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The SONY Hack – Release ‘The Interview’ into the Wild
The most recent hack of Sony is not about salacious gossip, who holds the power in movietown, or who has poor taste in “jokes.” To poorly paraphrase John Donne, it is not about asking for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for IT.
While the challenge for IT security is daunting, in every aspect of business – since the first transaction was made thousands of years ago – the ability to securely make subsequent transactions has always been a business’ prime objective. Sony has been keenly aware of its position as a target, and if reports are true, disregarded the most basic security steps expected (and required) post-attack, to secure sensitive data.
According to BusinessWeek, Sony was warned about a year ago that hackers had infiltrated its network and were stealing gigabytes of data several times a week, underscoring a pattern of lapses predating a recent attack that has spilled Sony Pictures’ secrets onto the Internet.
In late 2013, the hackers sifted through data from the company’s network, encrypted the information to cover their tracks and mined it on a regular schedule, said a person familiar with Sony’s investigation of the breach who asked not to be named because the findings are confidential.
The company’s cybersecurity problems date at least as far back as 2011, with a breach of Sony’s PlayStation video-game network.
The discovery was part of a companywide review of cybersecurity practices following the 2011 hack that extended for more than two years and which, while shoring up the security of some parts of the network, left holes remaining.
The extent of the breach last year was discovered by an outside contractor after Tokyo-based Sony found suspicious traffic on its corporate computers and requested an analysis. Quoting an unnamed source, BusinessWeek goes on to report that even after discovering the thefts, Sony didn’t conduct an audit to determine how much content was stolen.
Sony is warning current and former employees about fraudsters who might be prowling the Internet to take advantage of leaked personal information.
US Confirms North Korea Involved
From The New York Times: American intelligence officials have concluded that the North Korean government was “centrally involved” in the recent attacks on Sony Pictures’s computers, a determination reached just as Sony on Wednesday canceled its release of the comedy, which is based on a plot to assassinate Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader.
Senior administration officials, who would not speak on the record about the intelligence findings, said the White House was still debating whether to publicly accuse North Korea of what amounts to a cyberterrorism campaign. Sony’s decision to cancel release of “The Interview” amounted to a capitulation to the threats sent out by hackers this week that they would launch attacks, perhaps on theaters themselves, if the movie was released.
Next come the lawsuits: we know that the most personal information released includes passwords, paychecks, credit card and social security numbers, salaries, and more. According to The LA Times, lawyers representing former Sony Pictures employees have separately filed in Los Angeles two lawsuits that seek class-action status, alleging Sony Pictures Entertainment was negligent in the months leading up to the devastating hack. One of the complaints — a 45-page federal lawsuit, which seeks to represent former and current Sony employees — contends that Sony ignored warnings that its computer network was prone to attack.
Sony “failed to secure its computer systems, servers and databases, despite weaknesses that it has known about for years” and “subsequently failed to timely protect confidential information of its current and former employees from law-breaking hackers,” according to the federal complaint filed late Monday.
The other suit, which was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday, also alleges negligence and invasion of privacy of former Sony employees. The breach is expected to cost Sony Pictures tens of millions of dollars as the company rebuilds its computer network, bolsters security and deals with piracy and the legal fallout.
Loss to Shareholders
The hack has sent stock down 10% in past week. While the fluctuations have not been massive, there is concern that losses will mount as new files are released. Bill Fries, co-manager of the Thornburg International Value Fund and an investor in Sony’s stock, said that it’s “not good for any company to have management show such insensitivity that gives them adverse publicity.”
Release it into the Wild
The best idea we’ve seen? Release the movie The Interview into the wild. As written by The Verge’s Bryan Bishop:
“This is a scenario unlike anything we’ve ever seen before, and Sony Pictures is at a unique point in history. As theater chain stocks dipped Tuesday, the hacks began to look more like true economic terrorism — impacting an entire industry, not just a lone company. TV shows and movies will undoubtedly stay away from portraying North Korea in a negative light moving forward, the chilling effect that this kind of strong-arming leads to. And what happens between now and Christmas Day, when the film is (still) scheduled for release, will establish a precedent that sets the tone for years to come.
The hackers, whomever they may be, have used the internet to attack Sony Pictures. They’ve used it to intimidate Sony Pictures. Now Sony can use that same internet to fight back and spread The Interview across the world.
Put it online.
Can stolen material be used by reporters?
From HuffPost: The New York Times, for one, has covered revelations from the hacked Sony emails, but only after they’ve first been made public by other news organizations. Executive editor Dean Baquet said Monday it “would be a disservice to our readers to pretend” that already-surfaced documents “weren’t revealing and public.”
Times reporters have not only stopped short of first reporting information from the hacked email cache, but according to one, have been advised by the papers’ attorneys not to download and open them at all.
Hacktavism as Terrorism
From USA Today: The country’s five biggest theater chains will not screen The Interview due to hacker threats, multiple sources say.
Regal Entertainment will “delay” screening the Seth Rogen-James Franco comedy, which was set to open Christmas Day, according to a statement sent to USA TODAY.
“Due to the wavering support of the film The Interview by Sony Pictures, as well as the ambiguous nature of any real or perceived threats, Regal Entertainment Group has decided to delay the opening of the film in our theatres,” the statement reads.
From Bloomberg: Security experts are poring over the malware used in the recent attack against Sony (SNE), as well as the massive amount of data released as a result of the attack, in an attempt to recreate what happened.
An early examination of the malware makes it clear the hackers had become familiar with the Sony network beforehand, according to Jaime Blasco, the director of AlienVault Labs. Blasco said his analysis of the code found the names of Sony’s internal servers as well as credentials and passwords needed to connect to the network. The malware was used to communicate with IP addresses in Europe and Asia, he said, which is common for hackers trying to obscure their location.
Blasco also noted that some of the code was written in Korean, which seems to point to the most common working theory about the perpetrators—that they work for the North Korean government.
“What this shows you is that the IT guys tell the board and top management they’ve got the problem under control, and everybody goes back to business as usual,” says Adam Epstein, a corporate consultant with Third Creek Advisors in Danville, Calif. “The weaknesses you see at Sony and other companies, large and small, can’t be fixed by installing one more firewall or some new antivirus software. By the time the good guys zig, the bad guys are already zagging.”
Bloomber’s Paul Barrett continues: The malware used against Sony Pictures “would have gotten past 90 percent of the net defenses out there today in private industry,” Joseph Demarest, assistant director of the FBI’s cyber division, told the Senate Banking Committee on Dec. 10. Sony nevertheless made itself especially vulnerable to suffering damage once the intruders got in. Those celebrity aliases and additional personal data are said to have been stored in a folder titled “publicity bibles.” Computer passwords were compiled in a document invitingly called “passwords,” and so forth.
Reddit Takes Down Sony Hack Forum
In a rare decision, Reddit has taken down a forum that housed links to hacked Sony Pictures documents.
The website on Tuesday banned the subreddit SonyGOP, which was filled with links to hundreds of gigabytes of Sony ( emails, movie scripts, internal memos and personal information about employees. )
The hacking group Guardians of Peace has mostly used the website Pastebin to post links to the hacked documents, but other people have copied and pasted those links on Reddit, making it a popular repository for people looking to pore through the hacked materials.
Reddit said it shut down the SonyGOP subreddit in response to requests from Sony to take down the links.
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act allows media companies to ask websites take down copyrighted material, but the websites are not obligated to take down links themselves — let alone shut down an entire page or site. Yet Reddit took the unusual measure of banning the entire subreddit.
Not Even Korea Can Stop the Internet
From The Verge: Things leak. They spread. A version of Kim Jong-un’s death scene is already out in the wild. So what Sony should really do is take the game online. Throw the movie up on iTunes and Amazon. Get crazy and give Crackle a shot. Take the threat of attacking theaters and diffuse it with the truth that the hackers don’t seem to understand: we live in a world where every living room, every computer, and every phone is a theater. And whether it’s leaked government documents or a goofy comedy from the Neighbors guy, nothing stays hidden for long.
Would it open Sony up to having additional emails leaked? Would it open up content providers to potentially adding their names to the hackers’ hitlist? Potentially, and we certainly don’t know what other personal threats have been made directly to the heads of Sony Pictures. But anyone expecting the leaks to stop at this point hasn’t been paying attention, and as long as the movie is kept under wraps there’s that dangling, implied threat: don’t show it or else. Releasing the movie online would allow the company to take a principled stand against its attackers and shatter that tension….
…Releasing it for free would bring a bonanza of good will at a time when the studio needs it, but charging could be an even stronger choice, serving as a bold experiment in day-and-date video-on-demand releases.
It’s not just about SONY – the Snapchat connection
From The Verge: One of the least expected companies to take collateral damage in the epic Sony Pictures hack has been Snapchat. CEO Evan Spiegel regularly trades emails with Sony Pictures CEO Michael Lynton, who sits on Snapchat’s board, and the revelations from the pair’s emails have been spilling out all week. Among them: the company secretly bought a company that makes a Google Glass-like product; it’s actively pursuing plans to insert music into the app; and the company turned down a bigger offer from Facebook than the $3 billion originally reported. But there are other revelations in there, too: that Chinese internet company Tencent felt insulted by him during fundraising negotiations, for example, and that he and his co-founder sought to take $40 million for themselves during a fundraising round. View a copy of Spiegel’s email to employees here.
There is more to come from this hack. As Sarah Perez writes in TechCrunch: If an organization of Sony’s size is susceptible to hacking, anyone is.
In the aftermath, Sony has now hired FireEye Inc.’s Mandiant forensics unit to clean up this massive cyber attack, as the FBI investigates the incident. But the immediate damage has been done and the damage may continue for some time. Only a small number of documents have been revealed so far – the hackers reportedly captured over 100 terabytes of data….that this happened, that this level of private data can be revealed, and that it can be revealed with ease can help us all. Let it serve as a warning to everyone from corporate IT to everyday consumers to protect ourselves…or risk becoming the next Sony.
Just Call Firestorm
Only resilient businesses survive disasters. And, of all the disasters you have seen, the WORST will be the one that happens to YOUR company.
Business continuity planning identifies mission-critical business functions and enacts policies, processes and procedures to ensure the continuation of these functions during and after unforeseen incidents. Business continuity planning should be supported by Information Technology strategies and plans that meet the requirements of the business for critical technology dependencies.
Proper planning can keep a disruption from becoming a disaster. After all, the value of your company lies in its ability to continue to deliver critical products and services, and produce revenue.
Learn more, and pass our information on to Sony.


