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Normally, not a lot happens in the Nexus Player/Android TV world in any given week. Sometimes, a new app is released which will work when sideloaded or sometimes a new device that will support Android TV is announced. However, in spite of the young age of the platform, this is Android and this week, we got to see how being 'android' has benefits and how these benefits are likely to play out in the future.
Anyone who owns a Nexus Player will know first-hand how un-Amazon the device is. While the Nexus Player does come with Netflix built in, trying to get Amazon Instant Video to work on the device is very problematic. You can sideload the APK, but doing so does not mean it plays nicely. It doesn't. However, this week the world found out that Sony Android TV units come with an inbuilt Amazon Instant Video app which is fully compatible with Android TV. As this is android, it took an XDA member no time at all to capture the APK from the Sony TV and make it publicly available. In fact, it was not just Amazon Instant Video the user captured, but also a Netflix update which includes playback in Dolby Digital. For those who don't know, the standard Nexus Player Netflix app only currently plays Stereo. With the new update, the Netflix app offer Dolby Digital audio playback under the Audio Settings. If you are interested in the Dolby Digital experience then you can download the APK and sideload it to your device. Once the app is sideloaded to your Nexus Player, you can install as normal and it will overwrite the version currently installed.
That said, the Amazon Instant Video app is probably the bigger news of the week, due to the Nexus Player's prior general lack of compatibility. Well, now that the app has been captured, as well as the Netflix update, you can als download Amazon Instant Video and install it on your Nexus Player. To do so is very simple. Grab the APK from the link below and sideload to your Nexus Player. If you are unsure of how to sideload then you can sideload using ES File Explorer or via Google Drive. To go the ES File Explorer route then follow these instructions. To go the Google Drive route, follow these instructions.
Once installed on your device, the first thing you'll notice is that this is a true Android TV compatible device. Which essentially means that unlike other sideloaded less-compatible devices, the Instant Video icon will display on the leanback launcher homescreen.
Next, when you open the app you just have to sign in as normal with your Prime account details.
Following which, all your programs will be immediately available.
Not to mention, additional features like fast forward and rewind – which are not typically available on the sideloaded less-compatible version.
If you are interested in knowing more or seeing what other apps are likely to be made available (looks like VUDU and Crackle are other apps which are now available) then you can follow the XDA thread by brar.arsh (the initial APK uploader) by clicking the source link below.


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Cargill Limited has announced that it will sell its Cudworth, Saskatchewan crop input location to Horizon Fertilizers, Ltd., effective April 15, 2009.
As part of the agreement, Cargill will continue to provide grain marketing support to Cudworth-area grain producers. Cargill's Birch Hills facility will support customers north of Wakaw for their crop input needs, while its Clavet staff will provide support for customers in the region south of Wakaw.
The deal will allow Cargill to enhance its focus on grain handling, marketing and other services the company provides to grain producers throughout the region, said Blaine Duncan, regional farm service group manager for Cargill AgHorizons.
Gary Pappenfoot, manager for Horizon Fertilizers, said they have maintained the services of Norm Lang and Deb Burtney to help ensure this transition goes well.
Duncan said Cargill will honour all previously contracted crop input purchases targeted for spring application. Cargill's Clavet customer service team will assist customers with their grain cheques, pricing, and administrative inquiries.
Horizon Fertilizers is a joint venture with Cargill Limited.
Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Cargill Limited employs over 10,000 people across Canada and has diversified business interests including meat, egg and oilseed processing, animal feed, crop inputs, as well as grain handling, merchandising and milling.

domain: news


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More countries in Asia appear ready to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, most likely as members of the second round of nations joining the deal.
Duh Tyzz-jiun (杜紫軍), minister of the National Development Council (NDC), Thursday called for both Taiwan and the European Union to expedite the process of signing a bilateral investment agreement (BIA).
The American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei (AmCham Taipei, 台北美國商會) urged the Taiwanese government Thursday to quickly prepare Taiwan’s candidacy for second-round entry into the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade bloc.
Like its Asian neighbors, Taiwan has been struggling with moribund exports as China’s economic growth slows and a pickup in the U.S. loses some steam.
The Indian government has turned down Taiwan’s request to take a further step in advancing an economic cooperation agreement for the time being as it focuses on joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said yesterday.
The government of Taiwan must do a better job to convince the public, instead of relying on “scare tactics,” merely pointing to the hazards that Taiwan will face without FTAs.
Taiwan’s services trade deal with China sits blocked in Taipei parliament until the government can meet the demands of the Sunflower protest movement.
Several civic groups yesterday accused the Taiwanese government of exaggerating the potential impact of an impending free-trade agreement (FTA) between China and South Korea after the two countries’ leaders concluded talks on the accord at the APEC summit on Monday.
Vice Economics Minister Cho Shih-chao said Monday that a free trade agreement to be signed in the near future between China and South Korea will have a major adverse impact on Taiwan’s industrial base.
President Ma Ying-jeou said Monday that Taiwan will take the opportunity of attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC) Economic Leader’s Meeting to demonstrate its resolve to participate in regional trade blocs such as the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
Taiwan has confirmed its desire to forge a trade deal with Australia and rejected suggestions that mainland China could "meddle" in its efforts for deeper regional ties.
In an exclusive interview with the United Daily News, South Korea’s representative to Taiwan stated that the majority of the contents in the agreement have been shaped while both sides have yet to agree on a few fragments.
Taiwan and China have restarted talks on adding further goods tariff reductions to their economic cooperation framework agreement, despite the long-running dispute over the cross-strait agreement for trade in services that was signed in June last year.
Taiwan and China resumed talks Wednesday at an undisclosed location on a goods free trade agreement, sparking a protest against secrecy by demonstrators suspicious of closer ties with Beijing.
Talks on a free trade agreement in goods will reopen on Wednesday after being delayed for about five months, including massive protests in Taipei and a weeks-long blockade of parliament by students
Chinese ambassador to Malaysia Huang Huikang says China is against any move by Malaysia to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with Taiwan.
Representatives from China and Taiwan have reached an agreement to restart formal negotiations on a free-trade pact that would eliminate tax on the vast majority of goods flowing between the two, Taiwan officials said Tuesday.
Lawmakers in Taiwan Monday confirmed that negotiations on a series of economic measures between the island and the Chinese mainland have halted in the wake of disruptive protests in Taipei in March.
Taiwan and China will continue to pursue more liberalized bilateral trade, despite delays in the progress of two trade pacts with China, Taiwan’s former vice president Vincent Siew said on Wednesday.
Taiwan Rural Front and Taiwan Farmers Union launch an emergency appeal for international solidarity against current administration’s rush for cross-strait free trade agreement and excessive use of police force.


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Payscout, Inc., Offers Trend Insight and Tips for Success in Today’s Rapidly Changing Business Landscape.
In response to a Deloitte poll conducted in early 2014, 70% of millennials said they would reject traditional business to work independently; one in five said they wanted to quit their current job and start their own projects.1
“We see this across the board in our younger clients,” says Cleveland Brown, chief executive officer of Payscout Inc., a leading global merchant services provider which specializes in helping businesses – from startups to enterprise-sized companies – do business smoothly all over the world, “We believe millennials may become the greatest generation of this century, driven by their entrepreneurial dreams and their desire to support conscience-minded businesses.”
Brown also noted more recent research efforts confirm—and amplify—the findings of the Deloitte study:
- In a survey of millennials by Bentley University, only 13% said their career goal involved climbing the corporate ladder to become CEO or president.
- By contrast, two-thirds (67%) said their goal involved starting their own business.2
- A Rasmussen College study found that 60% of millennial respondents already consider themselves entrepreneurs, with ideas, capital, and plans for startup endeavors.
- Of those in “regular” jobs, 71% expressed a desire to quit and work for themselves, and 60% said they plan to leave within the next two years.3Payscout’s primary mission is to support the entrepreneurial dream one transaction at a time. This involves simplifying the merchant and customer experience to ultimately reduce payment costs and improve conversions for global payment acceptance; in the process, it provides help and guidance to entrepreneurs on a daily basis. Based on this experience, and his observations of the global business climate, Brown offers some suggestions as to the characteristics needed by business leaders of the future.Critical thinking. They will also need to develop a capacity for advanced critical thinking as the way we do business continues to change. Already, we can see the workplace taking steps toward “alternative” work styles: working from home, open-plan office spaces, standing desks, different work hours. Critical thinking will be a huge factor in how the workplace develops as millennials who abide by a “work smarter, not harder” mentality take leadership roles.Clarity. As the world we live in becomes even more advanced and complex, we need leaders who will take measures to simplify these complexities. Technology in and of itself can compound things, and so cutting through the fat is essential.Empathy. Finally, cultural empathy will be key. As our world becomes more entwined and interconnected, we will be working with those who may have cultural and philosophical differences. Future American leaders will need to educate themselves about other cultures and remain receptive to the way others live and work.About Payscout, Inc.:Payscout is a global merchant service provider (MSP) and payment service provider (PSP) with tier-one bank sponsorships in the United States, Latin America, Caribbean, Asia-Pacific and Europe. Serving small to medium businesses (SMBs) and enterprise companies alike, Payscout offers payment processing solutions for brick-and-mortar and eCommerce transactions. The company has earned acclaim as a new-generation provider of merchant banking services, specializing in online/eCommerce retailers with a predominant proportion of card-not-present (CNP) transactions; and it is one of the few providers to deliver a true global payment solution that encompasses all merchant risk verticals. Customers can access Payscout’s credit card processing services via a state-of-the-art, web-based user portal and through direct interactions with highly trained experts. In addition to supporting thousands of clients across a multitude of industries and all 50 states, Payscout maintains global partnerships with VISA USA, Bank of America Merchant Services, VISA Europe, VISA Latin America, VISA Asia Pacific, MasterCard Worldwide, China Union Pay, Deutsche Bank, First Data and Payscout Brazil. Payscout was recognized as one of America’s fastest-growing privately held companies in 2014, ranking #2,416 on Inc. magazine’s Inc. 5000 list. Within the financial services industry, Payscout placed #140 nationally and #24 in California. For more information, visit www.payscout.com.
“Payscout Supports the Entrepreneurial Dream One Transaction at a Time.”
- “Millennials are seeking our help setting up payment services and extending them as they begin doing business around the globe,” says Brown. “As we work with them, we see that many of them already possess these capabilities. We have witnessed the development of a work ethic based on working smart, rather than the old mantra of success through long, hard hours. Millennials love to innovate and adopt technology to get results efficiently—an excellent skill set for entrepreneurs. We believe the sky is the limit for this generation, and it is a major part of our mission to continue helping them realize their dreams.”
Responsibility. These future leaders need to lead by example, shifting toward emotionally intelligent and responsible governance. Corporate social responsibility is going to be a necessity, and an expectation, for all leaders to promote and carry out.
- Tolerance for risk. Future leaders should have a willingness to take strategic risks. This is something we are seeing in millennials and young adults. They are more willing to forgo the traditional nine to five job in search of one that is more fulfilling and allows them to work for themselves.
- Focus. Future business leaders will need a focused vision in order to be successful. Competition and the abundance of ideas will force future entrepreneurs to home in on what makes their product or service more valuable, more efficient, or more necessary than the rest of the field.
The urge toward entrepreneurialism is an international phenomenon, as indicated by a recent Forbes/Societe Generale white paper on global entrepreneurship. However, while being entrepreneurial is a mindset, the report cautions that entrepreneurs cannot fully flourish without the right social, legal, and political conditions. Brown, one of the global entrepreneurs interviewed for the study, said these conditions are particularly robust in the United States. “The U.S.,” Brown commented, “fosters a pro-business climate, which is supported by our Constitution and legal system.”4


