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District Court Judge Florence-Marie Cooper on Friday overturned a late April ruling that required the maker of ReplayTV set-top box technology to write and install software to monitor what its customers were watching.
"This is an important victory for us in the litigation, but most importantly, it's a victory for our consumers," Sonicblue CEO Ken Potashner said in a statement Monday.
The company had already been granted aon the monitoring while awaiting a decision on its request for a reversal. Sonicblue said that complying with the order would be tantamount to spying.
The suit, originally filed in October by several major movie studios and TV networks, including Viacom's Paramount Pictures and CBS network and Disney's ABC network, said Sonicblue's ReplayTV recorders infringed on copyright laws. The digital video recording service allows viewers to record live TV shows, store them on a hard drive, and skip commercials, and to send TV shows to other ReplayTV owners over the Internet.
Potashner said the company will continue working with content providers to develop new revenue models.
"If the networks and studios focused on the inevitable evolution of their business instead of attempts to stifle technology, we believe everyone involved would benefit, consumers most of all," the CEO added.
Privacy and consumer electronics groups also said the results were crucial to protecting emerging technologies.
"We were concerned about the potential chilling effects a ruling of this type could have on consumer behavior and technological innovation, and are pleased that it was overturned," said Michael Petricone, vice president of Technology Policy for the Consumer Electronics Association.
Separately, Sonicblue on Monday unveiled its ReplayTV 4500 series, the next generation of its 4000 series devices. The new version adds modem support for standard phone lines, new software and pricing between $449.99 and $1,749.99. The 4500 is designed to boost the product's appeal to mainstream consumers and retailers. It will be available shortly at retailers such as Good Guys, Amazon.com, The Wiz and Tweeter.


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Spam Tops Social Networks for Phishing Threats at SMBs
SpamTitan Technologies, a spam and Web-filtering software maker, revealed that its latest survey of small and mid-size businesses found that when it comes to phishing threats, traditional spam techniques still trump attacks on social networks.
Three quarters (75 percent) of IT managers surveyed say spam is their leading security threat. Did network security measures push phishing attacks from e-mail to social networks such as Twitter and Facebook? Respondents were split; 37 percent agree and 31 percent disagree, saying the rise in threats is a result of the growth of user communities on such sites.
"Clear policies along with improvements in user education and awareness topped recommendations as the best way to beat phishing in all its forms," SpamTitan said in a release.
"Phishing attacks remain a clear and present threat to businesses," said Ronan Kavanagh, SpamTitan's CEO. "There is no evidence to suggest that network security measures are discouraging the number of phishing attacks. It is simply that the arrival of social networking in the workplace has presented phishers with a bigger pond to phish in."
The company says its survey findings are consistent with a report from earlier this year from antivirus vendor Kaspersky Labs, which found that from January through March of this year, Facebook accounted for only 5.7 percent of attacks, putting it behind HSBC, eBay, and PayPal (the trio accounted for over 52 percent of all phishing scams).
The company says the latest release of its product "uses a multi-layered approach" and includes new "malware detection mechanisms" in its scan engine along with "a large set of Phishing signatures, support for SURBLs (Spam URL Realtime Blocklists), and heuristic rule tests." Using its new phishing module, SpamTitan searches for URLs within e-mail messages "and can also detect day-zero phishing e-mails."
-- James E. Powell
Editorial Director, ESJ
Posted by Jim Powell on 09/21/2010

domain: news


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Prime Day 2020 will be held in August, but only in India, Amazon announced Tuesday. The online shopping event will start start at midnight on Thursday, August 6 in India and run for 48 hours.
Prime Day was founded five years ago and this marks the event's fourth year in India. To date, Prime membership perks including early Prime Day deals access are enjoyed 150 million Prime members in 19 countries.
Although Amazon announces its August 6-7 Amazon Prime Day 2020 dates, there's still no word on U.S. dates and start time.
- Amazon Prime Day 2020: Deals to expect
- Amazon Prime Day 2020 postponed again, now set for October
- Shop the best laptop deals right now
"Starting July 22, Prime members can begin celebrating Prime Day early with exclusive blockbuster entertainment launches from Prime Video, Amazon Prime Music, Prime Reading and Gaming with Prime," Amazon said in a news release to Laptop Mag on Tuesday.
Prime members in India can enjoy two days of deals on a range of products and services. Amazon-branded hardware as always with be at the forefront so bargain shoppers can expect huge discounts on Kindle devices, Echo, and Fire TV.
Prime Day deals in India will also offer the best deals on smartphones, electronics, appliances, TVs, kitchen, daily essentials and more. This year, Prime members will get early access to more than 300 new products from top brands like Samsung, Intel, Jabra, JBL, Philips, One Plus, Microsoft Xbox, Xiaomi and others.
What's more, Prime Day members in India can shop from upcoming brands via Amazon Launchpad. This includes "artisans and women entrepreneurs from the Amazon Karigar and Amazon Saheli and other small sellers as well as local shops", Amazon said.
This Amazon India Prime Day news arrives hot on the heels of reports that Prime Day in the US is postponed until October.
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Hilda Scott uses her combined passion for gadgets and bargain shopping to bring you the best prices on all things tech. She has a bachelor’s degree in film and media studies from Hunter College and 11 years of tech and entertainment journalism. Her work has been featured on Tom’s Guide, iTechPost, Examiner.com, Parlemag, Enstars, and Latin Times. When she's not scouting for the best deals, Hilda’s catching up on her favorite TV shows and pro-wrestling matches.


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Xiaomi, which will invest along with Hungama's existing investors Intel Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners and Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, will pick up a minority, but undisclosed, stake in the Mumbai-based company.
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The investment marks Xiaomi's first investment into a start-up outside its home market of China, and underlines the importance of the fast growing Indian smartphone market, which is well on its way to become a leading base of internet consumers, from the present base of around 400 million users.
Xiaomi will integrate Hungama’s video on demand service with the Mi platform available on smartphones and televisions, the latter not yet available in India. The companies did not divulge the timeline of integration, but said that post the integration, the platform will have some free and some paid content that will be part of the monetisation strategy.
China's largest smartphone maker is replicating its home model in India, where it has launched two of its leading smartphones in 2016, including the latest flagship Mi 5 last week. Though it trails top five players in the handset sales business, it is among the first amongst the deluge of Chinese players to have invested in a company in India.
In China, Xiaomi has invested in 55 companies which form part of the Mi Ecosystem. Of these, 29 have been incubated but only 20 lave launched products. About 7 companies of this subset have clocked sales of RMB 100 million and two – which make power banks and fitness bands - have surpassed the RMB 1 billion sales mark.
Xiaomi aims to have a similar ecosystem here and feels that video on demand is one of the fastest growing services which will become a key driver for users to get on to the internet.
"With 4G taking off, starting this year, video on demand is unlocked because the experience gets huge upgrade when you switch from 3G to 4G," Barra said, underlining the value add 4G networks of telcos like Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular and upcoming services of Reliance Jio will bring to the market.
Barra estimates 4G customers in the South Asian nation to skyrocket to 180 million by 2018, from about 6 million at present.
Neeraj Roy, Founder and CEO, Hungama said that the investment will further strengthen the company’s movie and television services, besides adding to its 65 million monthly active consumers across platforms that access music, video and movie services in several vernacular languages.
“Hungama Play (app) will shortly add 1500 hours of TV content in Indian languages and English,” he added.
- Front Page
- Pure Politics
- Learn more about our print editionMore
- Byju’s New India CEO to Cut More Than 4,500 Jobs
Arjun Mohan, who took charge as the new chief executive of the India business at Byju’s last Wednesday, is set to unveil a series of changes at the financially troubled edtech firm, including cutting the headcount by a third or about 4,000-4,500 people to further tighten costs, people aware of the matter said.ADIA Looks to Put $600m into RIL’s Retail Business
After QIA, yet another oil-rich Gulf sovereign fund, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), is looking to buy an additional stake in Mukesh Ambani’s retail empire. ADIA is seeking to invest $600 million into the organised retailing business of Asia's richest person, people aware of the developments told ET, at valuations that significantly exceed those during an earlier concluded round three years ago.Bigger Ecommerce Sales Set to Light up Volumes
The upcoming festive season sales are expected to bring the steepest online discounts since Covid, up to 60% in certain categories, with several ecommerce majors indicating a push to expand volumes.
ETPrime stories of the day
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Edmonton Bookkeeper | How Business Owners Can Take Salary
The average Canadian pays 43% of their income in taxes says Edmonton bookkeeper, for example PP, EI, GST fuel tax just to name a few. Many business owners decided to become entrepreneurs in order to minimize the taxes that they were paying, as well as enabling them to increase their wealth. Since business owners have unlimited potential to increase their wealth, many business owners want to increase their businesses profits, in order to be able to pay themselves whatever salary they are able to. However, business owners need to know how to pay themselves a salary or dividend in order to avoid triggering significant tax payments.
Business owners should understand what the shareholders loan is, and how it affects them in their business and how they can get paid. Shareholder loans are a running total of all of the money that a business owner has taken out of their corporation. Edmonton bookkeeper says every time a business owner takes any money out of their business, this is accounted for in the shareholders loan. The business owner is expected to pay back that loan. However, business owners take that money out of their business in order to pay themselves a salary to live off of, and aren’t planning on paying it back. Therefore, they need to clear their shareholders loan, which means they are claiming the amount that they took over the business on their personal taxes. Once they clear that amount, there shall world the loan can continue accumulating the amount of money they owe the corporation.
Business owners should also understand that there is a time limit on how long they can owe their corporation before is expected to either be paid back with cleared. Business owners are not able to over their corporations longer than two consecutive years. Edmonton bookkeeper says that means business owners need to either pay back the amount or clear the balance before the end of the second year. Failure to do so will mean potentially triggering an assessment by CRA all the amount that the business owner owes the corporation for as long as they have owed it, since the last time that amount was cleared. If business owners are unaware of this, or haven’t cleared their shareholder loan in several years, they are looking at paying significant amounts of personal taxes. Being expected to pay back taxes on everything that they have taken out of the business, for years it has been. That amount can be significant and devastating.
By understanding how the shareholders loan works, and what their expectations are paying taxes, business owners can use this information and together with their accountant in Edmonton bookkeeper, significantly plan how they’re going to take money out of the business in the next year in order to spread out the amount of money that is being taken, and effectively tax plan for it in order to avoid larger tax bills. This is how business owners can use shareholder loans to increase their wealth.
One of the benefits of being a business owner says Edmonton bookkeeper, is that they get to choose how much money they’re going to pay themselves, as long as their business is profiting. The more money they make, the more their business profits, the more they can pay themselves. An entrepreneur will be able to create unlimited wealth for themselves this way. However, business owners can’t just take any money they want out of the business without accounting for properly. By learning how to account for the money they think of the business probably, business owners can pay themselves the salary that they want, and minimize the effect of those taxes on their income.
Whenever a business owner takes money out of their business, this is called a shareholder loan. They must keep track of all of the money that they have taken out of their bank, and this is a running total since the start of their corporation says Edmonton bookkeeper. The easiest way to keep track of this money is by creating a bank account, and the primary purpose of the bank account is for the entrepreneur to draw their dividends were salary from. By using that account to only draw those things out, they can limit the number of transactions in the bank account which can help them not only avoid errors, but easily be able to see how much money the business owner has taken out in the business, as well as be able to review historical shareholder loan balances. This is extremely important, because since the shareholder loan is running totals dating back to the beginning of the corporation, if for any reason the business owner need to review the historical shareholder loan amounts, if it is not done in a very clear way, it can be extremely difficult or impossible to completely figure out how much money a business owner took out of their business.
An entrepreneur also needs to understand that every dollar that they take out of their business, they actually owe that money back to their corporation. And they either have to pay back that dollar amount, or they have to declare to the Canada Revenue Agency how much they took out of their business as salary or dividends. Since the business owner is not going to pay back the loan the to give their business, because that’s what they’re taking out as salary, it’s extremely important says Edmonton bookkeeper that a business owner keeps track of all the money in order to edit to their personal tax refund. Failure to do so within two consecutive years, can have the business owner seeing CRA assess them without warning for all of the taxes that they owe. Not only can this be financially devastating to a business owner, you can also and a business. Entrepreneurs can avoid this situation from happening by ensuring that if they over the corporation more than two years, they need to claim that amount of money on their personal taxes to avoid being hit with assessment says Edmonton bookkeeper.


