo in a British city for the first time.
Ofo introduced 200 of its yellow bicycles in Hackney, East London, last week after launching its UK operation in Cambridge earlier this year. Mobike has had a presence in Manchester since June.
The two companies are key players in China’s famed "bike wars," with dozens of bike-sharing rivals competing for market share in hundreds of cities across the nation.
Firms from other countries have also entered the London market.
Singapore-based oBike rolled out hundreds of cycles in Wandsworth, while Irish firm Urbo is due to introduce 250 bikes to Waltham Forest.
Companies have targeted London boroughs that are not well-served by the Santander Cycle docked bike scheme.
"Ealing had wanted the Santander Cycles for quite some time, but it's quite far out (from central London) and they are expensive to put in place," said Steve Pyer, UK general manager for Mobike. "We just had to make sure that all the approvals with the council were in place, and that we had set up the preferred locations for the bikes."
Julian Bell, leader of Ealing Council, said he sought assurances the bikes would not clutter public areas, a problem that currently plagues many Chinese cities.
"I was very enthusiastic about the concept," said Bell. "I felt it had more flexibility than a docking cycle hire scheme. Equally, I was concerned about all those pictures you see on social media of mountains of discarded bikes, so parking was the key issue."
Mobike has GPS trackers on all of its cycles and hopes "geo-fencing" will encourage users to deliver bikes back to high use areas.
Users who fail to park bikes in designated parking spaces highlighted on the Mobike app will incur penalties and future rides may be more expensive.
Pyer said that location data will also be shared with the council to aid decisions on new infrastructure.
From China Daily


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The Northwoods Wildlife and Wetlands Club has partnered with the Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce to host a Chamber Live After 5 on Tuesday, June 5, 2018. The Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce sponsors Live After 5 events to promote member businesses and non-profit organizations in the community.
In addition to raffles, delicious food, and cold beverages, there will be a ribbon cutting to celebrate the Club’s new garage. Light refreshments and beverages will be available starting at 5pm at the Northwoods Wildlife and Wetlands Club Range on Range Road and Hwy 51, just 5 miles south of downtown Mercer.
This event is open to the public. For more information about Chamber Live After 5 and other activities visit mercercc.com, call the Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce office at 715.476.2389, or email email@example.com


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- Development & Aid
- Economy & Trade
- Human Rights
- Global Governance
- Civil Society
Sunday, September 27, 2020
PORT OF SPAIN, Nov 20 1997 (IPS) - Trinidad and Tobago is recording some progress in fighting one of the more pervasive problems of Caribbean territories — the inability of small countries to adequately feed themselves.
Experts here are finding that in addition to rendering existing modes of production more efficient, new alternative bases of production can provide a viable source of local food and increase, in turn, the sector’s contribution to exports.
The 3,000 year old practice of aquaculture has been specifically targeted for exploitation by the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) which is looking at improving old modes of production and introducing new approaches.
IMA researcher Paul Gabbadon says aquaculture offers the country the option of “sustaining production, maintaining businesses and a way to generate income.”
“It offers a viable means of producing food and aquatic products for profit without detrimental effects to the environment,” he says. He points to the fact that aquaculture now produces 15 percent of the world’s fish and more than 25 percent of the shrimp market.
Total world production is more than 2.2 billion pounds annually, representing more than 20 billion dollars a year.
“The shortfall in marine fisheries stock, the effects of pollution on existing stocks and the unavailability of some products locally … emphasise the importance of aquaculture for future development,” Gabbadon says.
“Trinidad and Tobago has good potential for aquaculture production and possesses many of the resources required to support a growing aquaculture industry,” he says. “These resources include but are not limited to … good water, solids with substantial clay content, flat terrain, a long growing season, access to markets, infrastructure, funding and technical expertise.”
Research here has covered many areas. There have been studies on hatchery methodologies, production systems and the marketing of aquaculture products for local available species. The products being looked at include the black conch, cascadura, tilapia and freshwater prawns.
