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Two new FiltaFry franchisees are already being helped get off to a great start in 2017. FiltaFry have helped Dan Tyler in Derby & Richard Martin in Portsmouth get into business.
FiltaFry........TWO NEW Franchisees already being helped get off to a great start in 2017.
FiltaFry could not be more pleased with the start to 2017. At the back end of 2016, they promised to do all they could to help more people get into business, and already they have helped two new franchisees get into business.
FiltaFry have loads more opportunities for the right people and the team are ready and able to help others get started.
They have everything anyone needs to get started including a niche' product offering, training, equipment, and help with finance and legals etc, etc.
If an individual has potential then they will work their way through one way or another, FiltaFry continue to stand by their policy of:
FiltaFry’s Latest Franchisee Purchases Two Territories
8th June 2017
FiltaFry's latest franchisee Giles Wallis has purchased both the Nottingham and Derby Territories.
Filta Group UK To Help More People Into Business
20th January 2017
In 2017 Filta Group UK resolves to help more people get into business.
FiltaFry Are Still No.1 After 20 Years
29th November 2016
FiltaFry has consistently been the UK’s No.1 Fryer Management Franchise for the last 20 years.
The main benefit is being your own boss, choosing what hours you want to work and when. I just like being in controlDean Martin


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Acquisitions & Divestitures - Service & Supply
Tidewater Logistics said the capital investment by Apollo will fund a pipeline of new customer and expansion opportunities. The terms of the transaction weren't disclosed.
Dover's spin-off transaction for its "Wellsite" upstream energy businesses, on track for completion in May, will be named Apergy and be headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas.
Vallourec specializes in making tubular products for the energy and other industrial sectors. It has about 19,000 employees worldwide, while its drilling products division employs roughly 600 people.
The investment, which is the New York-based firm’s first since closing Blue Wolf Capital Fund IV LP at its hard cap of $540 million in September 2017, is expected to facilitate rapid expansion at Petrosmith.
Mexico has done little deepwater exploration, so not much is known about the energy reserves.
The Houston-based company, which provides drilling and well completion services, plans to sell around 9.3 million shares at between $12 and $15 per share in coming days.
The U.S. sanctions list also now includes Sergey Topor-Gilka, head of the Russian engineering company Technopromexport, as well as multiple subsidiaries of oil producer Surgutneftegaz.
Increased E&P spending, strong global demand and rising commodity prices are among the positives that could lie ahead for the industry, CEOs of oilfield service giants said.
The oilfield service company plans to launch several new technologies this year, including a subsea tree.
Intervale sees 'attractive opportunities' to expand PDC Logic by introducing new bit designs and entering new markets, Partner Tuan Tran says.
President Donald Trump has approved recommendations to impose safeguard tariffs on imported large residential washing machines and imported solar cells and modules, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said on Jan. 22.
Shares in the oilfield services provider rose around 1% in premarket as Halliburton posted a profit of 53 cents a share, beating average analyst estimates of 46 cents per share.

domain: news


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China's foreign trade picks up growth momentum: official
The growth in China's foreign trade of goods rebounded strongly after the week-long Spring Festival, a senior customs official told Xinhua Saturday.
Container ships. [File Photo: AP]
Imports and exports surged 21 percent year on year from mid-February, said Ni Yuefeng, head of the General Administration of Customs (GAC).
In the first eight days of March, the country's foreign trade soared 24.7 percent year on year, with exports rising nearly 40 percent.
Historical data show that it's a normal phenomenon to have fluctuations in monthly statistics for the month with the Spring Festival, said Ni. "Judging from the recent upward trend, we are very confident about China's foreign trade growth in the future."
His comment came as GAC announced Friday that China's foreign trade fell 9.4 percent year on year last month to 1.81 trillion yuan (about 270 billion U.S. dollars), raising concerns about a slowdown in the world's second-largest economy.
Analysts cautioned it was difficult to compare trends in China's data at the start of the year due to the Spring Festival holiday, which came in early February this year and could affect business activity.


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The fact that the COVID-19 outbreak has dramatically changed our lives has been well documented. Interestingly, one of the many changes that this situation has resulted in is virtual dating. Bumble, the women-first social networking platform, recently released a host of customised features that will help improve the way people can connect with each other during this period of social distancing. Priti Joshi, Vice President- Strategy, Bumble tells us more about these features and the various trends in networking and dating the platform is seeing in India.
Q] Can you share with us some insights into how people are using Bumble during the lockdown? Are you seeing an increase in the number of users on the platform?
Early during this time period, we’ve seen a trend of increased use of Bumble in India by new and existing users, especially for our chat, video call and voice call features. Specifically in India, we have observed the following trends, as per data for the week ending March 27 versus the week ending March 13
- An 11% increase in Gen Z registrations
- A 29% increase in messages sent
- A 17% increase in video calls
- Average Video Call/Phone Call time is 14 minutes
- We have seen users around the world mention COVID-19 and Coronavirus more and more in their profiles.
We’re expecting these and other user behavior trends to evolve as more and more people are looking for ways to combat isolation and loneliness and engage in 1:1 virtual connections.
Q] While several users are familiar with Bumble as a dating platform, a good number of people also join the platform for networking and to build connections. How are you therefore positioning the platform?
India was one of our first global markets to launch and position Bumble as a social networking platform with all three modes - Bumble Date, Bumble BFF, and Bizz. Since our launch, we’ve seen that over 40% of women users on Bumble use more than one mode. Bumble Bizz especially has helped users to quickly sort, filter, and connect with others around shared interests and intentions. Beyond expanding business contacts and making new connections, we’ve seen some users looking specifically for mentors, for advice, for professional development with occasionally, an unexpected business opportunity presenting itself. Today, five years and many Bumble weddings later, we can see that both men and women are using the app to find people with similar interests to them and are excited to experience all modes on Bumble to forge meaningful connections across dating, friendship, and professional networking.
Q] Are you seeing an increase in the popularity of virtual dating during the ongoing pandemic?
While in-person dates are not an option for many of our users right now, virtual dating is on the rise. When it comes to having a first date by video chat, we have seen our users leverage new interesting ways to build meaningful virtual connections—be it spontaneous trivia evenings, watching movies together, virtual happy hour, or sharing a glass of wine together over a Bumble video chat. Many of our users have given feedback that virtual dating is allowing them to create even stronger connections during this time. For example, one user told us: "What I've noticed is that the men I'm meeting virtually are getting more creative and I'm making deeper connections with people online – there's been this seismic tonal shift in connecting with people virtually since the pandemic intensified a few weeks ago. I've come across more people that I'm attracted to and I don't know if it's because the pressure is off to meet with someone in person, but I've noticed myself becoming more vulnerable with the people I'm meeting on Bumble since the quarantine began, too."
Q] Do you think this concept of virtual dates is here to stay?
Our data shows that in this current environment users are talking for longer and having better quality chats, even incorporating things like voice calls and video chat into their conversations. It's possible that this behaviour will continue once restrictions are lifted, as connecting over video becomes a more familiar part of the routine of getting to know someone online. Prior to this, we were seeing strong growth for Bumble in India, with the user base quadrupling since our launch in December 2018 to now surpass 3 million users and women in India have made the first move on Bumble over 9 million times.
Q] What are some of the new features the platform has rolled out during this time?
Right now we are encouraging all our users to date digitally, and have provided a number of resources and tips to help them have a great experience while doing so. We have free features within Bumble that allow our users to place voice calls or video chats without having to meet in public, share a phone number or email. The option is available across our dating, friendship-finding, and professional networking platforms. Additionally, we have released a new bundle of custom features to enhance our users’ virtual dating experience. You can now add a Virtual Date badge to your profile so your potential matches can see that you are open to video chat, you can send audio notes and reply to specific messages, and we've created a 'question game' to help you get to know your match in date mode. We've also expanded our distance filters so that you can match with people across the country.


