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In the ad, the five players are wearing the respective holiday color NBA jerseys they will don on in games on Dec. He can work as an H-back or fullback but will be unable to dislodge linebackers on downhill iso-blocks and can be much more effective as a lead blocker on outside zone with the pass-catching acumen to handle play-action leakouts. Shepard couldn’t find chemistry with rookie Daniel Jones in Sunday’s game versus the Buccaneers, hauling in just one of five targets for six yards. To find all players born within a certain month and year, for example all players born in December of 1985, choose the month and year with the drop down boxes and then choose the ‘Month and Year Search’ Wholesale NFL Jerseys Supply option. was recalled from Triple-A Durham and will start Monday’s game against the Royals. Japan Kei Nishikori 8. The biggest issue with the team, however, is their aforementioned humiliation, Nike NFL Jerseys China which stems from a 9 loss at the Tampa Cheap NHL Jerseys Bay Lightning on Thursday, which was described by the New York Wholesale Detroit Lions Jerseys media as one of the worst Rangers games in at least a decade. won’t play in Saturday’s game versus the Hurricanes, Michael Russo of The Nike NFL Jerseys Wholesale Athletic reports. If you think about winning, you win. Russia Daniil Medvedev 4. Louis, Missouri until they divorced when she was three years old. series on NBA Jerseys Wholesale Netflix. • According to Pro Football Focus, he finished the campaign with the fourth-overall grade and Cheap NHL Jerseys third-overall run-defense grade among the nation’s interior defensive linemen. Farrell hasn’t covered more than three innings in an appearance at the major- or minor-league level since June 2, so he Cheap Los Angeles Rams Jerseys would likely be held to a restricted pitch count if he receives the nod Monday. was recalled from Triple-A Toledo ahead of his start Sunday against the Blue Jays. Concurrently, Jimmy Wholesale NFL Jerseys Supply Butler made his debut on the list at No.
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The Avengers has begun to release around the world, with it already out in Australia and being released in the UK and Europe this week, followed by the US on 4 May. To celebrate, Mondo have assembled a collection of posters from some of their best collaborative artists for the job.
The two brand new posters for Captain America and Hulk will go on sale tomorrow at a random time. Sourced from Mondo directly, these were designed by Phantom City Creative and Australian artist Ken Taylor respectively. Movies.com has also posted Mondo’s epic take on Thor from Martin Ansin, who recently did the The Planet of the Apes poster for the Alamo Drafthouse. Finally, io9 have posted the two Kevin Tong posters for Iron Man that will go on sale, with Thor, on Friday. We’ve also included the Black Widow and Hawkeye posters that were released last week.
If you want these, follow Mondo News on Twitter to fin out the on sale dates. Be quick, as these tend to disappear in minutes, only to mysteriously reappear on eBay moments later. Earth’s mightiest retailers!

domain: news


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In late 2007 BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer revealed plans for several all-new models including a design study called the Progressive Activity Sedan (PAS). Beyond an obscure design brief for the new concept, details have been relatively scarce. It appears the wait will soon be over as a concept version is expected to make its debut at March’s Geneva Motor Show. A new official teaser video released by BMW today also provides a few more vital clues. The short clip explains the design considerations that went into creating the car, revealing that it will essentially be an upmarket station wagon with an adjustable rear seat, innovative storage solutions, and a coupe-like profile. No name has been revealed, but everything from PAS, to V5, to 5-Series GT, has been suggested.
BMW V5 PAS rendering


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The war against bacteria has produced some of human kind's finest achievements: antibiotics, penicillin, Toilet Duck - and now, the Body Dryer.
The creation of New York-based Tyler Overk, the Body Dryer is essentially the full body hand dryer your bathroom is missing (and, in all probability, will continue to miss).
Roughly the size and shape of a set of bathroom scales, sopping wet users activate the Dryer by standing on its grilled footplate. The Dryer proceeds to emit jets of warm ionised air, blasting water off user in a process which Overk claims takes less than 30 seconds.
Aimed at tackling that irksome problem of bacteria growing on towels, Overk hopes that his Body Dryer will be in homes the world over, getting rid of those "6-20 towels currently sitting on shelves in the bathroom".
While we hoped this was a spoof, enough damp punters seem to require the services of the Body Dryer, as it's recently smashed its funding target over on indiegogo . You can still pick one up for £120. We're off to buy some more towels to meet the international quota of 6-20.


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Pepsi’s shares had been down fractionally in premarket buying and selling.
Here is what PepsiCo reported versus expectations by analysts in a Thomson Reuters survey:
- EPS: $1.31 per share, adjusted, vs. $1.30.
- Revenue: $19.53 billion, vs. $19.39 billion.
“We are happy with our efficiency for the fourth quarter and full yr 2017,” Chairwoman and CEO Indra Nooyi stated in a press release. “We met or exceeded a lot of the monetary targets we set out in the beginning of the yr. We delivered these leads to the midst of a dynamic retail atmosphere and quickly shifting shopper panorama.”
Pepsi additionally on Tuesday stated it’s shedding off lower than one % of its U.S. work drive, primarily in its company workplace. Those strikes come as a part of its beforehand introduced five-year productiveness program. It plans to rent tens of 1000’s of associates subsequent yr, spanning front-line staff to senior administration.
PepsiCo recorded a internet lack of $710 million, or 50 cents per share, in contrast with earnings of $1.40 billion, or 97 cents per share, within the year-earlier interval.
Earnings within the newest interval had been harm by a $2.5 billion one-time cost associated to new U.S. tax legal guidelines. Excluding this and different one-time gadgets, the corporate earned $1.31 per share, edging previous analysts’ estimates of $1.30.
For the quarter, Pepsi’s internet income of $19.53 billion was flat compared with the year-ago interval. Organic income, which excludes the impacts of overseas trade and different modifications, grew by 2.three %.
The firm noticed the best gross sales development in Europe/Sub-Saharan Africa, the place internet gross sales jumped 11 % and Latin America, the place gross sales grew 6 %. Those areas mixed comprised 21 % of Pepsi’s income for the quarter.
Their development made up for continued weak spot in its largest enterprise, North American drinks. Sales of drinks that embrace Tropicana and Gatorade continued to slip by 6 % internet.
Last quarter, PepsiCo’s CFO Hugh Johnston referred to as weak spot in in North American drinks a “toe stub” as the corporate appears to stability its slow-growing core enterprise with extra on-trend improvements. Carbonated and sugary drinks have come underneath strain as shopper tastes have shifted to more healthy drinks. Those drinks, although, nonetheless comprise most of Pepsi’s beverage gross sales.
“We are broadly impressed with Pepsi’s means to ship backside line outcomes, regardless of the dynamic retail atmosphere and their continued underneath efficiency within the beverage efficiency,” stated Bonnie Herzog, an analyst at Wells Fargo.
Net income on the Frito-Lay snack enterprise fell 1 % for the quarter, harm by fewer weeks within the final interval. After adjusting for this, natural income rose 5 %.
Pepsi additionally stated it expects full-year natural income development to be at the least in step with the 2017 development charge. It anticipates core earnings per share of $5.70, a 9 % enhance over 2017.
The firm boosted its annual dividend by 15 % to $three.71 from $three.22 a share. It additionally introduced a $15 billion inventory buy-back program.


