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- Joe Biden rolled out a $700 billion "Buy American" plan that mirrors Trump's economic nationalism with a renewed focus on domestic manufacturing and job creation in the US.
- The two main components anchoring the proposal are a purchasing initiative to bolster demand for US-made goods and services, and investments in research and breakthrough technologies.
- Trump campaigned in 2016 to bring back jobs from overseas and repeatedly blasted China's trade relationship with the US, and he sparked a trade war.
- Democrats are pushing to restore supply chains in the US with tax incentives due to shortages exposed by the pandemic.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Joe Biden unveiled a $700 billion "Buy American" plan that echoes President Donald Trump's economic nationalism on Thursday, aiming to revive a sputtering economy with a renewed focus on domestic manufacturing and creating jobs in the US.
The proposal has two main components anchoring it:
- A $400 billion purchasing initiative to ramp up demand for US-made products and services.
- A $300 billion investment in American research and technology. Half of that would be directed in clean energy research that was previously announced by the Biden campaign.
The Biden campaign says its approach would generate 5 million jobs that were lost this year due to the pandemic and create another 5 million new ones. The former vice president is also calling to crack down on false advertising of products made overseas with "Buy American" labels and close loopholes around related provisions.
Part of the plan would be financed by partially rolling back the Trump tax cuts enacted in 2017 and also implementing "common-sense tax reforms that finally make sure the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share." The campaign did not release any further details.
Trump campaigned in 2016 on bringing back jobs from overseas, and assailed China's trade relationship with the US in particular. He embarked on a trade war that saw hundreds of billions of dollars worth of tariffs levied on Chinese goods.
Both China and the US signed an interim trade deal earlier this year, though the president has repeatedly blasted Beijing for its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. At one point in May, Trump threatened to "cut off the whole relationship" with China.
Peter Navarro, one of Trump's top trade advisers, has pushed for an executive order compelling federal agencies to buy medical supplies and pharmaceutical goods produced in the US, though it hasn't gained traction in the White House, The Washington Post reported.
Many Democrats, however, have also pushed to bring back overseas supply chains in the face of medical-gear shortages in the US with tax incentives.


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Like the Nokia 7650, the Nokia 3650 sports an integrated digital camera capable of taking pictures in VGA resolution. However, it can record and play back video, has 4 MB RAM, a 12-bit color display, GSM, GPRS, HSCSD, Bluetooth, and there is also an integrated MMC card expansion slot.
New tri-band Nokia 3650 w/ video!
- Apple’s Most Important WWDC 2018 Anno... — ARKit 2, Privacy, Siri Shortcuts: The Most Important WWDC 2018 News – Varietyhttps://variety.com/2018/digital/news/wwdc-2018-biggest-news-siri-ios-apple-tv-1202829288/“Today is all about software,” proclaimed Apple CEO Tim Cook during the opening keynote for Apple’s 2018 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San Jose, Calif., on Monday, setting the stage for a long list of announcements of new features coming to iPhone, iPad, [...]
- Withings to Nokia Digital Health then... — Announcements – Frequently asked questions about the acquisition of Nokia digital health business – Nokiahttps://support.health.nokia.com/hc/en-us/articles/360001422608?utm_campaign=event_201805_el&utm_content=main&utm_medium=email&utm_source=crmNokia wanted to refocus on its networks and licensing activities and so decided to divest its connected health entity. We are delighted to welcome Eric Carreel, the co-founder of Withings, as the head of this now independent entity. The teams at [...]
- What is GDPR and how will it affect d... — [...]
- Instagram Is Turning Into Facebook, a... — Instagram Is Turning Into Facebook, and That’s Bad – WSJhttps://www.wsj.com/articles/instagram-is-turning-into-facebook-and-thats-bad-1517422670Facebook has owned Instagram since 2012 but the two have felt totally different—until recently, when Instagram started using many of the same digital tricks Facebook pioneered to keep you scrolling longer. Why does Instagram want to be so much like its big brother at a time [...]
- Wi-Fi gets quicker with 802.11ax, but... — 802.11ax Wi-Fi is faster, but most people should wait to buy into it | PCWorldhttps://www.pcworld.com/article/3269364/network-router/wi-fi-gets-quicker-with-80211ax-but-buying-early-might-offer-few-advantages.html?idg_eid=412374c121fe539738655f52ae490f8f&email_SHA1_lc=f6d5fe2a378ea202f8af35117edcb06be2465c6d&cid=mw_nlt_mw_daily_html_2018-04-25&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Macworld%20Daily%202018-04-25&utm_term=mw_daily_htmlThe latest Wi-Fi standard makes home networks faster, especially for video streaming. The transition from 802.11ac to 802.11ax promises a modern networking hub that can cope with the burgeoning number and diversity of wireless devices that need access to your broadband [...]

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The report, published by the World Vapers Alliance and the Consumer Choice Center, examined 61 countries worldwide and their legislative framework regarding electronic cigarettes. The research demonstrated that with regulatory measures that facilitate and encourage users to switch to e-cigarettes as a means of quitting smoking, nearly 196 million smokers would turn to vaping to break their harmful habit.
Commenting on the highly interesting study, Michael Landl, the Head of the World Vapers Alliance, said, "While the benefits of vaping over smoking have been known for some time, this new study shows us the potential of e-cigarettes: Almost 200 million lives could be saved. If the COVID pandemic has shown us anything during this period, it is that our health is of utmost importance and legislators who want to help people quit smoking should be guided by scientific evidence".
The World Vapers Alliance and the Consumer Choice Center studied 61 countries, comparing the current rates of daily and occasional vapers. The policies for harm reduction from smoking implemented by the United Kingdom served as a reference point. Based on this, the number of smokers who could switch to vaping was evaluated.
Fred Roeder, on behalf of the Consumer Choice Center, stated regarding the research, "Smart e-cigarette advertising targeting smokers, prominent presence in comparison to traditional cigarettes, lower taxation rates, and public health authorities supporting, based on scientific evidence, that vaping is at least 95% less harmful than smoking—these are what the United Kingdom has implemented, successfully saving the lives of thousands of smokers".
Specifically, in England, the Public Health Agency, part of the UK Department of Health, advises smokers to quit traditional cigarettes and switch to e-cigarettes. This policy has been accompanied by relevant legislation. As a result of this approach, the United Kingdom has seen significant results in reducing the number of smokers compared to other countries. It is not coincidental that approximately 25% fewer people smoke in England today compared to 2013, while Australia, a country known for having some of the strictest legislative restrictions on vaping, has only seen an 8% reduction. France, Canada, and New Zealand are following the example of England, experiencing significant results as well.
To support the research findings, the World Vapers Alliance and the Consumer Choice Center have created an interactive map showing how many smokers could potentially benefit from switching to vaping under a progressive legislative framework.


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When 50 aspiring farmers gather at the Future Farmers of America's annual "New Century Farmer" conference next week, what they will learn goes way beyond crop rotation, tractor engines and how to get more milk out of old Bessie.
A Family Farm Evolves
They will learn to cut costs using GPS technology and how to network with global marketing organizations; how to negotiate hefty bank-financing packages and how to keep huge $250,000 tractors running almost nonstop to grow more crops. It's a big leap from the plowing, planting, livestock-feeding and welding skills the FFA taught aspiring farmers 40 years ago.
"It's kind of scary" to see the knowledge and skills farmers need to survive today, says Howard Augustine, 76, whose grandson Ryan, 21, attended the New Century conference in 2009 and is preparing to take over the 150-year-old family farm near Rose Hill, Iowa.
New farmers must be both businesspeople and scientists, skilled at plowing and planting and willing to work like a dog. Those who don't inherit land often struggle to gain access to acreage from a dwindling supply of farmland. And whether farmers sell their produce on international markets or to consumers next door, they all require marketing and management skills.
When Howard Augustine started out in the 1940s, he farmed with horses and picked corn by hand. Since then, the farm has grown by more than tenfold in acreage. The 1980s were tough for Ryan's father, Dan Augustine, age 47. During that era's deep farm recession, just "staying in business was the major goal," Dan says.
Today, farm prices are up, but global commodity markets are so volatile that selling crops is a challenge, he says. "Back when my dad was my age, if the corn market moved $1 in a year, that was a big move. Now it can move $1 in a week." Modern farming is like managing a factory, "working every day on efficiencies and cost of production," he says "We talk about doing as much in an hour as they did in a day" in his father's era.
The family has been slow to adopt new technology to cut seed costs, Dan says. But Ryan, a senior majoring in agricultural studies at Iowa State University, has shown his dad how to use GPS technology to prevent the planter from seeding the same area twice.
Dan Augustine admits he hasn't fully adapted to the new technology yet. But he likes the results. The GPS technology saved $10,000 on seed costs this year. Next, Ryan plans to develop a system to track feed and weight gain for the family's cattle by computer.
More smaller farms are starting up to meet demand for organic and locally grown food from restaurants, grocers and consumers. In what Michael Scuse, acting under secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, calls the biggest small-farm expansion in memory, the number of farms under 70 acres grew 12% from 1978 to 2007, the latest data available. Farmers' markets have more than doubled in the past decade, to 6,132 nationwide, the USDA says.
Just to survive, though, most small farmers hold paying jobs off the farm. And marketing successfully to consumers requires advanced business and production skills, says Erin Barnett, a director of LocalHarvest, a Santa Cruz, Calif., website about local and organic food. She says her group often hears complaints from customers because of the "rising number of very, very inexpert people" trying to run community-supported agriculture operations (CSAs), which sell memberships in return for a supply of produce.
Matt Mccue, 29, admits to some marketing missteps in the past. On one of his first jobs as a farm manager, he promised to deliver 100 heads of lettuce to a local grocer every week, then couldn't produce enough lettuce. "I learned never promise to do things you can't do," he says, "even if you think you might be able to do it." He and his wife, Lily Schneider, 27, studied horticulture and worked on other people's farms to learn skills they would need to start their own farm.
Finding land was an obstacle. Urban sprawl wiped out some 23 million acres of farmland from 1982 to 2007, according to the latest available data from the nonprofit American Farmland Trust. In 2008, after the couple's hopes of leasing a plot near Fairfield, Calif., fell through, they walked up to a stranger's house on an idle farm, knocked on the door and asked if they could lease the property. The owner, Roger Andrino, a retired Air Force mechanic, was delighted they wanted to farm the 20 acres where he lives with his mother. "It was serendipity," he says.
Today, the couple's farm, "Shooting Star CSA," supplies vegetables to 175 paying members. "We have to work really hard to get money, to stay alive and pay our bills," Mr. Mccue says. "I really do love the independence."
Startup farmers often need the skills of a concert promoter. Corie Pierce wanted to be a farmer ever since the summer she worked on a farm as a teen. She saved money from other jobs for years before she was able, by teaming up with a college classmate, Adam Wilson, to buy a farm through a nonprofit land-conservation group in 2009.
To keep the Bread & Butter Farm and store afloat, Ms. Pierce, 37, and Mr. Wilson, 31, tend crops and livestock. To lure customers to the farm near Shelburne, Vt., they bake bread, book live bands for burger-and-music events and concoct and serve entrées made from their farm-raised, organic produce. "We are constantly thinking about new ways to engage people and get them excited about our farm," Ms. Pierce says.
Write to Sue Shellenbarger at firstname.lastname@example.org


