text:
Liz Neumark (above)runs the
trailblazing Great Performances catering company, based in New York
City, which offers clients foods grown at its own organic
Liz Neumark is in
clover, so to speak. A bunch of just-picked radishes in
hand, the founder and CEO of Great Performances, a New York
City-based catering firm, strolls around her farm, gregariously
exchanging a few words with anyone who happens to cross her
A woman approaches. “Liz, this is
amazing,” she says. “I was here just a few months ago, and it
“Nothing,” Neumark finishes.
Indeed, the sprawling plot they’re
standing on in Kinderhook, N.Y., was as recently as last year a
tangle of waist-high weeds. Neumark bought it -- and a section of
the neighboring organic farm, 60 acres in all -- thinking she could
grow enough produce on it to supply a significant portion of Great
Performances’ needs. The idea is appealing but also shockingly
bold, that a catering company in the modern era would actually grow
the food it serves.
“There seems to be no more fundamental
building block to express our passion in our food than the literal
act of growing it,” says Neumark. “It’s so basic and unpolluted and
Using organic, locally raised, whole
food (all separate yet interconnected concepts) has been a priority
for high-profile restaurateurs and socially conscious consumers for
years. More recently, however, this food has crept its way onto
banquet menus and, very rapidly, the field has become packed with
hotels and catering companies.
“We’re seeing a significant trend
toward ‘green’ events, which often means locally grown and organic
ingredients,” says Daniel Briones, director of catering at the Four
Seasons Hotel Philadelphia and president of the National
Association of Catering Executives, based in Columbia, Md.
For those planners who aren’t
“greening” their menus because it seems too expensive or difficult
or faddish, it’s time to pay attention. Most caterers are doing
something to improve the quality of their ingredients, and it’s
only getting easier to bring healthier, better tasting, more
socially conscious food to attendees.
After buying its own farm, Great
Performances launched the “100-Mile Menu,” a banquet option sourced
entirely from farms within about 100 miles of New York City, and
mostly from the Great Performances farm (which, to be a stickler,
is actually about 120 miles away). In its purest form, the meal
lacks olive oil and salt, since these ingredients aren’t produced
in the area.
A less stringent version of that menu
will be served to meeting attendees at New York’s Plaza hotel,
which reopens Dec. 3. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts will manage the
rooms as it has for years, but this time around, Great Performances
won the catering contract. Executive chef Christopher Harkness has
planned a menu based on foods grown and produced in New York State.
“As a chef, it gives you a sense of relaxation, because you know
where the food is coming from,” he says.
There’s perhaps no easier way to
improve flavor than by cutting out the long-distance shipping, says
Charles Kassels, the executive chef at Eldorado Hotel & Spa, a
property in Santa Fe, N.M., that sees about a quarter of its
meeting planners eager for meals made solely using ingredients from
local farms. “Anything that’s pulled out of the ground Tuesday
morning and served Tuesday night,” he says, “is going to be better
than something grown in California, washed, put in a bag and
shipped 800 miles.”
Doug Brecht, director of marketing at
the Doubletree Hotel & Executive Meeting Center in Portland,
Ore., sees local purchasing as a way to increase the economic
impact of a convention without spending more. “It feeds our local
economy, making our area a little bit more vibrant,” he says. “The
obvious factor is you do not expend gasoline to get food to the
Serving authentic ingredients also
enhances a meeting experience, says Scott Cohen, executive chef
from the Watermark and La Mansion del Rio, two Omni hotels in San
Antonio. Cohen adds at least one or two items grown in the Texas
Hill Country to every dish. “They come away pleased because it’s
something they haven’t had,” he says. “Local ingredients make the
dish more than the recipe.”
Going local ensures that the produce
will be fresh, rather than held in storage for months. “A perfect
supermarket peach could be four months old,” Cohen says. “Apples
can be up to 18 months old. Tomatoes? They’re old.”
One challenge of using such food is
that it can be inconsistent in flavor and color, according to C.T.
Nice, vice president of food and beverage for Aramark Sports &
Entertainment, which has implemented a number of eco-friendly
efforts. Also, the definition of “local” depends on the location.
“If you’re in Houston and want produce, you may have to go 150
miles to get it,” says Nice. In New Jersey, on the other hand, “you
may go 15 miles.” The West Coast and parts of the Northeast are the
easiest places to buy from nearby farms, he notes.
Then there’s the difficulty of filling
5,000 plates with ingredients raised nearby. Gaylord Hotels started
adding local produce to banquet menus about a year ago, but only
for smaller groups. “Trying to find free-range chickens for 5,000
people is almost impossible,” says Giorgi DiLemis, the Kissimmee,
Fla.-based vice president of food and beverage for the
TAKE THE LOCAL
How can planners incorporate locally raised ingredients into their banquet menus? Heed these tips.
* Be flexible on veggies. “There are no promises as to what the farmers market is going to have,” notes Charles Kassels, executive chef at the Eldorado Hotel & Spa in Santa Fe, N.M.
* Ask about price fluctuation. The cost of food bought locally varies far more than shipped food, explains Kassels. In most cases, the potential for spikes is built into the meal tab.
* Advertise your efforts. Kassels includes the names of local suppliers on the menu. Not only are the farmers pleased, but attendees appreciate a taste of what went into the planning.
* Ask the chef. Scott Cohen, executive chef of the Watermark and La Mansion del Rio hotels in San Antonio, says the convention services manager can get the ball rolling, but it’s the chef who will know what grows in the area and where to buy fresh, local ingredients. -- J.V.
A year and a half ago, management at
The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa in Carefree, Ariz.,
decided the resort would become organic, underscoring the overall
sense of wellness guests feel when on property. “When you arrive at
the resort,” says Wade Hughes, food and beverage operations
manager, “you go into a place that is organic in attitude and feel.
We really believe our cuisine should represent that as well.”
Turning a resort organic -- which means
using only items created without pesticides, commercial fertilizers
or other chemicals -- is a long process, but The Boulders now has
all organic goods in the minibars, organic products in the spa and
organic food and wines in the restaurants. Grapes are grown on
property, with the hope that the resort will begin producing wine
in the near future.
A new chef, Wendy Little, asked for
space to grow an organic garden, large enough to supply the
restaurants and the spa cafe. Now, that 5,280-square-foot garden
makes a refreshing event space for up to 50 guests, and planners
can select from five different all-organic banquet menus.
Last year, Serge Simard, vice president
of food and beverage for Toronto-based Fairmont Hotels &
Resorts, challenged the properties to offer organic banquet menus.
The results have been varied but consistently impressive: The
Fairmont Chateau Whistler, for example, launched its own 100-mile
buffet with a menu that’s both organic and local.
In Orlando, the Walt Disney World Swan
and Dolphin Resort rolled out an organic banquet menu this fall.
“People are trying to figure out a healthier way to eat,” notes
chef Robert Ciborowski. The meal is priced about 20 percent higher
than a nonorganic version, and Ciborowski says the verdict is still
out on whether it will become a popular choice.
With so many hotels bringing in organic
menus, there probably are some inflated claims. Ellen Burke Van
Slyke, the Coronado, Calif.-based corporate director, creative food
and beverage, for New York City-based Loews Hotels, wants to set as
organic a standard as possible, but she’s careful not to make too
many promises, especially in light of the “greenwashing” that goes
on when companies make false claims about their eco-friendliness.
“Our banquets as a company are not and maybe can’t be green,
because of costs and volume,” she says.
There’s no way, for example, the Loews
Ventana Canyon in Tucson, Ariz., can serve a banquet that sources
from local farmers, because the arid climate can’t grow enough for
a group of diners. However, the chain is rolling out sustainable,
organic menus in early 2008, as an option for banquets. They are
more expensive than traditional dinners and feature products
sourced as sustainably as possible.
Some suggestions for the best organic
Don’t force it. Scott
Cohen says it’s very difficult to demand organic food at a facility
that has never gone that route before. “They’re going to overreach,
and it might not work,” he warns.
Some is better than
none. If “all-organic” proves difficult, bring in just a
few organic products. Robert Ciborowski says to focus on protein,
because animals in conventional settings often are injected with
anabolic steroids, antibiotics and growth hormones. Brad Nelson,
vice president of culinary and corporate chef for Marriott Hotels
& Resorts, suggests prioritizing vegetables grown close to the
ground, which normally are more heavily sprayed than other
AT WHAT COST?
Providing environmentally, socially and health-conscious food for attendees is a lofty goal -- and expensive, to boot. Indeed, these foods often are more pricey than their conventional counterparts.
How much more? Depending on the region, the time of year, and the relationships the hotel or caterer has with purveyors, organic ingredients can cost anywhere from 10 to 50 percent more, but usually about 25 percent. In some areas, protein -- especially free-range chicken and grass-fed beef -- is prohibitively expensive, and in other areas, the meat is affordable but the vegetables are through the roof.
In Portland, Ore., increased supply is lowering prices. “It used to be more expensive,” says Doug Brecht, director of marketing at the Doubletree Hotel & Executive Meeting Center. “Now the only more expensive thing in our area is organic chicken.”
Local purchasing is more of a break-even prospect. When skyrocketing shipping costs are subtracted, the prices of food bought from farmers markets generally are no higher than food bought from farming conglomerates in other parts of the world. -- J.V.
Jo Cooper has very high standards for
her group meal functions. She requires the chefs to provide
all-organic, all-natural foods, prepared according to recipes her
company’s chef provides.
Cooper manages a professional training
program in nutrition for health-care providers, called Food as
Medicine, offered by the Washington, D.C.-based Center for
Mind-Body Medicine. Now in its seventh year, the program teaches
medical professionals how eating natural, whole foods can improve
health. Cooper, manager of professional training and education,
insists the food is not only good for you; it’s tasty, too.
“The myth is that health food is all
soybean paste,” says Cooper. “The triumph is that whole food can be
scintillating and delightful.” Calling food “whole,” she says,
means it’s prepared with very little human manipulation. The food
can be cooked but not processed. “The good stuff you want --
vitamins, minerals, enzymes and fats -- is going to be maintained
in whole foods,” she notes.
As the years go on, the hotels Cooper
works with increasingly are receptive to her culinary needs.
“Before, I felt like we were avant-garde,” she says, “but now we’re
right on the edge of what’s beginning to happen.”
Indeed, healthful, natural food is
another major trend in banquets. For example, hotel chains such as
Gaylord, Loews, Marriott, Omni and Starwood have eliminated trans
fats, linked to heart disease and other ailments, from their
properties. Fairmont has begun offering a “lifestyle” banquet menu,
with low-calorie and low-sodium choices. Marriott Hotels &
Resorts is putting more fruits on its breakfast buffets and looking
to reduce the amount of processed food served.
Westin Hotels & Resorts recently
unveiled a “SuperFoods” menu that emphasizes items such as berries,
nuts, spices and salmon, which are high in antioxidants and other
nutrients thought to aid wellness. Management is in the process of
introducing SuperFoods to meeting breaks; if that’s successful, the
foods might appear on banquet menus.
Jo Cooper offers the following advice
for bringing healthful, whole foods to attendees.
Mind the details. When
working with a hotel that’s not used to providing whole foods, ask
questions and pay attention. At one of Cooper’s meetings, she found
bowls of hard candy sitting out during breaks. “We called the staff
and asked them to remove them,” she says.
Go with a buffet. When
offering foods that extend past some people’s comfort levels,
Cooper chooses buffet-style. “That way people can choose what they
eat and not feel like they’re being force-fed,” she says.
Label the dishes.
Cooper labels buffet items and lists all the ingredients in
everything. This helps people with food allergies and also shows
attendees just how natural the food is.