Gabbadon says there is much interest in these areas and, already, a few producers are involved in commercial endeavours.
He however believes that some opportunities are going abegging. “The sad fact is that farmers, entrepreneurs and businessmen have not grasped the opportunities for this non-traditional crop or business venture.”
In traditional areas, though, there have been improvements. The country’s food import bill is, according to the Basdeo Panday administration, on a path of consistent decline after reaching 2.2 million dollars last year and accounting for under 13 percent of all imports.
The ratio is skewed because of increases on a number of other import accounts, but forecasts of a further fall in the cost of all food imports for 1997 are matched by improvements in agricultural outputs.
In 1996, local agricultural output improved by seven percent and in the first quarter of this year the sector improved its income by 14 percent over the same period last year.
“I firmly believe that we should continue to attract more people into agriculture to enhance the purchasing power of the peoples of the rural communities,” Panday told agriculturalists recently.
But researchers are stressing that the vision of what the sector constitutes has to be expanded. “Aquaculture is an alternative means of food production, a business and an opportunity for the future,” Gabbadon says.
He however advises that there are risks. “Aquaculture is much more than stocking fish in a pond,” he says. It is a risky and sometimes expensive form of agriculture.”
He identifies under-capitalisation, a failure to realise that the product is a live animal, poor marketing practices and poor management as the main obstacles. “Intensive fish culture requires 24 hour per day management and, unless you are willing to provide this type of management, you should look to another enterprise,” Gabbadon says.
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HONG KONG – (ACN Newswire) – China’s entertainment market has already become the second largest in the world, after that of the United States but, even after reaching a market size of RMB1,283 billion in 2017, the industry is not done growing yet.
It is expected that China’s entertainment industry will further grow to RMB3,213.8 billion in 2022, representing a CAGR of 20.2% from 2017, far outpacing the growth of the global industry, according to the iResearch Report.
The remarkable rise of China’s entertainment market has also fueled the growth of Maoyan Entertainment, the largest platform providing innovative Internet-empowered entertainment services in China. Maoyan has grown from an online movie ticketing service provider to a leading integrated platform in the entertainment industry empowering players.
From 2015 to 2017, Maoyan’s revenue surged from RMB596.7 million to RMB2,548.0 million, representing a CAGR of 106.6%. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, sales doubled again to RMB3,062.3 million, from RMB1,534.6 million in the same period of 2017. Maoyan achieved gross profit of RMB1,742 million in 2017, more than five times the RMB298.5 million booked in 2015.
Entertainment market expansion boosts robust growth
To understand Maoyan’s rapid growth, and the potential that lies ahead, it’s necessary to understand the factors fueling the robust growth of China’s entertainment market.
The development of the mobile internet and extensive adoption of mobile payment in China have made the entertainment experience much easier than ever before. Moreover, with the growing spending power and upgrade of consumption, Chinese consumers are willing to pay more for entertainment.
Meanwhile, the entertainment industry is offering better quality content in more diversified and personalized entertainment formats. Consumers with diverse tastes and preferences are enjoying an ever-expanding selection of quality entertainment.
Take the movie market as an example. The number of movie screens in China increased from approximately 13,000 at the end of 2012 to over 51,000 by the end of 2017, with the number of screens per 100,000 capita increasing from 1.0 to 3.7. At the same time, a greater number of high quality domestic movies were also produced by China’s movie industry. China’s movie business and market is entering its golden era.
China is already the second largest movie market in the world after the United States, with box office revenue exceeding RMB60.9 billion in 2018. Even with the highest number of movie screens in the world, the number of screens and movie admissions per capita in China are still at a much lower level compared with those of the United States, which leaves huge potential for future growth.
The rapid growth of the entertainment market has provided a wide track for Maoyan, making it a giant of China’s entertainment industry in just three years.
Expanding value chain to build next-generation service for the entertainment industry
Maoyan has played an important role in the growth of China’ entertainment market as a key industry innovator.
