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Earlier this summer, word leaked out about Microsoft using a “reputation management” company to astrotuf Reddit. In the months since that, people have claimed that the person who unveiled the astroturfing was just a troll, but that’s exactly the sort of response these reputation management companies make when they’re exposed for doing what they do.
Now, on the eve of the PlayStation 4 launch with social media exploding over FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt) concerns about the console’s reliability; I’ve learned from a few industry sources a bit of news that causes me to not trust anything. At all. It’s really hard to trust many things I hear about either console that I read on Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, a forum, or even certain blogs/websites due to this news…
According to multiple industry sources, Micrsoft has over 1,000 viral marketers in the field right now “managing the reputation” for the Xbox One versus the Playstation 4. These “reputation managers” are operating over all forms of media, so this just isn’t limited to a few Tweets or message board postings. This includes YouTube videos and Twitch streamers as well. They want all bases covered. And it’s not just to pump up the Xbox One, they want to spread FUD about the PS4 to hopefully convince people on the fence to not buy the system.
To be clear, these aren’t Microsoft employees doing this so if Major Nelson denies it, he’s right from a certain point of view. These are people who work for marketing or reputation management companies, who have been contracted by Microsoft. Plausible deniability.
Microsoft isn’t the only one to do this, EA is also really active with these “reputation management” companies now (especially after being voted the worst company two years in a row).
Also, Sony has done this in the past. Back in 2006, Sony hired a marketing company known as Zipatoni to create a really stupid “All I want for Christmas is a PSP” viral marketing campaign. It was exposed as being fake, and the whole thing blew up in their faces. So I’ve heard they’re not resulting to those sort of tactics this time around, as if a viral marketer is exposed it just makes your company look deceptive. Nintendo doesn’t do it either, as their fans do it for them for free.
Now I’m not coming out and accusing anyone specific for being a viral marketer, I’m just saying to take everything you see or hear that’s vehemently negative or super positive over the next couple weeks with a grain of salt.


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The digital divide in southeast Texas is complex and real. According to recent Census Bureau data, one in ten households do not have an Internet subscription or a computer in Greater Houston – that’s more than 687,000 households.
Comcast’s Executive VP of Digital Equity and Executive VP of Public Policy Broderick Johnson recently visited Great Day Houston to talk about how the company launched pilot programs to help shrink the digital divide. Take a look. 👇
During the appearance, Johnson announced Comcast is giving 150 new laptops to Houston Area Urban League. The devices will support the Urban Tech Jobs Program 2.0 which helps to recruit, train and place unemployed or underemployed individuals in the technology field.
The digital divide includes barriers to digital adoption and access. There is also another key element of the issue that is often ignored – the digital skills gap. According to a National Skills Coalition report, closing that gap can mean significant quality of life improvements.
Here are three key takeaways:
- 92% of jobs available today require digital skills – yet nearly one-third of US workers lack opportunities to build these skills.
- Jobs that require even one digital skill can earn an average of 23% more than jobs requiring no digital skills – an increase of $8,000 in annual income.
- Businesses can save more than $25,000 per position when they offer upskilling opportunities, versus the cost of replacing a worker who departs.
Broderick Johnson also sat down with KPRC2’s Melanie Camp on Houston Life. Camp first featured the company’s pilot program during Fall 2022. Johnson said there’s another pilot program in the works focused on apartment communities. Watch the interview below. 👇

domain: news


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LAS VEGAS — The rich are still spending when it comes to fine jewelry — it’s everyone else who seems to be feeling the pinch.
While there continues to be strong demand for one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces that sell for more than $10,000, jewelers are scrambling to hold on to middle market customers as spending slows and job losses mount. Several companies, such as Gurhan, Anthony Nak, M2 by Mary Margrill, Leslie Greene and Stephen Webster, have augmented their 18-karat gold and gemstone lines with collections in sterling silver. Some firms are even signing deals with mass merchants such as QVC, HSN and Target, as Dominique Cohen did last year.
Talisman Unlimited, the two-year-old California fine jewelry firm founded by husband and wife Michael and Lisa Pitkow, has partnered with HSN to develop a line dubbed MichaeLisa. The Pitkows did their first HSN show on April 23, during which they sold 2,000 pieces in 48 minutes. Prices for the line, which is done in Technibond, HSN’s version of gold-plated metal, with cubic zirconium looks remarkably similar to the firm’s fine jewelry line sold at stores such as Mitchell’s of Westport from $560 to $4,000.
“You can’t tell the difference between the real and the Technibond,” admitted Lisa Pitkow.
Michael Pitkow said the high-end business is doing well, but even at that level there has been a slowdown.
“They might not buy as many pieces [as before],” said Pitkow of his client base. “But they are looking for a great piece.”
Robin Rotenier, the Manhattan-based French jewelry designer, is doing a separate line for QVC. The 14-karat gold-plated QVC line is based on motifs in Parisian architecture and ranges in price from $50 to $250. His signature collection retails from $295 to $3,800. Rotenier’s Rr 2 Rotenier QVC line made its debut April 3.
Anthony Nak, which launched a silver line called 0108 by Anthony Nak, introduced the Atelier by Anthony Nak Collection on QVC in 2007.
“QVC is the best thing we ever did,” said Anthony Camargo, who founded Anthony Nak with women’s wear designer Nak Armstrong.
The Austin, Tex.-based brand is still producing its-18 karat and gemstone line, but has tightened distribution.
“Now we get to pick and choose who we want to do business with,” said Camargo. “We didn’t have that freedom before QVC.”
Industry executives at the recent JCK and Couture fine jewelry trade shows in Las Vegas differed on the downstream effect of appearing on a network like QVC or HSN. Some said it could tarnish a brand’s business at the high end, but others contended growing into these venues is smart diversification.
“The barriers have been changed, you can sell in more than one market,” said Andrew Jassin, managing director of consulting firm Jassin-O’Rourke Group LLC. “Why not have a marketing strategy where you copy yourself before it gets into larger distribution? Good marketers understand that. It pirates your business, but it’s going to be pirated anyway.”
Jassin said while diversifying is wise, designers representing their lower-priced line on TV or in other media could harm their image at the high-end.
Other firms are banking on the silver lining. Stephen Webster, the British fine jewelry firm that launched a silver collection exclusively with Neiman Marcus in 2007, opened up distribution to other retailers this year. The brand is promoting the line with a print advertising campaign featuring Christina Aguilera. The collection retails for $500 to $2,500, far less than Webster’s traditional gold and gemstone pieces that can go up to the tens of thousands of dollars.
The silver collection “has a very chic feel to it,” said Webster chief executive officer Terri Eagle, who is also ceo of Garrard, which is owned by a newly formed holding company related to Ron Burkle’s Yucaipa Cos. “It’s for a customer who loves Stephen Webster that didn’t have access to it before. Young people want cool stuff.”
Eagle said the demand for fine jewelry is still there. The goal for the silver collection is 200 doors, while fine jewelry will stay steady with distribution in 60 doors.
Scott Kay launched a silver line for men at Couture. Gurhan, which uses only pure 24-karat gold or platinum in its jewelry, has introduced a blackened-silver collection. The silver line has details with 24-karat gold, so it still has a luxe feel.
Robert Lee Morris dug into its archives and offered a plethora of options in silver, said its new president, Charles Fieramosca, former president of Bailey, Banks & Biddle.
M2 by Mary Margrill also launched a silver line with some gold and diamond detail.
“The cost of gold is really going up,” Margrill said. “It’s really a hindrance for some people.”
Gold was trading at $894.50 a troy ounce on Friday, compared with $648.80 an ounce a year ago.
David Yurman, which has its foundations in silver, has extended to gold and some diamond jewelry in recent years. This year, however, represents a revitalization in silver jewelry for the brand, according to ceo Paul Blum.
“Silver is becoming more important,” said Blum, pointing to the firm’s blackened silver options with and without diamonds. “It works with the fashion now.”
Blum noted the top end of Yurman products is also selling well, such as limited edition watches, heavy gold and diamond pieces in particular.
“People are still buying gifts,” he said. “Those who are in the shopping lifestyle are still shopping. I am optimistic about the back half of this year. You’re seeing the seeds of recovery here with the retailers.”
Brands such as Henry Dunay and Mikimoto are focusing on the upper strata of the business. Dunay’s latest includes a $120,000 gold cuff with oversize Baroque pearl set atop.
Dunay, who has been designing for 52 years, said, “People are still buying big, but when times like this hit you think I’m in a bad position. I’ve got to lessen my inventory.”
A gold link bracelet from Dunay that cost $14,000 in September 2007 now costs $17,000 due to the increase in gold prices.
Mikimoto sold a rare melo pearl at Baselworld, the Swiss trade show that took place in April. At Couture, the pearl jewelry brand offered a $1.6 million South Sea pearl necklace. A spokeswoman for the firm said clients are looking for incredibly rare and special pieces.
Firms such as Breil Milano, Orlando Orlandini and Mouawad continue to offer gold-heavy pieces.
Judith Ripka offers a range of price points, but is prioritizing its Couture collection of special, limited edition gem-drenched pieces.
“Both our 18-karat Couture collection and sterling silver and 18-karat gold collections are on track, growing in sales and linear footage, maintaining our full-year forecast of continued double-digit growth in our retail and wholesale businesses,” said Ripka president Charles M. Jayson.
Marco Bicego, the Vicenza, Italy-based jewelry firm known for its gold jewelry with entry prices points under $1,000, is introducing a limited edition diamond jewelry line.
“The biggest challenge is to engage and educate the consumer,” said Moise Cohen, president of Marco Bicego.
Many brands are honing their marketing and advertising and working with retailers to promote their names. These firms include John Hardy, which launched a new ad campaign and will conduct a number of trunk shows and personal appearances in stores with the designer; Bicego, which is sending out catalogues and creating a new ad campaign, and Yurman, which in addition to the new ad campaign is working on in-store events, personal appearances and marketing. California jeweler Irene Neuwirth will continue to do many personal appearances in stores, as has been her strategy for several years.
Retailers are also hard at work drawing in crowds and getting the merchandise mix right for this trying market.
Ylang 23, based in Dallas, has enlarged its store by 40 percent to 1,127 square feet to accommodate its designer roster.
“We are very loyal to talent,” said co-owner Joanne Teichman.
Teichman said her brick-and-mortar store and Web business Ylang23.com are doing well, and that her clients are looking for one-of-a-kinds.
“People want to buy it now because they know they’ll never see it again,” she said. “It’s not surprising to see a $20,000 Web sale.”
Jim Rosenheim, ceo of Tiny Jewel Box in Washington, picked up new collections from Annie Fensterstock, Meghan Thorne and Paul Morelli at the shows.
“My business is OK, my gross [margin] is down slightly, but my net is up,” said Rosenheim, who is planning several trunk shows this year. “We’re continuing to see consistent business on the bridal and fashion side.”
Saks Fifth Avenue was careful but calculated in its fine jewelry buy, sticking with brands that have a good track record with the retailer, according to Scott Erdman, vice president and divisional merchandise manager for jewelry and watches.
“Higher price points are definitely selling better,” he said.
Jodi Kaplan, Bergdorf Goodman’s vice president and dmm for jewelry, said, “We are seeing a trend toward trading up across the board. In the designer world, we have worked with each line to make sure we have a strong offering in the $8,000 to $15,000 price range, which we see as an opportunity. Our strategy right now is to make sure we are in business at the right price level within each of our collections. For the most part, we are editing lower-priced items out of lines in order to hold additional units of higher-priced inventory, which is what our customers are responding to now.”
Bergdorf’s picked up several new lines, including Mattia Cielo.
The high end is still selling well, but we’re in a difficult time,” said Marie Helene Morrow, owner of Reinhold in San Juan, Puerto Rico. “People are buying things they see value in and that’s brands. I like designers that speak a language. I’m building for the future.”