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By: James Figy
December 1, 2017
When Jay Johnson got started in agriculture as he grew up, there was a definite season for farming. He would leave his home in Conger, Minnesota, each summer to stay on a friend’s farm and help with planting and harvesting. But today, though the leaves have long fallen and snow is always on the horizon, food keeps growing inside two massive Steele County greenhouses.
The benefit of greenhouse growing versus traditional agriculture is that farmers can produce fresh, local veggies year-round, even through frigid Minnesota winters. Learning about these indoor growing methods three decades ago sparked Johnson’s interest and inspired him to open Bushel Boy in 1989.
Now Johnson is a partner in a new venture, Revol Greens. The company’s state-of-the-art greenhouse in Medford will harvest its first crop of lettuce and spinach at the end of December and begin shipping it within a 200-mile radius of the greenhouse. The five partners plan to keep the operation regional — to do for leafy greens what Bushel Boy did for tomatoes.
“At the time we started (Bushel Boy), there really weren’t greenhouse tomatoes in the stores,” he said, adding that the tomatoes shipped from warmer climates back then were ripened using ethylene gas. “Now you really can’t find an outdoor grown tomato in the store. So it has taken over, and I think with this technology, this process is going to start for lettuce.”
Johnson joined the Revol Greens team earlier this year, but it had been in the works for a long time beforehand. The idea for the company actually came from two of the other partners, Marco Debruin and Steve Amundson.
“Marco grew up in the greenhouse business. He’s from Holland, where all of this technology comes from, and his father was a greenhouse bell pepper grower. And Steve also has an agricultural background from Blooming Prairie,” Johnson said. “…Those two really started it and came up with the idea, and they came from Ag backgrounds.”
Getting Revol Greens up and running is similar to what Johnson went through with Bushel Boy, but this time, he has years of firsthand knowledge and connections in the industry.
Keith Kersten took the helm as Bushel Boy’s CEO in 2011 after Johnson departed. Kersten declined to comment for this article, citing how competitive the greenhouse-grown produce market is right now. The indoor growing industry is booming, and the hydroponics industry worldwide will continue to grow at an estimated 6.4 percent compound annual growth rate to become a nearly $14 billion industry by 2025, according to market research firm Research and Markets. The reasons why are simple: Indoor growing methods deliver fresher produce that is typically tastier and healthier while also slashing transportation costs.
“With Bushel Boy, it’s a 10 minute drive for them to get here,” said Ben Karlen, produce manager for Hy-Vee in Owatonna. “So it’s not sitting on a truck or sitting in a distribution warehouse for a couple of days. You’re not wasting fuel driving it from so far.”
Even at Bushel Boy’s furthest distribution point, the tomatoes can reach their destination within a day. A 2016 Star Tribune article discussed how Bushel Boy’s tomato plants grow fresh produce for nearly 30 weeks straight and “yield 12 million pounds of vine-on and beefsteak tomatoes” no matter the season. “We can put a tomato on your plate right here in Minnesota year-round that you know is safe, wholesome and will taste like a garden tomato in January,” Kersten told the Star Tribune.
Of course, greenhouse-grown produce is slightly different from true hydroponics. Although these methods are both indoors, hydroponic growing does not use soil. Instead plants sprout from a growing medium, such as vermiculite or rockwool. Revol Greens splits the difference and uses a hybrid method that originated in Europe.
“We’re growing in the greenhouse with a little bit of soil. We’re going to be growing on large ponds that the boards of lettuce float on,” he said. “True hydroponics wouldn’t include any soil, so we kind of have a hybrid version of traditional growing, greenhouse growing and hydroponic growing from Europe that we’re using. We’ll be the first ones using this technique for baby leaf lettuce in North America.”
While freshness is top priority, Revol Greens has made sustainability very important, Johnson said. The greenhouse uses 80 percent natural light, with the other 20 percent coming from energy-efficient LEDs that are designed for lettuce. The packaging will use one-third less plastic than other brands, and all of the water will come off the roof from rain or snow melt.
“We collect it in a pond for all of our water needs for the greenhouse. So that’s very sustainable,” he said. “…We’re trying to make this so it’ll last into the future.”
Karlen plans to stock Revol Greens lettuce, spinach and other products once they become available around the end of December, but until then, the store does not have access to too much locally sourced greenhouse produce. He receives a few items from growers in Iowa and other parts of Minnesota, but he wishes he had more access to local produce all year, not just over the summer.
“It’s good to keep money in the community,” Karlen said. “We have six or seven farms and orchards that we get stuff from. At the peak of the season, we have about 50 to 60 items that are local.”
With Revol Greens opening, fewer vegetables will need to come from places like California, Arizona or Mexico. Johnson is happy to see agriculture continue to bloom in southern Minnesota.
“We would like to be the largest selling brand of lettuce in this market, the 200-mile radius of Medford, within the next 5 to 10 years,” he said. “We really think it’s going to become the No. 1 selling brand here once we get going.”
James Figy is a writer based in Mankato. A native Hoosier, he has reported consumer and business news for magazines and newspapers in Minnesota and Indiana.


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This article was first published in VMblog on December 23, 2020. You can read the original article here.
2021 - The year cloud-native broadband networks go mainstream
By Pravin S Bhandarkar, CEO at RtBrick Inc
There is no doubt that 2020 has altered the course of many things, and the telecoms industry is no exception. As companies sent workers home to remote settings virtually overnight as a result of the pandemic's surge, and people were stuck at home under stay-at-home orders, the amount of broadband being consumed by the average home skyrocketed. Never before were so many people taking video-calls, streaming television and more at the same time, forcing telco companies to figure out a way to scale their network capacities or face service outages that would outrage customers trying to adjust to their new normal.
Nine months later, the telecom industry is still adjusting but has found its footing in some areas. And with many of the same forces that altered the status quo in 2020 set to continue well into 2021 - including the fact that many workers will be staying remote indefinitely - we now have a much better idea of what to expect in 2021. As they say, hindsight is 20/20, and from here we look ahead to what 2021 will bring to the telco world.
In 2020 we've seen major leaps in the telecom space, as carriers have started moving more towards a disaggregated, open model that mimics cloud-native companies like Amazon, Facebook and Google. Most notably, the Telecom Infra Project (TIP) called on the industry to band together and develop an Open BNG (Broadband Network Gateway), which is broadband routing software that runs on open hardware. Endorsed by industry heavyweights - including BT, Deutsche Telekom, Telefonica and Vodafone - this method of network building would allow telcos to create scalable broadband networks that mimic the corporate networks already built by major cloud companies (ex. AWS).
This shift away from legacy systems is going to be vital for telcos to remain competitive in 2021 and beyond. Companies like Amazon have already completely changed the game in other industries like retail and data storage, so there's no reason to believe that they couldn't have the same effect in the telecoms industry if they decided to make a play there. Given the progress made towards embracing a more open, cloud-based model in 2020, I can only predict that telcos will continue to move away from legacy systems in 2021. They'll learn to compete with the hyperscale, cloud companies even more.
Tight margins are nothing new for telcos, however the pandemic has pushed them to their max. As I stated above, there is more demand for broadband internet than ever before, and it's already put a real strain on carriers in 2020. Increased traffic, however, does not equate to increased revenue. In fact, it usually leads to a decrease in margins, since telcos must spend more resources to keep up with demand.
And on the flip side, customers are unwilling to pay more. Although total data consumed by the average US household has increased by 75 percent from June 2018 to June 2020, prices have remained relatively stable. This is because broadband connections have always been unlimited for users, unlike their mobile counterparts that commonly had caps until the recent prominence of unlimited plans. Even as more people cut the cord and stream high-definition or 4k video in higher numbers, they won't accept paying more to their internet provider for it.
So, where does this leave telcos in 2021? Scrambling to figure out how to keep up with the continued increase in demand and strain on their networks at a minimized cost. Their subscriber revenue is unlikely to grow at the same rate as the amount of broadband being used by customers - so creative ways to cope will be needed. This ties back into my first prediction. Scalable and cost-effective solutions like an Open BNG are needed for carriers to keep up, and 2021 will be the year they begin to adopt the technology more than ever before to help prevent further squeezing of margins.


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"It's a really proud moment to say that our core product range have the lifetime expectancy of my full life!" In 2015, Marl received a repeat order for a panel lamp product – 28 years after the original panel lamp was fitted. Read on for details!
Marl and Nanoco announce partnership to develop novel lighting products enhanced with Cadmium-Free Quantum Dots
Partnership Signals a New Era in LED Lighting That Meshes Bright, High-Efficiency and Long-Lasting Lighting with High Colour Performance to Deliver "Light People Like"
Marl's Managing Director, Adrian Rawlinson, was nominated for SME Director of the Year at the IoD Awards 2015. Neil Smith of BBC Radio Cumbria interviews Adrian at Marl International to get his thoughts on why his leadership style has led to his nomination.
America II Electronics, Inc., one of the world's largest distributors of semiconductors and electronic components, has entered into a franchise distribution agreement with Marl. Under terms of the agreement, America II will have distribution rights to Marl's portfolio of LED components and accessories including discrete LEDs, PCB mounted LEDs, bulb replacement LEDs, and sealed LED panel indicators.
Marl has enhanced its Design capability with the investment of a new 3D Printer, which can offer a prototyping service to customers. The Ultimaker 2 builds 3D objects, layer by layer, using molten plastic. As each layer is built, the plastic cools down and solidifies, creating a 3 dimensional object.
Croftlands Primary School approached Marl International for help creating a photography project inspired by the school's work with local photographer, Naomi Bartlett, creating blue and white silhouette nature prints. Marl has provided perspex sheets to be used for the project. Read on for more!
The region's top business and public sector leaders have been revealed as finalists in the Institute of Directors' 2015 North West Director of the Year Awards. We are delighted that Marl's Managing Director, Adrian Rawlinson, has been shortlised for Director of the Year for a Small to Medium Company.
MD Adrian Rawlinson reviews Marl's year through 2014 and looks to 2015 to expand as an integrated electronic solutions provider.