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Arlington, Va. — Rick Wagoner, chairman/CEO of General Motors, will deliver a keynote address at the 2008 International CES, according to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the show’s producer.
Wagoner joins a lineup of CES keynote speakers, including executives from Microsoft, Panasonic and Intel, slated to make major presentations at CES. The 2008 International CES will return to Las Vegas, Jan. 7-10, 2008.
Wagoner’s keynote address is slated for day two of the show, Tuesday, Jan. 8, at 4:30 p.m., and will mark General Motors’ first keynote address at the International CES.
“The consumer technology and automotive industries continue to intertwine as consumers demand more innovation and functionality from in-vehicle electronics products. This exciting keynote address by the world’s largest automaker is further proof that the International CES is the must-attend event for in-vehicle technology,” said Gary Shapiro, CEA’s president/CEO. “We’re thrilled to have Rick Wagoner speak at the 2008 CES and look forward to hearing his vision for the growth of consumer technology in the automotive industry.”
Total shipment revenues in the mobile video and navigation categories are forecasted to increase by an astounding 41 percent in 2007, reaching nearly $2.3 billion.
Rick Wagoner was elected GM chairman/CEO on May 1, 2003, and has served as president and CEO since June 2000.
Wagoner joins such other top-level executives as Microsoft’s Bill Gates, Panasonic’s Toshihiro Sakamoto and Intel’s Paul Otellini as confirmed keynote speakers for the 2008 CES.

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VicRoads is recommending P-platers jump behind the wheel of a race-ready Lotus or an electric supercar that’s as fast as a $900,000 Ferrari while forcing inexperienced drivers to apply for an exemption for four-cylinder cars with less power than a Toyota Corolla.
The newly launched “probationary vehicle database” housed on the VicRoads website gives a green tick for P-platers to get behind the wheel of the Tesla Roadster that’s claimed to reach 100km/h in just 3.7 seconds – identical to the upcoming V12-powered Ferrari FF supercar.
VicRoads also steers novice drivers to the Lotus Elise Club Racer 111 – a sports car described as “an individual expression of sporting intent”.
But the new website instructs P-platers to apply for an exemption to drive the least powerful Volkswagen Golf on the market, the 77TSI that has a 1.2-litre turbocharged engine with just 77kW of power – 23 per cent less than a Toyota Corolla.
The new taxpayer-funded, Australia-made Holden Cruze that could overtake the Commodore to become the best-selling vehicle on the market also requires an exemption for novice drivers to avoid a $239 fine and three demerit points – but only for the least powerful model. More powerful Cruzes are exempt.
Other modestly performing vehicles such as the Toyota LandCruiser are banned altogether from inexperienced drivers because of their V8 engine.
VicRoads was this week spruiking the new website as “a helpful resource for P-platers when buying their first car”, according to Minister for Roads Terry Mulder.
“Young drivers are over-represented in the Victorian road toll, making up 28 per cent of all driver fatalities,” Mr Mulder was quoted as saying. “A proportion of this can be attributed towards inexperienced drivers handling high performance vehicles.”
The inconsistencies in recommendations are indicative of controversial regulations struggling to keep pace with new technologies designed to save fuel and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
VicRoads bans P-platers from all vehicles with an engine with eight or more cylinders, or one with a supercharger or turbocharger, as well as certain high performance six-cylinder models.
Some turbocharged models are exempt but only once P-plater apply to VicRoads.
The rules mean low-powered fuel efficient small cars are being caught in the P-plate net while cars with much more power and better performance are being overlooked. Hybrid cars and electric vehicles are also ignored in the regulations that have long raised the ire of novice drivers and car makers.
VicRoads acknowledges the regulations will have to change, possibly reverting to a power-to-weight ratio method of estimating performance.
“There are some anomalies [with the current system],” says Ross McArthur, VicRoads manager of vehicle safety and policy. “We’re constantly watching the market … [and] we’re going to do something.
“Power to weight makes sense, there’s no doubt. From a physics point of view it’s easy to make an argument, from a practicality viewpoint [with enforcement and recommendations] it’s harder.”
It’s not the first time VicRoads has been caught out. Two years ago when its regulations banned novice drivers from driving various modestly performing family cars, such as most Volvos, various turbocharged Mercedes-Benzes and the Mazda CX-7 turbo, the roads authority was quick to introduce exemptions.
Austroads, the association of Australian and New Zealand road transport and traffic authorities, is currently consulting with the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries to recommend revisions to the scheme that could involve a return to the power-to-weight ratio method of calculating vehicles considered inappropriate for novice drivers.
The revisions are expected to be months away at best.
FCAI chief executive Andrew McKellar welcomed any change to the scheme he describes as “a relic”.
“It was a dumb idea when it was first invented,” he said, confirming a power-to-weight ratio calculation method is “where [the industry] wants to go.”


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Using information and communication technology (ICT) to access services is progressively becoming a way of life in the country, with the latest innovation the introduction of an online application that makes it easier for people using taxis to conveniently access them at any location within Kigali, any time and at minimal cost.
Speaking to The New Times, Afshon Wellace Ngige, the managing director of the company that developed the app, named ‘250 Taxi,’ said they have already launched it on GooglePlay, Windows Store and it will soon be available on Apple Store.
He said they will launch 250 Taxi to the public next week, following a successful test run.
All a user will have to do is download the application, create a user account then once logged in, they can access the cab nearest to them by pressing a button, Ngige said.
“We have added more security to the experience, we have partnered with registered taxi operators who we have trained and we have all their information that will be available to the user through the application,” he said.
According to Ngige, in December, the firm undertook a pilot phase of the business model that received positive reception from both taxi operators and their clients.
“We have partnered with a lot of small and mid-level businesses who don’t own company cars and created corporate accounts for them where they can use our services and have a payment plan convenient with their business,” Ngige said.
Regarding fares, the application is fitted with a meter that calculates the fare in relation to the distance covered and the fares are computed using the tariff set by Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority.
No threat to operators
The services are in many ways similar to those offered by the global cab firm, Uber, which has raised concerns among the operators.
In neigbouring Kenya, the services have been commended by clients for reducing transport cost, but criticised by a section of operators who claim that Uber was “taking business from them.”
However, Ngige said 250 Taxi does not expect such reaction as the firm will be using professional cab drivers who are already in business.
“The situation in Kenya is very different from what we are doing. Some of the registered Uber drivers are not taxi operators and simply people with cars who are registered under Uber. We, however, walked around Kigali and handpicked our cab drivers. We made sure they were all licensed and registered with a taxi cooperative,” he said.
Currently, Ngige said, they are working with nearly 60 taxi operators in the city.
Clarisse Uwera, who has hired a taxi using the service on more than one occasion during the pilot phase, said she had a pleasant experience mainly because she did not have to negotiate for the fare.
“I was pleased by the customer care I received from the drivers and the efficiency of their services. I did not have to haggle with the driver over my payment and the cost was fair,” Uwera said.
A majority of drivers who spoke to The New Times said they would readily join the platform, mainly because it will increase their chances of getting passengers.
Bosco Makuza, who has been a taxi operator for five years and has recently received training to be part of 250 Taxi fleet, is optimistic his output will improve now that he is part of an efficient and budding company.
“This company will save the public a lot, from time to the days of falling victim to unscrupulous clients and unproductively waiting around hoping that clients will approach an operator,” Makuza said.
ICT experts laud trend
Tech enthusiasts say the development is an important addition to transport sector in terms of efficiency and service delivery.
Gilbert Rwabigwa, local tech analyst, said such innovations in the transport sector are necessary for every forward looking society aspiring for progress.
The company, which is set to commence operations in Kigali in the coming week aims at a nationwide market in the near future.
Other ICT innovations that have improved public transport include Safemotos, a mobile phone application launched by two young entrepreneurs, which links clients to vetted public transport motorcycle operators at no extra costs.
The application launched last year and now available on Google store enables clients to order for a motorbike from any location in the city.
Another public transport solution dependent on ICT is Tap&Go smart payment solution, developed by AC Group which has automated public transport payment systems in a bid to promote cashless economy.
Source: The New Times


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Mobilesyrup announced yesterday a new Contest in which you can win the new Samsung Galaxy S9+ in Lilac Purple, courtesy of Bell.
The contest is open to all residents of Canada and the United States.
Read the article about the phone and then follow the instructions in the gleam app to receive entries. There are 4 ways to enter: Follow @Mobilesyrup on Twitter, check them out on Facebook, subscribe to their Youtube channel or visit their Instagram page.
Contest closes on April 3rd, 2018 at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be chosen randomly from among all the elegible entries received.
Winner will receive a Bell Samsung Galaxy S9+ in Lilac Purple with an approximate value of $1,200 CAD.
The Mobilesyrup Samsung Galaxy S9+ Contest begins on March 16, 2018 and ends on April 3rd, 2018 at 11:59 pm EST.
Winners and contest results
Winner will be chosen randomly from among all the elegible entries received.