text:
The iconic company, as well as the global entertainment and gaming platform, Atari, begins cooperation with the Litecoina Foundation. I want to use cryptocurrency as a means of payment.
Atari joins forces with Litecoin
The Litecoina Foundation announced today that it is starting cooperation with Atari, thanks to which litecoin will become a means of payment on the platform of the game manufacturer.
The managing director of the Litecoin Foundation, Charlie Lee, who is clearly delighted with the cooperation, said that many people grew up playing Atari games.
We also know so far that token Atari is to be broadcast on the Atari chain. The company has in its own portfolio over 200 games. It is possible that soon we will be able to pay for access to them LTC.
Litecoin is gaining importance
It is worth noting that Lee cares for the development of Litecoin. It is he who stands behind several large partnerships between his foundation and entities from various industries, including MMA, K-pop and sport.
Some time ago, there was even integration with M.Pay, which is a network of ATMs on the South Korean market. Lee said at the time that it would allow Litecoin to be introduced to the money transfer sector in this country.
Director of the Litecoin Foundation, Alan Austin, adds that thanks to its technology and high transaction processing speed, as well as security and modest network fees, Litecoin can guarantee market advantages for many companies.
Kryptowaluty on the gaming market
This is not the first time technology blockchaina and cryptocurrencies are used in the gaming market. In August 2019, we wrote Crypto Sanguo. This is the first MMORPG strategy game built entirely on the basis of technology blockchain IOST. The players’ goal is to collect materials, equipment and SGT (tokens in the world of Sanguo). The action takes place in medieval China.
In addition, it turned out that fans of Fortnite have a lot of sympathy Ethereum. Recently, the Reddit community portal has launched a test program for “social points”. These are to take the form of tips on the platform. 10,000 users signed up for testing. As much as 75 percent of them are Fortnite players who use the Reddit subforum. The entire project will be based on Ethereum technology.

domain: news


text:
India and the government may take comfort from Moody's forecast of lower GDP growth rate for China. But extended economic slowdown is bound to come in the way of making India a $5 trillion economy by 2024-25.
Updated : February 19, 2020, 3:31 pm
China's Hubei province reported 1,693 new cases as of Tuesday, down from 1,807 the previous day and the lowest number in the province since February 11. But deaths rose by 132, up from 93 the previous day taking toll to around 2,000.
Updated : February 19, 2020, 10:20 am
Illustrating the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on worldwide growth and corporate profits, oil prices tumbled and equity markets slid after Apple Inc (AAPL.O) issued a revenue warning due to the disruption the disease is causing to global supply chains.
Updated : February 19, 2020, 9:19 am
Japan’s economy shrank at the fastest pace in almost six years in the December quarter as last year’s sales tax hike hit consumer and business spending.
Updated : February 17, 2020, 8:22 am
China is struggling to get the world’s second largest economy going after the annual Lunar New Year holiday, which was extended by 10 days to help contain the highly contagious virus.
Updated : February 15, 2020, 8:11 am
Efforts to contain the coronavirus outbreak within next three to four months will be critical as it would determine the fate of many industries around the globe, including in India.
Updated : February 14, 2020, 2:47 pm
In its latest update, China's National Health Commission said it had recorded 121 new deaths and 5,090 new coronavirus cases on the mainland on February 13, taking the accumulated total infected to 63,851 people.
Updated : February 14, 2020, 10:12 am
The rating agency said that India's fiscal position remains precarious, with elevated fiscal deficits and net government indebtedness.
Updated : February 13, 2020, 4:21 pm
China's Hubei province, where the virus is believed to have originated, reported 242 new deaths, double the previous day's toll, and confirmed 14,840 new cases on February 12.
Updated : February 13, 2020, 3:38 pm
Due to the requirement of skilled workforce, choosing a top notch business school is important for students. Here is how you can choose a B-school on the bases of accreditation.
Updated : February 10, 2020, 1:53 pm
With a prudent budget, the prime minister signalled that efforts to revive the economy cannot be at the expense of equitable growth. But instead of gradualism, he needs a far bolder roadmap with big-ticket reforms to achieve his $5 Trillion goal by 2024.
Updated : February 7, 2020, 3:41 pm
The board of India Today experts pronounces its verdict on the broad brush strokes of Budget 2020.
Updated : February 7, 2020, 3:11 pm
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das spoke about several issues affecting the Indian economy including negative output gap and shared a fresh growth projection for the next fiscal. Here are some key takeaways from the RBI's monetary policy review
Updated : February 6, 2020, 6:39 pm
Economists, who expected more direct measures in the budget -- at least few to spark demand -- have expressed concern over Sitharaman's conservative approach, and optimistic targets for FY21. Find out why.
Updated : February 4, 2020, 1:37 pm
Centre on Saturday said it would inject nearly $40 billion into the sprawling farm sector and billions more into a federal water scheme to get broader economic growth back up from its lowest in a decade.
Updated : February 1, 2020, 3:40 pm


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Micromax Canvas A1 (Android One)
Micromax Canvas Nitro A310
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980
Intex Cloud FX
Moto G (2nd Gen)
Xiaomi Redmi 1S
Asus Zenfone 6
Asus Zenfone 5
HTC One (M8)
iOS 8: Huge for developers, not yet for you
The Indian Spotify: 4 mobile music streaming apps that you can use
Android One excels in battery test against competitors
Zenfones, Zenwatch and more: In conversation with Asus
iOS 8: 13 important features
How tech is taking football to the next level
Classic FPS games are a dying breed
Slowly gathering steam...
The obsession within
Carmick Shift: Can John Carmack and Oculus Rift change the world?
Moto 360 will be available exclusively on Flipkart
A look at Amazon's new Kindle Fire tablets & Kindle Voyager
Android's next version will come with default encryption
Samsung to stop selling 48 phone models online to focus on offline retail
Samsung to release Galaxy Note 4 on October 17
Moto G 2nd gen launched, available from midnight at Rs. 12,999
Xiaomi goes for the kill, prices Redmi 1S at Rs. 5,999 in India
Xiaomi lists Mi3 cases and power-banks on Flipkart, offers 10,400 mAh powerbank for Rs. 999
Moto G2 expected to be announced on 10 September
Motorola Moto X (Gen 2) smartphone, Moto 360 smartwatch announced for India
Karbonn Sparkle V
Spice Android One Dream UNO Mi-498
Micromax Canvas A1
Sony Xperia E3 Dual
Tutorial: How to implement H.265/HEVC for Intel Atom Based Android Platforms
How to use Native Library Compression SDK for Android apps
How to use Intel Cilk Plus to speed up your Android application
How to get started with OpenCL on Android OS
How to implement Gesture Sequences in Unity 3D game engine via TouchScript framework
How to Develop an Intelligent Autonomous Drone using an Android Smartphone
How to choose the right engine for your x86-based Android game
How to create sample codes for Video 3D on Android
NVIDIA Editors Day 2014 Highlights
NVIDIA Editors Day 2014 - HBAO+, PCSS, TXAA and God Rays demo in Far Cry4
NVIDIA Editors Day 2014 - Turf effects in Grass Demo
NVIDIA Editors Day 2014 - HairWorks demo on Far Cry 4 animals
NVIDIA Editors Day 2014 - Viscosity added to FleX fluids leading to some hilarious effects
12 upcoming tech & lifestyle stuff worth lusting over
Top 5 free new games for Android & iOS (Sep 2014)
Windows 9: What we have seen so far
Android One: A look at the competition
Register for the Digit.in Reward Program
How to earn points?
Sotiris Makrygiannis, MeeGo's Head of Development has announced that the entire MeeGo team will be parting ways with Nokia.
MeeGo announced this just after releasing the MeeGo PR1.3 update for the Nokia N9, which was the first and last MeeGo phone by Nokia. The Finnish mobile manufacturer will be now concentrating fully on the development of Windows Phones with the help of Microsoft.
MeeGo was very closely involved in the launch of various handsets by the Nokia, such as N770, N800, N810, N900, N950 and the N9. MeeGo, as you know, is a Linux-based open source operating system designed for various hardware platforms such as netbooks, desktops, tablets, and mobile computing. It is currently being spearheaded by the Linux Foundation.
Fans and users of MeeGo OS are now clamouring to make their opinions heard about this situation on Maemo forums. It is obvious that MeeGo is about to face some hard times and difficulties after leaving Nokia's top grossing resources and environment.
The big-powered mobile operating systems like Android, iOS and Windows Phone 7.5 have already managed to demolish the other lesser known operating systems like MeeGo, Symbian, webOS etc. So, what about their future?
Now let's consider these three operating systems for a while. Recently, webOS platform failed to make it big on the consumer tablet scene, with the flop of the HP TouchPad. Symbian is still working hard to perform well in the industry – and is expected to be phased out by 2014.
Now let us talk about MeeGo, which is a very simple and easy-to-use mobile operating system that has not yet managed to play with the those in the big leagues. The last known MeeGo smartphone, the Nokia N9, was never really the first choice by consumers, despite its unique design and postive reviews. The lack of consumer adoption certainly affects the overall growth and quality of the company, but we shall wait and see if MeeGo manages to rise out of the slump of its nearly aborted launch.