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Ten trends to know
Lockdowns have hurt the On Premise…
NielsenIQ’s data has shown COVID’s massive impact on hospitality across Europe, with intermittent lockdowns, trading restrictions, and fears around safety making it hard to plan. While people were restricted to home, drinks sales migrated to Off-Premise, which grew its share of total beer sales from 49% to 56% between 2019 and 2022. Some of that share is returning to On-Premise now that restrictions are over, but volumes are generally still below pre-COVID levels.
But they have brought investment and innovation too
While it’s been a very challenging period, COVID has shown the impressive resilience and creativity of On-Premise. Some operators used the time to update venues or find outdoor solutions to social distancing, and the sector accelerated its use of technology like apps and digital ordering. Thousands of outlets were forced to close, but COVID has left us with a strong base of venues.
The industry needs to work together to bring footfall back
Despite the end of restrictions, some consumers remain anxious about safety in crowded venues. Operators and suppliers need to collaborate to understand people’s needs on hygiene and give them compelling reasons to go out to eat and drink rather than stay at home. Excellent service, a wide variety of foods, high-quality drinks that they can only get on-premise, and an all-round memorable experience will keep them coming back for more.
Price pressures are mounting
NielsenIQ’s data has shown how consumers and businesses alike are grappling with double-digit food inflation across Europe. But while Off-Premise has minimized price increases in drinks, On-Premise businesses have had little choice but to pass rising costs on. There are clearly more pressures to come, and half (51%) of European consumers plan to change their On-Premise habits over the next 12 months. This means operators and suppliers will have to work even harder to show consumers they are getting good value for their spend.
People still want to go out to drink
Despite the perceived doom and gloom, consumer surveys consistently show that people still want to go out to eat and drink whenever they can. The challenge for all businesses is to understand their exposure to the risk of reduced visits and identify where brands sit within different consumer segments’ attitudes toward spending. Encouragingly, data suggests that those who are at the lowest risk of cutting their spending are also the most closely engaged with On-Premise, and they are among the heaviest spenders.
Occasions are shifting
It’s also vital to understand the dynamics of occasions and how they affect category and brand choices. While a steady return of people to offices has increased after-work drinks, On-Premise has seen an increase in lower-tempo, casual and experiential occasions, triggering some switches in category choices like from spirits to beer. It’s critical for suppliers to identify which brands and venues are the best fit for these evolving occasions.
There’s room for more premiumization
Despite the squeeze on spending, there’s still huge potential for premiumization. People across Europe view drinking out as an affordable treat, and while some might be going out less, they are looking for premium experiences and brands when they do so. But it’s important to remember that people still want good value for whatever money they’re spending, so suppliers need to promote and deliver the high quality of drinks. Emphasizing the quality, origin and nature of ingredients can help show the value consumers are seeking.
Health and ethics matter more than ever
COVID has focused consumers’ minds on health, which has opened opportunities to grow alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks. Younger adults in particular are moderating their drinking, but they still want variety and quality in their no- and low-alcohol options. A prominent focus on sustainability and ethical practices remains a longer-term trend that consumers have turned their attention to, so suppliers need to prove their credentials here as well to stay relevant.
Activations work, but they must be right
NielsenIQ data proves that activations are still a key lever to pull. Half (51%) of European consumers who have seen or taken part in one say that it positively impacted their opinion of the brand, and nearly as many consumers (47%) say would be more likely to buy it. But with activations generating an average increase of 6.1% in product volume sales, and best-in-class ones reaching 16.6%, it is clear that some activations are much better than others. To get them right, suppliers need to understand what drives people’s subconscious decision-making and take a test-and-learn approach.
It’s all about the omnichannel
Because most consumers use both the On-Premise and Off-Premise, it’s mission-critical to synchronize all parts of a supply strategy. NielsenIQ data shows how good experiences with an On-Premise drink leads to Off-Premise purchases too. As successful brand launches like Madri have shown, there are big prizes for suppliers who can show joined-up thinking in the omnichannel.
Ross Stoddart, VP of Global Clients at NIQ
Ross Stoddart has held various regional and global client leadership positions whilst working at NIQ, his CPG career spans over 23 years (including both agency and manufacturer side). In this time he has had exposure to a variety of clients across various categories and countries. Ross’s category and global exposure plus his network leaves him well positioned to help both manufacturers and retailers unlock new global growth opportunities, in particular through: Finding new high consumer demand spaces, building new breakthrough innovations and finally helping clients with acquisitions and disposals.
Graeme Loudon, Managing Director EMEA at CGA by NIQ
With over a decade of experience consulting in the global on-trade market, Graeme has built his career by helping drinks brand owners to make smarter investment decisions in the market in order to grow sales and reduce cost.
He has achieved this across 25 global markets (with a focus on EMEA & APAC) by using data & insight to create strategies which deliver significant sales & share growth for his clients.
Graeme works with Global HQ’s, multi-regional and local OpCo’s to ensure strategy build and execution is aligned across the globe and across sales & marketing departments


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Insomniac Games announced today on Twitter that Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales will receive an optional Performance Mode on PlayStation 5, boosting the performance up to 4K resolution and 60 frames per second.
Brian Horton, the Creative Director on Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales said THIS on the PlayStation Blog:
As we continued with the Marvel’s Spider-Man universe, we knew that Miles’s origin story as a Spider-Man was something that needed its own game. Miles’s multicultural background reflects a more modern, diverse world and we wanted to give players a new story, with new set-pieces, fresh villains, and unique quests across Marvel’s New York City. This had to be a can’t-miss next adventure in the Marvel’s Spider-Man universe.
We are also excited for the game to demonstrate the power of PlayStation 5 this holiday. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales will show off near-instant loading, ray-tracing, 3D audio and the DualSense controller. We’ve upgraded our characters with 4D scans and improved skin shading for more realistic looking characters and spline-based hair that moves far more naturally. Many of the city’s assets have also been updated to take advantage of the new console. As you experience Miles’s story, you’ll see, hear, and feel things in a whole new way, all thanks to PS5.
— Insomniac Games (@insomniacgames) July 20, 2020
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales is currently announced as a PlayStation 5 exclusive with no OFFICIAL release date.
[source – blog.playstation.com]


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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) -- Tax-free weekend is to the first day of school, what Black Friday is to the holiday season.
Thousands of families across Arkansas hit the stores Saturday to snag bargains for their kids, and maybe even themselves. Around 10:30 Saturday morning, parking lots at McCain Mall in North Little Rock were already filled. The mall opened an hour early and will close an hour later.
“Everybody has shoes and jeans,” said a mom of six.
“We're trying to fight the crowds and get the good deals,” one dad shopping with his son said.
Who doesn't like to save a few dollars?
"I shop nonstop, all year round,” said Mrs. Watson. “We have one who graduated from college, two who are in college right now, a senior in high school, a sophomore, and one is a freshman. Saving money is big for us.”
She and her family travel from Saline County every year for back to school shopping. It’s time to shop and it’s also time to hit the books.
“Here in a little while it's going to be about the pencils, notebooks, lunchboxes, and all that stuff,” said Mr. Burney.
He thinks every penny counts. For many families, shopping at the mall and other stores is an annual tradition.
"We pretty much start at 8 a.m. in the morning and shop. We shop all day long,” Watson said.
“We like JC Penny a lot, Crazy 8, and of course Walmart,” said Burney. "With my son, the way his sizes run right now, apparently it's a very popular size. A lot of people are looking for these same jeans, t-shirts, and long sleeves.”
Lots of shoppers said they like to hit the ground running early to avoid crowds and to have more options. But this weekend isn't just all about the kids. Everybody loves a good sale, including parents and adults.
“We love the Nike store. We save a lot of money at the malls, at the stores, and we love Dillard’s. I love Dillard’s,” said Watson.
McCain Mall opens an hour early on Sunday as well at 11 a.m. instead of noon. That mall is offering a shopping spree contest if you show up early.


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Judge OKs $20 Million Settlement of Class Action Against Bubble-Wrap Make
From Law.com – Newswire
A New Jersey manufacturer of Bubble Wrap and other packaging items has agreed to pay $20 million to settle a six-year-old class action suit by shareholders who charged that it understated its liability for litigation caused by acquiring part of an asbestos maker. U.S. District Judge Dennis Cavanaugh approved the settlement, under which $6 million, or 30 percent, goes toward attorney fees and another $393,350 for expenses, on Dec. 4.
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Are you not over Beyoncé and “Formation”? Welcome to the Beyoncé edition of PoC News.
Welcome to another week of news and happy lunar new year!!
Happy New Year! This weekend marks the Lunar New Year and while many news outlets focus on China, Korea also has their celebration called Seollal. This year, an estimated two million Koreans will travel back to their hometowns, eat sliced rice cakes called tteokguk (since Korean age reckoning counts the Lunar New Year as a […]
Well, it’s a day late, but I wanted to wish all you Persephoneers a Happy Chinese New Year! The new year actually began yesterday, but since Fridays are my territory I figured we could rehash it. We are now in the Year of the Rabbit. Kiss the Year of the Tiger goodbye.


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Ira Phillips, chairman of Quoizel and fellow octogenarian, said: "Murray's an icon.
...Phillips and Feiss have served for years on the DMC Lighting Board of Governors.
"Murray was very influential in coming up with very, very good ideas to help create traffic," Phillips
praised Feiss for being the first to sell big-box stores under a different company [Royce Lighting]; for creative marketing, promotions and customer loyalty trips; for leading the first DMC expansion to the fourth floor; then more recently securing the large Las Vegas showroom space.
helped make the consumer aware of lighting more than ever before," Phillips


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WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — The U.S. economy continued to grow at a "modest to moderate pace” over the last month, the Federal Reserve said on Wednesday in the latest publication of anecdotes.
The Fed’s “Beige Book” use of the phrase “modest to moderate” is the same adjective used to describe the economy in the prior two reports.
Every region covered by the Fed’s 12 districts grew, ranging from “modest” in the Cleveland and St. Louis regions to a “faster pace” in the Kansas City area. Read regional breakdown.
The report noted that manufacturers and retailers expressed some concern about rising oil prices, and the Beige Book also credited unusually warm weather with helping retail sales. Read more on March retail sales.
But generally, the report showed an economy chugging if not roaring along: manufacturing expanding, professional business services growing, freight volume increasing, strong new-car sales, growing tourism, favorable agricultural conditions, more mining and oil extraction and some improving loan demand.
Recent statistics generally support these anecdotes. Institute for Supply Management surveys of purchasing managers showed expansion in both manufacturing and services sectors in March, and first-quarter U.S. auto sales were the strongest since 2008.
Real estate activity was at low or lackluster levels but improving, the Beige Book said. The gains in real estate were largely concentrated for apartments and senior housing.
Hiring was steady or showing a modest increase, and there was difficulty finding high-skilled workers — the latter point suggesting that structural and not just cyclical factors are holding back employment. Last week the Labor Department reported that nonfarm payrolls grew by 120,000, the weakest advance since October. Read story about payrolls.
Wage growth was “constrained,” and overall price inflation was modest, the Beige Book found.
The report is unlikely to change views of Federal Reserve policymakers, who have been reluctant to step up their purchases of bonds but also reticent to start selling from their nearly $3 trillion securities portfolio or increase interest rates. Fed Vice Chair Janet Yellen is due to deliver a key speech on the U..S. economy Wednesday night.
The report was prepared by the Cleveland Fed based on information collected on or before April 2. The Fed rotates which regional bank writes the Beige Book each month.