With a one-stop shop for entertainment for consumers, enhancing user engagement and experience with entertainment ticketing, merchandise and in-venue food and beverage pre-ordering, Maoyan has become the leading entertainment service and the largest online entertainment ticketing service platform in China, with monthly active users (MAU) averaging 134.6 million and a market share of 61.3%, as measured by GMV of movie tickets sold in the first nine months of 2018, according to the iResearch Report.
Leveraging its large user base, Maoyan has expanded into ticketing services for entertainment events, including concerts, live performances, exhibitions and sports events, and is the second largest player by GMV in the first nine months of 2018.
Based on the valuable user behavior data generated from its large number of users and their ratings and commentaries, Maoyan has developed profound insights into audience preferences and China’s entertainment industry trends, which enabled Maoyan to enter the entertainment content services business.
As a pioneer in China in the area of providing Internet-based promotion and distribution services for movies, Maoyan quickly became the largest lead distributor of domestic movies. The entertainment content services have become a new growth engine for Maoyan. The revenue from the services jumped by 152.5% in 2017 to reach RMB852 million. In the first nine months of 2018, revenue from entertainment content services further grew to RMB910.2 million, an increase of 121.5% year-over-year, accounting for about 30% of Maoyan’s total revenues.
The increasing user base, diversified entertainment services and valuable data insights have created powerful network effects for Maoyan. The rich entertainment content and services on Maoyan platform are attracting more consumers, leading to more transactions, interactions and feedbacks. The data insights not only enable consumers to make better decisions and enjoy better entertainment, but also empower the entertainment industry to create better content and deliver better services to consumers, which further drives the growth of Maoyan.
Based on its internet technology, big data, both offline operation efficiency and online collaboration, and entertainment business insights, Maoyan is aiming to build next-generation service for the entertainment industry.
Maoyan is well-positioned to expand along the movie industry value chain and into new entertainment sectors based on its capabilities and resources, such as extensive user coverage, brand recognition, data and technology, industry insights and operation expertise. That’s why Maoyan is called a super platform for entertainment service. Obviously, Maoyan has a huge opportunity to scale its business to build a sustainable business model.
Although Maoyan has many stories of success, this is still the first chapter of its long journey to become a great company.


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Designer James Dayton helps shoemaker Allen Edmonds put its best foot forward -- in more ways than one.
When Allen Edmonds Shoe Corp. was looking to open its first new store since 2007, CEO Paul Grangaard tapped an architect whose family name has been synonymous with Minnesota retailing for generations: James Dayton.
Dayton heads James Dayton Design Ltd. (JDD), a Minneapolis-based, 11-person architectural design firm that he founded in 1997. A protégé of architect Frank Gehry, Dayton spent five years working for Gehry's California design firm before returning to Minnesota.
One of the first marketing initiatives Grangaard launched at then-struggling Allen Edmonds was to open a new retail store in the City Center in downtown Minneapolis. That store opened in September 2010.
"Good store design and good retail display and good fixturing promote a lifestyle," said Dayton. "My whole goal in that City Center space was to try and get all that skyway traffic to stop in their tracks and say, 'Wow!' -- not to just run by on their way to lunch."
The store coincidently is just across a skyway from the former flagship store of the old Dayton Hudson Co. (now a Macy's store). Grangaard said that Dayton's design of the City Center store became the template for six more Allen Edmonds stores that have opened in the past 16 months across the country, and will be used in at least four more stores in 2012. Grangaard says all of the stores using Dayton's design have performed above projections.
"We think Jim's done a great job presenting us to the customer in the way that the brand should be presented," said Grangaard.
Said Dayton: "We're trying to make the stores reflect the values of the company, which is very well made everyday shoes."
Success with the store design led Grangaard to the next logical step: Ask the architect to design a new shoe.
"He came up with a boot, which we've named in honor of his heritage the 'Dalton,'" said Grangaard. Dalton is a derivative of Dayton and was also the name of Dayton Hudson Corp.'s bookstore chain -- B. Dalton Booksellers.
