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California regulators back utilities on rate hikes
SAN FRANCISCO -- In the strongest sign yet that electric bills will soon rise sharply for millions of Californians, state utility regulators said Thursday customers should pay more to keep the state's largest electric companies from going bankrupt.
"We believe that retail rates in California must begin to rise. It's our intent to maintain the utilities' access to capital on reasonable terms," the Public Utilities Commission said in a recovery plan that includes an independent audit of the utilities' books before it decides whether to lift a rate freeze.
The commission said it will resolve the question of just how much customers will pay on Jan. 4. In ongoing negotiations with Gov. Gray Davis and other key politicians and regulators, the utilities have asked that customers pay for 20 percent or more of the companies' debt.
Before making any such deal, the commission wants to know just how bad the financial picture is for Pacific Gas and Electric and Southern California Edison. Both utilities have taken on more than $8 billion in debt buying energy on the open market, but a rate freeze prevents them from passing the costs on to consumers.
"We have a public trust to keep the lights on," Chairwoman Loretta Lynch said before the commission unanimously approved the plan. "We need to obtain the facts and we have a legal duty to make sure the facts are accurate."
The commission will hold emergency public hearings next Wednesday and Thursday on the utilities' finances, allowing consumer advocates to have their say. But the language of the draft proposal left little doubt about where the commission stands on rate hikes.
The political stakes couldn't be higher for Davis, who has enjoyed high approval ratings but has been increasingly accused of failing to take action to avert the energy crisis, which has led to almost daily threats of brownouts and concerns that the state's economy could suffer.
Davis must balance consumer outrage over higher electric bills against the utilities' need to stay solvent.
"He's walking a tightrope," said spokesman Steve Maviglio.
Davis has little power over the energy market -- only the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission can set price controls or force energy wholesalers to lock in prices with long-term contracts, two solutions advocated by Energy Secretary Bill Richardson.
But the governor, who has strong influence on the commission, can sign legislation to re-regulate California's energy market, and use state money to help consumers or bail out the utilities. And even if they do go bankrupt, he could order them to continue providing electricity.
For all these reasons, consumer advocates say the crisis has been manufactured, and denigrated Standard & Poor's warning Wednesday that the utilities could lose their credit worthiness and no longer afford to buy power.
"Wall Street seems to think that every time a big company gets into trouble, there has to be a bailout by the customers or taxpayers," said Harvey Rosenfield, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a Santa Monica, Calif.-based watchdog group.
Utility bills doubled and in some cases tripled in San Diego this year after the rate freeze was lifted for California's third-largest utility, San Diego Gas and Electric. PG&E and SoCal Edison aren't as far along in the transition to deregulation, and so remain subject to the rate freeze.
On The Net:


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Byline: Kris Olson
Dayton Ogden says he plans on doing his annual holiday shopping at Shreve, Crump & Low, as usual.
But until recently, he and his wife were singing a different tune, alleging that one of the nation's oldest jewelry stores had perpetrated a "textbook 'bait and switch' scheme" against them by misrepresenting the quality of the 7.5-carat diamond ring they had bought for $355,000 back in July.
That had led the Ogdens, through their attorney, Nixon Peabody partner Jason C. Kravitz, to send a Chapter 93A demand letter to Shreve and, when they found the company's response inadequate, file suit in Suffolk Superior Court.
That suit has now been settled, though neither party is disclosing the terms of the settlement.
The dispute began when Dayton and Laura Ogden went to Shreve's famed flagship store on Newbury Street in Boston in search of a "truly special piece of jewelry" to mark their wedding anniversary and Laura's 40th birthday, according to their complaint.
They chose Shreve due to its reputation as "one of Boston's premier purveyors of fine jewelry," the complaint adds.
After Laura asked to see the "best piece" in the store, a salesperson trotted out the 7.51-carat Asscher cut diamond ring. The main stone had a color grade of "F" at the desirable colorless end of the D-through-Z scale and "VS1" clarity. That rating indicated that, to the extent the diamond had "inclusions," or flaws, they could be seen only by an expert using 10 times magnification.
Shreve's salesperson said he had never seen a diamond quite like it in his 25 years in the business, according to the Ogdens.
Based on such representations, the Ogdens agreed to buy the ring, and they left the store not just with the ring but with a sales slip and an appraisal, signed by the salesperson, assuring them of the diamond's "VS1" clarity rating.
However, a few weeks later, they received in the mail a report from the Gemological Institute of America, forwarded along by Shreve. The Ogdens say they were shocked to see on the report, dated Jan. 30, 2017, that the stone was in fact a "VS2."
A diamond may be downgraded to "VS2" due to a slight increase in the number or size of inclusions or their more conspicuous location, according to jewelry merchants' websites. However, the flaws of VS2 diamonds are still essentially invisible to the naked eye.
The Ogdens texted the salesperson, who attributed the issue to a "typo" in Shreve's database, they say.
"If in fact it was a typo...