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Across Kentucky - October 21, 2015
Posted on Oct 21, 2015
While the number of commercial country ham processors has dwindled over the years, Charlie Gatton of Father’s Country Hams in Muhlenberg County sees some bright spots on the horizon for that agri-business. Gatton was this year’s winner of the state fair grand champion country ham award. He discusses consumer trends.
Click here to listen
Tagged Post Topics Include:
Commercial Country Ham Processors,
Father's Country Hams,
Kentucky State Fair,


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Enriching lives through connectivity
Life in the country can be fulfilling, and staying connected is now just as important as it is to those in the city.
Fortunately for the Partridge family from country New South Wales (NSW), they can now take advantage of fast broadband for work, fun and everything in between – including a growing ‘side hustle’ business.
Sarah, husband Shane and their two young children Zakk, 10, and Charlotte, 6, bought their house at Bomaderry on the NSW South Coast in December 2020 and couldn’t be happier.
Just as making the switch to life in the town locals affectionately refer to as ‘Bomo’ has turned out to be the right decision, so too has connecting to services over the nbn™ network.
Life in the country with the Partridge family
The experience of COVID-19 magnified the importance of broadband to the family.
“With the internet connection we used to have, online learning was really hard,” says Sarah.
Since switching to services over the nbn™ network at their new home, the family has basked in the benefits.*
They range from being able to stream entertainment content on multiple devices and completing essential daily tasks, such as email and online banking to working from home and collaborating online.
“Like a lot of families, all our entertainment is streamed, from watching movies to Shane and the kids playing games online, which is something we couldn’t really do very well before,” says Sarah.
Not to mention running her own side hustle – online clothing business, Charlie-Boo and Zakk, without interruptions.
“I’ve been working from home for six months and couldn’t have done it without fast internet, because everything is done online,” says Sarah, who also has a day job as an administrator in the aged care sector.
The Partridge family’s experience comes as new research commissioned by nbn reveals the extent to which access to the nbn™ network is helping to enrich the lives of Australians.
The report, The nbn effect: How the nbn™ network adds value to our lives†, by consultancy firm Accenture, found that Australians continue to derive immense value from the internet, and that COVID-19 has amplified the nation’s reliance on services over the nbn™ network for essential tasks, entertainment and connection.
So much so, 88 per cent of all internet downloads (excluding downloads via mobile data) are performed via services over the nbn™ network.‡
Key findings revealed include:
- Customers saved an average 170 hours in time and effort – equal to four working weeks a year – by performing essential tasks via services over the nbn™ network
- Two out of three customers relied on services over the nbn™ network to stay in touch with loved ones during COVID-19
- Remote working tools usage surged by 175 per cent
- Telehealth usage jumped 45 per cent and online learning by 29 per cent as Australians adapted to a world turned on its head by the pandemic and increasingly communicated from home
- Three in four users relied on services over the nbn™ network during COVID-19 to access entertainment, such as online gaming or for relaxation
- nbn™ customers who enjoy gaming online say they expect to increase their time spent online gaming by up to 50 per cent per year to 2028
Our reliance on connectivity
The research reinforces how COVID-19 has amplified household reliance on connectivity, with an estimated 13 per cent of all nbn’s end customers upgrading their nbn™ powered plan from a service provider during the pandemic.
The most common reasons for this were to better support working from home, to stay connected with family and friends, and to access the internet across multiple devices simultaneously.
The essential role of broadband access today was underlined by the fact that five out of seven of the most important activities are essential tasks required for modern life, including email, web searching and internet banking.
The research results come as no surprise to Sarah Partridge.
“It’s not just the speed but the capability it gives us to do so many things.
“Having fast internet has definitely saved us.”
Brad Whitcomb, Chief Customer Officer at nbn, says the research highlights how the nbn™ network is now more embedded in everyday lives.
“We’re pleased that our customers have expressed that they see additional lifestyle value in the nbn™ powered plans they are purchasing from internet providers.
*nbn is very happy with the Partridge family’s experience with the nbn™ network. Of course, experiences may vary. Your experience, including the speeds actually achieved over the nbn™ network depends on the nbn™ access network technology and configuration over which services are delivered to your premises, whether you are using the internet during the busy period, and some factors outside nbn’s control like equipment quality, software, broadband plan, signal reception and how your service provider designs its network. Speeds may also be impacted by the number of concurrent users on the nbn™ Fixed Wireless network, including during busy periods. Sky Muster™ satellite end customers may also experience latency.
†This report is the compilation of results from a Consumer sentiment survey of 2,420 respondents in March 2021. The analysis and data in this report was commissioned by NBN Co and prepared by Accenture on behalf of NBN Co.
‡Average calculated on the preceding three months; Mobile data remains an important means of connecting to the internet, however it has excluded from scope as this study focuses on consumer internet behaviour at home. SOURCES: ACCC Internet Activity Record Keeping Rule (RKR), as at Dec 20. Accenture analysis.


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One of the benefits that you enjoy as a service member is the ability to do some of your commissary shopping on the Internet. Online shopping has come of age, and so has access to commissary items from the comfort of your own computer at home. If you are authorized to shop at the PX or Commissary, then you can also access the online version of the same.
Commissaries around the world are starting a new promotional and educational campaign that touts the benefits and advantages of online commissary access.
Much of the focus on the new program is to familiarize new Servicemembers and their families of what is available. The new “Discover your Benefit” program is reaching new members and venturing far and wide into different segments of the military and defense community. “We are new to this but learning and gaining understanding in how people want to use their commissary benefits, in person and online,” said Rick Page, the Department of Defense’s Acting DeCa director. “We are discovering customers want the latest information and convenience, and that is what the ‘Discover you Benefit’ is all about,” said Mr. Page.
DeCa has revamped and reformatted its approach to Internet commissary services. New and more easily seen graphics, and areas that promote the wellness and health of Servicemembers are recent additions. So is the “Ask the Dietitian” access area, where Servicemembers can bring their diet and nutrition questions and receive expert help and suggestions from a licensed DeCa Dietitian. Major Karen Fauber, who is also a registered and licensed Diet specialist with the DeCa, hosts the Forum. “I am thrilled to be able to touch base with customers and commissary users, and I hope we can promote open ended conversations about good health,” said Major Fauber. “Being able to work with commissary customers and users is absolutely the best thing about my job,” said Major Fauber.
Visitors to the new online DeCa commissary web site will find substantial savings by finding things on sale and regular items too. New sections available by clicking on tabs from the main page include “Percent Off”, “Savings Aisle”, and “Shopping” tabs. Customers and visitors to the site can print off a list of all the items on sale at their local commissary location, and know before they come in what is on sale. Internet coupons are also sometimes available to be printed off and used at their local commissary in person.


