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Attempts to profiteer from the coronavirus outbreak became so problematic during its early days that companies like Google and Facebook had to ban certain kinds of adverts from their advertising platforms. Identifying opportunities is part and parcel of business and sometimes those “opportunities” may, unfortunately, take the form of tragedies or other people’s misfortunes but this does not make them any less of viable money-making ventures—after all, we have huge industries built around death and ill health. Terminology becomes even more important in such sensitive contexts—instead of the businesses in these spheres being described as “seizing opportunities” it becomes more appropriate to rephrase what they are doing as “identifying and meeting unserved market needs”.
Many businesses have to strike a balance between delivering value and earning reasonable rewards for doing so. This means that the value you deliver to your customers is as important as the profits you earn. However, sometimes the value delivered is itself questionable. This is where the question of quality pops up. Many (but not all) local business people who have taken it upon themselves to produce products that help combat the spread of the coronavirus have shown questionable attitudes towards quality, some of which end up endangering the very safety of their customers.
Aesthetics at the expense of quality
On the 1st of May (2020), the president relaxed some of the lockdown measures enacted earlier the previous month. One of the requirements from the new set of regulations was that people always wear masks outside their homes. Understandably with protective masks set to become integral parts of people’s attires many business people started attempting to make them as visually appealing as possible. Unfortunately, the visual appeal does not contribute much towards how well a mask does its job.
Unlike most clothing accessories these masks are supposed to serve a very specific function. This means that any aesthetic appeal they may have is merely the icing on the cake. In these manufacturers’ defence, how well a mask look does play a major role in customers’ buying decisions. However, this does not mean that the effectiveness of the mask itself in protecting its wearer should take backstage. Designing the best-looking mask you can and then calling it a day to take advantage of the more style-conscious among your customers is unethical as even these people still take it for granted that your product will protect them—do not abuse this trust.
Another example of how these masks look taking precedence over their effectiveness is the increase in the number of branded masks. Since companies are some of the biggest markets for face masks, many firms are hoping to win over these business customers by offering to brand masks with their customers’ logos. This happens at a time when many experts are sceptical of the effectiveness of even the most professionally designed and manufactured masks such as those used by surgeons.
Lack of expert input
The internet has given ordinary people unprecedented access to information on how to build all manner of products. This works well until it comes to things like medical and protective equipment which “fail silently”. The influx of do-it-yourself protective equipment that follows absolutely no standards puts the public at risk. Even established companies which are cashing in on the rise in demand for face masks and hand sanitizers are flooding the market with untested products that have absolutely no input from any trained experts.
This sidelining of experts in product development and testing, rather than being born out of bravado or confidence in their products is most probably brought on by the desire to keep production expenses low and reduce the time to the market instead. Unfortunately, the risk and consequences of products that fail to function as promised sit squarely on the shoulders of the final customer.
We have people who regularly and happily consult accountants, lawyers, electricians and other professionals but dodge expert input when they are developing products whose quality of performance has an even larger impact on human health.
Disregard of standards
Technically face masks and sanitizers are medical supplies which should invite more scrutiny for their manufacturers. Unfortunately due to the unique nature of the circumstances which we are currently in, suppliers of these products have a lot of leeway. Some producers of facemasks are said to be skimping on fabric to produce as many units as possible. One can only guess at the kind of cost-cutting measures being used by their counterparts who are producing hand sanitizers.
With these kinds of shady cost-cutting tactics being used by a lot of local firms, it is highly unlikely that they will embrace the kind of rigorous quality standards demanded by authoritative organisations like SAZ and MCAZ anytime soon. This would seem to indicate that instead of building long-lasting businesses or product lines a lot of these companies just want to squeeze as much money as possible from the market while they can.
While several universities are overseeing the production of face masks and hand sanitizers that would probably hold up well against quality standards, the same cannot be said about the products of their competitors in the private sector. Several local companies—especially smaller ones—have shown that in the absence of competing inputs, they would rather inflate prices and let quality fall by the wayside rather than build and consolidate market share.
The reluctance and failure to appreciate the importance of producing products that conform to the standards set by authoritative organisations also mean that our smaller manufacturers may still have a long way to go before they start exporting their wares.


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The oft-delayed successor to Windows NT will reach customers on February 17, although the software will be delivered to manufacturers this December, allowing Microsoft to meet its self-imposed year-end deadline on a technicality.
After months of delays, Microsoft said it will ship the next generation of Windows NT in mid-February. The software will be delivered to CD-ROM and computer manufacturers in December, however, allowing the company to make its self-imposed 1999 deadline, albeit on a technicality.
Windows 2000, nee Windows NT 5, is the next version of the company's operating system for large organizations and corporations that have centrally managed desktop computers in a "client-server" architecture. The release is one of the most significant in Microsoft's history, according to executives, because of the complexity of the software and its intended target.
Microsoft informed 600 hardware and software partners of the new release date for the Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 2000 Server, and Windows 2000 Advanced Server editions at the Partner Marketing Day in Las Vegas, said Keith White, director of marketing for the business and enterprise divisions at Microsoft.
The software company will next announce pricing and marketing details at Comdex, one of the computer industry's highest-profile trade shows. "You will see them roll out the ad campaign at Comdex," he said, noting marketing efforts probably won't hit the same level as those which preceded the releases of Windows 95 and Windows 98.
"We expect to have the boxes on retail shelves and the code to [manufacturers] on February 17," he said. "Our goal was always to release the product by the end of 1999, meaning our final bits to manufacturer."
Shipping the new operating system two months into 2000 offers some advantages for Microsoft's partners and customers, he said.
"A lot of our partners and customers have plans around the holiday season and Y2K," White said, referring to retailers planned holiday promotions and large companies' spending in preparation of the Year 2000 glitch. "This gives us the ability to be sensitive to those issues."
Windows 2000 offers enhanced Web application services, increased scalability (the ability to add more and more computers to a network), and increasied security, according to Microsoft. The software is more stable and reliable than earlier operating systems, the company says.

domain: news


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The Health Policy Partnership (HPP) has collaborated with a group of healthcare experts to publish a report examining the potential benefits of transitioning from paper-based leaflets to electronic product information (ePI) about medicines.
The report, Electronic product information (ePI): securing the future for accessible delivery of medicine information through digitalisation, looks at the shortcomings of paper-based medicine information, with research suggesting that many people find it inaccessible and unclear. Current product information can be poorly suited to people with low literacy, visual impairments or certain disabilities.
Transitioning to ePI would also allow medicine information to be personalised based on people’s needs.
The report also suggests ePI may help health systems and medicine development become more environmentally sustainable. By eliminating the need for medicine information to be reprinted in multiple languages when there is a product update, the industry can massively reduce its consumption of water and paper.
Presenting information digitally could also streamline medicine supply chains, introducing clear cost savings while benefiting both people and the environment.
ePI is still evolving and would require close collaboration among industry, regulatory bodies, governments, healthcare professionals and patient organisations to ensure that it remains an efficient and inclusive tool in digital-first health systems.
Read the report
This report was initiated and funded by AstraZeneca. For more details, please see the project page.


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A Gorton couple have been hit with a bill of more than £2,700 after being caught selling ‘extremely dangerous’ illegal skin-lightening creams.
Gholahal and Comfort Akinbode, owners of Oyin Tropical Foods, flogged beauty products containing banned chemicals.
The creams, purportedly produced in the Ivory Coast and marketed as ‘Nature Secréte’, contain a substance called hydroquinone, which has been banned in the UK since 2001.
Experts say long term use of hydroquinone can have serious side effects, including damage to the skin, kidneys, liver and nerves.
NHS chiefs advise people to avoid any product that lists the chemical as an ingredient, unless prescribed by a doctor.
Mr and Mrs Akinbode appeared at Manchester Magistrates’ Court last week, where they admitted possession of the products with intent to supply.
They were each fined £450 and ordered to pay court costs of £911 apiece.
The illegal goods were forfeited for destruction.
When questioned by officers, they could not say who had supplied the creams.
Speaking to the M.E.N, Mr. Akinbode said: “We’re the victims of the people who go shop to shop and sell this stuff.
“People come from Birmingham and London. They target the small businesses, the African shops, and don’t give the correct information.”
Manchester council bosses were unable to comment on these claims, but said Mr and Mrs Akinbode had been previously warned about similar types of products, but continued to sell the creams at their Gorton shop.
Last year, a BBC investigation identified 13 shops across London, Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester selling illegal skin-lightening creams.
Of those, six were prosecuted.
Manchester council’s executive member for neighbourhoods Rabnawaz Akbar said: “After ignoring warnings from our officers, these unscrupulous individuals sought to profit from the sale of goods which are known to be extremely dangerous, so it is quite right that they’ve been ordered to pay the penalty.
“Businesses who have been warned or previously prosecuted for trading in these dangerous products will continue to be monitored and we won’t hesitate to take action to protect Manchester residents from harm.”