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By Wang Jun
Chinas two major online music service providers recently disclosed their business performance in the second quarter of the year， showing a remarkable difference and a new trend.
NetEase Cloud Music， a music streaming service with a database of more than 10 million songs， had 800 million users， up 50 percent over a year ago， according to NetEase， Inc.s second quarter earnings conference call on August 7. The number of paying subscribers jumped by 135 percent year on year.
NetEase is one of Chinas largest Internet companies， offering online game， advertising and wireless value-added services. Its net revenue in the second quarter of the year exceeded 18 billion yuan （$2.73 billion）， an increase of 15.3 percent compared to the same period in 2018. The net revenue from innovative businesses and others， including NetEase Cloud Music and Youdao Online Education， totaled more than 1.5 billion yuan （$219.5 million）， up 23.2 percent year on year.
Despite the impressive figures， it was Tencent Music， a subsidiary of Internet giant Tencent Holdings， that remained the leader in the Chinese online music market， consolidating the over 56-percent market share estimated three years ago. Currently， Tencent Music offers online music and music-centric social entertainment services with four mobile apps—QQ Music， Kugou Music， Kuwo Music and WeSing—to over 800 million users.
The quarterly financial report of the Tencent Music Entertainment Group said its revenue was 5.9 billion yuan （$835.69 million） in the second quarter of the year， with profi ts amounting to 1.09 billion yuan（$154.39 million）， a year-on-year increase of 7 percent. Its number of monthly active users （MAU） reached 652 million at the end of June.
Although the number of users is the basis of profits， revenues are still determined by profi tability， and in terms of this， Tencent Music is performing better than NetEase Cloud Music， Fan Zhihui， a music industry observer， told China Business News.
All online music streaming service platforms in the world are facing diffi culties in churning out profi ts， Fan said.
On July 28， Swedish music streaming giant Spotify Technology announced that its revenue in the second quarter of 2019 was 1.67 billion euro （$1.85 billion）， with a net loss of 76 million euro （$84.26 million）.
For Tencent Music， one of the few profitable online music platforms in the world， it is its social entertainment business that is bringing in the most profi t.
According to its fi nancial report for the second quarter of the year， while online music subscription contributed 13.5 percent to the revenue and non-subscription online music 13 percent， its social entertainment business accounted for a whopping 73.5 percent. Revenue from social entertainment service and other areas increased by 35.3 percent to reach 4.34 billion yuan （$614.73 million）.
“We are pleased with the second quarter results driven by the strength of both our online music and social entertainment businesses，” Cussion Pang， CEO of Tencent Music， said in a press release.
William Ding， CEO of NetEase， said to make a profit， NetEase Cloud Music should， in addition to expanding its membership， advertising and live audio streaming service， develop social functions， according to 21st Century Business Herald.
Charles Yang， Chief Financial Offi cer of NetEase， said at the end of July， NetEase Cloud Music added a new feature， Cloud Village， a music community enabling discussions， creation and sharing， and personalized expressions around music. It is becoming very popular， changing the way users can experience music today， from just listening to watching and interacting.
“Weve seen very， very encouraging signs of strong growth in both daily active users and MAUs since we launched the latest version，” Yang said， adding that this growth has made NetEase confident that the innovation will be well rewarded. “It creates opportunities for us to explore the commercial potential，” he said.
In social entertainment， Tencent Music has not only broadened its user base through mini programs and a lite version app， but also improved user engagement by adding new social features with high user participation. “We are confident that these initiatives will lead to further growth in the second half of the year，” Pang said.
“The major way for both NetEase Cloud Music and Tencent Music to make a profi t is to develop social business，” Fan said. “While the former focuses more on music-based social business， the latter concentrates on social entertainment.”
According to Pang， the growth in Tencent Musics online paying membership accelerated in the second quarter of the year， with 2.6 million more users added， compared to the previous quarter.
To expand the number of paying users， from 2019， Tencent Music has been adding more content behind a paywall， Tony Yip， Chief Strategy Officer of Tencent Music， said.
“We want to spend this year and next year as investment years to educate our user base to buy the concept of paying for an ‘all-you-can-eat music streaming service for a very reasonable price. That goes beyond just paying for a particular song or a particular album or a particular artist，” Yip said. “It really comes down to educating users to get used to paying for convenient services， which allow them to enjoy the most comprehensive content offering in the market.”
According to him， the number of new paying users in the second quarter of the year is the highest in the past fi ve quarters.
Zhu agreed that membership is essential for an online music platform. “For NetEase Cloud Music， revenue from paying users contributes the highest to our total revenue. Other businesses， including advertising and live-streaming services， also contribute， but paying members are definitely the most essential，” Zhu told 21st Century Business Herald.


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The FIPP World Congress will take place in Toronto in October, giving birth to a brand new interactive seminar looking at innovation in magazine media. We caught up with one of the Seminar’s Hosts, John Wilpers, to find out more about the latest in global magazine media trends.
The Big 5: Mobile, native, programmatic, video (0:09)
This year what we found were the same kinds of trends we found last year, in terms of: mobile, native advertising, programmatic advertising, video. But much more focussed on action plans, on getting things done.
And the innovations in the book are just incredible – we have lists of how to do things, how to do successful programmatic advertising, how to do successful native advertising, how to get your content optimised for mobile. And if publishers simply follow those directions, they will have enhanced the quality of their content, they will enhance the volume of their engagement, and it will lead to a much more predictable level of success.
What about data? (0:45)
Data is another area where if [publishers] pay attention to the data and they start to mash the data and interpret it – instead of just looking at uniques and page views – they’ll be able to create what’s called a predictive model that will enable them to start publications and to create products that have a vastly higher chance of success.
Each year John writes and edits the ‘Innovation in Magazine Media Report’ – a flagship industry title that hones in on the most critical current and developing trends within the industry. The book itself will lay the foundations for the hands-on Innovation Seminar taking place in Toronto later this year. We asked John to give us a little more background on the publication:
Collecting stories every day about different areas of Innovation… (1:04)
This year’s book is probably the richest, biggest, largest collection of data in the magazine industry anywhere in the world.
What I do for about 18 months prior to the publication of the book, is collect stories everyday about different areas of innovation, to end up with a database of thousands of possible stories and case studies. We boil those down to the very very best, and this year for the very first time we have a digital edition that is almost 200 pages long. The print edition is only 132. So the digital edition not only has the content that’s in the print, it has all these side bars – about how to do stuff – that didn’t fit in the print.
All of these ideas are completely pointless, if your Company’s culture is not change friendly (2:07)
One point that we look at that affects the entire book and the entire process is that all of these ideas are completely worthless, if your company’s culture is not change-friendly. If you don’t have a culture that accepts change, and rewards change, then all of these ideas will fall on un-fertile soil. So the most important thing we at INNOVATION Media Consulting do is to help companies change their culture to be able to implement the very ideas that are in the book.
More like this
Over the last couple of years, teams at IDG have been engaged in robust tactical changes, becoming laser-focused on data to understand their audiences’ needs and growth.23rd Oct 2017 Features
There is now a small but growing number of examples of magazine brands who have harnessed Facebook Live to increase brand awareness, especially among a younger audience. One intriguing example though of how a media brand has worked in a commercial way with a third party on Facebook Live is Heat’s recent campaign with Lifetime TV.23rd Oct 2017 Features
British GQ has launched a new partnership with social music platform Vero, to increase engagement and bring its audience (and new audience) specially-commissioned content focusing on music and music lifestyle.23rd Oct 2017 Features
We speak to The New European’s editor, Matt Kelly, on pop up publishing, identity media and how a ‘digital guy’ has ended up helming this year’s most noteworthy print success.18th Oct 2017 Features
Magazines are a shortcut to quality and continues to deliver top results for advertisers, according to Linda Thomas Brooks, CEO at MPA, USA, said during a keynote on the second day of the FIPP World Congress in London (11 October) last week.16th Oct 2017 Features
Digital editions have been around for a long time, going all the way back to the late 90's. But in 2010 when the iPad hit the digital runway, publishers jumped on the tablet bandwagon faster than they could shout, “Hallelujah!”. The struggling publishing industry had found itself a saviour.16th Oct 2017 Opinion
View and download the speaker presentations from the FIPP World Congress, 9-11 October 2017, London.19th Oct 2017 FIPP News
Without bringing newly skilled people into newsrooms, publishers will not succeed in the future. This was the stark warning delivered by Ralph Büchi, COO of the Ringier Group, CEO of Ringier Axel Springer Switzerland and newly elected chairman of FIPP, the network for global media.16th Oct 2017 Features
Artificial intelligence is a key technology that will transform many industries in the coming years. It is already playing an important role in the media, largely driven by the experiments of platforms like Google and Facebook.15th Oct 2017 Features
Visit our Youtube channelFIND OUT MORE
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What’s happening now, what’s coming next


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Media trading company MediaCrossing will announce a partnership to combine Lotame's data into its programmatic media buying platform.
The partnership combines MediaCrossing's quantitative analytics and real-time trading with Lotame's unified DMP to create custom audience segments used to trade on the MediaCrossing MX Platform.
The goal is to build an alternative media trading desk and
support larger, more sophisticated clients, demonstrating that media buying and selling can operate leaner with more transparency.
"Our future looks a lot like what happened to MediaCrossing in December, when 33% of our transactions occurred between a buyer and a seller, and never touched a DSP, SSP or exchange," said Bill Lederer, MediaCrossing founder. "The trades were all programmatic. We sat in the middle giving buyers and sellers a better deal."
Andy Monfried, Lotame CEO, said marketers have begun paying more attention to finding actionable insights in data that increases performance in campaigns. They look for technology providers to streamline partnerships and integrations across a multitude of channels that can make many sources available in one platform.
The deal, which combines the two models, takes commodity ad inventory and turns it into a tradable asset by providing additional insights through audience segments. Lotame adds audience data from first-, second- and third-party companies to MediaCrossing's real-time media trading platform.
"Imagine you have a diagram of three circles: ad inventory, audience and price," Lederer said. "The market tends to focus on the ad inventory, and in programmatic, the audience. We tend to understand price action, bidding strategy and the right price to pay for and sell inventory."
Interest from some of the greatest investors in the financial community will help to hone MediaCrossing's model and put a securities trading desk focus on the company's business model.
Brands working with MediaCrossing, billed as the latest entrant the programmatic ad-buying space, can gain a deeper understanding of their cross-channel audiences to scale campaigns to gain efficiency and performance.


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The days of these annoying auto-play video ads may be numbered: Google has announced ad-blocking features that will likely be rolled out in the next year. Like when you visit a website and a video starts playing aloud automatically and you can’t find the mute button to turn it off.
Google has openly expressed that, beginning right on time one year from now; it will acquaint changes with its Chrome web program that will handicap certain sorts of advertisements on desktop and portable mobile phones.
Google isn’t calling this change an ad-blocker, but it’s essentially an ad-blocker: it will only filter out certain types of advertisements that Google believes creates a bad user experience. That includes auto-play video ads with sound.
It also includes pop-up advertising, and so-called prestitial countdown ads. These are the ads that show a countdown where you have to wait 10 to 30 seconds before you’re allowed to see the content you’re actually interested in.
Google will offer publishers a tool called Ad Experience Reports which will help them analyze their websites to identify problematic ads and potential issues with this new version of Chrome.