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Some investors will try to keep shares of Constellation Brands (STZ) down, even though the company reported strong quarterly results on Thursday, according to TheStreet's founder and Action Alerts PLUS Portfolio Manager Jim Cramer.
The company is also set to benefit next quarter, as Cinco de Mayo falls on a Saturday this year.
Cramer will interview Constellation Brands CEO Rob Sands on Thursday's edition of CNBC's Mad Money.
Want exclusive investing insight from Jim Cramer? Get 24/7 access to Jim's charitable trust portfolio with a free trial to Action Alerts PLUS!
Watch all of Jim Cramer's full NYSE live shows right here:


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The world's major stock exchanges opened today at a low level after they knew Apple's revenue cuts, which contributes to the already existing weakness due to fears that global economic growth will slow down.
The first cut in Apple's revenue forecast for nearly 12 years has led to a drop in prices on European stock exchanges today, as the most affected technology sector, with chip makers supplying the iPhone maker by force.
Technology div declined its forecast for the first quarter of 2019 to $ 84,000 million, falling below the range of $ 89,000 million to the estimated $ 93,000 million.
Apple has blamed a number of downsizing factors, including weaknesses in the Chinese economy and disappointing iPhone revenue.
The news has raised fears of slowing global growth, as well as the effects of trade tensions between the United States and China on corporate profits.
In Spain, the number of unemployed registered in the employment offices decreased in 2018 to 210,484, with an annual reduction rate of 6.17%, the Ministry of Labor said. Thus, the total number of unemployed persons at the end of 2018 was 3.2 million and at the lowest level in the last nine years.
On the other hand, German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said in an interview published today that withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union represents an economic risk, although he added he expects continued growth in Germany.
Red colored markets
Pan-European index STOXX 600 fell by 0.7% and joined mass sales in Asia.
Apple shares in Frankfurt fell by 8.9% after the tech giant reduced the revenue forecast, blaming the weak iPhone sales in China, whose economy was hit by the prolonged trade war with the US,
Chip manufacturers supplying parts to Apple were most affected. AMS shares, offering face recognition sensors used in the latest iPhone, fell 19.4%, which is the worst value of STOXX.
For your part, the prospects for the future of Wall Street are not much better. Technological agglomerations in composite nasdaqu recorded a sharp fall of 2.78%, hours of trade start date
And in Asia, the numbers were not much better, but they were more confined:


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By Sally Greenberg and Theodore L. Caputi
The challenges of public health messaging have been put under the microscope over the past two years. Consumers have been bombarded with misleading and often confusing information, including unsubstantiated claims that cannabis and CBD can prevent, treat or even cure COVID-19. Policymakers at the state and federal levels are engaging in these discussions and considering several proposals — some of which could hinder much-needed research or even pose health risks to patients and consumers.
For example, the New Jersey Legislature is debating whether to mandate taxpayer-funded health insurance coverage for non-FDA approved marijuana products. Such legislation could have negative implications, requiring the Garden State to spend large sums of its limited health care dollars to pay for unproven, untested products. Further, legislation like this leaves little incentive for researchers to conduct the kind of high-quality research required by the FDA — and we may never learn the true therapeutic potential of cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds.
The Food & Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission recently sent warning letters to seven companies using research studies to mislead or imply that their CBD products can cure, treat or prevent COVID. In the letters, the FDA reiterated that it has not approved or authorized any drug containing CBD for the treatment or prevention of COVID. The FDA expressed concerns that frequent deceptive and misleading claims could confuse consumers and delay the reliance on medical-proven, doctor-recommended treatments.
While the warning letters are a step in the right direction, much more needs to be done, as misrepresentation of research findings and unsubstantiated marketing claims create confusion for consumers who are in desperate need of accurate medical information. New research, published out of the Rutgers Center of Alcohol and Substance Use Studies, highlights nearly 1,000 misleading health claims made by manufacturers that cannabis can treat mental health, autism, pain, sexual health, AIDS, cancer and more. The paper found that, while some companies are conducting studies into the therapeutic potential of cannabis, most cannabis and CBD manufacturers make dangerously premature, false or misleading claims.
For years, the National Consumers League has been working to educate the public and policymakers about the risks related to unregulated CBD products and the misinformation in some marketing campaigns. While results of a few studies indicate a therapeutic value of cannabinoids, virtually all claims about safety or efficacy are not supported by robust scientific evidence.
In fact, only one cannabis-derived product has undergone the rigorous evaluation of clinical trials required for FDA approval. Many other cannabis company claims are based on weak or preliminary evidence that may sound scientific, but does not conclusively demonstrate that a product is safe or effective.
The ramifications of these trends are concerning from a health standpoint as well as potential negative implications on future innovation. Deceptive messages about the safety and efficacy of cannabis and CBD could derail progress in cannabinoid therapeutic research. Right now, companies have an incentive to invest in comprehensive studies that could lead to FDA approval for cannabinoid-based drugs: If approved, their products could be covered by health insurance. Deceptive marketing practices could mislead the public and result in ill-conceived policies that put those incentives at risk by offering coverage for products before critical research on the safety and efficacy of products is brought to bear.
The therapeutic potential of cannabinoids is intriguing, but we must wait for definitive evidence and FDA approval before it is accepted as a safe and effective treatment for any given health concern. We need the FDA to apply its authority, expertise and resources to protect public health and safety — before consumer demand and political pressure get too far ahead of science.
Sally Greenberg is the executive director of the National Consumers League. Theodore Caputi is a public health research consultant specializing in behavioral public health and regulatory science.
Read the full piece in ROI NJ here.


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CES Tablet Extravaganza: Motorola, RIM, Toshiba & Asus Stand Out
CES provided a tableau of what buyers can expect in tablets, nearly all of them evolutionary hardware improvements over the currently-shipping iPad, none of them available now, and most of them, predictably, clones. Here's a guide, based on a modest round of discussions and demonstrations at a frenzied CES; videos included where appropriate.
Toshiba's John Doe. Toshiba emerged as an impressive challenger. Its 10-inch device looks beautiful (it is a wide screen device -- essentially 16 x 10, with 1280x800 resolution), and its rugged exterior is a differentiator that seems minor, but it will make the user device experience better. The company claims that its DDR2 RAM will make the tablet that much faster -- soon someone will benchmark each of the tablets and determine the real answer, and whether it matters.
Other differentiators: you can take off the back plate and replace it to personalize the device or to replace the battery. It features what Toshiba calls Adaptive Technology; for example, it automatically adjusts its brightness and contrast according to its environment, and employs noise reduction when video chatting. I liked how all of the ports are buried under an opening in the casing. It also has a file manager. The plan is to ship this product in late Spring, but it hasn't been named or priced.
Acer Iconia Tab. A quick demo of Acer's Iconia Tab, originally announced last November, revealed a 10-inch device, with 1280x800 resolution, and the most up-to-date hardware specs, including both regular and mini USB, mini-HDMI, and the ability to lock its viewing mode. The Iconia also includes an e-compass and ambient light sensors. Acer couldn't get the software to run stably enough to get a closer look at these, however.
The device will be out in April, Acer said, but would only commit to pricing the unit lower than the iPad. The company is also preparing a 7-inch Android tablet, and a 10-inch Windows 7 version priced under $600 and available as early as March, but more likely in April.
Acer says its key differentiator will be optimal capability at the most affordable price--essentially what it attempts to do in the PC market. Acer also announced its Clear.Fi strategy last November -- the idea here is that all devices on a home Wi-Fi network can be participants in media streaming and sharing; the Iconia Tab will be one such device.
Vizio Via Plus. Vizio's Via Plus tablet, announced days before CES, was a bit of a surprise. The company sees its entrance as part of the content consumption game its TVs play in. Indeed, Vizio may be among the first companies to pull off the vision of content sharing across devices in the home. The tablet is an 8-inch device, with a single 1GHz processor, with USB, HDMI out, and three speakers, so users get left and right audio regardless of tablet orientation. It also includes an infrared emitter so it can act as a universal remote for home theater systems (not just Vizio's, by the way). The first Via Plus will be WiFi only, but a 3G version is in the company's roadmap.
The company didn't just announce a tablet; it also provided a Superphone (Via Plus Phone) -- that is, a phone running a 1GHz processor, and sporting a 4-inch screen. The phone runs Android, and includes a front and back-facing camera. In other words, the tablet and phone share much of the same hardware, but more important Vizio has included its own user interface, which it says will be similar across all device sizes, including its televisions. Users will be able to start and stop services (say, Netflix) on one device and start them back up on another. The lineup is due out this Summer.
Building A Mobile Business MindsetAmong 688 respondents, 46% have deployed mobile apps, with an additional 24% planning to in the next year. Soon all apps will look like mobile apps – and it's past time for those with no plans to get cracking.


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Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting is also leveraging its Ayurvedic soap brand Chandrika to cash in on the current trend of organic products in FMCG segment and has plans to introduce more in the market under the brand name.
Dubai-based retailer Splash, which is now piloting revamped stores, also has an inventory-linked model that helps overcome out-of-stock situations.
Dolomite operates 7 restaurants in India across Jamie’s Italian and Jamie’s Pizzeria brands.
Unilever has been expanding into new areas as its traditional brands stagnate.
The CRO has also submitted a memorandum to the district administration on Monday asking them to take appropriate action.
Vivo, Coca-Cola, Swiggy, PhonePe, Oppo, Maruti Suzuki, Dream 11, MakeMyTrip, Samsung LED, Voltas, Asian Paints, Future Group, Vodafone
1. Nimble 2. Digital-first 3. Faster speed-to-market This means experimentation becomes a key role in the playbook.
HUL's Kumbh Mela ad and tweet didn't go down well with Twitterati.
The phenomenon of blind loyalty now belongs in the annals of history, as the modern-day customer is more aware, tech savvy and increasingly utility driven. Customers today have a lot of choice and an array of products to choose from. They might have a certain preference for a particular product or brand, but they would readily go for more accessible alternatives than go without.
Social media marketing can be critical for SMEs since it has the power to make or break a brand, depending on how well or poorly it is developed and executed.
eContent is not just about reaching shoppers who are completing their purchase journey online. It also helps them buy and research about products that they buy offline.
As per the process finalised, Adani Wilmar will be given the first opportunity to raise its bid which will be followed by an option to Patanjali to revise its offer.
"We will continue to see growth upwards of 20 per cent in the next 4-5 years. We don't see this growth slowing down," Arvind Lifestyle Brands Chief Operating Officer, Sumit Dhingra
Last week, the board approved issue of 38.22 lakh shares of face value Rs 2 of the company.
"Walmart-Flipkart deal the beginning of building up of an ecosystem. Multiple alliances will get formed."
The company had posted a consolidated profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 387.58 crore in the year-ago quarter.