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NEW YORK — There’s a new wild card in the wealth effect.
The value of people’s homes is figuring into how flush they’re feeling — and how much they intend to spend as a result.
Of 68,000 adults polled by The NPD Group between May 24 and June 9, 86 percent said they’ll adjust their spending if the value of their homes declines. And two-thirds of those homeowners expect the value of their homes to hold steady or decline in the next 12 months.
“The home has become very much a part of consumers’ spending behavior,” asserted Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst at The NPD Group. In the past, home ownership was viewed as an investment, but today, Cohen noted, it has become common to use the equity in a home, via second mortgages and reverse mortgages, to make purchases.
While most of that consumption is concentrated on large-ticket transactions, like financing a child’s college education, declines in the value of people’s homes would likely precipitate a tightening of almost all discretionary spending, including items like apparel and electronics, Cohen said. In the 12 months ended April 30, with the froth still on the housing bubble, purchases of women’s apparel advanced 5.5 percent to $104 billion, a significantly stronger gain than the 3.5 percent increase in the prior-year period, based on NPD data.
Homes in the U.S. are likely to appreciate at an average rate of 6 percent this year, roughly half the 12.6 percent they appreciated in 2005, NPD forecast. Roughly 6.8 million homes are projected to be sold in 2006, 4 percent fewer than the 7.1 million that changed hands a year ago.


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$150 Of Grocery Vouchers Sent To S’poreans, They Offer 5% Discount On Healthier Choice Symbol Products
If finances have been tight the past few months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, any help in paying for basic food supplies to feed your family will be appreciated.
That’s why the Government is helping less well-off Singaporeans with their household expenses during tough times.
If you’re above 21 and live in a 1-room or 2-room HDB flat, you can look forward to getting $150 worth of grocery vouchers, which can be used at 4 major supermarket chains in Singapore.
Eligible S’poreans must be above 21
According to the Ministry of Finance (MOF) in a press release on Saturday (10 Oct), the vouchers are meant to help Singaporeans with their household expenses during this time of “extraordinary economic uncertainty”.
To get the vouchers, you must:
- Be a Singapore citizen
- Be aged 21 and above this year
- Live in a 1-room or 2-room flat
- Not own more than 1 property
If you fulfill all these criteria, you should get $150 worth of vouchers this month, split up into denominations of $10 for ease of usage.
150,000 Singaporeans will be getting the vouchers, said MOF.
No application is needed
The vouchers should be mailed to the address stated in your IC.
Even if more than 1 member of your household is eligible, each member will get their vouchers addressed individually to them.
Better yet, you won’t need to apply for them. If you meet the criteria, they’ll be automatically sent to you by post.
Valid at 4 supermarket chains
To make it easy to use the voucher, they’re valid at 4 major supermarket chains in Singapore: NTUC FairPrice, Giant, Prime and Sheng Siong.
As these chains have branches in housing estates all over Singapore, it’s unlikely that you won’t get a chance to use the vouchers.
Better still, if you buy products with a Healthier Choice Symbol, the vouchers entitle you to a 5% discount — but only at FairPrice, Prime, and Sheng Siong.
The discount will be capped at 5% of the voucher’s value when you’re making payment with them.
The vouchers will also be valid till 31 Dec 2021, so you’ve plenty of time to use them.
$150 more coming in Dec
The vouchers are being disbursed as part of the Care and Support Package announced by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat in his Unity Budget speech in Feb.
The package is meant to help Singaporeans cope with the pandemic. As part of it, many adults would have received benefits like up to $900 in cash.
If you’ve already finished spending your $150 in vouchers for this month, you’ll be delighted to know there’s more to come.
Another $150 of vouchers will be given out in Dec.
A year from now, eligible Singaporeans will enjoy another $100.
That’s a total of $400 in grocery vouchers to look forward to.
Mr Heng, in a Facebook post on Saturday (10 Oct) announcing the vouchers, said the Government hopes the support measures will help households during this difficult period.
Any help is welcome
Any help to tide us over tough times is always welcome, especially for low-income households, and we thank the Government for their generosity.
Here’s a tip: For those who frequent Giant, the chain has already lowered the prices of daily essentials, so if you use your grocery vouchers there it’s possible you can stretch them further.
Let’s all help one another survive this difficult period, and look forward to sunnier days ahead.
Have news you must share? Get in touch with us via email at email@example.com.


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A second-year student has launched a new iPhone app designed to help make train travel more accessible for blind and visually impaired travellers by alerting them when their train station is approaching to ensure they don’t miss their stop.
The app, called Stay on Route, lets users pre-programme the app with their destination station and set an alert, such as an alarm or a vibration, for when the station is a set distance away, for example one mile. While the app is aimed at improving accessibility it could also be used by all types of travellers worried they may miss their stop if reading, resting or otherwise distracted.
Student James Grice, studying a Management Bsc at Kent Business School (KBS), first developed the app in 2018 and was a runner-up in the School’s Business Start-Up Journey, receiving £500 investment towards the app.
Since then he has worked with the KBS ASPIRE team to help bring the app to market, launching it first for iOS. As it’s the first iteration of the app James hopes to gather feedback from the first users of the service to inform future updates.
Commenting on the launch of the app he said: ‘Stay on Route has huge potential to make train travel easier and more relaxing for visually impaired travellers, as well as anyone else who may be worried about missing their stop. It has been great to have had the support of the KBS ASPIRE team at the University to bring the app to market and hopefully with feedback from users it will continue to develop into a must-have travel app.’
James is hoping to receive feedback from users of the first version of the app to help develop future improvements, new ideas and general updates to help make it as user friendly as possible.


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The New York Times reports,
Although patent litigation is not new in the technology world, these suits, specifically around mobile, point to the drastically changing mobile landscape. Lawyers I spoke with explained that mobile technology was still in its infancy and these large computing companies were trying to stake their claim to the future of computing.
On Tuesday when I spoke with Eric Von Hippel, a professor of technological innovation at M.I.T.’s Sloan School of Management. He pointed out that patent lawsuits had turned particularly unpleasant lately as a result of companies that only buy and sell patents.
As reported yesterday, Apple is suing HTC for infringing on twenty iPhone related patents. HTC makes mobile phones and smartphones including Google’s Nexus One and phones sold by Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile (1, 2) running Google’s Android operating system.
Below are the complaints filed in U.S. District Court in Delaware and with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC).
“We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it. We’ve decided to do something about it,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours.”


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Since the invention of automobiles, humans cannot live without technology. The convenience that is brought about by motor vehicles cannot be understated. They are the most widely used form of transportation in work today. Technological advancements are continually being made to automobiles to make them more efficient and safer to use.
The smart car technology has been possible thanks to artificial intelligence (AI), the use of computers, and automation. All these advanced technologies combined are continually being modified and developed to make smart cars even more efficient. There are also new smart cars that boast an increased intelligence level such as Sevecom, ComuniCar, and others.
With all the research going on in the smart car sector, The European Commission has started a program called the Intelligent Car Flagship Initiative. The role of the initiative is to ensure that the smart cars have important features such as a lane departure warning system, Autonomous Cruise Control, and, for drivers suffering from lethargy, project AWAKE.
Companies such as the Sandown-Group and other smart car distributors ensure that the needs of each client are met. Smart cars vary depending on the features, which can be what makes them expensive compared to other ordinary cars. A few smart car manufacturers in the market are experiencing the switch from carbon fuel to fully electric cars. There are also options for buying used or new smart cars – check out sandown-group.co.uk to learn more about it.
Smart cars already use available technology to enhance their performance on the road. For example, they use a wireless connection or infrared technologies to interpret road signs, traffic lights, and signals. This technology also comes in handy when the road is curved which helps to mitigate avoidable road accidents.
The new smart car comes with even more features that enable the driver to navigate traffic congestion using the global positioning system (GPS) together with the previously mentioned technologies. There have been reports that the technology for driverless cars might already be possible, which is quite exciting. The need to eliminate errant drivers who are responsible for the majority of accidents on the road such as drunk drivers, drivers driving while fatigued, or careless drivers is taken very seriously by researchers.
The environmental consequences of using traditional cars that used carbon fuel cannot be understated. The new smart cars will include pollution control measures that will limit the harmful emotions to the environment. The use of economical energy such as electricity and solar energy is good not just for the environment but is cheaper for the owner. Smart car technology also assures the owner of the safety of the car with the anti-lock braking systems. This makes the car secure from break-ins and alternatively easy to track when lost.
Finally, Smart cars are automobiles of the future as explained above. People who are worried about the carbon footprint being left behind by traditional vehicles have a suitable alternative in smart cars. Those who live in congested cities can also benefit from new smart cars because they occupy very little space.