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Suffolk Winners Announced for Food Savvy’s Delicious Drawings Competition
Two children from Ipswich will have their ‘Delicious Drawings’ on display from 17th August in their local East of England Coop stores after winning #FoodSavvy’s ‘Delicious Drawings’ Competition.
The competition organised by the pioneering food saving campaign #FoodSavvy, a partnership between the Suffolk Waste Partnership, Norfolk County Council and environmental charity Hubbub, challenged primary aged children to create a colourful design around saving and valuing food, in collaboration with The East of England Co-op. The children of Suffolk responded with lots of creative entries, which were judged by the East of England Co-op.
Niall O’Keeffe, East of England Co-op joint CEO, said “It has been great to have been involved with something so positive with Food Savvy, especially during the coronavirus lock down. The competition entries were all so innovative and varied. It was incredibly hard to whittle them down, but we somehow managed it and we are looking forward to having the winners’ posters up in their local stores.”
Congratulations are due to Jacob Brough, Age 11 from Ipswich who created the winning entry for Suffolk, and now has the title of number one food saving artist in the county. The runner’s up prize went to food hero Demi-Blu Harris, Age 9 also from Ipswich. There is also an online gallery of all the highly commended entries at www.foodsavvy.org.uk/kids-competition. Winners received a personalised apron and cooking kit as well as East of England Co-op vouchers.
Jacob’s design included the rhyme, ‘It still tastes great when it’s out of date!’ and pointed to the importance of composting.’ Demi’s entry was just as creative, as she asked us to ‘Be a food hero’ and ‘save your food.’.
The competition was a success and brought families together in a creative way to talk about the value of food and ways to use up every bite. It also raised awareness around the £730 worth of food the average East Anglian households waste every year (WRAP). These young creative change makers proved that no one is too small to make a difference.
Cllr James Mallinder, Chairman of the Suffolk Waste Partnership said “Delicious Drawings has been a great way to engage children and families with the problem of food waste. It has been wonderful to see the children’s creativity in this fantastic competition which not only has raised people’s awareness of food waste, but more importantly show that small changes we can make will have a big impact over time”
If you are looking to save money and reduce food waste, the Food Savvy website is packed with recipes and ideas to cut down food waste and make your food go further. This includes planning your shopping, storing food correctly, and lots of other savvy living tips to help with lockdown life.
(Pictured: Jacob, Age 11, Ipswich cooking up a storm with his Delicious Drawings prizes. (Attached: Winning design for the FoodSavvy Delicious Drawings competition by Jacob Brough, 11) (Attached: Runner up design by Demi - Blu Harris, 9)
For more advice and tips to make your food go further, visit www.foodsavvy.org.uk
Top tips for your Jubilee celebration
COMPOST AWARENESS WEEK 2022
Compost Awareness Week Competition
Have an Egg-cellent waste free Easter!
Campaign urges households to recycle glass properly
Councils calling on local businesses to help employees fight food waste
Suffolk and Norfolk light the way in the fight against food waste
The Street that Saved: Suffolk residents beat food waste
Planning permission granted for new recycling centre in Haverhill


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<![CDATA[By Niya Doncheva, MPW Marketing Coordinator – The latest issue of Ad Week contains a great article on page 15 discussing “minding thegender gap” in creative agencies. Mark Obrien, the North American president of DDB, declares that “we expect that if we remove the barriers, the rise will happen naturally” when asked about the gender gap in creatives. On the other hand, Tony Hess, the CCO of Wunderman, commented that “the emotional pull to have children & families really can’t be overlooked. We work in wonderful amazing business that is a lot of fun but is incredibly demanding.” This year alone, five women have been promoted to creative chief positions and award show juries have finally become equal in selecting their jurors. Debra Sercy of Grace Blue favors the changes in saying that “Women increasingly are in consideration because they’ve risen through the ranks, they have proven their ability, they’re agile, they’re fearless, they’re strategic, and they’re smart.” Read more about “Minding The gender Gap” by Andrew McMains in the April 20 issue of Ad Week (adweek.com).]]>
Utilizing Radio Advertising for Dental Practices
Being that there are many ways to advertise one’s dental practices and services, you might feel overwhelmed and burnt out, either because you can’t seem to choose the option that benefits you or you just don’t know where to start. While social media and podcasts have changed the entire landscape
Choosing The Right Marketing Channel
In today’s economy with all the different business types, there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to marketing. Whether your business is an eCommerce business, a start-up, a brick-and-mortar store, a Fortune 500 company, or even an Etsy shop, choosing the right marketing channel for your business can make all
The Future Of Audio Advertising – From The Agency Perspective.
Our fabulous Founder and CEO, Natalie Hale was recently featured on Inside Audio Marketing. What lies ahead for audio advertising in a media world that is ever changing? Inside Radio spoke with two ad agency execs, from very different backgrounds, to get a sense of what’s next in the realm


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Since its first version in 2015, the HyperX Cloud gaming headset has established itself as a benchmark, especially in the mid-range. Recently updated in a Cloud III version, the gaming headset was logically entitled to a wireless version, which was presented at Gamescom. This brand new Cloud III Wireless improves the recipe of its predecessor in small touches.
Unsurprisingly, HyperX retains its iconic leatherette-enhanced design. Ear cups and headband are generously padded with memory foam, supposed to offer more comfort for all body types.
Slightly heavier than the wired version, the Cloud III Wireless weighs only 342 grams and the feeling of comfort should be equivalent to that offered by the Cloud III recently tested in our laboratories.
Compared to the previous model, the modifications are quite meager. The 53mm drivers seem unchanged, while wireless connectivity still goes through a 2.4 GHz dongle. However, the new HyperX wireless version switches completely to USB-C, requiring you to plug said dongle into a USB-C port, or if necessary, into an adapter. Obviously, it is compatible with the majority of devices — PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch, smartphones… — and with the PS4 thanks to the included USB-C to USB-A adapter.
The main novelty lies in the autonomy which would have quadrupled, going from 30 hours to 120 hours of battery use. If the promise is kept, gamers will be able to indulge in long gaming sessions without going through the “recharge” box, which is the case for Cloud Alpha Wireless and its 300 hours of autonomy.
Finally, the microphone has been subtly revised, integrating the metal mesh pop filter internally and eliminating the traditional unsightly foam. Despite these few improvements, it is difficult to justify the 180 € requested, a price up 10 € compared to its elder, which can currently be found around 130 €.
Source link -98


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A woman walks past a Taco Bell Cantina on July 30, 2020 in New York City.
Alexi Rosenfeld | Getty Images
Yum Brands on Wednesday reported mixed quarterly results, but said Taco Bell had stronger sales.
Shares of the company rose nearly 2% in premarket trading.
Here’s what the company reported compared with what Wall Street was expecting, based on a survey of analysts by Refinitiv:
- Earnings per share: $1.05 adjusted vs. $1.09 expected
- Revenue: $1.64 billion, meeting expectations
Yum reported second-quarter net income of $224 million, or 77 cents per share, down from $391 million, or $1.29 per share, a year earlier.
Excluding items, the restaurant company earned $1.05 per share.
Net sales rose 2% to $1.64 billion.


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Bitcoin uses ECDSA signatures , the elliptic curve variant of the Digital Signature Algorithm (DSA) , to validate transactions. Unfortunately, ECDSA ( and DSA.
0.00001 Cex.io Ghs Bitcoin Money Transfer Xoom Police are sounding the alarm over Bitcoin scams in Waterloo Region after dozens of people were bilked out of a combined $430. Merger 24.08.2020 / 11:53 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Bitcoin Group SE decides to merge Bitcoin Deutschland AG with futurum bank AG- Merger of Bitcoin Deuts. Bitcoin is one kind of digital currency or cryptocurrency, a medium of exchange that exists exclusively online. The currency. Gold Rush Gold
Time High Brings Massive Bitcoin Exchange Outages 9 Mar 2020. The status page of the trading app showed "major outage" for all trading. in notional open-interest, hitting an all-time high of $948 million during Monday's trade. Cryptocurrency exchange and custodian Gemini is now offering trading and. The Block's John Dantoni takes a look at the recent VC-related. A month-long rally in emerging-market stocks came to a halt last week as the Federal Reserve expressed concern about the path of the recovery, while renewed tension between the U.S.
15 Aug 2020.
Step 4: Buy some Bitcoin and store them in your wallet.
You will have to pay a small fee to do so, but that is part and parcel of Bitcoin transfers.
5 May 2019.
Bitcoin.com is celebrating a milestone as the Bitcoin.com Wallet has seen a whopping 4 million wallets created since we launched the light.
the world's top trending crypto. Become a part of the future of finance. Buy your first Bitcoin, Ether or other cryptocurrencies with your credit card or bank wire.
Part II. Moving to Digital Wallets and the Extinction of Plastic Cards. Part III.
The Future of Payments: Part III. Digital Currencies: the Ultimate Hard Power Tool. 4.
virtual currencies, cryptocurrencies and central bank digital currency (CBDC).
Will altcoins rally as Bitcoin price stagnates, and is DeFi producing a bubble? Here’s what’s driving the altcoin season.
Joseph Sullivan has been charged with using Uber’s bug bounty program to pay off hackers, and conceal their crime from.
With roughly 12 days left before the competition ends, 12,368 participants are currently pursuing 200 Bitcoin (BTC) in prize.
11 Dec 2018.
Part 4: Vault Manager · Part 5: Exchange engine. In the present article, we will continue the series and add an important wallet manager without.
Many have probably heard or read about the expression “bitcoin mining” people have been talking about intensively for the.