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VIP opens “Blending Boutique”
VIP e-cigs are in the news again, this time with it's new “Blending Boutique” in the East London shopping center, Westfield Stratford City.
The brand has been energetically on the move in recent months, fielding television advertisements that have garnered considerable comment, much of it negative, but perhaps likely to increase sales all the same. When the Advertising Standards Authority relaxed restrictions, allowing adverts on the telly as long as they don't target youth or non-smokers, VIP moved in quickly with new versions of its notoriously salacious TV spots, in which a sultry babe blows vapor in viewers' faces. Or is it smoke? Viewers weren't sure, and 199 of them complained to the ASA, which promptly banned the spots anew. The charge was the familiar one of “re-glamourising smoking” by a vague equation of smoke with vapour, and the attendant claim of an appeal to hook non-smokers on a new form of nicotine.
The new Blending Boutique in Westfield Stratford brings to 120 the number of VIP outlets in Europe. It will feature a “mixologist” (just like the Henley Vaporium in Lower Manhattan, and other vaping lounges in the US, the UK, and worldwide). This helpful staff member will assist the customer in blending his or her own unique flavour of e-liquid. Perhaps it would enhance the popularity of the outlet if the starlet from the advert, with her bedroom eyes and phone-sex practicioner voice, were to be employed as “mixologist”. Just a suggestion.
VIP's parent company, the Electronic Cigarette International Group (ECIG), has also been in the news among stock market analysts, as a result of energetic expansion and stock market activity. Originally trading as Victory E-cigs, based in western Michigan, the company began a vigourous expansion program early this year, buying up a number of other brands, both American and British ones, and redesigning itself as an international conglomerate in the vaping supplies industry, capable of rivaling Big Tobacco firms, even though it markets no poisonous products.
A few months ago, ECIG, which had been an over-the-counter (OTC) stock, announced a plan to go on the NASDAQ. Then, suddenly and mysteriously, their stock price took a nose dive, plummeting to an unprecedented low. The move onto the NASDAQ boards was scotched, an event which even incurred stiff monetary penalties. During the past week, however, the news has been better for the stock value, which is now on the rise again. Some investors see it as an opportunity to get into a market with lucrative potential at rock bottom current prices.
But me, I'm heading for East London and Westfield Stratford City. I hope that babe has been hired as mixologist. “Blow vapor in my face, honey! ...or is it smoke? -- Who cares?!”


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Market Update - August 2022
Posted on Friday, 12 August 2022 under Market Updates
Global markets remain in a state of flux as the macro environment and general economic conditions cloud decision-making and overall customer and consumer sentiment.
Food inflation continues to be a hot topic in the US. Retail ground beef prices were up 12% year-on-year in July, comfortably ahead of overall inflation levels and price increases within the wider protein category. This is despite the continued aggressive cull of the dairy herd across many states due to the impact of drought and rising input costs, which means there are higher than normal levels of raw material available. Prices for imported manufacturing beef continued to soften during the past month because of that domestic supply imbalance and we expect that trend to continue during August and September. The question is, if retail prices for ground beef are up in the current environment, what happens when the supply of domestic cattle effectively runs dry? It is widely expected that 2023 will see a significant shortfall in domestic beef supply, which bodes well for a strong recovery in pricing for New Zealand manufacturing beef, suggesting inflationary pressure on retail products such as ground beef will only increase. While the US is now technically in a recession, the latest data shows that unemployment is very low and the job market has never been tighter. Likewise, US consumer spending in July was at near-record levels, suggesting that despite a decrease in consumer confidence, there is still plenty of money in people’s pockets as they enjoy their summer vacations and make the most of their current financial strength. An illustration of this is the high prices we are still seeing for lamb racks, which is often one of the first products to fall off menus as the impact of a recession takes hold. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out for the balance of 2022, but we remain cautiously optimistic around our overall position in North America moving forward.
China also remains an essential element in determining a forward view of global markets for beef and sheepmeat. June data shows that 45% of lamb exported from New Zealand and 44% of beef exports ended up in China, which is another data point in a long-term trend that highlights the importance of this market. Of greater interest was the July data that showed imports of Brazilian beef from China were in line with all-time record highs, despite the pressure points that have become apparent in the Chinese market related to the ongoing Covid-19 policies, regional lockdowns, pressure on foodservice operators, and a general nervousness across consumers as economic indicators all start heading in the wrong direction. The positive spin on the Brazilian import numbers – by far the largest source of beef entering the Chinese market month-in-month-out – is that it simply highlights China’s never-ending appetite for beef, and that this market is able to grow regardless of external factors that in other markets would result in a slowdown in trade. The counter view is that this sort of volume is a concerning development in a market that already is sitting on usually high in-market inventories, and which we may all feel the impact of as we head into 2023. We will likely gain clarity on which view is valid as we enter Q4 and the high demand period related to Chinese New Year begins. I remain hopeful that scenario one will win the day, but we are keeping a close eye on developments and working closely with customers to gain as much insight as possible around market dynamics, all of which is made that bit harder because of our inability to spend time on the ground there. While the lack of travel is nothing new thanks to Covid-19, it is a barrier that becomes more obstructive when market conditions are as fluid as they currently are.
Elsewhere in the world, very little has changed since my report in July. The UK and Europe are in the midst of their summer vacation period with very little sales activity as a result. The same issues underpin both markets, with high inflation and declining consumer confidence hitting retail and foodservice demand, but realistically it won’t be until everyone gets back behind their desks in September and they look at their forward positions, before we get a better sense for how these markets will play out for the remainder of 2022.
Likewise, Japan remains in a state of flux with a rapid rise in Covid-19 cases only adding fuel to the fire in a market under pressure. This is flowing through to our retail and foodservice partners, with consumer nervousness around the rising cost of living and weakening economic conditions meaning less eating out and cheaper options being added to the weekly supermarket trolley.
Meanwhile, closer to home, the focus in August across our network of plants is working through bobby calves, with numbers looking very strong this season, and ensuring all our plants have had the chance to get the necessary repairs and maintenance completed and our people have had an opportunity to take a well-earned break before we start to fire up for another season. Labour remains an ongoing challenge and despite our best efforts, it is not expected that we will be running at pre-pandemic levels this coming spring and summer. Our livestock teams will be working closely with you and we will do our best to support your business and keep animals moving through the supply chain. Logistics also remains a challenge that has nearly just been accepted as ‘business as usual’, but the outlook here is no better than labour and it will also have an impact in the months ahead around how hard we can run our plants; challenges we have become reluctant experts at managing on a day-to-day basis.
ANZCO Foods General Manager Sales and Marketing


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MDI Holdings Corp., a new joint venture between Vitalus Nutrition and Gay Lea Foods, will produce a full range of dairy products
An analyst says Saputo Inc. may need to up the ante when it comes to the dairy giant’s bid to take over Australian Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory, one of Australia’s oldest dairy producers
Longueuil, Que.-based Agropur, Canada’s largest dairy cooperative, has acquired Schroeder Milk, a milk processing company in Maplewood, Minn. The deal was scheduled to close late last year. Schroeder Milk will continue operating under its current name and under its current…
A Must Read for all food & beverages industry personnel
Canada’s national food & beverage processing authority
Serving the Canadian food & beverage processing industry for over 80 years!
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RadioShack’s shambling remains were given another shock of life today. 900 Mhz Cordless Radioshack… when they were purchased by another business that prepares to relaunch the once-great retailer as an online-focused brand name.
The store’s remains were acquired by Retail Ecommerce Ventures (REV), a start-up founded in 2019 that’s been scooping up brands from other faded retail giants too, consisting of Pier 1, Modell’s Sporting Goods, Dressbarn, and more. REV states RadioShack’s site already has “strong existing sales and sales potential,” and the company is “positive” it can even more raise awareness of the brand name internationally.
REV declares it’s effectively turned around other business it’s launched as online brands. The Wall Street Journal reported that Dressbarn more than doubled its income in between the very first and second quarter of 2020.
RadioShack was founded in 1921 and ended up being a retail staple in the ’80s and ’90s for anybody looking to grab tech essentials. REV didn’t say whether those RadioShack licenses would stick around. 900 Mhz Cordless Radioshack
REV states it will “soon relaunch” RadioShack’s site. So for those of you still sticking on to fond memories of the store, there’ll be a familiar sufficient location to go when you wish to purchase costly HDMI cables and knockoff earphones.