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Shanghai is about to get its own unofficial cocktail week as industry stars from around the world head in for this year’s awards.
Mr Black adds a coffee amaro to their range.
DRiNK’s monthly product round-up of new bottles in Asia.
The ex-Tippling Club head bartender wins International Bartender of the Year before he bids farewell to Singapore.
Find out who, what, where and when this month.
The former head bartender of The American Bar came to Singapore and Hong Kong to refresh revellers with a lighter style of mixed drink.
Is the Instagrammable cocktail over? After a period of flamboyance and humour, minimalist drinks are now in vogue writes Paul Mathew.
The Savoy, London, serves this smoke-backed whisky cooler with a caper to cleanse the palate.
To kick off our review of the year just passed, we start with a look back at another envelope-pushing 12 months of news, events and conversation for Asia’s drinkers and drinksmiths.
Our second awards party in numbers, and photos from the night!


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iPhone XS: Pros and Cons
Apple just released a new batch of iPhones into the wild, and you may find yourself rushing to your local Apple Store to pick up a model, especially now that the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are widely available and getting rave reviews. It's understandable — there are plenty of compelling reasons to upgrade to the new phones. But there's also a handful of reasons to wait before you hand over all your money to Apple. Here's a look at why the iPhone XS should be your next big purchase, along with a few counterarguments that say you should pass over this update.
A12 Bionic processor
The A11 Bionic processor Apple introduced last year has bested all would-be rivals, with A11-powered iPhones routinely trouncing phones with Snapdragon 845 and Kirin 970 chips in benchmarking tests. What does Apple do for an encore? It puts an even faster processor in the iPhone XS.
The A12 Bionic has two performance cores that reportedly deliver 15 percent faster performance while consuming 40 percent less power than the A11. Four efficiency cores further optimize power consumption. Games should play better, too, thanks to a 50 percent boost in speed with the A12's new GPU, and a neural engine ups the number of operations your iPhone can pull off per second. Our benchmark tests certainly confirm that the A12 outperforms the A11; more importantly, it leaves the Snapdragon 845 powering top Android phones in the dust. Also, the A12 should be especially proficient at handling all the augmented-reality-powered apps that developers are whipping up with Apple's ARKit tools.
On paper, the dual rear cameras on the iPhone XS haven't changed much from what Apple offered before, with the same 12-megapixel wide-angle and telephoto lenses as on previous iPhones. But the iPhone XS has a new sensor featuring deeper and larger pixels, which Apple says will gather 50 percent more light. That should mean better photos when the lights are dim, an area where iPhones have fallen behind the competition. Apple also added a Depth Control feature to adjust your portrait shots after the fact, while a Smart HDR feature is designed to call out the highlights of a photo, even in shadows. If snapping photos is one of the main ways you use your phone, you might like the iPhone XS, because it has the best camera Apple's ever offered in an iPhone — at least, based on our hands-on tests with the new phone.
Apple promised a noticeable gain for how long its new iPhones could last on a charge, and it delivered in the case of the iPhone XS Max, though maybe not as much as you had been hoping. Apple's supersized 6.5-inch phone lasted 10 hours, 38 minutes on our battery test, in which we have a phone surf continuously over LTE until it runs out of gas. That means the XS Max just missed out on on our list of longest-lasting smartphones, though it's still well ahead of the average result for smartphones. The iPhone XS didn't fare as well on our test, with a result more in line with that 9 hour, 48 minute average. But if you want a phone to go all day on a single charge, the XS Max is an excellent option.
It's more durable
While the original iPhone X sported an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, the iPhone XS gets a little bit tougher, with a more durable rating of IP68. That means you can drop the phone in up to 6 feet of water and not worry about a calamity. The iPhone XS is durable in other ways, too, using reformulated glass, which Apple touts as the most durable ever used on a smartphone. We haven't had a chance to test this yet ourselves, but the iPhone XS fared well in drop tests conducted by TechSmartt.
There are more-expansive storage options
Apple's stinginess with built-in storage continues to relax. While the base model of the iPhone Xs continues to offer 64GB — which is more generous than the 32GB capacity of the iPhone 7 from two years ago — you now have the option of going big. Both the iPhone XS and XS Max top out at 512GB of storage. You'll have to pay up for the privilege — the 512GB versions cost $350 more than the base models — but at least you now have the option.
Better Face ID, speakers and Dual SIM
If you waited on buying the original iPhone X just to see how Apple might improve the design in subsequent models, your patience will pay off: The XS is dotted with a bunch of upgrades over last year's version. An improved Face ID means your phone will unlock faster, while the screen offers greater dynamic range than its predecessor. Apple says the new phones offer wider stereo sound, and if you do a lot of globe-trotting, you'll appreciate support for dual SIM cards in the new iPhones.
The price is still stratospheric
Oh, you were expecting Apple to drop the price on this year's iPhone X models to make the phone even more attractive? You must not be familiar with the gravity-defying properties of iPhone prices. The iPhone XS costs $999, the same as last year's iPhone X, and you'll have to pay another $100 if you prefer the XS Max. Boost the storage on either the iPhone Xs or Xs Max, and you're looking at the most expensive iPhone that Apple's ever sold. At least you can pick up an original iPhone X for less money now if you still want that notched design.
No included fast charger
The iPhone's premium price tag would be more palatable if everything you needed came in the box. However, Apple continues to ship the iPhone without a charger that can take advantage of the phone's fast-charging features. If you want your iPhone XS to charge more rapidly, you'll have to pony up for a 30-watt charger and a USB-C-to-Lightning cable. Imagine paying $999 — or more! — for a phone, then finding out you weren't done tapping your savings account just yet.
Credit: Tom's Guide
The notch remains
While plenty of people have gravitated to the new design Apple introduced with the iPhone X — the company has the sales receipts to prove it — a segment of Apple's user base likely has mixed feelings about the notched display. If you chose against upgrading to the iPhone X because you found its notch off-putting, we've got bad news: Every new iPhone introduced by Apple now has a notch. If you don't want a notch dipping down into your phone's display, you have to either opt for one of the older iPhones that Apple still sells or track down one of the Android devices that hasn't copied the iPhone X's look.
The iPhone XR isn't here yet
Apple is now taking preorders on the iPhone Xs and Xs Max, but those aren't the only new iPhones hitting retail shelves this year. The iPhone XR, introduced alongside those other phones, ships in mid-October. And while you'll have some trade-offs with the XR — it has an LCD screen instead of an OLED, and you get only one rear camera — Apple's other iPhone has the same superfast A12 processor and a lower starting price, at $749.
Maybe you'll decide that the iPhone XS or XS Max is a better fit for your needs. But if you can wait a month, you can keep your iPhone XR option open while seeing if the XS and XS Max really do deliver on Apple's promises.
You're missing a slide. The new iPhones have Gigabit LTE radios. It's the only reason I am considering upgrading from my X.Reply
with dual sim, is iPhone XS working smoothly?Reply
Well, the ridiculous price is a good enough reason for me not to buy it. But adding these things, my decision seemed more reasonable.Reply


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Samsung's latest smartphone offering, the Galaxy S4, goes on sale in the UK tomorrow. The device, which allows users to control the screen using their eyes. It is expected to give the company another boost, and is said to pose the greatest threat yet to Apple's iPhone.
More top news
The Tonight programme looks at government efforts to improve our general wellbeing, and offers tips on how we can all boost our happiness.
While writing The Great Fire, I was interested to find striking parallels between Britain in 1666 and modern-day equivalents.
Tory Chief Whip Michael Gove has taken time out from his schedule to claim second place in Westminster's Dog of the Year competition.


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Last updated: October 5, 2012 - 8:05am
An effort to develop an easy way for consumers around the world to avoid being tracked and targeted by Internet advertisers appeared to hit an impasse, as privacy advocates and industry representatives accused each other of scuttling the process.
The closed-door meeting organized by W3C, the global standards group that promotes good governance of the Internet, failed to produce a consensus on how to allow consumers to simply and effectively declare their “do not track” preferences on Web sites. The talks foundered on main issues like the extent and types of data that advertisers could continue to collect even after consumers indicated they no longer wanted to be followed. The conference is not expected to produce a final resolution, and other meetings could be scheduled before the end of January, when the group is set to disband. But the stakes for Internet users are high and boil down to who determines the limits and protections of online privacy on the Internet: the businesses running the Web, which is largely the current status quo, or the consumers who use it. For the moment, privacy advocates say the status quo is winning out.
- ‘Do Not Track’ effort is going nowhere fast
- Lawmakers blast advertisers for ignoring 'Do Not Track' on Microsoft's Explorer
- Ex-White House Official Aims to Get ‘Do Not Track’ Back on Track
- Privacy advocates target online advertisers
- Setting Boundaries for Internet Privacy
- What exactly does ‘do not track’ mean?
- Ad Industry, privacy Advocates Spar Over ‘Do Not Track’
- Apple policy has mobile advertisers scrambling
- Rush Reintroduces Privacy Bill
- Internet advertisers begin offering new Do Not Track icon
- ‘Do Not Track’ effort at a standstill
- Ad Networks Bypass iPhone Privacy Rules
- Mediator Joins Contentious Effort to Add a ‘Do Not Track’ Option to Web Browsing
- Battle brewing over control of personal data online
- What a Difference a Week Makes: A New Framework for Protecting Privacy


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“After having completed a preliminary assessment of the incident’s impact on our production capabilities, we anticipate that the site will be fully operational by the end of February,” says Sara Vermeulen, the director of European Marketing and Communications for ADM
An explosion in one of the cocoa processing plants at Koog aan de Zaan north of Amsterdam affected one production line.
“We are still assessing the impact on production [in that area],” spokeswoman Elissa Igleheart told Reuters.
Other areas, however, were not involved in the incident and are still operational. “As the distribution center and warehouse were not affected, we continue to ship finished products that have already been produced,” says Vermeulen. “We are also exploring other production options through our network of processing facilities in order to meet our customers’ needs.”
For more information visit visit www.adm.com