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Google’s new storage service may actually come real soon. There have been several free services that have been announced and subsequently, released, but a big one is coming soon. There have been rumours about an online file storage service, called Google Drive being launched and it appears that the launch date may be drawing near. A screenshot has been posted by a reader of GeekWire that appears to be Google Drive. The user interface and theme is very similar to that of many of the other Google services, but it resembles Google Docs the most. This also raises the suspicion that the screenshot could actually be a fake, since it’s pretty easy to replicate.
Very similar in looks, to Google Docs
The fact that the subdomain exists also raises the possibility that the service is indeed active, but only to a few testers and developers. The user who sent in the screenshot claims that the service was enabled for his Google account. The icons that are used in the service seem to be similar to that of those in Google Docs, but there is an official logo for the new service, also. Another neat feature that appears on the page is the Install Google Drive - which could be a plug-in for the browser or even a software that installs onto your OS and shows up on a virtual drive, so you can easily dump files into your Google Drive without having to always use the web browser. The user interface shows features similar to Google Docs, allowing users to create groups and share with other users. There’s also a search bar, which could be just to search files quickly.
Google Drive would be a direct competition to services, such as Dropbox, which offer similar services. With a large userbase as Google, in all likelihood, there may be many, who may hop over to Google Drive. There’s also news that this service may be launched in a few weeks from now, which could mean that that the leaked screenshot isn’t a fake. When GeekWire approached Google about the service, they declined to comment.
Published Date: Feb 17, 2012 11:32 am | Updated Date: Feb 17, 2012 11:32 am


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Microsoft wasn't kidding about its plans to speed up the Windows release cycle. Windows 7 hit stores about two years and eight months after Vista, and from the looks of it, Windows 8 will be with us some time around Windows 7's three-year birthday.
At least, so one would think after reading this press release on Microsoft's Dutch website—specifically the second-to-last sentence, which Google translates as, "But it will take about two years before 'Windows 8' on the market." (The press release, incidentally, celebrates the first anniversary of Windows 7's retail launch.)
As Engadget points out in its coverage of this story, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer named the next release of Windows when asked about the "riskiest product bet that [Microsoft] is currently making." Ballmer wasn't exactly very loquacious in his answer, though, so you'll have to use your imagination on this one. Considering Windows 7 did little more than smooth out Vista's rough edges, I would expect the upcoming release to bring some major new features—like some slate-friendly goodness, perhaps?
|Asus Tinker Board gives the Raspberry Pi 3 a run for its money||38|
|Mushkin enters the keyboard market with the Carbon KB-001||28|
|Report: PC gaming hardware market expands to an all-time high||34|
|Asus ROG Maximus IX Formula chills with an EKWB waterblock||3|
|Deals of the week: high-powered graphics cards, monitors, and more||13|
|Eurocom Tornado F5 SE mobile server can eat desktops for lunch||13|
|Microsoft releases Pix DX12 tuning and debugging tool for Windows||21|
|Cryorig's QF140 fans offer a choice of silence or performance||17|
|SteelSeries' Apex M500 keyboard reviewed||13|


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Profile of Kelly SheridanStaff Editor, Dark Reading
Member Since: 11/15/2013
News & Commentary Posts: 592
Kelly Sheridan is the Staff Editor at Dark Reading, where she focuses on cybersecurity news and analysis. She is a business technology journalist who previously reported for InformationWeek, where she covered Microsoft, and Insurance & Technology, where she covered financial services. Sheridan earned her BA in English at Villanova University. You can follow her on Twitter @kellymsheridan.
Articles by Kelly Sheridan
posted in February 2015
Microsoft debuted Band updates, predicted the future of productivity, and broadened support for Docker in Azure, among other announcements.
In its latest forward-looking video, Microsoft shows how the future of productivity is bendable, wearable, and holographic.
When they're not shooting films or attending award shows, some celebrities are obsessing over Lord of the Rings or building model train sets.
Apple fans and non-fans alike are waiting to "watch" what happens. Let the speculation begin.
Experimental apps from Microsoft's Garage incubator are designed to enhance productivity.
Let's take a moment to remember the work and ideas of the late Steve Jobs, who would have turned 60 today.
Google announces a collaboration with Softcard, heats up mobile payment battle with Apple and Samsung.
Cloud technology was the theme of this week as updates to Microsoft Azure and Office rolled out of Redmond.
When it comes to career goals, collaboration, and leadership styles, Millennials have a lot in common with Baby Boomers and Gen Xers, according to new IBM research.
Microsoft's new cloud-based services focus on machine learning, more Linux options, and new partnerships.
Microsoft allows third-party storage providers to integrate services into Office apps and announces a Cloud Storage Partner Program.
Your iPhone or Android smartphone can predict the weather, but can it tell you the closest flu outbreak or get a wake-up call from around the globe?
Microsoft withheld exciting news of its Windows 10 Phone preview and Office Online upgrades until late this week.
Microsoft is rolling out the first public preview of Windows 10 for mobile to Windows Insiders, but not all devices are eligible.
The first major Office Online revamp brings improved Reading View and file management to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote.
Microsoft's reported purchase of N-trig, the company behind its Surface Pro 3 pen, follows years of collaboration.
As Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella looks towards a collaborative and holographic future, we reflect on his first year at the helm.
Some data centers are built in modern buildings, and some are in old paper mills or Cold War defense bunkers.
Microsoft bought big data, email, and machine learning businesses on its holiday shopping spree. What will they bring to its future?
The Office preview for Windows 10, the acquisition of calendar app maker Sunrise, and news of SharePoint Server 2016 lead this week's Microsoft news.
Tesla Motors looks to Apple for new employees as the cars of the future begin to resemble computers.
Microsoft launches the first part of Office for Windows 10 in a preview available for download on the new Windows Store Beta.
Microsoft announces plans to release the on-premises SharePoint Server 2016 in the second half of 2015.
Apple will spend $2 billion to repurpose a failed Arizona sapphire glass plant as a data center and command hub for global networks.
Apple, Samsung, and Amazon hit a rough patch in tablet and hybrid device sales, which fell for the first time since 2010.
Microsoft shares information on how enterprise users will access Windows 10 feature and security updates.