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Coca-Cola has launched a major advertising campaign across the Middle East featuring Egyptian acting legend Omar Sharif.
With Sharif starring alongside Saudi footballer Yasser Qahtani and Lebanese-born Canadian musician Karl Wolf, the celebrity-led campaign is being rolled out across the GCC, Iraq, Jordan and Palestine. Called ‘Brrr’, the drive is an extension of Coca-Cola’s activities in other parts of the world, with the ‘Brrr’ concept first launched in Africa. It is the first time the concept has been launched in the Middle East, with the regional creative produced by FP7/DXB. ‘Brrr’ is designed to demonstrate the feeling you have when you drink a Coke.
The campaign features TV spots on channels such as MBC and Rotana, outdoor, in-store executions, joint partnerships with Ski Dubai and ice rinks in Qatar, a sampling drive, and online activity via Facebook and YouTube.
“We intend ‘Brrr’ to become a buzz word with the youth,” said Tolga Cebe, regional marketing manager at Coca-Cola Middle East. “Therefore, we have chosen celebrities they aspire to. Hence, knowing that football and music are key passion points with youth, we chose Yasser for football and Karl for music. The choice of Omar Sharif has an interesting background. Our research showed that some people would feel shy of doing ‘Brrr’. Therefore, we wanted a respected celebrity to ‘Brrr’. Omar Sharif being an icon of arts and culture in Arabia, was the perfect choice. He loved the idea as well and hence we formed our partnership.”
The campaign is part of Coca-Cola’s refreshment drive, which is one of the key purchase drivers for the brand. The launch has been timed to coincide with the heat of summer.
How would an agency be proud of stealing a concept that was created years ago by Ogilvy and pretend they created it?
@Karl D: Think you’ve got the wrong end of the stick. Nowhere does it say anyone’s proud of stealing anything. In fact, it says the ‘Brrr’ concept was first launched in Africa. No one’s pretending they’ve created anything
As much as I like the creative and inspired by the “Brrr”, I don’t think this is a really powerful and effective campaing. The refreshment factor is appealing and the message is clear, but it looses big time when compared to any of the Pepsi campiagns..
Forget Brrr….. who are these X listers!
Ps. Sarcasm (just in case 😉
Omar Sharif loved the idea? I’m sure he loved the money even more! I love corny quotes!
Sorry Karl D. this is a concept? Missed it completely. Nice to see the Non Arab expatriate represented properly… Sarcasm again.. thanks Bert 🙂
Comments are closed.


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BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Huawei released its UBB 2020 White Paper at the 2016 Mobile World Congress (MWC). This White Paper, entitled "Open Roads to UBB 2020", covers the UBB industry vision as well as the operators' UBB business proposition. It also covers the reconstruction of operator businesses, networks, operations, and ecosystems driven by UBB industry development. Additionally, "Open Roads to UBB 2020" analyzes the major opportunities and challenges for operators in the next five years, and provides suggestions by sharing best practices.
In recent years, there has been extensive development of the UBB industry. More than 100 operators have launched commercial Gigaband services. In 2015, broadband standards were redefined twice; the ITU expects a surge in global broadband coverage by 2020. Ultra-HD TV has become the norm in households; 15 4K channels have been launched worldwide, and currently, over 500 original 4K videos are available for subscribers, heralding a new era of ubiquitous videos. The broadband industry is stepping into a golden era of unprecedented development. Operators will play an important part in this development and benefit from it.
Major opportunities tend to accompany major changes. Now, videos have become core services as content in transmission pipes; consumers are largely concerned about service experience, which in turn drives network evolution. The cloud service and Smart Home are becoming the norm on ultra-broadband networks. Therefore, building a DC-centric next-generation network and converging IT architecture based on SDN/NFV is a must for operators. The UBB 2020 White Paper clearly states the vision and mission for ultra-broadband development in the next five years, and also provides three strategic propositions: business transformation, network reconstruction, and open ecosystem. These three strategies are proposed to assist operators in optimizing operations and handling challenges.
Huawei believes that the global UBB industry will go through three phases: improving broadband coverage, developing ultra-broadband and video, and using ultra-broadband networks to provide cloud and Smart Home services. In some regions, operators aspire to achieve comprehensive broadband coverage for their region by improving broadband coverage. Currently, some mainstream operators, such as British Telecom and China Telecom, have achieved the collaborative development of the ultra-broadband and ultra-HD video business. In certain areas, clients use ultra-broadband networks to provide cloud and Smart Home services to households and enterprise customers.
Based on global best practices and Huawei products and solutions, the UBB 2020 White Paper provides suggestions specific to the business development strategies of operators to assist them in achieving business transformation and network evolution. Moreover, the UBB 2020 White Paper analyzes and predicts the core ultra-broadband technologies for the next five years, which will support global operators in understanding technological trends and formulating appropriate network development strategies.
Huawei has more than 20 years of experience in the field of fixed broadband and has established partnership with the majority of global operators. Huawei is a UBB industry leader and has the goal of assisting operators in achieving 2020 transformation (more than 10 operators have already released 2020 transformation strategies). To do so, Huawei formulated the UBB 2020 White Paper with the joint efforts of more than 20 experts from the fixed broadband domain. Huawei also hopes to ignite the discussion about the great ultra-broadband era among fellow industry members.
MWC 2016 takes place in Barcelona, Spain from February 22 to 25. Huawei will showcase its latest products and solutions at Fira Gran Via Hall 1 and Hall 3. For more details, please visit: http://www.huawei.com/en/mwc2016
Huawei is a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider with the vision to enrich life through communication. Driven by customer-centric innovation and open partnerships, Huawei has established an end-to-end ICT solutions portfolio that gives customers competitive advantages in telecom and enterprise networks, devices and cloud computing. Huawei's 170,000 employees worldwide are committed to creating maximum value for telecom operators, enterprises and consumers. Our innovative ICT solutions, products and services have been deployed in over 170 countries and regions, serving more than one third of the world's population. Founded in 1987, Huawei is a private company fully owned by its employees.
For more information, please visit Huawei online: www.huawei.com or follow us on:
HUAWEI: Open ROADS to a Better Connected World
Huawei's theme of "Open ROADS to a Better Connected World" at Mobile World Congress 2016 is based on Huawei's core strategy of advancing ICT through building open, collaborative industry ecosystems that generate win-win outcomes. In the future, the world will be fully connected with people-to-people, people-to-objects and objects-to-objects connections, interactions and coordination, and this will drive a new digital business environment creating challenges and opportunities for telecom carriers. Huawei's standard for the ultimate user experience is ROADS which means: Real-time, On-demand, All-online, DIY and Social. With its leading technology products and solutions, Huawei is working together with carriers to deliver an engaging ROADS experience and implement future-proof strategic transformation to jointly build a Better Connected World.