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We've already heard almost everything there is to hear about the Pixel 4a except for a rather important detail: When exactly will it be available for purchase? While we've assumed that Google planned on introducing the phone during its (now canceled) I/O conference in May, we've got some more evidence that it's indeed launching next month: German Caschys Blog got to see some internal Vodafone Germany documents stating the phone will be available through the carrier starting May 22.
This date is about ten days after a possible May 12/13/14 online launch event or press release, which seems to be the most plausible date for it considering Google wanted to hold its developer conference then. If that's accurate, the Pixel 4a would follow the pattern of its Pixel 4 sibling, which was announced on October 15 with immediate pre-orders and shipping starting October 24, nine days later. Since Pixel 3a buyers in Germany were able to get their hands on the phone the same date as the US, May 22 might indeed mark the international launch.
Of course, it's also possible that Vodafone Germany launches the phone a few days later than other carriers and shops as it did with the Pixel 3a last year. Even if that's the case, its May 22 date is still a pretty good indicator that the Pixel 4a could be available internationally the same week.
This also isn't the first time Caschys Blog leaked a Pixel release date: It shared the correct German pricing and Vodafone launch date of the Pixel 3a ahead of time last year.
- Caschys Blog


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To help you discover new games, Google has redesigned the Google Play Games app, allowing Android users to try apps without a complete download.
With Google Play Instant, you can just tap and try a game without having to download it first. Google Play Instant experiences will be available in the Google Play Store, the Google Play Games app, or wherever game links are shared.
Google has also redesigned our Google Play Games app. In the new "Arcade" tab, you can check out game video trailers or use tags like "New" or "Action" to find a particular type of game. Google will also show you news and YouTube videos related to your favorite games to help you boost your skills.
To start, Google has a handful of games to play instantly on more than 1 billion Android devices worldwide.
Google on Monday unveiled new tools for game developers, days after opening Maps to create location-based online games, as the company is seeks to boost licensing fees from games, which dominate Google's Play store.
The number of users of Google's Android smartphones and mobile devices who installed a game in the last year more than doubled over the previous year, according to Google.
Last week, Google's cloud division released a service for developers to set up fast connections between players across the world. Google also said game developers would be able to use customized renderings and other data from Maps inside games.
For example, a game emulating the 2016 hit Pokemon Go, which requires people to visit real-world locations, can purchase up-to-date data from Google on places that are safe to send people to and are popular or off-the-beaten-path.
Upcoming mobile games based on entertainment franchises such as "The Walking Dead" and "Ghostbusters" have incorporated the technology.


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NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Federal regulators will investigate whether Apple's business practices harm competition in the market for software used on mobile devices, according to a published report.
The Federal Trade Commission is preparing to review allegations that Apple has shut other companies out of the important new computing platform, sources told the Wall Street Journal.
It was decided that the FTC would lead the probe after weeks of talks with the Justice department over which agency would conduct the investigation, the report said.
The report cited ongoing tensions between Apple and software maker Adobe Systems (ADBE), which stem from Apple's decision to ban Adobe's Flash video technology from its mobile devices.
Apple has also been criticized recently by Google (GOOG, Fortune 500) for rules that could block the search engine from selling ads on popular devices such as the iPhone and iPad, according to the report.
In addition, Apple has banned software developers from using other companies' tools to develop software for its devices, the report said.
The Federal Reserve adopted a rule on Monday from the Dodd-Frank Act that would limit its ability to lend to banks during emergency situations. More
The AT&T customers still clinging to their unlimited data plans are going to see a $5 price hike in February. More
The six-acre town of Swett in South Dakota can be yours for $250,000. More


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INDOCHINO has presents an adventurous and fresh look at their signature garments with the release of its Fall/Winter 2018 collection. In addition, the brand will be launching its causal clothing on September 5th. At the center of today’s news is the announcement of INDOchinos. INDOchinos are tailored for the perfect fit and customizable to suit any personal taste and style. This versatile wardrobe staple is available in four colors—khaki, olive, black and navy.
“Expanding into new product categories is something our customers have been waiting for,” said Drew Green, President and Chief Executive Officer of INDOCHINO. “We’ve spent years perfecting the made to measure suit and shirt experience by innovating our platform, our products and our differentiated direct to consumer omni-channel approach. Now, beginning with men’s chinos, we’re advancing our ability to disrupt the entire apparel industry and make perfectly fitted, personalized custom apparel the de facto choice across all categories.”
Shop the entire collection here.


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Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) reportedly has plans to open its first brick-and-mortar storefront in Midtown Manhattan ahead of the busy holiday shopping season.
Continue Reading Below
A spokesperson for Amazon didn’t deny the plans, telling FOX Business, “we have made no announcements about a location in Manhattan,” but would not comment further.
As investors mull the idea, two questions come to mind: Why a storefront and why now?
According to the original report in the Wall Street Journal, the online-marketplace behemoth is slated to open its first retail store on 34th Street across from the city’s iconic Empire State Building. Rather than a retail store in the traditional sense of the word, Amazon’s new digs would most likely act as a kind of mini-warehouse stocked with limited inventory for same-day delivery within the city.
When it comes to numbers, in the company’s July-ended fiscal second-quarter, Amazon’s bottom-line result matched expectations with an EPS loss of 27 cents, compared to the 2-cent-per-share loss it logged in 2Q 2013. Amazon said for its fiscal third quarter it expects to see an operating loss between $410 million - $810 million, compared to a year ago, when losses came in at $25 million.
While the company’s losses are deepening, its top line paints a completely different picture. Amazon logged fiscal 2Q revenues of $19.34 billion, up from $15.70 billion from the same time in 2013. Moreover, the e-commerce giant expects net sales to surge 15% - 26% in the holiday quarter to somewhere between $19.7 billion and $21.5 billion.
So given Amazon's success through offering low prices and quick delivery, does a move to brick-and-mortar make sense?
Location, Location, Location
When it comes down to it, there are two ways people shop: Online and in-store. The more technology progresses, the easier it’s become for consumers to get the products they want when they want them. And the ease of placing an order for same-day delivery on your smartphone has increasingly blurred the lines between traditional and online forms of retail.
Ron Klein, retail and consumer practice director at PricewaterhouseCoopers, said a decision like the one from Amazon is all about experimentation.
“What you see now is (retailers) trying to figure out what model makes economic sense,” Klein said. “A customer’s willingness to pay same-day delivery doesn’t match cost (for the retailers). We’ve found customers might be willing to pay an additional $5, but the actual cost to the transportation provider could be up to $15 - $20.”
The bottom line, Klein said, is just that: How do these lower costs affect a retailer’s profit margins? In the end, those companies want to develop and construct an infrastructure for themselves that manages to cut down on cost for that last mile of the transaction process.
Moving from online-only to adding a brick-and-mortar to retail portfolios began with smaller startups like Warby Parker, Bonobos, and most recently, Birchbox which made the move to physical retail this summer in New York City. Now the trend is catching on for giants like Amazon who are trying to figure out exactly where they fit in the ever-changing landscape.
While part of the decision to expand into the physical space comes down to branding, a lot of it, Klein said, has to do with the holiday shopping season – especially as big cities like New York City see temporary “pop up” shops opening all over. He said it’s a way for the company to get a sense of what their consumers want more: The convenience of touching, holding, feeling, smelling a product before they buy it that day to take home, or saving cash and time spent hunting down the product and opting instead to buy it online and receiving it a few days later.
More than that, though, Klein noted the continued spike in online shopping for the holiday season is also a bigger motivator than you might think. And it’s pushing companies like Amazon in a way you might not expect.
“The primary reason a customer shops in a physical store (around the holidays) is the fear they won’t get the product on time,” Klein said. “The last few seasons, there’s been a surge in online shopping, and that’s impacted delivery by Christmas morning.”
Last year, with a 9% increase in online holiday shopping, according to ComScore, delivery companies including UPS (NSYE:UPS) and FedEx (NYSE:FDX) had trouble meeting the spike in demand. Coupled with severe winter weather across the country, it added up to many disappointed families whose packages and gifts were not under trees, but waiting in cold delivery trucks on Christmas Day.
The more a company is able to ensure on-time delivery, the more likely a customer is to choose to finalize a transaction with them. This guarantee becomes even more essential since PwC research shows 41% of shoppers for the upcoming holiday season plan to increase the amount they spend in online venues.
For companies expanding their footprint to both online and in the physical world, another number becomes important: 29% of shoppers consider themselves “transitionalists,” meaning they shop online for some items, but generally prefer traditional stores, while 32% consider online as their “go to” shopping experience. The almost even split, which together accounts for more than half the shopping population seems to present a challenge for retailers to figure out the best way to cater to both segments of the population at the same time.
“For marketplaces selling other people’s products, it’s really about selling themselves as an e-tailer to bring convenience to the shopping experience and making that order easy to pick-up and obtain,” Klein said.
Where Consumers and Investors Converge
It’s almost a double-edged sword for retailers, though. Where it becomes complicated is in the business model and how companies like Amazon choose to define themselves. Klein said he doesn’t foresee companies like that setting up shop to compete with big department and club stores simply because it changes their business model.
“The question for e-tailers trying to get close to their consumer is will they hold inventory on-site. If not, the model stays intact. But the minute you get closer, you’re blurring the line between e-tailer and retailer. And Wall Street might say wait a minute, you’re looking like a traditional brick-and-mortar, how can we give you multiples on what your business is doing?”
To that point, RJ Hottovy, senior equity strategist at Morningstar said right now, he’s not too concerned with an imminent change in business models for retailers like Amazon. He said if anything, he sees the move more as a marketing ploy to allow companies to show off their products before customers decide to buy – much the same way Apple uses its retail stores as showrooms. The in-store sale is almost a second thought.
“If they made a more aggressive push into brick and mortar, it might add trouble because it’s adding a layer of cost to a company that, not maintaining a physical retail store, has been a big part of the value proposition over time,” Hottovy said. “I would be concerned if they got more aggressive with it, but if it’s a way to facilitate – like acting as more of a mini fulfillment center, in small doses, it’s a worthwhile experiment.”
He said Morningstar’s view of the stock is overall still pretty positive. It sees a $400 fair-value estimate on solid top-line growth thanks to key drivers including more expected subscribers for the company’s Amazon Prime service, other web services, and fulfillment of digital content sales plays. To put worries about continuing razor-thin margins to rest, Hottovy said the firm sees margin growth expanding from 1% to 4%-4.5% over the next five-year period.
“I see the move as more of a learning process,” he said. “I view it as a smaller version of a fulfillment center: If it’s something they can do to see volume, then it becomes a worthwhile endeavor. I don’t think it changes perception, it enhances the overall proposition to get products to customers quicker.”


