text:
BINGE, Australia’s newest entertainment streaming service, has partnered with THE ICONIC to create ‘INACTIVEWEAR’ – an exclusive line of unisex luxe-loungewear, launching on Tuesday, 7 July 2020.
With over half of Australians (57 per cent) stating they’ve streamed at least 20 per cent more content during COVID-19, INACTIVEWEAR has been designed to provide Bingers with maximum comfort, while bingeing on the world’s best shows and movies.
Tahnee Atkinson, Australian model and INACTIVEWEAR brand ambassador, said: “Like most people recently, I’ve had more down time than ever before, and have been at home streaming plenty of entertainment.
“I’m delighted to help BINGE launch INACTIVEWEAR – a range that will allow Australians to up their style-game, while they relax at home and binge on all their favourite content.”
BINGE chief marketing officer Louise Crompton said: “BINGE speaks to the heart of what unturnoffable entertainment is all about. Escaping from the real world and indulging in an episode of a show you love, and another and another.
“And with one in two Australians telling us they love to binge content in loose, comfortable leisure wear*, we were inspired to create our own line of luxe-loungewear to help Bingers stream over 10,000 hours of the world’s best shows and movies in style.
“The range caters for all ‘Bingers’. From the ‘lounge room fashionistas’ and the ‘skinny jeans resisters,’ to the ‘invitation decliners’ and the ‘indulgent couch recliners’. Put on your INACTIVEWEAR, switch your phone to silent and escape with unturnoffable drama, reality, lifestyle, comedy, movies and more at your fingertips,” Crompton said.
INACTIVEWEAR is made up of 19 individual pieces, including crew neck jumpers, hoodies, sweatshirts, tracksuit pants, shorts and socks.
Please login with linkedin to commentBinge
Sustainable soap brand Single Use Ain’t Sexy has been greeted with a huge influx of support after raising over half a million dollars in funding via a crowdfunding campaign. The brand has launched itself into the ‘green economy’ by calling on the Australian public to financially back them and their mission to get Aussies to […]
Queer Artist Ryan James Caruthers has publically slammed software company Unfold after it asked to use the artist’s work for free as part of its Pride Month social media campaign. Caruthers took to Instagram to show screenshots of the conversation he had with Unfold after it asked the artist to share 12 of his images […]
After relaunching in September last year, TWOOBS has become a ‘kinda’ shoe brand by also focusing on making the world a ‘kinder’ place and creating more consumer-conscious shopping. The vegan shoe brand founded by sisters Jess and Stef Dadon changed its marketing approach last year and stopped using social media to push sales the old-fashioned […]
Highly experienced tourism marketer Kelly Ryan has been appointed to lead the marketing efforts at Visit Sunshine Coast (VSC). During the past 12 years, Ryan has supported Canberra’s tourism industry in senior marketing roles, including as director of strategy and insights as well as director of marketing at VisitCanberra. Most recently, Ryan has been working […]
GHO Sydney has developed a new educational platform for Family Planning NSW to help parents and carers of children with disabilities navigate the changes to their bodies, emotions and social interactions. The project, ‘Planet Puberty’, was made possible through funding from the federal government’s Department of Social Services, and was co-designed with people with disability […]
JCDecaux today announced conservation organisation, Bush Heritage Australia, as its major charity partner for 2021. The partnership is part of a series of ‘social impact’ initiatives the business is launching this year, under the banner of JCDecauxHEART. JCDecauxHEART focuses on three areas of social impact: health and mental health, environmental sustainability, and enriching urban communities. […]
Shameless Media’s Michelle Andrews and Zara McDonald’s latest podcast, The Books That Changed My Life, will launch exclusively on LiSTNR on Tuesday, 15 June. Throughout the series Michelle and Zara will talk with guests including Kevin Kwan, Laura Henshaw, Jock Zonfrillo, Susan Carland, Hamish Blake and Delta Goodrem about the books that have had a profound impact […]
In celebration of Pride Month, cult streetwear brand Champion has announced an Australia-and New Zealand-first Pride range, Champions of Pride, and ongoing partnership with the Queer Sporting Alliance. Championing a cause, celebrating community, and aiming to create real change, the capsule collection proudly heroes the Pride colours in a selection of signature Champion tees, iconic […]
Following the successful deployment of BankiFi’s technology platform at The Co-operative Bank in the UK, BankiFi has appointed Lloyd Parata to lead their expansion into the Australian Financial Services market. BankiFi’s technology platform ensures banks remain relevant by offering SMEs an innovative solution to operate their business, whilst avoiding common challenges like late payment. Parata, […]
Mars Wrigley 5 Gum has partnered with Twitch to launch Team CLUTCH, a team of Twitch streamers who will assemble on for three live squad streams tackling popular games like Fortnite while embodying the brand’s ethos of ‘life happens in 5’. This partnership builds on 5 Gum’s 2020 Twitch activation, and is set to create […]