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According to an executive who spoke with Billboard, the Daily Deal has been around since mid-2008, but it was in 2009, when Amazon asked labels to provide a one-day exclusive before an album's street date in order to be featured in the promotion, that Apple became unhappy. Granting 24-hour exclusivity gave the album promotion across the Web, on various Web sites and social networking feeds.
The labels reportedly paid nothing for the promotion, but simply exchanged the temporary exclusivity for increased exposure. With the deal potentially taking customers away from Apple's own iTunes Music Store, the report said that the iPod maker decided to intervene.
"Sources say that iTunes representatives have been urging labels to rethink their participation in the Amazon promotion and that they have backed up those warnings by withdrawing marketing support for certain releases featured as Daily Deals," the report said.
Apple's alleged approach has apparently worked: Major labels decided not to include high-profile releases such as "Need You Now" by Lady Antebellum and "Animal" by Ke$ha in Amazon's Daily Deal.
The first participant in the Amazon promotion, which started Apple's displeasure, was reportedly Mariah Carey's "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel," which sold for $5.99 a day before its Sept. 29 street date last year.
Amazon, however, has not been idle as Apple has allegedly become more aggressive with publishers. Bloomberg reported that Amazon has been "fine-tuning its Daily Deal pitch" for new titles, "agreeing, for instance, to forgo the one-day exclusive window on certain ones." Apple, however, allegedly remains upset with the Daily Deal promotion.
A week ago, Apple's iTunes sold its 10 billionth song, achieving the milestone nearly seven years after the online download destination was introduced. Recent figures have found iTunes to represent a quarter of all U.S. music sales, making the service the largest single music retailer in the nation. Digital downloads make up an estimated 35 percent of total music sales, and iTunes accounts for 69 percent of those.
Apple, in the past, has had heated negotiations with music labels over content on iTunes. In early 2009, Apple convinced record labels to remove digital rights management from its music downloads, but in the process it conceded price flexibility. Starting last April, some popular tracks saw a 30 percent increase in price, from 99 cents to $1.29.
As prices were increased in the midst of a recession, annual growth of digital music sales has slowed, but remains a net positive for the major labels. However, one label executive recently conceded that a 30 percent price increase during an economic slump was not the best move.


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The Linux Foundation is collaborating with firms such as Microsoft, Target, and Veritone to launch the Open Voice Network, a project designed to “prioritize trust and standards” in voice-focused technology.
The network was created as a “proactive response to combating deep fakes in AI-based voice technology,” says Mike Dolan, Senior VP at the Linux Foundation.
“Voice is expected to be a primary interface to the digital world, connecting users to billions of sites, smart environments and AI bots. It is already increasingly being used beyond smart speakers to include applications in automobiles, smartphones and home electronics devices of all types. Key to enabling enterprise adoption of these capabilities and consumer comfort and familiarity is the implementation of open standards,” Dolan said.
To Read More: Zdnet


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Decreasing sales of many midsize luxury cross/utility vehicles are tempering perceptions that the segment is home to some of the industry’s hottest products.
Of the 12 vehicles in Ward’s midsize luxury CUV segment, seven were running behind year-ago’s sales pace eight months into 2005. Leading the way were the Porsche Cayenne andTouareg, which were down 22.9% and 33.8%, respectively, during January-August vs. like-2004 results.
Sales slid 10% or more for four models, while only one product – theX3 – was up more than 10%.
Lexus RX 330
Overall, the midsize luxury CUV segment rose slightly eight months into 2005 from year-ago’s 252,672 deliveries to 272,419 units. But the 5.4% increase indicates the segment’s growth potential may be overrated. For example, that upsurge was nearly equaled by the 5.3% year-to-date increase recorded by the non-descript large-van segment.
Sales of large pickups were stronger, running 8.5% ahead of like-2004 through January, even though their popularity was perceived to have peaked, and the cheap gas prices of the late 1990s have long since vanished.
In total, nine vehicle segments posted larger sales increases through August.
Furthermore, if thePacifica is included in last year’s data for midsize luxury CUVs, sales through August ran 12% behind like-2004 results.
When demand sputtered at its debut in 2003, the Pacifica’s price was lowered, dropping it into Ward’s middle CUV segment – possibly another indication of the luxury middle CUV sector’s frailty.
“It’s quite deceptive what’s going on there,” Rebecca Lindland, sales analyst for Global Insight, says of the midsize luxury CUV segment’s performance.
“It’s clear that it’s not quite as good as you think it would be, particularly considering that these should be customers that are not affected by rising gas prices. What’s sparking this?”
That is what auto makers want to know.
The theory goes something like this: Consumers trading in a broad array of cars and trucks for midsize luxury CUVs are exacerbating the already difficult process for auto makers learning a new segment.
“You’re selling this product to a wide-range of people coming in from entry-luxury cars to midsize (SUVs) to fullsize (SUVs),” says Cadillac SRX Marketing Manager Jim Van Kirk. “You get a lot of different people in this segment.”
With average transaction prices on the rise, consumer preference seemingly shifting away from the body-on-frame trucks popular in the 1990s to unibody CUVs and baby boomers beginning to downsize their vehicles as they become “empty-nesters,” the luxury middle CUV segment tempted auto makers like gold for a treasure hunter.
The number of entries in the segment has doubled since 2001. Even Porsche AG, a Germany-based niche producer of high-performance sports cars, felt compelled to enter the segment with the Cayenne.
AG, AG and Volvo Cars – all European, previously car-only brands – used their midsize luxury CUVs to change their image and broaden their appeal. Subaru of America Inc., known for its boxy wagons and offbeat persona, is shooting for mainstream luxury with its recently introduced B9 Tribeca.
But consumer interest can lag quickly if auto makers struggle with demand for accessory packages, engine size and seating capacity. The Touareg, SRX, Infiniti FX and Cayenne all are relatively new on the market, debuting in 2003, but deliveries during the first eight months of 2005 trailed like-2004 results.
The mix of well-heeled customers and CUVs is proving to be a difficult combination. Their expectations are high and vary more than most segments.
“I think there is some confusion when you say: luxury crossover vehicle. What does that mean?” says Scott Fessenden, marketing director for Infiniti. “It was a new segment not so many years ago. I think people shopping that segment are surprised by what (CUVs) mean sometimes.”
For example, sales of the Touareg are suffering because it lacks a third-row seat. “It’s a very big limitation,” a VW of America Inc. spokesman says.
Meanwhile, Cadillac usually sees V-8 engine penetration for its products in other segments run higher than industry average. Cadillac assumed that trend would continue with the SRX. The forecast was wrong and sales suffered at launch because Cadillac was in short supply of V-6-equipped models. Infiniti gambled with the FX’s aggressive styling, and sales were down 6.4% January-August even though the CUV just hit the market in 2003.
“You can easily lose this segment before you even realize it,” says Global Insight’s Lindland. “Gen Xers are usually very subtle, and most of the vehicles in this segment are not subtle. And it can be really hard to recognize what baby boomers want. You miss on that, and you’re left with under 25-year-olds who can’t afford these vehicles and over 60-year-olds who aren’t your target.”
While the segment is frustrating, it hardly is discouraging investment.Motor Co. is switching its midsize Lincoln Aviator from a body-on-frame SUV to a unibody CUV in 2006, a shift executed this year by DaimlerChrysler AG’s Mercedes M-Class. VW is considering a 7-passenger Touareg, and the FX and SRX are in line for upgrades.
The segment juggernaut isMotor Corp.’s Lexus RX 330. January-August sales of the RX 330 totaled 72,717, up from year-ago’s 69,741 deliveries and nearly double its closet competitor, Motor Co. Ltd.’s Acura MDX (40,176).
“It’s definitely still a growth segment because the demographics favor premium-price vehicles,” says Lindland, “It’s just a matter of understanding the consumer more. If they do it right, then you have the volume vehicle like the RX 330. It’s still a third of that segment. It’s unbelievable.”


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13th January 2022
Vestiaire Collective’s new UK authentication centre Brexit-proofs British fashion
Vestiaire Collective, the leading global resale platform for desirable second-hand fashion, today launches a UK authentication and logistics centre. This will deliver against increasing consumer demand for second-hand, but which has been stifled by Brexit:
- One-third of UK fashion buyers* planned to buy or bought second hand over the festive period
- Nearly one in three started selling or selling more in the last year
- Nearly one quarter find expertise in physical authentication the most reliable way to ensure trust in the purchase of second-hand fashion items
- Nearly one third found online shopping more expensive since Brexit and experienced longer lead times
This new data proves curtains are closing on fast fashion: not only did one-third buy or look to buy second-hand goods during 2021’s festive season, but nearly one third are either selling more or have started selling in the last year. More and more Brits are buying circular, as environmental (29%), financial (27%) and uniqueness (17%) become increasingly front of mind. The data goes so far as to show that nearly one in six of us now have wardrobes that contain at least 50% second-hand fashion.
Brexit has led to higher purchase fees, longer lead times and some categories not even being able to be shipped across borders. It was also revealed by UKFT’s Brexit Survey that 74% of fashion businesses have experienced setbacks due to Brexit-based cost hikes. This has worsened since 1st January 2022, when full customs declarations and controls were introduced.
This drove Vestiaire Collective to bring its unique expertise to the UK, becoming more circular, sustainable and putting customers first. Authentication expertise has always been at the heart of its trusted experience, and the warehouse will ensure the best customer service by reducing lead times and delivery fees. This makes Vestiaire Collective the only large-scale player in the fashion market to offer a trusted, sustainable and Brexit-proof experience. Through the creation of 50 specialist jobs, the brand can ensure that up to 1,000 items per day will be diverted from requiring authentication in France, reducing their carbon footprint by as much as 10 times.
Maximilian Bittner, CEO of Vestiaire Collective says: “Vestiaire Collective has already established that style shouldn’t come at the cost of the environment. But Brexit has hindered the UK’s drive for a sustainable future. British consumers have been unfairly penalised at a time when counterfeits are increasing and so the need for world-leading experts is more crucial than ever. Our new hub will make circular fashion more accessible, trusted and sustainable than ever before, so it can truly compete with and stem the tide of fast fashion’s impact on the planet.”
Vestiaire Collective’s UK authentication centre opens officially from today, following a soft launch last November. This is the fourth such centre globally for Vestiaire, joining centres in France, the US and Hong Kong in delivering localised authentication, speedier logistics and enhanced customer service. While customer experience is paramount, it also helps reduce the carbon footprint of garments for those that require physical authentication, helping to make these purchases as sustainable as possible.