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Brenda Bisner is the SVP of Content and Business Development at Kidoodle.TV, the ‘safe-streaming’ platform for children. She sat with Dylan in New York to discuss her 18 years in the kids space, the merits of AVOD versus SVOD, healthy screen-time habits and the advantages of human moderation over AI.
Kids are spending more time on the internet every day – but the websites and apps they use were primarily designed for use by adults.
At SuperAwesome, we’re focused on making the internet safer for kids. We hire the most talented developers we can find – but more often than not they have little to no experience in our very new sector. So our onboarding process has been designed to turn great software engineers into kidtech engineers, focused on the importance of privacy and children.
Generation Alpha are the new focus for marketers world-wide, with kids born in 2010 or later exerting a powerful influence on household spending. In a recent survey by Hotwire, 81% of parents in the US reported that the opinions of their children played a significant role in their spending, particularly when it came to tech. Generation Alpha are influencing household decisions all year round – but never more so than during the all-important back-to-school period.
YouTube is one of the biggest challenges facing brands and content owners who engage with children. Although it has a vast audience of kids, reaching that audience is filled with risk. This means that for brands, content owners, content creators and others, there is a lack of tools designed for 6-13 YouTube engagement.
The recent enforcement action against Oath’s ad exchange (formerly known as AOL) for breaching COPPA has put a spotlight on programmatic advertising to children. The case highlighted some important issues including the fact that using the ‘COPPA flag’ does not work. In fact, the only guaranteed way for advertisers to be compliant in programmatic ad buying is through a dedicated kidtech solution.
In Episode 6 of #Kidtech, Emma Scott, CEO of Beano Studios, speaks to Dylan Collins about how a long career of disruption has culminated in building a digital platform around the UK’s best-loved and longest-running children’s comic. Beano Studios, a rebellious entertainment network powered by creativity, data and insight, has succeeded where others have failed, integrating their historic brand into the new digital ecosystem.
The FTC dramatically upped the ante on COPPA enforcement this week with a record-setting fine of $5.7m against the app formerly known as Musical.ly (now TikTok). The settlement says TikTok breached COPPA by knowingly collecting personal information from children without first obtaining parental consent, as required by the law.
At SuperAwesome, we build technology that makes the internet safer for kids. Every month, we handle requests from hundreds of millions of kids located all around the world. These kids use their devices moderately in the morning, a little bit during the day, and a lot in the evening. As a result, we had to build highly scalable systems that would respond automatically to that demand.
In Episode 5 of #KidTech LEGO’s Senior Global Director for Digital Consumer Engagement, Rob Lowe, discusses LEGO Life, their groundbreaking social network for kids with SuperAwesome’s Dylan Collins.


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If you were hyped before…
Long rumored to be working on a wearable device, Snapchat, now called Snap Inc, rolled out details of their foray into wearable tech last week.
Essentially a pair of sunglasses with a built in camera, Spectacles record a 10 or 30 second video with the tap of a button. The camera has a ring of lights that illuminate inside and out to tell you and those around you when it’s recording.
Here’s why they’re cool
The most interesting feature is that the video recorded is circular, and captured with 115 degrees. This means the video will play in either landscape or portrait mode on your device, and so is orientation neutral.
Videos released online show that the recording plays continually without switching or rotating the perspective even if you turn your phone.
Snaps captured with Spectacles sync with your phone and are added to Memories, where you can share them as you would any other snap. But the glasses have built in storage too, so you don’t need to have your phone on you to record.
The glasses come with a wireless charging case and the company claims you can snap all day on one charge. There are still a lot of questions, especially about video resolution, audio options, and still picture capturing. The company hasn’t even made it clear where you can purchase the glasses.
This holiday season’s Furby?
The buzz around the glasses is already considerable, and several sources predict that Spectacles will escape the nerd stigma associated with, say, Google Glass, and become a hot-ticket item for the holiday shopping season.
Available this fall, Spectacles they will cost $130 and come in blue, red, and black shades. Street cred sold separately.


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MannKind Corporation (NASDAQ:MNKD) shares continued their decline on Monday following the news that a potential rival has filed for an IPO, says a report from WallStreetPR. The news of the IPO along with the continued pullback from the news of the delay in approval of Afrezza dragged the shares down by 1.87% to $6.29.
Rival developing a similar product
Dance Biopharm, a rival to MannKind Corporation (NASDAQ:MNKD), reportedly filed IPO documents with the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) last week. Dance Biopharm is expected to collect $75 million through the offering. Similar to MannKind’s product, rival Dance has also developed an inhaled insulin product for the treatment of diabetes.
ValueWalk's Raul Panganiban interviews JP Lee, Product Managers at VanEck, and discusses the video gaming industry. Q4 2020 hedge fund letters, conferences and more The following is a computer generated transcript and may contain some errors. Interview With VanEck's JP Lee ValueWalk's ValueTalks ·
Dance 501 has been developed to supply liquid insulin through its handheld, small electronic inhalation device. In its IPO filings with the SEC, Dance mentioned that it plans to start the Phase III clinical trial of the product in early 2015, and would reach out to European, Chinese and U.S authorities for regulatory approval of its product.
MannKind presents a good buying opportunity
Presently, MannKind Corporation (NASDAQ:MNKD)’s Afrezza, which is an inhaled diabetes device, is under review by the FDA. Earlier this month, shares of the drug maker surged following the approval from the FDA advisory panel over the use of Afrezza for Type 2 diabetes. The panel also recommended the device for Type 1 diabetes. However, after the news that the FDA has postponed the decision until mid-July, the shares have been moving downwards.
A report from Brinson Patrick on April 8, 2014 by analyst Christopher S James views the recent dip in MannKind Corporation (NASDAQ:MNKD)’s shares as a good buying opportunity believing “a high level of conviction for approval.” Afrezza has already won the approval from AdCom for type-1 and type-2 diabetes, which raises the chances of FDA approval.
According to James, Afrezza could start selling from the first quarter of 2015, and he expects 2025 sales to be around $3.6 billion, “driven by use in earlier-stage T2D.” The analyst expects the initial demand for Afrezza to be high “considering statements made by the panel and open public hearing about its efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics, and attractive size.”
Brinson Patrick has a Market Outperform rating on MannKind Corporation (NASDAQ:MNKD) with a price target of $12. At 11 a.m. EDT, MannKind Corporation (NASDAQ:MNKD) shares were down 3.18% to $6.09.


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A recent study has prompted industry watchers to suggest that 1998 will be the year in which retailers finally embrace frequent-buyer programs, leading to an expansion in the market for companies that can construct databases to help retailers target their best customers.
The study, commissioned by Retail Marketing & Advertising International (RAMA), found that nearly half of Americans belong to at least one frequent-buyer or loyalty program. Among participating consumers, 43 percent said they think that this type of program causes them to make more purchases, and 16 percent said it makes them stick with one store.
About 75 retailers and department stores now operate these programs, and Rick Barlow, president of Frequency Marketing Inc., Cincinnati, which launches frequent-buyer programs, expects that number to grow exponentially in the next 18 to 24 months.
“Retailers are embracing this. They have awakened to the necessity of using this approach,'' said Barlow, citing frequent-buyer programs as the single most important issue in the future for RAMA members. “Retailers know they have to, but they don't know how.''
Most retailers polled at the recent RAMA Conference did not have a tracking system to monitor individual customer activity. Kristen Marshall Napoleon of Marshall Marketing and Communications, Pittsburgh, which conducted the study, said that most of the companies that do have databases track only transactions using store-issued credit cards, which account for fewer than one-third of all card purchases.
Some stores, including Nordstrom, The Limited, Pier One, Toys “R” Us and Federated Department Stores, have issued co-branded cards to capture more transactions, but the databases still are limited.
Sandra Gudat, senior vice president of relationship marketing at Customer Communications Group, Denver, said retailers that already maintain a database will make a much easier transition to frequent-buyer programs than ones that start from scratch.
Database marketers can be a help to the latter group, but Gudat, who has launched 20 programs for such retailers as the Bombay Company and Macy's, said the practices of a successful database campaign don't apply to retail programs. Instead of viewing customers as prospects, relationship marketers take a more personal approach, Gudat said. Database marketers, however, could provide the technical part of the solution.
Luxury retailers Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue have had reward and recognition programs in place for 14 years and eight years respectively, and Sears' Best Customer program has been in effect for four years. Barlow said at least three more major retailers are expected to unveil programs this year, one of which will base rewards on all forms of card payment.
“The upscale tier will respond with programs,'' he said. “It's like what happened in the airline industry — the longer you wait, the more market share you lose.''
American Airlines created its frequent-flier program in 1981, and within 18 months its rivals had initiated similar programs.


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Recent promotion with a campaign by Microsoft says “Don’t get scroogled by Gmail” tempts users of Gmail to leave it for Microsoft’s Outlook. The software giant is attacking Google’s free email service with this campaign requesting that they should no longer be with Gmail due to privacy concerns. Google is presently the target by Microsoft where it raises an earlier issue – Google goes through users’ emails to filter relevant advertisements to put alongside the messages. Microsoft reveals that a study it performed acquired that 70% of consumers involved in polling were not aware that major email givers regularly read emails to sell ads and that almost 90% criticized this practice.
“Outlook.com believes your privacy is not for sale,” Stefan Weitz, senior director of Online Services at Microsoft cited. “We believe people should have choice and control over their private email messages, whether they are sharing banking information or pictures of their family or discussing their medical history.” Also European regulators put continuous efforts on finding Google’s truth after rivals like Microsoft complained that Google moulded the search outcomes to push up its products and websites ahead. Then, U.S Federal Trade Commission currently got that Google’s search outcomes were not biased in favour of its own results in a manner that was anticompetitive – a decision that was a win-win for the web giant.
Gmail emerged before 9 years and no soon was thrown as a horrific assault into users’ privacy & safety fronts. Finally it battled that it is illegal for any firm to go through the content of users’ email communication and show similar or interesting advertisements. Such method of Gmail has led it to frequent lawsuits. But Google reveals that it doesn’t harm users’ privacy anyhow.
“Advertising keeps Google and many of the websites and services Google offers free of charge,” Google said in a statement. “We work hard to make sure that ads are safe, unobtrusive and relevant. No humans read your email or Google account information in order to show you advertisements or related information.”
While currently Microsoft displays its Outlook service, the search leader argues that Gmail scans the contents of users’ e-mails only to prevent spam, malware, and other undesired things or harming activity.