text:
Button on Jawbone Era triggers Google Now, Siri
Jawbone has launched a revised item in its range of Bluetooth headsets, with more of a focus on voice recognition, as it attempts to fight back against wearable technology such as Google Glass. The Jawbone Era introduces a button on the back of the earpiece that, when pressed and held, will activate Google Now or Siri on a connected mobile device without requiring any button presses on the host smartphone or tablet.
Jambox, Mini Jambox can have Liquipel coating applied for $50
Jawbone is giving customers the ability to make their portable speakers water-resistant, when extra protection via a hydrophobic coating is bought from its website. The Jambox and Mini Jambox now lists an option to add Liquipel 2.0 to the devices as a $50 extra, making the regular-sized version cost $200, and the smaller model $230.
Jawbone Up24 adds Bluetooth LE synchronization
Jawbone has updated its existing Up fitness tracker with a new wireless version. The Up24 is a wrist-based tracker that does the same job as the original Up, except that data is transferred over Bluetooth LE, rather than forcing the user to remove an end cap and to plug it into a smartphone's headphone socket for syncing.
Bluetooth speaker uses single piece of extruded aluminum
Jawbone has put its Mini Jambox portable Bluetooth speaker, revealed by the company last month, on sale in the United States. The speaker, capable of connecting to an accompanying iOS and Android mobile app that collects playlists from iTunes, Rdio and Spotify for playback, is available to buy for $180 through Jawbone's website.
New speaker claimed to have equivalent sound quality to larger speakers
Audio purveyor Jawbonetoday announced the Mini Jambox, a new addition to its Jambox family of Bluetooth streaming speakers. The new Mini Jambox is crafted from a single piece of extruded aluminum that makes up both the framework and the face of the speaker. Additionally, the company has also debuted its new music player app for iOS and Android, which consolidates every playlist available from the user across iTunes, Rdio, or the Spotify service.
BodyMedia acquisition to cost Jawbone $110M, provides 87 patents
Jawbone is increasing its push into the fitness tracking market by announcing it has purchased BodyMedia. The acquisition of another manufacturer of wellness devices comes at the same time as Jawbone opens up its API to developers, allowing for other apps to be able to use data generated by the wrist-based lifestyle monitor, the Up.
Jawbone Up now available with support for Android
Jawbone has released an Android version of its app for the Jawbone Up connected fitness tracker for devices running Android 4.0 and up. After an initial launch in 2011, the company revamped and relaunched the device in late 2012 for the iPhone only. Additionally, the company is expanding the availability of the Up into markets in Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East over the coming weeks.
Learns from mistakes made last year
Jawbone is retrying its wrist-based health monitor by improving and re-releasing the Up. Worn on the wrist, the Up uses various sensors to measure how people eat, sleep, move and generally live their lives, in an effort to help users live a more healthy lifestyle. The wristband then connects to an iOS device via the headphone socket, which displays the collected data in a free app.
Preorders ship May 15
Jawbone published details of the rumored Big Jambox today. Preorders start today for the larger cousin to the original Jambox.
Best Buy website shows Jawbone Big Jambox at $300
Jawbone's Big Jambox, the second Bluetooth speaker from the headset manufacturer will cost $300, according to a leak from Best Buy's website. The webpage detailing the product has since been taken down, but the cache from Google still shows the expected pricepoint.
Investigating providing texts & news over speakers
The Jawbone Jambox may soon be getting a smartphone app. The company has been surveying its customers to find out what features they would like most on their portable Bluetooth speaker. Most likely, the app would be developed for Android driven devices.
Jawbone Big Jambox promises more wireless sound
Jawbone's plans for a bigger Bluetooth speaker were given away late Thursday after an FCC filing showed a new device. Just called the Big Jambox, the diagramming hints that it might represent a literal upsizing of the brick-shaped audio device. Not much is hinted at in directly by the filing besides the inclusion of Bluetooth.
Jawbone Up refunds come out sooner
Jawbone late Wednesday started sending out its promised refunds for the Up early. Having promised the money back in four to six weeks, the company started offering them less than three weeks after detailing the program. Owners can still get replacements, without having to return their existing units, or else get software updates for existing models.
Jawbone offers refunds and users can keep the Up
Jawbone is offering a refund for its Up fitness and lifestyle tracking bracelet. Some users have reported their devices aren't working properly, affecting the battery's ability to hold a charge along with a syncing issue.
Jawbone to release new, $300 flagship speaker?
Jawbone will soon release a new Jambox wireless speaker, according to a possible leak. Called Jambox Big, it was understood by iLounge to be the new flagship, taking over from the original Jambox. It will also cost 50 percent more, at $300 rather than $200.
Jawbone Up fitness tracker due November 6
The Jawbone Up, first unveiled in July, is now set to ship on November 6. The device is an innovative fitness and lifestyle tracker that incorporates numerous tracking functions. The Up is made to work in conjunction with the Up app (App Store; free), so users can track their progress.
Wristband & app tracks activities for healthy life
AT&T is gearing up to start selling the Jawbone Up personal behavior monitoring system. The Up couples a wristband with an iPhone app. The carrier now has a placeholder page dedicated to the Up, with a "coming soon" banner. The site also teases viewers with a video.
Bracelet connects to smartphones via Bluetooth
Jawbone has finally revealed additional details surrounding its Up bracelet, which was first introduced earlier this year at the Technology Entertainment and Design (TED) conference. The bracelet is designed to monitor a user's daily and nightly activity, providing insight into fitness activity, food consumption, sleep phases, and balances between active and inactive times.
Jawbone Icon HD and Nerd tackle headsets again
Jawbone returned to its core Bluetooth headset business Tuesday through the Icon HD and a companion, the Nerd. The headset itself is a subtle upgrade to the Icon with a bigger and more refined speaker that improves audio clarity, especially in noisy environments. The Nerd is its key, Jawbone says: the USB adapter automatically treats the headset as an audio output on a Mac or PC without having to pair up or disrupting the link to a cellphone.
Jawbone moves beyond audio with Up wrist sensor
Jawbone at TED unveiled its first real device to step outside of the audio sphere. The Up wrist sensor is designed to track movement as well as other areas, such as diet and sleep. A companion mobile app pairs with a smartphone over Bluetooth and both provides a look at data as well as a social sharing component.
Aliph unwraps Jawbone Era Bluetooth headset
Jawbone started Thursday by putting out a major update to its core Bluetooth headsets. The Jawbone ERA is the first earpiece to have an accelerometer inside and can use it for both its own functions and third-party apps. Four shakes will put it into pairing mode, and a double-tap will start, switch or stop a call.
Aliph unveils Jawbone Thoughts app
Aliph today dipped into mobile apps with Jawbone Thoughts for iOS (free, App Store). The app lets iPhone and newer iPod touch users record a voice message up to a minute long and send it to one or more people at the same time. Others with the app will get a push notification and can listen directly in the app, but those either without the app or a non-Apple device can still get a web link through e-mail or SMS.
Black Friday Verizon deal has free Jawbone Icon
Verizon has detailed a Black Friday promotion that will see it give away a free Jawbone ICON Bluetooth headset when users buy certain phones on Black Friday. The headset is valued at $100, and supports Jawbone's MyTALK feature that lets users download different apps for the headset itself, personalize its setting and get the latest firmware.
Jambox BT speaker now in stores
The Jambox Bluetooth speaker announced at the start of the month is now shipping. Aliph's first Bluetooth speaker, as opposed to a Jawbone headset, it has similar app support as the headsets and is one of the very few wireless speakers that can be upgraded with new firmware. The device uses a two small dome speakers that work in conjunction with a moving-wall passive bass radiator and airtight enclosure for more range than most portable speakers manage.
Jewelry, Bluetooth earpiece, or both?
Jawbone has added a new line to its ICON Bluetooth headset range, which it has dubbed the EarWear collection. The new earpieces are named after fashion textiles and have been inspired by the materials to create a line that resembles futuristic jewelry. Each device in the ICON range is equipped with built-in noise reduction circuitry that helps to eliminate virtually all background noise to optimize call quality. They are also A2DP-enabled, allowing users to listen to take calls and listen to music.
Aliph Nerd Dongle may pair Jawbone to PCs
An unusual FCC filing discovered today has suggested that Aliph is branching out beyond pure headsets. Nicknamed only the "Nerd Dongle," its only technical details reveal that it runs on the 2.4GHz wireless frequency used by Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It superficially resembles a USB adapter like the "nano" receivers used by Logitech and Microsoft and has the Jawbone branding of Aliph's existing headsets.
Jawbone, Cisco bring out corporate BT headset
Jawbone headset maker Aliph and Cisco have partnered up on a new Bluetooth headset, the Jawbone Icon for Cisco. Based on the standard Jawbone Icon, the device will automatically pair with cell and Cisco Unified IP phones at the same time. From the headset, users can answer calls from either their desk or cell phone in sequence.
Aliph Jawbone Icon gets A2DP support
Aliph today released an update to its Jawbone Icon Bluetooth headset for cellphones that gives it ability to stream music and other audio files. It now has A2DP and lets users get any audio regardless of the type, such as from navigation apps or Internet radio stations. The Icon was previously limited to the typical mono, hands-free protocol for calls.
Jawbone Icon has dynamic volume, micro USB
Aliph put a new emphasis on software today with the launch of its third-generation Bluetooth headset, the Jawbone Icon. The new design is slightly wider but overall smaller than the Prime. It also claims the title of the first headset with apps: a beta website will let owners install apps for voice dialing, directory searching and other tasks.
Aliph Jawbone Prime
Aliph in a low-key intro tonight revealed Jawbone Prime, the third generation of its Bluetooth headset. The Prime gets a slight cosmetic redesign that includes new, more varied colors but revolves around an updated noise cancellation engine that adds another 6dB to 9dB of outside sound reduction through the namesake jaw-based method. The mechanism is also designed to work more reliably when the jaw isn't in contact and particularly to reduce wind noise.
Jawbone Blue and Pink
Aliph today launched a pair of new color variants for its second-generation Jawbone headset. The Babbling Blue and Rambling Rosť (light pink) hues are meant to fit in with the fashions of men and women and support the existing black, gold and silver colors of the Bluetooth headset.
Aliph Jawbone 2
Following a last-minute leak, Aliph tonight unveiled the Jawbone 2 Bluetooth headset. The company promises it has learned lessons from the original while keeping its namesake voice detection system, which measures voice activity from the jaw to provide extremely accurate noise cancellation. The earpiece is more discreet than the earlier version at half the size but is said to be even more effective at blocking outside sound. The ear hook itself is also more comfortable and detaches entirely for users whose ears are already a good fit.
Jawbone 2 sells tomorrow
An employee from an unnamed retailer has leaked several photos of a demonstration model Jawbone 2, which is allegedly receiving its official launch tomorrow. According to Engadget, the informer expects that stock for the high-tech headset will arrive tomorrow at an expected retail price of $129. The matte grey headset earns its renown from the first incarnation, which measures vibrations in the jaw, contrasting them against exterior noise for cancellation purposes.
Aliph Jawbone 2 at FCC
The sequel to Aliph's successful Jawbone Bluetooth earpiece is coming soon, according to a new FCC filing. The headset is referred to by the original Jawbone name but represents a major redesign, including a shorter, subtler design as well as a new noise-canceling jaw sensor that shifts from two 'bumps' to one measuring the user's voice, and a sleeker connector used to charge the headset from its special USB cradle.
New versions of Aliph's popular self-titled Bluetooth headset have been released, according to an announcement. By default, Jawbones are available in grill-shaped red, silver or black designs; celebrity designer Yves Behar, however, has helped fashion three new models, part of a "very" limited-edition run. The Sweet Talk Jawbone is gold-tinted, and has a small floral etching. The Trash Talk headset is white, and has a "censored" expletive on its side; the Dirty Talk model is all-black meanwhile, and is engraved with a woman's silhouette.

domain: news


text:
Want to join the conversation?
$NAVI General Update: Navient, provided insights from more than 40 years of helping student loan borrowers succeed in its response to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau request for Information on loan servicing. Navient made recommendations to enhance student loan program & provided information on payment processing, credit bureau reporting etc.
I haven’t seen a drop in banks like this in a long time. Looks like $WFC is still facing pressures from its sales practices scandal..!!
Helping President-elect's America first focus, $WMT set to create 10,000 retail jobs in the US in 2017.
Looks like Trump has his eyes on the $MON and Bayer merger next. He had a meeting with the CEOs and apparently got job promises from them.
$FHN shares have dropped after its earnings missed analysts’ expectations. I’m worried whether the stock will slide further.


text:
Apple Releases ‘Make Movies Like the Movies’ iPhone 12 Pro Spot Highlighting Dolby Vision
To promote the launch of its latest device, the iPhone 12 Pro, Apple has created a 68-second global spot titled “Make Movies Like the Movies,” which highlights the power of the phone’s camera and its content-making potential.
The sweeping new spot shows the device in the hands of everyday users in all kinds of situations capturing every kind of cinematic scene and genre — nimble dance moves, chase scenes, swooping cityscape shots, a stairwell plunge, and even a P.O.V. from six feet under.
The ad aims to show how the new iPhone puts a Hollywood-worthy tool in the palm of your hand — that is, support for HDR video with Dolby Vision. The endline reads, “Make movies like the movies.”
Apple created the spot and it was directed by Kim Gehrig from Somesuch Films, with Linus Sandgren — Oscar winner for La La Land, First Man and American Hustle — as director of photography.
The TV and digital spot has been set to an original score by composer Danny Elfman, which was recorded with a live and socially-distanced orchestra at London’s famous Abbey Road studios.


text:
Apple’s slow creep towards becoming a health company just made a little progress with the acquisition of Gliimpse, a personal health data startup. It’s unclear what Apple plans to do with the company, but I have a free idea for Tim Cook: Let me control my health records on an iPhone. It could save my life.
Hundreds of so-called “mindfulness” apps already clutter the web. Now Apple is integrating such an app into its watch, and pitching it with a quote from new-age garbage peddler Deepak Chopra—just a few days after Chopra introduced his own mindfulness app.
Of the many new experiences you might have during a high-risk pregnancy, one of the least fun is a fetal monitoring test called a Non-Stress Test, or NST. It really should be called a High-Stress Test because of the anguish it puts parents through. Apple just made it a little bit better.
There were hints right away that yesterday’s WWDC keynote would be different. Tim Cook opened with an anedcote about an Apple-sponsored scholarship competition to engage students in technology careers, specifically mentioning that the winner was a 12-year-old girl from New York.
Gov. Jeb Bush hates the Affordable Care Act so much, he’d rather use the health apps on the Apple Watch instead.
The Apple Watch officially arrives today, packed with sensors and software to quantify your every footstep. But measured against Apple’s big ambitions for the future of medicine, the Watch is still a rudimentary device. And for Apple to revolutionize health, it needs far more than a bauble-sized computer.
Google Fit just hit the Play Store, and, well, it looks pretty much exactly like Google said it would. It also looks a heck of a lot like Apple's HealthKit and corresponding Health app—not in terms of design but in terms of features. That said, it does look pretty useful!
With HealthKit finally rolling out on iOS 8, users are anxiously anticipating which devices will sync with the health tracking app. Those who use Fitbit's wide range of products are out of luck, as the company announced it will not integrate with Apple's ecosystem, but rather, is working on its own new products.
iHealth was the first company to sell a medical device through Apple, so it's only natural it's also the first to fully integrate its products with Apple's HealthKit. That means all the data iHealth's connected monitors and trackers collect not only gets sent straight to the app, it's also automagically logged in your…
Health, powered by Apple's HealthKit API, was one of the many lauded features of iOS 8. It's Apple's attempt to corral all your health data into one place and also empower disparate health apps with new features. Now, the platform is in full swing, complete with a new iTunes storefront.
Just before Apple was set to spring iOS 8 on the world, a bug prevented the launch of the operating system with HealthKit apps, rendering one of Apple's marquee new features temporarily useless. Just days later, the first update to iOS 8 fixes the bug, so that HealthKit apps can finally go live.
One of iOS 8's most talked about features is HealthKit, a new API that lets developers build various health-related apps for the iTunes store. However, right before today's iOS 8 launch, it appears that HealthKit hit a snag that made Apple to temporarily remove several apps, according to a report from 9to5Mac.
Apple's new HealthKit API is designed to help keep all the important information about your body in one place. Now though, according to Reuters, the company is in discussion with major healthcare providers ahead of its launch to make it a tool used by physicians, too.