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Thousands of people booked onto cruises have been told they will still be able to go on holiday after a Cardiff-based travel company stopped trading.
Backbiter wrote: »
Let's hope so for everyone concerned.
Middle_Sister wrote: »
I also had a price difference of nearly £200 between the Gills price and the P&O price. I sent a letter with copies of agreed price but like you have heard nothing.
Delivery starts from 85p
...for flights cancelled during Covid
Got a spending cap? Let us know


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All Bottled Up
By Deb Renfrew/Life@Home
No doubt about it, bottled water is convenient. When we’re on the run, it’s easy to grab that icy- cold bottle from the refrigerator. And it’s certainly caught on — more than half of Americans drink it regularly, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, a national environmental action group.
The obvious environmental threat of the bottled water craze, of course, is the plastic that ends up in the landfill or, worse, discarded as litter. Additionally, greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel consumption are involved in the production of those bottles and any processing that the water must undergo. The Container Recycling Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to improving our recycling methods, estimates that more than 50 billion beverage cans and bottles are dumped in landfills each year. Even more sobering: plastic water bottles are shielded from sunlight in landfills, prohibiting them from decomposing for thousands of years, according to the federal Clear Air Council.
But hope, let’s say, does spring eternal. In March 2010, New York State passed its Returnable Container Act, also known as the “Bottle Bill.” It stipulates that certain chain retailers must install a specific number of reverse vending machines, depending on the size of their business. A reverse vending machine collects empty beverage containers, including water bottles, and returns money to the collector (usually five cents) while recycling the container. Reverse vending centers exist at area colleges including the University at Albany and Hannaford grocery stores throughout the Capital Region.
But environmental concerns aren’t the only reason to avoid bottled water: From a health perspective, bottled water is unnecessary, experts say. “No one in the Northeast should have a health concern about drinking tap water,” says Andrew Stone, executive director of the American Ground Water Trust in Concord, NH. “There is no doubt in my mind that tap water is equal in quality to bottled water.” The primary purpose of Stone’s organization is to protect ground water and promote public awareness of its environmental and economic importance, according to the trust’s mission statement.
Drinking water and its sources — rivers, lakes, reservoirs, springs and ground water — are regulated and protected by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) passed by Congress in 1974 and amended in 1986 and 1996. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oversees compliance by states, localities and water suppliers, which are required to periodically report drinking water information to the agency. Members of the public interested in determining if a local water supply is safe can access that data through the EPA website’s Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) feature (www.epa-echo.gov/echo). The ECHO tool also maintains a list of water suppliers that are serious violators of EPA regulations, a list that is available to the public.
EPA reports indicate that only about four percent of the total U.S. water supply is in serious trouble. The Capital Region, meanwhile, has not had any significant violations in the last five years.
In New York, every public water supply is filtered and disinfected, according to the New York Department of Health. While contaminants occasionally do get into the water either at the source or at the treatment plant, it is usually discovered immediately due to constant monitoring. The supplier is required to notify all who draw from it, asking them to refrain from using it. Cleanup generally takes place quickly.
All suppliers, meanwhile, are required to produce an annual Consumer Confidence Report on water quality and make it available to the public at city or town offices after July 1.
“Public water suppliers do an unparalleled and incredibly good job of processing municipal water from surface sources. Their product is absolutely safe,” Stone says. “It is a perception that bottled water is superior. If you read labels, you will be surprised at how many bottlers take their water from a municipal source.” Indeed, 44 percent of “purified” bottled water sold in the U.S. started out as municipal water, according to the Clean Air Council.
Well users are also generally in good stead. According to Stone, water that feeds into wells comes from aquifers 200 to 300 feet underground where it is relatively pure and generally cannot be reached by outside contaminants. This ground water travels through a pressure tank and a pump before entering the tap, a direct, uninterrupted route that allows no outside exposure. A poorly installed well or a well that develops cracks can allow contaminants from animal or human activity to enter the water, he says, but despite the use of millions of private wells throughout the country, and no health statistics anywhere indicate inherent problems.
To be safe, however, well owners should always have their system installed by a licensed, certified service, and make sure that the last 20 to 40 feet is sealed off to protect the supply, Stone says. Yearly testing for radon, arsenic and fluoride is important, he notes, and is best done by professionals. Kits that can be purchased in home goods stores are not as thorough or reliable.
So why do bottled water sales continue to boom? “It comes down to taste, but also aesthetics,” Stone says. “The public needs to realize that bottled water folks are in the beverage industry, no different really than beer or soda … not the water industry. In their angst about water quality, consumers confuse these two industries.”


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BEIJING — Reversing a 13-month pattern of decline, China’s exports rebounded and marked an overall increase in December, figures released Sunday show, giving further weight to the conventional wisdom that this country’s economy has recovered from the global downturn.
Yet economists cautioned that while the reversal in export trends is positive news, much of China’s recovery has come on the back of a massive government spending plan that sought to pour $586 billion into economic development, primarily through creating new infrastructure like roads and railways.
“We are seeing good signs in the new data, especially for December,” said He Weiwen, a Beijing-based trade analyst with the World Trade Union.
Exports in December rose by 17.7 percent from the same month last year, according to the newest import-export figures from China’s General Administration of Customs, while imports surged by 55.9 percent over the previous December. In all, China’s exports for 2009 declined by 16 percent to $1.2 trillion, while imports fell 11 percent to $1 trillion. The new export figures officially place China as the world’s second-largest exporter, just ahead of Germany, if that country’s export projections for 2009 pan out.
Overall, China’s contentious trade surplus shrank significantly last year, contracting by 34 percent to a total of $196 billion.
The Chinese customs agency published the data on its Web site without comment. But trade experts say it signals that China’s massive stimulus spending, undertaken in November 2008, has taken a firm hold and the country’s economy is well on its way to recovery. What remains less certain is how long that spending pattern will continue and what happens next.
Analysts also said continued positive news about China’s trade volume could encourage the central government to consider further appreciation of the country’s currency — a thorny issue in the U.S.-China trade relationship. The Obama administration considers the yuan, which hasn’t changed in value significantly in 18 months, to be heavily undervalued, giving China a major trade advantage.
Li Wei, a U.S. trade expert with the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said China’s central economic officials are reluctant to bow to any outside pressure on the yuan. The country saw major declines in low-profit-margin industries like textiles and apparel with initial steps to allow the currency to rise.
“When the world has seen some economic recovery and stability, we might see some changes [in the yuan’s value],” said Li. “They might be more flexible this year — that’s my personal view.”
Meanwhile, the World Trade Organization in Geneva said China posted double-digit declines in exports of textiles and apparel in the first 11 months of 2009. During the January-to-November time period, the value of China’s textile exports was$53.6 billion, down 11.2 percent from 2008, and shipments of apparel stood at $96.6 billion, an 11.5 percent drop for the same period.
However, Munir Ahmad, executive director of the International Textiles and Clothing Bureau, said, “Domestic consumption of textiles and apparel has gone up in China and more than made up for the fall in exports.”
The chief of the 26-member ITCB, an umbrella grouping of developing country textile and apparel exporters, which includes China, said “other country’s exports have gone down far more.”
Ahmad said he was not aware of any countries that had positive growth in exports of apparel during 2009 other than Bangladesh, Haiti and Vietnam, and noted in the case of Vietnam, exports also went down in the last few months of the year.
@chanel and @pharrell dropped what’s being dubbed as the world’s most exclusive sneakers yesterday. The Adidas Originals NMD Hu, which Williams designed in collaboration with Chanel and @adidasoriginals, has a waiting list of over 120K people who pre-registered online at chanelatcolette.fr –– and only 500 pairs are on sale. The singer predicted the resale value of the shoes could reach $40K. Read the full interview on WWD.com. Link in bio. #wwdfashion (📷: Dominique Maître)
@imanshumpert is diving deeper into his creative endeavors and relaunching his clothing line, Post 90s, and is helping to raise money for the hurricane victims in St. Maarten with a jersey he’s designed with his brother. The Cleveland Cavaliers player talked to WWD about kneeling during the national anthem, working with fashion brands and how he wants to be more than an @nba player. Read the interview on WWD.com #wwdfashion (📷: George Chinese)
Not only does #TheProfit return to CNBC tonight, but @marcuslemonis has launched @shopmarcus, a new shopping and lifestyle retail experience in Aspen and Chicago, with more locations to come. The retail stores offer in-store stylists and a variety of contemporary womenswear selections.
“It’s life, I’m going to face it,” @mingxi11 sighed. “I fell, but you know, I think the most important thing is that I get back up. I had the love, the help from my sister — the girl next to me Gizele [Oliveira] — she’s so nice. When I went backstage everybody was trying to comfort me like ‘Oh Ming, it’s OK.’ I’m really, really touched. I think it’s them who gave me the courage to go back on stage for the finale,” Xi told WWD of her fall at the @victoriassecret fashion show. (📷: David Fisher) #wwdfashion #vsfashionshow #victoriassecret
@louisvuitton tapped @therealpeterlindbergh for its latest city-centric photo book, which is part of a series called Fashion Eye. The primarily black and white book captures the spirit of Berlin in 57 images shot between 1989 and 2019. “Berlin is an inspiration for me, more than a city. I mean @millajovovich is simply Berlin!” said Lindbergh. #wwdfashion
“You know, I think audiences expect a certain performance so I have to deliver to them what they’re expecting to a certain degree. But I’m also a different actor and a different person, I have my own spin on the character,” says @noahegalvin of his takeover of the leading role in “Dear Evan Hansen” following the departure of @bensplatt, who originated the role. Read WWD’s interview with the 23-year-old actor on WWD.com #wwdeye (📷: @jilliansollazzo)
For pre-fall 2018, @etro created richly-colored wonderland, using tapestries, textiles and wallpapers from the Eastern world at large. The line featured floral and graphic prints and jacquard motifs, like this two-piece look featured here. #wwdfashion (📷: Giovanna Pavesi)
@kith is moving into children’s. The men’s and women’s streetwear brand has launched Kidset, a Kith kids line located in New York at 64 Bleecker Street. The line includes mini versions of staple Kith pieces like the Astor bomber jacket and the Kith box logo sweatshirts, along with a wall that can display up to 120 pairs of shoes from @adidas, @newbalance, @timberland and more. #wwdfashion
“I just wanted to create this fully rounded character, but I do think what excited me most was just the opportunity to give a group of people representation that I feel needs it. I like to do characters in projects that stand for something and Karolina definitely does, so that was really exciting to me,” @ginnygardner says of her new role in @hulu’s “The Runaways.” Gardner plays Karolina Dean, a queer superhero, which is a rarity for @marvel. Read more about Gardner’s character on WWD.com #wwdeye (📷: @dandoperalski)