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Season 24 of Diablo 3 will premiere on PS4 and Xbox One at a later date.
Blizzard has revealed the start time and release date for Diablo 3 Season 24, as well as what yummy new treasure will be available with the debut of D3: Ethereal Memories.
This year, Blizzard has great plans for the Diablo franchise, and the next big event for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC fans begins today.
Season 24 of Diablo 3 appears to be an unique installment in the long-running genre, with powerful new equipment and challenges arriving as part of the huge update this week.
Season 24 of D3 will begin around the same time on all platforms, but console players may see some delays.
The Season of Ethereal Memories will offer new awards and Legendary Items to gather, as well as powerful new weapons to wield, so there will be plenty of reasons to check out the next patch.
Ethereals are a new weapon type that players will be able to acquire and seek for as part of their seasonal quest, according to Blizzard’s official patch notes. There will be 21 classic weapons returning from Diablo 2 to help players get ready for the Resurrected release in September.
Ethereals will get access to a potent set of affixes, as well as a random Class Weapon Legendary Power and a random Class Passive Power.
Ethereals will also have their own symbols, names, item types, and noises, all of which were first seen in Diablo 2.
And, with these new weapons being touted as the weapon to wield throughout Season 24, there’s a lot of anticipation for when it all kicks off.
The official launch date for Diablo 3 Season 24 has been set for Friday, July 23, 2021, as revealed by the development team earlier this week.
Season 24 will be released at the same time, though console and PC fans may have to wait longer.
Outside of North America, previous seasons of Diablo 3 have premiered on Battle.Net before the PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch editions, and this could happen again this week.
Diablo 3 Season 24 will be released on Friday, July 23, 2021, according to Blizzard.
Season 24 will begin at 5 p.m. for most Diablo fans, according to the production team.
D3: Season 24 is confirmed by the full schedule. “Brinkwire News in Condensed Form.”


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BMW 328d bringing diesel power, 40mpg to the New York Auto Show
The new BMW 328d offers the same striking good looks at the BMW 3 Series sedans currently on sale here in the US but unlike anything in the current company lineup – the 328d is powered by a TwinPower turbocharged diesel engine that will produce 180 horsepower and 280lb-ft of torque while also being able to reach fuel economy measures that the company believes could hit the 40 mile per gallon mark. This 40mpg figure is based on company expectations and actual EPA ratings could differ but with a 0-60 time in the low 7 second range and the possibility of offering better than 40 miles per gallon – BMW could make a big splash in the luxury sedan segment.
While the new BMW 328d will likely cost more than comparably equipped gasoline powered models, it will also offer considerably better fuel economy without a big decline in the kind of performance that a buyer expects from the modern BMW lineup. Right now, the most efficient option in the BMW 3 Series sedan lineup is the 320i which - with rear wheel drive – offers 36 miles per gallon on the highway. The 2.0L 4-cylinder gas engine offers the same 180 horsepower as the 328d but with only 200lb-ft of torque, the 3 Series diesel sedan should be quite a bit more inspiring to drive with the advantage in torque while still offering roughly 11% better fuel economy.
Like many European automakers, diesel engines have long been a popular choice for buyers who want lots of power without compromising fuel economy but with more and more diesel passenger cars from both European and American automakers – we can expect to see more options like the new BMW 328d hitting US shores over the next few years. The growing acceptance of the new clean diesel technology that powers the 328d has led more prospective buyers to consider these modern oil burners but in addition to the added cost of buying these vehicles, owners have to face the price of diesel fuel…which is similar to high octane gasoline in many cases. However, those buyers who want a European luxury sedan with plenty of power and incredible fuel economy may find the new BMW 328d to be the best choice – even with the bigger price tag and pricier fuel.
Joining the BMW 328d at the New York Auto Show will be the new BMW 3 Series GT that made its world debut earlier this month in Geneva along with the Concept Active Tourer – a plug in hybrid with 95 miles of electric only range supported by a 3-cylinder gasoline engine to prevent any concern of range anxiety. Joining the 3 Series GT, the new 328d and the Concept Active Tourer will be the entire BMW production lineup for those Big Apple show goers who are visiting Javits Center to get a closer look at a prospective new BMW.


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Australian marketers might like to keep a sharp eye on mobile advertising trends in the US right now. This year it is estimated the mobile ad spending will constitute a majority of the digital ad spend after a strong, nearly 60 per cent growth over the last 12 months.
With Australia already the third largest recipient of targeted ad spend as measured across the Kenshoo network (behind the US and the UK), what is true on one side of the pond will likely prove true here.
In Kenshoo’s Q2 Mobile App Advertising Trends report, the authors note, “For consumers, the mobile and app experience is a highly personal one. Mobile devices represent a curated individual world: Which apps do we install, and which ones grab our attention and become embedded? Whose content do we invite into our lives, and whose do we block?”
For marketers, they say, the challenge comes from getting consumers to discover, download, install and ultimately, to buy-in to the experience. And, importantly to continue to engage beyond that first moment.
Among the specific highlights of the report;
- Advertising spend by mobile app developers has almost quadrupled year-on-year (YOY).
- The growth of app installs has outpaced spend, increasing +346 per cent since Q2 of 2014.
- While click-through rate is down YOY, the click-to-install rate has increased +32 per cent.
- While the cost per click for mobile app install ads has increased YOY and the CPM has been flat, the cost per app install has dropped 12 per cent, which will become more relevant as Facebook changes bidding models to consider conversions over reach or clicks.
- The gap in cost per install between iOS and Android devices has narrowed considerably in 2015 as more developers enter the market, implying that there is less of a premium on iOS users than there has been in the past.
- Mobile app advertising is booming according to the data and is driving much of the growth seen in social advertising.
As the study notes, “With the increasing attention on mobile app marketing via social media, it is not surprising that the industry has seen considerable growth. The combination of new entrants to the space, and increasing budgets have driven overall spending up nearly 4 times what it was one year ago. “
Overall paid social growth across all advertiser types (including, but not limited to mobile app advertisers) for Q2 this year was up 114 percent compared to a year ago.
Furthermore the data reveals that in Q2 2015, there were twice as many app titles as a year ago. With so much additional activity it is not surprising that the floor has remained solid under the CPM price. On a per thousand impression basis, the cost of mobile app advertisements on paid social media is down just one percent from Q2 of the previous year and has retreated from its peak in Q4.
And there is an interesting trend for marketers to watch – an evolution in pricing models. The signs are that social channel is moving towards bidding based on conversions rather than reach or clicks.
Mobile apps are also delivering strong efficiency on the path to conversion.
According to the authors, “Once a user has clicked on a social ad for a mobile app, just under 1 in 3 of those clicks turn into an actual app install. Android and iOS have similar results in three of the five quarters described by the index, with Android holding the overall edge based on the other two quarters, which may have seen specifically compelling Android titles.”
The report notes that the wider appeal of consumer apps may drive the higher CTR than gaming and other app types however click to install rates for gaming apps are higher than for consumer apps, implying that the broad appeal of consumer apps gives way to higher intent for gaming.
In their conclusion the authors write, “The growth of mobile app advertising spend speaks to both an increase in the number of advertisers and increased spending from those advertisers. This puts pressure on the agile marketer to respond to both competition and scalability, while still being able to quickly engage with the mobile audience.”
And they say , “The switch from reach- or click-based bidding to algorithms that are based on conversions (installs) reflects all of these dimensions, and should encourage continued investment as marketers become better equipped to draw a more direct line from their investment to the value of, and flowing from, the apps themselves.”
What to do next
To meet the challenge of rising costs and increased competition the report offers several strategies.
This includes, for instance, creating nested lookalikes and testing match types from most similar (top one percent vs. greater reach (top five percent)).
“If you are looking to drive response rates, the narrower audience of the former strategy will likely provide the most performance improvement, albeit at lower volumes. Anecdotally, lookalike audiences have performed better than those based on stated behaviors or affinities in the social space.”
And as always, it remains important to tailor campaigns to the operating environment even though some of the larger distinctions between iOS and Android are starting to wane.
Finally, say the authors, marketers should also keep in mind the fact new sources of inventory are emerging regularly in the mobile app space.
“Google Search App Ads, Google Play Search Ads, Instagram, Mobile Display, Yahoo! Gemini and Admob all provide opportunities for expanded reach and interaction with your audience,” they write.
Following the announcement of Prince Philip’s death last week, many businesses, broadcasters and individuals paid tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh. Some Australian viewers were upset to find the ABC opted not to broadcast British crime drama Vera, instead choosing to cover Philip’s death. Similarly, many were amused to hear a techno dance music mashup on […]
In this guest post, Wavemaker’s national strategy partner, James Boardman (pictured below), talks addressable priming and why it’ll be the end of average and the peak of creativity in media planning… For my entire career media plans have contained a large amount of average. I’m not talking about the quality of my planning skills (although […]
Apple’s new approach to digital advertising is set to go ahead in a matter of weeks, with advertisers warned to think about user privacy first. Previously, companies that sell mobile ads have relied on Apple’s IDFA (“identifier for advertisers”) as a way to identify specific users and offer targeted ads. But with Apple continuing to […]
As programmatic digital out of home (pDOOH) continues to help advertisers enhance their existing campaigns, digital outdoor media experts, QMS, is already seeing results pay dividends with the latest campaign for a Tourism and Travel sector client delivering over 2,000 tourist visitors who can be directly attributed from their exposure of the pDOOH campaign. The […]
For years now, Apple users have located misplaced iPhones and other Apple devices via the Find My app. In case you haven’t used it before, Find My tracks the locations of iPhones, iPads, laptops and even AirPods, meaning the whereabouts of each device will come up on a map if it’s ever lost. The app […]
Commonwealth Bank and the sport’s governing body, Football Australia, announced today that CBA will become the official naming rights partner and bank of the national women’s team, the Matildas, Junior Matildas and Young Matildas from August 2021. M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment supported Commonwealth Bank to bring the partnership together with Football Australia, and looks […]
Facebook Australia is celebrating Ramadan with a range of initiatives including Lives, Reels, IGTV and more. To launch the initiative, Facebook has partnered with a number of Muslim creators and organisations, who will be sharing their perspectives of the holy month on both Facebook and Instagram. Facebook says the 30 days of content is part […]
Netflix’s real-time streaming service, launched in France, provides an unexpected alternative to television as the platform also announced a new deal with Sony. The program, called ‘Direct’, is a real-time service with a stream that covers five days, to prevent repeat programming. It was announced in November 2020 originally and rolled out fully in December […]
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), a division of The Economist Group, has announced the launch of “EIU Viewpoint”, a new digital product that combines the EIU’s expert political insights, policy analysis, and economic outlook with forward-looking forecasts and proprietary data. “EIU Viewpoint” helps businesses, academics, governments, and financial institutions stay ahead of the shifting global […]
Adelaide-based creative agency KWP! brings more than one hundred volunteers together in an onscreen battle against life threatening diseases for the sequel to The Hospital Research Foundation (THRF) Group’s ‘Together Fight’ campaign. Two 30-second TVC’s feature the return of ‘The Beast’, who comes up against a young patient and army of real-life patients, researchers, staff […]