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Motorola Mobility reported its Q2 numbers today, and shed some light on the Droid Bionic in the process. In its Q2 earnings conference call, Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha confirmed rumors that the Bionic will be delayed until September. Jha did not specify the reasons for the Bionic’s delays, but he did note that Motorola’s earnings will take a hit due to the Bionic’s late launch.
Jha also admitted that the XOOM, Motorola’s first Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet, was overpriced. The company was forced to cut the XOOM’s initial $800 price at Verizon to just $500, but Jha noted that “we now recognize where the price points are,” and announced that new tablets from Motorola can be expected by the end of 2011.
Motorola did ship 4.4 million smartphones in Q2 2011, in line with analyst expectations while selling 440,000 tablets, beating analyst expectations. Still, the company’s stock was down about 4% in after hours trading.
Owners of the “4G” Motorola XOOM received some good news in their email inboxes today: Verizon’s promised 4G LTE upgrade for the XOOM is finally coming. In September. The upgrade will be free, of course, and will bump increase the XOOM’s wireless browsing speeds by up to 10x.
The XOOM’s LTE upgrade will come about four months late. Motorola and Verizon originally announced that the 4G upgrade would take place in May, 90 days after the XOOM was launched on Verizon. Yet May passed, and until today neither Verizon nor Motorola have provided XOOM owners with any firm timeframe for the 4G upgrade.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like Verizon will be providing any compensation for XOOM owners who have been waiting for 4G since may. I’d imagine the company could do its customers right by offering a few free months of service. What’s particularly frustrating is the 4G LTE version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be released in two days, making the Galaxy Tab 10.1, not the XOOM, Verizon’s first 4G LTE tablet.
Motorola released the XOOM Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet back in February, promising owners than an LTE upgrade for the device will be provided at no additional charge within 90 days. However, Motorola later announced that LTE upgrades for the XOOM would be delayed until the Summer, and since then the company has provided XOOM owners with little information about the status of the device’s LTE upgrade.
But it now looks like the XOOM LTE upgrade will be coming soon, according to an FCC application by Motorola that was approved today. The application is for an LTE module known by the FCC ID IHDP56LU2, which will bring LTE capabilities to the XOOM.
FCC documents indicate that the XOOM’s LTE module will be professionally installed, and is not intended for use in any other device, below. Images of the LTE card show a mini PCI form factor, which can be seen in the gallery below. Motorola’s FCC application also includes some images of an LTE XOOM in testing, as well as an updated user manual.
There’s still now word when XOOM upgrades will be available for owners. There are some reports that XOOM owners have received reminders and/or packaging materials for the LTE upgrade, but neither Verizon nor Motorola has officially announced a timeframe for the upgrade. Still, XOOM owners will be glad to see that the XOOM’s LTE modem has received an FCC approval, a good sign that the LTE upgrade process will begin very soon.
Motorola announced its Q1 2011 revenue today, pleasing analysts with a lower than expected loss of $81 million, as well as a positive outlook for Q2. The company shipped 9.3 million devices this quarter, including over 250,000 XOOM Android tablets.
However, the company also confirmed that the highly anticipated DROID Bionic will be delayed until the Summer. The dual-core 4G Android smartphone was expected to launch in Q2 of this year, but according to Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha, software problems with Verizon’s 4G network forced Motorola to push back the Bionic’s launch date.
The LTE upgrade for the Motorola XOOM will be pushed back as well. Motorola launched the 3G version of the XOOM in February, assuring users that the device would receive a free upgrade to Verizon’s 4G LTE network in May. However, it now appears that the XOOM’s LTE upgrade will not be available until this Summer.
Motorola’s announced its troubles with Verizon’s LTE network just one day after Verizon’s entire 4G LTE network went down nationwide. To date, Verizon has faced numerous problems with its LTE network. The company’s first LTE phone, the HTC ThunderBolt, was delayed for over a month, and Verizon’s second LTE phone, the Samsung Charge, was delayed due to Verizon’s 4G LTE network outage yesterday. Verizon has been tight lipped regarding its LTE problems, but the many delays of LTE devices combined with yesterday’s outage suggests that Verizon may be facing more complications with its 4G LTE network than originally anticipated.
Source: Unwired View
Earlier this week, multiple sources reported that Sprint will be getting their hands on a WiMAX version of the Motorola XOOM. But it looks like Motorola won’t be stopping there. Today, a device from Motorola known as the IHDT56ME1 made an appearance on the FCC. This device is described in FCC filings as a “wireless tablet,” and test reports indicate that the device will support GSM 850 and 1900 bands, as well as WCDMA bands II and V (850 and 1900). That means the IHDT56ME1 will support AT&T’s 3G bands in the United States, and assuming Motorola doesn’t have another “wireless tablet” up its sleeves, it’s a pretty safe bet to assume that the IHDT56ME1 is a GSM version of the Motorola XOOM headed to AT&T.
Rumors of an AT&T XOOM first surfaced back in February, when AT&T’s CMO David Christopher indicated that the XOOM will be one of the twelve Google-powered devices that the carrier plans to launch this year. Phandroid reports that AT&T is also exploring the possibility of shared service plans between tablets and phones, allowing users to pay a single discounted rate for both voice and data on a phone and tablet.
So far, AT&T hasn’t released any official news about a XOOM launch, but today’s FCC filing is a good indication that we will be hearing more soon.
BGR reported today that the Motorola XOOM is definitely headed Sprint’s way. The site has received confirmation from multiple sources that the XOOM will be hitting Sprint very soon, with cases for the device already arriving in Sprint stores.
Better yet, the Sprint XOOM will support the carrier’s 4G WiMAX network. That means the Sprint XOOM may be the first version of the XOOM to get 4G. Verizon users will need to wait until May until their XOOMs can be upgraded to Verizon’s 4G LTE network.
Sprint has yet to announce a release date for the XOOM, but judging by the arrival of XOOM accessories it appears that the device will be launching very soon. Hopefully, Motorola and Sprint have learned from the Verizon XOOM launch, and will sell the XOOM at a more reasonable price point than the $800 Verizon XOOM.


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Mum claims to have found a genius way to stop mosquito bites from itching – and all you need is a BANANA
- A naturopath claims banana skins help ease the itchiness of mosquito bites
- Several pest control company websites echoed her claim – including Rentokil
- Some social media users were shocked by the Western Australian’s revelation
Carmelle Pietsch, a naturopath from Western Australia, said the trick has saved her countless times
A mother claims she’s found a simple yet bizarre way to stop the infuriating itch of mosquito bites.
Carmelle Pietsch, a naturopath from Western Australia, said using a banana peel on the bite does the trick for her kids every time.
‘Just peel the banana and rub the inside of the peel over the bites a few times,’ she said in a social media post.
‘The itch is gone super quick! And there’s no more ”Mum, I’m itchy”.’
Pest control websites echoed her claim – including leading brand Rentokil.
She said rubbing banana skins on the welts helps take the itching out of the bites
The company listed banana skins on a list of seven items to help reduce itching, which also included ice and aloe vera. Rentokil said this is due to the ‘natural oils’ found in bananas.
Doctor of natural medicine and clinical nutritionist Dr Axe said research has shown that banana peel can help with mosquito bites:
‘Onions and bananas can help stop the itching. Just rub inside of the banana peel or a piece of onion directly onto the bite for relief,’ he said.
One social media user wrote: ‘I had no idea! Mozzies love me and my bites turn nasty so I’ll try this next time!’
Another said their child is often plagued by mosquito bites.
‘No matter how many times we spray before bed they devour her! Definitely worth a try to relieve the itch,’ the mother said.
Leading pest control company Rentokil listed banana skins on a list of seven items to help reduce itching from the insects’ bites (stock image)
Others shared their own ways of easing itchiness from mosquito bites.
One person said they find Vicks Vaporub helps them, while another said brown vinegar is also effective.
While the home trick seems to work for some, others weren’t as convinced and said they’ll remain using store-bought products.
‘Seems counterproductive but mosquito repellents like Off seem to help reduce swelling and itching on bites you already have,’ another user said.


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Middle market business index q4 2021 final secured
December 01, 2021
Middle market firms continue to be optimistic overall about future revenues, net earnings and the overall economy compared to the somewhat dour current outlook.
“This quarter’s survey demonstrates the resiliency of the middle market. Despite continued inflationary pressures and supply chain difficulties, more than half of middle market leaders expect revenues and earnings to increase in the coming months,” said U.S. Chamber Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer Neil Bradley.
“However, the middle market sector does remain strained by persistent high inflation. Almost three in four businesses reported paying higher prices for goods. It’s critically important that policymakers in D.C. do not slow the recovery through tax increases and government spending that would only impede our path to full employment and economic growth.”
SNARLED SUPPLY CHAINS and the spread of the delta variant combined to reduce the RSM US Middle Market Business Index to 129.7 in the final quarter of the year from a peak of 143.7 previously.
An easing was to be anticipated, though, and the current reading is in line with the pre-pandemic score of 126.2 in the final quarter of 2019.
Given that we expect a re-acceleration in household spending and higher fixed investment by businesses
to close out the year, we anticipate that middle market business conditions will remain solid even as firms work to confront challenges in securing materials and workers.
Executives’ responses to RSM US’s proprietary survey reflected the slowing economy. Rising prices and what looks like a behavioral shift among workers provide a more challenging context for domestic middle market businesses. The survey, conducted from Oct. 4 to Oct. 21, asked 408 senior executives at middle market companies for their opinions on business conditions.
Responses to nine of the 10 survey questions declined, including the outlook on the economy, revenues and net earnings. Only 37% of respondents indicated the economy had improved in the quarter, even as 51% anticipated general improvement through the first half of next year.
Not surprisingly, 45% of executives reported higher gross revenues over the past three months, while 68% expected revenues to accelerate in the coming six months.
The story on net earnings was similar. Roughly 43% of respondents reported an increase over the past three months, while 62% expected an improvement through the end of next year’s second quarter.
As has been the case for some time, middle market firms continue to be optimistic overall about future revenues, net earnings and the overall economy compared to the somewhat dour current outlook.
The cost of goods
In our estimation, the primary concern among middle market participants revolves around the cost of goods used at earlier stages of production and the cost of intermediate goods, as well as challenges around passing along those price increases.
For now, aggregate demand is more than sufficient to absorb the higher costs in the production process. In fact, we think that falling unemployment and rising income have made it somewhat easier to pass along price increases, which in turn is part of the relatively optimistic outlook.


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Outdoor advertiser solutions provider Adshel has announced a number of hires across its national sales team, following the recent appointment of David Roddick as chief revenue officer.
Former News Corporation WA sales director Michael Riach joins as head of sales in Victoria. A well-respected media industry veteran, Riach has previously held a number of senior roles within Fairfax Media including sales director and general manager of national print sales and comes to Adshel on a 12-month maternity cover.
Joining Riach is Karin Galloway and Kim Norman, both appointed to the position of group sales manager in NSW. Galloway joins Adshel from Seven West Media where she held the role of group sales manager – agency. Prior to that she held a number of senior sales roles including positions with Full Circle Media, Seven and News Ltd.
Kim Norman has most recently been running and managing her own media company Outsauced PTY, where she managed all the commercial elements of the successful Woolworths Baby and Toddler Club. Norman has had a distinguished media sales career including the position of Group Sales Manager for SBS TV in Sydney.
Adshel’s chief revenue officer David Roddick said the appointments represented a significant positive step for the company as it continued to cement its position as one of Australia’s leading media brands.
“These appointments signal another stage in Adshel’s growth as we transform to capitalise upon the incredible opportunities created by the diversification of digital media,” he said.
“Michael, Karin and Kim are amongst the best media sales executives in the market, and I look forward to working closely with them to carry on the great foundations created by one of the strongest sales teams around,” he added.
Streaming giant Netflix has questioned the feasibility of local content requirements in its submission to the government’s ‘Supporting Australian Stories on Our Screens’ options paper review. The review follows the ACCC’s Digital Platforms Inquiry, from which the government identified existing Australian content obligations as a topic of interest in the development of a platform-neutral regulatory […]
A brave move has paid dividends for Baskin-Robbins Australia who recently announced they won the award for Best Digital Initiative at last week’s QSR Media Awards. Baskin-Robbins Australia’s Master Licensee, Palm Oasis Ventures took a risk in launching a digital winter campaign targeting a new millennial and Gen Z demographic when it partnered with Netflix to launch season 3 of the streaming giant’s most popular show, the sci-fi horror series, Stranger Things.
Leading eCommerce website development agency, Convert Digital, has achieved the coveted Magento Gold Status from Adobe. This accomplishment has been reached following the agency’s continuing work with the Magento 2 platform - platform that is incredibly robust and offers unrivalled flexibility and scalability.