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There has been a lot of chatter that Microsoft will be laying off employees this month. The world economy has not been doing very well in the past year, and many companies are either bought out, absorbed, collapse, or simply trim the fat in an attempt to survive. People are looking to see if Microsoft, one of the most profitable companies in the world, will be laying off employees as a sign of just how bad the economic climate is.
We have learned through Microsoft employees that layoffs are not just a rumor, but they are eminent. Read more OCModShop.


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Brian and I are on the ground in San Francisco for Apple's event today. We're expecting to see new iPads introduced as well as the long-awaited Haswell rMBP refreshes. The event starts at 10AM PT, keep it parked here for our live blog!
Apple released an EFI update for the 2011 MacBook Pros yesterday that reportedly resolves performance and compatibility issues with SATA 3.0 SSDs, some of which Anand noted in our...11 by Andrew Cunningham on 9/15/2011
Last year at the iPad introduction Steve Jobs announced that Apple is a mobile device company. Just last week Steve returned to introduce the iPad 2 and point out...197 by Anand Lal Shimpi, Brian Klug & Vivek Gowri on 3/10/2011
Apple fans, please forgive me, and feel free to skip this post. I have been testing out a MacBook Pro 13 running Windows 7 and have put it through...117 by Vivek Gowri on 10/14/2010
Earlier this year Apple updated its entire MacBook Pro lineup. The update wasn't cosmetic, the 2nd generation unibody design carried over from 2009. Instead the 15-inch and 17-inch notebooks...93 by Anand Lal Shimpi on 6/9/2010
If you recall from our 15-inch Core i5 MacBook Pro review, one of our only criticisms was the inability for users to manually change between lower-power integrated Intel HD...15 by Brian Klug on 5/8/2010
Apple is in a position that’s enviable by any consumer facing company. It drums up genuine excitement for nearly every product it launches. Apple has somehow found a way...69 by Anand Lal Shimpi on 4/24/2010
If you've followed our Mac coverage over the past year you know I've been telling everyone to wait until Apple brought Arrandale into its MacBook Pro lineup. The time...114 by Anand Lal Shimpi on 4/14/2010


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UK hospitality operators have offered a mixed response to the decision to freeze air passenger duty on short-haul and economy class flights. The move was revealed earlier by Phillip Hammond, chancellor of the exchequer, in the autumn budget.
American Express Global Business Travel has completed the previously announced acquisition of Banks Sadler. The international event management agency, headquartered in London, becomes part of American Express Meetings & Events, a division of American Express GBT.
With global travel facing an ever-growing number of security threats, corporate travel buyers are dealing with a growing number of traveller concerns, and struggling to adopt the tools necessary to address them. But according to new research from the Association of Corporate Travel Executives, underwritten by American Express Global Business Travel, travel managers increasingly recognise they have a central role to play in fulfilling their company’s duty of care obligations to travelling employees.
A new research-based report published today by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives and American Express Global Business Travel reveals how the behaviour and priorities of today’s business travellers are evolving. It also explores how corporations can adapt managed travel programmes to fulfil the needs and expectations of contemporary business travellers.
American Express Global Business Travel has completed the acquisition of KDS, a global provider of integrated travel technology headquartered in France. Announced in August, this acquisition is part of GBT’s broader investment strategy to develop a suite of integrated digital services for business travellers, bolstering its core technology platform with KDS’ integrated travel SaaS technology.
American Express Global Business Travel has named Philippe Chérèque as president, effective immediately. In this newly created position, Chérèque will continue to oversee the commercial and product technology organisations, which he has successfully led the past two years, and will also assume responsibility for supplier relations, marketing, and consulting.
American Express Global Business Travel has announced it has signed an agreement to acquire KDS, a global provider of integrated travel technology. Headquartered in France, KDS has operations in the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States. The acquisition of KDS is part of a broader investment strategy by GBT to develop an industry-leading suite of traveller-centric online and digital services, sitting on top of the company’s core technology platform for business travellers.
American Express Global Business Travel today announced Doug Anderson joins the company as chief executive, effective immediately. Anderson was replaced as president of Carlson Wagonlit Travel earlier this year by Travelport veteran Kurt Ekert.
American Express Global Business Travel has announced the launch of Premier Insights, a data visualisation tool, which provides companies and their travel managers with a complete view of their travel programme to drive greater efficiencies, improvements and savings. The tool integrates American Express Corporate Cards and travel booking data into a single platform, providing companies and their travel managers with access to a comprehensive, single-source view of their entire travel programme.


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The .com domain name is celebrating its 25th birthday, with computer maker Symbolics.com the first to add the domain to its name on March 15, 1985.
Nine years before anyone thought to buy sex.com, and with the world wide web still a gleam in Sir Tim Berners-Lee's eye, Symbolics became the first to register a .com, and earn itself a footnote in internet history.
Five others took the plunge that year and bought a domain name, with the BBC suggesting that another 199 million or so have been registered since.
Around 86 million of those are still active as internet sites.
Who would have guessed?
Mark McLaughlin, CEO of .com domain controllers Verisign, said: "Who would have guessed 25 years ago where the internet would be today and the number of businesses that have been built on it."
Symbolics may have shown great foresight in getting on the .com gravy train years before anyone had started to cook the meat, but unfortunately it was not enough to save the company, which went bust.


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SINGAPORE: Singapore and its northern neighbour Malaysia are embroiled in a maritime dispute after the two countries traded conflicting views over the issue. Singapore has said Malaysia has been intruding into its waters. READ: Singapore extends port limits off Tuas, won't hesitate to take ...
- Bumi Armada tops active list after reporting 29% 1Q net profit jump
- #MovieMonday: Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile Review: Great Killer, Bad Movie
- Trump presses Japan over trade gap, expects ‘good things’ from North Korea
- Woman starts giving birth in backseat of Comfort Delgro taxi just as she reaches KK Hospital
- 5 poor cats allegedly thrown out at night in Redhill HDB estate
- S’pore ‘Top’ Amazon Seller Who Gives Courses on Selling Roasted Online After Starting an AMA
- RHB Bank 1Q net profit up 6.7% on lower expected credit losses, opex


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But on the identical time, renewable sources noticed their share in electrical energy considerably enhance at record levels in many nations. The interest of varied nations to increase renewable energy has began before COVID -19. Intel is working relentlessly to unleash the potential of knowledge, leading to more capable and environment friendly networks, and pervasive AI throughout smart units. Moore’s Law set the pace for the digital revolution and continues to encourage us at present.
- GlobalData forecasts that with an ageing workforce, robots will carry out more and more tasks in warehouses, hospitals and retail stores, resulting in a rebalancing of labor between man and machine.
- According to the global survey featured in our IndustryLab report exploring the dematerialized workplace and insights into the 2030 future workplace, half of respondents indicated they would desire a full-sense digital presence at work from anyplace.
- Not only did it foresee Hollywood’s franchise and


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The 10 Largest School District In-plants
- The top five have annual sales between $2-8 million
- Though many reported slightly lower revenues compared with last year, one K-12 in-plant posted nearly $1 million more sales in 2019 than in 2018
- Six of the top 10 are located in the western U.S.
Download the list to see which in-plants made it into the top 10.


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SAN FRANCISCO (TheStreet) -- Qualcomm (QCOM) is under investigation for potential antitrust breaches in Europe as well as the U.S., the company disclosed Wednesday. These new antitrust probes add to legal woes the company is already facing in China, which could undermine its business opportunities there.
The European Commission is taking a look at the rebates and financial incentives offered by the Southern California semiconductor maker in the sale of its chips, according to a Reuters report. Additionally, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission is inquiring into whether Qualcomm breached its licensing terms.
These latest moves by regulators add to Qualcomm's antitrust problems, which include an 11-month investigation by the China National Development and Reform Commission. China's NDRC investigation centers on Qualcomm's royalties that it imposes on customers that use its patents.
Reuters said that Wall Street is worried Qualcomm could face a fine of more than $1 billion from the NDRC investigation. Qualcomm shares fell nearly 6% in late trading Wednesday.
In its earnings report Wednesday, Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf said in a statement, "Our fiscal 2015 outlook reflects continued LTE leadership in our semiconductor business and is tempered by the issues we are facing in China related to our licensing business."
On the China investigation, the company said:
China continues to present significant opportunities for us, particularly with the rollout of 3G/4G LTE multimode, but also presents significant challenges, as our business practices continue to be the subject of an investigation by the China National Development and Reform Commission.
Must Read: 10 Stocks Carl Icahn Loves in 2014


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MSV-India Inc. has come up with a UVT Conveyor that is capable of killing 99.99 per cent germs (including viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens) present on the surfaces of our everyday objects. This can be inserted at all public spaces, including malls, restaurants, hotels, hospitals, schools, colleges, offices and residential complexes.
“The UVT Conveyor uses UV disinfection lamps that emit UV-C rays. Research has shown that these UV-C rays can effectively kill up to 99.99 per cent of the coronavirus. The use of UV-C in disinfecting medical equipment has also been recommended by the Centre of Disease Control and Prevention, USA,” says MSV India Inc., Founder Vandana Vinayak.
The UV-C technology does not leave harmful residues after the sanitisation process, and is even safe to treat food items such as vegetables, fruits, water.
“There are many options to sanitise our hands and bodies, but mechanisms to safely and efficiently sanitise our everyday objects without causing damage to them are few. as a result we end up using more disposable stuff,” says Vinayak. The UVT Conveyor is sustainable, does not require chemicals or other consumables to function, and so there’s no need for refilling. Only the UV-C Lamps might need replacement.
Availability: msv-india. com/test