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New iPhone Coming at Apple WWDC 2009?
So yesterday Apple officially announced the dates for its annual Worldwide Developers Conference 2009. This massive conference that will allow developers to meet over 1000 Apple engineers at their disposal. When all these people gather in San Francisco for an Apple conference, special things might happen.
Will Apple Make this the Best Summer “Ever” for iPhone Users?
Rumors have been rampant that a new iPhone is imminent this summer. AT&T executives have apparently leaked details of the next iPhone. Fido has discontinued their stock of 16GB iPhone 3Gs. There has been talk of an iPhone with “faster internet” and video recording capabilities.
The iPhone Could Use A Faster CPU and Better Battery Life
With iPhone OS 3.0 coming our way, we’ve seen what the next firmware revision will offer us. I think Apple does have some more 3.0 features that they haven’t told us about, but will be announced with the next generation of the iPhone.
I think the iPhone’s processing power will need to be juiced up if we do end up getting background applications (to compete with the Palm Pre) and don’t forget a more powerful batter–one of my major gripes with the iPhone.
If the next iPhone will be released, I can’t think of a better time aside from WWDC 2009 to introduce it. The massive influx of media and tech journalists will continue to push the Apple PR machine.
Will We Experience This All Over Again?
Just think back to MacWorld 2007, when Apple dropped the bombshell on us called the iPhone. Remember this video? Watching it again gets me all teared up, again and again. 😉
Now, if you believe in history repeating itself, last year’s WWDC 2008 introduced the iPhone 3G (Canadians were very happy on this day). Could the iPhone’s third birthday bring yet another iPhone? Possible a Nano or netbook of some kind? More important, will Steve Jobs resurrect himself to make these new product announcements?
The Happiest Day of Your Life Happened On July 11th, 2008:


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AccessMyLibrary provides FREE access to millions of articles from top publications available through your library.
Frank Jaksch, CEO of ChromaDex Inc., saved his small Laguna Hills, Calif.-based company hundreds of thousands of dollars and months of research by searching online for a test that detects minute amounts of bacteria in food and nutritional supplements.
His licensing deal for an affordable toxicity screen came with an added bonus: The big German drug company he licensed the technology from took a 10 percent stake in his company and asked for a seat on ChromaDex's board of directors.
"One of the ways to develop new products is to find out what other people have done rather than creating things on your own," Jaksch says.
The 12-employee company sells high-purity chemicals isolated from plants to makers of supplements and vitamins. Screening for bacterial contamination is important to maintaining the safety of products produced using the raw materials derived from plants and flowers.
Last year, Jaksch found …


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Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting ECHONEWS to 80360, or email us »
M&S poised to open food shop at retail park
A NEW Marks & Spencer store is set to open at the Mayflower Retail Park in Basildon .
The high street giant has submitted plans to Basildon Council to open the new Simply Food shop in the former MFI store, which closed a year ago.
The news has been cautiously welcomed by politicians, who say it’s great that an empty shop is being filled. But they worry it could take trade away from town centres in the borough.
Malcolm Buckley , councillor with responsibility for regeneration, said: “It’s great news Marks & Spencer wants to increase the number of shops they have in Basildon.
“It’s a leading high street retailer, and the fact it wants to invest in Basildon shows perhaps the economy is picking up. “The new shop will bring new jobs and opportunities to Basildon, which is really good for the town. “My only worry would be that it could take trade away from Basildon town centre.
“We have so many retail parks in Basildon, we need to do as much as possible to attract shoppers into our town centres.
“Shoppers are attracted to out of town retail parks because it’s free to park and they are easy to access. “The town centre has a lot to offer, and we need to ensure this is paramount in our regeneration plan.”
A spokesman for Marks & Spencer confirmed the new shop would be opening, but refused to confirm how many new jobs would be created, what precisely the shop would sell, how much floorspace there would be or when it would open.
Comments are closed on this article.


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A record current value sales decline was seen in luxury goods in 2020, due to efforts to curtail the spread of COVID-19. These included domestic and international travel restrictions, lockdowns, and other significant limitations on in-person gatherings and events, as well as social distancing and hygiene regulations in stores, dealerships, hotels, restaurants, and more.
Impacting sales of luxury goods throughout 2020 and much of 2021 was a lack of consumer need, not only amidst actual lockdowns and quarantines, but also for the rest of these years, as consumers continued to spend significantly more time at home than usual. Without an opportunity to show off their personal luxury goods, including luxury eyewear, luxury leather goods, luxury timepieces and designer apparel and footwear, at the office, on foreign travel, or during large social gatherings, many consumers with discretionary income instead prioritised spending on goods and services to help make the increased time spent at home more comfortable, such as food and alcohol delivery, furniture, home décor and home entertainment systems.
While most domestic travel restrictions in the US were eased in the first half of 2021, alongside the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, many foreign travellers were unable to enter the US until November 2021. Therefore, with wealthy foreign tourists representing a key driver of sales of luxury goods across categories in the US prior to the pandemic, brands and retailers increasingly shifted their marketing and product efforts to focus on attracting local consumers instead.
The vast majority of sales of luxury goods across categories occurred through store-based retail channels prior to the pandemic, such as non-grocery specialists and luxury department stores (classified as mixed retailers). However, many consumers found themselves either unable or unwilling to purchase their preferred products and brands in-store throughout much of 2020 and the first half of 2021 amidst COVID-19 restrictions, which varied across states in terms of timing and severity.
As consumers were already increasingly prioritising spending on out-of-home luxury experiences, including travel, dining out and other forms of entertainment, even before the pandemic, some personal luxury categories had also benefited from the shift, as consumers chose stylish and versatile items to wear and be seen in on these outings, including designer apparel and footwear, luxury leather goods and luxury jewellery. As pandemic restrictions eased during summer 2020 and again in spring 2021, before being largely eliminated by summer 2021 in most states alongside the vaccine rollout, consumers were quick to resume local activities, domestic travel, and international travel when possible, delivering a boost to growth across categories.
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text: Electronics Arts has announced that Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters has beat all previous first-week sales records in its Tiger Woods game franchise history. According to Gamasutra, the title sold 225,000 copies during its first week, and early estimates suggest it earned twice the revenue of last year’s game. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters is the first game in the family to allow players to hit the links at the famous Augusta National golf club — roughly 2 million rounds through that course have already been played. Similarly, players have already hit 182 million shots in the game, and 7 million games have been logged since the title’s launch on March 29th. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters, is available on all of the major gaming consoles, including the Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, and the Nintendo Wii.