text:
Next Big News is a weekly roundup of the latest tech news and trends.
It is a collaboration between TechCrunch and theScore esports, a media outlet dedicated to esports coverage.
Subscribe to Next Big Today and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitch, YouTube and Twitch.tv for the latest.
Subscribe to Next Week’s Next Big and follow our progress on Twitter and Facebook.
Fast food chain Evolution fast-food restaurants is getting the Evolution name for its restaurants in the name of its founder.
In a statement, the company said its “Evolution” brand is a “new and innovative way of serving the world.”
It also said that its name is an homage to the original owner of the restaurant, who was an African-American.
“Evolution is the first fast food concept to utilize an original name and logo for its brand,” the statement said.
“The Evolution logo incorporates a nod to the owner and the first African-born restaurant owner in the United States, Charles William “Billy” Evolving.”
Evolution, founded in 1986, has a fleet of more than 50 restaurants in 24 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Fast food is often seen as a healthy alternative to a McDonald’s burger, but a recent study suggests the fast food chain may be making the meal more nutritious.
The study, published in the journal Food Quality and Preference, found that a portion of a McDonalds hamburger contains 1.6 grams of vitamin C per 100g, but the amount of vitamin A and folate in a McDonaldsand burger is only about half that.
That’s not a huge difference, but McDonalds also uses “high-protein” chicken breast, which has more protein than the hamburger.
McDonalds said that the study, which was based on data from a study conducted in Japan, showed that a McDonaldSand burger contains more vitamin C than a hamburger that is similar in size and shape to McDonalds.
McD’s spokesperson Sarah Goggin told CNNMoney that the company does not have an exact figure on the amount that it uses, but she said that a typical McDonaldsand has “about 4.5 grams of protein per 100 grams.”
McDonald’s also said that it has been improving its nutritional content of its hamburgers to help consumers better understand the nutritional value of the food they eat.


text:
W Hotels Worldwide has announced its intention to more than double the brand's presence in Asia by late 2018.
Recently launching the W Hotel brand in Singapore and Bangkok, the group has signalled it will open another eleven properties in Asian gateway cities bringing its total to 20 W Hotels.
Brands must create marketing and commerce strategies that allow consumers to quickly move from mobile, desktop, call centers or physical stores.
Wyndham Hotel Group will add another seven Ramada hotels to its China portfolio.
Singapore will be home to its first Dorsett Hotel this week as the Dorsett Singapore opens its doors.
The ten-storey hotel will provide a modern architectural design featuring a full glass façade to the building.
A merger between the 185-room villa Evason Hua Hin and adjacent 55-pool villa Six Senses Hua Hin will create a single resort to be branded as Evason Hua Hin in Thailand’s famous beach resort town of Hua Hin.
Westin Hotels is rolling out Tangent, an offering for business travelers that gives more flexibility and better technology in today's mobile world.
The Sri Lankan Government will conduct roadshows and workshops in India in an effort to increase the country’s Indian MICE segment this year.
Melia Hotels International has announced it will add a new hotel in Yogyakarta as calls from an Indonesian environmental group call for a moratorium on new hotel construction to combat unsafe pollution levels in the city.


text:
Apple discontinued its 12-inch MacBook back in 2019, leaving the 13-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air as the smallest devices in its laptop range. There's been speculation about whether it could make a return ever since, especially after Apple began making laptops with its own silicon in 2020. And the rumours aren't going away.
The latest suggestion is that Apple's moving forward with early production models of a revamped version of the smaller laptop. But I'm really not convinced that the move would make sense. For Apple's current lineup, see our pick of the best MacBooks. We also have a guide to the best mouse for MacBooks.
According to Korean blogger yeux1122, a source at one of Apple's component suppliers in Taiwan has said that Apple is considering a new 12-inch MacBook. The suggestion is that although no definite decision has been taken, production activities are underway. It's said that Apple will decide whether the device will progress to mass production in the second half of the year.
According to MacRumors, the blogger in question has a mixed track record on the accuracy of their Apple tips, but it's not the first time we've heard that a 12-inch MacBook may return. Bloomberg's regular Apple rumour reporter Mark Gurman suggested more than six months ago that Apple had plans for a 15-inch MacBook Air and a 12-inch MacBook for release in late 2023 or early 2024.
However, Gurman has since said that plans for the 12-inch laptop have been put on hold if not dropped completely. Other analysts, including Ming-Chi Kuo said they had heard nothing about the device.
So should we believe the latest rumour? Launched in 2015, the original 12in MacBook was Apple's first fanless design, and it was super slim and light, weighing less than 1kg (a good 300g less than the latest MacBook Air). But the device was discontinued in 2019 after a single update in 2017.
Bringing it back now would make sense at least in terms of naming conventions. We currently have a MacBook Air and three sizes of MacBook Pro, but no vanilla MacBook. That differs from the iPad, in which we have a standard model as well as the more expensive Air and Pros.
But that's about all that would make sense. It's hard to see who a non-Air/Pro MacBook would appeal to and how it would differ enough from the other devices, other than by being smaller. People go to MacBooks for outstanding performance and specs, and I'm not sure if the interest is still there for a non-premium Apple laptop. And then there's the fact that Apple itself seems intent on encouraging people to opt for more expensive devices, which makes me doubt its interest in producing a cheaper, smaller laptop.
Differentiating between the two cheapest MacBooks – last year's M2-chipped MacBook Pro 13 and MacBook Air – is already difficult enough, with their specs and price so close to each other. Then there's the size. Twelve inches is small for a laptop, and while that can be handy for travel, judging by comments from Apple fans in recent years, people are more keen on the idea of an iPad Pro with a laptop operating system then they are a smaller laptop.
That said, I'd have said there was no demand for a slightly larger, more expensive standard iPad, but the 10th-gen iPad seems to be doing OK. Like with all Apple rumours, we'll have to take this with a pinch of salt for now and see what Apple finally launches.
Also this week, we've heard more convincing rumours of an iPad docking accessory to turn the device into a home display and of an iPhone subscription plan, which sounds great (for Apple). If you can't hang around to see whether the 12in MacBook emerges, see the best prices in the current range below.
- The Super Bowl LVIII logo is the most original design in years
- You'll never guess how they made that Wizard of Oz colour transition
- It sure looks like a new PS5 console could be on the way


text:
Wonder which magical cleanup this company used to get its ship so quickly sanitized, personally i hope all new passangers are lucky and keep themselves to the handwashing tips on this website.
The ship completed the Caribbean trip on Saturday at Port Everglades. During the trip, 54 guests and 10 crew members fell ill with what was thought to be Norovirus, the company said in an email statement. The people were treated with over-the-counter medication aboard the ship.
The crew sanitized the ship in the port to avoid spreading the illness, and the vessel left port again on Saturday and is on a seven-day cruise through the western Caribbean.