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06-20-2014 Category News Published in Convenience Store Products
Competing against All-Pro running back Herschel Walker is enough to make anyone sweat, but contestants in the second annual FARE Culinary Competition also had to face hundreds of onlookers and the pressure of their peers on Monday evening of the FARE conference, held at the Gaylord Texan June 16-18.
06-02-2014 Category News Published in Convenience Store Products
The footprint of high-end, craft and natural confection at the annual Sweets & Snacks Expo continues to grow, while legacy candy brands had their R&D teams working at full throttle to deliver a wide array of new extensions on perennial favorites in time for the show.
05-27-2014 Category News Published in Convenience Store Products
Faster cooking technologies, a steady flow of dispensed treats and unique breads both gluten-free and gluten-full were among the trends that percolated at the 2014 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show, held May 17-20 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.
03-05-2014 Category News Published in Convenience Store Products
Convenience distributors, retailers, brokers, manufacturers and suppliers met in Las Vegas last week for the annual AWMA Marketplace & Solutions Expo. Convenience Store Products was there, tracking new products and seeking fresh ideas to draw traffic and sales into the c-store.


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In August, I reviewed the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play. While I thought it was a great device, there were definitely some quirks. It seems to be like that with all Sony Ericsson phones, though, and even the joint venture between the two companies itself has its issues. None of us will have to worry about that anymore, though, as today, Sony bought Ericsson's shares and will now make all of its own smartphone hardware.
Ericsson is a Swedish telecom company. It joined up with Sony in 2001 to help both companies get into the booming cell phone industry. Unfortunately, it didn't work out too well for either company, although Ericsson made money off of it anyway, thanks to licensing deals. But, really, that was the only way; hardly anyone would buy a Sony Ericsson dumb or smartphone because generally, they were much worse than the competition.
Ericsson, owning 50% of the Sony Ericsson joint venture's shares, also held some of Sony's best ideas up. The latter company always wanted to tie its many product lines (laptops, tablets, PlayStation platform) together, but never had an easy time doing so. Thankfully, now that Sony can make its own smartphones, it can start to tie all of its products together and hopefully make some better devices.
Ericsson isn't going away, though; in fact, that company should be making a huge comeback. As the inventor of Bluetooth and simply being a telecom giant, Ericsson can focus on what it does best: producing mobile connectivity chipsets.[PCMag]


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Rough diamonds worth millions have vanished from the repository that holds Russia's supply of gold, silver, diamonds, and gems even though it is "supposedly impenetrable," in the words of NBC News. State-owned diamond mining company Severalmaz says it gave 150,000 carats, or 66 pounds, of diamonds to the State Precious Metals and Gems Repository, also known as Gokhran, to be sorted, reports NBC, citing Russia's Kommersant paper. Sixty-six pounds of diamonds were returned, but the four largest diamonds, including an uncut 23-carat stone, had been replaced with a bunch of smaller ones, reports the Moscow Times.
Though insured for $500,000, the diamond trove is probably worth several million dollars, a diamond analyst says. A state commission has now been created to investigate, reports the Times. Despite the Gokhran's reputation for impenetrability—it is sometimes referred to as "Russia's Fort Knox"—it has been the site of thefts before, including in 1921, just a year after the facility was built by the Bolsheviks to house their confiscated jewels, notes NBC. (Read more diamonds stories.)


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A small box of moist snuff, or ‘snus’ to give it its Swedish title, is expected to increase in price from 26 to 37 kronor.
And retailers are now beginning to notice an increase in demand as consumers have started squirreling away extra snus in fridges nationwide. When refrigerated, the product can stay fresh for up to a year.
Many experts agree that many people will take the opportunity to break the habit as part of their new year’s resolutions. But those who plan to continue stuffing snus under their top lip are hell-bent on keeping it cheap.
Magnus Frisk, spokesman for the Coop supermarket chain, has indicated that sales are already higher than usual, but he expects to see all previous snus records smashed in the week between Christmas and the new year.
The Dag Livs supermarket in Stockholm is taking absolutely no chances and has ordered in ten times more moist snuff than usual.
“We think there is going to be a major increase in sales and are taking in snus by the pallet. For the first time ever we have even had to put loads of snus in the chilled cabinets,” store buyer Niclas Åberg told Dagens Nyheter.
Snus accounts for half of the country’s total tobacco consumption. It is estimated that, out of a total population of 9 million, 1.1 million Swedes are snus users.


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With Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag almost upon us, Musterbrand has some gear from the game for sale.
The clothing seller has coats, hoods, shirts and more for sale that have been made with cooperation of the game designers and fashion creators.
“Musterbrand has done a great job again this year at producing stylish, wearable clothing inspired by Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag. I can truly say that the threads express what the Assassin’s Creed franchise is all about: freedom, agility and a sense of adventure,” said Jean Guesdon, creative director on Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag.
The prices of the gear range from $59 to $240, and can be seen at the link above.


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It was a crazy year, but we’ve managed to come through once again and win the Diamond Dealer Award for the 8th year in a row.
The awards recognise not only overall achievements in sales, but a very strong emphasis on customer satisfaction, to ensure our customers return for more great service in the future.
We’re also very proud to have won the ‘Parts Excellence’ award. Our Parts and Service team, led by Mark Pound have had a huge year and thoroughly deserve this recognition.
The annual Diamond Dealer awards night on May 28 saw staff from Mitsubishi NZ’s 56-strong national network converge at Shed 6 on Wellington’s waterfront.
“We are incredibly proud of our whole team of dealers and are pleased we can celebrate together after a year in which, collectively, we overcame some unprecedented challenges to exceed our long-held target of 10% market share and hit the number two position,” MMNZ chief operating officer Daniel Cook says.
Highlights from the 2020 financial year included the launch of Express van and an all-new Eclipse Cross range, alongside the dominance of Outlander in the seven-seat SUV market, plus strong Triton sales.


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Attorney General Eric Schmitt is following in his predecessor’s digital footprints.
Schmitt joined attorneys general from 50 states and territories to launch a massive probe into Google’s business practices, particularly as it relates to advertising. The antitrust probe, announced earlier this week, will delve into advertising and search control, investigating whether the tech giant has engaged in behavior detrimental to businesses.
Schmitt pointed to the bipartisan nature of the investigation and said he plans to ensure it’s conducted in a “fair and impartial” manner. But he also wants to make sure Google is operating in responsibly and legally.
“It’s like if you buy a house, and Google owned the house and all the other ones on the street and in the city and in the state, and Google is the buyers’ and sellers’ agent,” Schmitt said. “Google on every side of the sale raises questions.”
“Even the biggest of the big tech companies need to be held accountable,” Schmitt told The Missouri Times.
Schmitt said individuals expect to be given a fair answer to search queries in Google. And when it comes to small businesses, in particular, it’s imperative to ensure Google’s advertising practices are fair in order to allow them to compete as well.
“The internet impacts our lives every single day, and Google is one of the most recognizable and most used search engines and tech platforms in the world. However, as we wrestle with the continued unsettling actions of our largest tech firms such as Google, we must ensure that those companies who have risen to the top have done so through free market competition and not anti-competitive tactics,” Schmitt said.
Probes such as this are generally lengthy and could take years to complete.
“Google’s services help people, create more choice, and support thousands of jobs and small businesses across the United States,” Kent Walker, senior vice president of global affairs for Google, said. “Google is one of America’s top spenders on research and development, making investments that spur innovation … At the same time, it’s of course right that governments should have the oversight to ensure that all successful companies, including ours, are complying with the law.”
Holding Google accountable is something Schmitt’s predecessor, U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, is exceptionally familiar with. Hawley launched an antitrust probe as Missouri’s attorney general and has continued to take on juggernaut tech companies at the federal level. (In fact, his U.S. Senate campaign has fundraised off his fight against these companies.)
After the announcement of the probe, Hawley shared a message for the attorneys general on social media: “The companies are lawyering up, trying to find ways to divide you, and looking for every chance to stonewall. Don’t let them. And don’t back down.”
Message to state AGs taking on new investigation of Big Tech from someone who launched the first investigation: The companies are lawyering up, trying to find ways to divide you, and looking for every chance to stonewall. Don’t let them. And don’t back down.
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) September 6, 2019
“I was proud to launch the first antitrust and privacy investigation of Big Tech by an attorney general two years ago. I’m heartened to see a new group of attorneys general with the courage to stand up to these powerful companies and fight for citizens,” Hawley told The Missouri Times in a statement. “Big Tech companies should be held accountable if they are violating our privacy or harming our children or killing innovation.”
But some free market groups and experts are not on board with the probes.
“The term ‘monopolies’ is an oxymoron. If it’s plural, it’s not a problem,” said Patrick Hedger, a research fellow at the libertarian-leaning Competitive Enterprise Institute. “Ultimately the bottom line of these companies depends on where Americans choose to spend their time online. Are they watching videos on Google-owned YouTube and messaging their friends on Gmail, or are they scrolling through Facebook and chatting on Messenger? These companies hold each other infinitely more accountable than a handful of politicians could ever hope to.”
The multi-state probe comes after Congress, the Justice Department, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have launched probes into big tech companies, including Facebook and Amazon, as well as Google.
The attorneys general from Alabama and California are the only two who did not join the bipartisan probe.
Kaitlyn Schallhorn was the editor in chief of The Missouri Times from 2020-2022. She joined the newspaper in early 2019 after working as a reporter for Fox News in New York City.
Throughout her career, Kaitlyn has covered political campaigns across the U.S., including the 2016 presidential election, and humanitarian aid efforts in Africa and the Middle East.
She is a native of Missouri who studied journalism at Winthrop University in South Carolina. She is also an alumna of the National Journalism Center in Washington, D.C.
Contact Kaitlyn at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Starting in the summer, Deutsche Bahn passengers will also be able to apply for a refund online in the event of train cancellations and delays. “This June we will be offering our customers digital reimbursement options,” said Berthold Huber, Board Member for Passenger Transport, of the German Press Agency. So far, customers of the railways can only claim money back in analog form. You have to fill out a corresponding form and send it by post. That should be over. According to Huber, online reimbursement is only one component of a far more comprehensive digital reorganization of the rail systems.
“We’re building the sales system from scratch. We’re also building the navigator from scratch, ”said Huber, referring to the group’s booking app. “The convenience check-in issue is also related to the new sales system.”
Online reservations are transferred when the train changes
Automatic transfer of reservations in the event of an unscheduled train change has been possible since autumn under certain conditions. “The new system will automatically reserve you in the new train when you change trains and you will receive information about the new seat via your smartphone,” said Huber.
“We were repeatedly accused: I paid 4.50 euros for the reservation – and it’s gone now. That is a thing of the past. ”However, the reservation only works if, among other things, the ticket was bought online and the train change is known at least an hour in advance.
Deutsche Bahn wants to modernize all digital customer channels by 2023
By 2023, Deutsche Bahn wants to have rebuilt all digital channels for passengers. For years, customers and passenger associations have criticized the cumbersome, analogous procedure for reimbursement. In the meantime, numerous start-ups have emerged that use this service gap and offer passengers via app to take over the process for them. The customers then only have to provide the train information online. The companies take care of the correspondence with the railway.
Huber emphasized that the reimbursement form is just one of many innovations. “We build new modules one after the other within the system, and these new modules can communicate with the old system.” However, nothing changes in the conditions for reimbursement in long-distance transport. Passengers who are delayed by one hour at their destination receive 25 percent of the fare back. From two hours onwards, the railway reimburses half.