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Blame it on the weather girl: Carol Kirkwood's love of coats and scarves brings warm front to the High Street
The clothes Carol Kirkwood wears to present the weather are leaping by up to three quarters the very same day
BBC weather girl Carol Kirkwood is setting her own fashion trends.
Shoppers are flocking to buy whatever she wears on the morning forecast, retailers say.
Sales of the clothes she wears to present the weather are leaping by up to three quarters the very same day.
Department store Debenhams say that when Carol wears a warm coat and scarf for her morning forecast, sales of winter clothing increase more than when the outside temperature drops by six degrees celsius.
They also think she is the reason
behind unexpected spikes in sales, with the sight of Carol wearing a
coat making increases coat sales by a third even when the weather is
wears a hat and gloves, sales of those items leap by half, while the
sight of her in ear muffs increases sales of them by a whopping three
Carol's fellow weather girls Louise Lear, Laura Tobin and Elizabeth Saary were found to have less of an effect on sales, while their male colleagues had none at all.
Debenhams speculate the sales spikes are because of the amount of outside broadcasts that Carol and her fellow weather girls do.
The store offered other insights into
how the weather affects Brit's shopping habits, with sales of coats
rising when temperatures fall below 16 degrees on three consecutive
Sales of scarves rise when the mercury falls below 12 degrees and gloves become popular at six degrees.
Women's thermals start flying off the shelves at nine degrees, but men don't start buying Long Johns until the temperature drops to a chilly two degrees.
Viewers, especially women, are using the fashion choices of the forecasters to determine how to dress well to suit the weather
Debenhams spokesman Ed Watson said: 'Nobody in Britain seems to believe that winter has arrived until they see Carol wearing a scarf and ear muffs.
'We're calling it the Weather Girl Effect - and it's bringing a warm front to sales on the High Street.
'It is clear that viewers - especially women - are using the fashion choices of the forecasters to determine how to dress well to suit the weather.
'The warm coats, and gloves which Carol wears are providing a more effective visual forecast of what lies ahead, more than the temperature figures on the accompanying high-tech weather map.
'Our research shows that the weather girls are teaching the nation how to remain ice queens, able to cope with any stormy squall.
'We've come to believe that if Carol Kirkwood read the forecast wearing a bikini, - bikini sales would soar even if it was snowing outside.'
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It has been three years since Steve Jobs’ passing. Before his last public moments biographer Walter Isaacson recorded Steve Jobs claimed that he had “cracked the code” on how to revolutionize television.Read More >
It has been rumored for years. Mock ups have been made. Analysts have proclaimed launch season after launch season, year after year after year. Yet for all the hype and wondrous prototype possibilities that may – or may not – be hidden deep within Apple’s design labs, a 4K/UHD TV that sports an Apple logo may never be in the cards. Our condolences to Gene Munster.
Whether or not Apple could change the way a television functions and interacts with the user is the wrong question to ask. Apple is more than capable of creating markets from scratch and reinvent nascent technologies into something brand new and better. The right question to ask is whether creating a state-of-the-art TV would be worth it for Apple?Read More >
Ever since Apple TV, Roku and other internet streaming devices have been available for your television, more and more people have “cut the cord” by canceling their subscriptions to cable and satellite providers. What has been missing is the ability to get any and all content apart from cable and satellite providers, also known as a la carte programming. Instead of being forced to buy bundles — with channels and programs no one watches — a la carte programming lets people purchase only what they want. It would be like being forced to buy a meal at McDonald’s. There would be no ability to just buy a drink or just a hamburger, in order to get either item you have to buy both — with fries.Read More >
The original Apple TV graced our presence in September 2006. Originally announced as iTV, Apple was very clear that this was just a “hobby”. But step forward eight years and after two model updates and over 20 million units in circulation, we wonder is now the time for Apple to bring us a Big Apple TV?Read More >
There is a saying, “It doesn’t matter how you start it is how you finish that matters.” Those of us who were unable to attend Apple’s Silicon Valley Gala, found streaming the event quite the challenge during the first 30-40 minutes of Tim Cook’s Keynote. Immediately Twitter was a-buzz concerning the inability to stream the event on Apple TV or through the website. But fortunately Apple fixed the problems and we were able to see, without interruption, “One more thing...”Read More >
The invitations are out and Apple wishes it could tell us more. But for those outside the executive suite at Infinity Loop we will need to wait one more week, until 9.9.2014. The significance of the location is that the Flint Center, located on the De Anza college campus, is where Steve Jobs unveiled the original Macintosh 30 years ago.Read More >
Recently, Apple TV has added quite a few high profile channels. Just yesterday NFL Now was introduced. Before that was Fox Now, Watch ESPN, Watch ABC, Watch ABC News, History, A&E, HBO Go, PBS, Lifetime, Smithsonian and much more. Apple TV has become very popular with consumers but also with networks.
However, Apple TV is being positioned as a secondary TV device. Most of these channels offer some free content but in order to watch all the content, an ID from a cable or satellite provider is required. Instead of Apple TV being a device that lets consumers “cut the cord”, Apple TV is enhancing the value (and need) of cable and satellite subscriptions.Read More >
For the past several years owners of Apple’s stock must be pleased with the company's leadership. The stock price hit a lul during the first half of 2013, but since then AAPL has returned to its pervious value. The real question is what will happen next.Read More >
2010 was the last time the Apple faithful were treated to a new product category launch. The iPad made its debut just three years after the incredibly successful iPhone introduction. Over four years has passed since the iPad was announced, yet Apple has produced nothing “new.” Over the years iPhone and iPad have certainly improved — iPad now has a mini companion — but Apple’s history has set expectations for the company to launch something yet unseen, yet unknown, or yet to be done, every few years.
This Fall presents Apple another opportunity to break the cycle of just another set of upgrades to current product categories. The iPhone 6 (aka iPhone Air) is most likely going to sport a larger display (or displays), but it may be a new product that steals the show. Under Tim Cook’s leadership, there have been two special events in the Fall. A September show (2012, 2013) and an October show (2012, 2013). October is a special month for Apple as it is the beginning of its fiscal calendar. If you have never worked for a fortune 500 company, let me tell you, that is a big deal. Never under estimate when products launch and how they are tied to how bonuses are calculated.Read More >
Jobs, Steve Jobs


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Jonathan Saunders is giving DVF a new image from top to bottom. After infusing a fresh new take on Diane Von Furstenberg’s signature style, the creative director is also behind a major overhaul of the branding. The new logo features “Diane Von Furstenberg” with a separation between “Diane” and “Von” with “Furstenberg” running underneath. It’s also set against a backdrop of the label’s new color scheme, which will include variations on the primary colors red, yellow, and blue. The change is reportedly part of an effort to elevate the brand image by reintroducing the founder’s full name instead of referring to the label by her initials. In line with that thinking, insiders say Saunders has also done away with the “Lips” motif that was previously prominently featured in marketing materials.
The Spring 2017 ad campaign will focus heavily on the new image and less on the product. Saunders will present his Fall 2017 collection for Diane Von Furstenberg, which is expected to further drive home the new message, on February 12 during New York Fashion Week.


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Retail sales, a key indicator of the health of consumer spending, grew more than expected in the US and South Africa according to official data released last week. In both countries, consumption spending is the largest sector of the economy. However, the conditions in the retail sectors of these two economies are very different.
In the US, consumers are doing quite well, but traditional retailers aren’t. US retail sales numbers (excluding car and fuel sales) grew by 3.2% year-on-year in July. Low inflation (below the Fed’s 2% target) is a benefit for consumers, since inflation erodes the purchasing power of each dollar (or rand) earned and spent. US jobs growth is around 1.5% per year, and this has seen unemployment halve since the depths of the recession. Average wage growth is still remarkably low at 2.5% given the low unemployment rate, since one would normally expect workers to have more wage bargaining power when jobs are plentiful. Still, it means that the overall wage bill growth (jobs growth plus wage growth) is around 4% per year. Not bad in a low inflation economy.
Unsurprisingly, consumer confidence as measured by the Conference Board’s long-running survey, is close to levels last seen in 2000. While the dollar amount of consumer debt has surpassed the 2008 peak (causing much consternation), as a percentage of household income, it has declined considerably from a peak of 132% in 2007 to 103%. More importantly, the cost of servicing that debt (i.e. interest payments) only amounts to 10%, close to historical lows thanks to rock bottom interest rates. Obviously further increases in rates could increase pressure on households, but a decade of relentless consumer deleveraging, together with low inflation, are making it highly unlikely that the Federal Reserve will hike rates aggressively. The consumer should therefore continue to drive US growth.
It therefore makes sense that retail sales are growing strongly. However, 24 US retail chains have gone bankrupt in 2017, up from 18 in total during 2016. Surviving retail groups, especially big department stores like Sears, are closing unprofitable outlets. The combination of the growth of online shopping, oversupply of floor space and changing consumer behaviour (especially of younger people) has led to what is termed the “retail apocalypse”. Non-store (including online) sales as a share of total retail sales in the US has grown by a third over the past three years to almost 14%. Shopping malls are closing in droves, but then the US has the highest shopping mall floor space per capita of any country, several times the European average. One prominent bank predicts a quarter of US malls will close in the next five years. Over the past year, multiline retail shares have underperformed the S&P 500 by 35%, while clothing retailers lag by 30%. Meanwhile, the biggest of the online retailers, Amazon.com, has outperformed the S&P 500 by 13% over the same period.
US President Trump directly attacked Amazon on Twitter last week, saying it “is doing great damage to tax-paying retailers”. His other recent highly controversial statements have hurt his credibility with business leaders who are publicly distancing themselves from him. This further diminishes the chances of him passing growth-enhancing reforms.
Unlike in South Africa, US listed property companies tend to focus on a particular sector, and those companies (REITS) that own retail properties like malls have struggled with the EPRA/NAREIT US Retail REIT Index falling 24% over the past year. Sentiment has soured so much that three exchange traded funds have recently been listed, allowing investors to bet against listed bricks and mortar retailers.
A good second quarter in South Africa
South African retail sales grew more than expected in June, rising by 2.9% from a year ago in real terms. For the second quarter as a whole, real retail sales grew by 2.1% from the first quarter. Since wholesale, mining and manufacturing data have also been positive, overall second quarter economic growth will be fairly robust, ending the technical recession. Nominal retail sales growth (including inflation) was 7.4% from a year ago, up substantially from January’s 4.5% growth rate.
The rebound in retail sales was fairly broad-based across the main categories. General dealers (which includes the likes of Pick n Pay and Shoprite) account for around 40% of the total and grew by 2.5% year-on-year. The best performance came from specialist food and beverage outlets (like bakeries and liquor stores), with 12.4% real growth. Clothing stores posted 4% growth, a substantial improvement from the first quarter when sales declined in real and nominal terms. Since much spending on clothing is discretionary, it would be one of the first areas where consumers cut back. StatsSA does not report separately on non-store sales, but combines it in the “other” category that includes jewellers, bookstores and second-hand stores. This category has increased from 8% to 12% of the total over the past decade, but it is not clear what portion of this is driven by online sales.
Outlook and investment implications
Since there is little to no formal jobs growth locally, income growth in the economy is only driven by wage and salary (plus bonus and commission) increases. Employee compensation (wage bill) growth slowed to 6% in the first quarter, having grown around 8% per year previously. Fortunately, inflation is expected to ease further during the course of the year, helped by the appreciation of the rand over the past 18 months. This should increase real income growth. Like their US counterparts, South Africans also spend on average around 9% of disposable income on servicing debt (debt levels are lower, but interest rates much higher). Further interest rate cuts in response to a more benign inflation outlook will obviously also help consumers. But consumer confidence remains very low, therefore new borrowing should remain limited, meaning that a strong rebound in spending is unlikely.
Apart from a tough environment, local listed clothing retailers face increased competition from foreign brands. At the same time, several of them have also expanded abroad, and are no longer solely exposed to the local consumer (but they do face exchange rate hassles). Year-to-date, the sector is flat and lags the JSE All Share Index by 11%. The Food & Drug Retailers Index has outperformed the All Share this year.
Retail accounts for more than half the portfolios of the JSE SA Listed Property Index constituents (according to Catalyst Fund Managers). South Africa’s shopping mall floor space per capita is also very high and way out of line with other emerging markets, but unlike the US, South Africa is still adding mall space. Greater penetration of online shopping, which would probably require much cheaper and faster internet access, would therefore be a risk to certain property counters over time (others would benefit from increased demand for warehouse space). But the larger influence at this stage is the overall health of the consumer, which is stabilising at best.
Submitted by Dave Mohr (Chief Investment Strategist) & Izak Odendaal (Investment Strategist), Old Mutual Multi-Managers.
- BUSINESS REPORT