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The UK online gambling group Virgin Games has embarked on an initiative to significantly increase its online gambling search engine visibility, hiring the London specialist agency Latitude for the purpose.
Virgin has been active in the online casino, bingo and poker sector over the last three years, and Latitude will be concentrating on ramping up the content on its properties along with increased activity on display, affiliate and paid search through major engines like Google.
The move is ahead of an expansion of Virgin's portfolio of online games, Internet marketing manager Simon Hall said.
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Technological advances like Synthetic Intelligence, Web of Issues, Automated Playing cards and others will throw up new demanding situations for cyber safety and all international locations should unite to foresee and fight them, a number one Israeli cyber safety professional stated on Monday.
“The Web used to be no longer designed for safety, therefore it’s inherently insecure since the whole thing is hackable. It is tougher to be a cyber safety team of workers than a hacker. The hacker has to prevail handiest as soon as, the place the the cyber safety team of workers has to prevail at all times to stay protected, inside of many laws and laws,” Menny Barzilay, the CEO, Cyber Analysis Centre of Tel Aviv College and CEO of Cytactic, stated.
He identified how “wise other people” from other international locations are becoming a member of fingers to devote cyber crimes and therefore there’s “a necessity for super-smart other people” from world wide to enroll in as cyber safety professionals.
“Cyber threats do not create a way of urgency, in contrast to a bomb danger, and we can’t really feel it in our senses. It’s due to this fact harder to persuade folks that the ‘cyber’ danger is actual,” stated Barzilay, addressing a panel dialogue on cyber safety at Nehru Science Centre (NSC) by means of videoconference.
The dialogue used to be additionally attended via Israeli Consul-Common in Mumbai, Yaakov Finkelstein, safety professionals from the Mumbai Police and scholars.
Recalling an incident of cyber assault on Sony Company after the discharge of its movie, “The Interview”, Barzilay stated that corporates don’t seem to be ready to stand cyber crimes and the federal government should beef up them right through such cyber hits.
“Billions of gadgets, a part of Web of Issues implies they’re at risk of hacking, a wise instrument method being prone, it’ll additionally impact our privateness. Large corporations have lot of information about customers and will manipulate them for personal good points, one thing which allegedly came about in america elections,” he stated.


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By Rajan Sethi
The market’s food and beverage industry is among the most vibrant industries with unprecedented growth in recent years and it continues to expand rapidly. With an estimated annual growth of more than 7% from 2019 to 2024, it is spurred on by changing consumer demographics, increasing disposable incomes, urbanisation, and growth of organised retail.
Food & beverage at hotels has changed dramatically since the onset of COVID-19. But as the world emerges from the pandemic, challenges for F&B operations still remain. Labour shortage issues, supply chain struggles, and the staggering rise in operating costs—especially for food.
As consumers lean towards a more health-conscious lifestyle, are more aware of food ingredients, and seek a balance between health and indulgence, food makers in India and around the world need to be on their toes to meet these current food trends.
The main trend influencing change in the food and beverage industry is transparency. Customers are looking for options with shorter, more pronounceable ingredient lists because they want to know and understand what ingredients and components are in their products.
New trends are still emerging as the food and beverage industry undergoes a massive transformation from how it has previously operated. Food technology is driving the change. Restaurants have worked hard to maintain high hygiene standards in the face of stringent food safety regulations. Commercial kitchens are becoming more automated in order to maintain food hygiene, reduce labour costs, and provide better service to customers by utilising cutting-edge technology.
Healthier ingredients are only one aspect of this healthy eating trend though. Awareness is also increasing regarding the nutrition that different foods contain, and the topic of product traceability is higher in people’s awareness. This topic also raises consumers’ questions about the safety of fruits and vegetables bought in wet markets.
(Rajan Sethi is the founder of Bright Hospitality Group)


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On October 8th, craft brand Ball Family Farms and Ricky Williams’ cannabis lifestyle brand Highsman launched a collaborative strain, “Ricky Baker.”
Ricky and his team approached founder Chris Ball at Hall of Flowers last year, saying that he was a fan of the Ball Family Farms brand. Ball recalled that they’d previously met 15 years prior through the NFL.
Both Ball and Williams played professional football before advocating for the health and wellness benefits of weed for athletes.
After initially discussing the idea and working on it over the past year, Ball said, “today we brought it to fruition.”
The “Ricky Baker” custom flower targets pain and inflammation and was grown in living soil, and exclusively pheno-hunted to incorporate terpenes limonene and linalool.
Its flavor and nose are thick gas and musk, with a touch of backend sweetness producing a potent heart-pounding but cerebral high that fits Highsman’s Pregame vibe.
The strain was being cultivated by Ball Family Farms, and Ball gave about 7-8 phenos to Williams to choose from.
“I think the most special thing about it is that it’s green,” Ball said. “In this climate right now, a lot of people all they want to smoke is purple weed. With this strain, it’s actually a green weed.”
Ball said that the name comes from the brand’s approach to naming strains after movie characters. Since he was collaborating with Williams, he started by asking him what his favorite movie was. When Williams said Boyz N the Hood, Ball thought right away of the football player in that movie.
“That’s perfect, because the running back in the movie is named Ricky and so are you. So it just all fell in place,” Ball said.
Ball said that this first drop is just the start of his relationship with Highsman.
“This is our first collaboration but Ricky and the Highsman team have expressed that they would like to do something long-term for their indoor flower line, so I would love to be part of it,” Ball said.
He’s become close to Williams.
“We have history, we love each other at this point,” Ball said.
“I definitely want to be a part of his journey and make sure I’m providing him with real high-quality indoor flower,” Ball said.
“We are thrilled to be one of the few brands that Ball Family Farms has joined forces with,” Williams, Founder and President of Highsman, said in a statement.
“Chris is a pioneer in the cannabis space, overcoming obstacles and transitioning to a truly grassroots legal operation. We are proud to collaborate on a product that gives back to those persecuted for cannabis related offenses, and leads the next generation of Black cannabis entrepreneurs,” Williams said.
With a shared history as football players and longtime cannabis advocates, Williams and Ball believe in the wellness impact of the plant and support a more sustainable industry. They strive to be a good example of how brands can grow quality products eco-efficiently, something Highsman agrees is beneficial to the cannabis industry.
“Our collaboration with Ball Family Farms, the pinnacle of California cannabis culture, comes at a time when Highsman is proudly expanding our national footprint. The collaboration is representative of Highsman’s dedication to creating culturally relevant products and experiences in each of the markets we operate. We will continue to pursue this strategy in all of our markets with hopes of engaging our community in new and exciting ways,” said Eric Hammond, CEO of Highsman.


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Halifax-based DHX Media Ltd. (TSX:DHX.A) is a prolific deal maker. The media production company is known primarily for production and distribution of children’s television programming, such as the Teletubbies and the ever-popular Degrassi series. Recently, DHX completed a series of strategic acquisitions; the company added and sold the rights to its vast library of programming.
Should this stock be on your radar?
This week, DHX signed a multi-year agreement with the Orchard that will allow the company to distribute more than 8,000 episodes of DHX’s library content in the United States, Latin America, South Africa, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Under a second agreement, the Orchard will become the worldwide digital distributor of more than 2,000 tracks of children’s music from DHX’s library. The Orchard is a global video and music distributor and has deals with the largest digital movie and television storefronts, reaching more than 200 million paying customers through its retail network.
DHX was particularly active on the acquisition front in 2014, acquiring the Disney-affiliated Family channel in Canada from BCE Inc. It also bought the Epitome companies, which produces the Degrassi TV franchise, and brought new life to the Teletubbies with 60 fresh episodes for the British Broadcasting Corporation.
In December of last year, DHX Media paid $57 million in cash and stock for Vancouver-based animation studio Nerd Corps Entertainment, adding 400 Nerd staffers to the company. DHX Chief Executive Dana Landry said the Nerd Corps addition will help DHX Media produce more original content for television, mobile, and online media. “This is indicative of more deals that can come to us,” she said at the time. “We’re really looking for more out there. This is just the beginning.”
In its latest quarter, DHX earned $5.5 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, up from $2.8 million, or $0.03 per year, in the same period in 2013. Revenue more than doubled to $64.3 billion from $30.4 million in the last three months of 2013.
Despite the plethora of acquisitions and decent earnings results, DHX Media’s stock has struggled of late, down 11% year to date and 4% in the past month. Still, some stock watchers and analysts expect DHX, currently trading around $9, to climb to at least $10 in the near future.
TD Securities recently initiated coverage of the stock with a hold rating and a $10 price target, while Canaccord Genuity increased its price target to $10.50 from $9.50 with a buy rating.
DHX’s focus on children’s programming is clever from a business point of view. After all, these are future media consumers who will ultimately decide the direction of the entertainment market. That makes DHX Media a stock to watch, and you should consider adding it to your diversified portfolio.