Introduced earlier this year, the wing-tip dress boot became the company's top-selling boot and the seventh-best selling style of the fall season.
Turnaround since 2008
Grangaard has led a turnaround of the Port Washington, Wis.-based manufacturer of men's shoes and accessories. After a painful restructuring in 2008, Grangaard has rejuvenated Allen Edmonds sales and increased employment. E-commerce sales have tripled since 2009, and the company expects to end 2011 with record sales of $100 million. The company has added 120 jobs since January and increased company-wide employment to 730.
The City Center store has played a key role in the turnaround.
"That is our lab store," said Grangaard. "We introduce products there to see how well they'll do.''
Dayton's work with Allen Edmonds is an example of how the architecture industry can grow despite the scarcity of new construction projects.
"Architectural thinking has expanded a lot to include fashion, retail and product design and furniture," Dayton said.
Designs of all kinds
JDD specialties include architectural design, integrated interior environments, planning and custom furniture. The firm's projects include work for the Blake School, the Crown Plaza Hotel in Bloomington, the MacPhail Center for Music, and Highpoint Center for Printmaking.
James Dayton also did the design for his cousins' new restaurant, the Bachelor Farmer, in the North Loop neighborhood of Minneapolis opened by Gov. Mark Dayton's sons Eric and Andrew. (James Dayton is the son of Bob Dayton, who owned the women's specialty retail store Harold in the old Conservatory shopping center in downtown Minneapolis.)
Grangaard keeps Dayton's original shoe design sketch in his office and says they'll continue to work together. He's already gotten Dayton to agree to do more shoe designs as well as window displays for the store.
That would take Dayton back to his high school and college days designing window displays for his father.
"It feels very normal for me to be doing window displays,'' Dayton said. "That was the world that I grew up with."
Patrick Kennedy • 612-673-7926


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Amazon’s ad revenue projected to hit $38 billion
Amazon (AMZN) doesn’t break down its advertising revenue as Google (GOOGL), Facebook (FB), and Twitter (TWTR) do. Instead, the company reports its advertising revenue under a category called “other,” which mostly consists of advertising sales but also includes revenue from other service offerings. Amazon’s other revenue grew to more than $10 billion in 2018, more than doubling from the previous year.
According to estimates by Pivotal Research cited by Business Insider, Amazon’s pure advertising revenue was $9.0 billion in 2018 and is poised to grow to $38 billion by 2023. Google, Facebook, and Twitter generated $116.3 billion, $55 billion, and $2.6 billion in advertising revenue, respectively, in 2018.
A $427 billion revenue opportunity
Amazon’s vast audience of more than 300 million consumers globally, extensive data on consumers’ purchasing habits, and consumers’ preference to start their online product search on marketplaces are helping Amazon attract more ad spending. And the opportunity ahead is enormous. Worldwide spending on digital ads hit $273.3 billion in 2018 and is poised to grow to $427.3 billion by 2022, according to eMarketer estimates.
But Amazon is not the only retailer looking to capture advertising dollars. According to a Bloomberg report, traditional retailers like Walmart (WMT), Target (TGT), and Kroger (KR) have watched Amazon build a successful advertising business and are looking to do the same with the hope of making more money from their customers beyond just selling them items.


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Tax, fiscal policy, and economics experts have hailed the Federal Government for suspending the proposed increases in excise duty rates on tobacco, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
According to The Nation, the increases were to be part of the 2023 Fiscal Policy Measures and Tariff Amendments.
Renowned expert in tax and fiscal policy and the Head of Tax and Fiscal Policy at PricewaterhouseCoopers Nigeria,Taiwo Oyedele, praised the Federal Government for listening to the legitimate concerns expressed by players in the industry and engaging with them while postponing the proposed increases in excise duty rates.
He stated that the plan had piqued the interest of key players and organized private sector organisations.