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The owners of 29 Perth terrace townhouses on the edge of the CBD have joined forces to sell their properties in one line to a Singapore developer for $33.5 million.
The buyer, Singapore-listed Bonvests Holdings, said it planned to redevelop the 1996-built properties at 725 Wellington Street –across the road from the Perth Arena – into a mixed-use development.
Combined with common ground they offer a juicy site of 5160 square metres.
Owners amalgamating their neighbouring properties to get a bumper price from developers has become common in Sydney, where recently introduced 75 per cent majority agreement rules make it easier to do, but are rarer in Perth and Melbourne because they require all owners to agree to sell collectively.
Andrew Chambers, managing director of Chambers Franklyn Strata Management that managed 725 Wellington Street, said the idea had been brought to him in 2016 by Craig Rowe of Colliers International.
"He [Mr Rowe] said he had a client interested in buying the site and asked us to forward an email to the owners, which we did," Mr Chambers said.
"We were not hopeful of much of a response because you need 100 per cent agreement in Perth, but we got very positive feedback from all the owners.
"We had a few meetings. One of the owners was holding out, but they later changed their minds when they agreed on a price for their unit with the buyer.
"In the end I was surprised at how easily it all transpired," he said.
Sales data on CoreLogic show 28 three-bedroom terraces at 725 Wellington Street sold for $1 million each at the end of February with one unit – a four-bedroom property – selling for $3 million last November, generated a combined $31 million.
Bonvests Holdings said the $33.5 million price it paid was inclusive of commission, stamp duty, legal and professional fees.
One owner, who asked not to be named, said the price they got for their unit was much higher than if they had sold it individually. "We got full value," he said.
Bonvests, founded by Henry Ngo in 1982, already has a presence in Perth, having bought the nearby Four Points by Sheraton Perth hotel at 707 Wellington Street for $91.5 million in 2015.
Its other investments include the Sheraton Towers Singapore Hotel and Liat Towers, a 21-storey commercial and retail building in Singapore.


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India will ban e-commerce companies such as Amazon.com and Walmart-owned Flipkart Group from selling products from companies in which they have an equity interest.
In a statement, the government also said that the companies will be prevented from entering into exclusive agreements with sellers. The new rules will be applicable from February 1.
“An entity having equity participation by e-commerce marketplace entity or its group companies, or having control on its inventory by e-commerce marketplace entity or its group companies, will not be permitted to sell its products on the platform run by such marketplace entity,” the commerce ministry said in a statement.
E-commerce companies can make bulk purchases through their wholesale units or other group companies that in turn sell the products to select sellers, such as their affiliates or other companies with which they have agreements.
Those sellers can then sell the products to other companies or direct to consumers, often at attractively low prices.


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MG Motors India Pvt. Ltd., the local unit of the British car maker, now owned by China’s SAIC Moto Corp. Ltd, is set to mark its entry in India. The company plans both hybrid and electric vehicles, with the first among these being the Hector SUV.
MG Hector is a connected SUV. Its internet capable features were explained today at a specially organized event in Delhi. ‘Drive.IN – Introducing India to Internet of cars’ is a car event which sees participation from Microsoft, Cisco, TomTom and Gaana.
These new age technologies will make the new MG Hector completely connected to the internet via onboard network connections and wireless internet to other devices inside the SUV, thus making the new MG Hector the first connected car to go on sale in the country.
“The integration of internet with cars opens up a gamut of features that can ensure a seamless and updated ownership experience for MG customers in India. With an embedded SIM card and OTA, the MG Hector promises to do a lot more over time with constantly-expanding capabilities, to create a seamless driving experience, throughout the life of the car,” said Rajeev Chaba, President & Managing Director, MG Motor India. “Furthermore, with the advent of 5G connectivity in India, MG cars will have the potential to add new, breakthrough features to further enrich the car driving experience,” Chaba added.
In its alliance with Microsoft, MG Motors targets the security concerns of its customers. It will be able to safeguard customer’s privacy which was explained by Travis Lench from Microsoft. Where the MG Motors association with Cisco is concerned, Krish Inbarajan explained on the go connectivity services being offered by the company while Kulmeet Bawa from Adobe explained the digital customer facilities being offered on the Hector SUV.
MG Motors has also entered into an alliance with Gaana wherein Prashan Agarwal details the music app while TomTom advanced navigation system which will also be used on board the Hector. Steven Hayes details the digitally connected customer benefits offered by SAP while Tsjerk-Friso Roelfzema offers an insight into navigation through traffic related solutions.
Drawing attention to the connected services offered on the MG Hector will also be Jürgen Hase, CEO, UNLIMIT who will expand customer’s knowledge in terms of connected mobility and smartphone capabilities while MG Motors alliance with Nuance Communications will see Charles Kuai speak about the bond between the driver and his car. Powering all these features, is the iSMART tech, a glimpse of which is seen in the video below. It is something like Apple’s SIRI or Google Assistant or ALEXA.
Apart from these new technologies and outstanding connectivity features to be seen on the MG Hector, the new 5 seater SUV will also come in with several segment first features. MG says it will beat every other car in the segment, in every department – be it features, driving dynamics, power, performance, etc.
MG Hector will get a 10” infotainment system, largest in class panoramic sunroof, remote keyless entry, auto dimming IRVMs, quad LED projector headlamps, LED tail lamps and a honeycomb mesh grille. The Hector gets an eSIM card embedded, connecting the vehicle to India based Internet services; with updates on car health status, biometrics, traffic information, AI assistance and navigation etc. All these features will be updated via OTA. The MG Hector SUV is expected to be priced at Rs.13-16 lakhs and will take on the Tata Harrier and Jeep Compass upon launch in India.


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Every week, the Health Department inspects local restaurants and unfortunately, many of them seem to fall short.
While restaurant owners in Leon County may not always share the results of their recent inspections, the Tallahassee Democrat provides a weekly update.
Many students find it convenient to order fast food or dine at many of the local restaurants, but some of the restaurants that students frequent have recently failed inspections.
According to the Tallahassee Democrat, for the week of Sept, 18-24, a total of 12 restaurants failed their inspections. However, three of them managed to pass a follow-up inspection within the same week.
During the previous week, nine restaurants were inspected, and only three passed the first inspection.
Auriel Patton, a third-year public relations student, cares about restaurants receiving health department violations and is disappointed that so many seem to come up short on basic health and safety protocols.
“I am mindful about what I put in my body and try to ensure I eat as healthy as possible. My physical and mental health is my top priority, and making wise food choices is important in my self-care,” Patton said.
“Sanitation is extremely important. Restaurants that fail to uphold proper sanitation standards can indeed pose significant risks to their communities,” she added.
According to the Tallahassee Democrat, restaurants had similar high-priority violations, including employees failing to wash their hands before wearing gloves and operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.
While some college students are concerned about local restaurants failing inspections, others understand the reasons behind it.
Brandi Roman, a fourth-year public relations student, has worked at many fast-food restaurants and does not fault them for some of the violations they receive.
“If you take a look at what they were dinged for, a lot of that stuff is kind of what I’m used to when I worked in fast food myself,” Roman said.
“We live in a food desert, so I can’t really expect it to be perfect because the people who work there aren’t perfect; they’re in desperate need of employees, and just overall, the food quality itself isn’t the greatest.”
If you notice a restaurant that is failing to follow the state regulations and guidelines, you can report them by calling the Florida DBPR at 850-487-1395
To learn more about local restaurant inspections, visit the Tallahassee Democrat’s Leon County restaurant inspection site.


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Mercedes-Benz and Vivint Create Tesla/SolarCity Copycat
For instance, Mercedez-Benz says that these batteries come with a 10 year warranty and are engineered to last a long time – after 10 years, capacity is only expected to decrease to 80%.
California is the first US market where Vivint Solar will be selling the combination of solar panels and batteries, beginning this quarter.
The energy storage systems will be made up of 2.5 kWh modular batteries that can be combined to create a system as large as 20 kWh.
Vivint Solar, on the other hand, has installed solar energy systems in over 100,000 households across the US, but up until this point, its services did not include home batteries as well.
Musk made that much clear during his initial solar roof unveiling, where he discussed how a solar push allows for the full integration of Tesla products: a Powerwall that both stores solar energy and juices up your electric vehicle. Customers can also reduce energy costs by using battery power during peak times when electricity rates are higher. Vivint Solar will be on hand at the installation to customize the homeowner’s setup based on their energy consumption.
“Everybody’s adding an energy-storage offering one way or another”, said Shayle Kann, who leads GTM Research, which tracks the solar industry.
The second advantage is that energy storage gives electric vehicle owners a more convenient way to charge their cars at home.
“Storage will be more and more important in the future of any company that is going to deploy solar“, Bormann said.
“In the future when someone steps into a dealership and they are looking to purchase an EV, they are asking for several solutions and storage will be one of them”, he said in an interview.
This will also be Mercedes-Benz Energy’s first collaboration with a U.S. solar provider. “We look forward to bringing this innovative solution to consumers, beginning in our California markets”. Starting in Q2, California residents will be able to purchase (or finance the purchase of) the cells, though the offer is now only valid for new Vivint customers.
The systems are available immediately, and Vivint plans to sell them both online and through its primary door-to-door sales operation.
Parent company Daimler started the energy storage division in 2015 soon after Tesla Energy was launched. The company is utilizing lithium-ion technology it has developed for its expanding electric and hybrid vehicle offerings.
Vivint Solar is a leading full-service residential solar provider in the United States. The company partnered with utilities and solar companies in Germany to store surplus energy for later use in the home.
Tesla’s Powerwall 2, which stores 14 kWh of energy, can cost as much as $11,450 including installation.