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Simplybrand – the Creation of a robust digital Commerce through the blockchain
SimplyBrand launched their special ICO on the sixteenth of October, where they will release a native SBA symbol. This kind of altcoins will be used to provide electricity to SimplyBrand activities thanks to the benefits for the participants of the system. Right now, SimplyBrand includes a target amount of $ 20 million and plans to use all the profits generated during the project.
SimplyBrand aims to install a platform with a built-in artificial intelligence model and machine learning technology to detect counterfeits. Participants from crowdsourcing are motivated to help in substantiating unrecognizable things throughout the method. then the knowledge of counterfeiters can be printed on the blockchain, which remains unchanged and available to all. in addition, the two main functions are performed within the facility and can result in multiple parties connecting the platform to achieve the goal of turning the platform into a self-managed scheme. By combining these latest technologies and jointly planning the mechanisms to manage the platform on our own, our response will be able to address this shortcoming on a larger scale and with higher efficiency.
SimplyBrand can provide an answer to this shortcoming by creating a platform with a built-in artificial intelligence model and machine learning technology to detect fakes. Participants from crowdsourcing are interested in substantiating unrecognizable things, while knowledge about counterfeiters is printed on a blockchain that is immutable and publicly available for scanning. In addition, two main functions are carried out with funds that can lead many parties to connect to the platform to achieve the platform’s goal of becoming a self-governing scheme. By combining these latest technologies with new platform management mechanisms, our response is ready to effectively address this shortcoming on an oversized scale.
AI technology and machine learning
Thanks to the simple AI technology and machine learning technology, our platform will effectively obtain new data and check information about counterfeit products, which will allow more effective fight against counterfeiting on the Internet.
Using the immutable and distributed functions of blockchain technology, simplyBrand will publish a blacklist in the blockchain and effectively reduce the actions of counterfeit retailers, increasing the value of their business and creating new barriers for their further work.
Platform advantages simple brand
Simply Branded Platform presents a solution to the problem of endemic fake products that have flooded the e-Commerce world, creating a platform that will bring together block technology, artificial intelligence and participants working together. The benefits are detailed below.
Brands will use the Simply-Brand brand brand to use the brand’s security service, public participants will directly report counterfeit goods or any type of work done through AI to identify the authenticity of e-Commerce items. , as well as management companies will use access to the platform. The list of counterfeit products are revealed.
Brands will use the simplyBrand platform to request brand protection services.
Human Layer will report counterfeit products directly or work with AI to verify the authenticity of e-Commerce products. The human level will consist of crowdsourcing participants and third-party service providers who perform compliance work.
SimplyBrand platform will combine artificial intelligence, human ingenuity and blockchain technology, which will be used to create a permanent “black list” of counterfeit products.
SBA tokens in the blockchain will stimulate the human level to use the simplyBrand platform.
In an increasingly technological world, e-Commerce is becoming increasingly important. It also creates new opportunities for the distribution of counterfeiters. They exist everywhere and have penetrated the e-Commerce channel around the world, creating an unprecedented flow of counterfeit products.
Counterfeits are inferior and cause serious damage, so Simply-Brand introduces a new method of improving global e-Commerce that will benefit large brands for individual users.
Simple-Brand will combine block technology, artificial intelligence and human ingenuity, which will be used to create a permanent blacklist of fictitious sellers that can be seen around the world, while blocked items will seduce participants from the big world. publicly use simple-Brand.
Process flow 1
E-Commerce platforms will be constantly scanned for product data to create an ever-expanding database with millions of product profiles.\
Process flow 2
The data will be analyzed using AI, natural language processing, semantic analysis, image recognition technology and human level to verify whether the product is genuine or fake.
Process flow 3
Once a product is identified as counterfeit, a Third party will be able to access product information, remove offensive product pages and report the status of their work to the platform and receive their rewards.
How it works?
The simple-Brand resolution system is supported by five tools designed to optimize the entire system.
- Break – down mechanism-break-down allows parties to” apply ” in the proposal, which means the ability to contribute to actions and receive detailed information about the platform. The bet also ensures that offensive measures next to the platform are evaded.
• To create reports about the crowd – this allows users to obtain tokens, reporting on fake providers when delivering or informing the online stores who sell fakes on the platform.
• Falsified inspection device crowd parties protect against counterfeiting, will have independent sets of products to confirm. The integrity of the crowd source verification procedure is ensured by the fact that each user receives a different set of items.
• The mechanism of the rating is to ensure that the reports are legitimate, the profile of each user is estimated using the baseline score. Fake reports to the system will lead to complex rating conclusions that can lead to account closure or suspension.
- Blacklist update tool-the list is regularly checked and updated by the system to be up to date. All parties in the catalog can be checked in the black list after entering the assets into the system.
Simply put, these tools help to manage and make more effective what the Brand simply wants to achieve.
COBINHOOD, launched in 2017, is the next generation cryptocurrency platform. COBINHOOD is home to the world’s first high-frequency zero-fee cryptocurrency trading platform.
COBINHOOD believes that the evolution of blockchain technology and the decentralized financial landscape are transforming global capital markets and business organizations with long-term impact.
We offer innovative services, the ICO, including a private placement, marketing, intelligent analysis of the code of the contract and a list of tokens. Shortly after its launch, the American company 5 Miles successfully raised to 84,000 Ethers with our underwriting services. Today, COBINHOOD continues to provide premium services for various ICO projects around the world.
More info :
• Website: https://simplybrand.io/en/
• Telegram: https://t.me/simplybrand
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/simplyBrand_io
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simplybrand
• Medium: https://medium.com/simplybrand
Name – jenyaret
ETH – 0xaaBd86831c4d847458b560CC04382B381B54db7D


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Facebook to Release Eagerly Awaited Timeline Feature
- Posted by Alex Barnes
- 09 December 2011
Facebook are Rolling Out New Timeline on a Region by Region Basis
Facebook has started the official release of the latest of its major update features – the Timeline. Facebook is rolling out the new update feature on a country by country basis with New Zealand currently the only country to get Timeline. In an official Facebook blog post it said other regions are soon to get Timeline in the close future. Timeline has been a much publicised and eagerly anticipated release since a beta version of it was released to developers and users in September 2011. After testers highlighted privacy concerns, a planned release at the end of the month in September was aborted while developers ironed out software issues.
Developers have apparently now corrected privacy concerns and a glitch in the Timeline that shows when you “unfriended” certain people on Facebook. This problem on the social media site has now been fixed.
Timeline is the most sophisticated update yet, giving users a way to illustrate their entire life – not just the part you’ve been living since joining Facebook. Feedback from users on the current version of Facebook is that it is almost entirely based on real time events, with important events often swept under a matt and pushed to the bottom of the news feed and forgotten. Critics reckon Timeline will help chronicle your life’s most important events from birth to current day and therefore be able to recruit another wave of new Facebook users to add to its 800 million empire.


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DaimlerChrysler has already confirmed that it will build the new Dodge Challenger and arm it with a 6.1-liter, 425hp Hemi V-8, the same rating as the legendary street Hemi of 1966-1971.
The car itself is based on the wildly popular Chrysler 300, but has styling cues from the original 1970 Challenger. DaimlerChrysler has one-upped GM which, while announcing a new Camaro, has not officially given us a production date. However, the new Challenger will be offered to the public in 2008.
Now, sources tell Hemmings Motor News that DaimlerChrysler engineers are working on a 6.6-liter Hemi V-8 for the Challenger. Details were not available, but a source told us the new engine should really put the Challenger over the top and that company officials want to come out of the gate with a real performance car.
We have driven some SRT8 vehicles and they are formidable performers.
(This post originally appeared in the July 27, 2006, issue of the Hemmings eWeekly Newsletter.)


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Pretzels have been around for more than a thousand years, originating in southern Europe around 610 A.D., according to historians. Today, crispy,
hard pretzels are consumed by people in many of the countries represented at the 2012 Olympics.
Crackers and crisps are benefitting from new production techniques, better-for-you ingredients, cleaner labels and innovative flavors as manufacturers deal with consumers having less discretionary income.
Crunch and flavor have always been gold and silver medalists in the cracker and crisp game, but because consumers are looking for more healthful snacks, there have been interesting developments with these products.
Harris Interactive recently released the results of its 2012 Harris Poll EquiTrend study, which analyzed the responses of more than 38,500 consumers on key measures of brand health for more than 1,500 lifestyle, product and service brands. When questioned about the brands they are likely to reach for when craving a salty snack, respondents chose Lay’s Potato Chips—the top-ranked salty snack for the past eight years—followed by two other Frito-Lay North America brands, Doritos and Tostitos.
Snacks are hanging tough despite the foot-dragging economy, as nearly one-quarter of consumers struggle to make ends meet. But snackers are snacking more frequently, and the products they’re eating play a more important role in wellness- and indulgent-related eating occasions.
While times have been rough for some bakery categories, frozen pizza manufacturers continue to find their sweet spot by introducing products with creative flavors, premium toppings and affordable prices.
Nearly four years after the economic downturn, many Americans are still keeping a tight rein on their expenditures, monitoring how much they spend on essentials, including groceries, and nonessentials, such as eating out. Not surprisingly, many food manufacturers and restaurants have been impacted by this new-found consumer frugality, prompting the former to trim unprofitable items from their product lines and the latter to add more specials to their menus.
Consider this: Some 59% of Americans report making changes to their diet to improve their health, and 69% are trying to lose or maintain their weight, according to a 2011 International Food Informational Council Foundation study. Nine out of 10 Americans, or about 88%, believe that fortified foods and foods with added benefits have at least some impact on overall health.
Fore! Tortilla manufacturers are driving down the fairway with their unique varieties of wraps in hopes that the next time you’re craving a sandwich, you’ll toss aside the bread and use a tortilla instead


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Instagram appears to be testing a new feature that would cover photos that may contain nudity in Direct Messages and safeguard users from unwanted content exposure.
#Instagram is working on nudity protection for chats 👀
ℹ Technology on your device covers photos that may contain nudity in chats. Instagram CAN'T access photos. pic.twitter.com/iA4wO89DFd
— Alessandro Paluzzi (@alex193a) September 19, 2022
The new nudity protection option would enable Instagram to activate the nudity detection element in iOS, which scans incoming and outgoing messages on a user’s device to detect potential nudes in attached images.
If the nudity protection feature is selected, Instagram will automatically blur an image if the app detects a photo with nudity in Direct Messages. The app will then send a notification to the user indicating that they have received an image that may contain nudity, offering a button to access the content, if desired.
According to the screenshot shared by Paluzzi, nudity protection is an option that can be turned on and off in iOS settings.
In Paluzzi’s screenshot, Instagram makes an effort to reassure users that the company “can’t access the photos” and it is simply “technology on your device [that] covers photos that may contain nudity.”
This message suggests that Instagram does not download and examine images in direct messages. Instead iOS technology on an Apple device will be able to access messages and filter based on the content.
However, Apple has tried to assure users that it is not downloading the images and that this filtering is done by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data matching, which does not trace or track the particulars of a user’s online interactions.
Nonetheless, the news of the nudity protection feature is a significant step for Instagram’s parent company, Meta which has been working to increase protection for younger users.
Meta has faced serious questions about its efforts to keep younger users safe on its platforms. In June, Meta was served with eight different lawsuits that contend the company deliberately adjusted its algorithm to hook young people.
Earlier this month, Meta was fined a record $402 million for letting teenagers set up accounts on Instagram that publicly displayed their phone numbers and email addresses.
Image credits: Header photo licensed via Depositphotos.