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New Zealand and the US have welcomed the decision by the World Trade Organization (WTO) to reject Indonesia’s appeal over its restrictions on imports of food and animal products.
The countries were co-complainants to the WTO in 2013 after failing to persuade Indonesia to re-think its 2011 decision to restrict the importing of certain food products, such as beef and poultry.
The WTO ruled against Indonesia’s restrictions last December and has now upheld that decision by kicking out Indonesia’s appeal.
David Parker, New Zealand’s minister for trade and export growth, said: “This decision from the WTO’s highest dispute settlement body is an important result for our agricultural exporters and should pave the way to grow New Zealand exports to the Indonesian market.”
US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said: “This is a significant win for US farmers and ranchers.
“Given Indonesia’s market size and US competitiveness, we should be selling many more agricultural products to Indonesian consumers.”
Indonesia had argued that its rules were based on health concerns and halal food standards, or aimed to deal with temporary surpluses in the domestic market.
Other products the import ban covered included apples, grapes, potatoes, onions and dried fruit.
New Zealand said the restrictions meant an 80% drop in the nation’s exports to Indonesia of beef and horticultural products. Prior to the ban, Indonesia was New Zealand’s second-largest market for beef.
Indonesia appealed the original WTO decision in February this year and the appeal was declined in a ruling dated 12 October.
New Zealand trade minister Parker said the restrictions “are estimated to have now cost the New Zealand beef sector close to a billion dollars of lost exports into an important market”.
He added: “I look forward to working with my Indonesian counterpart over the coming months to finalise resolution of this long-standing trade issue.”


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Founder Mark Cridge to exit Glue and Aegis Isobar network
By Sarah Shearman, campaignlive.co.uk, Friday, 29 June 2012 01:19PM
Mark Cridge, the global managing director of Aegis Media's Isobar network and founder of Glue, has decided not to return to the business following a six-month sabbatical.
Cridge was due to return to the business this July, having worked for the Green Party during his time off from the company. It is unknown whether he has a job to go to or whether he will be replaced.
Cridge founded Glue in 1999 and worked as chief executive of the business, before taking moving to the role of global managing director in May 2010. The digital agency was bought by Aegis Group in 2005 for £14.7m and was rebranded under the Isobar network in 2010.
Last year, Cridge was inducted into Brand Republic's inaugural 'Hall of Fame' after being voted for by industry peers and rivals as a leader who has made an outstanding contribution to advertising, marketing and communications over the past decade.
In Cridge's last profile as leader of Glue Isobar, Jason Goodman, chief executive and founder of rival Albion, admitted his worry was the industry "would lose him", believing the 39-year-old was "far too young to be put out to pasture just yet in a global network role".
Cridge's exit has not yet been confirmed by Aegis.
Follow Sarah Shearman on Twitter @Shearmans
This article was first published on campaignlive.co.uk
- Marketing Executive Tarsh Lazare Marketing Recruitment £28,000- £31,000 plus benefits, London (Central), London (Greater)
- Content Marketing Executive (utilities) ADLIB £22000 - £27000 per annum, Stroud
- Junior Designer become £22-27K, London (Central), London (Greater)
- Graphic Designer Pitch Consultants £25000 - £30000 per annum + benefits, Warwickshire
- Quant AD or RM - Creative Boutique Hasson Associates £35,000 - £55,000 , London (Central), London (Greater)
- ZenithOptimedia loses £200m O2 business to Havas Media without a pitch
- Breast Cancer Campaign crowd-sources videos for 'wear it pink' campaign
- Doctor Who online game gets kids coding
- Philips launches juicer video campaign with Louis Smith
- Currys PC World launches brand campaign ahead of Christmas
- Argos releases second ad in its latest strategy


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Leeds web dev agency invests in future growth after raft of client wins
Web development SME Blue Mantis has had a record quarter, with revenues up 100%.
The company said that for Q1 2019, it reached £198,000 in turnover, up from £74,000 in the same period last year. It has also added several new members of staff and won a raft of new clients.
The company currently employs 14 staff, having taken on four new web developers to deal with workloads.
It has recently been signed by London’s Goldsboro Books as a development partner, delivering a full website review and redesign.
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Chocolate and fast food cause acne, the study showed medical students last year at the University of Melbourne. They claim that cause acne (acne, rashes on the face) are sugary foods and stress. So, during exams acne in students was observed more frequently, which demonstrates: nervous overload affects the exacerbation of the disease.
Chocolate milk and fast food lead to acne, the study showed medical students last year at the University of Melbourne.
And although members of the British Association of dermatologists a very long insisted that there is no evidence of a link between sweets and acne, young researchers insist that to get rid of acne when creams and ointments don’t help, you need to change the diet to refuse from refined carbohydrates (sugar, white flour, pasta, etc.).
Redness of the skin Rash (skin rash)Acne
A diet high in dairy products increases the severity of acne.
Dairy foods cause acne?
A study published in the British Medical Journal, also shows that a diet with a high content of dairy products increases the severity of acne. It turns out that skim milk may bring more harm than fat! The fact that it contains hormones (they are added in the feed of cows), which stimulate the production of sebum that is its excess contributes to the development of acne.
It works as a hormonal imbalance in the human body this is the cause of the disease can be considered primary (no wonder most often acne occurs in adolescence). The clogged pores and lack of hygiene lead to the growth of bacteria.
See also:HOW to EFFECTIVELY TREAT your ACNE: your DOCTOR’s ADVICE AND INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
By the way, the research of other scientists, doctors of medical Sciences Whitney Bowe and dermatologist Joshua Zeichner from new York, showed that bodybuilders and athletes who regularly take whey supplements and protein bars with casein, are more likely to suffer from severe forms of acne.
Probiotics in dairy products may help improve skin condition, and the fermentation process reduces the levels of the hormone IGF-1, says Dr. Bowe. But if you often get pimples, and if you are a fan of dairy products, it makes sense to reduce their consumption and see how the skin will react. Sometimes you have wait for the result within 1-2 months.
Types of acne and the process of their appearance
The manifestation of acne on the face should think about the adjustment of the diet. Besides, to abandon refined carbohydrates useful because they cause obesity and diabetes.


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In the State of Search Marketing survey, 74% of companies and 82% of agencies said that social media is either somewhat or highly integrated into their SEO strategies.
With almost 2 billion active users Facebook is in a prime position to dominate the world of local search.
With over 1.7 billion active users, Facebook has now become the go-to for consumer reviews and yet tons of brands have no idea that they have all these store pages with customer reviews on them! In this article, Chatmeter will break down how Facebook has been impacting all businesses in North America and the most efficient way to leverage your store pages to drive customers into your stores and increase revenue.
Over the past year, Facebook has exploded into several new offerings. They quickly developed themselves into one of the largest online advertisers and surprised the world by creating their own local search engine. Based on the opinions of experts in this area of focus, Facebook has a chance to succeed where Google+ failed - by creating the smartest online local search platform. From their continually expanding user base, to their content sharing interface and immense demographic storage, Facebook has set themselves up to take the local search industry by storm.
Instagram is adding new features to its platform, making business profiles more competitive in the world of Local Search and SEO. They are in the process of building specific features for businesses- similar to Facebook’s brand pages. A contact button, linkable location tag and a category will be some of the main features distinguishing business profiles from personal ones. This is currently in beta to select features, but here are some details we’ve discovered about the up and coming release.
With Facebook adding starred reviews at the end of 2013 and partnerting with Factual recently to include millions of more store pages, we knew a local search portal was not far away. Although it has been live for close to a month, Facebook has yet to promote their new local search engine (https://www.facebook.com/services/) to the mass public. While this first beta version is available on desktops, it has yet to take the jump to mobile devices. Its features and UI are strikingly similar to other local search giants like Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Google… and has even been hyped the “Yelp Killer” by a few online articles.
Pinterest just added location data to its current Place Pin service feature, with listings and reviews powered by Foursquare. With their extensive reach, this just became another key site for your business to monitor. As they continue to enhance their Place Pins with valuable and accurate business information, Pinterest gains momentum as a social media site that can drive awareness and traffic to your stores in the complex world of local search.
In recent years Facebook has transformed from a widely popular social media site to a platform integral for many businesses’ and brands’ success. According to a study done by Kendall College, 58% of consumers who plan to buy products in store visit businesses’ Facebook pages before purchasing. Clearly, people no longer only use Facebook as a means to connecting with their friends and as a virtual photo album. Facebook has evolved into an integrated local search platform where customers can seek out local businesses (and their contact info), read branded messages, and discuss their experience via stared reviews (we’ve even seen them automatically adding menu pages, and hours of operation… sounds like Yelp, right?).
In 2009 Foursquare launched as a check-in app, allowing [...]
Most companies have a Facebook page for their business/corporate [...]