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“I thought we were special,” said Phil Libin, chief executive of Evernote, an online consumer service for storing clippings, photos and bits of information as he counted his $1 billion-plus peers.
He started Evernote in 2008 on the eve of the recession and built it methodically. “A lot of us didn’t set out to have a big valuation, we’re just trying to build something that lasts,” Mr. Libin said. “There is no safe industry anymore, even here.”
But an unprecedented number of high technology start-ups, easily 25 and possibly exceeding 40, are valued at $1 billion or more. Many employees are quietly getting rich, or at least building a big cushion against a crash, as they sell shares to outside investors. Airbnb,
“A year from now that might be 100,” said Jim Goetz, a partner at Sequoia Capital, a venture capital business. Sequoia counts a dozen such companies in its portfolio. It is part of what he calls “a permanent change” in the way people are building their companies and financers are pushing up values.
The owners of these companies say the valuations make them giddy, but also create unease. Once $1 billion was a milestone, now it is also a millstone. Bigger expectations must be managed and greater uncertainty looms.
Investors and executives point to a number of reasons for the high valuations. Interest rates are low, which makes it easy for
Last month the value of
Pinterest, an online scrapbooking and social networking site with no revenue, became worth $1.5 billion in less than three years.
Silicon Valley entrepreneurs contend that the price spiral is not a sign of another tech bubble. The high prices are reasonable, they say, because innovations like smartphones and cloud computing will remake a technology industry that is already worth hundreds of billions of dollars.
In addition, many of the billion-dollar companies, including MobileIron, Pure Storage, Marketo, DDN and SurveyMonkey (which two weeks ago raised $794 million, to reach a value of $1.35 billion), sell products and services primarily to other businesses.
“There are disruptions everywhere,” said Robert Tinker, the chief executive of MobileIron, which makes software for companies to manage smartphones and tablets. “Mobile disrupts personal computers, a market worth billions. Cloud disrupts computer servers and data storage, billions of dollars more. Social may be one of those rare things that is totally new.”
Relative to the size of the markets that mobile devices, cloud computing and social media are toppling, he says, the valuations are reasonable.
But most of these chief executives are also veterans of the Internet bubble of the late ’90s, and confess to worries that maybe things are not so different this time. Mr. Tinker, 43, drives a 1995
“If somebody comes to a job interview here in a $100,000 car, I know he’s not hungry,” he said. “The reality is, I’ve taken $94 million in investors’ money, and we haven’t gone public yet. I feel that responsibility every day.”
Concern is growing that the billion-plus club is filling up with companies that look alike. “Everyone is saying, ‘I have a cloud technology, I should be valued at 20 times my sales,’ ” said Jay Chaudhry, the chief executive of Zscaler. “Some are real, but a lot of others are stretched too thin. They’ll languish out there.”
The nagging fear is that valuations, which are turned into profits only if the company goes public successfully or is bought for a high price, could still plunge.
The founders of the highly valued companies are old enough to remember past busts, and many shun the bubble lifestyle of fast cars and fancy parties.
Mr. Libin, who said he grew up on food stamps as the son of Russian immigrants in the Bronx
“The company I sold to, there were purple Lamborghinis in the garage. I got into watches,” he said. “Maybe a half-dozen, nothing over $10,000, but I needed this glass and leather watch winder.”
Evernote started as the financial crisis hit. “One night I was almost busted again,” he said, “and there was that watch winder on the shelf, mocking me.”
“Every job out there is insecure now,” he said. “People sell 10 percent of their stock, and they have an incentive to make the other 90 percent worth more. They are still working, but not worrying about what will happen to their home or their kids.”
An earlier version of this article on misstated the name of one of the privately held technology start-ups valued at $1 billion or more. It is DDN, for DataDirect Networks, a data storage company — not DDS.
Because of an editing error, an article on Feb. 5 about the growing number of privately held technology start-ups valued at $1 billion or more misidentified the New York borough in which the chief executive of one of them, Phil Libin of Evernote, grew up. It is the Bronx, not Brooklyn.


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Taking to social media, Mufasa shared photos of the DJ gallantly rocking the RF990 sneakers.
Expressing excitement, Cassper said: “Top level!!! Hottest shoe this summer!!! The Root of Fame seen worn by the internationally acclaimed Dj Black Coffee!! Ah Bafethu!!! MY YEAR IS MADE!!!! Grootman laka!!! And the fit go crazy too!!! BLACK COFFEE WEARING THE OFF WHITE ROOT OF FAME 990s!! Who woulda thought? DANKO!!!”
In Other News: PHOTO OF TV PERSONALITY AARON MOLOISI’S MANHOOD GOES VIRAL
South African television personality Aaron Moloisi has taken to social media to share a snap wearing nothing but ski pants showing off what he is packing.
His fans and Zalebs marvelled in the comment section. Some were shocked by what they saw. It’s not unusual for...Learn more


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Britain's supermarkets are using the excuse of rising inflation to put up food prices, a leading City bank warned today.
Analysts at UBS said the Government might launch an investigation into competition in the sector. They said food prices in Britain are rising far more quickly than other countries and by more than is justified by higher costs.
"UK food prices are rising more rapidly than most other developed economies' food prices, and have significantly outstripped food retailers' cost inflation," the analysts said.
"This could allow UK politicians to suggest that food price inflation is 'unfair' or 'excessive'."Reuse content


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|Day's Range||146.75 - 147.05|
|52 Week Range||119.16 - 152.61|
|PE Ratio (TTM)||11.52|
|Expense Ratio (net)||0.30%|
For fiscal 3Q17, Coach reported earnings of $0.46 per share, beating the Wall Street analyst average estimates by $0.02.
Ralph Lauren (RL) stock slid 4.5% on April 4, 2017, as the fashion giant said it was considering newer approaches for its business like shutting old stores and focusing on expanding its e-commerce platform....
Gap (GPS) has witnessed a slowdown in sales over the last two to three years.


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Microsoft right this moment hit an extremely indispensable milestone: its Android model of Microsoft Note has passed the 1 billion attach for installs, per the Google Play Retailer (by process of Android Police).
The firm’s other Place of commercial apps are additionally doing somewhat smartly. Spreadsheet app Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and OneDrive every have bigger than 500 million installs, whereas email client Outlook for Android has bigger than 100 million installs. Android Police aspects out that these figures aren’t basically downloads from Google’s Play Retailer, noting that Microsoft has some agreements with some manufacturers to preinstall its apps on more than a few devices.
The milestone is additionally a exiguous ironic. Last month, Invoice Gates accepted in an interview that his “superb mistake ever” became missing out on the mobile OS world, noting that there’s easiest build for one competitor for iOS, and that it must had been “a pure thing for Microsoft to take.” But, whereas Microsoft’s mobile efforts have by no approach reached the success of its opponents, its mobile versions of Microsoft Place of commercial nonetheless experience a huge quantity of market penetration, noteworthy esteem their desktop counterparts.


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Handling Customer Complaints on Social Media
JUNE 25, 2015
A 2013 PwC study shows that most companies aren’t receptive to the social media feedback they are receiving - 57% of companies don’t use social media for crisis management. Not knowing how to resolve customer complaints is one thing, but ignoring a complaint or fumbling [.].