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It’s tempting to see Spring 2020 as a turning point in fashion’s sustainability conversation, but that’s the key word: conversation. Designers large and small are talking about their impact this season, and many have started to make positive changes in their materials and production methods. But it will take time for things to change in a fundamental way. We’re optimistic, though, particularly in light of one obvious truth: that this is a movement led by women.
Well, of course it is. Maybe it has to do with women’s instincts for protection and our greater emotional sensitivity, but there’s also a fierceness in how today’s women are rising up to tackle the status quo. Hiraeth, a new vegan line out of Los Angeles, is helmed by a trio of them: the actress Rooney Mara, Sara Schloat, and Chrys Wong. It launched quietly in early 2018, with a quite simple origin story: Mara, a longtime vegan, couldn’t find great, non-leather shoes to wear, so she decided to make her own. Hiraeth’s leatherette combat boots and loafers ground its frothy, more romantic clothes, all of which are made without fur, wool, alpaca, silk, or any animal-based material.
For a young brand, Hiraeth established its aesthetic rather quickly, perhaps because it’s all designed in Mara’s image. Her preferred aesthetic is femininity with a bite and it’s epitomized by the label's signature look: a pretty dress, a removable harness or peplum at the waist, and combat boots. For Spring 2020, Mara and her team expanded on the harness idea with a pale pink braided version (it looked like silk, but was a luxe alternative). There were more of their puffed-sleeve dresses here, with new experiments in transparency (an ivory lace dress felt less prim with its wrap-effect bodice) and gentle smocking along necklines and cuffs.
“In an attempt to reduce our carbon footprint through importing raw materials every season, we started looking for people who create textures on plain fabrics right here in L.A.,” Mara explained. “Our search led us to one of the few existing pleating and smocking facilities still left in town. Most of them shut down in the last two decades because of outsourcing to China.” A few of the smocked pieces came in a bouncy, almost sporty technical fabric, a departure from the label’s more antique-y textures. “The feeling is a lot lighter, which feels appropriate for Spring,” Schloat added.
Celebrities like Sadie Sink and Sarah Paulson (and Mara, of course) have worn Hiraeth’s evening wear, but they'll be drawn to its more casual propositions, too. There was an oversized jacket in Hiraeth’s signature jacquard, and the ultra-light leatherette pants were so soft, you’d swear they were “real.” By next fall, there will likely be more non-leather options to choose from, especially in footwear—but don’t expect Hiraeth to join the fashion calendar anytime soon. “We are still figuring out who we are as a brand and what we can excel at, and we want to grow slowly, in a more thoughtful way,” Mara says. “We definitely want to be able to offer more shoes and accessories in the future—I do feel that is where the biggest need for animal-free products is.”


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After having released Xobni from its beta shackles, the Email startup is looking to simplify your inbox even more as it licenses intellectual property from a company called MetricStream.
10 patents are apparently involved and they all deal with the email ecosystems and how to reduce the amount of "noise" emails around items like scheduling meetings, preparing events or getting a task done.
The technology is based on a product called Zaplet which was initially launched in the internet heydays, before the dotcom bust and effectively converts related emails into threads, like in a forum.
But that doesn't stop here; Zaplets can also be used to gather opinions and make group decision with the added benefit of having a trackable and archived cookie track.
Ultimately, Xobni will try to combine this technology with its existing products and deliver an updated and improved version of Xobni to its customers.
Jeff Bonforte, CEO of Xobni, commented saying that they have an exclusive consumer license but a non-exclusive entreprise license.
Earlier this month, Xobni rejected an offer from Microsoft to be acquired for $20m.


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Writing for USA Today, business expert Steve Strauss recently explained some easy steps small businesses can take to do some spring cleaning and prepare for the summer ahead.
A company can start by doing the traditional spring cleaning of tidying up the office, but Strauss says it shouldn’t stop there. He suggests e-cleaning as well – getting rid of old emails and unused files, updating software and backing up information.
Sprucing up the company website is another important step businesses can take. "We are deep in the Web 2.0 era," Strauss writes, saying that a small business site "needs to have some interactive tools" if it’s going to be taken seriously. Without an update, he says, firms are "missing a significant opportunity to impress people and get some new business."
Finally, Strauss says to try something new. If business is slow, it can be a good opportunity to try things (such as experimenting with social media) that wouldn’t be possible otherwise.
While these seasonal tips are a good idea, it’s not necessary to wait for any particular time of the year to back up data. This practice is becoming increasingly important as companies deal with more and more information. A recent report from InformationWeek found that more than half of business technology professionals surveyed currently manage more than 10 TB of data.


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Pokemon Go 2021 Spring Event: Shiny Bunnelby, Mega Lopunny, and More
Watch out for Pokemon wearing flower crowns!
Spring has arrived in the Northern Hemisphere, and to celebrate, Pokemon Go is getting ready to host its 2021 Spring Event.
This year’s Spring Event will run from April 4 at 10 a.m. local time until April 8 at 8 p.m. local time.
During this event, Pikachu wearing a flower crown, Exeggcute, Marill, Plusle, Minun, Buneary, Bunnelby, and more pocket monsters will appear more frequently than normal in the wild. Plus, there will be the chance to encounter Shiny Bunnelby.
In addition, Chansey wearing flower crowns will appear in the wild during this event, while Happiny wearing flower crowns will have the chance to hatch from 2km Eggs that are collected during this time. If you evolve Chansey with a flower crown into Blissey, Blissey will also have the flower crown. Both Chansey and Happiny will have the chance to be Shiny.
Next, Exeggcute, Eevee wearing a flower crown, Pichu wearing a flower crown, Togepi, Azurill, Buneary, Munchlax, Rufflet, and Bunnelby (along with Happiny wearing a flower crown) will have the chance to hatch from 2km Eggs that are collected during this Spring Event.
Elsewhere, Shadow Exeggcute will appear more frequently than normal in Team Go Rocket battles during the Spring Event, and Mega Lopunny will make its debut in Pokemon Go in Mega Raids. In a news post, Niantic, the developer of Pokemon Go, said other “spring-themed” pocket monsters will also appear in Raids during this event.
During the game’s spring festivities, players will be able to complete Field Research tasks that reward them with encounters with Pokemon like Azumarill and Rufflet, among others. Plus, players will be able to complete a new Collection Challenge to receive a Lucky Egg, Mega Lopunny Energy, and experience points.
Finally, Mega Lopunny-themed avatar items will be available in the in-game shop, and players will have the chance to collect spring-themed stickers from Gifts and PokeStops during the Spring event.
Three in-game bonuses will be active throughout the entire Spring event:
- Players will earn two times the normal amount of Pokemon Candy when hatching Pokemon
- Lucky Eggs will remain active for one hour, rather than 30 minutes
- Eggs will hatch after walking half of the normal required distance if they’re placed into an Incubator during this event
Are you looking forward to this year’s Spring Event in Pokemon Go? Let us know on Twitter at @superparenthq.


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There is a growing realisation by government that townships have to play a bigger role in the mainstream economy than simply being ‘reservoirs for cheap labour’, as was intended when they were first established. That can only happen when the nature of the townships changes from merely being consumers to playing an active role in the manufacturing of goods and provision of services. But there are challenges.
The recent looting riots in Soweto have had people asking the question: Whereto for the township economy? The riots, directed at foreign-owned shops, revealed an ugly side of relations between locals and foreign businesspeople and the vulnerability of township businesses to factors like rampant youth unemployment.
A myriad of reasons have been advanced for the causes of the widespread looting that threatened to spread to other Gauteng townships. The underlying reason for the riots remains the lack of economic opportunities for local unemployed youth. A casual glance at the photographs of the mobs involved in the looting reveals an already known truth: unemployed youths are a ticking time bomb.
The proliferation of shops at virtually every corner of the townships has unofficially rezoned all townships in Gauteng. In the past, one could point the way to the ‘shops’; now, every second house is a shop. Traditional policing methods have not kept pace with this rezoning.
Having done business in the township over the past two decades, I have seen the near extinction of the local businessperson first-hand. The local businessperson has had to compete with the ‘big boys’, who have suddenly woken up to the fact that one can build and operate a Spar, Pick n Pay or Shoprite outlet in the townships in much the same way as they do in town. The influx of foreign entrepreneurs knocked the stuffing out of local businesspeople, who were still reeling from the shock of having to compete on prices with multinationals in the form of Cambridge Foods (Walmart), besides others.
“They must learn to compete” is the common refrain. The proponents of this adapt-or-die attitude have no appreciation that, in the world of fast-moving consumer goods, cash is king. In a depressed economy like ours, the ability to get goods at the lowest possible prices and in large quantities becomes paramount. The Big Boys and foreign businesspeople hit the floor running on this one, resulting in the flooring of the traditional township business owners.
Gauteng Premier David Makhura acknowledged during his State of the Province address that measures such as the Township Renewal Project had to be given a bigger slice of the pie to ensure that the township economy becomes a relevant part of the mainstream economy. Deindustrialisation of parts of Isando, on the East Rand, and other areas bordering townships has had a major adverse effect on the development of the township economy.
It is, thus, a welcome initiative that the Gauteng provincial government is partnering with industry to counter the effects of industries that have closed down. The Modderfontein, Waterfall and Masingita projects will reinject life into areas that were becoming ghost towns on the outskirts of major townships like Tembisa and Soweto.
Initiatives that have sought to revive the participation of township entrepreneurs in the projects, such as the bus rapid transit system, will go a long way towards ensuring that the township economy is not marginalised. The challenge that remains is ensuring that unemployed youths become the cornerstone of any business venture that aims to grow the township economy.
Local business associations led by local businesspeople need to be revitalised and equipped to build local business. It is not xenophobia to offer protection to local business – this is done in farming to prop up our local farmers. Government missed a beat by allowing just the highest bidders to come and do business in the townships.
A new paradigm is required to ensure sustainable participation of township people in their own economies, ensuring what Makhura has referred to as “every rand generated in the township circulating in the township economy”. This paradigm must ensure full partnerships between government, locals and foreign businesspeople seeking to do business in the townships.