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DEFIANCE, Ohio — When Ralph Schlatter started grass-based farming in 1993, he wasn’t exactly starting from scratch. After all, he is the fifth generation on the family farm near Defiance, Ohio. But the high interest rates of the 1980s and an aging fleet of equipment had made it clear that the farm’s conventional production was no longer sustainable. A switch to grass-based production seemed like the best way forward.
“I thought maybe we could stay in farming by doing this,” Schlatter said. Even so, he said, he had debts from previous years, so instead of starting from scratch, he was starting “below zero”.
Today, after nearly 30 years of grass-based production, Schlatter, his wife, Sheila, and son, Kyle, produce a variety of livestock products and market them directly to consumers. Their farm, Canal Junction Farm, specializes in grass-fed meats and cheeses and also includes a herd-share dairy. Agricultural fields that were once used for grain production are now pasture and hayfields. The farm produces beef, pork, lamb, turkey, chicken and eggs as well as milk and raw milk cheeses.
At first, the Schlatters had no intention of selling directly to consumers, but once they started raising cattle on pasture, they saw the potential for direct marketing. They now sell produce directly from an on-farm store and make deliveries to nearby towns.
Most customers are not from rural Paulding County, where the farm is located, Schlatter said. Instead, customers come from neighboring urban counties.
To deliver products, Schlatters take orders through an online shopping club, then meet customers at drop-off points each Wednesday. They alternate between drops in Wauseon, Whitehouse and Sylvania, Ohio one week and drops in Perrysburg and Bowling Green the next. Over the years, customers have helped them find their drop-off locations, all of which are located in church parking lots.
They have also used company parking lots in the past, but these locations have sometimes caused problems with company employees, who were unaware they had permission to be on the lot.
Their customers helped them get permission from church governing bodies and now they can distribute their products without inconveniencing anyone, Schlatter said. The farm’s clientele grew primarily through word of mouth. They have also made connections with customers who found the farm through online searches for herd shares or grass-fed meat.
Demand grew rapidly from the early 2000s until around 2015, then plateaued, he said. They saw an increase in demand after the COVID hit, but did not see a sustained increase. They are currently updating their web page to simplify marketing and reach more customers.
All of the land owned by the Schlatters is now under permanent pasture. They also make hay on rented land nearby. Their cattle and dairy herds, as well as their sheep herd, are all grass-fed. Their pigs graze on pasture and also receive leftover whey from cheese making and a custom non-GMO grain ration.
Schlatters start broilers and turkeys in indoor brooders, then move them to portable outdoor shelters. They move the shelters every morning to give the birds access to fresh pasture and supplement their diet with customized non-GMO grain rations.
Their 500 laying hens are housed in a hoop greenhouse and also receive a personalized non-GMO feed ration. Custom rations, which include ingredients such as oats, kelp and alfalfa, cost more than typical poultry and pork rations, Schlatter said.
But he thinks the more expensive feed ingredients keep pigs and poultry healthier and improve the flavor of meat and eggs.
To maintain year-round milk production, Schlatters raise their dairy herd to calve in two groups, one group in the spring and one in the fall. At peak production, when the lactations of the groups overlap, they milk about 65 cows. As conventional farmers, the family’s Holstein herd was once in the top 5% in the state for dairy production, Schlatter said, “Now we’re probably in the bottom 5%.
A high herd average is no longer their goal. They now prefer medium-sized Normande and Jersey cross cows that do well on pasture and produce high-quality milk, he said.
Some of their milk is bottled raw in plastic jugs and marketed through herd sharing agreements. Shareholders pay a one-time lump sum payment of $50 for a share in the herd.
Then they pay $7 per gallon of milk as a cattle boarding fee.
This arrangement complies with Ohio regulations that prohibit the sale of raw milk, Schlatter explained. In the early 2000s, he was part of a small group of dairy farmers, who lobbied for changes to enforce state regulations to allow herd sharing. In addition to bottling fluid milk, the Schlatters make raw milk cheeses. Among the cheeses they make is Charloe, a cheese unique to their farm, which has won national honors through the Good Food Foundation.
Decades of grass farming have improved their heavy clay soils, Schlatter said. Current soil tests compared to tests done in the 1970s show an increase in soil organic matter of 2%.
“You can dig into this ground with a screwdriver now,” Schlatter said. “It’s quite crumbly.”
This increase in organic matter indicates an increase in carbon retained in the soil. While some environmental activists claim that cows contribute to climate change with greenhouse gas emissions, they overlook the ability of pastures to sequester carbon.
“Cows on the grass are the solution, not the problem,” he said.
In addition to improving the land, Schlatter said switching to grass-based production has improved his family’s chances of moving the farm forward. His son, Kyle, a sixth-generation member, was able to join the operation as a shepherd and manager of the dairy business.
Seven of Ralph and Sheila’s grandchildren have also helped on the farm, feeding the chickens this summer. These grandchildren, aged 8 to 13, are the seventh generation on the farm.
“I feel there’s an opportunity here,” Schlatter said. “I would like it to continue.”
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Digital TV News: Dominique Feral
Irdeto offers integrated security to the Frog by Wyplay community
Jan 3, 2017 – Irdeto has announced a new licensing agreement with Wyplay. Through the partnership, Irdeto and Wyplay will offer an integrated advanced middleware and security solution for broadcast, hybrid and OTT deployments.
News categories: Irdeto, Wyplay, Steeve Huin, Dominique Feral, CES2023, Content Protection, Digital TV, Middleware, Mobile, Set Top Box, Worldwide
Wyplay partners with Alpha Networks for end-to-end solution
Dec 21, 2016 – Wyplay and Alpha Networks have announced the extension of their partnership to integrate Alpha Networks’ back-end with all Frog By Wyplay offers in order to deliver a unified User Experience across all client devices.
News categories: Wyplay, Alpha Networks, Dominique Féral, Kris Warreyn, CES2023, Content Distribution, Digital TV, Middleware, Mobile, Set Top Box, Worldwide
Wyplay and Alpha Networks to offer joint digital TV solution
Jan 6, 2016 – Wyplay and Alpha Networks have announced that they will jointly bring to market their Frog and Tucano software products as an end-to-end solution for TV operators. The solution combines tools to manage content, subscribers and payments, integrated with an open source customisable middleware.
News categories: Wyplay, Alpha Networks, Dominique Féral, Guillaume Devezeaux, Content Distribution, Digital TV, Middleware, Set Top Box, Worldwide
Wyplay to bundle Quadrille push technology with Frog Turnkey
Sep 11, 2015 – Wyplay and Quadrille have announced that the latter’s QuadriFast push technology will be available as a value-added bundle with the Frog Turnkey digital TV software solution. The two companies intend to focus on operators in growth markets such as Africa and Eastern Europe.
News categories: Quadrille, Wyplay, Xavier Battas, Dominique Féral, Africa, Digital TV, Europe, IBC2022, Middleware, Set Top Box
Verimatrix joins Frog by Wyplay
Sep 3, 2015 – Wyplay has announced that Verimatrix has joined the Frog by Wyplay community and that the Verimatrix Video Content Authority System (VCAS) will be part of the new Frog Turnkey Broadcast/IP bundle on set top box (STB) devices.
News categories: Wyplay, Verimatrix, Dominique Féral, Steve Christian, Content Protection, Digital TV, Middleware, Set Top Box, Worldwide
Frog by Wyplay for growth markets at 30¢ per device
Jun 2, 2015 – Wyplay has announced the evolution of the Frog by Wyplay open source solution aimed at bringing an attractive digital TV experience to subscribers with an affordable business and deployment model for operators, with a per device royalty starting at USD 0.30.
News categories: Wyplay, Dominique Féral, BroadcastAsia, Digital TV, Middleware, Set Top Box, Worldwide
Kannuu content discovery to be integrated with Frog by Wyplay
Apr 28, 2015 – Kannuu, which provides personalized content discovery technology for the connected television and media industry, has announced a partnership with Wyplay and joined the Frog by Wyplay initiative.
News categories: Kannuu, Wyplay, Telstra, Tom Laidlaw, Dominique Féral, Eric Kearley, Australia, Content Distribution, Digital TV, Middleware, Set Top Box, Video Exchange, Worldwide
Mobica joins Frog by Wyplay
Apr 28, 2015 – Mobica has joined the Frog by Wyplay initiative to provide professional and integration services, enhancing the open source TV middleware code and adapting it to the requirements of pay TV operators and their partners.
News categories: Wyplay, Mobica, Dominique Féral, Jim Carroll, Europe, Middleware, Set Top Box, Worldwide
Wyplay connects STBs with SIGFOX IoT network
Dec 16, 2014 – Wyplay and SIGFOX have revealed a joint technology collaboration. The system, which will be showcased at the 2015 International CES, integrates SIGFOX’s IoT cellular connectivity solution with Wyplay’s open-source pay-TV set-top-box (STB) middleware.
News categories: Wyplay, SIGFOX, Dominique Féral, Stuart Lodge, Broadband, CES2023, Digital TV, Europe, Middleware, Mobile, Set Top Box, USA
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- izzi adds anti-piracy and extended threat defense technologies from Verimatrix
- MEO deploys Velocix CDN and cloud-native VRM platforms
- AminoOS deployed to Vodafone Iceland’s legacy Samsung STBs
- Bhimavaram Community Network chooses Skyworth for 4K RDK IPTV set-tops
- Synaptics selects Allegro DVT VVC compliance streams
- NextGen TV launches in Shreveport, LA
- Sunrise deploys Media Distillery to enhance TV user experience
- Vewd brings in-vehicle streaming to Renesas R-Car automotive chipsets
- Omdia expects pay TV & online video subscriptions to pass 3 billion in 2027
- SeaChange Advanced Advertising Platform selected by Armstrong and BEAM
- U.S. streaming video consumers becoming more price sensitive
- SES-22 to launch on June 29th