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Vogue Magazine Says Walla Walla Wine Country Is Next Big Thing!
Walla Walla Wine Country is getting national coverage as the next big place to visit.
We all know Walla Walla is a great place in Washington Wine Country but it looks like Vogue Magazine has also figured out our best kept secret.
A recent Vogue article talks about Walla Walla being the next big wine vacation destination.
We've all known the potential of Walla Walla as a great destination for tourists and it looks like our little secret is out.


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Under this agreement, the companies have announced an investment of Rs 20 crores.
August 28, 2019
Component manufacturer Elconconnectors Cables has signed a joint venture with Indonesia’s PT Banshu Group and PT Askara Internal to manufacture wiring harness in India.
As per the media reports, the companies have announced an investment of Rs 20 crores to construct a 45,000 sq ft manufacturing facility in Greater Noida. The facility will also house an extensive research and development center.
The new company will be called Elcon Banshu Wiring System (EBWS) and shall manufacture customized wiring harness for all automotive OEMs.
Vishal Sharma, Managing Director, Elconconnectors Cables said, “Our focus to establish EBWS as quality supplier as per BS6 standard and contribute to OEMs as an engineering partner. It is a matter of pride that PT Banshu Group and PT Askara Internal have partnered with us to supply high-quality Wiring Harness to the Indian market.”
The company will deliver environment friendly solutions, meeting the upcoming emission regulation norms and address the menace of pollution, which is a concern in India.
Deddy Harsono, Owner & Director, Banshu Indonesia said “Owing to the Bharat stage VI emission regulations, which will come into force by 2020 and become mandatory, there will be a significant potential and opportunity for wiring harness manufacturers who can supply quality products. Banshu has more than 20 years of experience and has a team of engineering experts working dedicatedly on developing the technology for wiring harness for over a decade and we have found mutual growth opportunities.”


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Cancer Research Uk opened Superstore number 31, located in Swindon
Unit 7, Greenbridge Retail Park, Swindon, SN3 3SG – 01793 431820
The Greenbridge Retail Park is a popular shopping and social destination and is well-placed adjacent to the A4312 Drakes Way and within 4 miles of the M4 motorway.
YOUNG CANCER PATIENT OPENS CANCER RESEARCH UK’S LATEST CHARITY SUPERSTORE
Becky Bowes, aged 22, will cut the ribbon at the official opening ceremony of one of the largest Cancer Research UK superstores at Greenbridge Retail Park in Swindon on Thursday 27 October.
Crowds queuing to pick up bargains at the new store cheered as Becky snipped the ribbon and declared the store
The superstore – one of the biggest Cancer Research UK stores in the area and with over 14,000 items of clothing, books, and household items is more than five times the size of a traditional Cancer Research UK shop.
It has a huge selection of items at discount prices. It is part of a plan to meet customer demand for more accessible stores with easy access and plenty of parking.
Clothing, homeware, books, toys, and electrical goods are all priced at £5 or less, with higher value items, such as furniture, identified with a golden ticket. All profits raised will go towards funding Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work to help more men, women, and children survive the disease. The store can also deliver furniture for a delivery charge and collect furniture free of charge.
For Becky, her road to recovery has been difficult. Being diagnosed with stage 3 thyroid cancer at the start of the lockdown in March 2020 not long after her 20th birthday meant being isolated from her family too.
Every year 36,300 people are diagnosed with cancer in the South West.
While 2022 marks the charity’s 20th anniversary, its history dates back to the founding of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund in 1902. During this time, its work has led to more than 50 cancer drugs used across the UK – and around the world – from widely used chemotherapies to new-generation precision treatments.
Cancer survival in the UK has doubled since the 1970s and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress. But more funds and supporters are needed to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.
More volunteers are needed to help run the new Swindon superstore. Flexible hours are available, and anyone interested in volunteering is invited to call into the shop to find out more. The shop is open Monday to Saturday from 9.30 am until 6 pm, and Sundays from 10.30 am to 4.30 pm.
Donations of good-quality clothes, shoes, bags are being taken by the store. Each bag of donated clothes is worth up to £25 – even more if supporters sign up for Gift Aid. The new superstore also offers free collection for donated items of furniture and has a community space which is free to use.


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Giving Bride Returns to Lingerie Selection
Designer and founder, Maggie Gillette is gearing up to showcase her new intimates collection inspired by the world of Art Deco. Visitors to the Lingerie Selection will be the first to experience and see the new pieces.
“It really began with the lace I found and we really built a lot of the garments around the shapes found in the lace,” says Maggie of the new collection. “ It all happened quite organically and we’re really excited about this seasons styles!”
Amongst the new styles in store for buyers and Giving Bride fans are a luxurious pair of silk pants featuring a metallic lace tuxedo stripe. Other Giving Bride styles coming to the Lingerie Selection include new garter belt styles and eye masks.
Some of the brands current best sellers include their camis and tap short sets and capes and cape robes. “The capes have turned out to be popular with celebrities – several have purchased them!” notes Maggie.
TLJ contributor Jenny Rieu recently photographed one of the Giving Bride’s best-selling capes with an evening gown dress. A second shoot, a showgirl editorial, is already in the works. “Jenny’s plan for her next shoot goes to show how versatile the cape really is!” said Maggie.
Learn More about the Giving Bride
Learn more about the Lingerie Selection
New events to TLS include a Q&A session with Cora Harrington, founder of the Lingerie Addict on February 28, 2018 at 4pm and an Industry Cocktail Hour from 4:30pm – 7pm the same day.
An invitation-only Press Breakfast is slated for 8am on February 28, 2018 is sponsored by La Lame, inc., Supplier of Laces, Woven, Stretch Fabrics and Trims.


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The new software update, 1600.2487.8107.12070, will improve battery performance and power management for the Lumia 800. The software was supposed to be launched on the 18th of April, but Nokia managed to finish it earlier.
But customers should not rush to connect their Lumia 800s to their Macs or PCs, as the update will not be available for the whole world simultaneously. Beginning with the 28th of March, the update will be queued up for over four weeks. The next update phase will begin on the 4th, 11th and 18th of April.
Customers should not be worried if they don’t see their country or operator listed in the first phase of distribution, or even the second one for that matter. The reason for this is that every update for Windows Phone has to pass through Zune or Windows Phone 7 Connector, on the Mac.
Being a Windows Phone partner also has its restrictions, such as: the balance must be kept between what one can do and what one would like to do and between what can be done now and what can be offered later. Because of the fact that there is an urgency to bring the update to the customers, Nokia managed to speed up the process and bring the schedule forward, even if not all at the same time.
As soon as the new software will pass the mandatory testing and approval of every operator, the version of the update will be released. But enough about release schedules. Let’s pass on to the most important part of the software- its functionality and what impact will it have on user experience.
Nokia keeps an open ear to understand the needs and wants of its customers. Thus, Nokia aims to improve battery performance for its Lumia 800. The software passed a series of tests that showed that it improves battery life, whether it’s for browsing over Wi-Fi, talk time in 3G networks or music playback. The tests also showed the advantage of Nokia Lumia 800 in comparison to other smart phones with the same battery capacities of 1450 mAh.
For the regular user, which is not a power user, nor a lightweight user the Nokia Lumia 800 will provide more than expected. Assuming one uses the phone for numerous phone calls , text messages, browsing the web, listening to music now and then, the battery life would be somewhere between 20 and 30 hours.
The bass audio features have also been enhanced to provide better voice quality and enjoyment out of Nokia music. The soft keys will be illuminated at all level settings for brightness.
Nokia also announced that it is in the stage of developing the Wi-Fi tethering feature and that it will be available in the near future. For the moment, Nokia focused on providing enhancements that will bring the most enjoyment to customers of the Lumia 800.
The software updates for Nokia Lumia 800 will surely bring in the expected results.


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Net 1on1 launches ‘Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sale’ today
Posted: November 9, 2015
Net 1on1 has launched a substantial pre-Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale for retailers, and the distributor says savings of up to 45% can be obtained on leading brands. The sale will run from Monday 9th November to Tuesday 1st December and includes dildos, vibrators, lubricants and masturbators from brands such as Lelo, We-Vibe, CalExotics, Sportsheets, Doc Johnson, Electrastim, Fleshlight, Fetish Fantasy Series, Rocks-Off, Tantus and Tenga.
“This year Black Friday and Cyber Monday are expected to be record online shopping days in the UK so Net 1on1 is giving retailers a head start with massive pre-sale discounts before their customers log on and hit the High Street,” said Danielle Warn, head buyer at Net 1on1. “We will be opening our warehouse over the Black Friday weekend and the sale will continue until the Tuesday after Cyber Monday so that bricks and mortar stores and online retailers of all sizes can benefit from these amazing deals and do not get caught off-guard when the orders start to roll in.”
The deals on offer include up to 45% off on Tenga, up to 40% off on CalExotics, up to 30% off on Tantus, Doc Johnson and Fetish Fantasy Series, up to 25% off Sportsheets, Electrastim and Rocks-Off, and 5% off We-Vibe 4.
Online retailers who cannot hold large amounts of stock can also benefit from the Black Friday rush thanks to Net 1on1’s dropship service. “Net 1on1 has traditionally seen strong sales over the festive season and with experts predicting another record year for online retail there has never been a better time to set up or expand an online business, added Warn. “Our dropship service makes this easy by reducing costs and taking the hassle out of making money from selling toys online.”
To find out more about Net 1on1’s pre-Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale, visit www.1on1wholesale.co.uk


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7-Eleven is testing mobile ordering, chatbots, digital rewards, Amazon lockers, and more, as it undergoes its digital transformation. Learn more about its latest pilot, on-demand ordering for delivery or pick-up.
RIS explores two of the hottest topics in supply chain today: real-time supply and artificial intelligence. Learn how leading retailers are meeting demand though the use of still emerging technology that can locate individual products anywhere in the supply chain in real time.
The evolution of the retail industry made way for omnichannel retailing and, most recently, a need for unified commerce. But most enterprise merchandise management systems are not architected in a manner that brings the pieces of functionality in a cohesive, timely way.
Download this Roadmap report and discover how thanks to advanced order management solutions that unify online, mobile and in-store orders leading retailers are meeting shopper demand for near-instantaneous fulfillment.
Now is not the time to implement new technology to deploy during the upcoming holiday season. However, there are a few ways retailers can still prepare for the holiday season while making the most of their current solutions and capabilities.
Starbucks is modernizing its tech stack and will begin rolling out new loyalty rewards and ordering capabilities starting this fall. Yet its plans don't stop there. Uncover how its new technology platform will unify systems and features.