text:
Your tax dollars hard at work: Cops set to get a fleet of lavish $120,000 BMW highway patrol cars
- Victoria Police will buy up to 80 BMW 530d highway patrol cars by end of 2018
- The 530d sells for $120,000 although the police may receive large fleet discount
- The highway patrol model will be stripped back and lack its usual luxury features
- The car has a diesel engine and matches Falcon and Commodore in performance
Police will add up to 80 vehicles to their highway patrol fleet by the end of next year, going with high-performance BMWs that sell for $120,000 each.
BMW has teamed up with Victoria Police to produce a fleet of entry-level turbo diesel-powered BMW 530ds stripped back to the basics.
Lacking the luxury features of the retail model, the new highway patrol BMWs will replace the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore V8s.
Victoria Police will add up to 80 vehicles to its highway patrol fleet by the end of next year, going with high-performance BMWs (pictured) that sell for $120,000 each
Road Policing Command Assistant Commissioner Doug Fryer said the new vehicles will be fit for purpose, thanks to cooperation with the German car maker.
'They are the only company to date that has been able to provide a factory fitted "police pack" making the commercial agreement an extremely attractive value for money decision,' he said.
'This is a great opportunity, where together with BMW, we can deliver more integrated solutions for policing through technology and innovation while still meeting our performance needs.'
Despite their hefty $120,000 price tag, adding up to almost $10million for 80 vehicles, Victoria Police may pay much less, News.com.au reported.
BMW has teamed up with the Victoria police force (pictured, stock image) to produce a fleet of entry-level turbo diesel-powered BMW 530ds stripped back to the basics
A fleet discount and the removal of luxury fittings and features should translate into significant savings.
The diesel engine of the 530d uses less than half the fuel of the Commodore V8, and its safety technology is more advanced - 5.1L/100km compared to 12.6L.
BMW 530d - The Specs
Price: $120,000 (retail)
Engine: Six-cylinder turbo diesel (3.0L)
0 to 100km/h: 5.7 seconds
Transmission: Eight-speed sport automatic, rear-wheel-drive
BMW armoured vehicles are already used by the Prime Minister's fleet and the Federal Government.
With 200 highway patrol cars on the road, the 80 incoming BMWs will make up almost half the fleet, and other states may follow suit.
New South Wales may introduce the Chrysler 300 SRT8V8 sedan to its highway patrol fleet of 400 vehicles.
Queensland has stated its fleet of more than 200 vehicles will use Hyundais, and South Australia and Western Australia may be considering the new Toyota Camry V6.
BMWs are used by highway police in the UK, Germany and Italy.
'BMW has a proven history, used widely throughout Europe as police vehicles, and most importantly is one of the world leaders when it comes to safety in cars,' said Assistant Commissioner Fryer.
Victoria Police said in a statement it will continue to consider a range of different manufacturers for its highway patrol fleet in years to come.
Lacking the luxury features of the retail model, the new highway patrol BMWs will replace the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore V8s (pictured is a stock image of the BMW 530d on display in Germany)
Most watched News videos
- Car narrowly avoids head-on crash with lorry on wrong side of road
- Brexiteers say they aren't undermining Theresa May after Barnier talk
- Futuristic trailer reveals party deck at the push of a button
- Halloween's Grinch smashes pumpkins before running off
- Gunman found dead in church after Utah college senior killed
- Turkish president: Saudi journalist's murder plotted for days
- Tommy Robinson supporters gather for court case at Old Bailey
- Passenger unleashes shocking tirade of racist abuse on Ryanair flight
- Talented donkey serenades passersby in Ireland
- CCTV footage show moment of injured teen Julian Cole's arrest
- Prince Harry and Meghan make their way to Hervey Bay airport
- Escalator malfunction at Rome metro station injures football fans


text:
Mumbai:In the new year, be prepared to shell out more for consumer durables as this demonetisation-hit industry prepares to tackle yet another challenge of hardening commodity costs.
The consumer durables sector
was hit hard by demonetisation, especially in upcountry regions, with a 3738% slump in overall sales in November this year . Even as the situation somewhat eased in December, the industry expects to close the current month with adegrowth of 7-10%.
Industry experts said November and December were expected to be lean months post Diwali. However, demonetisation of high-denomination currency notes (Rs 500 and Rs 1,000) resulted in a degrowth in November-December versus a more than 20% growth that the industry witnessed in April-October 2016.
In December 2015, the industry was growing at around 15%. While the metros and mini-metros are now limping back to normalcy , upcountry (small towns and rural) regions continue to face challenges. Considering that the consumer durables industry draws around 35% of its sales from upcountry regions, a demand revival in this part of India is crucial for steady growth going forward.
Kamal Nandi, business head & executive VP , Godrej Appliances
, told TOI, “The industry was expecting flat growth post Diwali this year, but we did not expect a degrowth. The sector should return back to normalcy in about a month.On the other hand, with commodity costs hardening and the US dollar appreciating, we plan to take a price increase of 2-3% across categories in January .“ Gunjan Srivastava, MD & CEO, BSH Household Appliances
, however, said some players may delay the decision on pricing by a couple of months till demand gets back on track. “Over the last six eight weeks, the impact of demonetisation on our sales has been 15-20%. We expect things to come back to normal in two three months,“ said Srivastava. BSH Household Appliances markets home appliances under brands “Bosch“ and “Siemens“.
Cash transactions have traditionally been high in the consumer durables industry .Region wise, the south has been least impacted as compared to north and east, as it is better equipped to handle digital currency . Across regions, smaller retail outlets have been more affected than large retailers.The industry is hopeful for an early onset of summer to make up for the slump in growth.


text:
The company – who also told in-PharmaTechnologist.com about its plans to expand in the developing markets earlier this week – explaining that it aims to be “proactive rather than reactive” in ensuring GMP is carried out, as well as in controlling all stages of supply.
Guy Matthews, EU technical manager, risk mitigation, said: “A lot of what happens in pharmaceutical risk mitigation is driven by events.
“For instance the recent demand for animal-free product was driven by the BSE crisis. That’s when we as an industry started really looking at manufacturing.
“In the 2008 Heparin incident, companies didn’t understand where their raw materials were coming from, and didn’t have sources with regulatory monitoring.”
As part of the plans, the company has put in place its own audit offering.
And though those involved admit the program has not been without its issues, the company is positive it can provide a cost effective service which can appease the regulatory bodies.
Ed Roullard, VP marketing for SAFC on supply chain and quality management said: “After recent issues in supply chain management, the FDA has told customers they need to regulate and control their own supply chains.
“And what we have now is pharma companies asking every question it can ask which costs everyone time and money.”
SAFC now say they can answer 90 per cent of all client questions through their daily audits, which cost around $5,000 per time.
“We look at not only the testing, but at the possible risks, what could happen. It’s all to do with pre-empting,” said Roullard.
As part of the pre-emptive tactic, the firm suggests removing components with highest risks such as animal derived products, and other biological and agricultural factors.
EU technical manager Matthews also spoke of implementing “layer of protection” throughout the production process, rather than simply testing the end product.
However, SAFC say that the industry still has a way to go if it is to work together on supply chain and quality management.
Roullard added: “The real shame is that we have the same audit from the same facility more than once sometime, because the different departments don’t trust each other.
“We started to say lets work together with the customers on the audit results, and welcome them to share the results with everyone. It’s a risk because if something goes wrong it’s shared with everyone.
“For the bigger companies this might not always work. Say if someone like Merck did an audit, Pfizer might not then take on the results from the other company.
“The pharma industry should not be competing on supply chain and quality management, they should be working together.”


text:
ATLANTA, Sept. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Dinova, the only innovative, proprietary marketplace exclusively focused on connecting expense account diners to quality restaurants nationwide, was recognized today as a best place to work by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, the premier business journal in the market. The Best Places to Work 2016 awards were announced at this morning’s breakfast, where only 100 of the top companies in Metro Atlanta were recognized.
The breakfast, held at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, acknowledged companies which came out on top based on a multi-dimensional survey completed by their own employees. Survey dimensions included rating the work environment, the level of creativity and overall treatment of employees. The survey was administered by the independent research firm Quantum Workplace. Dinova’s award came in the small company category and will appear in the next issue of the Atlanta Business Chronicle in a special section highlighting the winners. Emcee Crystal Edmonson pointed out that the small company category was the most vigorously competitive, with more than 600 applicants, and only 50 making the cut.
“It is such an honor to be recognized with this outstanding award for fostering a company culture where our employees feel valued, creative and happy,” said CEO and Founder Vic Macchio. “We are a fast growing company. Having a great company culture is the foundation for future success. This award belongs to all present and future employees at Dinova. It’s our people that make this a best place to work.”
Since January, Dinova has increased its headcount company-wide by 20 percent and will continue expansion in 2016 with an annex of more office space at its Johns Creek corporate headquarters.
Dinova LLC (www.dinova.com) is the only company providing an innovative, proprietary marketplace exclusively focused on connecting expense account diners to quality restaurants nationwide. Dinova influences more than $5 billion annually in business meals and entertainment expenses. Participating companies range from millions of small to medium sized businesses to hundreds of Fortune 500, and its 14,000+ restaurant network includes local independents as well as national full-service and limited-service restaurant chains, encompassing all price levels and cuisines.
About 2016 Best Places to Work
Best Places to Work is an innovative publication and awards program produced by Atlanta Business Chronicle. The rankings were determined by surveys that went directly to employees who answered a series of questions. The survey was administered online by the employers and through a service provided by Quantum Workplace, our research partner. The rankings are numeric based on Quantum’s scoring process.


text:
risk assessment - News, Features, and Slideshows
The Payment Card Industry (PCI) Security Standards Council today issued guidelines on how businesses storing, processing or transmitting payment-card information should look at doing an annual risk assessment.
Sign up now »
I’m dating myself, but I remember when holiday shopping involved pouring through ads in the Sunday paper, placing actual phone calls from tethered land lines to research product stock and availability, and actually driving places to pick things up. Now, holiday shoppers can do all of that from a smartphone or tablet in a few seconds, but there are some security pitfalls to be aware of.


text:
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — Sixth ward councilwoman Anita Davis held a town hall Monday evening to discuss economic developments and infrastructure within the ward.
Davis said one thing the city wants to do is put a moratorium on certain businesses, such as dollar stores and gas stations, in the hopes of drawing in a grocery store to the city.
She said right now, grocery stores the city has met with won’t open a location because of the amount of dollar stores that sell frozen food in the area. They hope a moratorium can change that.
“As those establishments continue to saturate our markets, we’re not going to get Save-A-Lot to say they’re going to risk their bottom line as much as they want to help the community to come into this establishment,” said director of community planning Nikki Posterli.
Though there wasn’t a timeline given on the moratorium, Davis said they’re actively working on the project and want to do something “sooner rather than later.”