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Bethesda's sci-fi RPG Starfield is set to be released on November 11 this year. Fans have been long-awaiting for this brand new IP from the makers of the Elder Scrolls and Fallout games.
Bethesda's first new IP in 25 years, Starfield, goes back to their roots in offering players an epic single-player role-playing experience. According to studio boss Todd Howard, the game will take players on an epic journey of "hope and humanity" that he alluded to as "Skyrim in space".
Courtesy of the gradual flow of teaser trailers, lore tidbits, and concept art, fans are starting to get a good idea of what Starfield will be all about. With more in-depth trailers hopefully coming soon from Bethesda, the sci-fi RPG has quickly ramped up to become the most anticipated game of 2022.
Note: This article is based on the views of its writer.
The expectation from Starfield is huge, but can Bethesda deliver?
Starfield is being developed on Creation Engine 2, which is the successor to the original that powered the likes of Skyrim, Fallout 4, and Fallout 76.
As Todd Howard mentioned, they set out to achieve something with their new game that had been unattainable before with the previous generation of hardware.
The revamped engine can go a long way in making a believable and detailed game world. The concept art of cities like New Atlantis almost certainly indicates that densely populated cities will be a reality in Starfield.
Bethesda has seemed to progress a long way on the character creation and backstory topic. Howard mentioned in a Reddit AMA a few months back that players will be able to choose their characters’ background, skills, pronouns (he/she/they), etc., and the game features “all the relevant dialog to support that choice.”
Although Starfield is set in 2310, Bethesda has taken a much-grounded approach regarding the setting. To gain inspiration and insight into the workings of the new game, Howard visited Musk's SpaceX facility. Even though the ship in the trailer boasts a futuristic appearance, it has recognizable technology.
Multiple factions of the game will play an instrumental role in the story of the game. United Colonies and Freestar Collectives are the main players in the power struggle surrounding the Settled Systems.
However, players will also encounter the likes of Ecliptic mercenaries, Crimson Fleet pirates, aggressive spacers, and even House Va'Ruun's rabid religious fanatics throughout the game's story.
Like every Bethesda RPG, the brand new IP will also have exploration as the main driving factor. As Constellation members, players will traverse various worlds with different themes and surroundings. From the team that brought Skyrim to the world, Bethesda claims their upcoming game will have unprecedented freedom.
Overall, the epic space opera is the most anticipated game yet to come out in 2022, at least from an RPG fan’s perspective.


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On Sunday, the CEOs of five nationwide retailers received a letter from public officials urging them to remove tobacco products from their stores.
The letter — sent to Walmart (WMT), Walgreen (WAG), Rite Aid (RAD), Kroger (KR) and Safeway (SWY) — was signed by the attorneys general of 28 states. The officials complained of that stores that sold health care products and services while also selling “these dangerous and devastating tobacco products” were facing a “contradiction.” While the letter did not threaten a legal measures to force the stores to ditch tobacco sales, a source told the New York Times that could transpire if the chains didn’t act voluntarily.
New York’s Attorney General, who also signed the letter, issued a statement saying that the retailers, which sell health care products and services, in addition to other items, were sending a “mixed message by continuing to sell deadly tobacco products.”
Walmart maintains a pharmacy department in addition to selling tobacco products, as do Kroger and Safeway supermarkets. Pharmacy chains Rite Aide and Walgreens sell a variety of other items outside of health care products.
CVS (CVS) said last month that it would discontinue tobacco product sales at its stores across the U.S. by the beginning of October.
In the wake of the CVS announcement, Walgreen said it was continuing to evaluate tobacco sales.
Shares of Walmart, Kroger, Safeway and Rite Aid rose modestly in Monday morning trading, while Walgreen shares climbed more than 1%.
More Things Getting Banned:
- Massachusetts Signs ‘Upskirt Photos’ Ban Into Law
- No Six-Second Sex: Vine Bans Nudity Unless It’s Educational
- Uh-Oh for SeaWorld, Calif. May Ban Orcas in Captivity


