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Multi-platform distributor Cinedigm announced on Monday that it has hired Jeffrey Edell as CFO. He will also serve on the management committee for the company, which is one of the world’s largest aggregator of digital film and television content.
Prior to Edell’s appointment at Cinedigm he was CEO of Edell Ventures, a company he founded in 2009 to invest in innovators in the social media and entertainment arenas. Last year, the company produced a series of gaming apps titled Superhero Ball Wars for comic icon Stan Lee.
Before founding Edell Ventures, he was CEO of Inferno Entertainment, a film production and foreign sales company that produced and/or distributed such features as The Kids Are All Right and The Grey.
Cinedigm distributes content from Docurama Films and Flatiron Film Company, festival picks through its partnerships with the Sundance Institute and Tribeca Films, and a wide range of content from suppliers like National Geographic, Discovery, WWE, and the Jim Henson Company. The company has direct relationships with digital platforms at Wal-Mart, Target, iTunes, Netflix, and Amazon.
Also on Monday RLJ Entertainment (RLJE) announced that it has appointed former Cinedigm VP of digital sales Mike Pears to the newly-created position of EVP of content sales, overseeing the company’s non-physical wholesale business, including digital, VOD and television. Pears had been with Cinedigm for 7 years.
RLJE is independent owner, developer, licensee and distributor of entertainment content primarily in North America, the U.K. and Australia, with over 5,300 titles. The company runs platforms like Acorn, a digital distributor of British television.


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An Apple patent published by the USPTO on Aug. 7 revealed extensive details about how Siri could work on a Mac desktop, which would assist users with writing and sending emails, and editing, organizing, and searching through documents.
But what’s interesting about the Siri patent, as Patently Apple points out, is that it calls for a “touch-sensitive” desktop, which could mean Apple plans to release a Mac with a touchscreen at some point in the future.
The patent application describes how “the user manipulates the user interface objects, optionally, by providing various touch-based inputs (e.g., a tap gesture, swipe gestures, and various other single or multitouch gestures) on a touch sensitive display screen.”
So how would that work in practice? The patent describes how a desktop user would draw two full circles on the screen to call up Siri, “because if the user changes their mind during the drawing of the first circle, then the user is able to easily abandon the call for Siri by simply lifting their finger,” according to Patently Apple.
The concept of a touchscreen Mac isn’t necessarily new, even though Apple executives say its touchscreen-based mobile operating system, iOS, will never join its desktop operating system, OS X. In August 2010, a European patent filed by Apple in 2009 described a computer that could transition between a mouse-based interface and “a low-resolution input mode, such as a touch-based interface,” which is accomplished “based on the detected change of orientation.”
This would mean, however, that Apple would need to build a touchscreen Mac, which is something the company has never done before; its largest touchscreen device is the 9.7-inch iPad Air. However, the new patent says users can also perform these Siri gestures on one of Apple’s “Magic Trackpads,” which could allow Siri to launch on the Mac before Apple releases a touchscreen desktop.
The patent also says, “In some embodiments, the touch-sensitive surface is provided through other peripheral devices such as a touch-sensitive surface on the backside of a touch-sensitive pointing device such as a touch-sensitive mouse,” meaning Apple’s Magic Mouse could also likely handle these gestures.
Whether or not Apple plans to actually release a touchscreen Mac anytime soon is anyone’s guess. But adding Siri to OS X could make Apple’s 14-year-old desktop platform much more powerful. According to the latest Apple patent, OS X users could use Siri to perform background searches for things like images and information while they stay engaged in their current application. For example, the patent shows a user writing a research paper about global warming and asking Siri to find a good picture of a “globe” to drop into the document.
Read more about Apple’s potential plans for Siri and its touchscreen Macs over at Patently Apple.

domain: news


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Samsung has trademarked a new material called ‘Metal 12’ which will make its devices lighter while still maintaining strength.
The new material – which was used on the new Notebook 9 2018 – offers strength while allowing the devices to be lighter than previously.
Samsung says this is made possible through a Micro Arc Oxidation process that gives the surface an oxide coating – a process that was used on the beautifully-designed HTC One S from years ago.
That’s something that would be a big win in both smartphones and smartwatches – and interestingly both are listed in the trademark application.
In fact, everything from ‘3D Active Glasses&…
TechRadar – Latest computing news


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Apple’s self-service repair store will start selling MacBook parts on Aug. 23.
Replacement components will only cover 2020 and 2021 MacBook Air and Pro models with M1 MacBooks Arm CPUs. The company hasn’t revealed component prices yet.
More From Us:Twitter Thread Improvements
Apple said it will offer “more than a dozen repair types for each model, including the display, top case with battery, and trackpad” Customers can rent a $49 repair kit with all the essential tools.
Customers can send Apple replacement parts for refurbishment and recycling, and in many situations receive compensation (Opens in a new window).
The US self-service store opened in April to restore faulty iPhones. Later this year, the company aims to extend to Europe and supply M1 MacBooks replacement parts.
On paper, the self-service store looks to support right-to-repair. Apple’s repair prices for iPhones and M1 MacBooks are expensive. Self-service store isn’t for casual shoppers. Apple says it’s for skilled electronics repairers. You’ll need to use heavy, complicated tools (Opens in a new window). iPhone batteries cost $70 and displays cost $270.
Customers can order by visiting Apple’s online self-service repair store or support page. Otherwise, buyers should contact Apple’s authorised repair services.
“For the vast majority of customers who do not have experience repairing electronic devices, visiting a professional repair provider with certified technicians who use genuine Apple parts is the safest and most reliable way to get a repair,” Cupertino said.


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Thank goodness they’ve dropped the Motoroi name for the UK release! The formerly Korean-only smartphone has been rumoured to be coming to the UK for a while, and Motorola have finally made it official along with the change of branding. The phone is now known as the XT720 Milestone, but it’s not clear if it’s a replacement to the original Milestone or another in the series – much like its Droid namesake in the USA.
The XT720 has a 3.7″, 480×854 pixel capacitive touchscreen and will run Google Android 2.1, however Motorola have not yet revealed the speed of the Qualcomm processor inside, so it cannot be confirmed if the Motoroi’s 600MHz item has indeed been replaced by a 1GHz Snapdragon chip. The phone is a 3G device with HSDPA and HSUPA, plus Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth v2.0.
The camera has 8 megapixels, with autofocus, digital zoom and a xenon flash, plus it can shoot 720p video and the phone has an HDMI-out. There is a microSD card slot, a 3.5mm headphone socket and all the usual Google applications and tools associated with the OS.
The unusual design has really grown on us since we first say the XY720, plus the camera spec is really impressive for an Android phone, especially with a xenon flash and 720p video. The phone should be out during the summer.


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Ford Motor Co. said an Italian news report misrepresented the auto maker's drive to reduce its debt and return to investment grade.
According to Italian business daily Il Sole 24 Ore, Ford Chief Executive Alan Mulally, in an interview published on Saturday, said he expects the U.S. car maker to pay off its debt in 2011 as he works to keep Ford an efficient and profitable player in the competitive industry.
But the company Saturday afternoon said that report was incorrect. Mr. Mulally "said we would be net debt positive in 2011 as we have said previously," company spokeswoman Karen Hampton wrote in an email. That would mean that the company would have more net cash than automotive debt, but still have significant debt.
After the second quarter, Ford had $5.4 billion more debt that cash. By the end of 2011, Ford has said that the auto maker expects to have more cash than debt, which means going from net debt to a net cash position.
According to the interview published by Il Sole 24 Ore, Mr. Mulally said, "We plan to get rid of the net debt in 2011. We will already be firmly profitable this year with a positive cash flow in the auto business."
"In 2011 we will do even better," Mr. Mulally said in the interview, adding that Ford is ahead of its plans to qualify for an investment-grade rating.
Mr. Mulally also said he isn't interested in pushing to increase market share in Europe for the sake of it. "In Europe ... some competitors do it because they have a surplus of production capacity, but they will not be able to do it for long," he said.
In the first eight months of the year, Ford had a market share of 8.3% in Europe, the fifth-largest among auto makers, according to the latest industry figures.
Although Ford doesn't suffer from overcapacity in the region, it will keep restructuring its activities in order to remain profitable, Mr. Mulally said.
Asked about the possibility of the demand for cars in the U.S. returning to precrisis levels, he said he expects it to arrive to at least 16 million to 17 million units sold.
"In the future ... demand will continue to grow at a rate of 3%-5%," Mr. Mulally said. "Even in this period in which growth seems slow, the world market will expand at a rate of 5% to 10%."
Write to M atthew Dolan at firstname.lastname@example.org


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The latest spy video from the Nürburgring shows what the next generation Audi RS5 coupe will look like, and more importantly, sound like. Rumours that Audi is dispensing with V8 power for the next RS5 and RS4 appear to be borne out by the soundtrack.
While the new A5 and S5 models have only recently been launched by Audi, the company has also said it is looking to introduce RS models earlier in the production cycle than it used to. This suggests the RS5 might see the light of day late in 2017 or early 2018.
The last RS5 had Audi’s 450PS V8 engine. Expect the new model to match that power output, and add higher torque from lower down in the rev range thanks to the all-new V6 turbo. Power-to-weight ratio and acceleration should also be improved thanks to the lighter MLB platform of the new RS5.
With the new TT-RS Coupe already boasting a 3.7 second 0-62 mph time, can we expect the new RS5 Coupe to also deliver a sub 4 second performance? For now we will have to wait to see…