text:
By Nan Russell, Senior XM Scientist, Qualtrics
Not-so-breaking-news: holiday shopping is going to look a bit different in 2020.
It’s out with long days spent wandering elaborately-decorated malls, and in with contactless curbside pickups where the challenge is to see or speak to no one.
For an industry that relies on these months to get its finances into the black, this is going to be a strange and stressful time. However, the rewards are huge for those brands that can enable their employees to deliver a new kind of shopping experience. And for those that put employee experience at the heart of what they’re doing, the impact on their brand could be significant.
But first, just what will be different?
The in-store experience has been completely reimagined.
It’s already apparent that holiday shopping in 2020 will not be a social event.
Twelve months ago you might have journeyed out to the nearest mall with family and friends, not sure of what you were going to buy, and spent hours walking around stores and refuelling at the food court. The in-person experience has been a huge focus for retailers. But now, many of those in-store attractions have been shuttered for months.
The “store” is now one component of an omni journey, much more so than ever before. Many consumers will search for products, read reviews and even select and purchase items online, only going in-store to collect their purchases.
When people do go in-store, the experience will be very different – they’ll go in much more task-focused and with a clearer expectation of what they will find inside. Some might have pre-booked a slot to visit the store, or reserved items they wanted to look at in a socially-distanced way. And of course, in most states or countries, they’ll be masked.
It’s all going to have an enormous impact on frontline staff.
The way we shop is different. So is why we shop.
For decades retailers have been moving from purely transactional relationships to building emotional connections. 2020 might just add rocket fuel to that transition.
Many of us won’t be able to enjoy the holiday season with friends and family. Sending a truly thoughtful gift might be the next best thing. And that’s where retailers can step in and make all the difference for their consumers. Someone’s purchase won’t just be an item, it’ll be a proxy for real interactions with their family.
And – even though scenes of Black Friday chaos and packed malls may be gone this year – many consumers still want the buzz of holiday shopping. In response, retailers are looking at ways of making new ways of shopping – like the curbside pickup – more festive.
The whole thing rests on employees’ shoulders.
Emotional connections, a festive feel, and super-fast service – it’s all down to frontline employees to ensure this almost-impossible blend of shopping experiences. But it is doable.
The right recommendation, cross-sell, or fast answer can turn a customer into a lifelong


text:
So says Australia’s Chief Scientist Alan Finkel in a new piece for The Conversation. This brings us back to an important focus area for parents and young folks trying to pin down a smart career path that won’t be eaten up by machines in the coming 30 years. What are the tasks that really need a human touch?
That’s some long-term planning, but it’s an interesting concept that should be trialled at some point.
Great question, excellent design challenge. When we don’t have to think about a standard driving position, should we even be thinking of the car as a forward-facing environment? Lots of opportunities for clever design, and potential for new variety in economy cars versus luxury models.
Graphics card prices are getting pushed higher because of folks looking for a piece of the cryptocurrency mining action.
One room, thirteen cities. This concept — which just won a design innovation award — shows just how far people are pushing the idea of what Elon Musk’s Hyperloop could be. More than a transport loop, a system that moves entire rooms in luxurious style.
It’s not cheap (but what good camera is), but it looks like it’s focusing on something that can often be overlooked. Not just nine cameras, but 64 microphones to deliver audio that aims to be appropriately immersive for a VR environment. That’s the kind of thing that will make a big difference in a good VR experience.


text:
Realme 7i Specifications. RealMe 7i camera specifications have been confirmed by RealMe Indonesia. The new smartphone, which will debut with the RealMe 7 in Indonesia on September 17, will come with quad rear cameras. The RealMe 7i offers two unique color options to choose from. According to rumors, the RealMe 7i will come with an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 SoC with 8GB of RAM. The smartphone is said to feature a 90 Hz display. The RealMe 7i runs on Android 10 with the latest RealMe UI.
The RealMe 7i comes with a quad rear camera system with a 64-megapixel primary sensor, confirmed by a teaser released by RealMe Indonesia’s Twitter account. This has been said by some tipsters on social media before. The phone has an 8-megapixel secondary sensor and two 2-megapixel sensors. Also, it is said to have a 16-megapixel selfie camera sensor on the front.
In addition to the main camera details, the RealMe Indonesia division has revealed through its Instagram account that the RealMe 7i will come in Aurora Green and Polar Blue color options. A picture showing the back of the phone has also been shared on the photo-sharing site. The film also shows the hole-punch display design of the RealMe 7i, which appears to be similar to the RealMe 7 launched in India earlier this month.
Realme 7i Specifications (Expected)
Past reports have suggested that the RealMe 7i comes with a 6.5-inch HD + (720×1,600 pixels) display and an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 SoC. The smartphone also has a 5,000mAh battery with 18W quick charge.


text:
SINGAPORE — The distributed ledger, a blockchain-inspired technology, can be used to more efficiently execute cross-border payments involving multiple currencies, an experiment conducted jointly by the central banks of Singapore and New York has revealed.
Details of the technical research experiment, dubbed Project Cedar Phase II x Ubin+ (Cedar x Ubin+), were revealed Friday in a report by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Federal Reserve's New York Innovation Center. Bank of New York.
A joint statement from the two central banks said: "The Cedar x Ubin+ experience has demonstrated that DLT (Distributed Ledger Technology) can support improvements in cross-border multi-currency payments and settlements."
Like many monetary authorities around the world, MAS and the New York Fed have been testing blockchain-inspired technologies as they work to develop a central bank digital currency (CBDC) that can be used for seamless and cost-effective money transfer from one country to another. .
In recent years, central banks have reduced costs and accelerated cross-border transactions – including for remittances and business payments for trade and investment – by linking various national and global payment networks and systems.
However, global payments between currencies that are not as readily available as US dollars or euros continue to face limitations, including high costs, slow settlement times, lack of access market solutions and limited transparency.
At the same time, the prevalence of trading in emerging market currencies – which are generally illiquid – has increased in recent years, making their quick and inexpensive settlement an area of focus for central banks around the world.
Therefore, the Cedar x Ubin+ experiment explored the ability of DLT to establish connectivity between a diverse set of ledgers for liquid and illiquid currencies, using simulated wholesale CBDCs to reduce settlement risk and reduce settlement time. regulation.
A wholesale CBDC can be used alongside or instead of traditional forms of central bank money to settle payments between banks and financial institutions, but not for retail transactions.
Mr. Leong Sing Chiong, Deputy General Manager of Markets and Development at MAS, said, “The Cedar x Ubin+ experiment envisions a future digital currency landscape where central banks can enable interoperability of wholesale CBDCs in order to facilitate more efficient cross-border payment flows, including for less liquid currencies, without requiring a common infrastructure.
Experience has shown that payments can be executed securely across multiple ledgers without the need for a central clearing authority or the establishment of a shared central network.
The test payments were settled atomically, meaning that transactions were settled for all parties simultaneously. This has improved settlement certainty, addressing existing issues such as counterparty risk, which are largely responsible for the rising costs.
Each simulated payment scenario achieved end-to-end settlement in less than 30 seconds on average, compared to the two-day period it typically takes to settle illiquid cross-currency transactions.
Ms. Michelle Neal, who leads the markets group at the New York Fed, said: “Our research collaboration with MAS reveals key opportunities for central bank innovation to play a significant role in facilitating trade flows. Global Wholesale Payment and Improved Settlement Outcomes".


text:
The emergence of immediate cash loan devices across elements of brand brand New Southern Wales has sparked worries about low-income families being possibly caught in a financial obligation trap.
The devices, which seem like ATMs, just need bank and identification details before users are authorized for money loans nearly instantly.
Financial counsellors have actually expressed concern concerning the products, that they state seem to be appearing in low socio-economic areas.
The immediate loan devices, which may actually just occur in NSW, have actually emerged in elements of Wollongong, south-western Sydney, the Central Coast and Hunter areas.
The organization that operates the products states on its web site that its devices “have been strategically situated in neighborhood shopping areas to easy” make things.
Loan quantities change from $50 to $1,000, with limitations increasing whenever users access the equipment times that are numerous.
Men and women have anyone to 3 months to back pay the loan.
Shop attendants at one tobacco shop where a device ended up being found told the ABC the machines had proven popular, but noted a big percentage of users had been from the low-income background.
Concern machines are focusing on people that are vulnerable
NSW Financial Counsellors Association chairman Graham Smith stated he had been concerned disadvantaged communities across NSW had been being targeted.
What’s all the hassle about payday advances?
As pressure ramps through to the national government to do this against payday loan providers, have a look at the way the industry works.
The association was said by him was in fact notified around three of this devices alone at Cessnock within the Hunter area.
“There’s two smoke shops, as well as in one store there was one machine, plus in another store there is certainly two. Frequently there is certainly a queue out the hinged home around the holiday season,” Mr Smith stated.
“Unfortunately i believe these devices are targeting many susceptible in our community, individuals on benefits who will be taking a look at an easy method of having some fast money that I do not think they could manage when you look at the long run.”
Mr Smith said individuals had a need to exercise care whenever it stumbled on any fast loan schemes.
“It is a place of our culture where folks are struggling, sufficient reason for power bills increasing, individuals have got less much less cash, and planning to one of these brilliant organisations and having that loan could often be a deep trap that is financial” he stated.
The organization that owns the devices, money N Go Australia, stated in a statement the present places associated with kiosks had been element of an endeavor looking at the viability associated with continuing business design.
“since the expenses of residing enhance, industry for quick to moderate term loans has expanded to add those on reduced incomes,” the declaration read.
“Our aim is to protect consumers from unjust financing methods by giving an alternative to your predatory nature associated with lending that is traditional as well as its capacity to enhance the financial hardships of men and women on low income, whilst supplying use of funds they therefore desperately require.”
Importance of greater defenses, work says
Labor MPs in Wollongong and Newcastle have actually provided issues in regards to the loan that is instant showing up inside their neighborhood communities, and would like to see more powerful defenses for susceptible individuals.
The devices are appropriate and therefore are managed because of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission into the same manner as other payday lenders.
Adhering to a 2015 Commonwealth post on small amount credit agreement guidelines, draft reforms were released in October that proposed imposing caps on re re payments that would be made.
But Opposition spokesman for local solutions, Whitlam MP Stephen Jones, stated an amount of dissenting Coalition MPs had “scuttled any want to have Government-led effort”.
He https://approved-cash.com/payday-loans-ny/ warned if action wasn’t taken, more loan that is instant would probably appear in disadvantaged areas.
“we have seen because of the spread of payday financing why these stores shoot up all around us where there is economic difficulty,” Mr Jones stated.
“we think we must have a very good difficult consider what exactly is being carried out right here to make sure that we do not make a negative situation even worse.”
A spokesman for the Assistant Minister to your Treasurer, Michael Sukkar, said the us government had been submissions that are considering on the draft guidelines, plus it would push forward with legislation this season.