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In a historically difficult market environment with increased pressure on prices and volumes resulting from the COVID-19 crisis, the Lenzing Group reports that it has held its ground well in the first quarter of 2020. “Thanks to a diversified business model and its global footprint on the one hand, and the disciplined implementation of the sCore TEN corporate strategy on the other, the effect on revenue and earnings development was partially offset,” Lenzing said in its Interim Report 01/03-2020.
In the first quarter of 2020, revenue declined by 16.7% in comparison with the prior-year quarter and amounted to EUR 466.3 million. The main reason was the development of prices for standard viscose (due to significant overcapacity in the market) and other standard fibres. The impact of the COVID-19 crisis further increased pressure on prices and volumes. The prices for standard viscose dropped to a new all-time low of 9,150 RMB/ton by 31 March, up to 33% lower than in the prior-year quarter.
The comparatively positive development of Lenzing’s specialty fibre business and slightly higher demand for fibres in the medical and hygiene segments partially offset the decline in revenue. The share of specialty fibres increased from 47.3% in the first quarter of the previous year to 60.9%. The earnings development reflects the decline in revenue: EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) decreased by 24.3% to EUR 69.6 million. The EBITDA margin declined from 16.4% to 14.9%. Net profit for the period was down 58.6% to EUR 17.7 million. Earnings per share amounted to EUR 0.84 compared with EUR 1.65 in the first quarter of the previous year.
“The COVID-19 crisis has a severe impact on the entire textile and apparel industry and has further increased the pressure on prices and volumes in the global fibre market. Lenzing held its ground in this extremely difficult market environment and continues to drive the implementation of its key projects in Brazil and Thailand”, says Stefan Doboczky, Chief Executive Officer of the Lenzing Group.
“To meet the strong demand for hygiene and protective products for the population and for medical personnel, we intensified the collaboration with partners along the value chain in the first quarter of 2020. Today we are proud that we have achieved our goal of an industrial production of high-quality protective masks together with our partner Palmers and have therefore been able to support Austria and Europe in combating the pandemic as best possible,” says Doboczky.
Strengthening specialty fibre growth
CAPEX (expenditures for intangible assets and property, plant and equipment and biological assets) more than tripled to EUR 138.6 million in the first quarter of 2020. This increase is a consequence of the progress of the major projects in Brazil and Thailand. The implementation of the two most important long-term investment projects to strengthen internal pulp supply and to increase the share of specialty fibres in line with the sCore TEN corporate strategy is progressing according to plan. After the decision to build the dissolving wood pulp plant in Brazil with a capacity of 500,000 tons, the Duratex Group acquired a 49% share in the joint venture LD Celulose as agreed in the first quarter of 2020. Lenzing holds 51% of the shares.
In the first quarter of 2020, Lenzing completed the second pilot production plant for its Tencel Luxe branded filament yarn. The new facility at the Lenzing site with a total investment of EUR 30 million provides sufficient capacity for the development of commercial programs and further fibre applications.
On March 21, Lenzing presented its Sustainability Report 2019, which was also the International Day of Forests. The report sets out how the company is actively dealing with the global challenges. Under the motto ‘Stand up! Against business as usual’, Lenzing emphasizes its wider responsibilities over and above its products. With the implementation of the science-based target, Lenzing actively contributes to mastering the problems caused by climate change. The Lenzing Group is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions per ton of product by 50 percent by 2030 (baseline: 2017) and to become climate-neutral by 2050.
Production of high-quality protective masks
Lenzing intensified its collaboration with partners along the value chain in the first quarter of 2020 to meet the increased demand for high-quality hygiene and protective products. In late April, Lenzing AG and Palmers Textil AG founded Hygiene Austria LP GmbH, in which Lenzing AG holds 50.1% and Palmers Textil AG 49.9%. The newly founded company started producing and selling protective masks for the domestic and European markets from May 2020.
The two companies invested several million euros in a modern production infrastructure at the Wiener Neudorf location and secured the corresponding raw materials for protective masks production. In a first step, the company produces so-called mouth-nose protective masks (MNS) and surgical protective masks of class EN14683. Hygiene Austria LP GmbH plans to increase its capacities to over 25 million masks per month and to expand this business geographically as well.
Virtual Annual General Meeting on 18 June 2020
The Lenzing Group’s 76th Annual General Meeting has been rescheduled for 18 June 2020 after it was postponed on 17 March against the backdrop of further measures taken by the Austrian government to contain the coronavirus. The Management Board of the Lenzing Group reassessed its original resolution for a dividend distribution of EUR 1.00 and decided to propose to the Supervisory Board and the Annual General Meeting not to distribute a dividend for the 2019 financial year. The proposal not to pay out a dividend is supported by B&C, the majority shareholder of Lenzing AG.
Guidance for 2020 remains suspended
The Lenzing Group suspended on March 24 its result forecast for 2020 as a consequence of the COVID-19 crisis. For 2020, the International Monetary Fund currently projects the greatest recession of the global economy in the course of a century. Global economic output is expected to contract by 3% in 2020, while a decline by 6.1% is anticipated for the advanced economies.
The impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the business of the Lenzing Group can still not be reliably estimated and strongly depends on the duration of the crisis and its impact on the global economy and textile markets. Consequently, the guidance for 2020 remains suspended.
The comparatively solid business development in the first quarter reassures the Lenzing Group in its chosen corporate strategy sCore TEN. Lenzing will continue to implement its strategy with great discipline with a particular focus on the strategic investment projects which both will yield to a significant contribution to earnings starting from 2022.
Source: Innovation in Textiles
A weekly report covering market and price information on the entire chain of polyester along with online access to daily polyester chain prices.
One-time reports that are issued annually cover the demand and supply trends in individual products including polyester, nylon, acrylic, viscose, and cotton.
One-time reports that are issued annually cover the demand and supply trends in the individual country's natural and manmade fiber/filament industries.
Countries Served Worldwide


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the newYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Jessica Simpson He speaks frankly about her finances.
The star was pouring her money into her business after that It regained full ownership of its $1 billion brand of the same name.
The 41-year-old recently appeared in “Realwhere she told talk show hosts that she is ‘draining’ her bank account.
“I don’t have a working credit card,” she said. “It’s okay. I’ll pay in cash.” added. “I went to Taco Bell that day, and my card was refused. My budget, ladies!”
Elsewhere in the interview, Simpson said, “With money, there’s a lot of fear attached to it. I’m the one who gets mad at the blackjack table. I’d put everything in there if I was the one driving it show because I believe in myself and I know what I can do. I know it won’t Something is stopping me, and if you try to stop me, I will try even harder.”
The singer and actress took charge of her popular Jessica Simpson Collection last year after parent company Sequential Brands Group Inc. Filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Back in August.
Since recording, Simpson and her mother, Tina Simpson, It was hard work Behind the scenes, the actress and singer got her company back because she only owned just over a third of the brand — 37.5% — at the time she bought Sequential Brands Group Inc. Majority stake in Camuto Group in 2015.
“The absolute world means to me being able to take full ownership of my brand,” Simpson said. Footwear news at the time.
“After 16 years in the business, I feel ready to face this next exciting phase with open arms. I know the sky is the limit when my mom, me and our amazing team lock up completely with our clients.”
Bloomberg reported in September that Simpson Offered $65 million To repurchase the brand at auction.
The brand consists of more than 30 product categories, according to Forbes. In 2014, the outlet also noted that the brand makes about $1 billion annually in retail.
FOX Business’ Julius Young contributed to this report
“Twitter geek. Proud troublemaker. Professional student. Total zombie guru. Web specialist. Creator.”