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The Ford F-150 electric pickup truck is coming
A hybrid version is also planned
As Ford is looking at ways to expand its range and implement modern technologies in the process, a full-electric F-Series truck is expected to debut in the near future.
According to Detroit Free Press, Jim Farley, Ford President of Global Markets said in a conference in Detroit that “We [Ford] are going to be electrifying the F-Series - battery electric and hybrid.”
The official went on and mentioned that “a move toward all-electric and hybrid would futureproof the billion-dollar F-Series franchise.” He also calls it a “global juggernaut,” according to the same source.
Previously, Ford hinted at plans of coming up with a hybrid F-Series model, but a pure-electric model is a new and enticing possibility, that is if “battery electric” means what we think it means - a powertrain that uses a battery pack and at least one electric motor to power a specific vehicle.
In any case, the news shouldn’t be that surprising, since Ford is also working on an all-electric crossover and is looking to collaborate with VW on the matter of EV development.
With not much to report on the topic so far, all we can do is wait and see how this pans out. But yeah, exciting times lie ahead.


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Korea: Inflation plunges to lowest level since June in September
Consumer prices increased 0.50% in September over the previous month, below August’s 0.63% increase. Looking at the details of the release, prices for transportation dropped after growing in the previous month, while prices for food and non/alcoholic beverages grew at a softer, albeit still marked pace. In addition, prices for recreation and culture also fell. However, prices for housing and utilities rose at a much steeper pace in September.
Inflation came in at 2.5% in September, down from August’s 2.6%. September’s result marked the weakest inflation rate since June. Annual average inflation edged up to 1.6% in September (August: 1.5%). Lastly, core inflation ticked up to 1.9% in September, from August’s 1.8%.


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Apple is kn0wn to be somewhat controlling when it comes to conducting its business. Apple’s “closed” business model is the main reason iOS offers a unique experience to those who choose to take advantage of it. But the more Apple expands this platform, the tighter get the screws. Apple’s new plan for content producers and publishers has been known for quite some time. The company wants its cut of all content sold through iTunes. Some players such as Amazon have managed to avoid those costs by selling products through the web. These companies will now have a short period of time to change their apps to adopt Apple’s payment system. While Amazon and other content producers can still sell their content through the web, they need to give their customers the chance to buy the very same products from iTunes.
Apple’s latest statement has generated quite a stir among app developers, e-book publishers, and other involved with the iOS platform:
Publishers who use Apple’s subscription service in their app can also leverage other methods for acquiring digital subscribers outside of the app. For example, publishers can sell digital subscriptions on their web sites, or can choose to provide free access to existing subscribers. Since Apple is not involved in these transactions, there is no revenue sharing or exchange of customer information with Apple. Publishers must provide their own authentication process inside the app for subscribers that have signed up outside of the app. However, Apple does require that if a publisher chooses to sell a digital subscription separately outside of the app, that same subscription offer must be made available, at the same price or less, to customers who wish to subscribe from within the app. In addition, publishers may no longer provide links in their apps (to a web site, for example) which allow the customer to purchase content or subscriptions outside of the app.
Some experts have claimed Apple is aiming to apply a luxury tax on publishers/producers for them to have the right to conduct their business on some of the most popular gadgets around. The company certainly has more bargaining chips at this point than a few months ago. Sony has already threatened to stop working with Apple. Other companies may follow for the simple fact that they may not afford paying Apple 30% of their revenue.
This is quite an aggressive move by Apple that could have major repercussions for all the players involved. Apple will most certainly face anti-trust lawsuits. Large players could boycott Apple to force the company to make some concessions. Some can take their business to Android. But the iPad holds the majority of the marketshare in the tablet business at this point.
Steve Jobs and company seem to have finally had it with the jailbreakers. Apple has been working on anti-jailbreak systems for quite some time now. The latest jailbreak solutions seem to trigger some of these measures, leading to iBooks becoming disabled on jailbroken devices (running Greenpois0n hack on iOS 4.2.1). Make no mistake about it. Apple is sticking it to jailbreakers with this move. But it could be well within its rights considering that it is trying to reassure publishers about the piracy issues on iOS devices.
Control is not always a bad thing. But is Apple going overboard by going after jailbreakers and content publishers? You be the judge.


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Centennial, CO — Construction currently underway on the new IKEA store in Centennial, Colo., is ahead of schedule. The store — IKEA’s first in Colorado — will open in July 2011 instead of fall 2011 as originally planned.
Centennial, CO — IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, will open its first Colorado store earlier than scheduled; the store will open in Centennial, Colo., on July 27, 2011. It will be the Swedish company’s 38th store in the United States.
“The excellent construction progress made this past fall and winter by Saunders Construction and the subcontractors — as well as professional and timely reviews by local authorities — created an opportunity for us to open much earlier than originally envisioned,” says Doug Wolfe, IKEA’s project construction manager.
The 415,000-square-foot IKEA Centennial, with approximately 1,500 parking spaces, is being built on 13.5 acres along the western side of Interstate 25, north of the Park Meadows area, accessible via connections to County Line Road. The store will reflect the unique architectural design for which IKEA stores are known worldwide, and also will have solar panels on the store’s roof and be the first U.S. IKEA store to integrate a geothermal component as part of its heating/cooling system. (See related article here.)
This new IKEA store created 500 construction-related jobs and, on July 27, it will welcome 400 store coworkers into the IKEA family of more than 12,000 coworkers across the U.S. and 120,000 globally. IKEA Centennial also offers foodservice opportunities in its restaurant, Swedish foodmarket, bistro and staff cafeteria.
There are currently more than 300 IKEA stores in 38 countries. For more information, visit IKEA-USA.com.


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UK broadband ‘cheap and fast’, shock study finds
Broadband is the UK is among the cheapest and most effective in the world, a study has claimed. Cable.co.uk teamed up with BDRC Continental to examine 3,351 broadband package prices in 196 countries across the world and determined UK residents were paying the eighth-cheapest prices in western Europe at an average of £40.68 (GBP30.70) per month. The UK boasted the fifth-fastest internet speeds in the global study and within the top third cheapest in both European and worldwide standards – somewhat surprising results given the regular reports into the poor speeds and connectivity suffered by much of the UK.
Poor broadband speeds is still a major concern for much of the UK (Photo: Getty)
The majority of homes in the UK have experienced problems with their broadband, a study from Which? found last month.
More than 50 per cent of 1,700 questionedreported issues with their broadband within the past year, complaining of price increases, slow speeds and frequent connection drop outs. Virgin Media and Talk Talk customers were the most likely to experience difficulties, followed by those with a Sky and BT connection. Despite the performance issues, UK residents pay less for their broadband than people in Ireland, Spain, Greece and the Netherlands, among others.
Italy topped the table for the cheapest internet prices in Europe, paying an average of £28.84 monthly, followed by Germany’s £34.02 and£35.86 for residents of Denmark. France was in fourth place, with average prices of £36.34 per month.
The teams examined package prices between August and October this year, and found prices in Iran were the lowest in the world (£5.37 monthly). The highest fees were found in Burkina Faso, where packages average an incredible £954.54 monthly.
The UK comes up particularly favourably in comparison to Canada, where prices average £54.92, which is still the lowest price in north America, and the US, where residents pay around £66.17 monthly.
Broadband speed expectations were often far higher than the speeds achieved, Which? found in August 2017 (Photo: Which?)
“In the UK there can be no doubt there is still a significant number of people who feel they are paying too much for a service that’s less than adequate, however the hugely popular narrative that the UK has awful, expensive broadband simply isn’t true,” Dan Howdle, consumer telecoms analyst at Cable.co.uk said.
“These figures, along with the global speed measures we released in August this year, show the UK is not only in the top fifth fastest, but also in the top third cheapest in both the world and Western Europe.
“With a healthy, open marketplace offering very cheap broadband deals to everyone and so-called ‘superfast’ speeds to almost 96 per cent of homes, the UK is doing considerably better than the majority of countries around the world.”
- ^ poor speeds and connectivity suffered by much of the UK (inews.co.uk)
- ^ British broadband speeds fall short of customer expectations (inews.co.uk)
- ^ The UK’s digital deserts are a serious problem (inews.co.uk)