text:
Economic developers are beginning to focus on growing Oregon’s small businesses by targeting those with a potential for quick growth and sharing tactical information typically sourced only by big businesses.
The strategy is called “economic gardening.” It targets small, traded-sector companies with a high potential for growth and provides resources to increase business, efficiency and sales. “The idea is to bring more wealth into the region to create jobs,” says David Beam, Newberg’s economic developer.
The Portland-Vancouver Regional Partners Council for Economic Development partnered with the Oregon Micro Enterprise Network and other Portland Metro area economic development agencies and developers to launch a pilot project in November. But Beam says it began in earnest last month, and already has attracted between five and 10 businesses in Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas and Clark counties.
Beam says the motivation to start an economic gardening program came from the feeling among economic developers that there has been too much focus on attracting new, out-of-state businesses and not enough on supporting local businesses.
“It’s much easier to grow what we have than to get other businesses,” Beam says.
Economic gardening works by providing businesses with “key tactical information” that typically only big businesses have access to, says Rob Pochert, Beaverton’s economic development manager. The Regional Partners Council received $20,000 from the U.S. Economic Administration to purchase subscriptions to data resource tools that provide market analysis.
Beaverton has had an economic gardening program since 2007, and so far 100 companies have used the program. Pochert says 25% of those reported increased business, and 5% made capital investments.
The Portland pilot project is not a full-fledged economic gardening program. The regional council will measure success in six months by determining whether participating businesses have seen an increase in sales, profit or jobs.
Funding for a statewide program was under consideration by the Legislature during February’s special session.


text:
- RESEARCH & AWARDS
- CATEGORY REVIEWS
Kroger named Lynn Gust as president of its Fred Meyer Stores divisions, putting Gust in charge of the company he started his career at as a parcel clerk in 1970.
Gust has been the senior vice president of operations at Fred Meyer since 2011. The division, based in Portland, Ore., has 133 stores in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
"Lynn's long history with Fred Meyer and deep knowledge of our business will serve our customers well," said Rodney McMullen, president and chief operating officer of Kroger, in a news release announcing the move. "His passion for our employees and customers make him a great fit to carry on the Fred Meyer tradition."


text:
Saving With 6abc
Half price tickets to Taste of Philadelphia
Oct. 8, 2012 (WPVI) -- The Taste of Philadelphia Food, Wine and Spirits festival takes place this weekend at the Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pa.
You can take part in the food, wine and spirits tastings and meet the participating celebrity chefs for half the ticket price if you purchase through Goldstar.
Click here to register.
You can get $65 general admission ticket for $32.50, plus $7 service fee. Children's tickets are as little as $5.
saving tip of the day, money saving, saving with 6abc, amy buckman
Also SeeStory:Coupon codes: Check here before you checkout
More:Get the Latest Saving with 6abc Tips of the Day
- Parking dispute turns violent at Cherry Hill Mall
- Sunny and chilly
- Get the 6abc StormTracker app
- WATCH: Action News Online
- Mutilated animal found in North Philadelphia
- 'Band of Brothers' vet William Guarnere dies at 90 17 min ago
- Vietnam says it may have found missing jet's door 11 min ago
- Mom accused of driving into surf goes before judge 9 min ago
- Suspect SUV in deadly hit and run caught on camera 29 min ago
- Residents return following Bucks Co. hazmat
- Man, 22, dies after shooting in Chester
- Man seriously injured in crash on Roosevelt Blvd.
- Gunfire erupts on Delaware Ave. near SugarHouse Casino
- Photos: $3.25M summer home in Ocean City, NJ
- Vietnam says it may have found missing...
11 min ago


text:
Apple has been shipping one million face shields every week to health care workers globally
Apple announced that it was donating 10 million masks to fight COVID-19, and was using its supply chain sources to help distribute these around the world
Tech giant Apple has announced that it has shipped 7.5 million face shields to healthcare workers worldwide and continues to ship more than 1 million of these every week to health care providers. The CEO Tim Cook said that our worldwide network of supply chain partners, logistics and operations folks in every part of the company "were also sourcing more than 30 million masks for frontline medical workers, ensuring they're donated to places of greatest need in every region around the world".
"While our product teams were preparing to launch a new iPad Pro, Magic Keyboard, MacBook Air and the new iPhone SE, all of which have been very well received by reviewers and consumers alike, they were also working with our suppliers to design, test, manufacture and distribute more than 7.5 million face shields,' Cook said during an earnings call this week.
"We continue to ship more than 1 million of these every week to the doctors, nurses and medical personnel on the frontlines," he added.
Cook said that Apple's COVID-19 screening app has been downloaded more than two million times, and the web version of the site has been accessed by 3 million unique visitors.
In March, Apple announced that it was donating 10 million masks to fight COVID-19, and was using its supply chain sources to help distribute these around the world.
"How we have responded, what we have been inspired to do, tells an important story about Apple's great durability as a business, and the enduring importance of our products in our customers' lives," said Cook.
*Edited from an IANS report


text:
A Great Walk of Australia that combines food, wine and nature (plus history and culture) is gaining traction in the New Zealand market and rising interest from the trade here.
Australia’s cruise industry is celebrating its return to the bushfire-affected communities of Kangaroo Island after this week’s arrival of Sun Princess at the island port of Penneshaw.
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia reports all major cruise lines in the region are currently operating as scheduled and most Australian cruise destinations are unaffected by the fires.
Travel Agents Association of New Zealand (TAANZ) president Brent Thomas says the thoughts of the New Zealand travel industry go out to all those who have been impacted by the destructive fires in Australia. 'The bush fires are of a magnitude that we have not seen before and it is hard to comprehend just how ferocious the fire, smoke and heat have been.'
A demand for premium product has led Kiwi ex-pats Lillian and Ian Mann to launch Travel Norfolk, a service for travellers wanting flexibility, custom made experiences, and the reassurance of having someone ‘on the ground’ to ensure that special excursions are pre-booked and confirmed before they leave home.
When Benny Ford opened The Black Anchor Bar in Norfolk Island last November, he filled a gap in the market. He opened a casual bar where people could relax after work, with a cocktail, craft beer or wine. Open Thursday to Saturday from 5pm till midnight, The Black Anchor serves ‘pop up’ bar food from offsite caterers – dumplings on Thursdays, tacos on Fridays and American barbecue food on Saturdays.
The Black Anchor is a fitting name for someone who has worked for 20 years as a sea captain, and grew up on boats. Doubling as port manager by day, Ford has lived on the island for three years. ‘Norfolk Island is the place that everyone in Byron Bay
The new Broken Hill Outback Resort has two new offers for the resort’s camping and van sites and new, deluxe spa cabins.
Until 31 July 2019, outback explorers who stay on one of the camping and van sites for three nights, can stay a fourth night for free. And those looking for extra comfort can stay in one of the new spa cabins for A$155 a night per cabin, usually A$185. The self-contained cabins feature a king bed, fold-out
From ‘sight fishing’ for brown trout in the wilds of Tasmania to dropping a line in Sydney Harbour, Australia’s diversity of fishing options is a key to the sector’s success, says Dean Cooper, Great Fishing Adventures of Australia.
Great Fishing Adventures is one of Tourism Australia’s Signature Experience series and Cooper says the key is to be on the water with someone who is passionate about their region.
A Visit Victoria, Air New Zealand campaign designed to boost Kiwi traffic to Melbourne will give agents an extra hook to sell the destination in its traditionally slow mid winter period.
Aussie Specialist agents in New Zealand are invited to participate in Corroboree West 2019, taking place from 7 to 11 October in Perth, with applications to attend now open.
Direct flights between Auckland and Hobart could be a reality by 2020, especially if the growth from New Zealand to Tasmania continues as it is, according to John Fitzgerald, chief executive officer of Tourism Tasmania. Fitzgerald’s comments came as he and other representatives from the tourism office welcomed about 120 Kiwi travel agents to a function at Sofitel Viaduct Harbour in Auckland last night. The roadshow heads on to Wellington and Christchurch today and tomorrow.
Stacey Leitch from House of Travel Kapiti Coast has been chosen as New Zealand’s first Aussie Specialist Ambassador by Tourism Australia, Australia’s states and territories and Qantas.
Leitch will join a tailor-made trip to Australia to share Aussie experiences with her fellow Kiwi agents.
Penny Hayes at House of Travel Lakers in Invercargill will take home a GoPro to capture any future personal trips, as the programme’s runner up.
More trade education around what clients can do in Newcastle, New South Wales is critical if agents are to maximise the opportunities of the new Virgin Australia flight between the city and Auckland, according to delegates at a major travel expo this week.
While the city is regarded as an ideal gateway to the tourism areas of Hunter Valley and Port Stephens, city representatives at the Pacific Area Incentives & Conferences Expo (PAICE 2018) on Tuesday emphasised that Newcastle itself has an array of attractions.
It may be in its fiftieth year but the Australian Open is still serving up opportunities for travel agents.
The open, and some of its silverware, was in Auckland this week and hosted the trade to a preview of what to expect at the event’s golden anniversary. Not only are there more seating options but the iconic Melbourne sports event has become more than tennis.
Williment Travel has released a new motor sport tour for 2019.
The WD-40 Phillip Island 500 (held 12-14 April) is staged on the famous Phillip Island Circuit and is arguably the most scenic racetrack on the supercars calendar.
Two hours from Melbourne Airport, Phillip Island is easily accessible and has beaches, wildlife and family activities to add to the motorsport action.
- Brooke Bennett, Tim Uelese, Ben... Brooke Bennett, Tim Uelese, Ben...
- Jo Thomas, The Hunter Valley;... Jo Thomas, The Hunter Valley;...
- Ngoc Nguyen, Cain Thompson, Lee... Ngoc Nguyen, Cain Thompson, Lee...
- Holly Mallinson, Flight Centre Queen... Holly Mallinson, Flight Centre Queen...
The Greater Hunter Region was out and about in force in Auckland over the last few days, with a visit that included a travel trade event at Rydges Auckland’s Rooftop Bar.
Aboriginal experiences have an increasing role to play in Australia’s luxury travel sector, delegates at Luxperience conference and exhibition in Sydney are hearing this week.
Providing one on one experiences and opportunities to meet real Queenslanders are among the priorities for Tourism and Events Queensland, delegates at the Cruise 360 – Cruise Destination Showcase heard late last week.