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On Tuesday, 16th of January 2018, Swiss food group, Nestlé announced that it has agreed to sell its US sweets and chocolate business to Italy’s Ferrero for a whopping amount of $2.8 billion.
“With Ferrero we have found an exceptional home for our U.S. confectionery business where it will thrive. At the same time, this move allows Nestlé to invest and innovate across a range of categories where we see strong future growth and hold leadership positions, such as pet care, bottled water, coffee, frozen meals and infant nutrition,” said Nestlé CEO Mark Schneider.
According to Reuters, the price is twice the multiple of EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) that Unilever secured in selling its slow-growth margarine business to private-equity group KKR in mid-December, or roughly 20 times, a person close to the deal told Reuters.
Nestlé’s U.S. confectionery business represents about three percent of U.S. Nestlé Group sales. It includes popular local chocolate brands such as Butterfinger, Crunch, BabyRuth, 100Grand, Raisinets, Chunky, OhHenry! and SnoCaps, as well as local sugar brands such as SweeTarts, LaffyTaffy, Nerds, FunDip, PixyStix, Gobstopper, BottleCaps, Spree and Runts.
According to a statement from Nestlé, the transaction covers the U.S.-focused confectionery brands only and does not include Nestlé’s iconic Toll House baking products, a strategic growth brand which the company will continue to develop. Nestlé remains fully committed to growing its leading international confectionery activities around the world, particularly its global brand KitKat.
This deal will make Ferrero SpA, which is famous for its chocolate-hazelnut Nutella spread, Ferrero Rocher chocolate, Tic Tac sweets and kinder eggs, the third-largest chocolate company in the U.S. and globally. For this deal, Credit Suisse and Lazard advised Ferrero while Davis Polk and Wardwell acted as its legal adviser.
According to Euromonitor, the United States accounts for nearly 19 percent of a global chocolate market worth $102.3 billion at retail. People increasingly choosing more expensive treats have buoyed the value of the market, but volume has been weighed down by the popularity of other alternatives. Nestle has lost market share in recent years, as start-up brands like KIND have grown quickly.
Reuters reported that even Lindt, whose Lindor chocolate balls command premium prices, has felt the pain, reporting on Tuesday that 2017 organic sales rose only 3.7 percent, below its long-term target of 6 to 8 percent. Sales in North America fell 1.6 percent.
In Africa, Confectionerynews.com said that the value of chocolate sales on the continent was estimated at $7.2bn in 2016 and are projected to rise at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of +1.9 percent up to 2021. They also said that FoodTrending predicted that Kenya and Nigeria would be the fastest growing African chocolate markets with +3.2percent CAGR forecast in both markets to 2021. The continent’s largest chocolate market, South Africa, with $1.6bn in 2016 value sales – is expected to grow below the global average at a CAGR of just +1.3 percent.


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Research: Tablets account for 20 percent of digital content consumption
Web browsing behavior is changing alongside consumer purchasing trends, each of which is favoring tablet computers.
A recent study conducted by technology market analysis firm Strategy Analytics found that 20 percent of digital media consumption is now undertaken on tablets. The research also showed that the average user spends one and a half hours per day using a tablet for web browsing, content applications and communication.
Much of this shift in consumer web behavior is due to the advent of mobile applications, according to Martin Bradley, associate director in the firm's Global Wireless Practice and author of the report.
“For both existing tablet owners and potential buyers, Strategy Analytics analysis reveals that tablets are most used for web browsing," Bradley said. "Another 40 percent of tablet use can be attributed to media and app store applications. Existing tablet owners enjoy exploring app store offerings, whereas future tablet buyers express interest in accessing readily available media store content.”
This dynamic will drive the rapid growth in tablet demand in the next few years, as market research firm In-Stat predicts tablet shipments will reach 172.4 million by 2014.


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April Fool's Day usually brings a host of silly products to tempt gullible internet users. From Google Gnome's outdoor home assistant, to Google Cardboard for your Chromebook, to a selfie stick for a tablet. Google also has PacMan, which you can play on Google Maps. You can also see a data center on Mars complete with solar panels. And that's just on Google.
Vic recently lost his son and he is trying to get into his computer and accounts, but only he had the passwords. Leo says that LastPass has a feature that will enable survivors to gain access to the data. The cellphone may be a more difficult proposal, though. The dangerous thing is that there is a setting in both Android and iOS that could erase the phone if he fails 10 times to open it up.
The police department in Edina, MN has secured the right to look at people's Google Search history to look for information about a fraud case they were investigating. The legal brief is to cover anyone who searched for the name of the suspect and case, and it could be the entire community.
Leo says it's crazy and that Google should fight this tooth and nail. It's classic government overreach. Leo says he doesn't mind Google's algorithm putting custom ads on his search results, but for a government to ask who searched for something and to get a list is frightening.
Mike has a Google Nexus 6 that isn't updating. He's tried to get Nougat on it, but it won't update. Leo says that the Nexus 6 may not be getting updates anymore, especially through Verizon. Leo says he may have to root the phone to get it updated. Google didn't offer a major update to the Nexus 6, and the security update for March was pulled because it broke Android Pay. They do plan to update to version 7 soon.
Gary wants to know about Google Voice with the Pixel phone. Leo says that Google Voice started as GrandCentral, which he used to use for his office. Then Google bought it and created a central phone hub for everyone. It gives you a new universal number and then rings different phones until it finds you. It also has custom voicemail boxes for people in your contact list, strangers, close friends, and unknown. It also sends you a text message with the voicemail. And it's free to use.
Google's Security Checkup is a great way to verify the security of your account. This is great if you suspect unusual activity on your account, but it's also a good idea to do periodically as a preventative measure.
Arthur bought a Google Chromebook Pixel from a few years back off eBay. Leo says that laptop was an excellent buy back then. It was well put together. But unfortunately, it won't support the Android store, which means he won't have access to all the Android apps like a newer Chromebook does. Lately, his Chromebook audio has quit completely.
When Robert backs up his photos to Google Drive, it seems to strip out the GPS location EXIF data. Leo says that Google Drive won't show the EXIF data, but it is still there. He just searched his own photos and discovered it. It's probably a display settings issue. He also sees the EXIF data available in Google Photos. Google probably wants him to upload to Google Photos instead of Drive.


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The app allows users to view the entire Nightly News broadcast, individual segments, and exclusive online video, as well as to read Williams’ blog. It also offers transcripts, related slideshows, and top headlines. And users can post videos and comments directly to their Facebook and Twitter accounts via the app.
Anchor and managing editor Williams said:
This app is the equivalent of our entire newsroom in an iPad. Everywhere we go, everything we do is right here. We’re on TV, DVR, the Web, and now the iPad app adds another front that gives Nightly News complete, on-demand portability.
- Savannah Guthrie to 'Girls' Star: 'Spoiler Alert, I'm Not' Willing to Bare All for Show Part
- Tom Brokaw: 'Very Pleased' With the Progress of Cancer Treatment
- Happy Birthday Willard Scott
- Kerry Sanders Temporarily Blinded After Hours of Live Shots: 'The UV Light Was Slowly Burning My Corneas'


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Lip products' share of the UK prestige make-up market drops from 14% to 12% over lockdown, reports NPD Group
With consumers now incorporating face masks into their outdoor wardrobe, it is perhaps unsurprising that make-up to enhance the eyes is gaining ground at the expense of lip colour products.
According to NPD Group, eye make-up has increased its share of the UK prestige make-up market by 3% during lockdown.
In contrast, the lip segment decreased its share of the prestige make-up market from 14% pre-lockdown to 12% as stands.
Pre-lockdown, eye make-up accounted for 22% of total prestige make-up sales, a figure that increased to 24% during lockdown and then up further to 25% since the easing of lockdown.
These increases were driven by mascara and eye shadow sales and were aided by the consistent performance of the brow product category.
“The popularity of eye make-up can be attributed to increased experimentation at home and wearing make-up whilst socialising with family and friends virtually or during conference calls with colleagues,” said Emma Fishwick, Account Manager, NPD UK Beauty.
“We have also witnessed initiatives such as the #maskmakeup challenge which encouraged make-up experimentation.
“As consumers are required to wear face coverings in shops, on public transport and other public spaces, the lip segment has declined in share, driven largely by a decline in demand of lip colour as the lip area is no longer visible when wearing a mask.”


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The recent plans for regenerating Elephant and Castle shopping centre have been suspended by the local council, reports Emma Parker
The Elephant and Castle shopping centre opened in South London in 1965, and has been standing ever since facing criticism as being an “eye-sore” and “outdated”. Standing tall behind the infamous elephant statue, the centre appears to have worsened over the years and residents have been complaining that a regeneration is needed.
The proposed redevelopment means that the old shopping centre will be replaced with a brand new and modern town centre including different shopping facilities, housing, business offices and a cinema complex that will provide for both the residents and economy. In 2014, the building was sold to property group Delancey for £80 million, and they are hoping to demolish the building in 2019 to start the rejuvenation. For the past three years, they have worked alongside the local community to propose the plans for the new town centre which included two exhibitions attended by over 1,500 people.
However, despite local opinion that the shopping centre needs to be renewed, it has been forcefully opposed by different tenants, campaign groups, stall workers and councillors. Market stall owners who are working at centre will have to relocate which will cause trouble for their work and they will have to travel further.
A recent cabinet meeting with council members has meant that the new plans have been pushed back a year, and that the plan also needs to involve support for 27 small businesses (among 86 that will be affected by the entire redevelopment scheme) called a ‘packet of measures’ to relocate into the local area and meet their needs.
Due to the campaign, it is unclear when the redevelopment will take place, but soon we may be entering a new and improved town centre with thousands of new opportunities and shopping facilities.