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Pinterest has been one of the most wildly popular emerging social networks right now. Where many other social sites have risen, floundered and then gone back to dust, Pinterest has been gaining a steady and successful traction. Its success can be gauged from the very fact that the total daily unique visitors of the website shot up from 2 million to 4 million between January and March this year.
Web developer Eric Mills, currently working as a Front End Developer Intern at Wolfram Research among others, has called for a national switch to Google+ on May 15 on Facebook. Eric has created a public event called ‘National Switch to Google+ Day’ on Facebook, and called upon all Facebbok users to switch to Google+ on the given day. TheTechJournal staffs were amused by the naivety of the action and decided to give our readers a moment to laugh.
Recently mobile application analytics company Flurry has published a report revealing social networking apps top spot in terms of usage by mobile users. This ends the 40 month domination of mobile gaming as the top performer in mobile app usage. Analysts found that mobile users are spending the same amount of time in social networking and playing games. Analytics show last year social networking app usage has increased to 24 percent on the first quarter of 2012 form 15 percent in 2011.
Popular micro-blogging site Twitter has over 140 million active users as of 2012. It is handling over 340 millions tweets and over 1.6 billion search queries per day. But Twitter management is not content with the number, they are hungry for more. Recently Twitter's Vice President Satya Patel has declared that they want to acquire 2 billion users though he have not mentioned a specific time frame. Before acquiring 2 billion users Twitter want to achieve 200 million active users by August 2012.
With improved performance along with shortcuts to share photos and messages, new version of Facebook for Android 1.9 has been released; confirms Facebook blogpost. With the new version users will be able to share photos and messages staying at the home screen. Messenger and camera shortcuts are made available in the app tray.
In case you didn't notice, Facebook had quietly added a clause in its Statement of Rights and Responsibilities which stated that Facebook could bar users in certain geographic regions from using the social network whenever it wanted. Naturally, it reeked of ambitions to censor people legally and officially and after furious responses from thousands of users, Facebook has finally taken back the clause.
Facebook has been trying to put itself at the heart of online music services. It has been trying to introduce newer ways to engage users and make music-listening a more social experience. Now, the social network has introduced a new 'Listen' button the page of music artists.
Facebook has long been trying to tie itself up businesses so as to make the social network a hub for business activity. It launched a few ventures in the past, some of which did fail. And now, Facebook has introduced another new feature by the name of 'Facebook Offers.' The feature basically lets you receive offers and discounts from local businesses which you can accept and then redeem.
Looking random people up on Facebook, even when their profiles are public, can prove to be quite difficult at times. In a bid to improve the process of searching people on the social network and to make discovery easier, Facebook has now announced that it will be updating the addresses of the users. This will be done to make it easier to discover others and connect to them.
Pinterest has slowly been gaining traction in the world of social media and is currently a very significant part of it. Millions have flocked to the website and 'pinning' has become yet another addition to our social dictionary. Pinterest is primarily known for allowing the 'pinning' of images to Pinterest boards. It added support for pinning YouTube videos too a while ago and now, it has introduced support to enable users to pin Vimeo videos to Pinterest boards.


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What Does $1.2 Million Buy You?
Vast amounts of witless cash arrived at Scottsdale this week. To wit: the first serial production Acura NSX — or, at least, the right to order it — sold for $1.2 million at Barrett-Jackson on Friday.
For that $1.2 million (plus somewhere between $156,000 and $205,700 for the car itself), winning bidder Rick Hendrick (yes, that Rick Hendrick) will be the first “normal” person to enjoy such model-specific features as automatically reversing cat bolts, tires that don’t grip (if so equipped) and a painstaking 12+ month wait to 60 mph.
At least Acura and Mr. Hendrick will get the warm-and-fuzzies. All that crazy auction money will go to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and Camp Southern Ground in Georgia, and not Honda’s Formula 1 engine development program.
To say that the fancy Honda has experienced a rocky birth would be an understatement; that it’s been fraught with innumerable setbacks would be kind.
First announced in 2007, Acura pledged to bring the new supercar to market by 2010 with a front-mounted V-10 — before summarily killing off the program in 2008. Later, in 2011, Acura announced it had restarted the program, the fruit of which arrived at the 2012 North American International Auto Show. In 2014, that fruit was charred thanks to a switch to a mid-engined, hybrid V-6 layout that created a more heated exchange than a Trump rally
Now we’re some nine years post official announcement of the second-generation NSX and just days away from the first group of journalists being able to flog Acura’s latest and greatest for all its worth. Yet it will still be another year before the first NSXs begin to show up in private driveways … if anyone still cares by then to buy one.


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On 21st March, the Punjab Board of investment and Trade (PBIT) in collaboration with the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry held a conference at the Pearl Continental Hotel in Lahore to discuss the prospect of increasing and improving trade relations between the two countries.
The conference was attended by many notable people, which included the Pakistani Ambassador to Afghanistan, Syed Abrar Hussain and the Chairman of Nestlé Pakistan, Syed Yawar Ali. The Chief Guest was the provincial Minister for Industries, Chaudhry Mohammad Shafique.
The Chairman of PAJCCI, Muhammad Zubair Motiwala gave a speech regarding the current trade situation between Pakistan and Afghanistan and called upon both nations to increase trading activity. He said that “if both official and unofficial trade is calculated between Pakistan and Afghanistan, then Afghanistan ranks number 3 in the list of Pakistan’s trade partners, which is estimated at $5 billion”. He mentioned that “both countries have a total of 20 joint business ventures and there is a need for Pakistani exports of automobiles, electronics, furniture, pharmaceutical goods and warm clothing to Afghanistan”. “Similarly, Afghanistan can export cement, sugar, iron and agriculture goods to Pakistan” he added. He also suggested that in order to enhance trade relations, Pakistan should set up trading zones, free trade areas and offer tax incentives to various businessmen, along with revamping Pakistan’s visa system for businessmen. He suggested that maybe Pakistan could follow India’s Electronic-Visa system, which streamlines the process and makes visiting easy.
The Punjab Board of Investment and Trade also partnered up with PAJCCI to help streamline the various processes and facilitate investment in Pakistan. Various B2B meetings were held between businessmen from both countries. Some businesses from Afghanistan that were present included Bakhtar Islamic Bank, Azizi Group of Industries and Arman Noori Construction & Co. The Director Projects& Policy Research PBIT, Mr. Khurram Afzal Malik gave a presentation regarding the socio-economic climate of Punjab, which included various metrics and statistics regarding the province such as Pakistan being the 5th largest consumer market in the world and a very young work force and how it is a favorable location for foreign investment. He also
The CEO of PBIT, when talking to the media emphasized the importance of trade relations with Afghanistan and said that this conference is a step in the right direction towards better relations with our neighbor country.
Overall there was a good turnout at the conference and there was a large amount of interest from both sides. We can hope that more conferences like these will help ease trading and diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan and soon a lasting partnership can be formed.