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Barnes & Noble, which has struggled to compete with Amazon for the past decade, is going private.
The company said Friday it is being bought by a fund run by private equity firm Elliott Management for $683 million.
Barnes & Noble (BKS)’s stock surged 30% Thursday on rumors of an imminent sale. The stock rose another 10% in premarket trading Friday. But the $6.50 a share purchase price for Barnes & Noble (BKS) is a far cry from its peak of above $30 in 2006.
Barnes & Noble tried (but mostly failed) to keep pace with Amazon (AMZN). Pressure only intensified after Amazon (AMZN) started to open physical book stores of its own.
The company’s Nook e-reader device was also a flop, never catching on in the way that Amazon’s Kindle did. And a spin-off of the company’s campus book stores into the separately traded Barnes & Noble Education (BNED) in 2015 failed to get the more focused and smaller Barnes & Noble back on track either.
That led the company to say last October that it was pursuing a sale. And now that Barnes & Noble will be a private company, it no longer has to worry about quarterly sales reports and continued unfavorable comparisons to Amazon from Wall Street.
Elliott recently bought UK book store chain Waterstones as well.
“We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Elliott, the owner of Waterstones, a bookseller I have admired over the years, said Barnes & Noble founder and CEO Leonard Riggio in a statement. “In view of the success they have had in the bookselling marketplace, I believe they are uniquely suited to improve and grow our company for many years ahead.”
James Daunt, CEO of Waterstones, will take over as CEO of Barnes & Noble too, although Waterstones and Barnes & Noble will remain separate entities.
So it may be the end of an era for Barnes & Noble. But the company at least is avoiding the fate of its rival Borders, which closed its stores for good in 2011.


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Britney Goes Bald!
Britney shears! And you can buy her hair on eBay, apparently
Britney Spears has shocked the world by shaving all her hair off, seemingly in a moment of madness.
The superstar, previously the proud owner of long flowing locks, was said to have checked herself out of a rehab clinic in Antigua on Friday, before flying back to Los Angeles (in economy class!), and turning up at a hairdressers, demanding that they shave her head.
After Esther Tognozzi, owner of the salon, refused to give Spears the buzz cut, the troubled pop sensation apparently grabbed a set of clippers and did it herself, all under the watchful eye of the people of America, thanks to a TV network getting a camera crew down to the salon.
But what about the hair?! Its on eBay of course, along with the clippers and a can of Red Bull that Britney sipped as she shaved.
After the hair debacle, Britney went on to get a tattoo, while fans and paparazzi watched through the window. Some staff at the tattoo parlour described Britney as freaking out, amidst suggestions that Spears is on the verge of a breakdown, but fellow tattooists said nah, she seemed O.K..
In the mood for some Britney? Click here to watch Britney's videos on Overdrive...


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What: A ceremonial ribbon cutting for the newly renovated Target Center.
When: Thursday, October 12, 2017, 11:30 a.m.
Where: Target Center – new lobby inside glass atrium
Info: A ceremonial ribbon cutting for the newly renovated Target Center is scheduled for Thursday, October 12 inside the new lobby. The ribbon cutting will include remarks from Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges, Council Member Lisa Goodman, Timberwolves & Lynx CEO Ethan Casson, Timberwolves & Lynx Chief Strategy Officer Ted Johnson, Target Center Vice President and General Manager Steve Mattson and Target Senior Vice President of Marketing William White.
NOTE: Media will get an extensive look at the new main lobby of Target Center, which is the location of the event. A media tour of the completed Target Center is scheduled for Monday, October 16 at 10 a.m. More details to come.
Kirsten Wenker, (651) 331-6222, email@example.com


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Work is progressing well on a new community hub in Westcliff.
The Arc is part of Ongo’s £9million regeneration project in Scunthorpe. The project will see 41 new homes, a large One Stop convenience store, pharmacy, three retail units and The Arc being built, which will completely transform the area.
Within The Arc will be a cafe, enterprise zone, preschool, training centre, youth zone and a number of rooms that will be available for hire.
The One Stop will open on March 29. There will also be a hair and beauty salon and a Co-op pharmacy at the hub. The latter will open on April 9.
The theme of the building is health and wellbeing.
Ongo is pleased to announce that a Post Office will be included within The Arc as part of the brand new Westcliff development.
This decision comes following discussions with Ongo bosses and The Post Office as to whether it would be a viable business decision to move the Post Office into the new community building. On February 14, following a presentation and interview with the Post Office applications team, it was confirmed that the Post Office will be moving into The Arc in spring 2018.
The three staff working in the current Post Office will move over to the new one when it opens.
As part of a £9million Ongo regeneration project, the Post Office will be open for business Monday to Saturday, and will offer the same services as the existing Post Office located in the Coop on the Precinct.
Jan Williams, head of community investment at Ongo, said: "It’s brilliant that we have been able to include a Post Office within the Westcliff regeneration project. We know this is a service that the tenants living in Westcliff really value within their community and it would be hugely missed if it had to close.
“The Post Office will be based in The Arc; a community space where everyone will be welcome. Along with the Post Office, it will have a pre-school, cafe, youth zone, enterprise area and private meeting rooms for the whole community to use. This is alongside the One Stop shop, Co-op Pharmacy and three other retail units. There will also be 41 new homes as part of the wider regeneration project."
James Main, chair of Ongo communities board, added: "This is great news that through the team we have been able to keep a valuable resource for the community and further enhance the services offered at The Arc. This is an exciting time for the area, and the Ongo Communities Board is committed to enhancing facilities and amenities across the North Lincolnshire area for our residents.
"We’re encouraging the community to get involved to help us develop an area that is both inviting and functional that residents want to use. The Post Office was certainly a key request from residents and we hope to see it well used by all."
At least three new jobs and many volunteering opportunities will be created in Westcliff when The Arc opens.
The jobs will include working in The Arc’s cafe, cleaning and caretaking opportunities as well as other customer service focused roles. There will be a mixture of paid jobs and volunteering roles.
Jan Williams, head of community development, said: "We’re so excited that we will be able to offer job opportunities in such a modern, brilliant building. We hope that the number of jobs available will grow over time to give local people even more chance to get into employment.
"There will also be lots of ways to volunteer at The Arc too, which will be a good way to gain skills and experience to help get back into work. Whether you’re interested in customer service, admin, cleaning, cooking or waitressing; we’ll be able to help. We’re also hoping to be able to offer apprenticeships within different areas of The Arc, so watch this space."
The Arc has pledged to use only 100 per cent recyclable products in their cafe when it opens in May.
Based in Westcliff, it will be the first cafe in the area to make this promise to support using recyclable goods in support of a national #PassOnPlastic campaign to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill each year.
In plans made for the cafe, it will have 100 per cent recyclable takeaway coffee cups, bags and food containers. To reduce the number of plastic bottles being sold, they will also have a water fountain to encourage people to refill their bottles.
Jan Williams, head of community development, said: "The environment and supporting our planet is such a huge issue on the national and international agenda at the moment, so it is brilliant we’re able to do our bit to support it.
"We will be looking at other ways we can support the environment once The Arc is open, including selling branded eco friendly merchandise such as reusable water bottles and shopping bags."
This isn't the first green initiative for Ongo however. Their Choose to Reuse second hand furniture store has prevented 208 tonnes of old furniture from going to landfill since opening in 2013. Ongo's new HQ will also be energy efficient, with solar panels fitted on the roof which will generate some of the power to run the building. It will also have ground/air source to supplement the gas boilers and will use LED lighting.