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Divvy, the Utah based payment and expense management platform has bagged a Series C financing worth $200 million which was led by NEA and saw participation from existing backers, Pelion Venture Partners, and Insight Venture Partners. Notably, the company had just picked up $250 million debt financing which was led by Waterfall Asset Management. The current round takes the total amount raised by Divvy over $400 million. The other backers who have pumped up funding in the firm include Peak Ventures, Aaron Skonnard, Josh James and others.
Divvy was launched in 2016 by Alex Bean and Blake Murray as a platform which will help an individual have a track of their spends and provide the reports on the same, removing all the hassle of keeping track of such things manually. Through the platform, Divvy also offers options to businesses where they can manage payment, subscriptions, build budgets and other payment and expense related reports.
Scott Sandell, Managing General Partner of NEA who is joining the board of Divvy as part of the investment commenting on the funding said, “We are thrilled to support Divvy in their mission to modernize the way businesses handle money. In only a year in a half, Divvy has established itself as one of the fastest growing fintech companies we’ve ever seen. The company’s unprecedented growth is a testament to both the team and the compelling product they have built, which is alleviating a major pain point experienced by all businesses.”
The company said that the fresh capital infusion indicates the success of the company and it also gives them the opportunity to work towards the ambitious vision of modernizing financial processes through a single smart platform.
Image Courtesy : getdivvy


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Oil climbed for a fifth day in New York, the longest streak of gains in a month, on signs of a strengthening U.S. economy and speculation that higher Saudi Arabian crude output indicates increasing demand for fuel.
Futures gained as much as 0.5 percent after closing at a three-month high on Aug. 17 as a report showed U.S. consumer confidence unexpectedly improved. Home sales and orders for durable goods probably climbed in July, economists said before figures this week. Saudi Arabia pumped crude at the highest level in more than three decades in June and monthly exports were the most since November 2005, according to the Joint Organization Data Initiative.
“Oil has been aided by the pickup in consumer confidence in the U.S.,


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In the latest round of its ongoing legal clash with Apple, Samsung has lost a bid to keep sales data for some of its handsets secret from its rival.
US District Judge Lucy Koh blocked the Korean vendor’s request to keep the sales figures sealed while it appeals an earlier order, reports Bloomberg.
The same judge ruled on 10 December that Samsung must list in an exhibit the total unit sales of a number of handsets sold during certain time periods. The Korean vendor was seeking to delay the implementation of this order until its appeal is heard by the US Federal Circuit court.
Judge Koh wrote that Samsung’s appeal involved pricing information and profit margins while the exhibit at issue “only lists the number of units sold in each of several recent months”.
The judge also issued another order supporting Samsung’s request to hold back the publication of part of a document that showed per-unit operating profit for two Samsung handsets, pending its appeal.
Separately, Apple has agreed to withdraw claims against a specific Samsung smartphone after the Korean vendor said it was not planning to sell it in the US.
Apple had asked to add the Galaxy S III Mini and a number of other Samsung handsets, including several tablets, to its ongoing legal battle against its rival. Samsung responded by pointing out the Galaxy S III Mini was not being launched in the US and so should be excluded from any legal action.
Last summer Apple won US$1.05 billion in damages against Samsung. But the US company failed in its bid to ban some of the Korean vendor’s smartphones and tablets from sale in the US.


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Volkswagen has released a statement on the new price of its new Golf midsize sedan, saying the premium has been “adjusted” and “will increase by 10%” as part of the company’s efforts to bring the car to market in 2019.
The statement said the change will apply to new and used Golfs sold in 2019, and that the price will increase by 5%.
Volkswagen has been selling its new cars at an “exorbitant” price for the last year, with many consumers unable to afford the premium, as the automaker’s cars have often been priced higher than the new-for-2017 cars.
This is the first time the automaking giant has revealed its latest price on the car.
Volkswagen said that the change applies to the new and the used versions of the Golf, and is a “solution” to the car’s “low profit margin”.
Volkswagen said that its price “will change for 2019.”
Volkwagen’s statement: Volkswagen’s new Golf car will be available for a 10% increase.
The company has been working hard to bring this car to customers in 2019 and will continue to work with the government to ensure that the car meets its customers needs.
The change to the price of this car is a solution to the low profit margin Volkswagen has had over the last years.
The Golf’s cost has been increased because of the increase in the car cost.
The price of the car will change for the 2019 model year.
Volkswagen’s statement continues: The price change applies only to the current and used models of the 2017 model year of the Volkswagen Golf.
It does not affect any other model of the 2018 model year or any other 2019 model.
Volkswagen has also clarified its pricing plans for 2019.
Volvo has said it will charge a $1,000 premium for the new model.
This includes the cost of the interior, the price for an 18-inch touchscreen and a $750 option for a second front seat in the new car.
In 2018, Volkswagen said it would offer a $2,500 premium for new customers who buy the new Golf and an additional $500 premium if they purchase an older model, which is now being offered for the 2018 Golf.
The 2018 Golf will go on sale in the US in January 2019.


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What: Music Streaming Service Deezer has raised 100 Million Euro, aproximately US $110 million, led by Access Industries that will allow the firm to expand its catalogue to 40 million songs. The new funding’s main objective is to accelerate Customer Acquisition Growth, Product Innovation and New Radio Content.
Why it matters: The substantial funding round, led by Access Industries and with participation from Orange, reflects investor interest in the expanding Internet radio/music streaming service sector.
Deezer, the global on-demand music streaming service in more than 180 countries, has announced that it has secured €100 million led by Access Industries, with participation from Orange. In addition to new funding to drive growth, Deezer has expanded its catalogue to over 40 million songs, now the largest music catalogue available globally.
The financing will be used to increase customer acquisition efforts around the world, accelerate the introduction of new products, features and growth initiatives to serve the company’s mission to create a more valuable product offering and build more programmed experiences for music fans and audio enthusiasts.
Over the past several months, Deezer has doubled its talk offering to more than 40,000 radio shows, audiobooks and podcasts across several markets, introduced premium sports and live football content, re-designed its iOS and Android apps and expanded its automotive offerings. Deezer has also established and expanded partnerships with BMW, BandPage, Sonos, Three and others.
CHECK OUT: Why agencies are paying attention to Hispanic internet radio
“We’re in the early stages of the music streaming market and it’s quickly becoming the primary distribution channel for music,” said Hans-Holger Albrecht, Chief Executive Officer, Deezer. “The additional funding will allow Deezer to consolidate our position as a leading global, independent audio streaming service and expand our offering to music lovers around the world.”
“The explosion of music streaming creates a unique opportunity to build a truly personalized service for listeners. Deezer is at the leading edge of this change with a differentiated offering that emphasizes unique localized experiences,” said Guillaume d’Hauteville, Vice Chairman of Access Industries. “We are proud to continue to support the innovative Deezer team.”
“Consumers everywhere are listening to music on their mobile phones, and this represents a massive opportunity for engagement and increased usage. Capitalizing on this shift, Deezer has built a high-quality service, constantly improving its user experience with new services: personalized radio, high-definition audio, lyrics and now the largest music catalogue in the world,” said Pierre Louette, Chief Executive Officer Delegate, Orange. “We’re thrilled to be investing in the music streaming market as we have always been convinced it was a tremendous opportunity to drive innovation on a global basis.”


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Don’t trip. Kendrick Lamar’s highly-anticipated Nike Cortez collaboration is set to arrive on Grammy night.
Nike has announced that the “Cortez Kenny I” will drop Jan. 28 at 7:30 p.m. EST for $100 via the SNKRS app. A preview of the red, black, and white shoes show “DAMN” on the tongue, but not much else.
The kicks land on Music’s Biggest Night, where K-Dot is up for seven gramophones, including Album of the Year (DAMN.) and Record of the Year (“HUMBLE.”).
Formerly endorsed by Reebok, King Kendrick made his Nike deal public in August. “Cortez,” read his social media post. “Since day one.”
Earlier this month, K-Dot revealed a special edition of the Cortez sneaker that read “Don’t Trip” down the center of the laces. These appear to be different from the preview.


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A Resident Evil 4 VR remake announced on Oculus Quest 2
Capcom has announced Resident Evil 4’s VR remake for Oculus Quest 2 headset. Capcom, Oculus, and Armature have partnered for this game. We still don’t have many details but the company has released early footage to demonstrate how this game will be.
This will not be the first VR game of the Resident Evil series. Resident Evil 7 could be played with a PlayStation VR headset. This was a scarier experience but playing the game was a bit more difficult. This time, it will be the first game that has been specifically designed for VR.
Oculus and Facebook Reality Labs will offer more details about this VR game on April 21st at Oculus Gaming Showcase. The event will be streamed live on Twitch, Facebook, and YouTube. Cloudhead Games, Ready At Dawn and ILMxLAB are confirmed to be showcasing updates for their game.
Oculus Quest 2 was released back in September 2020 and it an all-in-one VR headset. That means, it doesn’t require a separate PC or mobile device.