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19 April 2016 Current Affairs: Tata Steel Europe has announced the appointment of Bimlendra Jha, its executive committee member, as the CEO of Tata Steel UK to expedite the sale of its loss-making business in that country.
He is a executive chairman of Tata Steel Europe’s Long Products Europe business had led the divestment process that resulted in the signing of a sale and purchase agreement with Greybull Capital on April 11, 2016, for a transaction value of 1 pound.He will be supported by a team of executives drawn across functions including operations, procurement, finance, human resources and commercial.
Tata Steel Limited : Tata Steel Limited (formerly Tata Iron and Steel Company Limited (TISCO)) is an Indian multinational steel-making company headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, and a subsidiary of the Tata Group.Tata Steel has manufacturing operations in 26 countries.It was ranked 486th in the 2014 Fortune Global 500 ranking of the world's biggest corporations.It was the seventh most valuable Indian brand of 2013 as per Brand Finance.
FreshersLive - No.1 Job site in India. Here you can find latest 2017 government as well as private job recruitment notifications for different posts vacancies in India. Get top company jobs for both fresher and experienced. Job Seekers can get useful interview tips, resume services & interview Question and answer. Practice online test free which is helpful for interview preparation. Register with us to get latest employment news/rojgar samachar notifications. Also get latest free govt and other sarkari naukri job alerts daily through E-mail.


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New York, NY – December 5, 2012 – Yodle, a leader in local online marketing, today announced that Michael Adler has been named to its board of directors and has also been appointed as chairperson of the audit committee. Mr. Adler recently joined SquareTrade®, the top-rated protection plan company, as CFO and previously held executive level positions at other companies such as Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE), IAC/InterActiveCorp (NASDAQ:IACI), and Styleclick (NASDAQ: IBUY).
"The expertise and experience that Mike brings to Yodle will further strengthen our board of directors," said Court Cunningham, CEO at Yodle. "Given Mike's public company CFO experience and proven ability in scaling and growing large businesses, he will be a tremendous addition to our board and audit committee."
Prior to starting his new position at SquareTrade, Mr. Adler spent nearly six years as EVP and CFO at Expedia, the world's leading online travel agency, helping to lead the company to a 50%+ increase in net revenue and 400% growth in EPS. Before that, Mr. Adler held several roles at IAC, a leading Internet company, including SVP of Financial Planning and Analysis, where he oversaw a corporate team responsible for allocating resources across the company and driving the overall performance of numerous business units. While he was with IAC, Mr. Adler also served as the CEO and Chairman of the third party e-commerce platform provider Styleclick. Previously, Mr. Adler held senior positions at SchoolSports (now known as ESPN Rise) and Cheyenne Software, and also practiced corporate law earlier in his career.
"Yodle is one of the few companies that has cracked the code on local, having scaled the business to over $100M in revenue in large part because of the value it provides to its small business customers," said Michael Adler, Board Director at Yodle. "I'm delighted to join Yodle's board and look forward to helping the company continue to expand and scale in order to fully capitalize on a significant market opportunity."
Yodle connects consumers to local businesses simply and cost-effectively. The combination of automated technology and comprehensive customer support makes Yodle easy to use. Yodle's offering is also ROI-driven: local businesses set a budget for which they receive calls and emails from qualified consumers. Today, Yodle delivers results for more than 30,000 local businesses. To do so, Yodle establishes a comprehensive desktop and mobile web presence, implements unique SEO techniques that support a "first-page guarantee", and deploys proprietary paid search technology that dynamically optimizes online media buys across multiple desktop and mobile outlets. Yodle's solution also includes display advertising, review/offer management and a simple performance dashboard. Yodle's competitive advantage is derived from the sheer scale of its local performance data across multiple industries. Yodle is ranked #26 in the Forbes list of America's most promising companies. For more information, visit www.yodle.com, go to the Yodle company blog or see Yodle reviews from customers. You can also follow Yodle on Twitter, Facebook and Google+™. If you're interested in working at Yodle, visit the company careers website.
330 W 34th St.
New York, NY 10001


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Rick Broida scours the Web for great deals on tech.
The Fever Smart patch thermometer acts like a mini nurse, tracking a child's temperature and sending the data to the parent's smartphone.
Twitter tool We Feel collates data from millions of tweets around the world to show how any English-speaking region is feeling in real-time.
Emergency room clinicians at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston try out the wearable eyeglasses as a way to speak with and examine patients while simultaneously reading their charts.
Cisco and Mozilla reps declare that the free, open distribution of the H.264 codec enables streaming of real-time online video from the browser without plugins.
The social network launches a new feature to remind the media that its 1.15 billion members can serve as sources for stories.
Mapping software company Esri designed a live map, filled with data from NOAA and social media, which shows the hurricane's projected path and more.
The World Wide Web Consortium finishes an update to this seminal Internet technology, but with two organizations in charge of the same Web standard, charting the Web's future is a mess.
Plus: an Amazon Fire TV Stick for just $24.99 -- assuming supplies last the morning.
Dot-com? How quaint. A smorgasbord of new Net domains has arrived, with hundreds more on the way. There's opportunity aplenty, but lots of trademark hassles, too.
Microsoft is beta testing a version of Skype that will work from a variety of browsers, and which ultimately will alleviate the need for Skype app or plug-in downloads.


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WhatsApp is about to get an unlikely competitor in India, its largest global market based on users. That’s because Paytm, the $8 billion-valued company behind the country’s top digital wallet, is in the process of expanding its services into person-to-person communication, games and other mobile content.
The planned update, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, will go live in a beta feature that will ship to users before the end of August, a source with knowledge of the plans told TechCrunch.
Paytm declined to comment.
The Paytm app will start out mimicking WhatsApp with chat app features including text, image, video and audio messaging, but it plans to go beyond the basics to integrate more sophisticated features. The model is something along the lines of…


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Enough of smartphones. Tablets. Phablets. Laptops. And computers. It’s time to innovate the wristwatch segment, and if the rumors are true, Apple is planning to dominate the world of watches by launching a new “smart watch” next year.
According to a Chinese site Tech.163, Apple is seriously considering to develop a smart watch that can help its existing users to connect to Apple devices — iPhones, iPads, etc. — via Bluetooth. Apple will need someone’s help though and, once again based on the rumors we have, Intel will be joining hands with the Cupertino-based company to build these next-generation of smart watches.
The smart watch will sport a 1.5-inch PMOLED display and a unique band, large enough to comfortably fit our human wrist.
Apple’s smart watch will not be another iPad Nano with a third-party wristband attached to it. This product will be different than anything we have seen so far. Rumors are rife that besides the Bluetooth connectivity, the smart watch will also have a trimmed down version of iOS.
Many of the smart watches in the market today cannot answer calls or read text messages, but Apple already has a system in place — thanks to the series of successful products they have released over the years. We assume Apple’s new gadget will be similar to Sony’s LiveView watch, which works only if you have an Android smartphone, albeit Apple’s smart watch requires iDevices like iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.
After pairing an iPhone to smart watch via Bluetooth, anyone can pick up calls by holding the wrist watch close to their face. Tech.163 also claims that Siri will be integrated to Apple’s smart watch. It makes perfect sense to us — Apple hasn’t given up working on Siri yet and, for all we know, Siri is continually improving since it was first launched last year.
All said and done, note that these are speculations — so take this information with a grain of salt. However, news is that Intel has been working on the next-gen mobile chips for smartphones and tablets, so this rumor definitely has legs. If ever Apple launches smart watches, we hope it’s useful and, more importantly, affordable.
Apple’s Bluetooth watch is said to release in 2013. Are you up for it?
Via Tech.163 [Chinese site]


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There has been a massive growth in the mobile phone applications and games, particularly in the Android market during the month of April, 2012. This is because the global users are looking for different types of applications to solve their day to day requirements. In order to fulfill their demand, Android has introduced some unique Apps. Let’s go through this post and find the most popular free Android apps downloaded in April alone. There are many more , but the apps we have mentioned here are released in April, this year with the maximum number of downloads.
To watch film on iPhone, you’ll want to either transfer movies from your business DVDs within the format of which apple iPhone will take, or download and install these people via internet. Acquire the lowdown on how to download movies for ones iPhone with the remainder of this text. Apple’s integration within the power to play digital movies is just one of a lot logical reasons this excellent joint of hardware is developing this massive interest. Many spots, there may nicely not sufficient Screen Protectors accessible to meet the demand.
This year at the Mobile World Congress 2011, some of the best and the most efficient tablets and Smartphones were announced and showcased from major players from all around the world. Keyboard less computing definitely took another meaning this year at the Mobile World Congress 2011 where the audience were spoilt for choice with some of the best brands such as Samsung, LG, Acer and HTC announcing their new and best tablets 2011 and other companies such as Motorola, HP, ViewSonic and RIM showcasing their best selling tablets.
Mobile entrepreneurs recently received some good news in the form of an announcement that ENIAC Ventures has raised a fund of more than $1.6 million to aid startup companies in the mobile communications software sector. The group takes its name from the Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer (ENIAC), which was the world’s first general-purpose electronic computer, and likewise the group aims for some “first” of its own.
With the continuing buzz in the press about NFC, or near-field communication, it may be helpful to have a look at the reasons why we’ve heard so much about the technology, yet seen so little of it… The major mobile operators and equipment makers are being driven to adopt this technology for essentially all new mobile equipment. So, what is NFC, and what’s the all the excitement about? Let’s take a look at this interesting yet early technology.
Many industry watchers feel that the 4G wireless internet service like that currently being offered by Clearwire and planned by other carriers is the wave of the future. This super fast wireless internet connection provides a number of important benefits over DSL and cable internet service, including faster speeds, greater stability and enhanced security features.
Clearview recently announced plans to offer a 4G wireless handset later in 2010. The new WiMax handsets are expected to be available to retail customers throughout the nation later in the year. The first of these devices will be powered by the Google Android system, and it will feature both 3G and 4G capabilities. Built by Samsung, this device is said to be optimized for high quality video streaming, as well as communication of both voice and data. The second device is built by HTC, and it is also a 3G and 4G enabled device. Both of these handsets are expected to be compatible with both the Spring networks and the Clearwire network.
Samsung Galaxy S is a popular android Smartphone that was launched by the Korean mobile giant, Samsung Electronics in March 2010 worldwide. This mobile phone featured 1GHz Hummingbird processor, 8 to 16 GB internal flash memory, Super AMOLED 4 inch 480X800 pixel touch screen display, a 5 MPG camera and VGA front facing camera on certain variants. Samsung Galaxy S’s base version was GT-I9000 and this was followed by variant models for America which includes Samsung Vibrant for T-Mobile, Samsung Captive for AT&T, Samsung Fascinate for Verizon and Samsung Epic 4G for Sprint network holders. T-Mobile has recently announced the launch of a 4G variant of Samsung Vibrant namely; Samsung Galaxy S 4G which will make use of the upgraded HSPA+ network of T-Mobile.
Health and fitness has really received a lot of attention lately because people want to make sure that they not only lead a healthy lifestyle but also look great so that they can impress the people with their looks. Hence, you will find that most people are very particular about their diet and about how they spend their time at the health club. Cell phones are a part of our lives and therefore many developers have gone one step ahead to combine the concept of health and fitness with cell phones through apps.
Health and Fitness Apps
We take a quick look at some of the best apps for health and fitness freaks.
Are you looking for some good contest where you don’t have to spend a single penny but you still get unbelievable rewards? Well, MGM Resorts are well known for their hospitality and now they are creating a storm by launching their new contest known as Live the M Life Sweepstakes that provides unbelievable vacation prizes and grand prizes for the winners. The contest has really received a lot of attention from the media as well as the participants for the kind of vacation tours that they have included. The best thing about this deal is that you don’t have to pay anything to enter this contest.