During an interview on Arise Xchange, a business program on Arise TV, Oyedele stated that the government could not afford to execute an excise rate increase.
He claimed that doing so would not only exacerbate the manufacturing sector’s current plight, but would also cause additional economic suffering for the people.
“Glad to hear that the government is no longer going ahead with the proposed increases, it is great that the government, through the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Fiscal Policy Reform Committee, is yielding to the clamour of experts and industry stakeholders.
“I recommend a more collaborative and evidence-driven approach going forward for future changes,” he said.
Similarly, a development economist, Kunle Oshobi, urged the government against the proposed increases in excise tax rates for 2023-2024.
He feels the move amounts to policy inconsistency, which could cause economic distrust, investor skepticism, and disrupt planned private investment.
He expressed grave concern about the beer sector’s precarious outlook in Nigeria, despite long-standing investments in the entire chain.
Oshobi said it was inappropriate for the government to bring more suffering to an already burdened sector hoping to recover.
According to him, implementing the idea based on assumptions rather than data could create further issues in an already uncertain business environment.
Another economist and policy analyst, Osas Akinbo, stated that increasing excise duty on beverages in this economic climate would surely impose a hardship on consumers and beverage businesses.
Data from the industry, he claims, show that demand for beverage items is not inelastic.
Akinbo went on to say that any further increase in excise duty would most certainly have a net negative effect on long-term government income, national GDP, and Nigeria’s corporate image, eroding investor confidence in a market already plagued by volatility.


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Most Popular in:
Sustainability Drives Game Changing Innovation in Beauty
By: Rob Walker, Euromonitor International
Posted: April 4, 2012, from the April 2012 issue of GCI Magazine.
page 2 of 4That the need for plastic innovation had crossed industry borders was illustrated in 2010 when, right on the heels of Coca-Cola’s launch of a 100% sugarcane-based high density polyethylene (HDPE) bottle (for one of its juice brands), Procter & Gamble announced the use of a sugarcane-based packaging for Pantene’s Pro-V Nature Fusion line and its CoverGirl and Max Factor brands [“P&G Announces Plan to Use Innovative Sustainable Packaging”].
The sugarcane, a natural and renewable resource, is a replacement for petroleum, which is identified as the main environmental culprit of a normal plastic bottle’s composition. Sugarcane is also less costly than petroleum, which is vulnerable to erratic price hikes. The innovation has brought sustainable packaging full throttle into the competitive mainstream of beauty and personal care and strengthened P&G’s environmental position.
Leading Beauty Companies Lining Up To Flex Sustainability Credentials
P&G’s main competitors had been focusing on organic and naturally sourced ingredients to beef up their own sustainability credentials. Unilever, for example, recently introduced Timotei Organic Delight, a certified (conforming to the authenticity principles of the COSMEBIO charter) organic line of shampoo, which is said to be free from colorants, silicones, parabens and sulfates.
This type of “free from” claim is increasingly common as a rallying call for eco-conscious consumers. L’Oréal’s Garnier Fructis Pure Clean line of hair care products claims to be free from silicone and parabens, for example, while Beiersdorf’s Nivea Pure & Natural line of skin care flexes similar biodegradable credentials.
That L’Oréal, Unilever and Beiersdorf—the world’s second, third and sixth biggest players in beauty, respectively, according to Euromonitor International—are active in certified natural products is evidence that the eco-category is no longer the exclusive terrain of niche players. This is a strategic shift that has happened over the past two years.


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In our top 10 of 2020, we take a look back Thermo Fisher Scientific’s incredibly fast production ramp-up of viral transport media tubes from 50,000/week to 10 million/week in six months. The effort was remarkable, and made possible by collaboration efforts between the brand owner, OEMs, and partners.
Remote installation and use of Microsoft's Holo Lens also played a role due to travel bans affecting employees in based in Europe. Recently, PMMI released two related resources to help companies navigate this “new to some” virtual arena: the Virtual Factory Acceptance Test (vFAT) guide from the OpX Leadership Network and the Trends in Adoption of Remote Access report.