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Apple on Tuesday revealed its updated iMac computers and three new accessories: the Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad 2, and Magic Mouse 2.
The keyboard and trackpad received the biggest updates, at least aesthetically, while the mouse looks and functions the same as its predecessor.
Apple (AAPL) claims typing on the new Magic Keyboard is now smoother, thanks to a redesigned scissor mechanism sitting below each key.
Force Touch, a feature Apple has slowly introduced to many of its flagship products throughout the last year, is now integrated into the Magic Trackpad 2. Various functions, such as previewing a web link, can now be accomplished using Force Touch by applying pressure to the trackpad. The touch-sensitive technology is also found in the Apple Watch and Macbook, while it goes by a different name, 3D Touch, with the iPhone 6S.
Looks and performance improvements aside, the most intriguing aspect about the announcement is that all three accessories can be recharged using Apple’s proprietary Lightning cable.
Apple claims each device will last roughly one month before needing a recharge. A full charge takes two hours, while you can squeeze nine hours of use out of just two minutes of charge time when in a pinch.
Apple first introduced its proprietary Lightning connector with the announcement of the iPhone 5, frustrating longstanding iOS users who had stockpiled the company’s larger, slower 30-pin cables. Since then, Apple’s entire iOS line has transitioned to the small 8-pin connector.
More recently, we’ve seen Apple continue to expand the use of its Lightning adapter outside of its iOS products. The upcoming Apple TV remote, Apple Pencil, and Beats Pill+ Bluetooth speaker all are charged using Apple’s Lightning technology.
The ability to charge everything using one cable is a technology utopia we’ve all dreamed of, and Apple is slowly building it. Instead of forcing its customers to manage different cables for its various products, Apple is making it easy. Simply use the same cable that charges your iPhone to charge your Apple TV remote, iPad, keyboard, or wireless speaker.
Apple’s push to power its products with its own technology comes shortly after Google and Microsoft announced that their new flagship smartphones (the Nexus and Lumia) won’t include a microUSB connection. Instead the devices will come equipped with the new USB Type-C standard, which will force users to buy new cables.
Another reason for the change is by using the Lightning cable, Apple can do more than just charge the device. Initial pairing of the new keyboard, mouse, or trackpad with a Mac isn’t done through a clunky Bluetooth menu. Instead, users plug the accessory into the Mac using the included Lightning cable and a few seconds later setup is complete. Additionally, users who already have the new accessories are reporting they continue to work when Bluetooth is turned off and they’re plugged into a Mac.
The impact on the environment is also another aspect Apple likes to play up, but I’m more excited about not having to hunt down AA batteries just to finish an email because my keyboard batteries died.
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For more on Apple, check out the following Fortune video:


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Congratulations to Malcom, Nancy and Michael Gray on the grand opening of their new wine tasting room and production facility in San Marcos!
Twin Oaks Valley Winery recently celebrated their grand opening weekend in March with over 200 guests on Saturday alone! This was a family affair with several family members on board for the weekend’s festivities which include live music and food both days.
Yet another fine winery in San Diego’s North County pouring several year’s releases of many different varietals and blends. You can find them Fridays through Sundays at 1575 Mulberry Drive in San Marcos.


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The Associated Press
A handful of companies including McDonald's, UPS and AT&T reported a drop in earnings for the second quarter on Thursday, despite having fared better than analysts predicted. The New York Times Co. unexpectedly posted a rise in profit.
READ MORE: AT&T press release
The weak economy also continued to sap its landline business.
The country's largest telecommunications provider said Thursday it earned $3.20 billion, or 54 cents a share, in the April to June period. That was down from $3.77 billion, or 63 cents a share, a year earlier.
Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters were expecting earnings of 51 cents a share.
AT&T's revenue fell 0.6% to $30.7 billion, matching analyst expectations.
AT&T activated more than 2.4 million iPhones in the quarter, and more than a third of those activations for customers who were new to the carrier.
McDonald's (MCD) says its second-quarter profit dipped 8%, falling to $1.09 billion, or 98 cents a share, from $1.19 billion, or $1.04 a share in last year's quarter.
READ MORE: McDonald's press release
Analysts expected profit of 97 cents a share.
Revenue fell 7% to $5.65 billion because of the effect of translating foreign currency into dollars.
Same-store sales rose 4.8% globally and 3.5% in the U.S. The nation's No. 1 hamburger chain has benefited during the recession from consumers' desire for cheaper food.
The New York Times Co. (NYT) says its second-quarter profit climbed nearly 85%, bucking predictions of another loss even as ad revenue dove.
READ MORE: New York Times Co. press release
The publisher of The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The International Herald-Tribune and 15 other daily newspapers said Thursday that it earned $39.1 million, or 27 cents a share, from April through June. That compares with a profit of $21.1 million, or 15 cents a share, in the same quarter a year ago.
Excluding one-time items, the company said it would have earned 8 cents a share. On that basis analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected a loss of 4 cents a share.
Times Co. revenue fell 20% to $561 million. Analysts were expecting $603 million.
3M(MMM), which makes Scotch tape, asthma inhalers and film used in LCD televisions, says its second-quarter profit fell 17% as the global recession cut sales of consumer electronics and products for carmakers.
READ MORE:3M press release
But the Dow Jones industrial average component raised its full-year sales and earnings forecasts.
The company earned $783 million, or $1.12 a share, in the latest quarter, compared with $945 million, or $1.33 a share, in the same period a year earlier. The company recorded profit of $1.20 a share excluding special items.
Revenue slipped 15% to $5.72 billion.
Analysts expected profit of 94 cents a share on revenue of $5.41 billion.
UPS(UPS), the world's largest shipping carrier, says second-quarter profit plunged 49% to $445 million as sales slipped 16.7%.
READ MORE: UPS press release
The Atlanta-based company's profit for the April-June quarter was equivalent to 44 cents a share, compared to a year-ago profit of $873 million, or 85 cents a share.
Adjusted earnings were 49 cents a share.
Revenue fell to $10.83 billion from $13.00 billion a year earlier.
Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters, who generally exclude one-time items, expected earnings of 49 cents a share on revenue of $11.02 billion.
UPS said it expects third-quarter earnings per share in a range of 45 cents to 55 cents, below the 59 cents analysts forecast.
"The economic environment continues to be difficult," said Kurt Kuehn, UPS' chief financial officer. "Declines in both our domestic and international businesses appear to be stabilizing but volumes will remain significantly below last year's levels."
The company has been cutting costs and jobs. An executive has said UPS cut 10,000 domestic jobs in the first quarter through attrition and part-time employees leaving and not being replaced.
Xerox(XRX) says its second-quarter profit tumbled 35% but topped Wall Street forecasts, as cost cutting helped offset another weak period for sales. It also projected third-quarter earnings below expectations.
READ MORE:Xerox press release
Xerox says businesses continue to scrimp on technology spending, but a 17% decline in costs helped soften the decline in earnings.
The printer and copier maker says its profit came to $140 million, or 16 cents a share, compared with $215 million, or 24 cents a share, a year ago.
Revenue fell 18% to $3.73 billion.
Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected 11 cents a share on sales of $3.72 billion, on average.
"Assuming current economic conditions persist, we expect revenue will remain under pressure during the balance of this year," said new Xerox CEO Ursula Burns.
The company expects third-quarter earnings of 10 cents to 12 cents a share, compared with the average forecast of 14 cents. For the full year, Xerox projected a profit of 50 cents to 55 cents a share. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are looking for 51 cents.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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For the last two hundred years, fashion weeks have shown the latest and greatest trends n couture. The first American fashion week took place in New York in 1943. Since then, hundreds of fashion weeks have taken place every year around the world. In recent fashion news, Saudi Arabia held its first fashion week in April.
Dangerous weather conditions, the arrival of foreign guests, and multiple models unable to receive their visas in time for the original date pushed back the opening to April 19. Even though the event planners pushed back the start date, the show continued as planned and became a historic turning point for Saudi Arabia.
Multiple famous designers – such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Tony Ward, and local designer Arwa al-Banawi – revealed their pieces at the show. Uniquely, this fashion week stood out and showed pieces less revealing than other well-known fashions shows. According to NPR, “the kingdom is still highly conservative and there are restrictions on what types of clothes can be exhibited at the Riyadh show — no cleavage, nothing above the knee and nothing too transparent. The audience was female only.” However, Saudi culture made huge strides by holding the show because, in the past, laws stopped women from using fashion, makeup, and jewelry to demonstrate their beauty.
Since this was the first Saudi Arabian fashion week, people in charge of planning the event wanted the night to be unforgettable. Jacob Abrian, CEO of the Arab Fashion Council, explained in an interview, “We decided to host a fashion week in Riyadh, considering the fact and the importance of Saudi Arabia as hub for the Arab world and as the most important markets in the Arab region for the fashion industry.”
After five months of planning, every detail of the show contained an important underlying meaning, which expressed its significance to fashion history.
(Sources: NPR, NY Times, Vogue)


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A lot of people are surprised or think this information about what’s driving mobile app install pricing is novel. To me, it reads like an assessment of Facebook that was copied out of an online marketing textbook. FB wouldn’t disagree either and that’s why they’re hustling to find other products to attract additional budgets because they know they’re on a timeline.
“Facebook has continued to perform in the market despite declining user engagement and pullback of brand advertising dollars — largely due to mobile advertising performance, especially app install advertisements,” he writes.
“This is a huge red flag because it indicates that sustainable brand dollars have not yet moved to Facebook mobile platform and mobile revenue growth has been driven by technology companies (many of which are VC funded).
“VC dollars are being spent on user acquisition despite unknown [lifetime value] of users — a recipe for disaster.