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Big-box busts create consumer conundrum at Polo Park land
The announcement of Future Shop's closure, on the heels of Target's demise in Canada, creates two gaping retail holes in the city's busiest retail sector.
And it isn't just vacant spots around Polo Park. Across the city, vacant plots of land have clustered, such as in Garden City where a still-empty Safeway sits a block away from the now shuttered Future Shop on Leila Avenue.
The key to filling the gaps left by these retail closures is to start thinking creatively, argues Victor Cui, a business professor at the University of Manitoba's Asper School of Business.
He says it is time for developers and retailers to look at services and experiences the customer can't find on the Internet.
"You need a differentiator. For example, the Apple Store, they provide different experiences. The new marching model is not sales-oriented, it is experience-oriented. Customers want to have an interactive experience," he said. "We know how to read reviews about a computer, but I don't think everyone can fix them ... so you need service people to be there to help you."
Cui notes for every big-box store thriving such as Costco, Wal-Mart or Home Depot, there are the failed retailers such as Future Shop or Blockbuster, who once filled a unique niche that has been replaced with online shopping.
Prominent developer Sandy Shindleman told the Sun on Thursday the market has survived the demise of retailers such as Office Depot, Pacific Linen and Consumers Distributing over the years and new tenants were found. It just may take longer than in previous years.
"Many other retailers have come and gone and each and every time, some folks thought it was an opportunity, some folks thought it was the end of the world and the opportunity people have been right so far in the last forty years," the president and CEO of Shindico Realty said. "There is no doubt that they'll be right again, however it might take more time than it typically used to take."
Since these retail exits have not been confined to Winnipeg, Shindleman said Winnipeg will have to compete with other cities nationwide for companies looking to expand into Canada.
"People don't necessarily need to chosoe whether they go to the south or north end of a city, they are choosing between opportunities that are presented to them at least nationwide, if not across North America," he said. "So Winnipeg needs to compete and do things to enhance job creation, because the demand for space is driven by jobs, not population."
Water park at Polo Park?
The death watch for the official closure of the Target at Polo Park is expected to come to an end on Wednesday.
What happens next for the two-level 107,000-square-foot retail space hasn’t been officially announced and the site’s developers, Shindico Realty, say it might take time to find the right tenant.
Shindico’s CEO and President, Sandy Shindleman, said redeveloping the site, which was designed specifically for Target, will be a challenge.
Subdividing the second-floor, along with the load capacity built into the building, means several potential retailers, such a hardware store, wouldn’t likely be able to move in without a costly rebuild, he said.
“That will certainly be something of concern,” he said. “When it becomes something other than Target, and there is no doubt it will, it will be likely be at a substantial cost and obviously the goal would be to have department-type store merchandise.”
Rumours of hardware giant Loew’s moving into that specific site appear to be unlikely to come to fruition, according to Shindleman.
“Anything is a possibility, but I don’t know if the store could support their use ... They need outside storage and display, which this store doesn’t have. There’s lot of things that may not be feasible for them,” he said, but didn’t dismiss the possibility of Loew’s fitting into one of the other vacant Targets in the province.
Meanwhile, Victor Cui, a business professor at the Asper School of Business, asked his class at the University of Manitoba who should move into the site.
Their answer: a water park.
A long-time dream of former mayor Sam Katz, Cui says it is actually a great idea.
“A water park is a family thing, you go there and you take your kids and in the winter they could go there instead of Mexico,” he said. “(After) they can go to a movie, the food court. The idea is to attract people to come to Polo Park and bring something unique.”


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Nissan, the Japanese motor giant, has been making significant strides in the NFT and Web3 space, and is doubling down on its Web3 innovation efforts. In fact, the company has filed four new Web3-related trademarks in the United States, covering its Infiniti, Nismo, and Nissan brands.
The filings reveal that Nissan has ambitious plans to create a virtual marketplace, complete with virtual clothing, cars, headgear, trading cards, toys, tickets, and an NFT marketplace for trading and minting NFTs. Additionally, the company is planning to offer metaverse advertising services and other “entertainment services,” including online video, images, artwork, tickets, audio, sounds, music, and trading cards.
Nissan is also experimenting with auto sales in the metaverse through its virtual store, Nissan Hype Lab. Customers can visit the virtual storefront via a PC or smartphone, create customized avatars, and interact with virtual sales staff. They can even order and finalize purchase contracts through this virtual sales office. According to Nissan, the trial will run from March 8 to June 30, during which time the company will study, consult, test drive, and purchase Nissan vehicles in the metaverse to examine the possibility of new sales methods for cars.
Nissan has been exploring Web3 and smart contract technology for some time now. In October 2022, the company filed five trademark applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, revealing its plans to enter the NFT, Web3, and Metaverse space. These applications covered prominent car models such as SKYLINE, Z, and GTR, and introduced offerings such as NFT-backed media, online NFT marketplaces, digital wallets, and NFT minting, trading, and storing software. The patents also introduced the idea of downloadable media files for NFT authentication, an online NFT marketplace for buying and selling NFTs, and non-downloadable software for minting, storing, and trading NFTs.
It’s clear that Nissan is going all in on its Web3 developments, and other automotive giants are following suit. General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and MG have all made significant moves in the NFT and Web3 space. GM Motors recently announced its interest in creating downloadable digital media files that contain collectible artwork, text, audio, and video, which will be authenticated as nonfungible tokens, according to the company’s trademark filing. Meanwhile, Ford Motor Company filed 19 trademark applications covering its major car brands such as Mustang, Bronco, Lincoln, Explorer, and F-150 Lightning, among others. The applications include virtual cars, trucks, vans, SUVs, and clothing for the company’s brands, as well as a proposed online marketplace for NFTs.
Despite the ongoing crypto winter and bear market, multinational corporations are still pushing forward with trademark applications covering Web3, crypto, NFTs, and the metaverse. Nissan’s innovations in the Web3 and NFT space are a testament to the company’s commitment to exploring new technologies and finding innovative ways to engage with its customers. As the metaverse continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see what other groundbreaking ideas Nissan and other automotive giants will come up with.


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Tecno introduced the world’s first telescopic macro lens for phones
Tecno Mobile is a mobile phone manufacturer known as Tecno, which has been operating since 2006. ; This holding provides research, development, production, sales and services of mobile communication products in an integrated manner and considers itself committed to providing satisfactory solutions in the field of mobile communication. Tecno released a teaser of its upcoming macro-telescopic lens for phones in December 2021 (Azer 1400) and announced that it will introduce its concept phone with this new lens in the first quarter of 2022 (Winter 1400).
According to gsmarena, the Chinese holding has yet to introduce its concept phone, but today January 10, 2022 (D19, 1400) unveiled its macro telescopic lens.
Techno telescopic macro lens has a compact focal length (BFL) design Motorized stretch lenses are equipped to provide larger apertures and smoother zooms without loss of quality. According to Tekno, this lens not only dramatically improves the quality of macro photos in phones, but also provides a pleasant photography experience for the user.
- Tecno to launch first phone Android smartphone plans with SensorShift stabilizer
Techno’s new lens is a macro-telephoto lens that comes out of the phone’s body and allows the user to take pictures without having to get too close. Take macro photos from subject to subject. Tecno claims that due to the 5x optical zoom of the telescopic macro lens, it can even be compared to the main phone camera; Tecno macro lens is considered the world’s first telescopic macro lens for phones.
Techno macro lens provides the user with a large aperture for better photography, it has a completely compact design and does not require a large space to be placed in the phone. . Tecno has not yet specified more details about its new lens and the exact time of its release.


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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — A winter storm that threatens rain and heavy snow is expected to disrupt and delay road and air travel on the East Coast and in the Appalachians on the day before Thanksgiving, traditionally the biggest travel day of the year.
The Plains and the Midwest, meanwhile, are expected to be hit by a snowstorm that is also expected to create treacherous conditions for drivers.
The storms come as more Americans are foreseen moving around the country to visit family to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday than in any other year since 2007, according to the travel group AAA.
AccuWeather meteorologists are advising that the best time to travel in any of the regions expecting snow will be on Tuesday or on Thanksgiving Day itself. The worst time will be Wednesday and Wednesday night, they said.
Air travel may be disrupted if there is enough rain or low clouds and if visibility is poor, the meteorologists said.
AAA predicted last week that 46.3 million people in the U.S. will travel 50 miles or more during the holiday, a 4.2% increase from 2013.
Of those, almost 90% will travel by car and see the lowest Thanksgiving gasoline prices in five years, AAA said.
U.S. retail gasoline averaged $2.85 a gallon on Wednesday. It averaged $3.28 a gallon on Thanksgiving in 2013. Gasoline prices have fallen as crude-oil prices have slumped to multiyear lows in recent months, with the perception that supplies have outstripped demand.
Air travel for the holiday — which AAA defines as Wednesday, Nov. 26, through Sunday, Nov. 30 — is also up from a year ago.
About 3.6 million Americans are expected to fly in that period, but they might not see the same cost savings as drivers: Airfares are about 1% higher than during last year’s holiday, AAA said.
Midrange hotels are 8% more expensive, and car rentals are 10% higher. A hotel room will average $154 a night during the holiday, AAA said, while renting a car will average $55 a day.
“This year, more Americans will give thanks for the opportunity to travel to friends and family than any year since 2007,” said Marshall L. Doney, AAA’s president and chief operating officer. “Americans are more optimistic about the future as improvements in several key economic factors, including employment, GDP and disposable income, are boosting consumer confidence and the desire to travel.”
Thanksgiving travelers were expected to spend $573 apiece on holiday travel.