text: Former Coinbase CTO and Silicon Valley top venture capital a16z general partner Balaji Srinivasan wrote an article entitled "Bitcoin Becomes a Technology Banner" in honor of the 11th anniversary of Bitcoin's birth. According to the article, Bitcoin (and more generally cryptocurrencies) allows us to transcend its implicit meaning by expressing value in a piece of code, which is also an investment tool. The code talks to developers, its advantages attract investors, and its intrinsic value communicates with both. If you believe in these values, you tend to buy Bitcoin. Srinivasan went on to say that Bitcoin is "an ideological banner and Schelling point (note: people's tendency to choose without communication in game theory)." So in essence, Srinivasan refers to "the symbol of bitcoin as a symbol of consciousness."


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LG Chem has begun to mass produce batteries for Tesla’s Model 3 electric vehicles from its Nanjing plant in China, according to industry sources Sept. 18.
The US-based EV maker will be using LG Chem’ 21700 type batteries using NCM811 that boast a nickel proportion of 80% or more. The LG company previously supplied the NCM811 to electric buses. This is the first time to supply an automobile, the sources said.
Until now, Tesla has been supplied by Japan’s Panasonic, which uses NCA, which is another type of high nickel cathode material.
LG Chem convinced Tesla to switch to NCM811 batteries based on the longer driving distances per charge. It also hinted that it may be able to begin mass producing NCMA batteries, which is even higher in nickel, beginning in 2022 to apply to EVs.
The Model 3, which now receiving pre-orders in China, can run 480km on a single charge for the standard model. The cars sold in Korea are slightly heavier and have a single charge driving distance of 353km.
Upon requests from Tesla, LG Chem is now preparing to expand its battery lines. Already, it has doubled the production volume from its Nanjing plant from last year. Nanjing is where LG said in January this year that it would invest up to 1.2 trillion won to expand the facilities.
According to market research firm SNE Research, LG Chem is expected to churn out up to 1 billion cylindrical battery cells per year from Nanjing. In 2017, the firm was producing 630 million such cells.
The Elec is South Korea’s No.1 tech news platform.


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Next time you step into an Uber – be sure to take a good look at the car. If it looks a bit different and sounds a bit quieter, you might be riding in one of the first fully electric vehicles to be available on the Uber app in the UK.
We believe Uber is good for cities. And that has always included the air we all breathe. Already 60% of all miles travelled using Uber in London are in hybrid vehicles. And Londoners using uberPOOL have now saved more than 98,000 litres of petrol and 231 metric tonnes of CO2 by opting to share their journey over 2 million times, with shared journeys saving more than 1.3 million miles being driven.
Today we’re proud to be going one step further.
From this afternoon, a mix of fully electric Nissan LEAFs and BYD E6s – both 100% electric models that produce no emissions – are now available in London for the first time when you request an uberX.
Electric vehicles can help cities – like London – become greener, healthier and better places to live.
By October, more than 50 fully electric cars will be available on uberX in the capital. We also plan to bring electric vehicles to our app in at least one other UK city.
These ultra clean vehicles are the focus of a 3 month study, working with the Energy Savings Trust, that will look at how Uber and private hire can begin making the switch to electric vehicles. The study aims to figure out how we can work with cities to make them a better and healthier place to live.
Earlier this year, London broke its annual legal limit on air pollution in just the first 8 days of January. Electric vehicles have a big role to play in helping cities like London tackle the challenge of air pollution. And if this programme is successful, we hope it will be just the beginning.
“We are delighted to be working with Uber to help realise and build upon their ambition to add a significant number of electric vehicles to their app. We hope that this trial represents an important step in Uber’s contribution towards the wider efforts to improve air quality in the capital – the benefits of which will be felt by all.”
Andrew Benfield, Group Director of Transport at the Energy Saving Trust
“We’re pleased to see such a well-known company embrace electric vehicles. With running costs from as little as 2p per mile, electric cars have never been more popular with UK drivers. The Uber electric vehicle programme will help grow public interest in zero emission technology – and we’re excited to see the results.”
Poppy Welch, Head of Go Ultra Low
“We need to make it easy and accessible for people to make choices to help London’s air quality, so we support Uber’s plan to bring electric vehicles to London. Poor air quality causes significant health problems in London and other UK cities. Any move towards replacing vehicles with zero emissions technology on our city streets is a much needed step in the right direction, making our cities cleaner, greener and healthier.”
Caroline Watson, Senior Partner of Global Action Plan
London, who’s hungry? Introducing UberEATS!
UberEATS is our new food delivery platform, which makes ordering fantastic meals from your favourite local London restaurants as easy as requesting a ride. Simply open the app to see the restaurants in your area.