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Apple iTunes tune leader Eddy Cue is on the^( , the place he sat down for an interview with CNN‘s Dylan Byers to speak about media, leisure, and why curation issues.
The key announcement of the development used to be Apple’s pending acquisition of^( , which might be built-in into Apple Information, however Cue additionally shared some perception into Apple’s unique content material plans, and far of what he mentioned has been shared on Twitter.
In line with Cue, Apple Information is a singular provider as it is not targeted on promoting, so it isn’t only offering the inside track you wish to have to learn – additionally it is sharing information “you will have to be studying.” Cue says Apple can do this as a result of promoting is not the focal point. “We aren’t looking to get you to learn so we will serve you extra advertisements,” he mentioned. “We need to provide you with a little of serendipity to peer all of what is available in the market,” he added.
At the subject of Apple’s content material plans, Cue mentioned the corporate is “all in.” “We are utterly all in,” he mentioned. Apple is not going to shop for an organization like Netflix or Disney, although, as a result of the focal point isn’t amount, it is high quality. “You wish to have to have a perfect tale,” he mentioned, whilst additionally teasing era that might be a “marvel” to customers.
Apple looked for the appropriate other people to run an unique content material crew for two years sooner than discovering former Sony executives Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht. Cue says Apple used to be after somebody who “actually knew the trade however used to be additionally keen to take into consideration it otherwise.” Since hiring Van Amburg and Erlicht ultimate 12 months, Apple has inked offers for^( , many with high-profile actors, manufacturers, and administrators.
“We are making giant investments,” mentioned Cue. “Cash is not a subject.” Apple’s unique content material crew has grown to about 40 other people over the process the ultimate 12 months.
When requested about sports activities, Cue mentioned that Apple needs to “increase the revel in” reasonably than personal sports activities content material, doing such things as sending out notifications when a sport stats to give a boost to the viewing revel in. “We expect there is a large alternative,” he mentioned, referring to creating sports activities observing a extra interactive revel in.
Cue additionally shared new main points on Apple Tune. The subscription provider has grown to 38 million subscribers, with greater than 8 million other people the usage of the trial provider.
Cue commented at the HomePod, which went on sale in February. He mentioned Apple is proud of the preliminary gross sales of the instrument, which is the “perfect musicologist there may be.” Cue mentioned Apple is “very proud” of the instrument.
Echoing statements Apple CEO Tim Cook dinner has made a number of instances over the process the previous 12 months, Cue mentioned Apple is “very, very constructive” that AR goes to be large. It will be a mainstream product that everybody makes use of each day.
He declined to present specifics at the subject of AR hardware outdoor of the iPhone, although, mentioning a want to proceed running at Apple. “I have labored for Apple for just about 30 years and hope to paintings for Apple for some other 20 years, so I am not going to respond to questions about long term merchandise,” he mentioned.
^( in our boards


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As if everyday life is not stressful enough, New Jerseyans also must be on the lookout for a wide array of sophisticated and predatory scams often targeting vulnerable residents around the state. Over the last few months, officials have warned about a litany of different schemes, everything from baby formula fraud and price gouging to gift card scams to crypto and NFT fraud and, perhaps most baneful, scammers pretending to be electric companies demanding payment to get customers’ financial information during the peak summer months.
State officials have taken note. In late April, acting Attorney General Matthew Platkin issued a consumer alert on gift card scams along with guidelines for retailers to train their employees on signs that a consumer is falling victim to that form of fraud. “The best tool we have to fight gift card scammers is widespread awareness of how they operate and how to stop them in their tracks,” Platkin said.
Under the Stop the Fraud Bill, which Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law in January, employees must receive training on how to identify and respond to gift card fraud by Aug. 1 or within 45 days of beginning employment. The training uses the “if you see something, say something approach,” teaching employees to recognize signs that someone may be victim of gift card fraud, such as buying multiple gift cards with high dollar values or immediately taking pictures of the gift cards’ serial numbers.
Some common gift card fraud schemes:
- Government agency scams: Someone claiming to be from the government demands payment in the form of gift cards to avoid arrest
- Refund scams: A caller offers a refund, credits money in excess of the refund, and asks to receive the additional money in gift cards
- Grandparent scams: Someone pretending to call on behalf of a relative or friend in distress and asking for money to assist them
- Freebies and sweepstakes scams: A gift card is required to pay a processing fee to receive a prize or free merchandise
- Utility scams: Utility company imposters claiming service will be cut off if payment is not received right away
Some schemes may also involve “spoofing,” which allows scammers to fake caller ID information and email addresses to hide their true identity. While some scammers may ask for a physical gift card, others may just ask for the number and security code, which allows them to spend the gift card without physically having it. Officials remind people that no legitimate business or government agency will ever ask for payment exclusively in the form of gift cards.
“It takes a village to fight fraud, and that is why we are enlisting everyone’s help,” said Howard Pine, former acting director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. “By issuing these guidelines we aim to cripple the efforts of scammers who often use fear to intimidate unsuspecting consumers into buying gift cards to avoid utility service interruptions or help a friend or relative in need.”
And when it comes to utility scams, businesses and customers are urged to be vigilant beyond even the gift card schemes. As the summer season kicked off, Atlantic City Electric issued a reminder to its customers that scammers were working harder than ever to take advantage of them in new ways.
While utility scams occur throughout the year, companies see an uptick in reports throughout the warm summer months and cold winter months when customers are more reliant on energy to cool and heat their homes. Scammers take advantage of that fact, as well as trying to prey on families and businesses who may be struggling from any of the ongoing financial pain from the pandemic.
“We’re really warning customers to be vigilant and know that some of these schemes, some of these scammers have become very sophisticated in their approach,” Candice Womer, an Atlantic City Electric spokesperson, told NJBIZ. “They’re definitely looking to play on people’s emotions. So, they played off the pandemic. They are looking for the more vulnerable. They’re looking for people who they think might fall for this.”
Some of the common schemes include the aforementioned “spoofing” of a company’s phone number to scare a customer into payment, as well as imposters posing as Atlantic City Electric employees to gain entry into a customer’s home to steal belongings.
Womer noted that the company would never send its employees to a home or business to demand payment, ask for immediate payment with a prepaid cash card, or ask for their account number or other personal information, such as a driver’s license number. And she pointed out that all Atlantic City Electric employees wear a uniform with the company logo and employee’s name, along with a company ID badge.
She also said Atlantic City Electric will never call a customer to ask for their account number, any personal information, or to make a direct payment with a prepaid cash card. “That’s a big red flag. Atlantic City will never call and ask for payment on-demand or request you to make a payment over the phone,” said Womer. “If you have MyAccount, you can go and confirm your real-time balance right there and just confirm if the information being told to you is accurate.
Atlantic City Electric also urged commercial customers to be on alert for any potential schemes, often using email to impersonate companies, to deceive businesses into providing their financial information.
“These scammers have become really sophisticated in their approaches,” said Womer. “It’s not as obvious anymore. But, even though, it’s not as obvious, there are still things to look for to help prevent it.”
Womer urges customers to visit atlanticcityelectric.com for more resources and tips on how to identify and combat scammers. “The safety of customers, employees and contractors is Atlantic City Electric’s top priority, and we hope the provided steps for our customers to take will give them the necessary tools to avoid scams or know what to do should they fall victim,” Womer said.
And as scammers try to prey on hardships like the pandemic or circumstances such as the warm and cold weather, another recent example of capitalizing on such an adversity is the baby formula shortage.
After Murphy signed an Executive Order in May to address the scarcity of the product, the attorney general and Division of Consumer Affairs issued a warning about price gouging and potential fraud concerning the sale of baby formula.
“The current baby formula shortage may have scammers and unscrupulous vendors coming out of the woodwork to take advantage of parents at a vulnerable time,” Platkin said. “We are putting merchants on notice that we stand ready to take action and hold accountable those who exploit any crisis for financial gain.”
The Division of Consumer Affairs said that it is aware of reports of online scams, monitoring instances of them affecting New Jersey consumers and asked for the public’s help in identifying other schemes.
“As we continue to review reports of alleged price gouging and other questionable tactics, we ask consumers to help us by reporting any excessive prices and scams they observe while shopping for baby formula,” said Cari Fais, acting director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. “The Division is prepared to take action against violators, but when it comes to consumer protection, New Jerseyans can also play an active role in putting a stop to price gouging and fraud.