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Old fashioned cathode-ray tube computer monitors -- bulky, hot, and sometimes hard on the eyes -- are headed the way of black-and-white TVs if this week's Computex trade show in Taiwan is a guide.
A seemingly endless array of flat-screen makers are hawking sleek designs to a public happy to pay roughly three times the price of a cathode-ray tube (CRT) monitor, leading to a scarcity of liquid crystal display (LCD) panels and higher prices.
"You'll find the CRT monitors will virtually disappear," predicted Andrew De Jong, director of Dreamworks IT, a small Australian PC distributor.
A Taiwan market research firm predicts flat LCD screens will make up nearly half of a forecast 141 million monitor sales in 2005, compared with less than 15 percent of 106 million monitors shipped globally last year.
Rising LCD sales and prices sent the stock of LCD makers soaring at the beginning of 2002, although the shares have since eased a bit and some analysts warn of a looming supply glut. Deutsche Bank has an "underweight" rating on the sector.
The advantages of the flat monitors are clear: They take up less desktop space, generate less heat, use less power and their slim design is less visually obtrusive. In affluent Asian cities where space is scarce, flat screens are especially popular.
"We are selling space," said Aaron Chen, general manager of Taipei-based Video-Com Technologies Ltd, a maker of flat screen and CRT monitors, as he wooed buyers at Computex, the global computer industry's third-largest trade show.
News source: Reuters - The World Is Becoming Flat for PC Monitor Makers
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What did Hyundai Announce at CES 2018?
Already just a few weeks into 2018, it seems as if there is some kind of auto show happening every few days. With popular ones like the Los Angeles Auto Show wrapping up, next on the docket was the popular Consumer Electronics Show (CES) for 2018. A perfect place to showcase new technologies, Hyundai certainly had a lot to bring to this year’s show. So exactly what did Hyundai Announce at CES 2018?
How can Hyundai Blue Link Benefit Companies?
While vehicle design and safety has advanced a lot in the past few years, it is equally exciting to see how more and more technologies get integrated into our everyday commutes. However, while many of these technologies can make driving more fun and entertaining, they can also be used to benefit drivers to make services more convenient. With this, how then can Hyundai Blue Link benefit companies?
New Year’s Eve 2017 Events in Winchester VA
What a year 2017 was. As we dive head-first into the holiday season, we will all get to reflect upon the last year as we continue on to 2018. For those looking to stay up past midnight to welcome in the new year, there are plenty of fun activities to do to pass the time. Here are a few of our suggestions for some New Year’s Eve 2017 events in Winchester, VA.
Read the rest of this entry »
Hyundai at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show
The popular Los Angeles Auto Show has come and gone this year. Founded way back in 1907, the show is one of the most anticipated automotive events of the year for a wide variety of manufacturers. Today, the show draws more than 25,000 decision makers and influencers from the automotive industry, as well as 4,400 media members from 58 different countries. Hyundai also made its presence known at the event with exciting announcements. Let’s take a look at what Hyundai had at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show.
Reveal of the 2018 Hyundai KONA
There was plenty of excitement to come out of the recent 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show. While various manufacturers show the latest versions of some of their most popular vehicles, it’s always exciting to see a new model make its debut. At this year’s show, the first ever Hyundai KONA made it U.S. debut. In fact, Hyundai released a lot of news and pictures of their highly-anticipated SUV. Let’s take a closer look at the reveal of the 2018 Hyundai KONA.
How Much can you fit in the 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT?
Taking cues from the stylish and popular Hyundai Elantra sedan, the new Elantra GT keeps the impressive performance of the sedan, all while adding convenient space and cargo room for drivers to have at their disposal. For a vehicle striving to be convenient to transport luggage and gear, exactly how much can you fit in the 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT?
What are the new Smart Stream Hyundai Powertrains?
A great powertrain is what can make or break a vehicle. With innovations like hybrid cars to fully electric vehicles, the automotive industry is constantly evolving. Recently, Hyundai shined a spotlight on their new powertrain options coming out soon. So what are the new Smart Stream Hyundai powertrains?
Is Hyundai Making a 2018 Azera?
As one of the world’s most popular automobile manufacturers, Hyundai makes a wide variety of different vehicles for all kinds of drivers. However, with things such as sales numbers, new models or even a switch in direction for the company, some vehicles can be redesigned into something new, or even scrapped entirely. With many of Hyundai’s 2018 model year vehicles out now, is Hyundai making a 2018 Azera?
Affordable Maintenance on Hyundai Vehicles Winchester VA
While we wish our vehicles could last forever, it is inevitable that our vehicles will need maintenance done to them at one point or another. Of course, many times our vehicle’s issues will come at inconvenient times. When you need to have your car worked on quickly and efficiently, where can you find affordable maintenance on Hyundai vehicles in Winchester, VA?
What did Hyundai Bring to the 2017 SEMA Show?
Drawing in more than 60,000 various domestic and international buyers each year, the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show is a major event for automobile manufacturers and car consumers alike. With many of the top automakers showcasing new vehicles and technologies, each brand tries their best to impress each year. For this year, what did Hyundai bring to the 2017 SEMA show?


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OSCAR.COM�S MAN OF STYLE, TOM JULIAN, RETURNS AS COMMENTATOR FOR OSCAR.COM'S 78th ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS� FASHION COVERAGE
Couture Gowns, Custom Tuxes Predicted for Red Carpet
This year Oscar.com�s fashion coverage will be bigger than ever and features the unique voice of popular trend watcher Tom Julian, now entering his 11th year as fashion commentator. On Oscar.com, Julian was the first to chronicle the world of couture fashion on the red carpet of Hollywood�s biggest night of the year.
�After 10 years of tracking who�s wearing what on the red carpet, we have created a unique way for Oscar� fans to experience all that is fashion and style for the Academy Awards broadcast. From New York City to Hollywood, from designers to special events, we are sharing headlines from a variety of worlds to let the online community now see through exclusive video and photos -- not just read -- just how big the style story is,� commented Julian. �Today�s online world is truly interactive and entertainment-advanced, and we have strategized the best ways to keep red carpet happenings front and center for the global audience.�
The �Style� section has become a very popular feature attraction on Oscar.com (www.oscar.com/style). Julian has received correspondence from all over the globe with questions from consumers and input from the international fashion communities. This year�s coverage includes:
� Over 90 new photos in the women�s and men�s fashion photo galleries from the 77th Annual Academy Awards;
� The �Evolution of Style� gallery that illustrates with multiple images the ever-evolving personal fashion trends of past winners, nominees and presenters;
� A retrospective look at red carpet fashions over Oscar�s history, themed out for eight decades and with over 150 photos;
� A new �Fashion Forward� gallery with streaming video. Julian takes us into the international world of designers like Giorgio Armani and Escada; into design ateliers of Carmen Marc Valvo and Marc Bouwer; visits with luxury jewelers; and gives a sneak peek to the FIDM Museum and Galleries with costumes from 24 contemporary films.
�Tom Julian has brought his television programming expertise to Oscar.com and we can now fully tell the style story that we have been aspiring to tell for the last few years. We are incredibly happy to have him onboard again as fashion authority and web host for the 11th consecutive year,� said Harry Lin, vice president, ABC.com, which produces Oscar.com. �Tom�s reputation with the design community and the media has continued to make Oscar.com the definitive source for style trends and statements at the Academy Awards.�
Julian was recently named Senior VP, Strategic Director of Trends, for McCann Erickson. Headquartered in New York, McCann Erickson is one of the nation�s leading global advertising agencies and part of the world�s leading global advertising agency network. Clients include premier global marketers and many of the world�s most famous brands. The agency is a unit of McCann Worldgroup, one of the largest marketing communications companies in the world.
Julian�s relationship with the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and the ABC Television Network began in 1995, when he was enlisted as the official fashion voice for a fashion satellite program to television stations around the country. This marks his 12th year standing on the Oscar red carpet.
The 78th Annual Academy Awards will originate from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California, on Sunday, March 5, 2006, beginning LIVE at 5:00 p.m. (PT), 8:00 p.m. (ET), with a half-hour live arrivals show.
Oscar.com is a co-production of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and ABC.com.


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Nintendo Producing 1.8 Million Wiis Monthly, Shortages Still Expected
November 19, 2007 5:40 PM
comment(s) - last by
More Wii consoles than ever, but still hard to find, says Nintendo
After one year since the launch of the Wii, Nintendo is unable to keep up with customer demand. While some conspiracy theorists believe that Nintendo may be creating a shortage as a sales tactic, it’s more plausible the game maker underestimated demand for the Wii.
With the hot holiday buying season here, Nintendo fully knows that demand for its Wii console is higher than ever. Speaking to
, Nintendo marketing chief George Harrison said that production rate of Wii is now greater than ever.
“We’re at a rate now worldwide of about 1.8 million Wiis produced every month, and that’s going to sustain itself until we get on top of this,” said Harrison. “We’re trying to make decisions on almost a weekly basis about which market to ship the product to, because in Japan it’s a big success, and same in Europe ... It’s almost an embarrassment of opportunity in terms of where to place those Wii hardware units.”
Despite injecting 1.8 million Wiis into the market every month, don’t expect the console to be easily seen sitting idly on retailer shelves. “We’re still expecting some shortages in December,” revealed Harrison. “So even though we’ll be selling everything we can get, we’ll continue full-blast with our outreach through PR, and through paid advertising and other things.”
This isn’t the first time Nintendo has warned the public of potential supply shortfalls, as the company’s American president Reggie Fils-Aime
said in a previous story
that “it is still going to be difficult to get your hands on the Wii” this holiday season.
The Wii isn’t the only system that Nintendo is selling with super impressive numbers – the DS handheld is just behind the Wii in monthly sales in the U.S. “For DS, we think there’s still a huge amount of potential left. We’re barely at half of the life-to-date sales that we achieved on our last generation of Game Boy,” Harrison added.
The Wii and DS are the
top two selling consoles in the U.S. throughout October
, selling 519,000 and 458,000 units.
This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
RE: I'd get it in two conditions
11/20/2007 12:20:16 AM
OMG I meant you can charge the batteries on the Wiimote via a USB connection (which would make sense because there are two USB ports on the back of the Wii). If rechargeable batteries are so cheap then why aren't they included with the Wiimote in the first place?
"Folks that want porn can buy an Android phone." -- Steve Jobs
Wii, DS Reclaim Monthly Sales Lead From Xbox 360 in October
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Q2 report 2011
Ericsson's financial report was released at 7.30am CET, on July 21, 2011. On this page you will find: CEO Comments, Press Conference webcast and the Media & Analyst conference call information.
“Group sales in the quarter increased by 14% year-over-year driven by a continued strong demand for mobile broadband. Sales were negatively impacted by the strong SEK and sales for comparable units, adjusted for currency and hedging, increased 27% year-over-year. The strong growth we have seen in the past quarters continued also this quarter,” says Hans Vestberg, President and CEO of Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC). “Operating income, excluding joint ventures, decreased to SEK 5.0 (5.3) b. in the quarter negatively impacted by a one-off restructuring charge of SEK 1.3 b related to reduction of staff in Sweden. Net income amounted to SEK 3.2 (2.0) b., an increase of 59%.
In the quarter we saw a change in market mix where Brazil, China, Germany, Korea, and Russia showed especially strong growth both year-over-year and sequentially. The US maintained its high business activity although sequentially the networks business was somewhat slower while services continued to show good development.
Segment Networks sales grew 31% year-over-year. In addition to continued increased sales of mobile broadband, IP network product revenues showed strong development. Segment Global Services sales decreased -5% year-over-year primarily due to currency exchange rate effects. In local currencies Professional Services sales were almost flat. Managed Services sales were down compared to the second quarter 2010. The underlying fundamental growth drivers for the services business remain and customer interest is high. Segment Multimedia sales were down -2% year-over-year, however, with good traction for revenue management.
The impact from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan was limited in the second quarter due to successful mitigation activities. Our supply chain has recovered quicker than expected and lead times for our products are being gradually restored to normal levels.
The quarter was challenging for our joint ventures and both reported losses. Sony Ericsson’s profitability was impacted by the earthquake in Japan resulting in supply chain constraints of close to 1.5 million units. There is a continued strong consumer and operator demand across the smartphone portfolio.
ST-Ericsson increased its loss in the quarter mainly due to recent changes in the market demand for feature phones,” concludes Hans Vestberg.
Media & analyst conference call, Live audio webcast, 3:30PM CET
Sweden: +46 8 505 202 70
UK & Europe: +44 208 817 93 01
US & international: +1 718 354 1226
Confirmation code: 5139974
(Participants will have to quote the confirmation code when dialing into the conference)
A replay of the conference call will be available 90 minutes after the scheduled end time. The playback will be available until July 28, 2011, 6pm.
Sweden replay number: +46 8 5052 0294
International replay number: +44 (0) 20 7769 6425
US replay number: +1 630 652 3111
Replay pass code: 5139974#
Press conference webcast, 9AM CET
The press conference will begin at 9am CET on July 21 at the Ericsson Studio, Grönlandsgången 4, Stockholm. President and CEO Hans Vestberg will comment on the result and answered questions. The press conference will be open to journalists and analysts.
Note: Webcast viewers will not able to post questions.
Windows Media (video for broadband connection)
Flash Player (video for broadband connection)