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Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 15 series in the second half of 2023. Reports suggest that the two iPhone 15 Pro models will replace the mechanical volume and mute buttons with new capacitive ones. Additionally, it is expected that a single rocker-style button might replace two separate volume control buttons.
Finding the best iPhone 13 camera protector can be difficult. However, for smartphone photographers, protecting your iPhone's camera and lenses from the start is a must-have accessory which is why this article has some of the top-quality protective lenses available for you at affordable prices.
Apple has made the Voice Isolation feature available for regular cellular calls with the iOS 16.4 update. Previously the feature was only available for FaceTime calls and select third-party apps. The feature allows the iPhone's built-in microphones to capture better audio by suppressing background noise for more prominent voice quality. To enable the feature, users need to update their iphones to iOS 16.4 and follow the steps to enable it during an ongoing call by selecting the Voice Isolation option from the Mic Mode in the Control Center.
Alleged CAD images of the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro have been shared by Apple leaker, ShrimpApplePro. The pictures reveal a single unified long button for mute and volume controls, suggesting that all physical buttons on the phone would be replaced with solid-state versions – a rumour already circulating. The buttons are also expected to provide haptic feedback via two additional Taptic Engines. Reports suggest that only the Pro models in the iPhone 15 series may feature the new design, along with other potential updates, including a Dynamic Island feature and slightly curved bezel.
One of the reason cited behind the ban is “because of concerns that the devices are vulnerable to Western intelligence agencies.”
The phone was originally priced at $599 (approximately Rs 49,500) when it was released in 2007. Last month, an original, sealed iPhone was sold for over $63,000 (approximately 52 lakh), marking a sales record for a first-generation offering. There were two other occasions in 2022 where unopened original iphones were sold for $35,000 (approximately Rs 28.9 lakh) and $39,000 (approximately 32 lakh).
Apple could increase the price of the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. The analyst cites the hardware upgrades of the iPhone 15 Pro models as the reason for the price increase. The rumour of a price hike for iPhone 15 Pro models comes for the second time. But, it remains to be seen if Apple will increase the price for ‘Pro’ iPhone models this year or not.
iPhone 14 yellow: Earlier this month, Apple launched a new Yellow colour variant of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus models. Both iPhone models are now available for purchase in the country.
If you are experiencing performance issues with your iPhone, there are several things that you can do to troubleshoot the issue. First, make sure that the phone has enough storage space. If the phone is running low on storage, apps and services may not be able to load properly. Additionally, close unused apps or apps that are not responding. If the issue persists, try to update the apps on your phone and check if the latest version is installed. If the problem still exists, try to
According to a report by Counterpoint Research, three-fourths of total sales in the premium segment were captured by Apple. Samsung, on the other hand, managed 16% and saw its shipments decline compared to previous year.
Rumours suggest that the next-generation iPhone lineup will include four models: the iPhone 15, the iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Ultra. All four models are expected to use two different sizes of displays. Moreover, the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Plus are also expected to get the 48MP TrueDepth camera unit found on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. The iPhone 15 non-Pro units are also rumoured to come powered by the A16 Bionic chipset
Ever since the foldable smartphones appeared, many Apple fans have been waiting for a foldable iPhone. While all popular Android smartphone brands including Samsung, Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi, Motorola and OnePlus have either announced foldable devices or have confirmed that they are working on the same. So far, Apple has been silent about its foldable device. The company officials have so far not made any comment on a foldable iPhone whatsoever.
Despite the fact that the iPhone 6 has been rendered obsolete and is now an almost vintage product, it is very important to safeguard it. You should applaud yourself for sticking with an older Apple device rather than upgrading to the latest and greatest model but it is also necessary to keep it safe by using a good iPhone 6s cover.
Apple has made it kind of a tradition of launching new colour variants with its iphones for the last few years. The iPhone 12 and 12 mini got the purple colour variant whereas the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro got the alpine green colour variant.
Purchasing a high-quality iPhone 11 cover is a no-brainer if you want to keep your Apple smartphone safe. You should do everything possible to protect your costly Apple device from damage, such as accidental drops, scratches, cracks, and shattered screens.
Smartphones have become the go-to gadget for almost everything. This means that they end up going through a lot of wear and tear. Keeping your phone clean can perhaps prolong its lifespan. Cleaning your iPhone regularly is essential to maintain its functionality and general hygiene. A clean iPhone not only looks good but also helps prevent the accumulation of dirt, dust, and grime that can harm the device's performance. Here are five tips to clean your iPhone and the steps to follow:
Apple's 'Made in India' smartphone shipments grew 65% by volume and 162% by value in 2022 over the previous year, reflecting the extent of manufacturing capacity it has added in the country. The value increase took the brand's value share to 25% in 2022, up from 12% in 2021, showed data from research firm Counterpoint.
Apple's iPhone 12 is currently not even close to being the best iPhone available when it comes to battery life. This clearly implies that you need to have your iPhone 12 charger with you all the time. Although it is a little out of date, using a good charger can still charge quickly.
According to Counterpoint Research’s Global Monthly Handset Model Sales Tracker, Apple captured eight spots in the list of top 10 best-selling smartphones for 2022 – becoming the first brand to do so. The remaining two spots were taken by Samsung. The top 10 list contributed 19% of the total global smartphone sales in 2022.
A student of class 9 staged his own kidnapping in Sitapur to buy an iPhone with the ransom that he planned to collect from his father. He took the step after his father, who owns a small garment store, expressed his inability to buy him the phone.


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Struggling to lose weight? A new NHS diet app might be the answer
- My Meal Mate allows dieters to monitor their food intake and exercise, and to set a weight loss target
- App users lost an average of 10lbs in six months compared to the 6.5lbs of people using a food diary
A new smartphone app could be the key to successful dieting, a trial has suggested.
Monitoring exercise and food intake using an app is more effective in helping dieters shed the pounds than a traditional food diary, the research showed.
My Meal Mate, which is available from the NHS Choices website, allows users to monitor their food intake and exercise as well as to set a weight loss target.
Monitoring exercise and food intake using an app is more effective in helping dieters shed the pounds than a traditional food diary is
It also sends the user a weekly update on their progress via text message.
During a trial, the new technology helped slimmers lose an average of 10lbs over six months, compared with the 6.5lbs lost by the paper diary users.
The trial also revealed that the smartphone app was used on average every other day, while the average use of the website and paper diary was about once a week.
Every year obesity is estimated to cost the NHS £1.5 billion and 40,000 people die from conditions attributable to being overweight or obese.
Professor Janet Cade from Leeds University's School of Food Science and Nutrition said: ’Smartphone technology could be harnessed to promote health.
‘Generally people don't know how many calories they are eating daily.
‘My Meal Mate really helped people monitor their food intake and resulted in an important amount of weight loss.
‘The labelling on food packaging can help people to identify sensible food choices but it doesn't enable them to understand the cumulative effects of the foods they eat.
My Meal Mate sends dieters a weekly progress update by text message
‘Keeping a food diary allows us to see where we might be eating too much and the app has proved to be the most effective tracking method by far.’
My Meal Mate is the first free app to contain a large UK-based food database.
This allows users to map their eating habits easily by selecting the products they consume. It is also the first such app to be hosted for download on the NHS Choices website.
The pilot trial saw 128 overweight volunteers, split into three groups with each group using a different monitoring method – the app, an online diary or a food diary.
Their use of each method and their weight and other body measurements were monitored over six months.
Researcher Michelle Carter said: ‘Whilst we wouldn't expect people to use My Meal Mate daily for the rest of their lives, it gives them the skills and education to monitor their diet themselves - to have a better understanding of portion sizes, nutritional content and the effect of exercise.’
The app is now available to download for Android smartphones from the NHS Choices website and from the Google Play Store.
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A new Android malware strain named CherryBlos has been noticed earning use of optical character recognition (OCR) procedures to gather sensitive information stored in pictures.
CherryBlos, for every Trend Micro, is dispersed by way of bogus posts on social media platforms and will come with capabilities to steal cryptocurrency wallet-linked credentials and act as a clipper to substitute wallet addresses when a sufferer copies a string matching a predefined format is copied to the clipboard.
When installed, the applications request users’ permissions to grant it accessibility permissions, which lets it to immediately grant by itself further permissions as required. As a defense evasion evaluate, buyers trying to kill or uninstall the app by getting into the Options application are redirected back to the house screen.
Aside from exhibiting fake overlays on major of respectable crypto wallet apps to steal qualifications and make fraudulent fund transfers to an attacker-controlled tackle, CherryBlos utilizes OCR to figure out potential mnemonic phrases from photos and images saved on the unit, the outcomes of which are periodically uploaded to a distant server.
The achievement of the marketing campaign banking companies on the probability that end users are inclined to just take screenshots of the wallet recovery phrases on their products.
Pattern Micro reported it also located an app produced by the CherryBlos menace actors on the Google Play Keep but without the malware embedded into it. The application, named Synthnet, has given that been taken down by Google.
The risk actors also appear to share overlaps with a further action set involving 31 scam funds-earning apps, dubbed FakeTrade, hosted on the formal application marketplace based mostly on the use of shared network infrastructure and app certificates.
Most of the applications had been uploaded to the Play Retailer in 2021 and have been found to goal Android consumers in Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Uganda, and Mexico.
“These apps declare to be e-commerce platforms that assure enhanced earnings for people by means of referrals and leading-ups,” Pattern Micro claimed. “Even so, buyers will be unable withdraw their cash when they attempt to do so.”
The disclosure arrives as McAfee comprehensive a SMS phishing marketing campaign against Japanese Android buyers that masquerades as a electricity and drinking water infrastructure organization to infect the products with malware termed SpyNote. The campaign took area in early June 2023.
“Right after launching the malware, the application opens a faux options display screen and prompts the user to permit the Accessibility aspect,” McAfee researcher Yukihiro Okutomi claimed final 7 days.
“By enabling the Accessibility assistance, the malware disables battery optimization so that it can run in the background and instantly grants unfamiliar supply set up authorization to install a further malware with out the user’s information.”
It really is no surprise that malware authors continually search for new methods to entice victims and steal sensitive data in the ever-evolving cyber danger landscape.
Google, very last 12 months, began getting techniques to suppress the misuse of accessibility APIs by rogue Android apps to covertly assemble data from compromised products by blocking sideloaded applications from employing accessibility capabilities entirely.
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But stealers and clippers just symbolize 1 of the a lot of forms of malware – this sort of as spyware and stalkerware – that are applied to monitor targets and obtain facts of fascination, posing severe threats to personal privacy and security.
New investigate revealed this week uncovered that a surveillance app known as SpyHide is stealthily accumulating personal phone info from just about 60,000 Android products all over the globe given that at least 2016.
“Some of the users (operators) have many gadgets connected to their account, with some having as considerably as 30 equipment they’ve been looking at more than a course of a number of many years, spying on every person in their lives,” a security researcher, who goes by the name maia arson crimew, mentioned.
It is therefore vital for buyers to stay vigilant when downloading apps from unverified sources, verify developer information, and scrutinize app critiques to mitigate prospective pitfalls.
The truth that there is almost nothing halting danger actors from producing bogus developer accounts on the Play Retail store to distribute malware hasn’t long gone unnoticed by Google.
Earlier this thirty day period, the search big introduced that it will have to have all new developer accounts registering as an corporation to supply a valid D-U-N-S quantity assigned by Dun & Bradstreet prior to submitting applications in an energy to develop consumer have confidence in. The alter goes into outcome on August 31, 2023.
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ASOP Global In Action
- Participated in a U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing entitled,“Counterfeit Drugs: Fighting Illegal Supply Chains” via an ASOP Member
- Collaborated with government and private sector stakeholders to encourage voluntary action by Internet commerce companies
- Ran an educational advertisement in New York’s Times Square
- Collaborated with the FDA on “BeSafeRx,” an online pharmacy safety campaign
- Participated in the 2010 and 2013 White House Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator’s (IPEC) Joint Strategic Plan
- Worked with the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) to have rogue domain name registrars listed, for the first time, in the 2015Notorious Markets List Launched a free continuing medical education/continuing pharmacy education (CME/CPE) program with the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) focused on educating providers on the dangers of illegal online drug sellers
- Advocated for federal legislation and policy aimed at illegal drug sellers
- Hosted international workshops on Internet pharmacies in Belgium, China, Japan, Korea, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.
- Prepared an Online Pharmacy Best Practices Toolkit and an Internet Pharmacy Survey for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) health regulators
- Led sessions at the APEC Senior Officials Meeting in Qingdoa, China
- Partnered with the governments of Italy, Spain and Portugal on consumer education
- Hosted a transatlantic summit in Brussels for U.S. and EU government officials
- Drafted a toolkit for 21 APEC Economies through the APEC Internet Sales Working Group
- Encouraged Google, Yahoo! and Bing to change their advertisement policies to prohibit ad sales to illegal online pharmacies
- Hosted a nationwide consumer education campaign using search engine advertising and created public service announcements through a national consumer contest in partnership with the Center for Safe Internet Pharmacies (CSIP)
- Launched ASOP EU and included internet commerce companies as members
- Supported CSIP’s “Principles of Participation” that provide Internet commerce companies with guidelines on voluntary enforcement of rules regarding illegal online drug sellers.
Outreach and Education
- Created a new consumer education platform: www.buysaferx.
- Issued more than 50 papers, comments, and testimonial documents to governments and stakeholders
- Launched a newsletter that is distributed to over 200 global officials, consumers, and stakeholders. Garnered major media coverage on Internet pharmacy issues in: The Washington Post, Politico, Roll Call, The Hill, The Los Angeles Times, USA Today, The Washington Times, The Indianapolis Star, Inside Health Policy, Pharmacy Today, ABC News, CNN and C-SPAN
- Addressed officials at 50+ domestic and international events involving governments, healthcare providers, Internet commerce companies, and NGOs