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Xi Jinping’s Communist Party is stepping up efforts to rein in some of China’s most powerful companies, jolting investors and dealing a blow to the country’s richest entrepreneurs.
Beijing unveiled regulations earlier this week to root out monopolistic practices in the internet industry, seeking to curtail the growing influence of corporations like Alibaba Group Holding and Tencent Holdings. The rules, which sent both stocks tumbling and sparked a wider selloff in Chinese equities, landed about a week after new restrictions on the finance sector that triggered the shock suspension of Ant Group’s $US35 billion ($48.1 billion) initial public offering.
While Xi’s government has been steadily tightening its grip on the world’s second-largest economy, it has until recently taken a relatively hands off approach toward businesses that dominate China’s burgeoning internet, e-commerce and digital finance industries. Authorities are concerned the companies have become too powerful, according to Ma Chen, a Beijing-based partner at Han Kun Law Offices.
“This is a watershed moment,” said Ma, who specialises in antitrust.
Alibaba, Ant and Tencent alone commanded a combined market capitalisation of nearly $US2 trillion before last week, easily surpassing state-owned behemoths like Bank of China as the country’s most valuable companies. Analysts have estimated that Ant’s $US280 billion valuation could be cut in half due to stricter regulations. Both companies were co-founded by billionaire Jack Ma, China’s most celebrated businessman.
Tencent, the gaming to payments giant whose rise turned co-founder Pony Ma into China’s richest man, also saw its shares slump. The company declined to comment while representatives from Alibaba and Tencent didn’t immediately respond to queries.
China’s antitrust watchdog is seeking feedback on a raft of regulations that establish a framework for curbing anti-competitive behaviour such as colluding on sharing sensitive consumer data, alliances that squeeze out smaller rivals and subsidising services at below cost to eliminate competitors. They may also require companies that operate a so-called Variable Interest Entity – a vehicle through which virtually every major Chinese internet company attracts foreign investment and lists overseas – to apply for specific operating approval.
The latest proposal follows heightened scrutiny of technology companies worldwide, as regulators investigate the extent to which internet giants from Facebook to Alphabet’s Google can leverage their dominance. Consumers in China – home to some of the world’s largest corporations from e-commerce giant Alibaba to WeChat-operator Tencent – have in recent years protested against the gradual erosion of their privacy via technology from facial recognition to big data analysis.
Beijing is increasingly seeking to diminish the influence that a handful of its tech corporations wield over vast swathes of the economy. It investigated Tencent’s music arm’s exclusive agreements with publishers last year and, most recently, modified regulations to rein in risk at fast-growing micro-lending entities such as Ant Group. The latter step derailed Ant’s planned IPO last week, before it was to complete what would have been the world’s largest such offering on record.
“There seems to be a broader China government sentiment that internet platforms are becoming too powerful,” said Hoi Tak Leung, a Hong Kong-based lawyer specialising in Chinese internet companies at Ashurst. “This would be consistent with worldwide developments as well.”
The new rules were proposed in accordance with and build on China’s Anti-Monopoly Law, which in January included broad language governing internet companies for the first time. They restrict targeting specific customers through their online behaviour, a common practice adopted by players both at home and abroad. Under the regulations unveiled by the State Administration of Market Regulation, violators may be forced to divest assets, intellectual property or technologies, open up their infrastructure and adjust their algorithms. The watchdog will seek public feedback on the regulations till November 30.
Representatives from Alibaba, Tencent, TikTok-owner ByteDance and 24 other tech giants attended a meeting with regulators from the antitrust and cyberspace authorities earlier this month to discuss issues ranging from unfair competition to counterfeiting. “Internet platforms are not outside the reach of antitrust laws, nor are they the breeding ground for unfair competition,” the regulators said in a subsequent statement.
Further measures to tighten oversight of the tech companies may be in the offing. Regulators plan to release new rules governing internet transactions by June 2021, according to a State Council statement released Tuesday.
The government is now trying to update its laws for the internet era, to adapt to an industry where market dominance isn’t always easily quantifiable. In the past, China used revenue or market share to determine whether a company held a monopoly. But those precepts may not apply to internet firms, which sometimes control valuable information that haven’t yet been monetised.
JD.com, for instance, has accused bigger rival Alibaba of unfairly locking in exclusive agreements with merchants, which Alibaba has denied. Regulators have investigated the legality of Cheng Wei’s Didi Chuxing acquiring Uber Technologies’s Chinese business. And Tencent’s WeChat dominates many aspects of daily Chinese life from payments to gaming, though ByteDance, co-founded by Zhang Yiming, has in recent years begun to eat into its advertising business through video service Douyin and news platform Toutiao.
Alibaba and Tencent now dominate e-commerce and gaming, but are also key backers of leaders in adjacent businesses such as Wang Xing’s Meituan and car-hailing leader Didi. They’ve together invested billions of dollars in hundreds of up-and-coming mobile and internet companies, gaining kingmaker status in the world’s largest smartphone and internet arena by users. Companies like ByteDance and Tencent-rival NetEase, controlled by William Ding, that have risen to prominence without backing from either of the pair are viewed as rare exceptions. In other areas, Robin Li’s Baidu dominates online search.
“The Party is faced with the conflicting desires to empower domestic tech companies to be internationally competitive, while keeping their market activities firmly under control at home,” said Kendra Schaefer, head of digital research at the Trivium China consultancy in Beijing. “The horizontal spread of Chinese big tech makes anti-monopoly regulation that much more urgent for Chinese regulators.”
Han Kun Law’s Ma said the specific regulation pertaining to VIEs requiring approval should be of concern to much of the industry as well. The model has never been formally endorsed by Beijing but has been used by tech titans such as Alibaba to list their shares overseas. Under the structure, Chinese corporations transfer profits to an offshore entity with shares that foreign investors can then own. Pioneered by Sina and its investment bankers during a 2000 initial public offering, the VIE framework rests on shaky legal ground and foreign investors have been nervous about their bets unwinding overnight.
“It will not only have a huge impact on Alibaba but also all the companies that use a platform business model and a VIE structure,” Ma said.
Source: Thanks smh.com


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Now HTC will upgrade at least three of its top handsets with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean soon. The HTC One X, the HTC One S and the 4G LTE-enabled HTC One XL device will receive the new software.
On its software updates page, the communications company says the upgrade is on the way, with an actual date still to be confirmed.
HTC had previous said it was "excited about Android Jelly Bean" and that the software update will come "across a variety" of its handsets. It refused to be drawn on exactly which and exactly when - and we're no closer to that date as yet.
Android's jelly bean has got some great reviews on the galaxy nexus S mainly because of project butter that makes the device a lot faster. Lets see how the update turns out on the HTCs.


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Allianz Asset Management GmbH purchased a new stake in shares of Tapestry Inc (NYSE:TPR) during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund purchased 218,841 shares of the luxury accessories retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $9,680,000.
Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BlackRock Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Tapestry during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $791,257,000. American International Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Tapestry during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $543,498,000. American Century Companies Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Tapestry during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $287,354,000. Jennison Associates LLC bought a new stake in shares of Tapestry during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $181,887,000. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp bought a new stake in shares of Tapestry during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $145,882,000. 89.28% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
In related news, Director Susan J. Kropf sold 6,185 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.80, for a total transaction of $314,198.00. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Todd Kahn sold 4,357 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.13, for a total transaction of $214,059.41. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 140,551 shares of company stock worth $7,020,158. 0.98% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
Tapestry (NYSE:TPR) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 6th. The luxury accessories retailer reported $1.07 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.86 by $0.21. Tapestry had a net margin of 6.14% and a return on equity of 23.68%. The business had revenue of $1.79 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.77 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.75 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 35.1% on a year-over-year basis. sell-side analysts anticipate that Tapestry Inc will post 2.58 EPS for the current year.
The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, March 9th will be issued a dividend of $0.3375 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 8th. Tapestry’s payout ratio is 120.54%.
TPR has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Needham & Company LLC initiated coverage on shares of Tapestry in a research note on Monday, December 18th. They set a “hold” rating on the stock. Credit Suisse Group started coverage on shares of Tapestry in a report on Monday. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $60.00 price objective on the stock. KeyCorp increased their price objective on shares of Tapestry from $53.00 to $59.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Canaccord Genuity set a $58.00 price objective on shares of Tapestry and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, February 5th. Finally, Piper Jaffray Companies upgraded shares of Tapestry from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and set a $54.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, twenty-five have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. The stock presently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $50.75.
WARNING: “Allianz Asset Management GmbH Takes $9.68 Million Position in Tapestry Inc (TPR)” was first published by Markets Daily and is owned by of Markets Daily. If you are accessing this piece on another domain, it was stolen and reposted in violation of United States & international copyright & trademark laws. The original version of this piece can be accessed at https://www.themarketsdaily.com/2018/03/13/allianz-asset-management-gmbh-takes-9-68-million-position-in-tapestry-inc-tpr.html.
Tapestry, Inc, formerly Coach, Inc, is a design house of luxury accessories and lifestyle collections. The Company’s product offering uses a range of leathers, fabrics and materials. The Company’s brands include Coach, Kate Spade, and Stuart Weitzman. Its segments include North America, International and Stuart Weitzman.
Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TPR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Tapestry Inc (NYSE:TPR).
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Description: The theatrical window isn’t broken, but it is full of cracks. Like so many other digital trends that have been accelerated by Covid-19, the way we watch theatrical releases saw big changes throughout 2020. The most significant shake-up: On Thursday, AT&T’s WarnerMedia announced that all 2021 theatrical releases from Warner Bros. will debut simultaneously on HBO Max for U.S. subscribers at no extra cost.
Source: CNBC.com – video report
Date: Dec 04, 2020
Questions for discussion:
- What is happening to film distribution as a result of Covid-19?
- Do you think these changes are likely to affect consumer behavior after the pandemic influence dissipates?
- How will this affect the industry?