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Numerex works with T-Mobile US to facilitate 2G to LTE migration
On-demand M2M provider Numerex is working with T-Mobile US to facilitate 2G to LTE migration via a technology upgrade program known as “LTE for the IoT”.
The offering integrates T-Mobile's country-wide 4G LTE network with the module, device, and platform know-how of Numerex. As the 2G turndown is imminent, the program provides a viable option in terms of cost to customers looking to upgrade their IoT deployments easily.
The upgrade program runs on the Numerex nxFAST IoT platform and supports customers in all the stages of the process, providing an end-to-end solution. The bundled offering includes a migration transition plan, a Numerex iNSITE device management platform and T-Mobile 4G LTE network access with 3G backup, alongside an optional finance program, wireless communication modules designed for IoT applications, integration with Numerex's CloudConnect services, long-term device lifecycle support and a volume incentive plan.
Numerex CEO Marc Zionts commented: “There are still thousands of IoT deployments across the country that rely on 2G network service. While most people understand that 2G will soon 'go dark,' there are many who have not yet planned their path forward.
“This program, featuring Numerex and T-Mobile, is designed to make that transition simple, efficient, and painless,” he added.
- » Bipartisan US delegation express Huawei concerns during Munich Security Conference
- » BT says the UK gov's decision to limit Huawei gear will cost it £500m
- » How 5G technology will continue to evolve mobile voice services
- » Wholesale mobile roaming revenues will reach $41 billion: How the operators must respond
- » How to retain customer loyalty in the telecoms sector: Personalisation and presence


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- Two Foxconn Technology workers died last week in work-related incidents at the company's Zhengzhou, China plant, which is responsible for producing iPhones for Apple, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
- One worker committed suicide after a night shift; the other was struck by a train after flooding blocked the safer path to her workplace. Foxconn and Apple are investigating the issue. Reports suggest the deaths may have resulted from long working hours coupled with low pay and stringent overtime restrictions.
- Apple claims it requires its suppliers to uphold fair labor and human right standards, but it is not the first time Foxconn has faced scrutiny for labor-related deaths. In 2014, the Fair Labor Association audited the company after more than a dozen suicides were reported in its factories — following the audit, the company pledged to improve labor conditions.
The tragedy immediately raises two key, ethical questions for all supply chain managers: what responsibility does a company hold over a supplier's human rights violations; and how can a company enforce the policies within their supply chain?
Equally important, however, the deaths shine a light on the psychological effects of harsh labor conditions and potential human rights violations within the supply chain.
A recent report by Verisk Maplecrost said global companies with supply chain operations in 115 countries were at either "high" or "extreme" risk of association with modern slavery. China, India, as well as cobalt-, cocoa-, and apparel-exporting countries topped the list of countries at higher risk of slavery in productive facilities.
Yet the risks are not limited to developing countries. Only the U.K., Germany, Denmark and Finland were at low risk of modern slavery in their supply chains according to the report. Meanwhile, a recent Center for Disease Control analysis indicates the U.S. productive industry recorded the third highest number of suicides in the country during 2012.
In a news release about the high corruption and modern slavery risks in Asia-based supply chains, Source Intelligence recommends implementing a supplier code of conduct and whistleblower program to prevent human rights abuses. However, Apple's previous audit of Foxconn reveals the company had a code of conduct in place — the issue is enforcing it.


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- - Google
- -- Google SEO News and Discussion
- ---- New Google Patent Details Many Google Techniques
nonstop - 11:50 pm on Mar 31, 2005 (gmt 0)
Didn't Google become a registrar so they could look at the whois info anyway. Or would it still be hidden?
Thread source: http://www.webmasterworld.com/google/28814.htm
Brought to you by WebmasterWorld: http://www.webmasterworld.com


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Realme is ready to launch the Realme 11 Pro series in India today, 8 June 2023. We informed you beforehand about the Realme series launch date and time. The company is expected to launch two phones—the Realme 11 Pro and the Realme 11 Pro+.
These phones have already been launched in China thus the exact specifications and design of the smartphones are known to us. The Realme 11 Pro+ comes with a 200-megapixel primary camera along with a Moon mode that helps capture moon shots. The Realme 11 Pro series also features an attractive design.
The specs, features, and design of the Realme 11 Pro series were tipped online before the launch itself. The pre-order for the phones begin today and and customers will get a Watch 2 Pro worth Rs 4499 for free if they place their order today.
When & Where to Watch Realme Pro Launch Event Live?
The Realme 11 Pro series will be launched today in India. The event will be live-streamed on YouTube and all the social media channels of the company.
Interested people can witness the launch online from 12 PM. You can also head to the official handles of Realme to watch the event online.
Realme Pro Series Price in India
Realme is ready to launch two models in its upcoming series- Realme 11 Pro and Realme 11 Pro+. The base variant of the Realme 11 Pro will come with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage and it is expected to be priced at a starting price of Rs 23,999.
On the other hand, the Realme Pro+ variant with a base configuration of 12GB RAM and 256GB storage is expected to be priced at Rs 28,999.


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InterContinental Hotels Rolls Out Baidu Smart Displays in Suites in China
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) last week announced that it was partnering with Baidu to roll out “100 AI powered Club InterContinental suites” at its InterContinental Beijing Sanlitun and InterContinental Guangzhou Exhibition Centre properties. IHG said it is using a customized version of Baidu’s DuerOS AI solution that includes voice assistant functionality. The device in the media announcement image looks very similar to the new VS1 smart display that Baidu previewed at CES 2018 in Las Vegas. According to the media release:
“Customised for InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, the AI solution is developed by Baidu’s DuerOS Platform. It integrates AI technology with hotel operations, and this is supported by hardware upgrade and cloud service. Unlike traditional guest rooms, the newly launched AI Smart Room will fully embrace voice control technology to deliver a more natural human-computer interactive experience. For instance, guests will be able to freely switch settings between work and leisure modes, and enjoy a more convenient and seamless room service experience. This solution will also further fine-tune the current backstage management system, including customising information and resetting devices, making hotel management a simpler task.”
Responding to Marriott and Alibaba
IHG has a fierce rivalry with Marriott and Baidu has a similar relationship with Alibaba. As a result, the alignment of IHG and Baidu is not surprising given the announcement in October 2017 that Marriott planned to outfit 100,000 hotel rooms in China with Alibaba’s Tmall Genie smart speaker. What is surprising is the different approach and scale. IHG says that the new Baidu devices will be installed in only 100 Club InterContinental suites. It may be a more ambitious project in terms of guest services and device sophistication, but it is rounding error in terms of total rooms with the technology.
Alibaba has focused on scale from the beginning and reportedly sold more than two million smart speakers in its first nine months after product launch. By contrast, Baidu reportedly produced fewer than 10,000 of its Raven H smart speakers before halting production. Baidu seems to be refocused on introducing a lower cost smart speaker for the mass market along with more competitively priced smart displays like the VS1. The current deal won’t drive scale today, but could lead to a larger scale implementation if the more than 300 IHG hotels in China are later added.
Hotels Want to Provide the Conveniences of Home
Smart speakers are positioned as providing unmatched convenience in living spaces. It is not surprising that hotels want to replicate the best features of a convenient and comfortable home in their rooms. Amazon recently announced Alexa for Hospitality which includes a modified capability set for Echo smart speakers that are installed in hotel rooms. Marriott has jumped onboard with the Amazon program and said it will introduce the “Alexa experience at select properties in Marriott Hotels, Westin Hotels & Resorts, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, Aloft Hotels, and Autograph Collection Hotels starting this summer.”
Given that Marriott and Amazon are aligned in the U.S., it will be interesting to see if IHG opts to work with Google in the U.S. and other western countries. However, introducing a voice assistant into a hotel room setting isn’t plug-and-play. Baidu has customized its experience for IHG and Amazon for Hospitality has a backend management solution for hotel properties. Google or a partner would almost certainly need to provide a similar solution for provisioning, support and feature implementation of Google Home smart speakers. Neither Amazon nor Google have voice assistant or smart speaker offerings for China, so Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent’s JD.com are the most likely competitors for Chinese hospitality business.