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The coronavirus pandemic has significantly affected the family earnings of about three-quarters of ordinary South Africans, a new survey by personal finance website JustMoney shows.
The survey, which featured responses from nearly 2,000 South Africans, was conducted over the course of April 2020 and primarily focused on surviving financial emergencies.
Just under half of the respondents (43%) said they earned under R10,000 each month, while just under 10% fell within the top bracket of earning over R40,000 each month.
The vast majority of respondents (79%) said that they were only able to afford an emergency payment of less than R5,000. Fewer than 10% could afford an emergency payment of up to R10,000.
Some of the other key findings of the study show:
- 73% revealed that their family earnings had been “significantly or very significantly” affected by the coronavirus lockdown;
- 36% of respondents stated that they would nonetheless not consider a payment holiday on their debt;
- 77% of participants were worried about their financial situation as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Just under 20% admitted to being somewhat concerned, and fewer than 6% said it did not concern them;
- More than half of the participants (53%) said they create a personal budget every month. However, nearly 20% admitted to never having drawn up nor relied on a monthly budget.
When looking at savings, the survey found that nearly 70% of people wouldn’t last a month on the limited funds they have tucked away.
“Despite participants being predominantly employees who earn less than R10,000 each month, it is encouraging to note how many are making an effort to stay on top of their finances despite the extremely challenging times,” said JustMoney business head, Mannie Cristaudo.
“More than half set out a monthly budget, and over 80% monitor their monthly debit orders. It is also reassuring that less than 30% are considering taking a payment holiday.”
The National Treasury recently stated that as many as 7 million South Africans could become unemployed if large chunks of the economy remained closed for the remainder of the year.
It said that around 3 million jobs are at risk even if the pandemic is contained quickly, while a slow recovery could see 5 million job losses. A worst-case scenario would push the unemployment rate to over 50%, from its current rate of just under 30%.
Dondo Mogajane, the National Treasury’s director-general, warned last week that the country’s unemployment rate could reach as high as 40%.
Speaking in an interview, he said that the economy could contract between 7% and 12% as a result of the impact of the coronavirus.
He said that unemployment could reach between 30% and 40% – “if things go the way they are”. He said that the tourism industry is on its knees, with travel agencies closing down.


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Apple quietly bought search engine developer Ottocat two years ago
For a company as big as Apple, a single app has many channels of development. This week, it was revealed that Apple acquired Ottocat, a search engine company that has helped to develop the "explore" tab in Apple's app store application. In an unusual twist, it turns out that Apple purchased Ottocat years ago, as early as May 2013.
"There is precious little evidence of the connection between Ottocat and Apple — no LinkedIn employment changes, no announcements to Ottocat users — save for one thing," explains Ingrid Lunden of TechCrunch. "One of Ottocat's co-founders, Edwin Cooper, authored a patent that was granted to Apple as the original assignee."
The acquisition has flown under the radar for a couple of years now, proving that some M&A deals aren't engineered for the sake of hype and headlines. Instead, Ottocat has been working quietly to build out capabilities for the app store feature. While unusual, a company like Apple perhaps has little to gain by publicizing another acquisition. Instead, allowing the integration to take hold and letting the results of the partnership speak for themselves appears to be the strategy.
Since spinning that off from the iTunes Store with the advent of mobile devices, the company has invested significant attention in matching users with the most appropriate apps in the marketplace. Though the acquisition was completed with no pomp or circumstance, users have unknowingly benefited from the relationship through several revisions of the application.
Contact us today to learn more about how a qualified M&A advisor can help your company land a lucrative and satisfying deal. With an airtight merger or acquisition strategy, tech companies can court partners to reach growth objectives and long-term development goals.


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Mercedes-Benz Sets September Sales Record
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) announced yesterday that it recorded its best September ever last month, with sales totaling 32,087 units. That’s a 6.0% increase over September of last year, when the luxury brand managed to sell 30,271 models here in the States. Including Sprinter and smart sales, Mercedes has moved a whopping 275,596 units this year, through the end of September. That’s a 6.4% increase over the same time period last year.
Leading the pack were the C-Class, E-Class, and GLE-Class models. Strong numbers from the GLE-Class should be encouraging to MB execs, as the model was just recently introduced to the US market. In total, Mercedes moved 3,492 GLE-Class vehicles. Meanwhile, Mercedes dealers moved 7,660 C-Class units and 4,137 E-Class units off the lots.
Model Research: What’s new for the 2016 E-Class?
AMG performance vehicles also saw incredible success, in the neighborhood of +159.1%. That’s right—with 1,858 AMG units sold last month, Mercedes-AMG saw a year-over-year increase of 159.1%. Year-to-date, those sales are up 28.7%.
But it’s not just new models that are selling like hotcakes—or hot cars, rather. Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned sales reached 11,397, a 31.8% increase over September 2014.
“Record September sales fueled the best-ever third-quarter results in our history,” remarked Stephen Cannon, president and CEO of MBUSA. “The robust demand for SUVs continues with the strong performance of our new GLE and GLE-Coupe.”
Sales are expected to continue to increase as more 2016 models arrive at dealerships this year.
Rumor Mill: Will the electric B-Class double in range?


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One of the main faces behind the Xbox brand has recently praised the campaign of Halo Infinite, bringing a lot of excitement to fans who are hoping to see more from the game mode in the near future. Over the past year, developer 343 Industries has largely opted to not show anything further from the campaign of Halo Infinite, causing a number of fans to question how development on this aspect of the title is going. In the case of one Xbox boss, though, it sounds like the single-player component of the game is something that will end up being quite enjoyable.
In a recent interaction on Twitter, Xbox GM Aaron Greenberg was sharing his thoughts on the recent Halo Infinite flight that took place over the weekend. When another user ended up sharing their own experience with Infinite’s multiplayer mode with Greenberg, he responded and revealed that he has recently played the campaign for himself. Although Greenberg didn’t reveal much about the campaign of Halo Infinite, he did say that it left him “smiling all weekend!”
Same here Benji, got to play some campaign on Friday and been smiling all weekend!


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Apple has just issued for its next press event on Apple Campus in Cupertino. The event is going to happen on March 21. As usual, Apple wrote a cryptic message on its invites. “Let us loop you in,” the invite says.
The event has been rumored for weeks, and we already expect a few things. Rumor has it that Apple has been working on a new iPhone. This iPhone should feature a 4-inch display like the one in the iPhone 5s, but with an updated chip and camera. It’s unclear if it’s going to be called the iPhone 5se (for “special edition”), the iPhone SE or something else.
Next up, we have the iPad Air. Last Fall, Apple updated the iPad mini and unveiled the iPad Pro. There was no word on the iPad Air. It looks like the company is going to announce a new 9.7-inch tablet, but there’s a twist. The new iPad should work with the Apple Pencil and feature a smart connector to work with a keyboard cover, making it a smaller iPad Pro more than an iPad Air 3.
And then, there’s the Apple Watch. “Let us loop you in” could mean something about the Apple Watch. But according to our own Matthew Panzarino, you shouldn’t expect an Apple Watch 2 just yet. Instead, Apple could announce new bands and partnerships with fashion companies.
This story is developing…


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Pepsi is throwing some shade at rival soda brand Coca-Cola in its Super Bowl spot.
In the ad, which highlights the newly relaunched Pepsi Zero Sugar, Missy Elliott and H.E.R. perform a cover of the Rolling Stones’ Paint It Black. The ad is also produced by Timbaland, with choreography from Sean Bankhead.
When the ad opens, H.E.R. stands in a crowd of people clad in red, against a backdrop featuring Coca-Cola’s famous wave symbol, holding a can that says “Cola” in Coca-Cola’s signature typeface. She sings about wanting to paint a red door black, and the can in her hand transforms into a can of Pepsi Zero Sugar. From there, the red backdrop fades away into a world of black, which the brand calls “an energetic place of bold, unapologetic fun.” There, H.E.R. is joined by Missy Elliott, and the pair end on a duet.
The spot, of course, puts Pepsi Zero Sugar in the spotlight, but in particular the focus is on the product’s new matte black can. According to a statement from Pepsi, the ad was inspired by “Missy Elliott music videos and past iconic Pepsi spots with some of music’s biggest stars.”
“I’ve been following H.E.R.’s career closely; her talent is undeniable,” said Missy Elliott in a statement. “When the opportunity came up, to not just work together but collaborate and create something all our own, we had to make it happen. I called up Timbaland and Sean Bankhead, I got the best of the best to make sure we brought the noise and did Pepsi Zero Sugar right.”
Pepsi is a regular Super Bowl advertiser—last year’s spot starred Cardi B, Lil Jon and Steve Carrell, all answering that often-asked question ‘Is Pepsi OK?’ Once again this year, Pepsi is sponsoring the halftime show, as well as the Pepsi Zero Sugar Super Bowl LIV party, which will take place two days before the Big Game and feature performances from artists like Lizzo and Harry Styles.
For all the latest Super Bowl advertising news—who’s in, who’s out, teasers, full ads and more—check out Adweek’s Super Bowl 2020 Ad Tracker. And join us on the evening of Feb. 2 for the best in-game coverage of the commercials anywhere.
The Fans. The Brands. Social Good. The Future of Sports. Don't miss the upcoming Brandweek Sports Marketing Summit and Upfronts, a live virtual experience on Nov. 16-19. Early-bird passes available until Oct. 26. Register now.


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Xbox One information round-up
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Internal Microsoft Scroogled video leaked, takes a few stabs at Chrome
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Microsoft slams Google again, warns shoppers not to get "Scroogled” [Update]
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Latest Solar cell Stories
Pretty soon, powering your tablet could be as simple as wrapping it in cling wrap.
Creates World's Largest Solar Cell Manufacturer SHANGHAI, China and THALHEIM, Germany, Dec. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Hanwha SolarOne Co., Ltd.
Companies sign Memorandum of Understanding for strategic cooperation BAODING, China and SINGAPORE, Dec.
Arnold's thin substrates allow for greater energy density in a smaller system. Marengo, Ill.
SHANGHAI, Dec. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.
BAODING, China, Dec.
Meridian Solar Installs 227 kW at International Biomedical in Austin, Texas Austin, Texas (PRWEB) December 02, 2014 International Biomedical, a medical
Flexible electronics have been touted as the next generation in electronics in various areas, ranging from consumer electronics to bio-integrated medical devices.
- An armed gangster.