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The Indian government made a landmark announcement on March 15, approving a comprehensive scheme aimed at positioning India as a global hub for electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing. This policy, designed by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, seeks to entice significant investments from renowned global EV manufacturers into the Indian market. The essence of the policy is to foster innovation, attract investments, and make advanced technology accessible within the country.
Key Policy Highlights
- Minimum Investment: Companies are required to invest at least Rs 4,150 crore, with the policy not capping the maximum possible investment. This move is to ensure substantial financial influx into the EV sector.
- Manufacturing Timeline: The policy allows a three-year window for companies to establish their manufacturing facilities in India, commencing commercial production of EVs.
- Local Sourcing: A notable feature of this initiative is the mandate for companies to achieve a 25% localisation level by the end of the third year and 50% by the fifth year, promoting domestic industries and components.
- Import Benefits: To kickstart the transition, the government has permitted companies to import up to 8,000 EVs annually at a reduced customs duty of 15% on cars valued over $35,000. This is a significant reduction from the current tariffs of 70% to 100%.
- Incentive Caps and Conditions: The duty waiver on imported EVs is directly linked to the company’s investment or an equivalent incentive under the PLI scheme (capped at Rs 6,484 crore), whichever is lower. Furthermore, the policy outlines a limit of 40,000 EVs over five years, provided the investment hits the $800 million mark.
Ensuring Compliance and Promoting Domestic Growth
To ensure that companies adhere to their commitments, a bank guarantee equivalent to the customs duty savings is required. This guarantee stands as a compliance measure, safeguarding the policy’s objectives and ensuring that the benefits are accurately aligned with investments and local sourcing milestones.
A Leap Towards Sustainable Mobility
This policy is a strategic step towards enhancing the EV ecosystem in India, promoting the Make in India initiative, and ensuring access to cutting-edge technology. It aligns with the global shift towards sustainable transportation solutions, positioning India as a significant player in the EV manufacturing sector. Through this policy, the government aims not only to attract foreign investments but also to stimulate domestic production capabilities, fostering an environment conducive to the growth of the electric vehicle industry in India.


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With the news that the Spanish DGOJ has advised the government to introduce changes to the law in Spain to reclassify Loot Boxes as being games of chance, rather than simply an add-on to a computer game, the whole issue surrounding Loot Boxes has been brought into sharp focus once again.
The Spanish government will be undertaking a public consultation over the remainder of 2020 with a view to any potential new regulations surrounding Loot Boxes coming into force over the second half of 2021.
The decision follows similar decisions taken in Belgium and the Netherlands, while the UK could also be set to follow its investigation into Loot Boxes coming to a close on the 22nd November, after an announcement back in July from the House of Lords Gambling Committee.
Loot Box Controversy
Ever since their introduction across a number of top esports games and titles, Loot Boxes have polarised opinion and caused controversy. For those companies that offer them, they are a way for players to develop their teams as well as offering a lucrative secondary form of income for the company following the sale of the original game.
However, they are not universally welcomed by many in the esports industry and beyond. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney pulled no punches in his assessment of them when he remarked back in February 2020.
“We should be very reticent of creating an experience where the outcome can be influenced by spending money. Loot boxes play on all the mechanics of gambling, except for the ability to get more money out in the end.
We have to ask ourselves as an industry, what do we want to be when we grow up? Do we want to be Las Vegas, or do we want to be worldwide, highly respected creators of entertainment products customers can trust?”
The main point of contention against Loot Boxes is that it offers a way for underage people to gamble. It is this reason which has driven the changes taken against Loot Box systems in games in the European countries already mentioned. It is an argument that is very persuasive, especially when you see how important Loot Boxes have become in some games.
EA for example, who uses Loot Boxes extensively across a wide number of their games, revealed that the company made $993 million in the third quarter of the financial year 2020 from their ‘live services’, the vast majority of which will be Loot Box transactions.
With a significant proportion of that money coming from underage players, it now seems likely that an increasing number of countries will seek to have Loot Boxes redefined as a form of gambling and that will likely have an impact on how they are used going forward.
Is There a Way Forward?
At the moment, EA have taken the decision to not allow customers in Belgium to buy Loot Boxes due to the stance taken by the government. However, if they continue to do that as an increasing number of countries reclassify Loot Boxes as gambling products, that will prove to be an expensive decision.
Similarly, nor can EA simply make Loot Boxes free to players as they would stand to lose a significant amount of revenue should they do that.
Perhaps the most obvious way forward is to only allow the purchase of Loot Boxes to players who are aged 18 or over and can verify that fact (or 21 or over if that is the legal age for gambling in a particular country). There are issues with this too, such as having a gambling product alongside a game played by a high proportion of under 18 players, but it would at least provide some kind of safeguard.
EA certainly does not want Loot Boxes banned, but by the same token, they need to work with governments to find a way that this part of the game can be accessed only by those who are of legal age to gamble. And to perhaps find an alternative option for those underage, which does not punish them by barring them from taking part in what is one of the most popular modes of EA Sports games.
A lot of work still needs to be done on the Loot Box problem, but the good news for gamers is that with common sense on all sides, a way forward can be found.