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PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. (March 14) – Approximately 62 percent of customer traffic for takeout comes from independent, full-service restaurants, while only 38 percent is from chain restaurants, according to a survey by The NPD Group, a market research firm based here.
Takeout traffic at independent casual-dining locations increased 6 percent in 2004, after being down 2 percent the previous year. Takeout traffic for chains was also up 6 percent in 2004. The survey showed that 44 percent of take-out traffic at full-service chains comes from people making a yearly salary of $75,000 or more. Forty-two percent of takeout traffic at independent units comes from people in that income bracket. Also, 22 percent of all takeout traffic at independent restaurants comes from people 50 years or older, but for chain restaurants 18 to 34-year-olds drive the takeout traffic.
Nations Restaurant News


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Having been brought to light a few days ago, here’s a comprehensive look at the CLOT offering as part of the Nike 1World Air Force 1 project. With a look at the shoe provided in previous days, a stellar bit of packaging has been produced to further compliment and complete the whole collection. Themed after traditional Chinese New Years candy boxes, the Air Force 1 box follows a similar route as the segmented candy dishes now make way for a number of different colored laces. Along the sides of the hexagonal box are a number of iconic symbols, keeping in them with this month’s celebration of the Chinese New Year. The shoes will release on January 16th exclusively at JUICE and ACU, each carrying a suggested retail price of $2800 HKD/CNY (approximately $361/410 USD).
2/F., A, 53 Patterson Street
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.
Shop 15, 139 Changle Road


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Parler CEO John Matze on Saturday night announced that the “totally free speech” app might go offline for as much as a week from Sunday after Amazon kicked the social networks platform off its web hosting service.
On Saturday, an Amazon Web Solutions (AWS) Trust and Security group informed Parler that it would stop hosting the app efficient Sunday, January 10 at 11: 59 p.m. PST, after the U.S. Capitol was stormed by a pro-Trump mob that utilized the platform to prepare their attacks, according to Buzzfeed News.
Matze told users that it’s possible “Parler will be unavailable to the internet for approximately a week as we rebuild from scratch,” according to a screenshot shared by Parlertakes.
” Sunday (tomorrow) at midnight Amazon will be shutting off all of our servers in an attempt to totally get rid of totally free speech,” Matze said in a declaration shared to Parler.
Amazon’s decision came after Google Play and Apple suspended Parler from its app shops for stopping working to adequately moderate and get rid of hazardous and damaging content.
On the same day, Apple told Parler to “get rid of all objectionable material from your app” or face elimination from the shop, and offered the app 24 hours to submit a plan to restrict content.
” Your action also references a moderation plan ‘for the time being,’ which does not satisfy the ongoing requirements in Standard 1.2– Security– User Created material,” Apple said in a letter to Parler revealing the suspension.
Conservatives, consisting of those that support Trump’s unproven accusation that prevalent citizen scams caused his election defeat to President-elect Joe Biden, have actually been turning to Parler in recent months to circumvent Facebook and Twitter censorship.
Newsweek reached out to Parler for remark.


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Brits will spend almost £82,000 on deliveries over the course of their adult lifetime, research has revealed
The most common item being dropped off by the UK’s ever-growing fleet of delivery drivers is clothes, with more than half (55 per cent) having an item of clothing posted to them over the past 12 months.
This is closely followed by gifts (48 per cent), takeaways (45 per cent), groceries (44 per cent) and books (38 per cent).
Britain has relied on delivery workers more than ever as of late, with 66 per cent of the 2,000 adults surveyed increasing their deliveries since the onset of the pandemic, typically receiving seven extra per month.
And it looks like the trend is here to stay, as almost one in three (31 per cent) claim they will keep ordering more deliveries to their door for the foreseeable future.
The survey of 2,000 UK adults was carried out by commercial motor insurance provider Zego, which provides insurance to fleets and individuals who use vehicles for work.
Sten Saar, CEO of Zego, said: “In Britain, we have always called on fleets of delivery drivers to make life more convenient for us, whether it's having clothes delivered ahead of an event or food delivered at short notice.
"But over the past 18 months, in particular, these key workers have played a priceless role in keeping the UK running."
Tracking deliveries constantly
The study found that most like to track their delivery where possible, with seven per cent confessing to checking for an update every hour.
And more than a quarter (28 per cent) of those surveyed via OnePoll have either skipped work or studies, or started late or finished early, to make sure they were around to receive a delivery.
This rose to two thirds (66 per cent) of 18-24-year-olds.
According to the study, eight in 10 (81 per cent) said delivery drivers have been more important than ever during the pandemic.
And more than a third said they've been helped out by a delivery driver over the past 12 months.
The most common way in which delivery drivers have helped the public is by delivering food while people have been self-isolating or delivering food that wasn't in stock in the shops.
The role of delivery drivers in society
Meanwhile, more than three quarters (78 per cent) think the need for fleets of delivery drivers is only going to keep growing.
And 81 per cent really appreciate the role fleets of delivery drivers play in modern society.
As a result, 61 per cent think workers in the sector deserve access to flexible and affordable insurance to help make their jobs more cost-effective and save them money.
Sten Saar added: “It is clear that Britain’s love for online shopping is here to stay and the demand for deliveries will only continue to grow into the future.
"Fleets of delivery drivers have our appreciation but also need our ongoing support.
"Zego insurance exists to help these drivers power opportunities and we hope to be doing this for a long time to come.”
TOP 10 MOST POPULAR DELIVERIES:
10. Home decorations


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Stealmint and Juicy Loot: Gum stolen from the UK being used as currency on black market in Romania
Criminal gangs are stealing chewing gum and smuggling it to Romania where it is used as a substitute for cash, prosecutors have revealed.
They warn the thefts are becoming a ‘major problem’ in Britain.
Police say the gum or other small sweets are used as change in shops and kiosks in countries such as Romania.
Substitute currency: Romanian kiosks like this are believed to be handing out chewing gum to shoppers as a substitute for cash
Dean Lampard, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: ‘The theft of large quantities of chewing gum is becoming big business.
‘The police have told us this specific crime has become a major problem up and down the M5 corridor, as well as in other parts of the country.’
He said chewing gum and other sweets were a ‘soft option’ for thieves because large quantities were regularly left out in stores and were never security-tagged.
As security guards are unlikely to be keeping an eye on the sweet aisles, the thieves are free to simply load boxes of the confectionary into trolleys and walk out.
Mr Lampard said thieves would face the ‘full force of the law’, including jail, if caught.
His warning came after two Romanian men were jailed last week for stealing more than £1,000 of chewing gum from an Asda store in Taunton and a shop in Norfolk.
PC David Walton from West Mercia Police said it was a growing problem in the Midlands and North Yorkshire.
He said: ‘We are not talking about a couple of packs; we are talking about five, six, seven maybe eight hundred pounds’ worth in one go.
Value: Chewing gum has become a precious commodity in Romania as it is used by shop owners as a n alternative to cash
‘The bottom line is it’s going back to Romania. People are loading up the trolley and brazenly walking out with it.
'I found we had quite a few incidents ourselves. They were Eastern European nationals and there have been some arrests subsequently.
'I have done some investigations and in Romania if you go into a shop and purchase goods, as opposed to change they will give you sticks of chewing gum.
'This is perhaps why they are stealing chewing gum because it's effectively stealing money.
'People come across for a couple of weeks, they are tasked with doing a number of thefts and then they go back on a ferry.
'They are gangs and this is organised crime.'
Constable Walton said the thieves were hitting the likes of Tesco, Asda and Sainsburys, which carry a lot of stock.
He added: 'There has certainly been a dozen or so incidents.
'The highest value theft of gum was £750 - £800. It beggars belief that they could load up a trolley and walk out with it.'
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BlackBerry hasÃ‚Â announced the company has entered into a patent license agreement with Canon Inc. for certain power charging technology used by Canon products.
An agreement between the two companies was reached in November 2015. Specific terms of the deal are confidential.
“Our agreement with Canon substantiates the value companies place on BlackBerry’s innovative and foundational power charging patents for mobile and consumer electronic devices,’ said Dr. Mark Kokes, Vice President of Intellectual Property and Licensing, BlackBerry.
With the agreement in place, Canon can continue to incorporate convenient charging solutions in its exciting new products.”
BlackBerry and Canon have a history of cooperation and intend to collaborate further.


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June 7, 2016 - Industry News
HDMA has announced the formation of the Commercial Vehicle Research Council, a dedicated research council to provide a forum for key trends and issues within the heavy-duty commercial vehicle industry.
Tags: HDMA, Trend Analysis, Aftermarket, OEMs
October 22, 2015 - Industry News
“There’s a silver lining in this, and it’s that they still believe in the show,” said Toby Young, who heads the sponsoring organization. "They want to be here in 2017, and I think they’ll be assessing the damage by not being here in 2016.”
Tags: Mid-America Trucking Show, Louisville, MATS, OEMs
June 5, 2015 - Industry News
Big data analytics generated $93.9 million in revenue in the trucking industry in 2014, according to research firm Frost & Sullivan, which projected that amount would grow to $1.6 billion by 2022.
Tags: Frost & Sullivan, Big Data, OEMs, Market Research, Telematics, Information Technology
July 30, 2014 - Industry News
Phillips Industries announced the retirement of Steve Davis, national OEM truck sales manager, effective July 2014.
Tags: Phillips Industries, People, OEMs
April 4, 2014 - Industry News
Preliminary numbers from two industry data analysts show the number of heavy and medium-duty truck orders in March were solid.
Tags: Medium-Duty Trucks, Heavy-Duty Trucks, ACT Research, Truck Orders, FTR, OEMs
We offer e-newsletters that deliver targeted news and information for the entire fleet industry.
The expert, Steve Carlson from Xantrex, will answer your questions
The expert, Brian Fletcher from Eaton, will answer your questions
Dual Shield Protects Power Sources on Trucks
Truckers Post Available Capacity for Shippers on HaulHound
Refrigeration Unit Runs off of a Vehicle Alternator
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BEIJING, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- China saw more banks using the official blockchain platform for trade and finance as the country increased efforts to research and promote this frontier technology, said the People's Bank of China (PBOC), the central bank.
As of Dec. 17, 2019, a total of 38 banks participated in the platform, generating a combined business volume of 87 billion yuan (about 12.4 billion U.S. dollars), according to an article published by a PBOC-affiliated institute dedicated to the research of digital currency.
The Shenzhen-based blockchain platform, developed by the central bank and launched in September 2018, provided services including multi-stage accounts receivable financing, a fast track for rediscounts and supervision over foreign trade payments.
Starting in 2014, the PBOC has beefed up efforts to strengthen the study of blockchain and explore its application in transaction settlements as well as trade and finance, with its patents in the area ranking first among all central banks in the world.
China listed blockchain as a strategic frontier technology in a national industry plan in 2016, and the industry and information technology ministry released an action plan to encourage research and exploration in the area in 2018.