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Take our poll below…
The Wall Street Journal had an interesting story last week about whether stainless steel is on its way out as the finish of choice for appliances.
The piece calls this “a pivotal moment in kitchen design” and describes how companies are searching for the next big finish for appliances. You can see a WSJ video about the issue above.
I love some of the quotes the story includes:
"White is the new stainless," the story quotes a Whirlpool news release saying. (See Whirlpool’s new Ice Collection below.)
"Black is the new stainless steel," the story quotes Wolf Appliance saying in a news release for black glass ovens introduced this spring.
The story includes some fantastic photos of old appliance promotions, which really bring to life how many shades have been used over the years. It’s much broader than just white, black and harvest gold.
The story also describes some of the newest appliance offerings, including Whirlpool’s new glossy white “Ice Collection” and GE’s new “slate” finish (see below).
“Introducing a new finish is a gamble,” the WSJ story says. “Development takes a year or more. Stores sometimes grant extra space to new ideas, but typically manufacturers have to work within an allotted number of slots, so an unsuccessful product can put the company's overall sales at risk.”
What do you think? Is stainless on its way out?


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Investment market update (for the quarter ended 30 September, 2021)
Since the lows of the Covid crash in late March 2020 it has been an exceptional run for global share markets. That run hit a significant speedbump in September.
With many markets near record highs and valuations generally lofty relative to history, they were susceptible to a pullback. To emphasise just how unusually calm it had been, until the last day of September (when the run was broken) it had been 236 trading days since the MSCI World Index had seen -five percent drawdown. That’s the second longest period in the past 25 years. Markets can sometimes be volatile, but for most of the past year (until recently) they haven’t been.
New Zealand market bounces despite Covid lockdowns
After being a laggard to global markets, the New Zealand share market had a strong quarter, boosted by companies reporting healthy results in August.
Some may be surprised the strong performance has come at a time when we’ve been hit with the first Covid-19 community outbreak in six months, and parts of the country remain in lockdown.
Lockdowns will impact economically exposed sectors and companies. The good news for investors, however, is the New Zealand market is dominated by defensive companies in sectors like healthcare, utilities, telecommunications, and consumer staples. The earnings of these companies are less affected by the economic environment.
The silver lining of the outbreak is that it’s been the wake-up call for many New Zealanders to get vaccinated. We no longer hold the inauspicious title of being the least vaccinated country in the OECD. This time round, New Zealand had little choice around how to respond to the Covid-19 outbreak. Widespread vaccinations are the only way to provide countries with broader choices about how to manage Covid-19 in the future.
Interest rate rises are coming
New Zealand has been one of the first countries in the developed world to raise interest rates in a post-Covid world. On 6 October it lifted the official cash rate (OCR) by 25 basis points to 0.5 percent. Our economy is facing pent-up demand and capacity constraints – the housing shortage being the most obvious example – from the tidal wave of migrants over the last eight years. In recent years, that same migration kept a lid on wages.
But now, with borders shut, capacity pressures are biting and inflation risks are rising. Closed borders are also driving up import costs. New Zealand is distanced from key trading partners and, as such, global supply chain constraints and rising freight costs have had an even greater impact here than abroad.
Furthermore, unlike other countries New Zealanders have been breaking out the credit cards. Much of our strong economy is being funded by rising household debt for which we’ll eventually face a cost.
The market is pricing that by May next year, we will see three more rate hikes lifting the OCR to 1.25 percent, but the environment remains fluid and subject to change. The creep of the Covid-19 delta variant south of Auckland, uncertainty over how long level 3 lockdowns will be imposed, and growing questions around the pace of the global economic recovery will all influence the RBNZ’s trajectory from here.
A return to (normal) volatility
Recent volatility has broken a period of unusual calm in markets. Whilst we remain comfortable retaining a healthy weighting of risk assets (shares, property) in portfolios, we also believe the easiest gains in this cycle are likely behind us and that future returns will be lower than what we’ve seen over recent time.
This column is general in nature and does not take any of your personal circumstances into account. For personalised financial advice, contact Forsyth Barr for an overview of the services we can provide.


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theright.fit has won the Innovation category at the 2018 Mumbrella Awards, with the award accepted on the night by CEO and founder Taryn Williams.
theright.fit is a two sided marketplace for creative talent and influencers, making it easy, efficient and cost effective for brands to book campaigns, from TVCs, print campaigns, events and social media executions.
The tech startup, which launched in 2016, successfully raised capital early on with one of Australia’s leading VC firms, Airtree Ventures, along with a number of strategic partners and funds. It has over 6,500 talent on the platform including hair and makeup artists, photographers, stylists, videographers, artists and influencers, and guarantees payment to talent within 48 hours.
Why has theright.fit won this Mumbrella award?
The jury said, “theright.fit is a disruptive platform that helps clients source talent, creators, producers and much more to develop content faster, cheaper and easier than current processes without compromising on quality or engagement opportunity.
“Taryn’s idea is seriously impressive. She developed and built her business quickly and continually improved the platform in line with what the market needed. The whole business displayed tremendous effort, energy and passion to drive what was a great business model forward in an industry that is getting more and more competitive.”
Taryn Williams is one of Australia’s most prolific entrepreneurs in the tech start-up and media industries. With over sixteen years experience in the world of modelling, advertising and media, Taryn has proven herself to be a game changer and one not shy to press the disrupt button.
“I started theright.fit as I saw an opportunity to use technology to improve the way brands engage with creative talent and influencers in the media industry. To now be recognised for my work with this award is a humbling and rewarding moment,” Taryn Williams said.
There are so many women and men doing great things across a variety of sectors in the marketing and media industry and I congratulate Mumbrella on championing them with these awards.”
Who is Taryn Williams?
Taryn’s involvement in the industry goes back to when she was fifteen and scouted as a model. She started her first business, WINK Models, at the age of 21 with $30,000 in savings, a response to the inefficiencies in working conditions for models and the lack of flexibility and quality service offered to clients.
Eleven years later, the agency has flourished into a national business, named in Anthill’s Top 100 Cool companies, and represents over 650 talent with turnover in the millions. Taryn has handed over the day-to-day management of WINK so she can dedicate her focus and energy to the growth of theright.fit.
Taryn is a leader in the Australian startup ecosystem and is a regular commentator on the tech industry, entrepreneurialism and business. She is a board director of Digital + Technology Collective (formerly AIMIA). Taryn has achieved numerous award recognitions, including being named the 20-17 B&T Women in media tech winner, Finalist in the B&T Hot 30 under 30, B&T Women in Media, SmartCompany 30 under 30, Institute of Managers & Leaders and Women’s Agenda Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year.
Further details about the winners of the 2018 Mumbrella Awards can be found here.