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New energy vehicles, or NEVs, which include electric cars and plug-in hybrids, have been a highlight of the Chinese vehicle market.
Even in April, 300,000 such vehicles were sold, a 44.6 percent year-on-year rise. NEVs have been exempt from purchase tax since 2014.
The introduction of cutting-edge models and increased charging facilities have made these vehicles a serious alternative to gasoline-powered cars in large cities.
The authorities are now targeting potential buyers in smaller towns. Four ministries, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, have launched this year”s “going to the countryside” campaign for NEVs.
A total of 26 Chinese and international carmakers have joined the annual campaign, offering more than 70 models for car buyers in rural areas.
The manufacturers are organizing car shows in smaller cities and towns in up to 10 provinces, ranging from Zhejiang in the east of the country to Gansu in the northwest.
Last year, about 1.07 million NEVs were sold as a result of the campaign, a year-on-year rise of nearly 170 percent, according to CAAM.
Analysts at Huaxi Securities said there is considerable potential for NEVs in rural areas. Statistics from the company show that vehicles sold in cities at tier-three level or below accounted for 44 percent of China’s total vehicle sales last year, while the comparable proportion for NEVs was 32 percent.
The analysts estimate that this year’s “going to the countryside “campaign will propel NEV sales to 5.3 million, up from 3.5 million last year.
In the first four months of this year, 1.56 million NEVs were delivered in China, a rise of 110 percent from the same period last year, according to CAAM.
Manufacturers of NEVs saw robust performances last month, despite a 12.6 percent year-on-year fall in sales in the overall vehicle market.
BYD, which is backed by United States businessman and investor Warren Buffet, sold 114,183 NEVs last month, a rise of nearly 153 percent from May last year.
Startups also performed well, with four of them delivering more than 10,000 NEVs last month. Three of these startups saw their May sales double year-on-year.
This trend is expected to continue as startups produce new models. BYD said it received more than 20,000 orders within two weeks of presales for its Denza electric multipurpose vehicle, or MPV, starting last month.
Nasdaq-listed Li Auto is due to unveil its second model, a full-sized sport utility vehicle, later this month, while New York-listed Nio is poised to deliver three new models this year, including the ET7 sedan, which is positioned to take on BMW’s 7 Series.
Chen, the CAAM deputy secretary-general, said the NEV segment is a sign of recovery in the auto sector, which is increasing production and launching new models to attract buyers, who are also motivated by financial incentives.
At a news conference late last month, Vice-Minister of Commerce Sheng Qiuping said that with the implementation of recent and upcoming policies, the auto industry is set to witness a new round of restorative growth to help underpin steady development of the broader economy.
The industry is one of the pillars of the Chinese economy. Last year, retail sales in the sector totaled 4.4 trillion yuan, a 7.6 percent year-on-year rise, accounting for 9.9 percent of retail sales nationwide, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
In the first quarter of this year, despite retaining the 9.9 percent nationwide share, auto industry retail sales fell by 0.3 percent year-on-year to 1.07 trillion yuan.
Chen said, “With policies now in place, we are confident that the auto sector will reach this year’s growth goal and make its contribution to China’s macroeconomic expansion.”
Earlier this year, vehicle sales were estimated by CAAM to rise to 27.5 million, up by 5 percent from last year.


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The Nokia 10 PureView has been in the news for over a year now without any official confirmation about its existence. As we try to join the dots, a big new leak suggests that it might be delayed by another year but might just make the jump to better specifications.
Its forerunner, the Nokia 9 PureView, was a very interesting device. Not only was it the brand’s first flagship in a while, but it also brought some unique camera implementations that we’d never seen before. While it wasn’t as great as promised, a penta-camera arrangement with five identical sensors was an approach worth exploring — what the Nokia 10 PureView would ideally do.
Earlier, the device was rumoured to be called the Nokia 9.2 or the Nokia 9.3, following HMD Global’s simplified naming scheme. However, a leaked internal document suggested that it will, in fact, be called the Nokia 10, probably suggesting a bigger upgrade. New information about the upcoming flagship has now surfaced via NokiaPowerUser, giving us a better idea about what to expect, and when.
Based on the report, the Nokia 10 PureView will be unveiled some time in the second half of 2021, suggesting another big delay. Its earlier flagships were rather underpowered against the competition, so this delay should also take care of that. Further, it is said to be powered by the yet-unannounced Snapdragon 875 chipset, which will be Qualcomm’s next high-end SoC. Back in 2019, Nokia claimed that the increased optimization efforts caused the phone to launch with dated specifications.
The Nokia 10 PureView might also bring a new design, moving to a stainless steel chassis and a sapphire glass display, which is a rare trait on smartphones these days. We also expect an ambitious camera array this time, hopefully with more meaningful sensors such as an ultra-wide or a telephoto lens along with technology from Zeiss. Information on that front is still scarce.


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In Less Than Two Days, Japan Will Walk Headfirst Into An Economic Buzzsaw
By some measures, the Japanese economy has gathered steam over the last year or so as aggressive monetary easing — a key leg of "Abenomics" — has boosted inflation and the proclivity to spend.
But now Japan is about to get punched in the gut, straight on.
On April 1, the consumption tax is set to rise, from 5% to 8%, and though this has been seen coming from a mile away, nobody has done anything about it. And now it's here.
Most economists expect the world’s number-three economy to suffer its first contraction in more than a year in the April-to-June quarter, led by a sharp fall-off in consumption. What is less predictable is how deep and prolonged the decline will be. The answer will help determine the fate of the “Abenomics” revival fostered by Shinzo Abe, the prime minister, since he took office at the end of 2012.
The impact of the tax hike, according to Morgan Stanley's Robert Alan Feldman will be extended.
In its latest outlook on the state of the world's biggest economies, Citi writes:
Meanwhile, despite the Abe Administration’s strong prompting, the hike in base salaries in the spring wage negotiations was modest even at large firms whose business conditions are relatively favorable, suggesting that companies remain cautious about increasing fixed compensation. We expect the consumption tax hike in April will erode badly the real purchasing power of household nominal income. Core inflation continued to surprise to the upside in 2013. In our view, the main reason for this surprise is the significantly higher sensitivity of the core CPI to the yen/dollar rate. Japan’s dependence on imports (“import penetration”) has risen substantially over time. But it also indicates that if the yen stabilises at a certain level, core inflation will start tailing off again in the future. In addition, the output gap is likely to widen after the consumption tax hike and this will probably reduce pricing power of the corporate sector. We currently expect core inflation to peak around April and to fall gradually in the second half of this year.
Meanwhile, back to Morgan Stanley, which takes a look at the impact by sector. Not surprisingly, consumer-oriented industries will likely get hit the worst:
We surveyed Morgan Stanley analysts to gauge the impact of this tax hike. We used our survey as the groundwork for a four-factor model to evaluate the attractiveness of each industry over the next 3-9 months when the impact of the tax hike is likely to be in full force. The model has four main factors with equal weights: 1) Demand pullback post C-tax hike based on analysts’ feedback 2) Foreign exposure 3) Valuations, profitability & performance. 4) Earnings momentum. Using this model, we find that Banks, Autos, Semis, Health Equipment and Real Estate are the most preferred industries in the post C-tax hike environment while Media, Retailing, Consumer Durables & Apparel, Consumer Services and Food & Staples Retailing would be least preferred.
The consumption tax hike fits into a longer story about Japan, basically it's inclination to put obstacles in its own path, whether they be structural, fiscal, or monetary. Bottom line: As the fiscal drag picks up, the burden on the Bank of Japan, and the monetary side of Abenomics becomes more extreme.


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OpSource on Friday announced a new cloud computing infrastructure service that it says meets the security and management needs of enterprises more effectively than rival offerings.
Servers & Storage
Swedish outfit BlockMaster has launched what it claims to be the world's fastest secure USB stick, curing, it says, the problematic trade-off between security and performance.
One of the early promises of software-as-a-service and cloud computing was that it would allow startups to directly market their Web services while skipping the expensive, lengthy process of creating an ecosystem of partners and resellers.
Pillar Data Systems on Thursday introduced what it called the first 2TB SATA hard drive for enterprise storage, which would usher in the next phase of data-center storage density.
Amazon Web Services has announced a limited beta version of its Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) service, which aims to connect a company's existing computing resources and Amazon's cloud as if they were part of one data center, Amazon said on Wednesday.
Despite a rapid rise in the sale of consumer Blu-ray Disc players due to a drop in prices and an increase in high-definition movie content, Blu-ray players in PCs are not seeing any significant increase in sales, according to iSuppli Corp.
EMC Corp. today introduced new virtualization-aware capabilities for its Clariion CX4 midrange networked storage systems, which make CX4 software and disaster recovery applications aware of connected virtual machines.
IBM today announced that its latest midrange storage array, the IBM System Storage DS5020 Express, will be available on Sept. 4.
NetApp Inc. has unveiled products and services that support cloud computing architectures used in the data centers of its enterprise-class customers.
Appirio, a company known for helping companies adopt cloud-based software, is launching a SaaS (software as a service) application for large services providers.
Cloud infrastructure provider Rackspace on Tuesday announced a new portal that will help showcase and organize tools and applications built by its partners and independent developers.
Quanta Computer, the world's largest contract notebook computer manufacturer, will put out its first cloud computing products next year as it seeks growth in new markets, the company's chairman said Monday.
Symwave, one of the first companies to design silicon for USB 3.0, is revealing more details about its SOC (system on a chip) using the high-speed standard at the Hot Chips conference on Monday.
Transcend has added a new rugged USB flash drive to its range of memory products. The Transcend JetFlash V70 is claimed to have anti-shock features, survive dust and splashes. For this, its exterior casing is made of rubber, and has a tethered cap ho...
Java framework builder SpringSource is set to provide enterprise Java developers a platform for cloud-based deployments with the unveiling on Tuesday of SpringSource Cloud Foundry.
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Pittsburgh-based craft distillery Wigle Whiskey announced Thursday that it will be selling its operation to Pittsburgh Pirates owner and multi-millionaire Bob Nutting.
Wigle operates a distillery in the Strip District that produces whiskey, gin, and other spirits. The company also runs a facility in Spring Garden that produces hard cider and mead for its Threadbare brand.
In an email, Wigle owners said they are transitioning ownership to Pittsburgh Spirits, which is spun out of the Nutting family of companies that includes the Pirates and Highland Ventures.
“After conducting an exhaustive search for a partner who would continue to grow Wigle and Threadbare in a thoughtful way, we are thrilled to announce the transition of our beloved companies to Pittsburgh Spirits,” reads the email from owners Meredith Meyer Grelli, Alex Grelli, Mark Meyer, and Mary Ellen Meyer.
Wigle said that Nutting has always had an admiration for the local whiskey, and that he has been a customer since the first batch. Wigle first opened its doors in 2012.
“We know that this is the right move for Wigle and Threadbare, but it is not without sadness that we transition out of ownership of these companies, which have been braided inextricably through our family life for more than a decade,” reads the email.
The owners said they will continue to run Wigle and Threadbare for the coming months to assist in the transition.