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The Union of Musicians and Allied Workers (UMAW) took to the streets on Monday with a series of organized global protests held outside Spotify offices in support of the ongoing “Justice at Spotify” campaign.
Protests took place across 31 cities worldwide, with musicians and industry professionals congregating in Australia, the US, Canada, South America, Europe and Asia.
“Spotify operates internationally, so if music workers are going to demand more, we need to organize internationally, too,” UMAW organizer Zack Nestel-Patt said in a statement. “Spotify is threatening musicians’ livelihoods everywhere, and it’s way past time that we stand up together to demand more.”
The UMAW launched its Justice At Spotify campaign last October. The petition, which has since amassed almost 28,000 signatures, details a number of demands for Spotify. These include paying artists one cent per stream (the current rate is USD$0.0038 per stream), transparent contracts, a user-centric payment model, and the end to payola.
Downtown Boys, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Ted Leo, Empress Of’s Lorely Rodriguez, Moor Mother, Zola Jesus, Palehound, Deerhoof, Jay Som, Frankie Cosmos, WHY?, Sad13 and Fugazi’s Guy Picciotto are amongst the musicians that signed the petition.
Incredible day today seeing musicians across the globe protesting a giant industry that remains out of touch with the needs & financial well being of the artists they exploit.
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— Heba Kadry (@hebakadryy) March 16, 2021
“Spotify has long mistreated music workers, but the pandemic has put the exploitation into stark relief,” adds UMAW organizer Mary Regalado. “The company has tripled in value during the pandemic, while failing to increase its payment rates to artists by even a fraction of a penny. Musicians all over the world are unemployed right now while the tech giants dominating the industry take in billions. Music work is labor, and we are asking to be paid fairly for that labor.”
Following the launch of the Justice at Spotify campaign, the streaming service unveiled a new payola scheme that offered to artists and labels to prioritise certain releases and increase exposure in the playlisting algorithm in exchange for reduced royalties.


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Super 7 just continues to release new toys this month! Going on sale this Thursday will be two new colorways of Honoo and Seijin, both part of Super 7's Monster Family line. The latest Honoo, designed by Leecifer, is made of clear vinyl with black and silver spray paint that show off details of "protector of children both young and old." And after close to four years since the last release, Drunk Seijin, designed by KaToPe, will be making a return with a new Springtime colorway! This newest version of Drunk Seijin is made of pink vinyl with red and metallic blue.
Both are 4 inches tall but as of today, there's not information on price. Clear Honoo and Drunk Seijin Springtime will go on sale on Super 7's website and store on March 31, 2016, at 12 PM PST.
Wednesday, August 12, 2020 - 3:07pmWe are so excited to announce the first 3oz Canbot Blind Box Series! A limited-edition toy mini-series launching through Kickstarter on Thursday, August 13th.
Thursday, October 3, 2019 - 9:06amWe are super excited to have teamed up with Pop surrealist Art Legend, Ron English, to bring you an instantly classic art-toy.
Thursday, November 10, 2016 - 5:36pmKidrobot have been doing a great job of bringing OG toy designers back into their fold. Following up releases from Nathan Jurevicius, Junko Mizuno, and more is a new piece by Joe Ledbetter called Pelican't. This poor guy has a beak more like a strainer than a bucket.


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Food inflation may fall to 6.2 percent in November as against 7 percent in October.
In November also, retail inflation is expected to be higher than the prescribed limit of RBI.
RBI has tightened monetary policy to control inflation.
New Delhi. There can be a big relief on the front of inflation. A poll conducted by Moneycontrol among 17 economists has revealed that India’s retail inflation may come down to a nine-month low of 6.4 per cent in November. In October, the rate of retail inflation was 6.77 percent. In the previous month, retail inflation was 7.41 per cent in September. The government will release the retail inflation data for November on December 12 at 5.30 pm.
If the forecast of economists proves to be correct and retail inflation remains at 6.4 percent, then it will be the lowest level of nine months. However, November will be the 11th consecutive month in which the inflation rate will remain above 6 per cent. Not only this, for the 38th consecutive month, retail inflation may exceed the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) medium-term target of 4 percent.
read this also- Petrol Diesel Prices: The price of crude oil at the lowest level of one year, petrol-diesel also became cheaper
Food inflation will decline
According to Barclays Chief Economist Rahul Bajoria, food inflation may fall to 6.2 per cent in November from 7 per cent in October. “We see a marginal increase in prices of cereals and pulses, but a decline in prices of perishable items such as vegetables,” Bajoria said in a note on December 5. According to data from the Department of Consumer Affairs, the five food items whose prices have decreased in November as compared to October include rice, palm oil, tea, vegetable oil and tomato.
read this also- 7th Pay Commission: Government can give these 3 big gifts to central employees in the new year
Figures will come after the increase in the repo rate
The November inflation data comes after the RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) hiked the repo rate by 35 basis points on December 7. The repo rate has now increased to 6.25 percent. The Reserve Bank has increased the policy rate for the fifth time in 8 months. RBI estimates that the CPI inflation in October-December may be 6.6 percent on an average. It has been estimated to be 5.9 percent in January-March 2023 and 5 percent in April-June 2023.
Retail inflation is important in making monetary policy
The Reserve Bank of India mainly considers the retail inflation rate as the basis for formulating monetary policy. In such a situation, if the inflation rate is low, then the pressure on RBI is less. For some time now, the RBI has been trying to stimulate the economy while fighting high inflation.
Tags: business news, business news in hindi, cpi, inflation, RBI
FIRST PUBLISHED : December 09, 2022, 15:04 IST


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Slack is one of the largest, most trusted digital business communication platforms in the world. It has more than 1,600 employees in nine countries and was recently acquired by Salesforce for $27.7 billion. Any decisions made by a company of this size take a lot of consideration and must happen with the least amount of […]
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A brand looking to develop a strong, global presence requires extensive translation of their website, software, packaging, marketing materials and even user-generated content like product reviews. Many have turned to machine translation (MT) as a means of reducing translation time and cost. While MT technology has significantly improved in recent years, it has yet to […]
The rules governing address for service for intellectual property rights in the UK are changing. On 23 November 2020, the UKIPO confirmed that the intellectual property rights rules governing address for service for the UK, will come into force from 1 January 2021. The UK government web site goes on to state that the UKIPO […]
If you want to get noticed online, you have to conquer Google. There are other search engines out there, but Google is practically everywhere. And, to their credit, Google wants their search results to be as accurate and relevant as possible, which will help them remain the number one search engine in the world.
Software companies with an international presence need to ensure that their products provide a great experience for users in various multilingual markets. This means the software has to be adapted to suit the different cultural, linguistic and social requirements of the company’s target audiences and regions.
The 2020 Annual Conference and Language Service Solutions Seminar of the Localization Service Committee of Translators Association of China (TACLSC) was held in Beijing recently (14 November 2020). The conference released the “Research report on the response to Covid-19 of the Member Units of TACLSC”. The survey showed that the impact of Covid-19 is considered […]
When most of us think of voice assistants, we view them as a recent phenomenon. And to some extent, that is true: The past decade has been full of innovation. Apple launched its ubiquitous voice assistant, Siri, in 2011. Microsoft announced a voice assistant of its own, Cortana, in 2014. And Amazon released its voice […]