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At BlackBerry World RIM this week has announced, demonstrated and delivered to developers a new BB 10-based smart mobile device - a prototype of what new versions of BlackBerry hardware might look like when the devices launch in early Q3 2012. The developer device does not sport a keyboard - and that's good news.
The company is getting serious about delivering a cloud-based mobile capability. It's first effort involves a tight partnership with Microsoft and works with Microsoft Office 365. It's a first step to a larger scale cloud offering.Get the details. Is there a BES cloud offering in your future?
Today's fast-paced business relies more than ever on cell/smart phones, tablets and data cards to stay connected. However, with growth comes significant challenge in managing the expenses associated with wireless devices. This quick-read whitepaper shows how organizations can improve their management of mobile devices including achieving better service, improved productivity, and hard-dollar cost savings up to 25%.
Companies that are preparing to move forward with mobile deployments more often than not believe they can simply build mobile applications in-house. Nothing is further from the truth however. Excellent TCO and ROI can only be gained through quick deployments that leverage already established expertise. This white paper provides a comprehensive perspective on the issue.
The new strategic direction leverages on ST-Ericsson's unique capability to deliver complete system solutions for smartphones and tablets. Competitive integrated modem plus application processor solutions will be the key differentiating offering through a combined approach of development and alliances.
The company has released its new Reliance Nitro 2.7, the first full-featured file system for Android. The new Android file system combines strong read and write performance with fast mount time, rock-solid reliability, and a comprehensive tool set.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and Masabi US Ltd, a key player in transit mobile ticketing, have announced that they will be partnering to bring mobile ticketing to MBTA commuter rail riders this fall for users of for iPhone, Android, and Blackberry smartphones.
ClickSoftware has delivered on a comprehensive enterprise mobility app store, delivering both a large collection of mobile application modules and the technology to cohesively tie them into larger scale mobile apps.
Mobile apps platform vendor Appcelerator has announced the release of its new Titanium 2.0 platform. The product launch delivers a new suite of mobile cloud services and much needed HTML5 support.
New research report looks at security, networks, and wireless access to support mobility growth, also provides forecast for federal mobile IT investments.


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Top reasons to buy the vivo X50 Pro smartphone
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The connectivity options avaiable on it are Bluetooth,WiFi,NFC,GPS,USB Connectivity .As it comes with GPS tracking,it is possible to accurately track distance,speed and place.By connecting your
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Huawei has announced the availability of the Huawei Watch GT2e in the Indian market. The wearable is now available on both Amazon and Flipkart at Rs 11,990 only. Those who pre-ordered the watch between 15th May to...
Realme will be unveiling the Realme Watch and a few other tech-lifestyle products in the coming days. Realme India CEO, Madhav Sheth tweeted a teaser video of the upcoming Realme smartwatch which states, “Realme Watch, See...
Realme has been pivoting beyond smartphones and becoming a tech-lifestyle brand this year. Realme launched truly-wireless earphones, a smart wristband and there’s even a TV on the cards. Realme CEO Madhav Sheth was also spotted wearing...
Oppo has launched its first smartwatch. The company is calling it the Oppo Watch. It comes in two sizes of 41mm and 46mm. The watch runs on a custom version of ColorOS, tailored for smartwatches...
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We are about leadership — the 9.9 kind Building a leading media company out of India. And, grooming new leaders for this promising industry


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Germany-based chocolate maker Alfred Ritter is to buy a factory and a brand in Austria from US confectionery giant Mars, it has announced.
Ritter will take over a production plant in the eastern Austrian town of Breitenbrunn in January 2021 and acquire the Amicelli brand of filled wafer rolls, which it will continue to manufacture at the site.
It has also taken over two other brands from Mars which are not currently available in Austria and Germany: chocolate bar Banjo and chocolate roll product Fanfare.
Financial details have not been disclosed.
In a statement sent to just-food, Ritter CEO Andreas Ronken said the acquisition would add to the company’s manufacturing site in Waldenbuch in south-western Germany. “With the plant in Breitenbrunn, we have found the appropriate property to supplement our production in Waldenbuch. This expansion will enable us to enhance our flexibility and gradually increase our capacities.”
Ritter said it plans to relocate to Breitenbrunn the production of special products such as its vegan range and Ritter Sport Rum, as well as some varieties of its 100-gram range.
Reports in the German media said 110 existing Mars employees at the Breitenbrunn plant will leave before the end of November.
just-food has asked Mars for confirmation of this and has also asked for further comment on the deal.