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Target Canada pharmacists claimed victory on Thursday after learning that $100,000 has been set aside to fund legal and financial advisory services for them as the failed discount retailer winds down operations.
Target Canada has also extended the deadline for pharmacy closures, giving more breathing room to franchisees who need to transfer customer files and move or dispose of inventory, including narcotics.
“This is a victory for patients across Canada and PFAC,” said president Dan Dimovksi of the Pharmacy Franchisee Association of Canada.
Ontario Superior Court Justice Geoffrey Morawetz appointed PFAC to represent the pharmacists; Sutts, Strosberg LLP as representative counsel; and BDO as financial advisor to the pharmacists.
The $100,000 for PFAC can be used to cover legal and financial services provided to date and going forward, but only on three topics: corresponding with regulators concerning the wind-down and relocation process; return of inventory; and participating in the claims process against Target Canada.
Target Canada filed for creditor protection on Jan. 15, less than two years after entering the marketplace. All of its 133 stores are being closed.
Of the 93 Target pharmacists outside Quebec who belong to PFAC, about 40 remain in a position to take advantage of the extension to the operating deadline, said Dimovski.
On Jan. 26, Target Pharmacy delivered notices to franchisees indicating the pharmacies should be closed within 30 days. It has now agreed to allow pharmacists to operate until March 30, unless the home store closes before that date.
Liquidation discounts have been increased to 20 to 40 per cent off original prices. Store fixtures and equipment are also for sale.


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Cyber Threats stories
Military cyber security market to reach $7.2 billion by 2029
Surge predicted in military cyber security market, poised to reach a significant $7.2bn by 2029, according to figures from Adroit Market Research.
BlackBerry AI detects 70% surge in new malware attacks in Q3
BlackBerry AI reveals a shocking 70% rise in new malware attacks in Q3, with nearly 3 new types detected per minute.
Eagers Automotive partners with SentinelOne to boost cybersecurity
Eagers Automotive, Australia's largest dealership, partners with cybersecurity firm SentinelOne to bolster its cyber defences.
WatchGuard unveils cybersecurity threats predicted for 2024
WatchGuard Technologies warns emerging tech trends like AI, VR/MR headsets and QR code technology could present key cybersecurity threats in 2024.
CrowdStrike receives multiple honours at 2023 AWS Partner Awards
CrowdStrike scoops three prestigious awards at the 2023 AWS Partner Awards, affirming its status as cybersecurity leader.
UK businesses regret two-thirds of recent software purchases
New survey reveals that over two-thirds of UK businesses regret their software purchases from the last 18 months.
Infinigate launches next-gen cyber observability solution
Infinigate UK&I releases leading-edge NGCO, a cyber observability framework, amid growing cyber threat complexities.
CrowdStrike expands operations with new hub in Singapore
Cybersecurity giant CrowdStrike bolsters its Asian presence with a new hub in Singapore, doubling its operational capacity.
Festive season alert: Rising cybercrime threatens businesses
As another holiday shopping season arrives, with sales and special offers everywhere you turn, it is important to remember that cybercriminals are also out in force.
Data security taking centre stage in Australia's real estate digital transformation
Data security becomes a key priority amid the digital transformation of Australia's real estate industry, to counter cyber threats.
Infinigate outlines 2024 ICT industry trends & opportunities
Infinigate's 2024 forecast highlights cybersecurity impact, AI proliferation, MSP opportunities and need for ICT experts.
Rising cybersecurity threats push shift from passwords to passkeys
As cyber threats intensify, passkeys are replacing passwords as the prime defence against phishing attacks, says Yubico.
Cloudflare appoints Steve Bray as new Head of Australia & New Zealand
Cloudflare announces Steve Bray, former executive at Salesforce and Zendesk, as the new Head of Australia and New Zealand.
Rising cybersecurity threats prompt shift from traditional password methods
Rising cybersecurity threats prompt a shift from traditional, vulnerable password methods to phishing-resistant authentication solutions.
Dedoco unveils AI platform Ping to protect consumers from scams
Singapore-based Dedoco's AI platform, Ping, aims to protect consumers from online scams, enhancing trust and security in business communications.
Video: 10 Minute IT Jams - An update from WatchGuard Technologies with Corey Nachreiner
WatchGuard's Chief Security Officer, Corey Nachreiner, discusses security trends for 2024, including targeting language models and tech gadgets.
Exclusive: Synopsys and the evolution of robust security
Synopsys, a trailblazer in software security, unveils its latest solutions and strategies in an exclusive interview.
Feenix Communications to resell Radware solutions in NZ
Feenix Communications will resell Radware's cyber security solutions, bolstering NZ networks with top-tier protective measures.
Festive season online shopping spurs rise in luxury brand phishing scams
Cyber threats are on the rise this holiday season, warns Check Point Research, with a 13% increase in malicious files related to online orders and deliveries.
New worm named LitterDrifter heightens global cyber threat landscape
USB-propagating worm named LitterDrifter, developed by Russian cyber espionage group Gamaredon, presents a global cybersecurity threat.
Cohesity boosts Microsoft 365 data security with enhanced backup recovery
Cohesity partners with Microsoft to improve Microsoft 365 data security, offering enhanced backup and recovery solutions.
ST Engineering plans to enhance digital transformations in financial services
ST Engineering will enhance digital transformation in finance by expanding cybersecurity solutions, in partnership with the non-profit Elevandi.
Cohesity & Microsoft enhance data recovery in Microsoft 365 collaboration
Cohesity teams up with Microsoft to strengthen data recovery response for Microsoft 365 users using AI-driven solutions.
Keeper Security urges retailers to prep for holiday season cyber threats
Keeper Security, a top cybersecurity software firm, warns retailers to brace for potential cyber threats during the holiday season.


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Mobile commerce: Facebook Joins the Party
Well, what a January it's been in the mobile commerce market! My earlier posts have picked up some of the most notable developments but the last week has seen a couple more. Firstly, Orange UK and T-Mobile UK announced the launch of the UK's first mobile payment service by early summer, working with Barclaycard - that's a contactless scheme. Today came the news that Facebook has launched Places Deals in the UK & Europe in the latest Android and iPhone apps.
Combining location data and merchant offers, Facebook mobile users will be able identify special offers and discounts near to them and share those deals with their friends. Launch partners include Starbucks (no surprises there!), Debenhams, H&M, Argos, Alton Towers (theme park), O2 (discount off concert tickets) and Mazda. At the moment Facebook says it is not monetising the service but is waiting to see how it evolves.
Well in Juniper's research on mobile coupons, we've noted the importance of viral marketing, and we've also seen the launch of some coupons services linked in to social networking for specific user groups such as young mums. This however takes integration of social networking with mobile commerce and coupons to the next level.
Smart move and my view is that this one is destined to make a big impact.
The secret sauce? My guess is this. Keep striking new deals and offers with merchants and mobile operators. They need to be up to date and relevant but also there needs to be a steady stream of new ones to keep people interested.


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London, Jan 14 (IANS) High levels of vitamin D are linked to better fertility and reproductive success in wild sheep, says a new study.
Experts hope further studies will help determine the relevance of results for other mammals, including humans.
The study published in the journal ‘Scientific Reports’ adds to the growing evidence that vitamin D – known as the sunshine vitamin – is associated with reproductive health.
Researchers found that sheep with higher levels of vitamin D in their blood at the end of the summer went on to have more lambs in the following spring.
“Our study is the first to link vitamin D status and reproductive success in a wild animal population,” said Richard Mellanby, head of Small Animal Medicine at the University of Edinburgh in the UK.
Vitamin D is produced in the skin of sheep and other animals, including humans, after exposure to sunlight. It is also found in some foods, including certain plants.
It is essential for healthy bones and teeth and has been linked to other health benefits.


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Last fall, NCsoft announced a new classic mode for the Korean Aion servers. It was a huge success that brought the game back from a major slump, as our recent dips into the company’s revenue reports shows. “Aion more than doubled its revenues from its low point in 2020, almost entirely, NCsoft says, due to the launch of Aion Classic,” we wrote in February. “Huh, Classic servers are wildly popular, who knew. (Everybody. Everybody knew.)”
Since then, players in the west have been anxiously waiting to see whether NCsoft would bring the classic servers westward too. It’s looking pretty good, if the tease dropped on Aion’s official Twitter account today is any judge; there’s no hard declaration, but the video teaser shows a clock motif, winding back all the way from 2020 (yes) to 2009, which is the year the game launched in North America, Europe, and Oceania.
— Aion (@Aion) May 27, 2021


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Halfords announces zero-rate VAT prices on bike lights
Cycle retailer Halfords is launching its latest be safe and seen campaign by selling bike lights at VAT free prices for the remainder of winter.
Halfords said the initiative follows its autumn pledge to sell high visibility wear at VAT free prices in order to support cyclists by making it more affordable to keep cycling through the year.
YouGov research commissioned by Halfords found that 53% of UK cyclists polled said they often or always take safety precautions, while 15% answered "sometimes" and 16% said they never take any precautions when they cycle.
Emma Fox, commercial director for Halfords, said; “We want more people to feel confident cycling on the roads – whatever the time of year and whatever the weather. We started with issuing VAT free prices on high-vis wear and are now proud to offer bike lights at VAT free prices for the rest of winter, helping to make it more affordable to be safe and seen.
“The Highway Code advises cyclists to display front and rear bike lights, so we’re making it easier to afford winter cycling essentials.”
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Music discovery service Shazam has announced that it’s exceeded a quarter of a billion users worldwide.
Last month the company revealed that its service had been used to identify over 5 billion songs, TV shows and ads since launching.
Mark Bridge writes:
A horse box and eight SIM cards. That’s the basic technology keeping the BBC’s Olympic Torch Relay broadcasts on the air and on the road.
The converted DAF horse box is being driven in front of the runners as they carry an Olympic torch along the relay route. It’s equipped with four cameras and a mixing desk, enabling a choice of views to be recorded and broadcast for 12 hours per day throughout the 70-day relay.
Virgin Media’s results for the quarter ended 31st March 2012 show revenue up 2.4% to £1.0 billion and net income up to £7 million.
Mobile revenue was up 1.2% to £139 million, with contract phone revenue accounting for most of this.
Music discovery service Shazam has announced a deal with UK commercial television broadcaster ITV. It means that ITV’s sales team can offer advertisers the opportunity to have their TV advertisements enabled with Shazam’s recognition service.
The 10 million people in the UK with Shazam on their smartphones will be able to use the app to interact with the adverts, perhaps by entering a competition, accessing exclusive content or finding additional information.
Film and TV streaming service Netflix has launched in the UK and Ireland. It offers online access to television programmes and films via a wide range of devices, including tablets and mobile phones as well as computers, games consoles and internet-connected TVs.
The service currently costs £5.99 a month with a one-month free trial.