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Apple’s latest new iPhone 14/Pro series has added a new accessibility feature that allows the new phone to play a sound when it is turned on and off, similar to Mac’s iconic startup sound. The feature can be turned on or off in the iOS 16 settings.
However, this switching sound is only unique to Apple’s iPhone 14/Pro series, and other older iPhone models upgraded to iOS 16 do not have it. According to foreign media 9To5Mac, this limitation is due to the fact that the switch sound effect is not part of the operating system.
When the iPhone displays the Apple logo, the phone is in the boot loader Bootrom stage, and the switch sound is built into the boot loader and embedded in the A16/A15 bionic firmware, and the boot loader Bootrom is read-only and cannot be modified afterward. Therefore, Apple cannot add this switch sound effect to older iPhones before the iPhone 14/Pro series.
We have learned that Apple iPhone 14/Pro series users can manage the power on and off sound effects under “Accessibility” in the “Settings” app. Note that there seems to be a bug in the iOS 16.1 beta version, which cannot play the switch sound effect.
iOS 16 switch sound effect Video:
Lock Screen Customization: Samsung One UI 3.0 beta vs Apple iOS 16
Apple released the iPhone 14 series earlier this month, which includes the iOS 16 operating system. In addition, Samsung has made the One UI 5.0 operating system compatible with Android 13 available to eligible devices. The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are now available with new lock screen customization and the Dynamic Island feature. On the other hand, One UI 5.0 beta 3 includes lock screen customization for Galaxy S22 series users.
Meanwhile, the Smart Island feature has been made available to Android users via third-party applications such as dynamicSpot, and it is fully functional on Android devices. The lock screen customization, on the other hand, has arrived for Galaxy S22 users with the One UI 5.0 beta update and is very similar to the iOS 16 lock screen customization.
According to Twitter tipster TechDroider, the custom Samsung lock screen process in the One UI 5 Beta 3 system is similar to Apple’s iOS 16. Samsung currently offers five different clock styles, whereas Apple offers eight. The user can also change the color of the clock in both operating systems.
Take a Look:
Apple iOS 16 vs Samsung OneUI 5 (Android 13) – Lock Screen pic.twitter.com/2tIcMaLaAN
— TechDroider (@techdroider) September 26, 2022
We discovered that when it comes to adding new wallpapers, both operating systems offer background collections that are highlighted in a similar manner. While Apple provides both built-in and third-party widgets, Samsung currently only provides widget icons for notifications.
Following the release of the iPhone 14/Pro series, Samsung mocked Apple for being out of touch with the concept of folding screens, large-pixel cameras, and so on.
For the more latest news, you can follow us on!
2. Google News.
iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max users facing restart problems while charging
Apple recently released four new devices into the market: the iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, and 14 Pro Max. But now, users of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are reporting that the device restarts automatically when they plug it into the charger.
Some Apple iPhone 14 Pro users have reported that the iOS 16 battery drains quickly, but this may not be the most serious issue. Some customers are now reporting that when charging via MagSafe or Lightning, their iPhone devices restart intermittently.
Some users complained on Reddit that the iPhone 14 Pro was randomly restarting while charging. This problem has been present for 8 days, and it includes charging with a MagSafe or Lightning cable.
Another user stated that the iPhone 14 Pro Max running iOS 16.0.1 restarts every 10-20 minutes while charging. We learned that some other people have reported that the problem persists even on iOS 16.0.2 or iOS 16.1 Beta.
According to one user, “This only happens when the battery is charged at 90-95% (especially 93%) and the phone is idle. So far, the only thing that can be done (as of now two late without reboot) is to disable background app refresh.”
Those experiencing this issue should return their iPhone within 14 days and purchase another or request a replacement at your local Apple Store.
For the more latest news, you can follow us on!
2. Google News.
Apple said that the iPhone maker is “excited to produce the iPhone 14 in India”
According to a Reuters report, today, Apple said that the iPhone maker is “excited to produce the iPhone 14 in India”.
To diversify the supply chain and avoid over-reliance on China, it is reported that Apple is planning to move a quarter of iPhone production to India by 2025. Analysts at JP Morgan said last week that they expect Apple to move around 5% of iPhone 14 production to India by the end of 2022.
Tianfeng International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said via Twitter earlier this month that the mass production progress of the iPhone 14 in India this year is still about 6 weeks behind China, and has generally been behind by a quarter or more in the past.
Apple first started producing the iPhone, the iPhone SE, in India in 2017. In April, Apple announced that it had started production of the iPhone 13 smartphone in India. Previously, some iPhones were assembled at Foxconn’s local factories, while others were assembled at Wistron’s factories.
In addition, Bloomberg revealed earlier this month that Tata Group, a leading Indian company, is in talks with Taiwanese supplier Wistron, hoping to establish a joint venture to assemble Apple’s iPhones in India.
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How Does Disneyland Deck the Halls? 300 Christmas Trees, 100,000 Flowers and So Much More
Disneyland is getting ready for the most wonderful time of year!
The California theme park is known for sprinkling Christmas spirit on every surface when it comes to decorating for the upcoming holidays, and that includes the park’s already over-the-top landscaping.
According to The Orange County Register, Disneyland is adding a total of 100,000 new plants, including 300 Christmas trees around the resort, as well as around 10,000 poinsettias and 10,000 cyclamen.
At the park’s entrance alone, they’ve made sure to doll-up the iconic Mickey Mouse portrait with more than 7,000 flowers, the outlet reports.
Not to far from the portrait sits a 60-foot-high artificial Christmas tree on Main Street that they decorate with 1,500 ornaments, 100 electric candles, 4,800 multi-colored LED lights, 70,000 white mini LED lights and 1,200 strobe lights. The large tree had to be set-up using a crane, The Register reported.
Disneyland brings even more holiday cheer to Main Street with an additional 220 garlands and approximately 80 wreaths wrapped along storefronts, lampposts and rooftops.
Horticultural designers begin planning the elaborate decorations for next year as soon as everything goes up for the current year. They even begin putting in orders and designing new decorations.
Each year, the decor is typically up in early November, and remains until Jan. 6.
However, the park has more than just the decorations prepared for guest celebrating the holiday season. Teaming up with ABC and Disney Channel, Disneyland plans to put on three magical, holiday specials with star-studded performances that highlight different areas of the park.
RELATED VIDEO: Lifestyle Expert Maria Del Russo Reveals Holiday Dos and Don’ts
“The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration,“ will take place on Thursday, Nov. 28, airing on ABC at 8 p.m. EST. It’s followed by the “Disney Channel Holiday Party @ Walt Disney World,“ on Friday, Dec. 13 at 8 p.m. EST on Disney Channel.
They’ll cap off the holiday season with their annual “Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade” on Christmas morning, Wednesday, Dec. 25 at 10 a.m. EST. The parade will also air on ABC.


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The same routine is repeated every month and here we are to learn about some of the leaked games that await us for PlayStation Plus, specifically with the Extra and Premium levels from Sony service. In this case we are talking about those corresponding to February 2023, since the monthly ones of the Essential level are already available.
He user billbil-kun He has once again been in charge of filtering several works that we can expect shortly. It’s not all the games, but our mouths are already watering with a real hit like Horizon Forbidden West, which was launched just a year ago and can now be played on the platform. These are the revealed titles:
That’s how it is, Aloy’s adventure will be available at the highest subscription level, for both PS5 and PS4 users. In fact, this is a very good opportunity to prepare for Burning Shores, the expansion of Guerrilla’s work that will debut on April 19 exclusively for PS5. It is accompanied by flashy titles that will land on February 21.
Of course, there are many games that are yet to come, especially those dedicated to old consoles such as PS3, PS1 or PSP. We will see what aces Sony has up its sleeve, which has revealed that the PlayStation Plus Collection will become history in a few months.
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03 Jan Crystal gazing Air Cargo industry for Cost Effectiveness and Efficiency improvement in 2030
The future is looking bright for air freight. There was a positive outlook for profitability in 2018, which was supported by robust demand growth on both the passenger and freight sides of the business says International Air Transport Association (IATA). Air Cargo industry experienced flat volume growth for the past few years and the same continued in 2019 too. Going forward, IATA expects similar numbers in a marginal downward swing for 2020.
However, there are two areas of change which could impact the industry and its potential profitability. These are regulations and technologies that either can throw multiple wrenches in the works for air freight or improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness to the point where it becomes the method of choice for sending goods across the globe. Some of the future trends that would shape up the Air Cargo industry are as mentioned below.
Global trade protection
Global trade protectionism is expected to influence the growth percentage of cargo tonnes carried by air in the coming decade. This will be spearheaded by the increase in smart, balanced and most importantly data-driven regulation in the Air Cargo industry.
E-commerce has increased in the last 15 years by 20% year-on-year and is forecasted to continue at a growth rate of between 10% and 15% over the next 10 years, according to McKinsey & Company. Cross border e-commerce, expanding quicker than overall online sales (at a rate of about 25% a year) is expected to present a sizeable opportunity for Air Cargo charter.
Growth of Asian Economies
Asia will continue driving the world in average annual air cargo expansion, upheld by more quickly developing economies. China, intra–East Asia, East Asia–North America, and Europe–East Asia markets are altogether expected to become quicker than the world normal development rate, showing that business sectors inside, serving, and interfacing with Asia will lead development in the following decade and past. Also, Middle East and Africa continue to be potential hubs for Air Cargo, with a lot of connectivity being build.
Trade wars and uncertainties impacting consumer confidence
Consumer Confidence is wavering, with trade wars between the USA and China. Trade war between USA and China is intensifying and Air Cargo is facing strong headwinds due to the same. Also, weakness in some of the key economic indicators and rising political uncertainties worldwide.
Cold-chain Logistics and role of e-Commerce in Air Cargo
Integrators like Amazon, Alibaba, and eBay are setting up their Air Cargo hub network. By 2020, IATA forecasts biopharmaceutical cold-chain logistics spending to surge by 8-9 per cent, and biopharmaceutical sales to go up by 4-5 per cent. Europe and North America continue to be the leading market for biopharmaceutical with a market share at 60 per cent. Although cold-chain logistics spending is predicted to grow fastest in Asia and North America.
Ofcourse, Digitisation will hold the key. Several airlines worldwide have begun to cut traditional paper-based systems by inculcating the use of digital processes, including digital devices that measure ULDs, apps for dangerous goods declarations and online platforms for booking and tracking shipments in real-time. Forwarders, integrators, and Airports as well as other authorities are also investing heavily in technology. Most importantly, Airports need Ground Handlers as well as providers to reserve slots via a digital platform.
Digitisation will increase efficiency, lowers cost and carbon footprints through visibility and data-sharing. The use of air freight management software is already in the rise and in the coming days we can expect the same to rise further and further. Also, know how the African Air Cargo industry is growing exponentially to become an enabler.


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It seems that with bidding value for HERE soaring and touching $4 Billion now, Uber has decided to join Baidu for a joint bidding, a report from Bloomberg claims. Uber had earlier offered $3 Billion for an out and out deal that now seems didn’t find many takers.
Uber Technologies Inc. is teaming up with Baidu Technologies Inc. and Apax Partners to pursue Nokia Oyj’s maps business, people with knowledge of the matter said, as a bidding war for the unit intensifies.
Another group, comprising China’s Tencent Holdings Ltd., NavInfo Co. and Swedish buyout firm EQT Partners AB, is also bidding for the unit, which may fetch as much as $4 billion, three of the people said, asking not to be identified because negotiations are private.
Those who are hoping that Microsoft buys HERE from Nokia may not be too happy, as Microsoft is interested in only a minority stake in HERE.
Microsoft Corp. has offered to buy a minority stake, while three U.S. private-equity firms — Hellman & Friedman, Silver Lake Management and Thoma Bravo — are also in the running, the people said.
Nokia in the meantime seems not in hurry and next round of bidding for HERE is due in two weeks. Nokia as we earlier reported may decide to sell HERE in parts or full or decide to not sell it at all.