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Used Market Update: December 18, 2020
After a slight increase the week ending December 6, wholesale auction prices declined during the week ending December 13. During the week ending December 13 prices declined by an average of 0.5%, which essentially matches the 14 consecutive average week-over-week price movement recorded leading into the Thanksgiving holiday period. Wholesale prices are now 23% higher than their trough in April, and 5% above their level at the beginning of March.
Weekly Wholesale Auction Price Index (Mar 1 = 100)
Wholesale prices for mainstream segments declined by an average of 0.4% the week ending December 13 when compared to the prior week. Prices on the mainstream side were generally down, however, Large Pickup and Large SUV prices increased by respective figures of 0.3% and 0.5%. Segment prices didn’t perform quite as well as mainstream vehicles, as a result prices declined by an average of 0.6% for the week ending December 13. Premium results were mixed, however, like their mainstream counterparts, Large Premium SUV prices were up by nearly 0.5% for the period.
Wholesale Auction Sales Hold Steady
Wholesale auction sales of vehicles up to 8 years old for the week ending December 13 were relatively flat reaching approximately 80,000 units. Last week’s result nearly matches which is right in line with what we’ve seen weekly since September. Now looking back to the same period last year, sales reached 110k units, as wholesale sales continue to run approximately 25% to 30% off prior year’s levels.
Through the end of the year, prices are expected to continue to move lower as pandemic-related macro-economic headwinds increase. By year's end, prices are still expected to be significantly greater than pre-virus levels. It is important to note, however, that while the outlook is relatively optimistic, there remains a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the impact of new virus outbreaks, the potential for another round of federal stimulus, overall employment conditions. Given these unknowns, a heightened degree of market volatility should be expected.


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Batman V. Superman's Jesse Eisenberg Stops By Midtown Comics And Signs Lex Luthor Comics
Jesse Eisenberg may be an evil mastermind on camera - and no, we're not talking about Social Network, but apparently in real life he's playing the role of nice guy to a T.
The actor, who plays Lex Luthor in the upcoming Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, stopped by Midtown Comics in New York today to sign some comic books - all heavily featuring Lex, of course.
.@JesseEisenberg signed some #LexLuthor comics at our store today! Check in next week for a chance to win these! pic.twitter.com/G3PRZIFze6— Midtown Comics (@MidtownComics) January 12, 2016
The store's official twitter account tweeted out an image of him holding some of the comics he signed, and said they'll be giving them away next week to a lucky winner - so give them a follow if you're interested. How trippy was it for fans to see Lex Luthor in their comic shop? Well, maybe that's why he stopped in on a Tuesday, instead of the busy Wednesday comic release day.
Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice hits theaters March 25, 2016. The actor was also in the store, naturally, to promote the film. An interview was shot there, apparently in conjunction with Omaze, the charity that frequently works with Hollywood on charity auctions and contests, so there's probably something coming up there.
Jesse Eisenberg shooting some footage at Midtown Comics! #BatmanVSuperman #LexLuthor
A photo posted by Midtown Comics (@midtowncomics) on
With about two and a half months to go, his promotional tour hasn't kicked into full gear yet. But being a New Yorker, there's always a chance for fans to see him out and about, even at their favorite comic book shop.


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During his earnings presentation Elon Musk this week about his company Tesla, which faces endless problems, starting with losing prestige by get out of the ranking of the companies with the highest market capitalization this Friday, the CEO of the company expressed several of his concerns.
It turns out that the tycoon now fears that he will be kicked out of his own company, so he is looking for a system similar to the one Meta uses, in which there are two types of actions, those who have the right to vote and those who do not. In this way, he would secure a place on the board of directors.
Musk He referred to the possibility of being removed due to his limited influence in the company at this stage, mentioning the possibility that a random shareholder advisory firm could make that decision. Humorously, he pointed to proxy advisors Glass Lewis and Institutional Shareholder Services, referring to them as the extremist group ISISclaiming that they were infiltrated by “activists” with “strange ideas.”
With around 13% participation, Musk is Tesla’s largest and most influential shareholder. He recently made a public call to the board for another big stock award after selling almost US$40 billion in shares to cover taxes and finance the acquisition of Twitter, the social media platform he renamed X.
Although some optimistic investors justify Tesla’s high valuation by its potential in artificial intelligence and robotics, Musk has indicated that, without at least a 25% stake, will explore product development in those fields elsewhere. During the earnings call, Musk highlighted these new opportunities rather than addressing slow growth and declining profit margins in the core electric vehicle business.
Tesla: the concern of investors
On Wednesday, Musk’s words added more fuel to the fire, as he suggested the possibility of creating a dual class of shares, similar to that of companies such as Meta Platforms Inc., owner of Facebook, as a way to increase its share to 25%. He described this structure as “ideal” and clarified that he is not seeking to obtain “additional economics.”
Regarding the 25% level, Musk commented: “It’s not enough that I can control the company even if I go crazy, but it is enough to have a strong influence.“.
Tesla’s board is awaiting a decision from the Delaware Court of Chancery on a case brought by a shareholder alleging that directors failed to exercise independence from Musk in designing his $55 billion performance award in 2018.
I am a 24-year-old writer and journalist who has been working in the news industry for the past two years. I write primarily about market news, so if you’re looking for insights into what’s going on in the stock market or economic indicators, you’ve come to the right place. I also dabble in writing articles on lifestyle trends and pop culture news.


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BERLIN (Reuters) – Volkswagen
After Germany’s top administrative court on Tuesday allowed local authorities to bar heavily polluting diesel cars in major cities, the federal government is scrambling to find ways to avert driving bans that would hurt consumers and automakers.
Environmental and motorist lobbies are raising the pressure on Volkswagen (VW) and its peers to modify the exhaust systems of older diesels which they say are a major source of toxic nitrogen oxide emissions that can cause respiratory disease.
“I don’t want to say now that I’m ruling it out,” VW Chief Executive Matthias Mueller said on Friday at an auto industry event. But he voiced misgivings.
Hardware changes would cost between 1,500 ($1,845.30) and 7,000 euros per car, and the development as well as testing of new exhaust cleaning systems would take 2-3 years, Mueller said.
Also, retrofitted vehicles might consume more fuel and emit more carbon dioxide, which would affect the level of car tax, he added.
Of the 15 million diesel cars on Germany’s roads, only 2.7 million are equipped with the latest Euro-6 emissions technology. Research firm Evercore ISI has estimated that upgrading the exhaust cleaning of the 6 million Euro-5 vehicles could cost up to 14.5 billion euros ($17.9 billion).
“I would compare hardware changes on a Euro-5 vehicle to an open-heart surgery,” Mueller said.
There is no way that VW could shoulder major costs for such modifications as it is stretched by the costs and fines related to its “Dieselgate” emissions scandal, he said.
“We had to pay about 25 billion in America, we cannot again pay 17 billion for hardware refits,” Mueller said. “That is simple not possible.”
(Reporting by Andreas Cremer; Editing by Mark Potter)


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New store supplements shoppers
For Becky Salfai, manager of the new GNC store in Red Wing, all it took was a couple months.
“Opportunity arises very fast if you’re the right person,” she said.
Salfai said she worked for GNC in Rochester for two months before taking the managing role at the new Red Wing store.
GNC used to have a Red Wing seven years ago, she said, but due to rising costs in rent, that store closed.
It wasn’t that business was bad, but the rent tripled, Salfai said.


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Audi has been delivering its first electric car e-tron in Germany since the end of last year. In the US, the battery SUV rolls since April on the streets, there are now hundreds of customer vehicles back to the workshops. The reason is a possibly faulty seal that could allow moisture to enter the battery system.
"This could lead to a short circuit or, in extreme cases, to a thermal event," Audi said in a statement. The manufacturer emphasized that so far no such incident had become known. Audi also pointed out that it had opted for a voluntary recall. Almost 1,644 vehicles were affected, of which 540 were already handed over to US customers.
The necessary repairs to the e-tron are expected in August, Audi said. The customers would be contacted as soon as the callback starts. Vehicles not affected by the sealing problem will continue to be delivered, while the reservation system for new orders remains active, emphasized Audi.
Loud Automotive News If the defective part is a cable seal between the charging port and the battery of the e-tron. The component is only installed on individual copies of the electric Audi. If the ingress of moisture is detected by sensors, a yellow warning light lights up, said Audi-US spokesman Mark Dahnke. If this is the case, the vehicle should be immediately parked outdoors and switched off. Subsequently, the vehicle should no longer be charged and towed by Audis customer service.
Dahnke said Automotive Newsthat at about five e-tron in Europe you have registered an active yellow warning light. US customers have not noticed so far. The company is not aware of any fire development or even accidents. If the e-tron does not report any errors, the vehicles affected by the recall could continue to be safely used. Alternatively provide Audi USA to repair a replacement car with combustion engine and a fuel voucher in the amount of $ 800 available. Affected customers should also receive a paid service package.
Whether it will come in Europe to a recall of Audi e-tron, is not yet known. The manufacturer has not responded to requests so far.


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Edge Computing Wants Smarter IoT Devices
February 27, 2019 / Gary Hilson
The evolution of edge computing means that internet of things (IoT) devices need more smarts to make decisions rather just shipping data to be crunched to the cloud — this means that more memory is required without increasing its footprint.Adesto Technologies’ latest non-volatile memory (NVM) family is aimed at both consumer and industrial IoT devices that need to be able to do more than just ship data off to the cloud. Dubbed FusionHD, it’s an extension of the company Fusion family but with more intelligence at low power and increased density, said Paul Hill, senior marketing director for the company’s serial flash products group. The product line includes support for the new Serial Flash Reset Signaling Protocol (JESD252) and the latest version of the Serial Flash Discoverable Parameter (SFDP) standard (JESD216D) to make it easier for system designers to deliver smarter, more efficient, and more user-friendly devices.