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Monica Lewinsky has held many roles in the public eye over the past 30 years. Now, as Americans prepare for the consequential 2024 presidential election, she’s taking on a new one: face of a fashion campaign.
It’s not just not any fashion campaign. This one’s for a good cause. The writer and activist has partnered with Reformation to launch a new workwear collection—all with the goal of getting voters to the polls.
“A powerful outfit alone isn’t going to create a more perfect union, but putting it on and going to the polls is a damn good place to start,” the brand states in a press release, which, fair.
The campaign is also a collaboration with Vote.org, which the brand worked with to develop a landing page on its website to make it easy to register to vote. Reformation is also donating all the proceeds from its limited edition “you’ve got the power” sweatshirt to Vote.org’s efforts.
In images shot by Zoey Grossman, Lewinsky shows off her modeling prowess in workwear staples like a relaxed blazer, a leather trench, and the aptly named “Monica” crossbody bag. And while Lewinsky isn’t your typical campaign model, Reformation’s chief creative officer Lauren Caris Cohan tells Glamour she was exactly who they were looking for to front this effort.
“We wanted to do something fresh that evoked an emotional response and helped propel people into motion,” she says. “Once I had the idea of working with Monica she was the only person we could imagine collaborating with. I had seen her TED Talk years ago and kept up with her work and writing—she really lives what it means to embrace your power.”
Cohan adds that the brand is putting its power behind voting initiatives because they recognize how crucial the 2024 election will be for so many reasons.
“People and [the] planet are two of our brand pillars and of course voting has major implications for both,” she says.
The campaign is just the latest step in Lewinsky’s public renaissance of the past few years, and the reclamation of her name and voice following years of public hiding following the Bill Clinton scandal. Now 50. Lewinsky says she feels “an empowered woman uses her voice.”
“Voting is always important, but the stakes are especially high this year with voter frustration and apathy threatening to meaningfully impact turnout,” Lewinsky tells Glamour in a statement. “I’m excited and grateful to be working with Reformation to remind people to register, use their voice and vote.”
Speaking to Elle for the launch, Lewinsky said that saying yes to an opportunity like playing fashion model is what her new decade is all about.
“I was apprehensive about turning 49, because 39 was a really shitty year for me, and I struggled to turn 40,” she said. “I ended up with a real gift: It was a year of acceptance. I was able to accept so much about myself and my life and where I am, and so that meant coming into 50 was great. I’m excited about this new decade and I’m hopeful—which, for someone with a lot of trauma, even saying that feels scary.”
Read the full article here


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Kansas has filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of Hobby Lobby Inc., an Oklahoma-based retail chain challenging the Affordable Care Act’s requirement that employers cover emergency contraceptives.
Hobby Lobby founder and CEO David Green, a Christian, has objected to the regulation based on his religious principles.
The Kansas Attorney General’s Office said the issue is not contraceptives but religious liberty. In a statement, Attorney General Derek Schmidt said the Constitution protects businesses that want to base policies on religious teachings.
“This is true whether it is the [plaintiffs in this case] operating their businesses based on their Christian principles, a Jewish-owned deli that does not sell non-kosher foods, or a Muslim-owned financial brokerage that will not lend money for interest,” Schmidt said in an e-mailed statement. “The idea is as American as apple pie.”
The House Committee on Federal and State Affairs is weighing a bill that would protect wedding-related businesses refusing service to same-sex couples from discrimination lawsuits if federal courts overturn the state’s gay marriage ban.
In his statement, Schmidt said states such as Kansas “have a substantial interest in protecting religious liberty as one of the central features of American self-governing society. Religious liberty is a foundational freedom.”


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These two colorways will be women’s exclusive colorways.
Arguably one of the most influential sneaker releases within the last decade, the adidas Ultraboost has gotten a new upgrade: the Ultra Boost 19.
In this newest iteration of the Ultraboost, more attention has been given into making the runner one of the best options out there. As a result, there has been a 20 percent increase in the amount of the Boost in the midsole along with adidas’ Torsion Spring Plate in place for more support.
Additionally, Primeknit remains on the upper with some modifications to make sure it is as comfortable as possible.
The adidas Ultra Boost 19 ‘Pink/Orchard’ and ‘Mint/Grey’ is set to release on April 1 for $180. They will be available at retailers such as Finish Line in women’s sizing.
What are your thoughts on the adidas Ultra Boost 19? Have you grabbed a pair and if so, what do you think so far? Tell us in the comment section below.


text: Good news for people who don’t have Xbox 360’s (and who doesn’t ?) and are planning on buying one this holiday season! Apparently the Core Xbox 360 is being phased out and a new SKU is being released, dubbed “Arcade.” Both Toys “R” Us and Amazon are pricing it at $279.99. It will include an hdmi port, wireless controller, 256 MB memory card, and 5 Xbox LIVE Arcade games. This will be an interesting holiday season, especially with the new PS3 SKU.


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MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) -- A story we have heard time and time again: scammers targeting people in the NBC15 News viewing area. The latest trend in scamming: pulling at our emotions.
As NBC15 first reported, scammers have been asking for “donations” for Domestic Abuse Intervention Services, or DAIS, a free organization. Now they are taking it a step farther.
“There's a lot of information out there about our identities,” says Tiffany Schultz, southwest Wisconsin regional director with the Better Business Bureau.
Schultz says scammers are smart: they know our birthdays, email addresses and phone numbers.
They are now are using that information and manipulating scams to keep up with current events, like fallout from Hurricane Dorian.
“A lot of pop up scam charities happen after a crisis,” says Lara Sutherlin, division administrator of Trade and Consumer Protection at the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. “They take advantage of peoples' heartstrings, pulling on their heartstrings and wanting to give money to people in need, and they use that in their advantage."
That means scammers could be targeting you, asking to help with relief from Hurricane Dorian.
Experts say make sure you are the one who starts the conversation, and verify the charity is real before donating.
“We always want to give with our heart, but we encourage you to also give with your head,” Schultz says.
Another scam in the NBC15 viewing area: deals that seem too good to be true, like offering quick building repairs that can be done right away.
“During this time of year, transient workers who come around during flooding and other natural disasters. They go into communities and they offer to help do blacktop of their driveways or re-roofing, things of that nature after a storm comes through,” Sutherlin says.
If all this seems familiar, it is likely because scams are ever-evolving and constantly targeting consumers.
“You do constantly need to be on the lookout,” Sutherlin says. “I don't want to generate a lot of paranoia, but being safe in the financial, technological economy requires attention to what you're doing."
If you think you may be a victim of a scam, report it right away.


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Most of us have dreamed of calling the hotel reception, ordering copious amounts of ice-cream, sweets, burgers and fries that would then be served on fine china by a dapper waiter – just like the young Macaulay Culkin's character, Kevin McCallister, gleefully running up huge bills on his parents' credit card doing the same in Home Alone 2.
But it seems the dream may remain just that as more hotels cut traditional in-room service and offer other options instead.
In June 2013, the New York's Hilton Midtown Hotel announced it was eliminating room service, resulting in the loss of 55 jobs, citing a "slow-down" in demand. It wasn't the first hotel to do so, but much was made of the announcement because the Hilton Midtown is the Big Apple's biggest hotel.
"Like most full-service hotels, New York Hilton Midtown has continued to see a decline in traditional room-service requests over the last several years," said a statement from the Hilton Midtown.
For many in the hotel industry it wasn't as surprise – room-service is not much of a money-maker because it's so labor intensive. Hotels lose money keeping kitchen and waiting staff on standby.
"I don't think anyone makes a profit on room service because of its labour costs," John Fox, senior vice president of PKF Consulting, told Crain's New York Business publication at the time.
Many new hotels don't offer the service at all, preferring to promote the atmosphere of their hotel restaurant instead, although other hotels are just reinventing the idea of room service with some going for non-food options.
For instance, the Langham in London has taken advantage of its literary reputation – Mark Twain and Oscar Wilde, among other famous author have stayed there – with a "book butler".
The book butler selects a book especially for guests, hand-delivering it and placing it on the bedside table as a gift with a leather bookmark and a note explaining the book choice, according to the website.
The Conrad Chicago offers a "sleep menu" for guests who have trouble getting 40 winks. The menu includes herbal elixirs, custom pillows, night caps and sleep sound machines to help guests drift off.
Meanwhile, other hotels arrange for guests to get food deliveries from outside restaurants and vendors as an alternative to room service, reports U.S. paper USA Today.
Guests staying at one of Affinia Hotel's boutique accommodations can order fresh, ready-to-make meals with items such as fruit, vegetables and fish through the online concierge service, while GoBites.com, a healthy snack delivery service is increasingly delivering to hotels, CEO Jim Gutt told USA Today.
Then there are those hotels offering a more luxurious and tailored form of in-room dining. Twin Farms in Vermont, USA, accommodates every food request from Kosher to vegan and most of the food is grown there or delivered by local organic farms straight to your room (with a pit-stop in the kitchen beforehand, of course).
Guests of Chicago's the Waldorf Astoria eating in-room have a proper dining table, where staff arrange flowers and serve food on fine china.
So while in some ways it may seem that room service is dying out, it could be that we are just reaching another stage in the evolution of services being offered by hotels and the options being offered are actually growing. And perhaps this means that we won't have to give up our Home Alone 2 dream after all.This is strictly an exclusive feature, reprints of this article in any shape or form without prior written approval from 4Hoteliers.com is not permitted.
Jennifer Collins is a reporter based in Berlin, Germany. She previously worked as a local journalist and arts and culture editor in her home town of Dublin, Ireland and now works with journalists around the world as part of the international journalism organisation, Associated Reporters Abroad. Jennifer enjoys travelling slowly, mainly by train, sampling local street food and people-watching from cafes in far-flung lands.