Continue to the full article here: COVID-19 Test Medium Production Ramped Up By 20,000% in Six Months.


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Technological change—whether completely welcome or not—is coming to Quebec shopping.
Walmart is investing in scan-and-go technology, betting that today’s customers, who increasingly have the option of home delivery, just do not have the patience to stand in line at a grocery store.
“The major chain stores operating in the province of Quebec including Loblaws, Sobeys, Metro, Costco, and Walmart have spent millions of dollars retooling and upgrading their stores strategically,” said Douglas Purdy, president of Belmont Fruits of Outremont, QC
“Mergers, acquisitions, and expansion are in place to compete for precious market share. For example,” Purdy said, “Metro recently purchased in early 2018 Jean Coutu Pharmacy (the largest pharmacy chain in Montreal, QC) for $4.5 billion, while Loblaws purchased Shoppers Drug Mart for $12.4 billion in 2014. Costco also announced a $200 million investment in Quebec last year, including a $100 million distribution center.”
Such machinations mirror changes taking place in the U.S.’s retail sector.
“Canadian companies and/or their U.S. subsidiaries have no choice,” Purdy said, especially in what he calls the reality of Amazon. The retail giant is introducing a PrimeNow grocery delivery service for Canada, so the True North’s current top retailers are forced to up their game.
Purdy said Canada’s own Big Three “are banking on the future and spending millions to maintain their market share by investing in technology such as self-checkout, online grocery services, or pickup services and home deliveries of ready-to-eat meals and groceries.”
Further, Purdy said, “I have many friends and colleagues in the artificial intelligence sector—the technology and programs they foresee for the retail and food sectors in the near future are incredible.”
This is an excerpt from the most recent Produce Blueprints quarterly journal. Click here to read the full article.


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It is now official; the online gaming marketplace G2A has Bitcoin as one of the payment options you can use to buy games and other related digital goods. This follows the signing of a deal between the Hong Kong-based company and Bitpay, a Bitcoin payment processor.
In a statement, Bob Voermans, who is the G2A.COM’s Executive VP of Global Payments, has described Bitpay not only as a trusted partner but also as a great global payment method proposition the company is offering its customers.
He said, “In my estimation this partnership will increase growth for sellers due to the fact that customers will buy more often on the G2A.COM Marketplace.”
G2A is a major player in the gaming space
G2A has a claim as one of the largest platforms that bring together game developers, online game enthusiasts, consumers and enterprises. The company has reported facilitating close to five million transactions in 2014 and supporting about 6 million users in the same period.
The company handles over 700 thousand average monthly transactions while selling digital products in the gaming space such as games, software activation licenses, time-cards for online games, Xbox Live cards and PSN codes.
On his part Marcel Roelants, General Manager BitPay EMEA expressed optimism that G2A accepting Bitcoin will open more opportunities to the cryptocurrency.
Bitpay on the mission to make Bitcoin an everyday currency
Bitpay has been in the forefront in making bitcoin an everyday currency through helping merchants accept it.
Marcel said, “We are delighted to partner with G2A which will help us scale bitcoin payments to a broad gaming audience. By their nature, digital goods like games are borderless. Using bitcoin as a global payment method will complement the online experience.”
Payment is just one solution Bitcoin offers to the online gaming space. Find out the other solution in this Provably Fair infographic.


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Andy Warhol once predicted that, in the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes. That prophecy may be coming true -- in a sideways fashion -- thanks to an autonomous drone camera designed to follow and film you in 15-minute stretches.
The Hexo+, currently in the crowdfunding stage, is a lightweight camera drone that locks onto your image, then automatically follows you at a set distance and angle. Startup Squadrone System, based in Palo Alto, Calif., is aiming the device at the action sports market -- surfers, skaters, snowboarders. But the slickly-produced promo video suggests that the Hexo+ could have a much broader impact.