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Lewis Hamilton has become known for his unique fashion sense in recent years, as the seven-time world champion is often spotted wearing clothes that certainly make him stand out.
The 38-year-old can often be seen wearing some abstract designs from the latest range of designer outfits which often divide opinion from fans who either think he looks extremely fashionable or a little bit silly.
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has recently revealed in an interview with La Gazette dello Sport that he admires Hamilton’s fashion sense and was even close to launching a clothing range of his own.
“Sometimes we discuss the brands we like. He really has a lot of courage to show off the strangest looks when he comes to the circuits,” said the Monegasque.
“I had started the project, but I stopped. Maybe in the future.”
Hamilton’s archrival Max Verstappen has recently claimed that the main difference between himself and the seven-time world champion is that Hamilton much prefers to be in the limelight and the public eye, while he would happily race without anyone even knowing who he is.
The Brit’s taste in fashion has led to him launching his own range of clothing, having collaborated with Tommy Hilfiger back in 2018 to create the TOMMYXLEWIS range with the brand.
Back in 2020 Leclerc revealed that he had already spoken to Hamilton about a potential clothing collection, having been inspired by the Brit to pursue his creative dream.
“I have spoken to Lewis very briefly [about fashion], congratulated him for his new collection. He’s doing a great job with the brand, and I quite like what he’s doing. It’s definitely something I’d like to do further down the road,” he said.
“It frees my mind. At least I think of something else than only race, which I think is very good. This was also my problem in the past, not being able to disconnect from racing. Fashion and music helps.”
It is unlikely that Leclerc will have time to focus on creating a fashion brand in 2023 as Ferrari will be hoping that their driver can go one step further than last year and win the drivers’ championship.
Strategic blunders cost the 25-year-old a shot at glory in 2022, but under the new management of Fred Vasseur, Leclerc will be hoping that his fortunes can change in his title bid this year.


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Prices of generic drugs are skyrocketing
The prices of some popular generic drugs have recently skyrocketed.
Cathy Scantlan was prescribed pills for her acid reflux. The pills didn't cost her much, but it was a different story for her insurance company.
"I saw the insurance paid $695 for this medication and I just went ballistic," she says. She called the Consumer Watchdog to look into the issue.
As a nurse, Cathy knows that the high price tag paid by her insurance will eventually trickle down to her as health care premiums rise every year.
Pharmacies say they have to charge more because their costs to buy the drugs are going up.
According to Michael Corbin R.Ph., the owner of Kings Health Mart Pharmacy, creams like Nystatin were $1.50 one day, and $63 the next. We checked the price again, and it's now at $88.
The antibiotic Doxyclen went from five cents to more than two dollars. The heart medicine Digoxin went from ten cents to 73 cents a pill.
"It's been around since the 1800's. It's made in a plant so there is no reason for this to be an expensive product," says Corbin, referring to Digoxin.
A study by Pembroke Consulting found one-third of generic drugs increased in price last year, with 12 of them increasing by 2000 percent.
The consulting firm blames supply and demand on part of the problem. There's also a shortage of some drugs and less competition due to mergers in the industry.
Meanwhile, Cathy took action, hoping to keep the prices we all pay in check. She switched to a cheaper alternative, saving herself and her insurance money.
"I called the pharmacy and said, ‘I won't be getting this prescription'", she says.
With prices increasing, make sure you shop around as prices vary dramatically from pharmacy to pharmacy. Ask about discount programs or alternative drugs that are cheaper.


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Data Republic is beginning a strategic expansion with the company securing $22 million in series B funding, led by Singtel Innov8, the corporate venture capital fund of the Singtel Group.
The round also included investments Singapore Airlines and existing investors Qualgro, ANZ, Reinventure and Ryder Innovation Fund.
Edgar Hardless, CEO, Singtel Innov8 said, “Data intelligence gives businesses a competitive advantage and data sharing is increasingly recognised as a critical way for enterprises to extend their breadth and depth of market insights.
“Data Republic is helping to ensure that such data sharing is conducted in a safe, secure and compliant manner. Innov8 is excited to support Data Republic’s ambition to expand into Singapore and beyond.”
George Wang, SVP Information Technology at Singapore Airlines, said, “Singapore Airlines recognises the increasing importance that data plays in allowing organisations to have an enriched understanding of customers’ preferences.
“Our investment in Data Republic highlights our commitment to data innovation through a platform which leverages technology to ensure data security and privacy and further enhance our digital capabilities.”
In September Data Republic appointed Lynn Thompson, country manager Singapore to lead growth in the region.
Paul McCarney, CEO and co-founder of Data Republic said: “Gaining support from major Singaporean businesses like Singtel and Singapore Airlines demonstrates the growing importance of privacy and the increasing global need for technology which supports secure, inter-organisational data sharing across markets.
“We welcome our new strategic partners and thank existing investors for their continued support of Data Republic’s technology and vision.”
Data Republic said it has recently seen rapid adoption of their secure data sharing platform, Senate, which is now used by multiple major banks, governments and brands in the aviation, retail and media sectors across Australia, Singapore and the United States.