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In 2018, nearly seven in 10 US marketers used Instagram for marketing purposes. eMarketer expects Instagram to nearly double its US ad revenues this year to $6.12 billion.
Fortune 500 Social Media Use By Platform, 2016-2018 [TABLE]Rate this post Facebook had a tumultuous 2018. The #DeleteFacebook movement gained traction after the platform fell victim to several scandals. However, social media activists are not representative of the general population, as evidenced by Facebook’s continued audience growth. Facebook has also gotten called into multiple congressional […]
Which brands are Millennials (18-34) not only hearing positive things about, but also talking about with their friends and family?
This infographic from Digital Marketing Philppines illustrates seven aspects of content marketing for business-to-consumer communication efforts.
Retail marketers continue to focus their energies on Gen Z and Millennial consumers, and doing so should include a healthy level of importance attached to social media.
This year, 104.7 million people in the US—or 31.8% of the population—will use Instagram, a 13.1% increase from 2017.
In 2018, video will grow nearly 30% to $27.82 billion. That means video ad spending will make up 25% of US digital ad spending.
This infographic from 99Firms illustrates 30 case studies of how companies and brands are using Instagram Stories.
Instagram Stories boasts more than 400 million daily users and in a survey of 2,400 Instagram users ages 13-55 in the US, Facebook IQ found that one-third had become more interested in a brand or product after seeing it on Instagram Stories.
Of the 1,000 US internet users surveyed, more than half (56%) of Gen Zers, ages 16 to 24, said they had increased their use of Snapchat in the past year, and another 55% of respondents said they are using Instagram more.


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Beautiful Coverage of the Real Estate Industry
Ware Malcomb Announces Catharine Hughes Named Director, Interior Architecture & Design in Downtown San Diego Office
SAN DIEGO (May 23, 2017) – Ware Malcomb, an award-winning international design firm, today announced that Catharine Hughes has been promoted to Director, Interior Architecture and Design in the firm’s downtown San Diego office. In this role, Hughes will continue to manage and grow the office. Hughes joined Ware Malcomb five years ago as Studio […]
PRINCETON, N.J. (May 24, 2017) – Ware Malcomb, an award-winning international design firm, today announced that its Princeton, New Jersey office has relocated to a new larger location at 188 Nassau Street, 2nd Floor, Suite 1 in Princeton. The move accommodates the firm’s growing client and employee base in the area. Ware Malcomb’s Princeton office […]
Companies Install State-of-the-Art Energy Efficiency System at Jamaica Plain Apartment Complex LYNNFIELD, MA – May 17, 2017 – JM Electrical Company, Inc., the leader in advanced automated building system installations, today announced that it has completed project operations at Longwood Development’s Serenity Apartments, a 16-story, 195-residence apartment complex on South Huntington Ave in Jamaica Plain. […]
JERSEY CITY, N.J., May 8, 2017 — Private U.S. property/casualty insurers suffered a $4.7 billion net underwriting loss in 2016—following an $8.9 billion net underwriting gain in 2015—and experienced a 25 percent drop in net income after taxes to $42.6 billion from $56.8 billion a year earlier, according to ISO, a Verisk Analytics (Nasdaq:VRSK) business, […]
Visit our news section for more
October 14, 2017 @ 8:00 am – October 19, 2017 @ 5:00 pm
Furniture | October 14 – 19, 2017 | The High Point Market is the largest furnishings industry trade show in the world, bringing more than 75,000 people to High Point every six months. Serious retail home furnishings buyers can be found in High Point twice a year because if you can’t find it in High Point…it probably doesn’t exist.
February 14, 2018 @ 9:00 am – February 17, 2018 @ 5:00 pm
Agriculture | February 14 – 17, 2018 | Kentucky Exposition Center | For 50 years, the National Farm Machinery Show has offered the most complete selection of cutting-edge agricultural products, equipment and services available in the farming industry. Business professionals from around the world gain knowledge and hands-on access to various technological advancements needed for the upcoming farming season during the four-day show.
April 14, 2018 @ 8:00 am – April 19, 2018 @ 5:00 pm
Furniture | April 14 – 19, 2018 | The High Point Market is the largest furnishings industry trade show in the world, bringing more than 75,000 people to High Point every six months. Serious retail home furnishings buyers can be found in High Point twice a year because if you can’t find it in High Point…it probably doesn’t exist.
May 22, 2018 @ 9:00 am – May 24, 2018 @ 5:00 pm
Food | May 22 – 24, 2018 | Chicago’s McCormick Place | Sponsored by the National Confectioners Association, the Expo is the candy & snacks industry’s most successful, world class event and the only show that represents all of the major U.S. distribution channels of confectionery and snack products in one location.
Visit our calendar for more


text:
Local celebrity baggers and family fun were the order of the day as Whole Foods Market hosted a fundraiser recently to raise money for the American Diabetes Association.
The store at 10601 San Jose Blvd. donated 5 percent of its sales on Sept. 16 to the ADA, raising $1,744.05 for the organization.
"Every year Whole Foods Market, every store worldwide, has a 5 percent day four times a year," said Marketing Director Neda Yazdanpanah. "We partnered with [the ADA] a couple months ago and wanted to help them [raise money]."
Televisionpersonalities from WJXT TV-4's "The Morning Show" attended the event to show their support. Staci Spanos, Richard Nunn, Casey Black and Rebecca Barry could be found behind the registers, bagging groceries for customers throughout the day. A face painter was also at the store, decorating faces of children and adults.
The ADA works to prevent and cure diabetes and improve the lives of people affected by the disease. Through special events held in the community, the association teaches prevention and management of diabetes.
According to Elizabeth Ingram, associate manager of special events for ADA, more than 100,000 children and adults in North Florida have diabetes. Many do not realize they have the disease.
"It's very much an out-of-sight, out-of-mind disease, and a lot of people are unaware of how serious diabetes is and how to properly manage the disease," Ingram said.
About 23.6 million people in the U.S. have diabetes, she added, and nearly a third are undiagnosed.


text:
Thandeka Moyo, Chronicle Reporter
AILING Bulawayo companies will process more than 100 000 tonnes of cotton that the country is likely to harvest this season.
Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister Chiratidzo Mabuwa told Parliamentarians the move to process the cotton in Bulawayo was meant to rejuvenate the textile industries.
She said the resuscitation of Bulawayo industries was important as spelt out by the Special Economic Zones law.
Deputy Minister Mabuwa said the national Cotton to Clothing Policy was launched in Bulawayo to emphasise the drive to improve the textile industry, particularly in Bulawayo.
“Looking at that, we assume that we will harvest a lot of cotton this season. Hon Made will probably give you the tonnage but we are expecting about 100 000 metric tonnes of cotton,” she said.
The deputy minister said Bulawayo should have a place where this cotton should be processed from lint right through the value chain up to clothing.
“The textile industry in Bulawayo has since been resuscitated and they are supplying Edgars with clothes manufactured in Bulawayo. I would like this House to know that there is no reason to import suits and shirts for men because we have them in Bulawayo,” said Deputy Minister Mabuwa.
She said the city would also benefit from a policy to revamp the leather industry. “In the leather industry, we are looking forward to resuscitate the industry through the Cold Storage Company because that will resuscitate the leather industry in Bulawayo. We are also looking at the heavy industries in Bulawayo that supply mines throughout the country,” the deputy Minister said.
She said the government would have a Bulawayo showcase programme just before this year’s International Trade Fair to market what is happening in the city.
A majority of Bulawayo industries have shut down over the years, reducing the city from its one time lofty status of being the country’s manufacturing hub.


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In light of AMD's recent financial troubles (not to mention the stumbles in the launch of its quad-core Opteron and Phenom processors), talk of Hector Ruiz stepping down as AMD's CEO isn't too surprising. A financial website predicted his departure last month, quoting a "knowledgeable" person as saying AMD President and COO Dirk Meyer was being groomed to replace Ruiz once the CEO's yearly contract expired in April 2008.
However, a new report by Reuters strongly suggests Ruiz will stay at his post for the foreseeable future. The news agency quotes an interview CNBC Europe conducted with Ruiz, in which the AMD CEO confirmed that Meyer is being groomed to succeed him but added that the succession won't happen next year. "We started doing this (the succession planning) four years ago and I'm delighted that Dirk is a strong player," Ruiz explained. "When the time comes for me to hand the reins over to him, it's going to be fantastic." When asked to quote a schedule, Ruiz ruled out any immediate succession. "I can't tell you that, but it's not any time soon." He added, "Not next year."
|HyperX Alloy keyboard gets lean and mean for FPS gaming||2|
|Biostar belatedly announces GTX 1060 graphics cards||3|
|AMD drops prices on the Radeon RX 460 and RX 470||44|
|Reports: Radeon RX 470D is a budget Polaris card for China||9|
|Examining reports of slow write speeds on the 32GB iPhone 7||32|
|Cellular Insights dissects iPhone 7 Plus modem performance||11|
|Deals of the week: scads of high-performance storage and more||9|
|Tobii's Eye Tracker 4C knows where your head is||5|
|GeForce driver 375.57 is prepared for Titanfall 2||9|
|A real "console monitor" would be 720p @ 30 Hz ;P||+63|


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Koei Tecmo America is inviting PlayStation Plus members to dive into Dead or Alive 6 starting today as the online beta begins. The special event has kicked off and will run through January 14th.
Players will be able to check out "Online Versus" mode as well as four characters from DoA games past and one brand new character. Players can fight as Kasumi, Ayane, Hayate and Hayabusa as well as "The Uncrowned Street Hero" Diego.
DEAD OR ALIVE 6 is currently in development for the PlayStation 4 Computer Entertainment System, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and digitally on Windows PC via Steam®, and will be released worldwide March 1, 2019.