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It’s difficult to decide who is correct. Are box rates too high or has the volume of cargo to be moved simply overwhelmed the vessels and containers in-service and available today?
Rates are certainly higher than this time last year. A rise of 167% and 205% YoY respectively for a TEU on the China Main to US West Coast Ports and China Main to North Europe Main lanes.
If everyone is paying the same rate, there is certainly no competitive disadvantage, although paying substantially more for freight can certainly affect one’s budget. However, container availability is a different issue; companies who sign contracts reasonably expect those contracts to be honored, and these long-term, big volume clients also reasonably expect their boxes to take priority over spot bookings.
Yet if the carriers are sailing full, and they’ve employed sweeper to help move the roll-over boxes, then perhaps the issue is that more boxes and more ships are needed?
Chinese Goods in Demand
Less well known is how huge is the demand for Chinese, S. Korean, Vietnamese, and other Asian goods. Global demand for Chinese goods remains strong as PPE and work-from-home electronic products continues to support demand for China’s booming export shipments. Chinese global exports in November 2020 were 21% higher than November 2019, according to their General Administration of Customs, with imports some 4.5% higher. Chinese November exports to the United States, China’s third-largest trading partner, were up 46% compared to a year earlier, while imports of American goods were ahead by 33%.
But think back to February-March-April: China was locked-down, and export or import cargos or containers were moving, which made the carriers cut back services. Then as China recovered, the North American, EU, and UK markets came to a halt amid shuttered malls, bankrupt stores, and locked-down citizens.
But that was six+ months ago: the mothballed ships have since rejoined their fleets, and Amazon and other merchants are running 24/7 as people worldwide are buying record volumes on-line.
What the pandemic revealed is how sharply the carriers and ports cut their investment requirements. While the carriers invested in newer and larger ships (imagine how much worse the current crisis would be if HMM’s new 23,000 TEU megas were not in service); the carriers lack of investment in container makes a tight freight market far worse.
Equipment Crisis & Carriers Not Helping
Last week our friends at The Loadstar made an interesting comparison between global fleet capacity and TEU’s: they pointed out that how Drewry estimated that by Dec 2020, the global container inventory will have decreased 1% from 2019, to 42.4 million boxes, while Alphaliner is reporting the world’s box fleets to have grown by 3.5%, to reach capacity of 24.05 million TEU’s. Between slow-steaming, Covid-related port congestion, additional slow-downs due to lack of chassis and other port-related delays, the time needed to ‘turn’ a container has increased drastically, thus creating the shortfall causing today’s pricing and equipment crisis.
Industry reports indicate equipment shortages at every main Asian and Chinese port, USWC, UK, India, and Sri Lanka. Virtually every carrier is affected; the shortage of 40’HC boxes has spread to 20/40’ dry boxes, and non-operating reefers.
Carriers continue to aggravate the situation: last week Hapag-Lloyd halted pick-ups of empty forty-foot reefer containers in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic, CMA CGM announced they would no longer accept bookings from Asia to Europe until end December, while Maersk and ONE said they were imposing limits on vessel access. But these are not even good short-term solutions; refusing bookings does not make the need to move cargo disappear; it’s simply kicking the can forward into a rising pile of similarly-delayed boxes still needing to be moved.
While these sorts of actions can infuriate shippers, worth remembering is how rarely in a 10-year span carriers have the upper hand on rates. While the shippers are correct that the carriers neglected to invest in infrastructure beyond vessels, such infrastructure requires profits, which have been scarce as shippers regularly drove rates down. Both sides need to remember how much they need each other to survive.


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Data privacy risks to consider when using AINew technology carries unexpected perils that corporate leaders should guard against to keep consumer, employee, and client data safe.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to solve many routine business challenges — from quickly spotting a few questionable charges in thousands of invoices to predicting consumers' needs and wants.
But there may be a flipside to these advances. Privacy concerns are cropping up as companies feed more and more consumer and vendor data into advanced, AI-fuelled algorithms to create new bits of sensitive information, unbeknownst to affected consumers and employees.
This means that AI may create personal data. When it does, "it's data that has not been provided with [an individual's] consent or even with knowledge", said Chantal Bernier, assistant and interim privacy commissioner in the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada from 2008 until 2014 who now consults in the privacy and cybersecurity practice of global law firm Dentons.
AI is an umbrella term used to describe advanced technologies such as machine learning and predictive analytics that essentially shift decisions once solely made by humans to computers.
While AI is still in its early stages — we may have robotic vacuums but nothing like the futuristic cartoon character Rosey, the robot maid from The Jetsons — industries are using the technology to expand revenue streams and reduce workforce costs by linking disparate bits of information.
Few corporate executives are focused on the privacy risks associated with the use of AI. Discussions in boardrooms and in C-suites are "more focused on the possibilities and the benefits of AI than the potential risks", said Imran Ahmad, a Toronto-based lawyer with Blake, Cassels and Graydon who specialises in technology and cybersecurity issues.
Customers want assurances
Consumers are paying more attention to their private information and becoming increasingly uneasy about how data about their interests, locations, credit histories, and more is used by entities they interact with.
Seventy-one per cent of respondents surveyed by global professional services firm Genpact in 2018 said they don't want companies to use AI if it infringes on their privacy, even if those technologies improve their customer experiences. The survey involved more than 5,000 people in Australia, the UK, and the US.
In addition, nearly two-thirds (63%) of the survey's respondents said they're worried AI will make decisions about their lives without their knowledge.
Europe setting the bar
The EU has been leading the charge to meet consumer demand for digital privacy protections.
The EU's General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, went into effect in 2018 and vaulted digital privacy expectations to a higher level worldwide by ushering in new standards on a person's right to his or her own information, Ahmad said.
The EU's new privacy rules are taken seriously because of the potential fines for violations. Organisations can face fines up to the greater of €20 million ($22 million) or 4% of their annual global turnover if they are found to be out of compliance with the new privacy regulations. How data is stored, used, and protected is a focus of the GDPR, requiring companies to ensure their data collection and use policies and practices are in line with the privacy standard. Any business that uses personal data of persons in the EU to provide services, to sell goods, or to monitor their behaviour, even if those companies don't have an office in the EU, must comply with the rules. That requires tight control over how personal data is collected and processed.
Overseeing data privacy
Regardless of their size or scope, companies that are using these advanced technologies need to think through how their customer and client data is being protected and used, to ensure that people's privacy expectations aren't being violated unknowingly, Bernier said.
"While AI has been created post many privacy laws, the right to privacy and the way it has been defined and described and recognised by the courts does apply to AI," Bernier said.
Here are several ways to insert privacy concerns into management and corporate board discussion about AI:
Boards can and should lead the push for privacy protections
Boards can help hammer the point that any new technologies need to take security and privacy risks into account, Bernier said.
Board members don't have to understand the ins and outs of every new piece of technology, but they can make sure company management follows best practice in keeping consumers' data safe, she said. "They don't have to be the subject-matter expert, but they do need to know enough about the area to ask the right questions," she said.
Audit committee members can stress that they would like to see that routine checks of security protocols are being conducted and that plans are in place for any possible security breaches. (See the sidebar, "Tips for Board Members Dealing With AI", for more advice.)
Many companies will be better off collecting and storing fewer data points than stockpiling every bit of data available. That's because having large volumes of personal data, going back years, can lead to more problems if there's a security breach, Bernier said.
On top of that, having large data sets with hundreds of categories of information can make them unwieldy and make it hard to explain to consumers which variable led to a decision to decline them for a loan, turn them down for a job, or target a particular product towards them.
"You avoid excessive collection, and you get a logic model on a database that is manageable," Bernier said.
Companies should have routine schedules in place to examine what data they have on hand, with timetables to discard or thin out the information.
Think about security from the get-go
Many companies, especially those just getting off the ground, focus on how to make their idea work and attract funding so they can get to the next point and scale up.
The thought of how to protect data and personalised information does not often become a primary concern in the first stages of a company's life, Ahmad said. Neglecting that puts businesses at a disadvantage.
By incorporating protections and best practice processes to routinely screen for issues, companies will be better off in the long term, he said. Corporate boards and top company officers should consider the data security piece whenever they are looking at AI for business solutions, Ahmad said.
"They really need to make sure that whatever solution or development is going to be used includes risk-based compliance," he said.
Inject risk awareness into technology discussions
Companies should be assessing their reputational, as well as monetary, risks of employing technologies that may create privacy concerns on an ongoing basis, said Atif Ansari, CPA (Canada), CGMA, the president and a founder of Canadian data analytics firm Piik Insights. That's not happening often enough, and those in the C-suite need to ensure that any AI or other advanced technologies, like any other company networks, are protected from cyberattacks or breaches, Ansari said.
"It is incumbent on boards and executive management to consider the risks that a breach could pose," he said. "It should be on the radar."
That includes having discussions about what information is collected and shared, and how it is used to inform other business decisions.
His data analytics firm purposely doesn't use personally identifiable information in order to protect clients from inadvertent privacy disclosures, he said. Piik Insights works primarily with clients in the retail and restaurant sectors in North and South America.
For example, the company collects and uses only four digits of a customer's credit card to track their purchases and offer insight into consumer trends to its clients. "We can draw some analysis from this, but it doesn't personally identify any particular individuals," Ansari said.
Be precise about vendor use of data
Before signing up with any vendor, discuss how data provided by your company will be used and whether the vendor plans to use the data on other projects, Ahmad said.
Having those details spelled out in contracts, and making sure those contractual promises are kept, will go a long way towards making sure private information is protected.
"It's out of your control," Ahmad said about what happens once sensitive business information and customer data are handed off to a third party.
He also suggested considering worst-case scenarios and making sure those third parties have insurance policies that will cover the costs of any major cyberbreaches.
Make sure the analysis does not go too far
Data thefts by cybercriminals aren't the only concern, Bernier said. Having the data go too far, and making conclusions that an individual is uncomfortable with, can raise other privacy concerns. She pointed to the now well-known case of the retailer Target, where the company's algorithm based on purchase history determined a teenager was pregnant before she was ready to talk to her family about it and sent coupons to her home.
Bernier recommended looking at what is done with customers' data and whether new privacy information is being created by linking up data and coming to a conclusion that could speak to a person's health, education, or other personal information.
Bringing privacy to the forefront
Corporate leaders are having more conversations about ways that advanced technologies and AI can affect individuals' privacy rights, and what to do about it, Ansari said.
"There's much more awareness, but there's still a lot more educating we need to do," he said.
Tips for board members dealing with AI
- Encourage management to separate AI from analysis of other technology risks to break down the privatised information the technology creates and any risks that the data can be compromised.
- Make sure security protocols are followed by vendors long after contracts for services are signed. Encourage management to keep regular schedules to make sure technology partners are keeping their promises to protect personal information.
- Push management to comply with the most stringent set of privacy regulations, even if the company isn’t currently in the EU or other markets with far-reaching requirements. That way, if the company does expand into those areas, it won’t be an enormous burden to retrofit security protocols.
- Follow up with technology contractors to make sure security protocols are being followed. If an AI tool developed by a vendor is supposed to delete extraneous information, ask for verification that those deletions happen. The rule of thumb of privacy law expert Imran Ahmad, a Toronto-based lawyer with Blake, Cassels and Graydon who specialises in technology and cybersecurity issues, is to “trust but verify” that agreed-upon security practices are being followed.
Sarah Ovaska is a freelance writer based in the US. To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another article, contact Sabine Vollmer, an FM magazine senior editor, at email@example.com.