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Ocala, FL (December 2, 2009) – Following an overwhelming response to the 2009 contest, E-ONE is offering fire departments another opportunity to “Tell Us Your Story” for a chance at winning a new Tradition ES commercial pumper, valued at $170,000.
“We were astounded by the reaction to last year’s contest,” said Peter Guile, CEO of E-ONE. “From the hundreds of entries to the generous vendors and departments who donated to the cause, we felt compelled to once again partner with suppliers to build and donate a truck to the department the fire service votes to be the most deserving fire department in the US.”
As was the case last year, vendors throughout the industry have jumped at the opportunity to support this cause. One of the first to participate last year, International®, a Navistar company, was eager to participate again this year.
“What E-ONE does with this program provides an entire community with protection beyond anything they could ever afford on their own,” said Jim Hebe, Senior Vice President North American Sales Operations for Navistar. “We at Navistar are proud to be a contributing sponsor in such a rewarding event.”
Departments throughout the U.S. will have until March 8, 2010, to submit their entries, in 500 words or less presenting why they are the most deserving department in U.S., online at www.E-ONE.com . The entries will be reviewed by an internal E-ONE committee using the selection criteria which can be found on the E-ONE web site.
The finalists will be announced on April 23, 2010. Once the finalists are announced, the fire industry will be asked to read the stories and vote online for the department they feel is the most deserving. Voting will end on August 27, 2010, at 1:00 p.m. CST and the winner will be announced on August 27, 2010, at 3:00 p.m. CST on the IAFC show floor - booth 3549, McCormick Place, Chicago, Ill.
E-ONE would like to thank its generous sponsors for their contributions:
Platinum sponsors: Akron / Weldon, Amity Industries, Firehouse, Hale / Class 1, International, Maudlin International
Gold sponsors: ROM, Ryerson, UPF
Silver Sponsors: Alco-lite; Cummins Power South; Curbell Plastics; Deltran, Inc.; Federal Signal; Global Harness; Havis-Shield; Kochek; Real Wheels; Signature Partners; Stainless Unlimited; Truck Lite; Unity Manufacturing Co.; The Upholstery Shop;
Van Mor, Inc.; Wes-Garde; Whelen; Zico
For full contest rules and regulations, truck specs and to “Tell Us Your Story,” visit www.E-ONE.com.
One entry per department. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law.
Follow the contest on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EONE_FireTrucks or become a fan of E-ONE Fire Trucks (Official Site) on Facebook.
As a leading manufacturer of first responder vehicles, E-ONE engineers, manufactures and markets mission-critical vehicles including custom and commercial pumpers tankers, Water Master vacuum tankers, aerial ladders and platforms, command and communication apparatus, quick attack units, industrial trucks, and aircraft rescue firefighting vehicles. The company sells its products world-wide and is headquartered in Ocala, Florida. E-ONE is an ISO 9001 registered and CCC certified manufacturer. For more information, visit www.e-one.com.


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Headline risks are everywhere, much like profanity in an Eddie Murphy stand-up. As an investor you m...
Walmart's Dividend Duplicity
02/22/2013 4:00 am EST
It's an old trick: Lower your earnings estimates with one hand, while paying shareholders with the other, and hope no one cries foul. So far, it seems to have worked, writes MoneyShow's Jim Jubak, also of Jubak's Picks.
I’m much more interested right now in Walmart as an economic indicator than I am in Walmart as a stock to invest in. Let’s take the indicator apart, shall we? (Walmart (WMT) shares were up 2.6% as of 2 p.m. New York time yesterday.)
Before the market open in New York on Thursday, the company reported fourth-quarter earnings for the fiscal 2013 year that ended in January 2013 of $1.67 a share, 10 cents a share above Wall Street projections and an 11.3% increase from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012. Revenue climbed a relatively meager 3.9% year-over-year, to $127.92 billion, versus the $127.76 billion Wall Street estimate.
That good news was balanced by very modest guidance for the first quarter. Comparable-store sales, which grew by 1% in the fourth quarter, will be flat in the first quarter. That’s not unexpected, after Bloomberg published Walmart e-mails last week that called February sales the worst in the last seven years.
For the first quarter, the company told analysts to expect earnings of $1.11 to $1.16 a share, versus the $1.18 Wall Street estimate. For the full fiscal 2014 year that ends in January 2014, Walmart projected earnings of $5.20 to $5.40 a share, versus the Wall Street consensus of $5.37.
I detected a little bit of whistling past the graveyard in some of the company’s comments, however. "We are confident that our low prices will continue to resonate, as families adjust to a reduced paycheck and increased gas prices," Walmart US president Bill Simon said.
The reduced paycheck remark was a reference to the end of the Social Security payroll tax cut of 2 percentage points, as part of the deal that ended the fiscal cliff crisis. The end to that tax cut meant an immediate decrease in take-home pay that had a big effect on Walmart customers.
So why did the stock go up today? I think what tipped the balance between the better-than-expected results from last quarter and the weak guidance for the rest of calendar 2013 was the company’s announcement of an 18% increase in the annual dividend, to $1.88 a share. On an annual basis, that pushed the yield on Walmart shares to 2.7% at the current price.
That’s not a terrible—or terribly attractive—yield, but I think the market is taking it today as a vote of confidence from management.
Jubak Global Equity Fund, I liquidated all my individual stock holdings and put the money into the fund. The fund may or may not now own positions in any stock mentioned in this post. For a full list of the stocks in the fund as of the end of September, see the fund’s portfolio here.
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As the global science and technology leader in pet food palatability, AFB International recently participated in two industry events in China, the world’s fastest growing pet food market. Both the China International Pet Show (CIPS) and Petfood Forum China were attended by pet food professionals from around the globe and demonstrated how dynamic, diverse and desired this rapidly growing marketplace has become – providing new opportunities for international pet food brands and companies.
China’s Record Pet Food Industry Growth
The rapid growth of China’s pet food industry began at the beginning of the decade. Rising incomes and other societal factors have increased pet ownership in China, as well as the disposable income pet owners have to spend on their pets. According to the China Academy of Agriculture Sciences, in 2010 only approximately 200,000 tons of pet food was produced in China. By 2020, they project that amount will grow to 2.6 million tons.
While the domestic pet food industry in China is growing, imported pet food brands are flourishing too and occupy approximately 30 percent of the market share. Domestic pet food producers occupy about 70% of the overall market including dry pet foods, treats and cans.
Pet Food Trends in China
As a burgeoning market with pet food brands of all sizes and world areas competing for pet owners’ affinity, many interesting trends are emerging in China, including:
- Rise of Online Purchasing & Pet Specialty Platforms – Approximately 50 percent of pet food in China is sold online, compared to nearly 15 percent globally. Pet specialty websites and apps provide tailored information and products for buyers, such as foods pets should eat by region, and are leading sources of information for pet owners.
- Innovation in Treats – The variety, customization and new formulations of treats from Chinese pet food manufacturers is attention grabbing and attracting buyers from around the world, such as a plastic “ring pop” that squirts meat pate for pets to lick off of owners’ fingers, rawhide treats in the shape of unicorns and french fries, and meat lollipops.
- Increase in Premium Pet Food Offerings – To meet consumer preferences and compete with international brands, many Chinese pet food manufacturers are starting to become more selective in the palatability profile of their brands, looking to develop unique and premium pet food options.
Palatant Needs and Opportunities in China
As the China pet food market continues to evolve and grow, there is an increasing need for high-performance pet food palatants, as pet food brands look to differentiate their offerings and compete in this dynamic and competitive market.
For example, in the treat category, domestic pet food manufacturers do not have access to high-quality vegetarian palatant, one of the many product solutions AFB provides.
Local taste preferences in China are different, however, and time for learning and customization of palatant products is needed. Additionally, with many start-up pet food brands in China, there is a need for more information and education on the role and benefits of high-performance palatants.
As AFB International expands its presence in China, we are looking forward to expanding our relationships with leading domestic and international pet food manufacturers and supporting their growth by providing them with the highest quality and performance palatants.
To learn more about AFB’s global products or pet food trends contact Erik Dahl, Global Product Manager, at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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In case there was still any lingering doubt about Frozen being a global phenomenon, Disney Consumer Products has announced that more than 3 million Frozen role-play dresses have been sold in the past year.
Anna and Elsa costumes are the top-selling costumes at all Disney Store locations in North America. The National Retail Federation’s 2014 Halloween costume survey showed that an estimated 2.6 million kids were planning to dress as Anna or Elsa on Halloween.
“The powerful connection families around the world have with Frozen and its characters is truly a phenomenon that has only continued to grow over the last 12 months,” said Paul Gainer, executive vice president, Disney Retail, Disney Consumer Products. “This holiday season Disney Consumer Products has expanded product categories and doubled our presence at retail to meet the strong demand for everything Frozen. The big freeze looks set to continue.”
Frozen-themed toys are listed as one of the hottest properties for the upcoming holiday season and the toys have landed on every major holiday toy list from national retailers. The Disney Frozen Snow Glow Elsa doll from Jakks Pacific is listed on TTPM’s Most Wanted List, Kmart’s Fab 14, Toy Insider Hot 20, Toys ‘R’ Us Fab 15 Hot Toy List, Walmart’s Kid Approved 2014 Holiday Toy List, and Parents magazine Top Toys of 2014.
Disney Consumer Products is releasing 16 new Frozen-themed food and health products between now and the spring of 2015 including fresh apples and grapes, juice, yogurt, bandages, and an oral care line.
New products will also be released for Frozen Fever, the new animated short from Walt Disney Animation Studios that debuts next spring.


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ZTE is an up-and-comer in the smartphone world, one of about a half-dozen Chinese manufacturers that's slowly increasing its presence on the world stage. The company has released some impressive hardware, even if it never seems to get out of Asia. The ZTE Grand X Quad Lite was just announced for the Indian market. But apparently the sub-continental arm of ZTE lost their password to the company FTP.
Look closely at the sole press shot up there, and you'll see the unmistakable watermark of @evleaks, the Twitter tipster who seems to have scooped just about every major Android phone in the last few months. The phone in question isn't even the right model: the standard Grand X Quad is a bit higher-end than the Grand X Quad Lite, with a higher screen resolution and better cameras.
— @evleaks (@evleaks) March 22, 2013
This isn't exactly the first time this has happened. Last month Sprint sent out some press shots of an LG phone inexplicably running Samsung's TouchWiz. In a similar and somewhat famous incident, the retail box art for the Wii game Okami featured an artwork watermark for IGN. It's a good thing that the @evleaks watermark won't actually be on the wallpaper for thousands of Indian cell phones. We hope.