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Subaru, Bud Light, Jeep, Verizon-Tracfone, SugarLands Distillery … and more brands targeting the U.S. consumer right now.
Bud Light is kicking off an initiative to bring together local communities while also helping promote Black-owned restaurants. The “Bud Light Thursday Night Shoutout” will appear as part of the brand’s “Thursday Night Football” advertising. The beer maker says the series is “unlike anything Bud Light has ever produced before” and includes spots that “tell deeply motivational stories of local Black-owned businesses, while amplifying the stories of each restaurant owner’s personal journey alongside their iconic menu offerings.” The series kicked off September 13 during the Cleveland Browns’ season opener and highlights Cleveland’s own Beckham’s B & M Bar B Que, a family-owned Southern restaurant. Bud Light is also partnering with food app directory EatOkra to encourage viewers to seek and support Black-owned restaurants in their own communities.
Amazon Music has launched Amazon Music LAT!N: a new global brand under the tagline of La Música Que Nos Conecta (The Music That Connects Us). Amazon Music LAT!N launches with 100 new and revamped Latin music playlists, “merchandise from global superstars”, new video content including interviews and mini-documentaries, Amazon Original songs, podcasts, and more. The announcement kicks off multiple artist programs for musicians at different levels of their careers. It includes the launch of a new emerging artist program, ROMPE, created to support developing artists in the US, Latin America, and in Spain. Latin pop duo, Las Villa, and Colombian singer, songwriter and producer, Nobeat, are the initial two artists selected for the program. Also launching is RAICES, a new brand developed to support artist catalogs across all genres of Latin music. Launching with Marc Anthony as the first Artist of the Month, the RAICES brand showcases what Amazon Music calls “carefully-curated artist playlists” across various genres.RAICES will also feature new editorial and marketing initiatives like short video features and playlists. “In a moment where Latin Music is more global than ever before, the timing is perfect to showcase all of the different genres, diversity, and richness of the culture,” said Rocio Guerrero, Global Head of Latin Music. “With the launch of Amazon Music LAT!N, we are giving customers an outlet to connect – and reconnect – to their culture, roots, and to each other. “This is why we chose to use the tagline, La Música Que Nos Conecta. We’re shining a light on the many genres, and artists at all levels of their career, that make Latin Music so powerful.”
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Subaru of America is debuting a spot in both English and Spanish to support the launch of the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek compact SUV. Creative shows a young woman and her grandmother taking an extended road trip together in the young woman’s Subaru Crosstrek. The two discover their similarities that defy age – including an affinity for a certain vehicle. Created by Subaru AOR Carmichael Lynch, “Girls’ Trip” is available in 60-second and 30-second English version and a 30-second Spanish version. “We look at each carline and the story we want to tell to consumers, then decide what creative we need to fulfill our Hispanic media buy,” says Brian Cavallucci, Subaru of America national advertising manager. “For those spots, we have started to cast dual-language talent and film in both languages, to make it as authentic as we can, and run them in both English and Spanish.” The 30-second spot will run in national TV across shows like “Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “The Hundred” and “Fargo.” It will also run across larger cable networks such as AMC, Discovery, FX, HGTV, NAT GEO and SYFY. The 30-spot will also run across digital video platforms including Peacock, Hulu, and Roku. The Spanish version will air on both Univision and Telemundo, targeting Spanish speakers. The commercial was shot in both languages. It’s not simply a Spanish overdub.
Verizon – Tracfone
Verizon Communications announced a deal to buy TracFone Wireless from América Móvil for about $6.3 billion. It is a move to expand Verizon’s presence in the prepaid and value segments of the U.S. wireless business as the industry transitions to next-generation 5G networks. TracFone has several brands—including StraightTalk Wireless, and SIMPLE Mobile—but doesn’t own a network, instead operating under wholesale agreements with the big three wireless companies. Verizon lags behind competitors AT&T and T-Mobile US in prepaid subscribers, and 13 million of TracFone’s 21 million customers already connect to the Verizon network.
Nike spent $3.59bn on advertising in 2020 and closed 5.1% of its retail shops amid the pandemic. Data presented by SafeBettingSites.com indicates that in 2020, Nike has spent $3.59 billion on advertising. The figure represents a slight drop from last year’s $3.75 billion. Nike’s spending on advertisements has remained fairly constant over the years. In the last five years, the company has spent a total of $17.54 billion on advertising. The SafeBettingSites research also overviewed Nike’s revenue and 2020 recorded $37.4 billion. This is a drop of 4.35% from last year’s $39.1 billion.Notably, Nike’s last year’s revenue was the highest in five years. In 2018, the revenue stood at $36.9 billion, representing a growth of 7.26% from 2017’s $34.4 billion.Nike’s 2020 revenue drop was majorly due to the coronavirus pandemic. According to the research report. In 2019, Nike retail stores in the United States stood at 384, dropping to 338 in 2020. For non-US based stores the number stood at 768 last year while in 2020, the figure was 758. From the data, in 2020 Nike has closed 46 shops in the U.S, and only 10 overseas representing about 5.1% of all 1096 retail stores. The closure was mainly due to the implications of the coronavirus pandemic.
Maserati presented the MC20 Super Sportscar to mark a new era. Andy Love, Director Brand and Sales, Maserati North America partners with D S Simon Media on a nationwide media tour to discuss how technology is changing the way car makers are reaching consumers and a behind the scenes virtual introduction on the new Maserati MC20 Super Sportscar. Auto shows used to be where car lovers could get their fix on new car models, prototypes for the future and the latest from their favorite brands. As the Auto Shows were cancelled in cities across the country, car makers and marketers had to come up with new ideas. Among them, virtual launches and taking prototypes on the road. Not only are car makers taking their newest models on the road, they are harnessing the power of technology using virtual reality, digital press conferences, and more to introduce the newest car models to the public and media. The MC20 super sportscar, the first Maserati to adopt the new Nettuno engine, was recently introduced via a combination of virtual press conference and physical media presentation.
In honor of Hispanic Heritage month, the TurboTax® online tax preparation service from Intuit Inc. announced two initiatives designed to financially empower Latino self-employed and small businesses during COVID-19, a partnership with Hispanic Chamber of E-commerce (HISCEC) and the launch of #Unidos4LatinoBiz, a give back social campaign. “The challenges brought on this year as a result of COVID-19 have not left any community untouched. We understand the Hispanic small owned business and self-employed community have been disproportionately impacted by this pandemic and Intuit is here to help” said Alejandra Molinari, Lead of TurboTax Latino and Self-Employed Communications.
SugarLands Distilling Company
Sugarlands Distilling Company and the Atlanta Braves announced a multiyear partnership that makes Sugarlands Distilling Co. a “Proud Partner of the Atlanta Braves.” This news comes on the heels of a partnership announcement with former Braves third basemen and one of baseball’s all-time great players, Chipper Jones. While this is Sugarlands’ first sponsorship of a professional sports team, the brand is no stranger to competition. Since opening its doors in 2014, the downtown Gatlinburg distillery has established itself as one of the premier distilleries in the south, winning over 100 awards for their superior spirits.”Our goal from day one has been to partner with those who share our same commitment to tradition, authenticity, and craftsmanship,” said Ned Vickers, Sugarlands Distilling Co. President. “Much like the craft of distilling, the sport of baseball is rooted in history and tradition. Through this new partnership with the Atlanta Braves, we look forward to creating elevated experiences and unique initiatives that celebrate the game of baseball and our line of award-winning spirits.” As part of this partnership, Truist Park will be the new home for Sugarlands Distilling Company at Chipper’s Corner, a lounge for fans to enjoy a cocktail and refreshments behind third base, where Chipper made history for the Braves.


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Big supermarkets' sales boosted by inflation but LADs still grabbing share
Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons all continues to grow sales in recent weeks as the supermarket industry extended its run of success as grocery price inflation continues to surge.
Sales across the supermarket sector rose 3.6% in the 12 weeks to 10 September, research by Kantar Worldpanel revealed on Tuesday, the sixth consecutive period in which sales rose by more than 3% but down slightly from the 4% announced in August.
Tesco sales continued their positive run since April with a 2.7% gain over the 12 week period, though the UK's largest grocer saw its market share squeezed by 0.3 percentage points to 27.8% as discounters Lidl and Aldi gobbled up further territory.
The German-owned limited assortment discounters (LADs) now account for almost £1 in every £8 spent in the nation’s supermarkets, with almost two thirds of British shoppers having visited an Aldi or Lidl in the past three months.
The LADs took a bit out of Sainsbury’s too, clipping its market share by 0.2 percentage points to 15.7% despite an average sales increase of 2.1%.
"The retailer’s strategic move away from temporary promotions continues and only 35% of consumer spend is now on promoted items; this time last year the figure stood at 41%, which remains the average for the rest of the big four," said Fraser McKevitt, Kantar Worldpanel's head of retail and consumer insight.
Morrisons grew sales 2.3% and saw its market share fall by only one percentage point, a relative success for one of the Big 4 these days, with volume sales increasing for the first time since January.
Sales of Morrisons' premium ‘The Best’ line were up 38% year-on-year, making it the fastest growing premium range in a market where top-tier products are outperforming all other lines.
Asda, owned by US giant Wal-Mart, attracted an additional 482,000 shoppers through the tills compared with a year ago – the fastest new shopper acquisition by the retailer in over three years.
Said McKevitt: “Average spend at Asda is £25.74 – the highest of any grocer – which reflects the success of its larger stores and their appeal for families.”
Ocado, which also published its third-quarter results on Tuesday, was found to have grown sales by 10.1% as 834,000 households shopped with the retailer in the latest 12 weeks, giving it its highest ever penetration of the population.
Data on the industry was also released on Tuesday by Nielsen for the last three months, showing spending on supermarket’s own-label products rose 5.5% year-on-year, nearly five times the growth in spend on branded products.
The average increase in sales across all grocery products was 3.5%.
“The return of inflation means shoppers are increasingly turning to supermarkets’ own-label products to help manage their weekly grocery spend,” said Mike Watkins, Nielsen’s UK head of retailer and business insight.
He said own-brand sales are growing across all major food retailers but fastest at the discounters – Aldi and Lidl – and at the Co-operative, Iceland, M&S and Tesco.


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Uber suffering the loss of $1 Billion
Uber Technologies Inc reported a $1 billion loss on Thursday as the company spent heavily to build up its food delivery and freight businesses, sending revenues up 20% in its first quarterly report as a public company. The delivery and freight costs went up 35% in the quarter, as the company spent heavily in the run-up to its IPO earlier this month.
Gross bookings, a measure of the total value of rides before driver costs and other expenses, rose 34% from a year ago to $14.6 billion. Meanwhile, Bookings were up 3.4% from the previous quarter, showing the difficulty of recruiting new riders in saturated markets. Revenue of $3.1 billion matched the high end of the range Uber forecast for the quarter and the loss of $1.0 billion compared with the company's forecast of $1.0 billion to $1.11 billion.


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Driving relevance means driving growth. Join global brands and industry thought leaders at Brandweek, Sept. 11–14 in Miami, for actionable takeaways to better your marketing. 50% off passes ends April 10.
2020 was the year that sped up digital transformation for many businesses that had stalled in evolving. From the increased use of scannable QR technology to a world of virtual sneakers and dressing rooms, the industry quickly adapted to eCommerce and digital storefronts. But as vaccination rates keep increasing, more people are not only beginning to travel out again but are making their way into brick-and-mortar stores that may not have seen any foot traffic in over a year.
For this piece, we asked the latest Adweek Innovators what they predicted would change the most as people “returned to normalcy.”


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UPDATED 5:52 PM PT – Tuesday, September 13, 2022
Stocks plunge today, the worst since 2020 as the latest inflation numbers show prices rose more than expected. According to the consumer price index report for August, inflation is up 8.3% from a year ago. Economists were expecting 8.1%. Many are concerned this will cause the federal reserve to deliver another aggressive rate hike.
Michele Schneider, Managing Director of MarketGauge Group joins OAN to discuss.