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Technology giant Lenovo has recently been forced to take drastic measures as its PC business experiences a significant decline due to the ongoing economic downturn. The company has reportedly begun laying off employees, leaving many in the tech industry concerned about the future of the global brand.
Lenovo, one of the world's largest PC manufacturers, has not been immune to the economic pressures caused by the pandemic. As many individuals and businesses have been forced to tighten their belts, demand for technology products has decreased. This has led to a decrease in revenue for Lenovo's PC business, and unfortunately, employee layoffs appear to be the next step.
Sources close to the matter have reported that the job cuts will affect staff in various departments, including marketing, sales, and customer support. Some reports suggest that the company could be cutting as many as 20% of its global workforce, although Lenovo has yet to confirm any specific numbers.
The news of Lenovo's layoffs has been met with concern from industry experts, who fear that this could be a sign of more significant challenges ahead for the technology brand. Lenovo is a crucial player in the global PC market and has been a top competitor for many years. If the company continues to struggle, it could have a significant impact on the tech industry as a whole.
Despite the current challenges facing Lenovo, the company has remained optimistic about its future. In a recent statement, a Lenovo spokesperson emphasized the company's commitment to its customers and its determination to continue providing high-quality technology products and services.
"Lenovo remains dedicated to serving our customers and delivering the best technology products and services," the spokesperson said. "While we must make difficult decisions to address the current economic challenges, we are confident that Lenovo will emerge from this period stronger and more resilient than ever before."
As the world continues to grapple with the effects of the ongoing economic downturn, it remains to be seen how Lenovo and other technology brands will fare in the coming months. However, with its reputation for innovation and resilience, Lenovo is well-positioned to weather the storm and emerge as a leader in the tech industry once again.


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After ASUS’s Zenfone AR, it seems like all the major brands are focusing into developing AR supporting technologies. Even companies like Apple has recently been in news to introduce AR in their upcoming iPhone 8. According to the recent news by Samsung, they are going to invest $18.63 billion in Korea to improve OLED display & NAND flash memory chip.
It seems that Samsung is focusing more on AR (Augmented Reality) technology in their upcoming smartphones. According to industry sources the wafer production of Samsung Electronics’ Xi’ a plant in China has reached 100,000 sheets on a monthly basis a year and a half after starting a full operation. Its monthly production stood at 10,000 to 20,000 sheets last year and passed the 50,000 mark in the third quarter of this year.
The latest figure has far surpassed its previous forecasts of 60,000 to 70,000 sheets. It means that the demand of 3D NAND flash products is growing greater than expected. Analysis is expected, the new production line will be used to effectively ease the situation after the out of stock. The company is also planning to use them in mobile devices, including smartphones, in the upcoming year.
Samsung Electronics has become the world’s first company to mass produce 3D NAND flash chips in last year, and has been producing its second-generation chip with 32 layers and the current third-generation product with 48 layers.


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Delivery Hero Scoops Up HungerStation, Continues Global Food Delivery Domination
Hold onto your hats, foodies! The food delivery world just got a little bit smaller, or bigger – depending on how you look at it... but in the best way possible. Delivery Hero, the Berlin-based giant in the online food ordering and delivery space, has just gobbled up the remaining shares of HungerStation, Saudi Arabia's leading food delivery service.
If you've been keeping track, this is the 28th addition to Delivery Hero's rapidly expanding portfolio of acquisitions. Yep, you read that right, they've swallowed up 28 companies since their humble beginnings back in 2011. Talk about an insatiable appetite!
In 2015, Delivery Hero expanded its influence into the Middle East with a US $589 million purchase of Turkey's Yemeksepeti. This platform was processing over 3 million orders each month across over 35,000 member restaurants, and is now present in 70 cities across Turkey and Northern Cyprus, representing a major win for Delivery Hero's growth ambitions. Today, they process north of 500,000 orders per day.
2016 was also a pivotal year for Delivery Hero as it acquired Foodpanda, a major player in the Asian food delivery market. This acquisition was a game-changer as it expanded Delivery Hero’s reach to 20 additional countries, many across Asia, Eastern Europe, and the MENA region.
Perhaps the most significant deal of all, though, was the 2020 acquisition of South Korean giant Woowa Brothers. This massive deal, worth around $4 billion, represented a strategic move specifically into the booming Asian food delivery market. Woowa Brothers had been handling over 100 million orders per month at the time of the acquisition, providing Delivery Hero with another even more extensive foothold in Asia.
Today, Delivery Hero operates in over 70 countries, and partners with more than half a million restaurants. And, as if food delivery wasn’t enough, they've branched out into all forms of quick commerce, or Q-Commerce for short. Think small batch orders, to your door, in under an hour. They even reported a whopping 791 million orders in Q3 2021 – a 52% increase from the previous year.
Delivery Hero’s portfolio in the MENA region is extensive. Talabat, Carriage, Zomato, InstaShop, ifood and Otlab are just some of the players in its regional portfolio. Breaking News this past week was announcement of Delivery Hero’s complete acquisition of Saudi Arabia’s HungerStation for a whopping $298 million.
Founded in 2012, HungerStation is a market leader for food delivery in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. In 2022, HungerStation’s revenue growth was a hearty 36%, raking in $672 million, and even turning a more than decent EBIT of $55 million. Back in 2016, the majority of the company's shares were acquired by Foodpanda, so when Delivery Hero bought Foodpanda later that same year, it got a big piece of HungerStation, too. With their fresh $297 million deal, Delivery Hero has polished off the rest, securing total ownership of the app.
Niklas Östberg, CEO and Co-Founder of Delivery Hero, had only positive things to say about this new chapter. "We believe in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s 2030 vision, ambition, and potential, and are committed to contributing to its ongoing success through HungerStation. I look forward to continuing to build great products and delivering an amazing experience for our Saudi customers.”
With this latest acquisition, Delivery Hero can dig even deeper into its global ecosystem as it adds HungerStation to its vast network. Sharing experience, integrating tech, and, of course, delivering more meals to hungry customers around the world- we can't wait to see what tasty developments are on the menu for Delivery Hero next.
Read Special Report: The Middle East & North Africa’s M&A Landscape 2017-2022


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Singapore retail continues to battle headwinds and new supply
Singapore’s retail property market continued to see signs of volatility in the second quarter, highlighting challenges from e-commerce and new supply facing the sector.
After a promising first quarter, when retail rents in Singapore showed a slight uptick of 0.1 percent, rents slipped 1.1 percent in the second quarter compared to the previous three months, according to data from the Urban Redevelopment Authority.
“This underscores a market that remains mired with challenges, including technological disruption and rising operational costs,” says Tay Huey Ying, head of research, JLL Singapore.
E-commerce remains a tough competitor for traditional retail, with big players like Lazada going on the offensive. The online platform is wooing more merchants to offer greater variety; it even announced it would remove commission charges for sellers in Singapore.
The retail sector also faces a pipeline of new supply in the next 12 to 18 months. These include Paya Lebar Quarter due to come on stream in the second half of 2018 while Capitaland’s Funan and Jewel@Changi are set for completion in 2019.
While Hong Kong’s retail scene recently turned a corner after four moribund years, Tay believes that rents will remain soft for some time due to the growing online shopping culture and changing consumer preferences.
“Until consumers have a compelling reason to return to physical brick-and-mortar retail shopping, retailers will approach any expansion with caution,” she says.
Moreover, shifting mall strategies are also contributing to downward pressure on rents. The emphasis on experiential retail to woo foot traffic means more restaurants and lifestyle offerings such as gyms, arcades and education centres are taking up units instead of traditional fashion or beauty retailers.
These tenants typically require larger spaces and look for lower rents.
“Notwithstanding the steadier consumer sentiment amid healthier economic and employment environment, the sector will likely remain slow. Retailers need to brace themselves that the market has transformed fundamentally,” says Tay.
Click to read more about how Chinese retail landlords are rising to the challenge of e-commerce.