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Make a note on your PACK EXPO “to-see” list to say “hello” to the Flexible Packaging Association. It will be at booth N-5803 in the Upper North Building.
PACK EXPO International runs Nov. 6-9, 2016 at McCormick Place in Chicago. It is the world’s largest packaging and processing show, and offers opportunities to not only see new products and services. It also provides one of the widest networking opportunities in the packaging industry.
A highlight for FPA is its participation in the Showcase of Packaging Innovation®. The exhibit brings winning packages in many formats together to show packaging’s potential. It will highlight winners in FPA’s Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards Competition.
The Showcase is in McCormick Place’s Upper North Building, booth N-5765. The exhibit is sponsored by FPA member, The Dow Chemical Co.


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Xiaomi released the Mi Band 3 fitness tracker on May 31 in China. However, the.
Xiaomi recently released the much-awaited Mi Band 3 wearable with improved features. You can now.
If you would like to purchase a cheap headset, you should purchase Xiaomi Mi LYEJ02LM.
If you would like to work with the Android One enabled Xiaomi Mi A1, you.
Xiaomi rolled out the much-awaited MIUI 10 on May 31 and the company has revealed.
Xiaomi launched the much-awaited Mi Band 3 on May 31 along with premium smartphones like.
Xiaomi manufacture accessories in addition to smartphones. You can now purchase Xiaomi Earhook Sports Earphones.
Xiaomi has added two new products to its kitty with the launch of refreshed models.
Virtual Reality is one of the latest innovations in technology. If you would like to.


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Next week, thousands of people will flock to San Jose, California; nestle into their seats at the convention center; and listen to Apple unspool its vision for the future of software. They’ll get their first concrete look at iOS 13 and learn what it means for their phones and tablets.
They’ll hear more about how the gap between iOS and Mac apps is starting to shrink — albeit slowly. They might even get an early look at some new Pro-level hardware. And since we’ll be there covering the show in full, you’ll hear all about that stuff as soon as we do.
Apple will kick off the show in earnest with a keynote address on June 3rd at 10 AM Pacific/1 PM Eastern, but there’s been no shortage of rumors and innuendo ahead of the event. Let’s take a few moments to run through what we know — and what we think we know — about Apple’s biggest updates.


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Cloud 9 Novelties is pleased to announce that all wholesale order placement will begin the week of June 1st. Effective Monday, June 1st, 2020, Cloud 9 Novelties will be accepting orders for all brick and mortar, and other sales channels. We will start with a limited warehouse staff on Monday, June 1 and stage a “soft […]
The post Cloud 9 Novelties Announces New Wholesale Order Placement Opening June 1 appeared first on StorErotica Magazine.
Continuing with Williams Trading Co.’s series on COVID-19, Williams Trading Co. shares some quick and helpful tips to help build inexpensive barriers for cash registers and check out areas. The cash register has emerged as the most dangerous place in the store, according to public health and worker safety experts. Every item cashiers touch, scan, […]
The post Williams Trading Co. on social distancing at the cash wrap appeared first on StorErotica Magazine.
Interactive Life Forms (ILF), makers of Fleshlight brand products, the world’s leading male sex toy, is excited to announce its new Maitland Ward custom-molded sex toy line has broken previous first-day sales records. The products, which debuted on Monday, March 25, made Fleshlight history by becoming the all-time best-selling Fleshlight Girl masturbator within twelve hours […]
The post New Fleshlight Girl Maitland Ward Breaks First-Day Sales Record appeared first on StorErotica Magazine.
Innovative, award-winning pleasure products manufacturer Nu Sensuelle has teamed with Dr. Emily Morse and her Sex with Emily Podcast for a brand awareness campaign. Nu Sensuelle’s one-of-a-kind designs utilize cutting-edge engineering that empower users with power — a mainstay of all Nu Sensuelle products. By engaging Sex with Emily, the brand aims to expand mainstream […]
The post Nu Sensuelle Engages ‘Sex with Emily’ for Brand Awareness Campaign appeared first on StorErotica Magazine.
Xgen Products is now shipping the new Luxe 2-Way Wand from The Bodywand, the first new Bodywand item to be released in almost a year. The Bodywand Luxe 2-Way Wand is exactly what it sounds like, a unique toy that has a head side and a tail side. One side features a classic wand massager […]
The post XGEN PRODUCTS SHIPPING NEW BODYWAND LUXE 2-WAY WAND appeared first on StorErotica Magazine.
Doc Johnson is proud to announce that it is now shipping the Main Squeeze and Signature Stroker of Leo, one half of the award-winning couple LeoLulu. The real-life couple gained widespread fame as amateurs on PornHub, keeping it mysterious by showing everything but their faces. LeoLulu consistently reigns in the top 10 most watched on […]
The post DOC JOHNSON’S NEW LEO OF LEOLULU STROKERS NOW SHIPPING appeared first on StorErotica Magazine.
America’s leading adult distributor, Nalpac (www.nalpac.com), is pleased to announce they have partnered with Evolved Novelties for week four of their F*ck Covid19 Campaign. During week four of the F*ck Covid19 Campaign, Nalpac and Evolved Novelties have teamed up to offer some fantastic bundle deals, daily social media giveaways, and two live webinars. Nalpac is […]
The post Nalpac’s F*ck Covid19 Campaign Week Four Features Evolved Novelties appeared first on StorErotica Magazine.
CalExotics, the world’s leading manufacturer of pleasure products, has released a new line of intimate massagers that will leave your entire body shaking in ecstasy. Tremble is a collection of compact massagers featuring Ultra-Soft dual-density silicone and a new, body-resonating motor designed for intense, seismic pleasure that — according to CalExotics’ resident sexologist Dr. Jill McDevitt — […]
The post CalExotics’ New Tremble Line Provides Deep Seismic Sensations appeared first on StorErotica Magazine.
Jimmyjane is proud to introduce sonic vibration, the sex toy sensation you’ve never heard of, into its award-winning lineup of pleasure products and personal massagers. Built into the unique Focus stimulator, this unique technology boasts super-high-frequency sonic massage with a powerful motor that reverberates at 31,000 vibrations per minute – offering intense pleasure that’s as gentle […]
SHOTS releases the Feel Good Vibe Series, including potential best-seller #STAYTHEFUCKATHOME vibe! SHOTS has been busy during the Covid-19 crisis, and is introducing a series of 10 different Feel Good Vibes with accompanying hashtags: #Stathefuckathome #Vibe It Up, #Stayhomequarantease, #Wine And Dine Me 69 Me, #Good Vibes Saves Lives, #Riding Solo Like Yolo, # Insertme, #Eatsleepplay, Repeat, #3 Orgasms A Day […]


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Disney Legend Bob Gurr seemingly confirmed that new monorails are coming to Walt Disney World. Gurr was at a panel discussing Walt Disney’s journey from the 1964 World’s Fair to the ambitious Epcot project when he was asked about the long-standing rumors of new monorails for Walt Disney World. His answer was extremely candid, calling the current Mark VI monorail the “duct tape monorail”. He notes that they are past their originally intended end-of-life date and goes on to say that contracts are out with Bombardier and that we’ll see new monorails in the coming years.
Here’s the full live stream of the event, with the question coming at about the 2 hour and 12 minute mark.


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WebOS made an appearance on LG's developer website recently.
The California-based FireChat app's popularity exploded over a 24-hour period.
Here are some handsets that can resist more than a little bending.
The "experiential space," a few blocks from rival Apple's store, will be Microsoft's first-ever flagship.
A third photo leak has surfaced on Reddit and 4chan forums, showing alleged photos of Jennifer Lawrence and Anna Kendrick.
Unbox Therapy's iPhone 6 "bend test" video has timing issues.
Apple gave a few journalists an inside look at its testing facilities in response to iPhone 6 Plus bending issues, dubbed "Bendgate."
Intel hopes to catch up to Qualcomm in chips powering mobile devices.
Apple's supply-chain diversification may lower the company's costs while hurting Samsung's long-term profits.
Microsoft and the NFL struck a partnership deal last year worth $400 million. But the game plan has led to some fumbles.
Apple's iPhone 6 is dominating smartphone sales in Japan despite ongoing supply constraints.
The iPhone 6 Plus' competitors performed better than the smartphone in a number of bend tests.
Apple's smartphone may not be waterproof, but tests find that it may have the ability to survive brief submersion.
As China waits for the iPhone 6, Samsung is pouncing to launch the Galaxy Note 4 in China — weeks ahead of schedule.
All kinds of fraudulent purchases are popping up on some of the 56 million cards exposed in the retailer's data breach.
Other than new models of the iPad Air and Retina iPad mini, Apple is also rumored to soon launch a larger iPad with a 12.9-inch display.
The introduction of the metal Galaxy Alpha has sparked a change in strategy for Samsung.
See the changes in iOS and iPhone through Apple's original smartphone and the iPhone 6 Plus side-by-side.
One thing you shouldn't do with your iPhone is toss it into a microwave to charge its battery.
Sources confirm that Google is working with HTC on the upcoming Nexus 9 tablet.
The front of many iPhone 6 lines were filled not with enthusiast Apple fans, but purported resellers looking to make a profit on the smartphone.
Home Depot will spend $62 million to clean up from the data breach that lasted from April through September.
Merely hours after Apple opened its doors to the first iPhone 6 buyers, websites are already taking the smartphone apart.
Jack Cocksey was one of the first people in Perth to have an iPhone 6, only to drop it on camera.
Wei Chu, a Chinese student, is offering to share his girlfriend to raise money to buy the iPhone 6.


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The health and fitness tech market is growing rapidly, from wearable tracking devices like the Fitbit to more obscure medical gadgets that could have a big impact on those living with disabilities.
Each week we’ll be bringing you a round-up of the best from Connected Health, our sister site that’s dedicated to the world of health tech, fitness gadgets and awesome apps:
mor.sl is a cool new website, which tailors recipe searches to you, so you can find the healthiest meals that suit your experience, budget and cooking preparation time.
This week Withings launched its next generation of internet-connected bathroom scales, called the Wireless Scale WS-30. The new scale hasn’t been designed to replace the company’s original flagship device, the original WBS01 scale, but it does allow you to sync up your data to the Withings dashboard automatically, even without wifi.
A group of neuroscientists from MIT have created a prototype wrist watch, which measures how stress affects the body and monitors people’s autonomic nervous system to alert them when they’re freaking out.
Sport and fitness app and online service Runtastic has introduced four new apps into its ecosystem, which challenge users to beat physical challenges.