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During Snap’s recent earnings call, the social media powerhouse issued this rather disorienting statement. Granted, it could work. Snapchat has long prided itself on a less obvious UI, worn like a badge of honor by younger users over their less app-savvy predecessors..
Whether it will work, however, is beside the point.
More important is the fact that a major tech company specifically highlighted a product redesign as a way of refreshing its business. Now more than ever, design is taking center stage: to earnings, to user growth, to revenue. Any business worth its salt, even in the traditionally monotonous B2B space, should pay attention.
Design as Business Plan
Apple Inc. arguably started the design-centric business pivot. When the company first announced the iPhone in 2007, it was a civilizational milestone. The iPhone broke ground for pervasive computing. And today, we can’t imagine life without a flat, sleek smartphone in our hands.
Apple’s design risk ended up changing the world. While other design-centric maneuvers haven’t been as influential, the idea of using design to revolutionize a business is gaining traction. In Snap’s case, a redesign was the answer to a stagnant user base. Pinterest is another example. Its genesis was the mobile shopping app Tote. Designed to make online shopping easier and more fun, the app stumbled — and became the foundation for Pinterest, a social media platform with dynamic tiles-based viewing design. The visual social network is now valued at $12.3B.
Another household name, YouTube, had humble roots as a video dating site. Unsuccessful in its original intentions, YouTube decided to revamp its website and let its users define what it was to become—a top repository of user-uploaded videos.
Allowing design to rule the directional roost is a gamble that paid off for Pinterest, YouTube, Apple and maybe Snap. These cases prove that design, as much as sales, marketing and operational efficiencies, is becoming a strategic lever at the highest level.
Trickle-Down Design Prerogatives
When software products don’t live up to users’ expectations, better support or new pricing tiers won’t solve the problem. Everyday users have new alternatives to choose from. Global competition makes everything on the planet available to anyone with a credit card. It’s true in the consumer space, and increasingly visible in B2B as well.
Not long ago, B2B software was so limited in scope, and industry specific, that it could afford to be clinically boring. Think spreadsheets, balance sheets and other ledger-like interfaces.
By now, the story of software’s sudden eruption from its chrysalis of on-premise servers is a worn story: with the cloud came mobile, and big data, leading to the instant-gratification economy that we now dwell in daily.
Such software, which hinges on glacial enterprise adoption cycles, has been slower to evolve, but the change is here. It wouldn’t be surprising if, in some future earnings call, we hear of a CRM redesign to keep midsized business users from churning, or an accounting-software overhaul to appeal to Generation Z users.
While it is still uncertain if Snapchat‘s gamble to stay relevant will pay off, the company’s redesign announcement offers a hopeful future following in the design-led footsteps of Apple, Pinterest and YouTube. The takeaway: it is far from the last time we will witness a design or redesign as a key topic in an earnings call.
By Chris Belli, Strategic Marketing and Business Development, Studio Science


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Lexus has launched its innovative Hybrid Bicycle Concept in the UK.
The bike, first seen at last year's Tokyo motor show, is being used to promote the firm's sponsorship of the four-day Great British Bike Ride charity event from Land's End to Twickenham.
The firm's 'L-finesse' design language has inspired the design of the frame, which is made from carbonfibre. The rider powers the rear wheel, while the 240w electric motor and 25.9V lithium-ion battery power the front wheel.
The electric motor can be switched between Eco and Power modes; an energy recuperation system helps recover energy lost under braking. The bike also uses an eight-speed Shimano internal gear system, which references the eight-speed shift-by-wire system found in the LS600h.
Just two of the concept bicycles have been made - there are currently no plans to put it into production.


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Retail casualties of the coronavirus pandemic
As the lockdowns strengthen amid the COVID-19 pandemic, several huge brands have had to close their doors and lay off thousands of workers.
Flight Centre has reported a staggering loss as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic continues to paint a bleak outlook for the global travel industry.
The embattled Queensland-based travel group has posted an eye-watering loss of $849 million for the 2020 financial year, with the entirety of the financial woes a direct result from coronavirus pandemic restrictions in March through to June.
The loss is a complete contrast to the company’s 2019 financial performance that booked a profit of $349.5 million.
Flight Centre said forecasts of a recovery in the current financial year remain uncertain while government restrictions remain in place for international and domestic tourism.
The company noted its corporate travel business was better placed to recover than its retail leisure business, as it has a greater reliance on domestic and regional travel. Its leisure business is heavily weighted to overseas flights and travel packages.
Flight Centre managing director Graham Turner said the coronavirus pandemic had created the most challenging operating environment in the company’s 40-year history.
“Until the past four or five months, we had not seen – and could not have imagined – a scenario in which virtually all flights and travel plans globally would effectively be grounded for an extended period,” he said.
“This extraordinary trading environment has already had a devastating impact on businesses and on people, particularly those in the aviation, travel, tourism and hospitality sectors, with tens of thousands of jobs lost in Australia alone and many businesses struggling to survive.”
Flight Centre has obtained $1.1 billion in additional liquidity to ride out the financial storm sparked by the virus. The additional funds are mostly from a $700 million sharemarket capital raising and an increase in its debt facility of $200 million.
“Travel is starting to gradually recover in locations like North America, Europe and South Africa, where domestic borders are now open, although we are also seeing heightened restrictions in Australia and New Zealand, after earlier relaxations,” Mr Turner said.


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Meet Luxco’s New Brands
Luxco’s recent merger with MGP Ingredients, Inc., has brought with it some exciting changes for our two companies!
As MGP’s new Branded Spirits division, Luxco® will continue to manage and share news about its own spirits brands, while also welcoming MGP’s brand families of George Remus®, Rossville Union®, Green Hat®, Till®, Eight & Sand and Tanner’s Creek into the fold. The resulting spirits portfolio includes well-known, award-winning brands produced from five distilleries: Bardstown, Kentucky-based Lux Row Distillers™; Lebanon, Kentucky-based Limestone Branch Distillery™; Jalisco, Mexico-based Destiladora González Lux; MGP’s historic distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana; Atchison, Kansas-based MGP Distillery; and the Washington, D.C.-based Green Hat Distillery.
“In future issues of our newsletter, you are likely to see stories featuring new brands and new faces,” said Fletcher Buchman, Branded Spirits Marketing Director for Luxco. “We are excited to share all of our news with employees and customers alike as we move forward as a united team.”
With these new brand additions, the branded spirits portfolio just got stronger, and we look forward to sharing more exciting news from these brands in the future.


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Blizzard Entertainment, Inc has announced that less than a month after introducing the popular MMORPG World of Warcraft in China subscriptions have surpassed 1.5 million players. Now one of the largest MMORPGs in the world, the game has more than 3.5 million global players.
Blizzard has teamed with The9, a MMO operator who has dedicated a team inside China, composed of native Chinese management and employees. In addition to translating the game into Chinese, the game has been modified by localizing game content. To help with the transition into another language and culture, The9 works directly with Blizzard developers in translating the feedback of the new players, and hosts a 24 hour customer service call center.
The 1.5 million Chinese customers now join the 2 million players currently in North America. Blizzard plans to continue expanding its game, with a launch schedule in Taiwan, and other parts of China.
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New Model Launched for Access to CDC Pulse Varieties
Pulse licensing system gives Alberta growers access to CDC new varieties, but will raise seed costs for farmers.
In early 2016, the Alberta Pulse Growers pulled its research funding from the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre (CDC). Since then, members of the Alberta Seed Growers (ASG) have been concerned about access to new varieties of pulses, as there was only a limited amount of seed released to Alberta each year.
“When the research funding was pulled, many seed growers were left at a disadvantage for access to new varieties,” notes ASG national board member Ron Markert.
Things have changed, and the seed growers in Alberta have formal access to CDC varieties once again. Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) has licensed the distribution rights for select CDC pulse varieties in provinces outside of Saskatchewan to SeCan and SeedNet for a 10-year period.
“This is a significant development for Alberta seed growers and farmers,” says Markert.
Here are the basic implications of the deal, which takes effect for the 2018 growing season.
It involves a royalty system and seed growers must be members of SeedNet or SeCan to access the seed.
By licensing the distribution of select varieties for sale in provinces outside of Saskatchewan, SPG is ensuring that growers in other provinces also pay for access to CDC varieties through a seed-royalty system. Licensing the distribution rights will not impact Saskatchewan growers’ ability to access these varieties royalty-free.
For seed growers outside Saskatchewan that are interested in accessing the varieties that have been licensed for distribution outside Saskatchewan, they can contact SeCan and SeedNet for more information.
Seed growers who are not a part of SeCan and SeedNet and have not previously purchased seed of the licensed varieties may contact each company regarding the potential to join and have the opportunity to access these varieties.
Seed growers in Saskatchewan are not permitted to sell seed of CDC-developed varieties to seed growers or commercial producers outside of Saskatchewan without an agreement in place with either SeCan or SeedNet.
“There was a lot of uncertainty on how these products would be handled, and having this settled now with a full list of products has been well received by all SeCan members,” says Todd Hyra, western business manager for SeCan.
With the added royalty, farmers will pay more for certified seed.
“Saskatchewan pulse producers contribute significant upfront funding towards the development of CDC varieties,” says Carl Potts, executive director of SPG. “These contributions are made through SPG’s investment of pulse levy towards the CDC pulse breeding program. In exchange for this investment, SPG ensures that Saskatchewan growers are provided with royalty-free access to CDC developed varieties.”
“The new arrangement will result in higher seed cost for farmers in Alberta,” notes Elizabeth Tokariuk, general manager for SeedNet. “The arrangement represents one of the first value capture models being enacted via the royalty system.”
Seed growers may need to overcome price objections due to the royalty fee that will need to be built into the seed cost. Tokariuk says SeedNet is actively working with members to help them tackle potential challenges that arise from this.
“I think farmers recognize the value of CDC varieties and that quality is worth paying for,” she says.
“It’s a shift. In Saskatchewan, a portion of the checkoff has been used to pay for the breeding. In Manitoba and Alberta there hasn’t been that consistent model. This provides a consistent way to flow back dollars from sales of the product and users of the product back to the breeding program. Obviously, no one likes paying more, but they recognize the value that CDC pulse varieties have been able to deliver over the years.”
For more information on the varieties licensed to SeCan and SeedNet, visit http://saskpulse.com/growing/varieties.