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Good morning! Here is the tech news you need to know this Wednesday.
1. In the wake of allegations from five women alleging sexual misconduct, venture capitalist Shervin Pishevar announced that he is taking a leave of absence from his business interests. Pishevar will be stepping away for the time being from his investment firm, Sherpa Capital, his role on the board at Virgin Hyperloop One where he is a cofounder and co-executive chairman, and the boards of his portfolio companies.
2. Wall Street analysts at Nomura predicts Apple will launch a supersized 6.5 inch iPhone X next year, along with a successor to the iPhone X with a 5.8-inch OLED screen. These devices are expected to be similar to the current iPhone X, according to the analysts.
3. Amazon’s application for a pharmaceutical wholesaler license in the US state of Maine has been cancelled. The cancellation occurred on December 1 and could have big implications for Amazon’s potential ambitions in healthcare.
4. British health secretary and Conservative MP Jeremy Hunt has added his voice to the chorus of critics attacking Facebook for trying to attract ever-earlier users to its services, publicly telling the company: “Stay away from my kids.” Facebook announced a new app this week called Messenger Kids.
5. Apple is continuing to hire away designers and engineers from one of its most important suppliers, British chip firm Dialog Semiconductor. Dialog is currently fighting to persuade investors that its agreement with Apple is safe.
6. Bitcoin broke above $12,000 (£8,959) in a record high. Price moves have been less pronounced among the other major cryptocurrencies.


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The German government’s scheme to offer subsidy payments to households who purchase a combined energy storage with PV system has got off to a weak start. Of the €25M available to householders, only €3.3M has been claimed. A further €25M is due to be available next year under the same scheme.
The government incentive scheme is intended to encourage the uptake of energy storage systems by offering non-repayable loans that cover up to 30% of the cost of a system.
Although the market is expected to blossom as part of the energiewende, the slow up take suggests householders are reluctant to install the systems.
In a recent report, Lux Research said the coupling of PV with energy storage will be beneficial to the storage companies, but have less impact upon the solar market. However, solar companies that choose to develop products that combine the two could earn a portion of the anticipated US$2.8 billion market in the next five years.


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Kinneir Dufort has designed a range of public-use interactive Web phones for Marconi, part of a programme expected to net the telecoms giant £100m in revenues over the next eight years. Up to 28 000 of the phones will be produced as part of a deal with BT.
The consultancy has created two Web phones for the existing Neptune range, the Neptune 800 and Neptune 1000, which will offer payphone, Internet, text messaging and information services from a public payphone platform.
The 1000 is designed for ‘managed locations’ such as airports, train stations and shopping malls and is a free-standing unit. However, the modular nature of the unit means it can be converted and mounted to a wall.
The 1000 has also been tailored for use in the private sector and can be customised to take add-ons such as Web cams, privacy screens and printers and will be able to broadcast advertisements and digital videos when not in use.
The model is currently in pre-production and a prototype is due to launch in the autumn.
The 800 is designed to be wall-mounted in outdoor locations, but can also fit in payphone booths. It first launched in January and a ‘few hundred’ units are now on the streets. It is expected there will be ‘thousands’ in place by 2003.
‘The design approach recognises the increasing sophistication of consumer expectations in public use interactive terminals. Superior ease of use, access to new services and a strong, appealing identity have been key factors in achieving Marconi’s business goals,’ says Kinneir Dufort managing director Jim Orkney.
The Bristol consultancy has worked with Marconi since 1999 when it began work on the design of the Neptune 200 and Neptune 400 and did not pitch for this work.


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realme, the leading-growing smartphone brand, today announced its mainline expansion across India with a total of 200 exclusive stores. The stores are operational starting November 13 2021 and will enable users to experience all the latest realme products.
realme believes that offline presence is essential for a brand’s growth in the long term. In line with the same, the brand recently inaugurated 100 exclusive stores in a single day last month on 8th October and had set its target to open a total of 300 exclusive realme stores across India in 2021. These stores will have the latest products from the realme TechLife ecosystem, including smartphones, laptops, tablets, and other gadgets, enabling the brand to strengthen its relationship with the customers.
Commenting on the expansion, Madhav Sheth, CEO, realme India, VP, realme and President, realme International Business Group said, “realme’s exclusive stores are a key part of our growth strategy, and are in line with our focus of providing our customers with first-hand experience of realme products. Our offline growth expansion provides us with an abundance of opportunities and contributes to the overall growth of the brand. With our new stores, we are all set on our target of opening 300 exclusive stores across the country this year, and we are excited about expanding this number further in the upcoming year.”
With the opening of mainline stores across the country, realme’s focus is to bring more consumers in connection with realme smartphones and AIOT products. The brand is looking at expanding its offline presence to 1000+ exclusive stores by the end of 2022.


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(PRWEB) May 26, 2011
Socialtext announced today that it has partnered with Winvale, a leading reseller of technology solutions to government agencies. Under the partnership, Winvale will resell Socialtext's industry-leading enterprise social networking platform under the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) schedule, where government organizations can purchase products and services for discounted prices. As a software as a service company, Socialtext delivers easy-to-use applications that makes government business processes more flexible and enhances employee collaboration.
“We’re proud to be partnered up with Socialtext for the federal marketplace,” said David Sonde, Winvale Managing Partner, “They’re a forward looking company with a vision on breaking down barriers.”
“Government agencies are utilizing enterprise social networking to eliminate knowledge silos and share information across boundaries,” says Eugene Lee, Socialtext CEO. “This partnership with Winvale will help us deliver Socialtext into more government organizations looking to transform their internal processes and knowledge sharing to serve their constituents more efficiently.”
The partnership builds on Socialtext's success in the government sector. Socialtext has customers from local, state, federal and foreign government entities. Examples include:
- The Defense Acquisition University (DAU) and The Oak Ridge National Labs (Marines) both utilize a Socialtext appliance to provide a collaborative intranet for their employees.
- The Canadian Food and Inspection Agency, South Australia Dept of the Premier & Cabinet, Kane County Illinois and others have embraced Socialtext as their organizational intranet, making it easy for employees to share information across departments and flexibly modify their business processes.
Many of these government customers prefer Socialtext's on-premises, SaaS appliance, which brings these social applications behind the firewall to meet their stringent security requirements. Socialtext is also available as a VMware image, which can be installed in an agency’s virtualization environment or private cloud.
Established in 2002, Socialtext was the first company to deliver social software to businesses. By unlocking knowledge, expertise, ideas and data, Socialtext eliminates information silos across the enterprise to drive superior business performance. Socialtext's enterprise social networking products — including micro blogging, blogs, wikis, profiles and social spreadsheets — provide simpler ways for employees to share vital information and work together in real-time. Delivered in a variety of hosted cloud services, as well as on-site appliances, enterprise customers are provided with flexible deployment options that meet their security requirements. Built on a flexible, web-oriented architecture, Socialtext integrates with virtually any traditional system of record, such as CRM and ERP, enabling companies to discuss, collaborate, and take action on key business processes. More than 6,500 businesses worldwide have accelerated their business performance with Socialtext, including Egon Zehnder, Getty Images, Symantec, Meredith Corporation, NYU Stern, OSIsoft, and Epitaph Records. To learn more, visit http://www.socialtext.com.
Winvale is a government sales consultancy, leading advisor on government business strategy and procurement. Headquartered in Washington D.C., Winvale provides expert guidance to companies seeking to do business with federal, state, and local governments. Winvale also offers channel-friendly reseller services designed to help companies reach government buyers quickly by allowing them to place their products and services on Winvale’s existing contract vehicles. Winvale’s client portfolio includes smaller emerging organizations as well as Global Fortune 500 companies. For more information, visit http://www.winvale.com