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"Recession? What recession?" should be the slogan of the Moores family, owners of the Littlewoods mail order business and stores and pools chain. While more glamorous rivals have seen profits collapse in the past year or even bitten the dust, Littlewoods has gone from strength to strength. Its 1990 accounts reveal a 46% increase in profits to £94.8 million, with more of the same promised for 1991 by chief executive Des Pitcher and his team.
Pitcher, the former Plessey and Sperry man brought in by Littlewoods' founder, 95-year-old Sir John Moores, in 1983, after a turbulent time at the corporate HQ, has more than earned his keep with these results; they certainly ensure the Moores family's niche in the league table of billionaires.


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D-Nice was responsible for getting most of us through the craziness of the pandemic thanks to his “Club Quarantine” live mixes. Now, the DJ and rapper is looking to get us out of the house and tucked into a nice glass of wine.
The Drinks Business is reporting that D-Nice — real name: Derrick Jones — is putting his money where his mouth is with his investment into French wine label Maison Marcel, whose previous investors include LiveNation and multimedia artist James Goldcrown.
“We are honored to have an icon like D-Nice as an investor. His passion for celebration and togetherness speaks directly to the ethos of our brand,” said Albert Dahan, CEO of Maison Marcel, in a statement to the outlet. “Not only does he have refined taste, but his finger is on the pulse of culture in a unique and broad way. His organic affinity for our wines was a clear sign we were doing something right. A deeper partnership was the logical next step.”
Jones also echoed the sentiment shared by the label, which is based in the Provencal region of France.
“I have cultivated a deep appreciation for wine over the years. It’s my go-to beverage in moments of celebration and relaxation,” he said in a statement provided to The Drinks Business. “When a friend introduced me to Maison Marcel I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of; the quality of the wine is unmatched and versatile for any occasion or food pairing. I am excited about the opportunity to be part of the brand.”
Maison Marcel wines — which range in price from $18.99 to $21.99 — are available now.


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Cnbc the business of online dating
October 2010The Remington 700 is one the world's most popular firearms.Remington insists its gun is safe -- but allegations and lawsuits point to a trail of death, serious injury, and thousands of complaints.Why do so many people believe that cheating on your taxes is morally ok?From actor Wesley Snipes to a Las Vegas pimp to a middle class couple -- Americans of all kinds have had serious run-ins with the IRS.
CNBC goes inside the IRS's Forensic lab in Chicago to see how Special Agents use CSI technology to uncover even the most hidden evidence of tax fraud.
“Consistent with this responsibility, we have decided to discontinue service for under 18 users. This change will take effect next week.” With the app operating in some 196 countries, the company believed this move would impact less than 3 percent of its global user base.
The news is expected to be welcomed by many who have concerns over children’s online safety.
To make sure that their service is used safely—along with publishing its own set of safety guidelines—the app has two separate communities, one for those aged 13-17 years; and one for those 18 and above.
“On a platform that has facilitated over 11 billion connections, we have the responsibility of constantly assessing our different user experiences,” Tinder’s VP of communications, Rosette Pambakian, said in a statement emailed to CNBC.
Search for cnbc the business of online dating:
According to responses collected by Net Aware—an online guide to social networks and internet safety, set up by NSPCC and O2—parents, children and the initiative’s independent panel suggested Tinder should be used by people who are either 16 or 18 years and older.


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UK credit card borrowing rises at fastest rate for five years
Credit card borrowing in the UK increased at its highest rate for five years, potentially fuelling fears that the economic recovery may be too reliant on consumer debt.22 May 2014
Shoppers made 197m card purchases in March totalling £11.8bn, 13% and 8% higher respectively than during the same month a year ago, according to monthly data from the British Bankers Association (BBA).
Borrowing amounts are rising - allowing for debt write-offs and therefore reflecting cardholder activity - by 5.2% annually, the BBA said.
BBA Chief Economist Richard Woolhouse said: "Borrowing has been growing at an annual rate of nearly 6% – higher than at any time over the past five years.
"This reflects higher consumer confidence amid an improving economy with buoyant housing, retail and durable goods markets."
The figures are likely to cause fresh questions among economists about the sustainability of the economic recovery.
Critics have voiced concern that the revival is too dependent on a resurgence in debt-fuelled consumer spending and have called on the government to do more to rebalance the economy towards manufacturing and exports.
Bank of England consumer borrowing figures earlier this month showed net unsecured consumer credit rising to an 18-month high of £1.1bn in March.
Howard Archer at IHS Global Insight said it was likely to fuel concerns about over-reliance on borrowing, but he added that until March's jump, unsecured consumer borrowing had remained relatively limited compared to long-term norms.


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Online video audiences for Netflix and Amazon are increasing, but Facebook is experiencing a decline in video viewing, according to Ampere Analysis.
The US had the biggest decline in Facebook video viewing, but the proportion of video viewers on the social network were also down in a number of European countries – including Italy and Denmark, which experienced a 6.7 point and a 6.0 point drop in viewers respectively.
The only exceptions to this downwards trend were Poland, where Facebook videos viewers increased by 6.9 points, and the UK which saw a 1.6 point lift – even though UK viewers of video on Facebook were found to have been in decline since Q3 2017.
“The apparent declining engagement with Facebook video is potentially symptomatic of some of the wider challenges Facebook is facing engaging younger audiences at the moment, and the impacts of the negative press surrounding the use of Facebook data in political campaign targeting,” said Richard Broughton, director at Ampere Analysis.
“Nonetheless, video remains a priority for Facebook’s growth strategy, and recent investments in new video ad formats, as well as partnerships in the sports sector, highlight the forward-looking efforts that the social media giant is putting in to expanding this part of its business.”
Overall, across 16 surveyed markets, YouTube was the most popular online video service, being used by 68.3% of internet users each month. Netflix came second with 35.4% reach, followed by Facebook at 27.0% and Instagram at 17.8%. Amazon Instant Video came fifth with 11.7% use among web users.
ICYMI: URC launches global rugby streamer digitaltveurope.com/2021/09/16/urc… https://t.co/mvWGQXsHpi
17 September 2021 @ 19:30:00 UTC
DTVE: the week in view – Cabinet reshuffle comes at tumultuous time for UK pubcasters digitaltveurope.com/comment/cabine… https://t.co/LXoMcJxrEr
17 September 2021 @ 16:40:11 UTC


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The Waffle House restaurant chain prides itself on staying open even in the most drastic weather conditions; torrential rains or hurricanes, the restaurant does its utmost to stay open for its customers. The restaurants are so reliable that they are now being used by FEMA as an indicator of destruction following natural disasters, with what is being called the “Waffle House Index.”
When a hurricane or other natural disasters strike, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) relies on many different gauges in order to assess dangerous situations.
Now, FEMA relies on the breakfast restaurant’s service as a gauge for damage, according to the Wallstreet Journal.
If Waffle House restaurants are serving a full menu, it signals that damage in the area is limited, and that lights are on - a green message.
Yellow means a limited menu, signaling that power from a generator is being used and low food supplies.
Red means severe damage or unsafe conditions- usually meaning power outage and loss of water, and that Waffle Houses are closed.
FEMA director Craig Fugate, who coined the term “Waffle House Index,” spoke with the Journal. He said if a Waffle House is closed, that it’s “really bad.” He added, “That’s where you get to work.”
“Our mission is to deliver a unique experience to our customers through delivering great food, friendly, attentive service, excellent price and a welcoming presence,” the website for Waffle House states.
The restaurant has over 1,600 sites in 25 states, and claims to be the world’s leading server of waffles.
After hurricane Katrina destroyed seven Waffle House restaurants and closed over 100, the chain created a plan for being prepared in times of crisis. Using a limited menu, based on what is working in the kitchen and stocking up on supplies, Waffle Houses are able to stay open as well as bounce back quicker than most businesses.
During last week’s hurricane, Irene, 22 Waffle House restaurants lost power, reported the Journal. North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware restaurants were affected, while kitchens in North Carolina and Missouri were open and busy.
These facts helped FEMA assess where the hurricane damage was most severe.
“The Waffle House test doesn’t just tell us how quickly a business might rebound – it also tells us how the larger community sis faring,” FEMA explained to EHS Today.
Waffle House spends very little on advertising, and has built a successful business strategy on word-of-mouth and being reliably open to desperate customers in times of need.
Chains such as Wal-Mart and Home Depot are compared similarly to Waffle House restaurant’s ability to respond to disaster well, according to the Huffington Post.


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The International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST) is a blur of excitement and chaos, bringing together many of today’s top fishing tackle, electronics, and apparel manufacturers. Taking place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, lots of major players in the fresh- and saltwater fishing industries are there to showcase new products. ICAST is an industry-only event and not open to the public. But outdoor media was there in July, on the ground, to check out all the new gear and products. Salt Water Sportsman put together a list of noteworthy products that caught our eye. Some of these products are available to buy, some will be available later this year or into 2023.
Courtesy of: Saltwater Sportsman Magazine
The post New Fishing Gear for 2022 appeared first on Fishing Reports | Saltwater Angler.


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Tuesday, November 19, 2013 12:05 IST
Actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who shot to fame with `Kai Po Che`, has been chosen to endorse an "innovative" cosmetic product for men.
An official announcement of his association will be made in Mumbai Wednesday.
He will launch a `first-of-its kind skincare regime for men` at the event.
The `Shuddh Desi Romance` actor earlier featured in a soap advertisement with his actress-girlfriend Ankita Lokhande.
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|The best part about this was that, this look was designed by Shraddha herself for her brand 'Imara'...|
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- Tuesday, May 31, 2016 Shameless or Hot: These hot bikini pics of Sonarika shock you
|Telly actress Sonarika Bhadoria, who was seen as Goddess Parvati in 'Devon Ke Dev... Mahadev', has become the latest victim of...|