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Progressive Materials Plans Floyd County Expansion
Progressive Materials, a silicone roofing systems manufacturer, announced plans today to expand its operations in southeast Indiana, building a new, state-of-the-art headquarters in New Albany and creating up to 25 new jobs by 2023.
"With the highest concentration of manufacturing jobs in the U.S., Indiana has established a strong reputation for making products that are used around the world," said Elaine Bedel, president of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC). "Because of the state's low-cost, tax-friendly business climate and skilled workforce, small businesses like Progressive Materials have the confidence to expand and create good jobs for Hoosiers."
The company, which is one of the largest silicone coatings manufacturers in the U.S., will invest $13.4 million to expand its New Albany-based headquarters after outgrowing its current facility at 540 Central Court. Progressive Materials will construct and equip an approximately 100,000-square-foot corporate campus at the New Albany North Industrial Park off Hausfeldt Lane with plans to be operational in the new space by December 2019. The complex will be home to Progressive Materials' manufacturing operations, warehouse space, distribution center, sales and marketing offices and quality control laboratories. With this expansion, the company plans to enhance its customer base and complement its rapid sales growth, which surpassed $32 million in 2017 alone.
Progressive Materials, which currently has 16 full-time employees in New Albany, will begin hiring in 2019 for electrical and operator technicians, silicone-specialized chemists and administrative associates. New positions are expected to offer salaries above the county and state average wage. Interested applicants may apply online.


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In my last post here, I mentioned something called Dorothy, Princess of Oz, an animated television series that's been in the works at Warner Bros. for a couple of years now that's expected to debut sometime this year. Well, we now have our first official (albeit brief) look at the show thanks to a video that surfaced online yesterday showcasing Boomerang's lineup for the year for European, Middle Eastern, and African markets. (Regular Capital, a Cartoon Network fan site, was the first to pick up on this.)
The show, produced by Warner Bros. Animation for Cartoon Network, has had a couple of different titles associated with it, but it looks like they've settled on simply Dorothy of Oz, which certainly has a better ring to it than Dorothy, Princess of Oz or Dorothy and the Wonders of Oz. We still don't have official word on exactly when or where the show will air, but it's exciting to know that it is happening, especially because I feel like Warner Bros. hasn't done enough with Oz in recent years (which I wrote about here).
I'll definitely continue to keep an eye out for this, and I'm curious to know what everyone thinks based on the little we know and have seen from the show. Check out the video below, and feel free to leave your first impressions of Dorothy of Oz in the comments!
Update: The video discussed above has been removed, but since then, Turner and Warner Bros. have announced the launch of a new streaming service that will be the exclusive home to the series, which is being billed in the trades not as Dorothy of Oz or Dorothy, Princess of Oz but as Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz, a title that definitely aligns better with Turner's existing Wizard of Oz "brand." I'm personally disappointed that the show will be exclusive to a relatively small-scale streaming service rather than airing on TV, especially because I'm not thrilled about the idea of paying $5 every month just to watch this show, but we'll see. You can read more about it here, and you can sign up to be notified when the service launches (sometime in the spring) here.


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Monday, 19 January 2015
Bangladeshi authorities ordered the suspension of three more mobile apps services on Monday after requests by law enforcement agencies, officials said.
The Telecommunication Regulatory Commission told the mobile phone operators and other internet service providers to suspend voice and text message services through WhatsApp, Line and mypeople.
“The services will remain suspended until further notice,” commission secretary Sarwar Alam said.
Regulators are also watching other online services, he said.
On Sunday, the government blocked services through mobile apps Viber and Tango over security concerns.
The voice and messaging services were reportedly used by vandals earlier this month to coordinate criminal activity without being traced by police.
The move came after more than 20 people were killed following a call by opposition leader Khaleda Zia for a nationwide transport blockade.
Zia, who has been seeking a fresh election under a non-partisan caretaker administration, called the strike after she was prevented from joining a rally on the first anniversary of the election that she boycotted.
Police on Monday withdrew a security cordon from in front of her private office in Dhaka to apparently allow her to move freely.
Zia has been saying at her office since January 3, which she called a confinement.
Sunday, 18 January 2015
As it has turned out to be, mobile phone users will have to pay Rs. 10 per CNIC for re-verification of SIMs of each operator, we have checked with sources.
As you may know that SIM re-verification exercise is about to begin in a day or two at most and telecom operators are given 90 days for re-verification of 103 million SIMs.
While finalized SOPs from Pakistan Telecommunication Authority are scheduled to be issued today evening, we have confirmed with sources that end users will have to bear a verification fee of Rs. 10 per CNIC per transaction.
For example if a customer goes to Service Centre, Franchise or a retailer of one company and re-verifies his/her all SIMs for this particular company than he will have to pay Rs.10 per this operator.
Similarly, if he goes to another operator for SIM re-verification, then he will have to give another Rs. 10 for re-verification of all SIMs of this second operator, and so on.
If a customer goes to Service Centre, Franchise or a retailer of one company and re-verifies his/her all SIMs for this particular company than he will have to pay Rs. 10 per this operator
Telecom operators say that this Rs. 10 per transaction is processing fee that will be given to retailers as an incentive. They say that there is no other way to keep retailers engaged with re-verification process as otherwise they might simply refuse to re-verify customers due to the hassle involved in the process.
Microsoft Devices Pakistan recently collaborated with Nestle Pakistan, according to which Nestle chose the Windows Phone platform to provide support to their field force teams. Nestle explored different platforms that provide field force solutions and integration with backend systems and selected Lumia 630, after stringent deliberations.
The Windows Phone platform will provide integration to Nestle’s sales teams with backend systems such as ordering, inventory management and security solutions. The WP platform was finalized after it met Nestle’s expectations and performed seamless and faster application syncing versus other platforms. Moreover, Windows Phone OS provided a remarkable user experience and emerged as a clear winner against its competitors.
Commenting at the induction of Microsoft Lumia smartphones, James Rutherfoord, Vice President, Microsoft Devices North Africa, Levant and Near East said:
Microsoft Lumia smartphones offer a unique user experience and seamlessly integrate with various business applications, making them perfect for business. Therefore, the Windows Phone platform is the best choice for corporations looking to gain a business edge in their respective industries and providing outstanding business support to their teams. I further laud Telenor Pakistan for their support to this collaboration between Microsoft Devices and Nestle Pakistan.
According to the agreement, Microsoft Lumia will provide 3,500 Lumia 630 smartphones to Nestle Pakistan, which will be supported by Telenor Pakistan as the telecom partner.


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The company’s fourth quarter and full year earnings results for 2018 highlight the retailer’s strongest performance since 2005, with comparable sales up five percent. While store sales comps were up 3.2 percent, comparable digital sales were up 36 percent for the year. Foot traffic in the fourth quarter was up 4.5 percent, with stores fulfilling nearly three quarters of Target’s digital sales. Following a big investment in expanding its selection of toys, games, and baby gear in the wake of the Toys “R” Us closure in the U.S., those efforts have paid off — though not on the bottom line.
“The primary driver of this upside was toys, and toys and baby — where we captured greater market share than we had planned,” says Cathy Smith, outgoing Target CFO. “This out-sized growth in toys and baby created unexpected mix pressure on our gross margin rate, causing it to be lower than our initial expectations.”
Gross margin for the year checked in at 28.4 percent versus 28.8 percent last year, while Q4 reflected a 25.7 percent gross margin, compared to 26.1 percent the year before.
Overall takeaways from Target’s nearly two-hour call should be basic retail fundamentals that echo what many in the toy industry have been saying for years — the most important things are investments in stores, technology, and people. If you provide a great experience and can react quickly to change, the shoppers will come.
For more on Target’s 2019 outlook on toys, see The Toy Book‘s State of the Toy Industry Q&A with Kelly Caruso, senior vice president, hardlines merchandising.