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ASRock has officially teased -- and kinda revealed -- its next-gen X670 series motherboards.
The company teased its new AM5-based motherboards on its official YouTube channel, with the AM5-based series ready to rock and roll with AMD's next-gen Zen 4-based Ryzen 7000 series CPUs. ASRock has teased the new X670 Taichi, and introduced the X670 Taichi Carrara: a new special edition board celebrating ASRock's huge 20th birthday.
ASRock has confirmed the new X670E chipset will power its new X670E Taichi motherboards, which delivers both next-gen PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 technologies. The company has also confirmed that it "went all out" on the VRM design of its new X670 Taichi motherboards, with a beasty 26 power stages.
- Read more: AMD X670E chipset: ready for AM5 CPUs with PCIe 5.0 for GPU + SSDs
- Read more: AMD Navi 31 GPU: flagship Radeon RX 7000 series uses PCIe 5.0 x16
- Read more: Phison teases its next-gen PCIe 5.0 SSD controller, handles 10GB/sec+
- Read more: PCIe 5.0 GPUs can have 'power excursions', use up to 1800W of power
ASRock explains: "ASRock reveals a series of motherboards based on the revolutionary AMD X670 chipset. The new motherboards are equipped with many exciting features and new technology such as PCIe 5.0 & DDR5 capability, the insane I/O capability including the support of Thunderbolt 4.0 has pushed the X670 platform even further into high-end desktop category".
"ASRock went all out on the VRM design too, with total of 26 phases SPS Dr.MOS design on the X670E Taichi, it is the most powerful AM5 product ASRock can offer, and on top of that, there's a special edition motherboard X670E Taichi Carrara to celebrate the 20th birthday of ASRock! Z690 PG Riptide NFT Edition is the very first motherboard co-designed by thousands of people, also WRX80 Creator gives uncompromised performance for all kinds of content creation".
- > NEXT STORY: Fortnite to get full Unreal Engine modding tools in 2022
- < PREVIOUS STORY: Nintendo forecasts earnings drop as it gears up for new Switch model


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Maher Bird Associates has unveiled its first work for the utilities
company Amerada. MBA won the pounds 1.5 million account at the beginning
of the month.
The campaign is designed primarily to brand the company name and
highlight an introductory offer to appeal to potential customers.
The stylish black-and-white execution replaces the pounds 3 million
campaign for the brand starring Magnus Magnusson, which ran in 1998. The
new work was shot on an oil rig in the North Sea. The 40-second ad shows
riggers toiling away using heavy machinery.
The voiceover explains that even though the men on the front line work
this hard to bring customers gas and electricity, Amerada is going to
give the first month's supply away free of charge to new customers. We
then see shots of disbelief from the riggers as they hear the news. The
ad features the endline: 'Amerada. Working harder.'
The ad, which breaks on 20 April on satellite and terrestrial TV, was
written by Tony Hill, art directed by Dave Weller and directed by Joanna
Bailey through Serious Pictures. John Ayling & Associates is handling
Since the deregulation of the energy market, the fight for customers
between utilities companies has been fierce. Companies have tried to
retain existing customers as well as recruiting out of their traditional
area. For example, British Gas is now offering packages which include
gas, electricity and telecommunications.
In September last year Amerada expanded its gas supply offering to


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With 200 pages telling businesses how to handle customer data come May 2018, the EU’s General Data Protection Law has inadvertently created a long list of job openings – 75,000 by some estimates – for those who can responsibly juggle big chunks of data.
All about Virtualization and Cloud Security | Recent Articles:
China’s new cyber-security law, in effect since June 1st, contains vague and onerous language that authorities could invoke to compel security checks, forcibly demand data or to inspect proprietary technology.
Pinch yourself because it’s sometime hard to believe in 2017 – but one of the biggest threats your company faces are old-fashioned and simplistic phishing attacks.
Four in ten companies in the US and the UK experienced five or more significant security incidents in the past year, among most cited external threats being malware, ransomware, and browser lockers (44%), phishing email, web or social (42%), domain infringement or DNS exposure/direct (42%), scams and disingenuous ads (40%), mobile app exposures and unknown or unauthorized rogue company mobile app (37%), and brand abuse and defacement (35%), according to a recent survey conducted by IDG.
Danish IT execs perceive hacktivist entities and competitors as the main interested parties that could target their organisations, according to a recent Bitdefender survey. The study confirms that competitors interested in corporate espionage and foreign state-sponsored attackers come second and third, with 61 percent and 46 percent, respectively.
Among the riskier activities enterprises can undertake are merging with or acquiring other businesses—and not just for the financial considerations involved. Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) present a number of cyber security risks that might not even be on the radar screen when merger discussions first begin.
New data from Akamai Technologies reveals that distributed denial of service (DDoS) and web application attacks are on this rise following months of decline, increasing 28% in Q2 2017 from the same period last year.
Some 90 percent of boards of directors in the US address cybersecurity as a serious risk management issue with severe reputation and financial consequences, while only 8 percent haven’t done it so far, according to a recent Bitdefender survey.
Ransomware is a growing threat to any organizations that rely on systems and data; in other words, just about any organization in the world.
A cybersecurity breach scandal involving the Swedish Transport Authority, Transportstyrelsen, erupted late last week and throughout the weekend according to numerous news reports.
When it comes to attaining readiness for General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) the clock is ticking. The GDPR is a set of regulatory mandates (Regulation (EU) 2016/679) that seek to shore up and streamline data protections for citizens within the European Union, including providing residents control over data about them and limiting exports of such data outside the union.
A catastrophic cyber attack could generate up $121 billion of economic losses, according to a report by cyber insurance company Lloyd's of London, cited by Reuters.


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View Full Version : Any news on when Office 2007 is coming out?
November 20th, 2007, 07:11 PM
I'm just wondering when or if Office 2008 is coming out anytime soon. I heard there is a 2008 trial but have no idea where to find it.
November 20th, 2007, 10:54 PM
Its in private beta at the moment.
If i remember right its released Q1 of 2008. But dont quote me on that.
November 30th, 2007, 11:48 AM
December 17th, 2007, 09:54 AM
Well according to MacWorld's report (http://www.macworld.com/article/131100/2007/12/macoffice.html) is that it will be ready at MacWorld Expo on January 15th (http://blogs.msdn.com/macmojo/archive/2007/12/12/rtm.aspx).
December 17th, 2007, 03:14 PM
Thanks for the link and info.
Doug in Alaska
December 30th, 2007, 11:11 PM
I just purchased a new iMac and bought Office 2004. I was given a coupon for the 2008 upgrade and the literature states the new CD will be shipped sometime in January.
December 31st, 2007, 05:20 AM
ive seen march on the website, i saw this thing, if you buy now you get a free upgrade to 2008 when it is released in march
January 1st, 2008, 05:20 PM
Thank you both for replying.


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Next-level recycling with digital innovations: Cologne-based plastics processors igus invests in startup cirplus
Recycling platforms designed by igus and cirplus jointly promote the regenerative plastics industry of the future
15 June 2023 – The global leader in motion plastics, igus®, announced that the company has invested in cirplus, GmbH, a technology startup based in Hamburg, Germany. The two companies have a joint vision of closing the plastics cycle and initiating a revolution in the trade of recycled materials from technical and standard thermoplastics.
Plastic products have many uses and have become indispensable for everyday life. But when they reach the end of their service life, they often end up in the incinerator. Conserving valuable resources and protecting the environment requires a sustainable plastics industry. The Cologne-based plastics specialist igus is pursuing this conservation goal with its “Chainge” recycling platform.
The igus “Chainge” program has proven that circular economy can be easily achieved; it just needs new recyclate material options. From as early as 2019, igus recognized this requirement and has enabled customers to recycle discarded plastic cable carriers and energy chains, regardless of manufacturer.
In October 2022, the “Chainge” online platform was created to provide easy digital access to recycling. The marketplace can now be used to add technical plastics to the circular economy that were previously unable to be accepted. It also enables processing companies to purchase recycled plastics with guaranteed quality standards. This change makes it easier to achieve announced recycling quotas. To further advance the digital circular economy, igus has now invested in a circular startup, cirplus.
Shaping the future of recycled plastics with digital technology
While igus has had successes with technical plastics, cirplus is mainly active in the markets for standard thermoplastics. The Hamburg startup offers disposal companies, recyclers, and product manufacturers a digital marketplace through which they can buy standardized recyclates in a reliable, traceable, cost-effective manner – worldwide.
The team of technology and digital experts are therefore promoting the networking of the plastics and recycling industries. cirplus was responsible for initiating DIN SPEC 91446 and DIN SPEC 91481 as the world’s first standards for high-quality plastics recycling. The motivation was to build reliable, transparent supply chains for plastic recyclates through the combination of digitalization and standardization.
DIN SPEC 91446 was also awarded the 2022 National Standardization Award by the German Institute for Standardization e.V. in climate protection and innovation categories. The common goal of making plastics’ regenerative use easier than ever has brought igus and cirplus together.
An investment with many opportunities
The “Chainge” program offers igus customers quick and easy access to technical plastics recycling. In cirplus, igus now has a strong partner for the digital standard recyclates industry. In the future, customers will benefit from a network that links the recyclate trade in technical and standard thermoplastics and makes obtaining everything easily and transparently from a single source possible.
igus has 60 years of plastics experience, so it has developed a global network and offers access to consistent material flows. Add cirplus’ experience and software expertise, and the path is clear for the next level of digital recyclate trading. The two companies are looking forward to the possibilities of a strategic partnership that offers the potential for building the world’s largest AI platform for circular plastics.
“Our efforts to expand our activities and make them usable for everyone led us to join forces with cirplus,” says Michael Blass, CEO e-chain systems at igus. “With this investment, we are setting an example for people to think about sustainability and create a network to be able to move more.”
Christian Schiller, cirplus CEO, adds, “In igus, we have found a partner who shares our values and works with us to advance digitalization in the plastics industry with the goal of closing the cycle completely. igus’ experience in technical plastics coupled with our expertise in digitalization and standard thermoplastics is the ideal starting point for pursuing a closed circular economy – across all industries.” Learn more about the igus “Chainge” program: https://www.igus.ca/info/echain-recycling-program


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She?s back. She?s pretty popular, too. Some collectors are succumbing to her charms and ordering up bags and rolls of the 2007 Sacagawea dollar. Demand has started rather strong, coming in at nearly 20 percent of the final sales numbers for the 2006 date. That?s not bad for less than a week?s worth of availability. Have you ordered your 2007 Sac coins yet?
The 2007 proof silver American Eagle sales have just begun. The small number indicated is not a reflection of demand, just the fact that sales just opened as this is written. Price this year is $29.95 each. Will the higher price deter sales or just confirm in everybody?s mind that things made of silver are getting progressively more valuable because of what is going on in the bullion markets?
We?ve adjusted the Jamestown box to reflect the American Legacy set, which will include the proof dollar.