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Retail stores that accept bitcoin
REEDS Jewelers Now Accepting Bitcoin in All Retail Stores
CardCash Adds Bitcoin Payments for Gift - Bitcoin Magazine
Bitcoin and Retailers: Who Accepts the Virtual CurrencyThe easiest way to accept bitcoin payments is in-person,. self-service kiosks, grocery stores and retail outlets, among other merchants.Two Japanese retail groups are about to start accepting bitcoin payments, a move that is likely to promote wider use of the virtual currency by domestic consumers.
Directory make it easier for you to find stores or merchants that accept Bitcoin in Indonesia, as well as help building the Indonesian Bitcoin Community.Here are some other companies that support the crypto-currency: Overstock.com ( OSTK )- Probably the biggest retailer that accepts Bitcoin, Overstock began accepting Bitcoin in January 2013.
More retailers to accept MasterPass | Mobile Payments TodayBitcoin startup Coinbase already makes it possible for Overstock to accept bitcoins as payment.Bic Camera, a major Japanese consumer electronics franchise, will soon begin accepting Bitcoin payments at its retail stores throughout Japan and at select Kojima.Namecheap - A service that offers cheap domain registration, among other related services, started letting users pay with Bitcoin in March 2013.
Virgin Galactic - The Richard Branson-led aviation company started accepting Bitcoin for customers who are interested in flying to space and paying for it using Bitcoin.Among the founders and investors who testified, some made dramatic claims about the ability of Bitcoin to revolutionize ecommerce, the payment processing and banking industries and even the exchange of stocks, bonds, contracts and property deeds.Yesterday, a post was put up on cryptocurrencies and now a news article appeared yesterday reporting that 100,000 retail stores in Japan will now accept.Start accepting bitcoin, store and spend bitcoin securely, or get the BitPay Card.Bitcoin Merchant Map: Introducing Coinmap, The Interactive Map Of Retail Stores Accepting. it can still be tough to find retail shops that accept bitcoin.Peach Aviation Ltd announced last week that it will be the first Japanese airline to accept bitcoin for tickets.The Pirate Bay - One of the biggest BitTorrent directories on the Internet, with an immense library of movies, TV shows, software, and music started accepting Bitcoins in April 2013.Businesses like Microsoft, Dell, and Expedia say they accept bitcoin as. trust bitcoin as a stable store of value.
Who Accepts Bitcoins As Payment? List of Companies, Stores
Japan’s Bitpoint to Add Bitcoin Payments to 100,000+ StoresOverstock.com - Probably the biggest retailer that accepts Bitcoin,. but regular brick-and-mortar stores are accepting Bitcoins too.
BitPay – Get Started with Bitcoin PaymentsMajor Japanese retail store chain Marui has signed a partnership agreement with Bitcoin exchange Bitflyer that will enable it to accept Bitcoin payments in stores.
BITPoint Japan Co. just announced plans to give hundreds of thousands of Japanese retail outlets the ability to accept bitcoins as payment.Tesla ( TSLA )- Not only that, but regular brick-and-mortar stores are accepting Bitcoins too.Over 5,000 retail stores and restaurants across Japan that currently accept bitcoin payments may suspend bitcoin use in their stores on August 1 if their bitcoin.But now, he said, the market is beginning to shift away from speculation and toward spending.Integrates easily into your retail, restaurant or small business operations.
Reddit - Reddit allows users to purchase Reddit Gold using Bitcoins, a feature they added back in February 2013.It teamed up with Bitflyer, the biggest BTC exchange according to volume, in accepting Bitcoin.Bic Camera, a major Japanese consumer electronics franchise, will soon begin accepting Bitcoin payments at its retail stores throughout Japan and at select Kojima...Latest Bitcoin News - Pick and pay retail stores have now started to accept Bitcoins as payments.The use of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies by marijuana retail stores is under. in Washington State Would Ban Bitcoin at. are accepting Bitcoin,.Coinbase, which is located in San Francisco, is one of the most prominent Bitcoin startups in the United States, allowing individuals to buy and sell Bitcoin with a U.S. bank account and allowing merchants, including Overstock, to accept the digital currency as payment.
Bitcoin in Business: Why don’t most Businesses AcceptMany businesses have started to accept Bitcoin payments for goods.
Major Japanese retail chain Marui has signed a partnership agreement with Bitcoin exchange Bitflyer to accept Bitcoin payments in its stores starting August 7.Chris Cooper. began accepting bitcoin at two stores in Tokyo last month.
100,000 retail stores in Japan now accept bitcoin as wellMajor Japanese Retailers to Start Accepting Bitcoin Payments Thanks to Legalization. Nearly 4,500 Japanese stores are currently accepting bitcoin while over.Major Japanese retail store chain Marui has signed a partnership agreement with Bitcoin exchange Bitflyer that will enable it to accept Bitcoin pay.Here are some great places to spend your Bitcoins: Joli. Beloved.
Major Japanese Retailers to Start Accepting BitcoinBitcoin and Retailers: Who Accepts the. the number of mainstream retailers that accept bitcoin has grown. retailers because Reeds accepts bitcoins in store as.BITPoint Japan Co. is reportedly gearing up to enable hundreds of thousands of Japanese retail outlets to accept the digital currency bitcoin, reported Bloomberg News.
Three months after Recruit Lifestyle partnered with Japanese bitcoin exchange Coincheck to enable over 260,000 retail stores to accept bitcoin, the compa.
Buzz - Major Japanese Retail Chain Marui Now AcceptsOkCupid - The online dating site started accepting Bitcoin for premium services in April 2013. 4Chan.org - The Reddit-like image forum added premium services and the ability to pay for them using Bitcoin in December 2012.
Only a few days after bitcoin officially became a method of payment in Japan on April 1, two major Japanese retailers have partnered with Japanese bitcoin exchanges.Visit our store to find android phones and tablets, Gps, cameras, security systems,.Bitcoin Coffee - Get gourmet-quality coffee send to you by simply sending some Bitcoin.If, at any time, you are interested in reverting to our default settings, please select Default Setting above.Major Japanese retail store chain Marui has signed a partnership agreement with Bitcoin exchange Bitflyer that will enable it to accept Bitcoin.Enter up to 25 symbols separated by commas or spaces in the text box below.Users have been able to purchase premium services with Bitcoin since December 2012.


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Does it know something?
The graphics chipmaker named after a Roman vengeance daemon received a kick in its GPU from one of its key investors, Softbank.
Softbank spills the beans
None other than Softbank leaked the fact that Snapdragon 855, a chipset that will power the Galaxy S10 and other top Android phones in 2019 which will come with Snapdragon X50 5G NR modem.
You are getting too problematic
Softbank is offering to purchase shares of Uber at a valuation of $48 billion – a 30 percent discount to its most recent valuation of $68.5 billion.
Cost an arm and a leg
A major investor in technology in the UK has lashed out against the sale of ARM to Softbank last year.
Late on Friday, because these kinds of things all happen on Friday, it seems that mighty Japanese giant Softbank is seeking to acquire taxi company Uber.
Hired more than 1,000 new staff with more to come
ARM has hired more than 1,000 new staff members worldwide since it was taken over by Softbank last year, with a large proportion of these in the UK.
Two companies added to AI plans
After getting its paws on ARM, Softbank is still growing and has written a cheque for two firms that build walking robots from Google's parent company, Alphabet.
Could there be an ARM/Nvidia alliance forming?
Japanese tech giant SoftBank Group has acquired a $4 billion stake in Nvidia, making it the chipmaker's fourth largest shareholder.
Non-binding fund to oversee creation of at least 50,000 US tech jobs
Softbank said that it will sell a 25 percent stake of ARM Holdings to an investment fund created in partnership with Saudi Arabia and other investors, according to people involved in the discussions.


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If you’ve been thinking that you are a 20th-century dinosaur because you prefer paper books to e-books, think again.
A new study by the Pew Research Center has found that 65 percent of Americans surveyed had read a paperback or hardcover over the past year, compared to 28 percent who opted to read an e-book. Forty percent of those surveyed said they only read print books, while just 6 percent read e-books exclusively.
Audiobook use increased slightly from the previous year, up two percentage points from 2015. Amazon’s Kindle e-reader provoked a surge of e-book sales after it was released in 2007, but those sales have leveled off and have even declined in some areas.
“Americans read an average (mean) of 12 books per year, while the typical (median) American has read 4 books in the last 12 months. Each of these figures is largely unchanged since 2011, when Pew Research Center first began conducting surveys of Americans’ book reading habits,” said the center in a press release.
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Overall, 73 percent of Americans 18 and over read a book over the past year, up one percentage point from 2015.
Lee Rainie, the director of internet, science and technology research for Pew Research, told the New York Times that the study demonstrated the staying power of physical books.
“I think if you looked back a decade ago, certainly five or six years ago when ebooks were taking off, there were folks who thought the days of the printed book were numbered, and it’s just not so in our data,” he said.
The phone survey of 1,520 American adults was conducted March 7-April 4 of this year.


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Australian industrial refrigeration specialist Oomiak is expanding into the Asian market.
The Adelaide-based company has opened a Malaysian office in Kuala Lumpur in response to growing demand from South East Asia.
“We’ve experienced a significant increase in demand from the Asian market for high quality industrial refrigeration systems, so opening an office in the region is a logical step forward,” says CEO Cate McGuire, Affil.AIRAH.
“The Asian market has a rapidly growing appetite for fresh fruit and vegetables, and with that comes the need to adequately cool and store produce to ensure it maintains maximum freshness for customers.
“Our leading-edge industrial refrigeration equipment and fresh produce ripening systems, as well as the expert advice we give to clients, has been extremely well received in Asia.
“We see enormous growth in the region over the next decade, so this is a really exciting move for us that is testament to the high-quality benchmarks we’ve put in place.”
Oomiak is also currently working on two major projects in Brisbane: a $10 million refrigerant replacement project for Arnott’s Biscuits, and a $1.4 million cold store project for Linfox.