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Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline have closed their joint venture to combine their respective consumer healthcare businesses and form the world’s largest over-the-counter business. This new venture will operate as the new GSK Consumer Healthcare.
New data from the Consumer Healthcare Products Association and IRI is highlighting the ripple effect that a consumer buying an OTC product can have on the American healthcare system — namely, some $146 billion in savings.
Alongside it shedding its pharmaceutical business, Perrigo said it had entered an exclusive agreement with a subsidiary of Kenilworth, N.J.-based Merck to develop an over-the-counter formulation of Merck’s Nasonex nasal spray
LONDON — If Pfizer follows through with its announcement last week to potentially place its consumer business up for sale, GlaxoSmithKline, presently the third-largest OTC seller in the U.S. marketplace, would certainly take a look at it, the company's CEO shared Wednesday morning.
The OTC e-commerce channel is the 900-lb. gorilla in the traditional domestic and global retail worlds. A U.S. brand owner is now confronted with a global pricing discipline challenge. The speed and ubiquity of product pricing and information has forced the issue. To paraphrase Hermione in “Harry Potter,” everything has changed.
Analysis obtained from Kantar Media found that the Amazon-exclusive brand Basic Care led the paid search results when users looked at such keywords as allergy pills, allergy medicine and allergy relief during the weeks of Aug. 1 to 15.


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Expect cheaper medicines now with Maximum Retail Prices in effect
Consumer advocate Laban Konsyumer, Inc. (LKI) said it will strictly monitor the full compliance of the Maximum Retail Prices (MRP) of medicines and ensure that consumers continue to have access to affordable and quality medicines.
LKI President Victorio Mario Dimagiba said this as he expressed sincere appreciation to President Duterte, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, and the rest of the DOH team members and patient/ consumer groups who did not waver in ensuring that cheaper medicines are accessible to the consumers.
Executive Order No. 104 or “Improving Access to Healthcare Through the Regulation of Prices in the Retail of Drugs and Medicines”, which sets the MRP of 87 medicines or 133 formulations, took effect Tuesday, June 2. The MRP took effect despite strong opposition from the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines.
The EO mandates 50 percent reduction on the prices of medicines for top burden diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, breast, colorectal and lung cancers, chronic kidney disease, and asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).“The DOH has always prioritized the health of every Filipinos in all its policies and decisions. This is amplified now, more than ever, to assist the public from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and protect the vulnerable from further impoverishment,” Duque said on the effectivity of the law.
With the MRP, a diabetic patient on daily insulin glulisine spending P818.75 per pre-filled pen can now purchase his medication at P435.18. If he is a senior citizen, the law grants him a mandated 20 percent discount resulting in a final purchase price of P336.14 – almost 60 percent in price deduction.
Duque said the DOH recognizes the economic impact of the pandemic to the business sector, including the pharmaceutical industry, brought about by the global and local disruptions of the supply chain, but the Department believes that there are other economic pathways to alleviate this concern.
Recently, the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) issued joint guidelines to ensure the unhampered operations of the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry, which include provision for exemptions from taxes and duties on importation and manufacturing of medical equipment, drugs, and supplies needed by the frontliners. This is in accordance to Republic Act No. 11469 or the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act”.Read more: Manila Bulletin News »
After glaring, 'painful' grammar errors, DepEd vows to improve TV episodes for distance learning
This comes after a technical glitch DepEd experienced in its launch of the school readiness program, and reports of teachers still not having copies of learning modules
Drugs killed ‘Twilight’ actor Gregory Boyce, girlfriend—coronerGregory Boyce, 30, and Natalie Adepoju, 27, died from the effects of cocaine and fentanyl intoxication, and their deaths were accidental.
House passes bill on assistance for banks to cushion pandemic effectsThe House of Representatives approved on final reading a bill that would provide assistance to banks and other financial institutions hit by the coronavirus pandemic. COVID19PH
Diesel prices up, gasoline downMANILA, Philippines — Pump prices of diesel went up for the fourth week in a row, this time by 25 centavos per liter but those of gasoline went down by 20 centavos as the global market continued to
Stricter regulation of PPE prices needed as COVID-19 response continues: Hospital exec
PM is not the key: DTI tells online sellers to post pricesOnline vendors must display prices instead of telling their customers to send private messages first, says the Department of Trade and Industry Agree!!!
India starts evacuating parts of west coast as cyclone approaches MumbaiIndia began evacuating people from low-lying areas in and around Mumbai ahead of a cyclone that is expected to hit the country’s west coast on Wednesday, officials said.


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Young. Mayhap gifted. And most definitely white.
That's the demographic of the UK advertising industry over the last twelve months.
The 2004 Agency Censuscompiled by the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising reveals that nearly two-thirds of industry workers are under 30 (no surprises there) while just 6% exceed two score years and ten. Ethnic minorities continue to be just that in a business where 95% of employees are white.
However, there is no gender disparity. Men and women populate the industry in roughly equal numbers.
The IPA reports the total number of staff employed by its 234 member-agencies, as at 1 September 2004, was 15,190 - the highest since 1973.
The rise is due in part to the proliferation of shops but also, say IPA executives, the economy is improving. Agencies were nurturing 550 first-year trainees in 2004, compared with 449 the previous year.
Data sourced from Brand Republic (UK); additional content by WARC staff


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SirsiDynix Premiering ‘Power of Libraries’ Store at ALA 2017
June 22nd, 2017
June 23 2017, Lehi, UT— SirsiDynix will be attending the ALA Annual in Chicago. This year the BLUEcloud team is pleased to premiere the Power of Libraries message from SirsiDynix. Located at booth 5016, the SirsiDynix team will be sharing free “I Believe in The Power of Libraries” buttons, which are also available through the new Power of Libraries store.
The Power of Libraries message was first introduced at COSUGI 2017, the annual SirsiDynix customer conference. Due to an overwhelming positive response, SirsiDynix has made the Power of Libraries clothing and gear available to librarians and the general public via the Power of Libraries store. The store, found at shop.sirsidynix.com, offers Power of Libraries T-shirts, polos, button downs, buttons, and more. Sales help to support libraries, as a portion of purchases are donated to help library advocacy.
“SirsiDynix is excited to celebrate the opening of The Power of Libraries store at ALA,” said SirsiDynix CEO Bill Davison. “We are happy to see libraries identifying with our new message. Literally, everything we do at SirsiDynix is aimed at supporting libraries and the extraordinary work that they do. Every time I wear my “Power of Libraries” shirt, people ask me how they can get one too! Making Power of Libraries wear available will provide a way for everyone to spread this message of the singular impact of libraries.”
Visit SirsiDynix at booth 5016 for a free Power of Libraries button.
Visit shop.sirsidynix.com to explore the full catalog of Power of Libraries products.
SirsiDynix connects people with knowledge at more than 23,000 libraries around the world. Through library management technology and search and discovery tools, libraries using SirsiDynix technology bring relevant resources and the power of knowledge to their users and communities. SirsiDynix technology is architected to be open, scalable, and robust, offering a complete out-of-the-box solution and unparalleled flexibility through APIs and web services. Complemented by the most experienced training, consulting, and support staff in the industry, SirsiDynix helps libraries create tomorrow’s libraries, today. To find out more, visit www.sirsidynix.com.


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Home Tags Whippany
Could a Costco Location Open Along Route 10 in Whippany?
Renderings of the big-box club store that is planned for the Hanover Towne Center development closely resemble Costco Wholesale locations.
Project with ‘Affordable Housing’ Envisioned Around Undeveloped Parkland in Whippany
The public will soon get a chance to weigh in on a plan by the Morris County Park Commission to dispose of a 6.5-acre site in Hanover Township in order to facilitate a private redevelopment project.


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Chile’s solar energy sector was poised for a remarkable future as The Solar Week Chile 2023, took center stage at the Hotel in Región Metropolitana on November 9, 2023.
Hosted by FirstView Intelligent Business and SolarQuarter Americas, this gathering stood as a key highlight on Chile’s solar calendar, supported by notable partners like AniCHILE, SESI, SOLARCELL, Cyprus University of Technology, ISA, Central University of Jharkhand, Ministerio de Energia, CENTRO DE ENERGÍA, ProChile, ACESOL, and eolian Universidad de Chile.
This two-day extravaganza brought together over 100 decision-makers and more than 30 industry experts to delve into the most pressing challenges and exciting opportunities in Chile’s solar sector. The event kicked off with exclusive sessions featuring high-ranking government officials, offering valuable insights into the government’s role in shaping the industry’s trajectory.
The heart of The Solar Week Chile 2023 lay in its engaging panel discussions, led by eminent industry experts. These discussions aimed to shape the future of solar energy in Chile, covering everything from cutting-edge technology trends to evolving policy landscapes.
However, this event wasn’t just about knowledge; it was a vibrant networking hub where professionals, businesses, and solar enthusiasts connected, fostering valuable relationships and collaborations. With 20+ award categories, 20 Leadership talks, and 10 partners and exhibitors, it’s no wonder The Solar Week Chile 2023 was dubbed “CHILE’S LARGEST SOLAR LEADERSHIP GATHERING.”
Distinguished speakers such as Mr. Pablo Pastene, President of ACESOL, and Mr. Jorge Antonio Perada Santibanez, Founding Partner of Ani Chile, honored the occasion. The event featured the active involvement of various member companies from different sectors, including EDP Renewables, Mainstream Renewable Power, STC Sunbelt SpA, Prime Energia, Rising Sun Chile, and Solcor Chile. Together, they collectively offered a comprehensive overview of Chile’s solar industry.
The Solar Week Chile 2023 proved to be an essential event for both industry veterans and newcomers, offering a unique opportunity to have been part of the transformation in Chile’s solar landscape.


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Razer this week has Tweeted a teaser image for what appears to be a handheld device, with speculation circling that the image hints at the company's announcement of its first smartphone. Razer said that the official debut of the product will happen on November 1, calling the device reveal its "biggest unveiling" yet (via 9to5Google).
Earlier this year Razer acquired smartphone company Nextbit, sparking the first rumors that the gaming hardware maker could be interested in building a dedicated smartphone for its users. A report by Bloomberg over the summer further cemented these rumors, stating that Razer was planning to develop a "mobile device tailored for its consumer base of hardcore gamers."
Razer invites those interested to visit its website and sign up for updates about the announcement ahead of the November 1 product unveiling.