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A wealthy village tipped to get a Waitrose or Marks and Spencer supermarket has been left crestfallen after locals learnt it will instead be a branch of the discount chain Netto.
Villagers had believed a luxury retail giant might be setting up shop in Lymm, Cheshire, after developers talked of an "upmarket store" being built on the site of a former service station.
But after keeping locals guessing for almost ten months as to the identity of the retail outlet, it emerged the Danish discount chain famed for its value goods would be moving onto the site after bosses applied for an operating and liquor licence.
Villagers had believed a luxury retail giant might open in Lymm (Cavendish Press)
The announcement has been greeted with anger from locals in the 10,000-strong village - where locals include Chris Bisson, the Coronation Street and Emmerdale actor, and Ian Brown from The Stone Roses.
An online petition has also been set up demanding Warrington Council opposes the move when the licence is discussed at a forthcoming meeting. The village is already home to a Sainsbury's Local and a Coop store.
On the petition, which has been posted to the campaign website Change.org, creator Rob Jones said: "The development was described and sold to residents as an upmarket supermarket and that the client wanted to remain anonymous until a later stage.
The proposed site in Lymm (Cavendish)
"The applicant it would appear is Netto - not a high-end supermarket as promised by the council. The council should now release full plans into the public domain and reconsider the Netto store and replace with an alternative high end supermarket as originally promised to the residents of Lymm.
"It should reconsult more openly with the residents of Lymm and applicants should not be kept anonymous."
Conservative councillor Sheila Woodyatt said: "I was not happy about a new supermarket anyway, but when I heard it would be Netto my first reaction was 'who are they?' - I had never heard of them.
"I am absolutely certain there are those who think Aldi and Lidl are wonderful stores - my daughter shops there - but I just hoped if we had to have a store it would be Waitrose or Booths.
"I know it makes me sound like a terrible snob, but I would have liked to have seen a quality store. Had we had something like Waitrose, Booths and M&S my concerns for the village might not have been quite so bad as it would have attracted more visitors to Lymm.
"Personally I am not particularly happy as I would have preferred something more upmarket. I have already had contact from local residents who are also not happy at all and say 'what can we do about this?' The answer is that I'm not sure there is anything else we can do.
"I went to a Lidl and Aldi once and filled my trolley, but at that time they did not accept cards and I had to leave the trolley and say 'sorry I can't pay for it.' I think it is very unfortunate. I would much preferred to see a higher profile store."
A Waitrose store in Salisbury
The plans for the new food store had originally been unveiled last May by developers The Brookhouse Group, which promised the store would create 35 jobs and have space for 57 cars.
A public exhibition was also held detailing artists' impressions, with developers saying they were in discussions with "high-quality retailers who have expressed a strong interest in the site."
At the time, Mike Nuttall, property director at Brookhouse Group, said: "Our proposal is aimed at bringing this redundant, brownfield land back into use and offering the local community a number of benefits.
"As well as new job opportunities, the store would provide local residents with more shopping choice and convenience, reducing the need for them to travel out of Lymm for their grocery shopping.
"We have developed a design that uses natural materials and landscaping to complement the semi-rural surroundings and are in discussions with high-quality retailers who have expressed a strong interest in the site. We want to find out what local people think about our plans."
Netto traded in the UK under its own name until it was bought out by Asda (claussjodin.com)
Planning permission was later approved, but the identity of the retail chain was kept under wraps until notices wet up near the site stating Netto was applying for a licence to sell alcohol between 8am and 11pm every day.
Lib Dem councillor Ian Marks said: "The critical point is that the consultation document came out stating a high quality food store. There is no issue about about the high quality of the building and design but there is a clear impression that high quality meant an upmarket store - therefore the belief was that it would be a Booths, M&S or Waitrose.
"Now understandably some people are not too happy with that. Rightly or wrongly Netto is perceived to be a downmarket company and is not what people expected. I had no idea whatsoever who the supermarket was going to be and Netto was not a company that had even crossed my mind. "
Rebecca Birt, from Lymm Among, was among those signing the petition and said: "We don't want a Netto - we want a high-end supermarket."
Deborah O'Malley, from nearby Sale, said: "Netto is anything but an upmarket, or even a middle class market. I don't believe the interests of the residents of Lymm will be served by this building, and the manner in which it was promoted was definitely misleading. An appeal should now be on the cards."
Natacha Thompson, from Lymm, said: "I was expecting somewhere I could do my weekly shop, a good quality small supermarket, not a convenience store."
Netto is a Danish discount supermarket that traded in the UK under its own name until it was bought out by Asda in 2010 before returning in November 2014 in a joint venture with Sainsbury's. The store is expected to open later this year.
A spokesman for Netto said: “We’re looking forward to bringing the new-look Netto to Lymm. Our new stores are a complete departure from the format that left the UK market in 2010 – offering both outstanding value, a great fresh food offer and an in-house bakery with delicious fresh Danish breads and pastries. We’re confident that we’ll surprise our new customers in Lymm and hope to replicate the success we’ve seen at our other UK sites.”


text:
Announced in mid-January for an April release, Codemasters' and Koch Media's Micro Machine World Series has been delayed to June. I now have reason to fear for this snowman's life.
Posted yesterday, 1 comment
The latest Elusive Target is live in HITMAN in the Hokkaido location. We're a touch late on picking up on this one, but luckily you've still got until Friday, March 3rd to take this one out. Try viral infection for added fun!
Posted 3 days ago, 0 comments
Capcom has confirmed players' suspicions that Chris Redfield will star in the upcoming free DLC for Resident Evil 7 entitled "Not a Hero." Some information, along with images, were teased on the game's official Twitter account.
Posted 3 days ago, 4 comments
You know in crime movies, how there are always big shootouts where dozens of people die and the entire house is splattered in blood, guts and body parts? Well, somebody has to clean that up. That person could be you!
As of Thursday, Battleborn's fifth and final DLC is now live in-game. This is the last story DLC to which the season pass alludes, and sees Phoebe taking a trip to the treacherous Aztanti ruins. It's okay though; it's for science.
Two weeks ago, the Paladins closed alpha was updated with the newest character, map and more, but it broke the Master Collector trophy. According to the patch notes, this should now be alleviated.
Posted 5 days ago, 1 comment
After SMITE's huge Season 4 update, it's time to get back down to business with smaller and more regular updates. Patch 4.2 continues to iron out the issues of Season 4 and adds a new god named Kuzenbo.
Posted 7 days ago, 1 comment
Today Psyonix released the "Hot Wheels" DLC for Rocket League, along with its accompanying update. The DLC added two purchasable battle cars and the update has the usual array of new content and fixes.
Posted 7 days ago, 2 comments
Today Square Enix has revealed they will be releasing A King's Tale: Final Fantasy XV a free download available to everyone starting March 1st. It was formerly a FFXV preorder bonus exclusive to select retailers.
Posted 9 days ago, 2 comments
Thursday marked the release of ARK: Survival Evolved's epic — and a little bit, shall we say, out there — TEK Tier update, which added futuristic armor, weapons and equipment.
Posted 11 days ago, 0 comments
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Concept, Design, Programming and Server Stuff by Rich Stone


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Research by ScotPulse confirms more and more viewers in Scotland are planning to cut out subscriptions to TV and streaming services to save money.
The STV-commissioned survey indicates how the rising cost of living is driving Scottish households to drop subscription video-on-demand or other TV services. The majority of households either have, or plan to make cuts.
- Almost two thirds (64%) of SVoD subscribers have, or are planning to, cut back or cancel their services.
- Nearly half (47%) of those questioned plan to spend less on TV entertainment subscriptions (such as Sky, Netflix, Disney+ – and so on).
When asked for their thoughts on future usage of services,
- 52% planned to use fewer Paid-for TV services
- 48% planned to use fewer SVoD services.
- This compared with three quarters (75%) who planned to use free-to-view services at the same level, and 14% who planned to use free TV services more going forward.
The ScotPulse findings are supported by the Q2 2022 figures from the Barb Establishment Survey on subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) uptake. It showed SVOD subscriptions across homes in Scotland and the UK are starting to fall (versus Q1 2022). The drop in Scotland is sharper than elsewhere in the UK.
Kathleen Wiseman of ScotPulse commented:
“With the current economic backdrop causing consumers to examine their spending habits, it’s clear from our research that TV subscriptions is one of the areas where people can reduce their costs, with 64% of respondents stating they have or are considering cutting back or cancelling their SVoD packages.”
And STV appears to be benefitting from this development. Its latest update to shareholders reported a 7% increase in active STV Player users year-on-year.