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Just when you thought it was safe to read other books.
Harry Potter creator JK Rowling has launched a cryptic new site, Pottermore.com. Admittedly, as of right now, it just features a logo, the two words “Coming soon” and Rowling’s signature, so there’s not exactly much to work with here.
In keeping with the magical world of Potter, no less than 10 Potter websites were given coordinates which related to a letter in the word ‘Pottermore,’ and ultimately gave away the website’s address. One can only imagine the excitement this task must have caused.
Digital Spy has spoken to a source at hpana.com, who claims to have seen the site, and duly described it as “breathtaking in scope, detail and sheer beauty.” What’s more, a Pottermore Twitter account has also been created at twitter.com/pottermore. Well, of course it has.
(PHOTOS: Harry Potter’s Great British Thespians)
What does it all mean? Fans will hope that Rowling will be putting pen to paper (or writing method of her choosing) and continue the Potter story ad infinitum (no, Potter fans, that’s not a spell). Rowling has said she’s uncertain whether she’d write another Potter book, but the term “Pottermore” is supposedly the last patent she recorded, back in July 2009.
Some believe that an encyclopedia could be on tap, but will that be enough to satisfy the insatiable demands of the passionate fanbase, who are currently counting down the days to the July 15 release of the last ever movie?


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Self-Driving Car Dream is Eroded by Tesla Lawsuits
A few years ago, self-driving cars were seen as the future of driving. Today, the self-driving car dream is in trouble amid a mounting toll of serious accidents and lawsuits.
Tesla is facing another lawsuit, this time from a woman who drove into a fire truck when the Autopilot was on. Although these cars are not hailed as self-driving, they are seen as an important step in the direction of autonomous vehicles.
Heather Lommatzsch filed a lawsuit against Tesla in a Utah state court claiming negligence over a crash in May.
Lommatzsch’s Tesla Model S hit a fire truck when the car was driving in Autopilot mode. Lommatzsch was looking at her phone at the time. She said she was under the impression the Tesla would stop automatically in Autopilot.
The woman broke her foot in the accident. In the lawsuit, she claimed she suffered physical impairment and lost the enjoyment of life.
Why Tesla Autopilot is Under Fire Following Crashes
Tesla’s Autopilot function was rolled out three years ago. The company boasted it could control all steering, braking and lane switching.
Since then, cars driving on Autopilot have failed to stop on a number of occasions. A Tesla driven on Autopilot has hit a fire truck on at least three occasions.
In August, a Tesla Model S hit a parked fire truck in San Jose, California. Two people traveling in the car suffered minor injuries. The driver was arrested on suspicion of DUI. The driver told police he believed he had the Autopilot on.
A report in Wired noted a Tesla Model S drove into the back of a stopped firetruck in Los Angeles County in January 2018. The driver said the car was in Autopilot mode.
The Wired report said the car’s manual states it may not decelerate for stationary objects when driving at over 50 mph.
All of the occupants in crashes involving Teslas and fire trucks escaped with their lives.
However, a Tesla driver in March was not so lucky. Walter Huang was driving in Autopilot mode when the vehicle sped up and hit a concrete barrier in Silicon Valley, California. Huang was killed in the crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) noted the car sped up from 62mph to 70.8mph in the seconds before the crash and did not brake or steer away from the obstacle.
In Florida, two Fort Lauderdale teens died and a third was injured after the Tesla Model S they were driving crashed and caught fire. The crash also raised alarming questions about the Tesla battery pack. The NTSB report into the crash revealed the battery reignited twice after firefighters extinguished the blaze in the electric vehicle.
Serious self-driving car accidents occurred in vehicles other than Teslas.
In March, an Uber self-driving car killed 49-year-old Elain Herzberg, a pedestrian who was crossing the road in Tempe, Arizona. The Volvo failed to do an emergency stop. An investigation found the emergency braking maneuvers were disabled whilst the car was controlled by a computer.
What Do Lawsuits Against Tesla Claim?
Lawsuits like the one brought by Lommatzsch against Tesla claim the Autopilot program does not always do its job. The suit accuses Tesla of negligence. Lommatzsch is also suing Tesla for failing to warn Tesla owners the cars don’t avoid accidents.
People bringing defective products lawsuits against Tesla are seeking to prove the Autopilot system fails to drive the cars safely. Tesla has claimed the Autopilot feature reduces crash rates by 40 percent.
However, this statistic has been questioned by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It may be the key to successful lawsuits against Elon Musk’s company. While Tesla has reiterated the claim, other self-driving car manufacturers shied away from making claims or rushing their cars onto the market like Tesla.
Musk has said the onus is on the driver to avoid accidents. However, opponents claim the Autopilot mechanism is lulling drivers into a false sense of security.
Whatever the claims and counterclaims, the spate of accidents and lawsuits places the self-driving car industry on the back wheel. Although some automated safety systems are clearly reducing accidents, the best type of autopilot appears to be a human being.
Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers helps people injured in car accidents across Virginia. If you or a loved one has been hurt due to the fault of another driver, please call us today at (757) 455-0077.


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Last week PC Dealer reported that Ingram Micro was planning to buy a majority stake in UK distributor Northamber. If the deal takes place, it will effectively split the UK distribution market between two foreign-owned giants, Frontline Distribution and Ingram, leaving them to battle for supremacy in the UK.
Sources said last week that Northamber chairman David Philips was planning to sell his majority stake in the firm and US mega-distributor Ingram was to buy the 51 per cent share.
The deal would make Ingram the biggest distributor in the UK, overtaking Frontline, which had a 1995 turnover of u430 million. The combined turnover of Ingram and Northamber is believed to be u520 million in the UK, although there will be some overlap to reduce that figure. Such an acquisition would not only signal the end of Northamber as the biggest UK-owned distributor in the country, but would also leave the market dominated by two huge firms. In that case Merisel, which according to sources had a turnover of around u209 million in the UK in 1995, would be around half the size of Frontline or Ingram.
IBM distributes through both Northamber and Ingram. IBM UK channel sales manager Steve Voller said size is important to distributors. 'Ingram in particular has been very aggressive in the market as it is the new kid on the block. But if this deal is to take place it will need to have done its homework and have found a synergy between itself and Northamber.
Size isn't everything,' he said.
Graeme Watt, joint MD at Frontline, said that he would be surprised if size prompted the deal. 'Northamber is an excellent company with a well-established hardware market, particularly in PCs and servers,' he said. 'Ingram is not as strong in these areas.' Watt denied that any deal between Ingram and Northamber will affect Frontline. 'It would merely be a consolidation of our competition.'
Voller said the amalgamation would be unlikely to affect vendors, but agreed it would have an impact on dealers. 'One of the trends in the past two years has been a fall in dealer loyalty. Most dealers trade with at least 10 distributors, because that way they get multiple credit lines, multiple avenues of supply and they're not putting all their eggs in one basket.
'If Ingram Micro does take control of Northamber it will combine two of those avenues into one and reduce the options and number of credit lines for the reseller. To maintain the status quo the reseller would have to sign up with another distributor.'
One reseller source agreed: 'Dealers that play the credit game will find they have much less credit from Ingram and Northamber combined than they did when the distributors were separate,' he said.
'It will help some of the independent distributors because Ingram cannot handle that much credit alone. There will also be an opportunity in consolidation as there is a product overlap of around 40 per cent between the two companies which Ingram cannot take on.'
Ingram has admitted that it is involved in acquisition talks with several potential partner companies, but said it is unable to comment on specific deals due to stock market regulations connected to its initial public offering.
The US firm, which is the biggest computer distributor in the world with a 1995 worldwide turnover of $8.6 billion, said it will raise $263 million from the offering.
Northamber also refused to comment on the alleged deal, but a source close to the company said: 'A lot of people within Northamber are saying that David Phillips wants to retire this year and will sell his share of the firm.'
While Ingram is trying to increase its share of the European market, German distributor Computer 2000, which owns Frontline in the UK, has tried to do the same in the US.
C2000 is number one in Europe, while Ingram is number one in the US and worldwide. But the German firm's attempt to break into the US market has been unsuccessful.
The company bought Ameriquest in November 1994, but it has proved to be a millstone around the company's neck. Ameriquest reported a loss of $68 million for the year ended 30 June 1995, and is still losing money, having posted a $22.4 million loss in the first three quarters of 1996.
C2000 blamed the restructuring of Ameriquest for its poor financial performance and admitted that the firm is unlikely to pay a dividend for its year ending 30 September.
Ingram has proved more successful in Europe than C2000 has in the US, and the rumoured acquisitions of Northamber and Merisel Germany would increase its European market share in two countries where C2000 dominates.
But the German and US domination of the UK broadline distributor channel does not indicate a weakness in home-grown distribution companies, according to Joe Hemani, MD of Westcoast, another UK-owned wholesaler. 'My company, Ideal Hardware, Datrontech and Micro Peripherals are still there and Northamber is at a stage where other factors dictate,' he said.
'This deal would not be a question of a company in trouble that was forced to sell but a case of individuals wanting changes at a time that is right for them.'
Whatever the reasons for the deal, it would certainly escalate the battle between distributors in the UK. With C2000 and Ingram fighting for control of Europe, the Ingram and Northamber deal would mean that the battle could be won or lost in the UK computer market.
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