text:
Topic page for MasterCard at Campaign UK
Campaign UK topic page, a collection of MasterCard articles and analysis
Welcome to Marketing's Breakfast Briefing, a daily shot of news and a recap of the best longer reads and videos.
Rugby star Jonah Lomu treated commuters in Covent Garden, London, to a haka yesterday in activity orchestrated by MasterCard.
Got a spare £6.5m? Congratulations! You're in line to become a top tier sponsor for one of the world's most
MasterCard has extended its 20-year sponsorship of the UEFA Champions League to include another three seasons, joining Heineken, Nissan, Pepsi,
Livestreaming app Meerkat launched earlier this month, and is already causing waves among the tech elite at SXSW.
Barclaycard has launched an exclusive contactless payment wristband to help London commuters speed up their travel and avoid 'card clash',
Apple has reportedly signed deals with Visa, MasterCard and AmEx for a mobile payments system that will let users pay
Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Visa and Adidas were the most recognised sponsors of the World Cup in Brazil, achieving recognition among 50%,
Two-fifths (38%) of UK, US and Brazilian consumers mistakenly think MasterCard is a World Cup sponsor, with rival credit card
Asos has partnered with MasterCard to celebrate an #EpicSummer, in a social media campaign encouraging consumers to share pictures of
Brand manager £40,000- £45,000 per annum Ball & Hoolahan, London
Client Director (global) up to £120k plus bonus and benefits Corporate Communications Recruitment, London (Central), London (Greater)
Associate Strategy Director - Brand Agency - Bristol Up to £62k + benefits Fill Recruitment, Bristol (City Centre), City of Bristol
Press & Communications Officer (PR/Media Relations) - Corporate £46000 - £48000 per annum + great benefits Regan & Dean Recruitment Limited, London, City of London
Digital Production Manager £30000 to £38000 Become, London
Senior Consumer Marketing Executive - GB £32,814 - £40,072 Tourism Ireland, London (Central), London (Greater)
Head of Research & Measurement Competitive Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB), London (Central), London (Greater)
Marketing Manager FTE £35,000 - £45,000 Bickley Park School, Bromley (London Borough), London (Greater)


text:
PacTel targets toll-call market
Published 4:00 am, Tuesday, January 31, 1995
Less than a month after being forced to open up its local toll-call business to competitors, Pacific Telesis Group Tuesday struck back, taking the first step toward gaining access to the $72 billion-a-year long-distance telephone market.
The San Francisco-based telecommunications giant requested a waiver from the U.S. Department of Justice to allow its regional phone company, Pacific Bell, to offer services for long-distance calls within or originating from California as well as toll-free "800" calls terminating in the state.
Getting into the long-distance business would allow Pac Bell to compete with the more than 100 telecommunications firms - including dominant players AT&T Corp., Sprint Corp. and MCI Telecommunications Corp. - that have been granted access to California's lucrative the local toll-call market.
PacTel and the six other regional Bell operating companies have been restricted from offering long-distance services and making telecommunications equipment since they were divested from AT&T in 1984.
LATEST BUSINESS VIDEOS
PacTel spokesman Michael Runzler said the company wants the local and long-distance markets to open simultaneously to ensure fair competition.
"Everyone's seen how the local toll-call market has opened up," he said. "We want the same latitude that long-distance companies are getting."
This year, Congress is expected to pass sweeping legislation that would reform the telecommunications industry.
PacTel's waiver is "basically a fall-back strategy if there is no legislation that addresses the issue in 1995," said William Deatherage, analyst at S.G. Warburg.
PacTel also said long-distance rates will drop substantially after it enters the market. The company, however, declined to say by how much rates would be reduced.
Some consumer advocacy groups said rates are not likely to drop for residential customers.
"I don't buy Pac Bell's claim to revolutionize rates," said Thomas Long, an attorney with Toward Utility Rate Normalization, a utility watchdog group based in The City.
"Long-distance rates are already very competitive in the big business market" since rate discounts are based on calling volume, he said. "Small customers haven't seen much of a discount" over the years.
Long also said Pac Bell shouldn't be allowed into the long-distance business until there is sufficient competition in the local market. "Pac Bell controls the entire local network and will not allow competitors to have access to the network," he said.
John Faber, an attorney specializing in telecommunications legislation, also noted that if Pac Bell is allowed into the long-distance business at the same time as long-distance companies gain access to the local phone market, the company will have an edge over other firms since it already provides service to local customers and has significant brand recognition.<


text:
Dutch consumer confidence fell in August, data from the Central Bureau of Statistics showed on Wednesday.
The consumer confidence index came in at zero in August versus plus 2 in July.
The consumer confidence index has remained above the average of minus 4 points over the past twenty years.
The economic climate sub-index fell to minus 1 in August from 6 in the previous month and the indicator for willingness to buy increased to zero from minus 1.
Another report from the statistical office showed that household spending growth slowed in June despite higher purchases of clothing, home furnishing and household appliances.
Consumer spending rose 1.7 percent annually in June, which was slower than 2.6 percent increase in May.
Although spending on durable goods advanced 4 percent, consumers reduced their spending on new car purchases in June.
The material has been provided by InstaForex Company – www.instaforex.com


text:
During 2018, much of the technology news seemed to focus on data security. The Facebook/Cambridge Analytica scandal saw 87 million social media users’ details made available to the research agency without consent. Big businesses announced data breaches or miss-use, including Amazon, Uber and Marriott. Plus, the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) arrived in May 2018, affecting how business can capture, store and use EU citizens’ personal data.
With so many developments during 2018, what technology trends are forecast for the coming year? Here are some exciting predictions for 2019:
- 5G Signal for Mobile Networks
5G is the new standard for mobile networks that promises increased broadband speed and reliability. According to The Daily Telegraph, EE will begin switching on its 5G signal in 16 cities in 2019, including London and Cardiff. Vodafone, Three and O2 have also announced plans to move over to the faster connection. To make the most of this technology you need a smartphone that can receive a 5G signal; these are planned for 2020.
- Space Travel
Perhaps the most exciting tech potential for 2019 is the reality of passenger flights to space. Virgin Galactic’s recent trials were successful, with Sir Richard Branson talking of a March 2019 timescale for his first ‘commercial’ flight to space. SpaceX and Blue Origin join Virgin Galactic in the race to space tourism.
Several new technologies are predicted for smartphones this year:
- Samsung is expected to announce its folding smartphone – dubbed as either the Galaxy X, F or Fold. Google is said to be creating software to support the handset, hinting that the technology could find its way to other device makers, too.
- 3D sensors are coming to smartphones. Sony has started to push new, improved 3D sensors for better-than-ever face unlocking, plus more depth and new features. “Cameras revolutionized phones, and based on what I’ve seen, I have the same expectation for 3D,” says Yoshihara Satoshi, head of Sony’s sensor division.
- We will see more creative ways to disguise the infamous “notch” – the small indent at the top of a smartphone screen housing its front-facing cameras and sensors, reports The Week. Samsung and Huawei have kickstarted this latest smartphone trend with a new type of display that features a new style of selfie camera.
From convenient devices at home to industrial applications on a massive scale, automation will be a key focus of technological change in 2019. Core technical skills together with management and people skills being more important than ever. Does your team have the skills set needed to embrace the opportunities of technology?
- Augmented Reality
Augmented Reality (AR) involves systems that combine real-time 3D vision, sound, haptics (the sense of touch), location data and even other senses such as smell. These enable people to immerse themselves somewhere else, react to what’s around them and alter their virtual environment in real time, explains Australian technology university UTS.
Organisations are increasingly applying this technology across a wide spectrum of human activity from art and entertainment to commerce, education and the military. It’s used to train doctors, nurses, teachers and police officers and will soon be available on your smart device. Could you use AR to lift efficiency for your business or help you communicate with your customer base?
“2019 will be an exciting year for technology,” says Eric Hughes of EMH Technology. “Plenty of opportunities exist for businesses to enjoy. Reliability, security and support are key factors in ensuring that technology is embraced productively and profitably.”
If you would like a no-obligation, jargon-free chat about the potential for your business, talk to the friendly experts at EMH Technology.


text:
News, Markets and Analysis for the Food Processing Industry
After a tornado and the closure of a major employer, the promise of new jobs is lifting the spirits of those in Graves County, Kentucky.
The expansion of Pilgrim's poultry plant in Graves County, Kentucky is boosting business for different types of local farmers.
The stock of Pilgrims Pride Corporation (NASDAQ:PPC) registered an increase of 6.13% in short interest. PPC's total short interest was 20.07M shares
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (PPC) has gained a state approval for an expansion project at its Mayfield, KY-based poultry processing complex.
BMO Capital takes a dimmer view on the upside for meat producers after factoring in the strong rally in the sector which has pushed up valuation levels. Ty
US chicken group Pilgrim's Pride has received approval for a US$24m expansion project that will expand production for retail channels at its poultry processing complex in Mayfield, Kentucky. related to Meat & poultry, JBS, Pilgrim's Pride,
FRANKFORT – Gov. Matt Bevin Friday congratulated poultry producer Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. on announcing a $24 million project to increase production and create about 140 jobs for Kentuckians at its
MAYFIELD -- The Pilgrim's Pride Corporation plans to add 141 jobs to its Mayfield complex with a new expansion that will begin in October.Eric Roter ...
Pilgrim's Pride (PPC) stock was cut to ‘market perform’ from ‘outperform’ at BMO Capital on Monday morning.
At stores like King Soopers or Safeway, the bottom of receipts for consumers using a loyalty card lists any recalled products they may have purchased. The blocky letters, printed
Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., a Waco, Texas establishment, is recalling an additional 376,380 pounds of fully cooked chicken products that may have been contaminated with extraneous materials, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.