That's because the drone system doesn't require any remote operator at all, either for the camera or the copter rig itself. Instead, you use your smartphone to initially "frame" yourself within the camera's POV. By way of GPS, image recognition software and various algorithms, the drone then follows you automatically, at speeds of up to 45 m.p.h. -- recording video all the while.
The Hexo+ employs six vertical rotors with a maximum 30-degree tilt to manage the forward motion. The underslung gimbal is designed to lock in with commercial high-def cameras like the GoPro. Battery life so far, in the prototype model, maxes at about 15 minutes.
The Hexo+ project page features footage of extreme sports athletes, along with video of the drone following people in parks and public spaces -- joggers, skateboarders, even a guy walking his dog. It raises the question: What are the safety issues if everyone is being followed by their own personal camera drones?
Antoine Level, CEO of Squadrone System, told DNews that there is no obstacle avoidance system in the Hexo+, although there are plans to incorporate the technology. "It's basically up to you to make sure that you're in an open area, similar to if you were driving a car with a trailer behind you," Level said.
The inspiration for the Hexo+ comes from the action sports world, where filming extreme stunts in the snow or surf can be difficult and expensive, requiring film crews, helicopters or remotely piloted drone systems.
"We really needed something light and packable that was working everywhere, all the time," said Xavier De Le Rue, Squadrone System founder, on the Hexo+ project page. "We spoke to other athletes and filmmakers, and we quickly realized that such a system didn't exist. Basically the only solution was to innovate."
Backers of the Kickstarter campaign can sign up for bargain prices on the Hexo+ once it becomes available -- the company is aiming for a May 2015 release date. Prices range from a $299 DIY kit to a $999 deluxe edition. The project seems to have some momentum, to put it mildly: The initial initial $50,000 Kickstarter fundraising goal has been buried with more than $950,000 in pledges so far. To quote my snowboarding pal Jim: "Whoa."
Check out the Hexo+ video here:


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The NICE Car Company has confirmed its MyCar two-seater electric vehicle will be delivered to customers before Christmas.
Unveiled in 2004 but only launched in the UK at the British Motor Show earlier this year, the MyCar isn't the most powerful EV of 2008, but it's certainly the cutest.
With a range of 60 miles and 40mph, the city runabout goes head-to-head with EV distributor Goingreen and its £9500 G-Wiz i.
The MyCar, which has a slightly cheaper price of £9000, will also compete with NICE's own Mega City.
The MyCar uses a lead acid battery - a relatively old technology compared to the Tesla Roadster's new lithium-ion batteries - and can recharge in 5 hours. Like other EVs, it's exempt from the Congestion Charge.
NICE tells us that orders taken now for the MyCar will be delivered by Christmas 2008.


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|YouTube is the most dominant streaming platform in the worldwide music business.
According to estimates published in the IFPI’s Global Music Report, the video platform was responsible for 46% of all music streaming listening time around the world last year (excluding China).
The figure is based on 2017 research from Ipsos that gauged internet usage by people predominantly aged 16-64 in 13 of the globe’s leading music markets, including the US, UK, Germany, Japan and Sweden. (The research excluded China on the grounds that ‘IFPI is not aware of published figures for music users’ in the territory.)
Paid (subscription) audio platforms claimed 23% of total listening, according to the IFPI, with free audio streaming on 22%. Combined, then, audio streaming platforms were responsible for 45% of all listening – one percent behind YouTube’s estimated haul.
Meanwhile, YouTube has challenged the IFPI’s figures from elsewhere in its report, which were designed to illustrate the much-discussed ‘Value Gap’ in music. The IFPI claims that audio streaming platforms contributed $5.57bn to artist and labels last year, while video platforms (mainly YouTube) paid out just $856m.
A YouTube spokesperson told MBW in response: “In the last 12 months alone, YouTube has paid out over $1 billion dollars to the music industry, just from ads and that number is growing year-over-year due to the licensing deals we have in place with the overwhelming majority of labels, publishers, and collecting societies.” (MBW)