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GitHub is home to over 20 million developers working together to host and review code.EQUITY ALERT: Rosen Law Firm Announces Investigation of Securities.Could another slam dunk be in store for bitcoin in the world of basketball.
The easiest place to buy, use, and accept bitcoin, ethereum, and litecoin.
Unlike traditional currencies such as dollars, bitcoins are issued and.Real-time last sale data for U.S. stock quotes reflect trades reported through Nasdaq only.There are many alternative cryptocurrencies to bitcoin out there for trading.P recipitous declines in prices for bitcoin and Ether in the wake of a potential crackdown on exchanges by Chinese.
Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes.SEC halts trading in First Bitcoin Capital shares, which have gained more than 6,000% in 2017 MarketWatch.Bitcoin Penny Stock Hits the Market. Bitcoin News, bitcoin penny stock, bitcoin penny stock price, bitcoin price, bitcoin price forecast, Bitcoin Prices,.
Security Issues of Bitcoins---Last month, the Department of Homeland Security.The stock price of chipmaker Nvidia and the value of Bitcoin continue to skyrocket almost in sync.Bitcoin is increasing in popularity year on year, but many are still wondering about how to buy bitcoins.
SEC cites concerns about accuracy, adequacy of publicly available information on First Bitcoin MarketWatch.


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A meeting of the (CDOs) of Kathmandu valley made the decision to extend the prohibitory orders by one week as the cases of Covid-19 does not seem to decrease in the recent days despite imposition of shut down in the valley.
With this decision the prohibitory orders will remain effective until June 3 mid night according to the CDOs meeting. The meeting also has decided to further intensify the measures to enforce the implementation of strict orders in order to prevent the infectious lethal epidemic.
The meeting also decided to shut down the grocery shops and allow the opening of medicines, milk, vegetables and food items only till 9 a.m.
Kathmandu: The search for the world-record climber Tenzen Sherpa, who went missing in an a…


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In this section of the Purina News Center, you'll find our news releases. The releases are listed in chronological order and are archived by year.
Mar 15, 2017Pet Experts Will Highlight Parallels in Aging between Humans and Pets and Benefits of Pet Ownership for Older Adults
There are more than 80 million households in the U.S. with pets1, and Purina Pro Plan wants to empower these dog and cat owners to think differently about their pet's nutritional needs as they age...
- Mar 8, 2017Brand Partners with Leading Pet Aging Expert Dr. Matt Kaeberlein to Educate Consumers on Maximizing "Healthspan" in Pets
What would you do if you had one more healthy year with your cat? Purina Pro Plan, a leader in pet nutrition, wants to help pet owners find out. The brand has been researching aging in pets for...
- Mar 2, 2017Donations touched shelter pets, survivors of domestic violence, and St. Louis Children's Hospital patients who can now be comforted by their pet during treatment
Purina today announced that in 2016 the company donated $31.2 million worth of pet food, pet supplies and monetary contributions to pet-related charities and other community organizations across...
- Feb 21, 2017All Purina Factories to Achieve Zero Waste to Landfill Status by 2020
Nestlé Purina's Oklahoma City facility is the company's seventh location to achieve this significant milestone that supports Nestlé’s global commitment to be landfill-free by 2020.
- Feb 2, 2017Obe, founder of new smart pet bowl, wins first-ever Pet Care Innovation Prize powered by Purina
Obe is the grand prize winner of the first-ever Pet Care Innovation Prize, a partnership between Nestlé Purina and two investment firms. Obe produces smart pet products that make the day-to-day care of pets effortless so more time can be spent with pets.


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It’s time to round out the week by boiling it down to the two biggest stories that had us nodding and shaking our heads in equal measure. Welcome to Trusted Reviews’ Winners and Losers.
I’d be lying if I said that I haven’t had one eye on all the Resident Evil Village fandom over the last few days. Now that in-game modding is in full swing, we’ve been greeted by such wonderful creations as Chris Redfield as a baby and Lady Dimitrescu as Thomas the Tank Engine. Still, being the professional I am, I have picked out two very intriguing stories this week that could have major consequences for their respective industries.
I’m fully aware that Xbox (and by proxy, Microsoft), held last week’s winner’s spot but the company seems to be on something of a winning streak as of late. Last week it was the rollout of FPS Boost to a whopping 74 classic titles, but this time around the company has finally announced a means of tackling the incessant scalping issue that has affected the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S since their launch.
The scheme, known as the Console Purchase Pilot, will allow Xbox Insider members to register their interest for Microsoft’s latest console via their Xbox One. When an Xbox Series X/S becomes available, people from the waiting list will be contacted accordingly and given the opportunity to buy their console of choice.
While the program is only available in the US, and registering your interest in no way guarantees that you will get a console, it does offer a far more legitimate means of assuring that the consoles in question are put into the hands of deserving gamers.
At this point, the Console Purchase Pilot is probably the best solution that we’ve seen, and all eyes will be on Sony to see if the Japanese company can react with a similarly efficient scheme. Even now, six months since the launch of these next-gen consoles, scalping is still a major issue and companies need to be taking more of a stand in dealing with the issue.
Oh WhatsApp, what happened to you? The once beloved app for sending safe and encrypted messages to your friends and family has now become a point of reference for the eagerness of social media platforms to harvest as much personal data as possible.
Earlier this year, the service presented its users with an updated terms and conditions that required full complacency before February 8 or else you would lose your account and your chat history. The move, which was done to allow certain pieces of data to be shared with parent company Facebook, was met with universal ridicule, and has since been postponed several times with the latest deadline being mid-May.
As a result, the update itself has been banned in Germany with regulators citing GDPR laws in this fight against WhatsApp. At present, WhatsApp itself doesn’t seem too concerned with the ruling, believing it to have spawned from nothing more than a misunderstanding, but if it isn’t overturned then it could set a huge precedent in how other countries might also push back against the update.


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An opportunity to come together, cooperate and create a diverse market of products and services is how the inaugural Co-op Mart, launched last Saturday, has been described by Small Business Minister, Dwight Sutherland.
Addressing the ceremony at the Barbados Transport Co-operative Society Ltd., in Durants, Christ Church, Minister Sutherland said: “The concept of cooperatives coming together to showcase their respective businesses is not new; as we are all aware of ‘Cooperatives Day’ – a day which is celebrated annually and worldwide on the first Saturday in July.
“However, this event opens the official site of Co-op Mart. A market place … where cooperatives can come every Saturday for the next five weeks, beginning today, Saturday, December 8, 2018, until January 12, 2019, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and showcase their products and services.”
Emphasizing that the initiative represented the principle of cooperation among co-operatives, especially during the festive season, he added it was expected that the Barbados Transport Co-operative Society Ltd., which contributed the space for the next few weeks, would benefit from heightened awareness of the cooperative movement in Durants, Gibbons, Wilcox Hill, Fairy Valley, Charnocks, Coverley and beyond.
“The Society’s blatant and selfless example of cooperation among cooperatives; concern for sustainability of communities; sense of social responsibility and caring for others, in addition to also embracing the theme of Cooperatives Day 2018 – “Sustainable Societies through Cooperation”, embodies and exemplifies the core principles and values of what a cooperative truly is,” Mr. Sutherland said of the entity, while stressing that a cooperative was “a body of people with shared principles and values coming together to help each other prosper”.
Registrar of Co-operatives and Friendly Societies, Brent Gittens, in explaining the origins of the five-week Co-op Mart, said it was conceptualized by the Co-operatives Development Committee, which has as its main objective promoting and developing the cooperative sector here, through education and training.
Pointing out that the Committee had also partnered with the Ministry to further reach out to entrepreneurs and businesses, Mr. Gittens added: “Cooperatives may often look like other businesses, however, what makes them special is that they are run by their own members and not by authorized investors or distant shareholders. In other words, they are run by individuals like you and me, consumers, employees, residents, farmers, artists or taxi drivers.
“As enterprises, owned or run by their members, cooperatives give persons control of business enterprises which they hold close to their heart and therefore they can offer them patronage in a variety of ways. They can shop at them; they can work at them or they can supply them with goods and services. A cooperative, therefore, is a business organization that is owned by those who use it services, but the control of which rests equally with all of its members.”
He noted the principles included voluntary and open membership, democratic member control, member economic participation, autonomy and independence, education and training, cooperation among cooperatives and concern for community.


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Online car-buying platform HeyCar U.K. has promoted Karen Hilton (LinkedIn profile) to CEO from her position as chief commercial officer (CCO). Hilton takes over from Mat Moakes (LinkedIn profile), who becomes CCO of HeyCar Group.
Hilton joined HeyCar in 2019, having previously spent two years at CarWow as commercial director. She takes on her new role following a planned six-month transition period. Moakes, who has been CEO since the business launched in the U.K. in 2019, will now focus on growing the company across Europe.
HeyCar said the changes are part of a strategy to “further accelerate its growth in the U.K. and across Europe.” HeyCar originally launching as a marketplace but has since developed an e-commerce offering.
The company claims to have the largest selection of cars available to buy online in the U.K. — currently just under 17,000. HeyCar is based in Germany, where it launched in 2017, backed by Volkswagen Financial Services, Volkswagen AG and Daimler Mobility Services. It launched in Spain in 2020 and at the end of 2021, it commenced operations in the Netherlands and France. The U.K. business has built a network of commercial partnerships with the likes of Parkers, BuyaCar, and Regit.
“In the three years we’ve been operating, we’ve faced a pandemic, a structural change in the supply network and now the UK faces the economic headwinds of a recession,” said Hilton.
“So, if there’s one challenge to expect, I know it’ll be continuing to weather the ongoing uncertainty and ambiguity. The automotive and tech industry has gone through pivotal changes since the pandemic — the way we work and the way we consume goods have changed, and that change is here to stay.”
“With all these changes comes opportunity, such as the potential for new routes to market. We’ve already seen our e-commerce business grow six-fold since the end of 2021, showcasing that some people are 100% ready to buy a car [online].”
In May, the company published its financial results for 2021 in the U.K. and 2020 in Germany. These revealed large losses: £23.6 million ($25.7 million U.S.) on turnover of just £5.9 million on the U.K. and £35.1 million on revenue of £7.8 million in Germany.