text:
Communication and social networking apps are most popular with mobile users in major markets around the world, according to a new report from the app intelligence platform App Annie. However, App Annie's "Insights into App Engagement: Q1 2015" finds that users in different regions show "subtle but important variations" in which apps they prefer.
Android smartphone users in the U.S., for example, spend the most communication/social sessions with Facebook, according to the report. In the U.K. and Germany, on the other hand, the top communication/social app by number of sessions is WhatsApp Messenger.
Mobile gaming apps, meanwhile, are more heavily used in Asia than anywhere else in the world. Compared to mobile gamers in the U.S., for instance, active users in Japan spend four times as much time in playing sessions.
Messaging 'the Center of Mobile Life'
App Annie's first-ever spotlight on app usage looks at data from January through March of this year about habits in five key markets: the U.S., the U.K., Germany, Japan and South Korea. The data covers both Android and iOS mobile device users.
"For app publishers looking to make the most of the opportunities available in the app economy, understanding the way the users interact with apps on their devices is a key component of forming an effective app strategy," the company said in its report.
For users across the five key markets, social and communication apps lead the way, App Annie found. "Their position as the center of mobile life is highlighted by recent developments such as Facebook Messenger's transition to a full messaging platform," according to the report.
Gaming 'Huge' in Asia
Android users in the U.S. and Germany spend about 60 percent of their app time in social and communication apps, the report noted. For users in South Korea and Japan, that figure is around 45 percent.
"(I)t is notable that the United States saw Facebook dominate Android smartphone sessions, whereas the other markets all saw more sessions from messaging apps," the report said. "Likewise, by time spent in apps, the social networks Facebook and Instagram led in the United States whereas messaging apps were more prominent in other markets."
The report noted, "It appears that U.S. Android smartphone users lean more towards one-to-many communication through social networks, whereas app usage in other markets (particularly Germany, Japan and South Korea) is weighted slightly more towards direct one-to-one (or one-to-few communication)."
Meanwhile, mobile gaming in Asian markets is "huge," the report found. "Although games provide the majority of app store revenue in all markets, the extent of the dominance reflected time spent in games per user. In Japan and South Korea, over 90 percent of iOS and Google Play app store revenue comes from games, whereas games accounted for approximately 70 percent of app store revenue in the United Kingdom and around 80 percent in the United States in Q1 2015."
App Revenue Growth 'Remarkable'
We asked Jake Ward, Co-Founder of the Application Developers Alliance, about the findings of the App Annie report. "I think some may find it surprising that games did not represent a bigger block of usage in the U.S., given the popularity of and staggering revenue numbers from mobile game companies like King and SuperCell, and because it is easy to overlook the utility and ubiquity of apps like Facebook and Twitter," he told us.
Ward also said, "Short of a report citing a shrinking app market or reductions in app generated revenue, almost nothing would surprise in the current environment. The staggering revenue growth trend is remarkable, to say the least, but most indicators would point toward that type of growth for the foreseeable future. "
When asked what the report's findings suggest about future trends, Ward told us that predictions in this market are a dime a dozen and worth even less in the long-run.
"But I'll place a bet -- as the app user market continues to mature internationally (as it has done in the U.S.) there will be a continued move toward communications and utility/professional tool app use in Asia and Latin America," he told us. "There will, of course, always be a gaming market globally, but older users use apps for different reasons and publishers will respond by building more and better apps."


text:
Comments from Olyvia Kwok, Art Investor.
If you looked at the global art market figures for the second quarter of 2020 as an investor, you’d have been rather concerned. According to the UK finance and investment publication, Moneyweek, sales at the major auction houses including, Christies and Phillips, fell by a massive 97% in May alone as a result of the coronavirus restrictions.
Although art galleries and auction houses are unlikely to return to how they used to be within 2021, the situation for the art world looks far from bleak for the coming year. These months have shown just how vital artistic expression is for the human spirit, the art community has drawn closer together and innovation has meant that art has opened its arms wider across the globe, embracing new artists, new markets and new ways of doing ‘business’.
With this in mind, art investor Olyvia Kwok shares her perspective on the current art market and her predictions for 2021.
1. The art market will enjoy a resurgence
Despite the challenges of the recent 12 months and the temporary changes to the way the global art scene operates, it’s likely to return to normal within the next few years, if not within the year. “The art market is like the stock market. It’s had a steady growth in the last two to three years, but now it’s reacting to all the recent uncertainties, i.e., COVID, Brexit, the US elections,” says Olyvia. “Overall, the market is fine – it has had a little pause.”
Many of these changes such as digital innovations, greater collaboration between artists and closer connection between galleries, artists and auction houses look set to stay and will shape the art world in future years.
2. Pop art will continue to grow in popularity
Although Pop Art first emerged in the 1950s with artists such as Andy Warhol and Richard Hamilton leading the way, it has enjoyed a resurgence over recent years. This looks set to grow over the coming year as younger consumers embrace this brightly coloured, vibrant and fun trend that embraces consumer culture across the generations.
“Phillips had an evening auction of what I call ‘short and sweet’ last week,” commented Olyvia. “All the art was fairly lower value; young, hip, trendy, pop culture, which I think is one of the biggest and fastest growing markets right now.”
3. Virtual auctions will become more commonplace
When the pandemic first struck, art galleries and auction houses realised that they needed to innovate in order to keep the industry healthy. As a result, both digital marketing and online auctions became more commonplace, reducing historical barriers to participation and allowing more artists to reach new audiences across the world.
According to Olyvia, these new tools and innovations are likely to boost consumer confidence: “So, you can use Zoom, FaceTime or even specially designed apps to bid if you can’t be there in person. This will help ‘consumer market confidence’ to return, especially after the summer.”
4. We will see greater diversity equality and representation in the art world
The Black Lives Matter protests and greater global awareness of systemic racism and underrepresentation of minority groups has brought issues of race, diversity and belonging back into the spotlight. As a result of this shift, several major museums have developed diversity plans and have started returning artifacts from the colonial era back to their rightful countries. Going forward, these issues will continue to be important and we will see a greater focus on non-white artists from around this world, continuing the work that Olyvia started with her 2019 exhibition that celebrated the friendship of Warhol and Basquiat.
Despite the enormous changes that the art world saw in 2020, the future remains bright. Thanks to numerous innovations, digital technology, and a greater sense of unity within the community as a whole, the coming years look set to be more exciting than ever.


text:
University pulls strip joint recruitment ad from directory
November 13, 2002 at 11:09 PM EST - Updated June 16 at 1:50 AM
By CHARLEY GILLESPIE, Associated Press Writer
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio State University says it may change the way it reviews advertisements after an ad recruiting strippers for a nightclub appeared in a faculty and staff directory.
The full-page ad bought by Dockside Dolls had a tab that protruded from the directory that read "Need Tuition?" The ad featured a photo of woman's face with words, "Dockside Dolls gentleman's club is looking for you," and a phone number for the club.
The university tore the ad from 10,700 directories this week, but not before 2,300 were delivered to faculty and staff. The ad also was canceled for a student directory not assembled yet.
"The ad -- which was already approved -- totally crossed the line," university spokeswoman Elizabeth Conlisk said.
"We felt that it invited students to obtain financial support for tuition in a manner that is totally inconsistent with the education mission of the university," she said.
Dockside Dolls management said pulling the ad was censorship.
"These people OK'd the ad and now that the phone book is out they had their staff tearing out my pages," said Johnny Basinger, director of operation for the Aberdeen, N.C.-based company, which has 12 clubs. "We are just running an employment ad."
About half of the employees at the Columbus club are college students, and some earn $500 to $2,000 a night, Basinger said.
The directories, which are sold for $10 each, are made at no cost to the university each year by Chapel Hill, N.C.-based University Directories. The company sells the advertising space, but the ads must be approved by the university, Conlisk said.
A spokesman for University Directories would not comment Wednesday.
Conlisk said if the ad had been reviewed more carefully, it would not have been approved.
"This is a great opportunity to establish an advertising standards committee that will set guidelines that will be followed by any university-sanctioned advertisement," she said. "We are in the process of establishing that."
The $8,000 Dockside Dolls paid for the advertisement to appear in both directories will be returned, Conlisk said.
The university has recommended the Central Ohio Transit Authority be provided a full-page ad in the upcoming student directory because it had a quarter-page ad on the backside of the page that was pulled.
Duke and North Carolina universities recently refused to run similar ads in their directories, Basinger said.
"When University Directories sold me the ad I told them I ran into problems with this ad with Duke and North Carolina and they said 'no problem,'" he said.
(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


text:
The Japan Tourism Agency said it is launching a trial project before the end of this month under which a limited number of tourists who have been fully vaccinated will be able to enter the country.
However, the scheme will only be limited to small groups of visitors from four nations – the United States, Australia, Thailand and Singapore – and is planned as the first phase of a wider reopening to travellers. However, many countries such as Malaysia are left out of this initial phase.
Although tourism was formerly an important source of revenue for Japan, travellers have been barred from entering since the country implemented rigorous border restrictions in 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic began.
Photo Credit: Pexels – Photo by Aleksandar Pasaric
The rules have been slightly relaxed to allow students and some business travellers to access. Individual tourists, on the other hand, are still forbidden, despite demands from business executives to revive tourism to take advantage of the yen’s 20-year lows.
Tourists who have been triple-vaccinated and come from the United States, Australia, Thailand and Singapore will be allowed to take part in the tours, which will be strictly planned in conjunction with travel agencies and accompanied at all times by tour conductors.
Additionally, under the new plan for the tourism industry, Japanese travel agencies will be tasked with providing and managing package tours for foreign visitors, adhering to predetermined itineraries and staying in approved hotels. Tourists will not, however, be permitted to use public transport.
So it will be only a matter of time until Japan fully opens to tourists around the world.
- Click here for exclusive Shopee cashback vouchers and Lazada free shipping vouchers.
- Follow us on our Facebook and Instagram for more updates and the latest happenings around Malaysia!
Feature Photo Credit: Pexels – Photo by DSD