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March 3, 2012 7:16:00 PM
Jan Swoope - [email protected]
For most of us, recycling is a matter of getting newspapers, plastic containers and glass bottles in the right bin, and then feeling pretty good about doing our small part. But in a big, blue metal warehouse on Starkville's North Montgomery Street, Habitat for Humanity takes recycling to another level.
"Kitchen cabinets, ceiling fans, light fixtures, stoves, bathroom vanities, doors ... we even get paint," listed Peggy Branch, office manager of Starkville Area Habitat for Humanity. All these items, and many more, are for sale to the public one Saturday morning each month at the organization's Resale Store.
Part fundraiser, part green initiative, Habitat's "ReStore" outlets around the country sell donated reusable and surplus building materials, gently-used appliances, furniture and home accessories to the public at a fraction of retail price. All proceeds help local affiliates fund construction of Habitat homes in their communities. The concept provides an environmentally and socially responsible way to keep reusable materials out of the waste stream. And ReStore outlets provide a valuable source of affordable household items for community families.
"Rather than throw usable things away when people are remodeling or replacing things in their home, they can donate it to the Resale Store, and somebody else will buy it to install in a house or camphouse ... so we're keeping a good bit of material out of landfills," said Freddie Rasberry, executive director of the Starkville Area Habitat for Humanity.
Branch added, "We basically take anything (except clothing), as long as it is operational. Lately we've even gotten in a few computers, fax machines and printers."
The Starkville Resale Store is entirely volunteer run and donation driven. It's also one of only two Habitat for Humanity "ReStore" outlets in Mississippi, according to the directory at habitat.org/restores/.
The Starkville store currently generates approximately $10,000 for Habitat home builds.
"Absolutely every penny donated items make at the Resale Store goes into the building of a Habitat house. One hundred percent ... not many nonprofits can say that," said Rasberry, who retired from Mississippi State University in 2001. He now relishes his responsibilities as the Starkville area's Habitat director.
Habitat's mission inspires volunteers, like Ross Collins and the long-standing support team of Ricky Hubbard, Terry Kellum, Jimmy McKell, Richard Mullenax, Allan Tucker and Jim Wilson. These men, along with newer volunteers, are at the core of the Resale Store's efficient operation.
They coordinate delivery of donations (and pick-up, when necessary) and store inventory. They also operate the store from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. the first Saturday of every month. They even collect scrap metal.
"We're looking for every opportunity to generate dollars to go toward defraying Habitat's expense in building a home," said the energetic Ross.
Volunteers also feel good about providing very usable materials and furnishings to the public at extremely reasonable prices. A working stove might go for $40 or under, for example. Several nice sofas have been donated and quickly sold, as well.
"If we can sell somebody something at a price they can afford that might improve the quality of their life a little bit, there's a real degree of satisfaction in that," said Ross.
Better than receiving
The store's success also hinges directly on tax deductible donations of items from the community. Some inventory comes from building stores that donate discontinued or display items. Much of the evolving inventory comes from individuals.
Wanda and Mike Thorne of Starkville are longtime active donors to the Resale Store.
"I'm really into decorating, and we've added to our house five times over the years," explained Wanda Thorne. "Every time we've ever done anything, we've donated what we could to the store."
Those items have included a freezer, sinks, refrigerators, dining room chairs, carpet, rug pads, an oriental rug -- even chain link fencing.
"We think it's a really good thing for Habitat for Humanity," stated Thorne. "It serves a good purpose. It's something we believe in."
Kathy Arinder, executive director of the Columbus Lowndes Habitat for Humanity, hopes to soon add Columbus to the list of affiliates with a ReStore.
"We're working toward that goal. We don't know when that will be, but now that we've moved to our new location (Highway 69 South, near Omnova) that has a warehouse, we'd be able to take donations -- something we couldn't do in the past," stated Arinder, adding that the offer of volunteer-power to organize and help run such a facility would be a welcome boost.
The nationwide Habit for Humanity program is very green-oriented, Arinder noted. "They're really encouraging all affiliates to consider a resale store and offering training on how to run them."
There is no shortage of need for the dollars generated by the Starkville Habitat Resale Store; the organization breaks ground on two new houses today.
Spring cleaning offers an ideal opportunity to find something to donate to the store, said Branch, who previously worked with Rasberry at MSU.
"And now we're pulling in all our friends," Rasberry laughed. "We're just all a big, happy family group doing something good for the community."
In the eight years Rasberry, and shortly after, Branch, have been on board, the agency has built 16 houses.
"That's over 50 children that have been put in a stable home," the director emphasized. "There's probably half a dozen of those home owners who have gone back to college, too. Once you stabilize the home, you've done a lot to give people the opportunity to do something with their lives."
And that's something worth recycling for.
(Editor's note: To donate items to the Starkville Area Habitat for Humanity Resale Store, contact Branch at 662-324-7008, or email [email protected] A donation voucher is provided for tax purposes. Learn more at starkvillehabitat.com.)
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.


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Apple on Monday previewed tvOS 13, launching for Apple TVs this fall, which will set the stage for two new subscription services, Apple Arcade and Apple TV+.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has demonstrated multi-user support for the next version of tvOS. Everyone in the home gets personalized suggestions and an up-next list.
The new control center allows for quick shifting from user to user.
Cook also noted that the Xbox One controller, and PlayStation 4 controller are going to be supported going forward.
Apple Arcade and Apple TV+ are launching this fall. The first is Apple's answer to services like Xbox Game Pass, giving people an all-you-can-eat subscription for games across Apple platforms, including not just iPhones and iPads but Macs and Apple TVs. The company is promising over 100 titles at launch, and most importantly a complete absence of ads or in-app purchases — something meant to drag Apple gaming away from exploitative "free-to-play" titles.
Apple TV+ is the company's first step into subscription video streaming. Faced with tough, potentially insurmountable competition from the likes of Netflix and Disney, Apple has turned to celebrities like Steven Spielberg, J.J. Abrams, Oprah Winfrey, and Reese Witherspoon to juice up its original content.


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Leveraging on a practical educational approach that moves beyond classroom lectures is what TUM Asia does to ensure that its curriculum stays relevant and practical to the needs of the industry.
Close cooperation with key industry players gave TUM Asia students a chance to visit renown German companies; Daimler, Rohde and Schwarz, and SSI Schaefer. Visiting these companies gave students the opportunity to yield insights into how they can apply what they learnt to the workforce in the future.
The Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology students visited Rohde & Schwarz and learnt more about their Research and Development departments as well as their service centre.
“I was surprised that they only had 3 head engineers to assemble the high demand products”, mentioned Karen Kang, a student who went for the company visit.
“We learnt about the functions and operations at Rohde & Schwarz, and witnessed the technology and equipment used to test products such as hand phones and televisions. This shows how much confidence they have in their own test equipment.” It was an extremely enriching and enjoyable experience for the students to learn more about what Rohde & Schwarz does and how they contribute to the industry.
TUM Asia’s Master of Science in Transport & Logistics students were able to visit Daimler and SSI Schaefer, gaining direct exposure to leading companies of the industry. “The company visits introduced us to the functions and challenges in warehouse operations and enlightened us to the usage of technology in warehouse management systems”, said Kunal Thakkar.
“Not only were we able to gain a unique first hand encounter with the warehouse processes and technologies, but we were able to make our first business contacts which will help us in our future career path,” said Nicholas Bischoff, a student in the Master of Science in Transport & Logistics programme.
Students were also able to witness the differences between the two warehouses and their contributions to the industry. “With two completely different types of warehouses, we were able to see the possible opportunities for future storage handling systems.”
This article was first published in the TUM Asia DIGEST Newsletter, which is available for online reading here.


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In an article published on July 9, 2015 by the UK-based advocacy group for chemical safety CHEM Trust, Michael Warhurst reports on an on-going study on the regulation of food contact materials (FCMs) in the EU undertaken by the European Commission’s (EC) Joint Research Centre (JRC). In July 2014 the Food Packaging Forum (FPF) published a study showing that hazardous chemicals are authorized and legally used in FCMs in the EU (FPF reported). Also in July 2014, based on the results of the FPF study, CHEM Trust wrote a letter to the EU Health Commissioner addressing the gaps in FCM regulation in the EU. This action prompted the investigation of the issue at JRC in 2014. However, the terms of reference (TOR) of the JRC study had not been published until June 2015 (FPF reported). In his article, Warhurst outlines CHEM Trust’s efforts to gain public access to the TOR of the JRC study and to push for regulatory action regarding FCMs.
Michael Warhurst (July 9, 2015). “Chemicals in food packaging: EU Commission finally publishes the scope of their new study.” CHEM Trust
Michael Warhurst (July 9, 2014). “Hazardous chemicals in food packaging: CHEM Trust writes to EU Commissioner Borg.” CHEM Trust


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Rogers will no longer be the only operator to offer iPhones in Canada – Macitynet.it
A few days after the announcement by Orange and Vodafone that they will offer iPhone in the United Kingdom thus ending the long exclusive of O2, new revelations emerge which indicate an identical operation also for the Canadian market. Here for over a year Rogers has been offering iPhone exclusively but, according to insiders in Canada, iPhone will soon be available for purchase from Bell and Telus.
Neither of the two operators let alone Apple have released official announcements: the indiscretions for appear rather founded and are also reported by The Globe and Mail. According to the magazine, public communication could take place shortly, perhaps already today or tomorrow.
To date Rogers has been the only Canadian operator to have a 3G network suitable to support iPhone, remember that the two competitors Bell and Telus have signed a cooperation agreement to divide the investment of a billion dollars to build and extend an HSDPA network. The construction of the new cellular infrastructure was completed several months ahead of the initial project: the introduction of the iPhone as an alternative to Rogers by Bell and Telus represents the last step to realign competitiveness in the country's mobile sector.