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TOKYO--Sony Computer Entertainment today announced that it has completed the acquisitions of UK-based Evolution Studios and its subsidiary, Bigbig Studios. Both studios have been developing games exclusively for Sony platforms for a number of years. Now that they're members of SCE's Worldwide Studios (WWS) network, they'll have the opportunity to benefit from sharing technology and production methodology with other studios in the network, which include the Cambridge and London teams, Zipper Interactive, Guerrilla Games, Polyphony Digital, and others in Japan, the UK, and the US.
"Our strategy is to create the best games by working with the best talent, and Evolution and Bigbig are world-class additions to our team," explained SCE Worldwide Studios president Phil Harrison. "The incredible people in these studios further extend the depth and skill of the industry's largest platform-exclusive development resource."
At this point, Evolution Studios is best known for its million-selling MotorStorm on the PlayStation 3, but the studio--established in 1999--made its name developing the World Rally Championship series on PlayStation 2. According to Sony's statement, Evolution is currently working on downloadable content for MotorStorm, as well as a sequel to the game scheduled for release sometime in 2008.
Founded in 2001, Bigbig Studios made a name for itself with the 2005 release of Pursuit Force for the PSP. The game was voted GameSpot's best PSP game of show at Electronic Entertainment Expo 2005 and has sold over 800,000 copies to date. Bigbig is currently working on Pursuit Force: Extreme Justice, which will debut on the PSP in October and get a PS2 release early next year.


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They are coming for your television. The Orange County Register reports the California Energy Commission is considering banning the sale of big-screen TV sets that don’t meet new, higher energy efficiency standards.
The proposed regulations will make many big-screen sets illegal. By 2011, the commission wants all large-screen TVs to use 33 percent less power. By 2013, sets must consume 49 percent less power. The bureaucrats say the regulations will reduce global warming and save consumers $18 to $30 a year.
If the law was enacted today, the Consumer Electronics Association says about 25 percent of TVs would be non-compliant, most of those being sets with screens of 40-inches or more. Considering that most manufacturers already work to meet voluntary Energy Star standards, it is questionable how much more state agencies can demand from manufacturers without forcing them to pass on these added costs to consumers, which means more expensive TVs.
There is also a huge question about how such a law would be enforced. Many California consumers would simply choose to purchase non-compliant TVs on the Internet, or drive to stores in nearby Nevada, Arizona or Oregon. As a result, local California-based retailers, who provide jobs and income to state residents, stand to lose the most from the ban.
The Energy Commission insists that it is not “banning” big screen TVs, but simply setting higher efficiency standards. But setting standards that few, if anyone, can actually meet is really just prohibition by another name.
The energy commissioners are really concerned about our prosperity. They fret that too many people are buying bigger TVs, hooking them up to Digital Video Recorders (DVRs), cable boxes, computers and digital cameras. We simply can’t have that. These home electronics now consume about 10 percent of household electricity, according to PG&E. So here comes the state’s nanny to tell taxpayers how they should be using electricity and to tell us we are using too much of it watching big screen TVs.
Ironically, these nanny-state tactics are unnecessary. Bureaucrats don’t have to browbeat consumers into saving energy. The cost of power isn’t getting any less expensive. You don’t have to buy into the global warming doctrine to want to lower your electricity bills.
Many television manufacturers, well aware that their customers want to save money, are developing organic light-emitting diode (OLED) televisions that are much more power efficient than today’s sets.
And Wired.com points out “most of the TVs that would be banned by the proposal would be larger TVs that are already losing steam in the market anyway… consumers are already ahead of the game here. No matter what happens with the proposal, energy-hogging TVs will be gone within two years.”
As usual, customers and companies are ahead of the bureaucrats. To cover the added $18 to $30 yearly cost of that big screen TV, people might choose to turn down the air conditioner, do a better job turning off the lights around the house, or waiting until the dishwasher is full before running it. People can find plenty of ways to be economical when they have to. They might even choose compact fluorescent light bulbs.
Just as the commission seeks to ban big televisions, the state legislature tried a similar tactic with attempts to ban incandescent light bulbs. But the legislature wisely stopped short of an outright ban in favor of a list of requirements that light bulbs must meet in the future. That list, however, was intentionally malleable so businesses and consumers would have some flexibility. Legislators, unlike the energy commissioners, are elected officials and need to be somewhat sensitive to what voters want.
If the energy commission moves to ban big screens, I suspect the commissioners will learn Californians take their televisions very seriously.


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Some profit-hunting airlines have sought to lure travelers into business and first class with comfy lounges, fancy cocktails and high-speed internet connections.
Most travelers could care less; they"™re watching their own bottom line.
A Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll out this week showed that 83% of Americans put ticket prices chief among their considerations when booking personal tickets, topping travel perks and even an airline"™s reputation.
Some 60% of those polled said they would not pay extra to avoid being assigned a middle seat. About 52% said they would not pay more to fly on their preferred airline.
While more perks have been introduced to differentiate higher-priced ticket options, the airlines are not ignoring the other end of the spectrum.
Within the last several months, the largest U.S. carriers have all introduced versions of a no-frills, bare economy fare. Basic fares on American Airlines AAL, +0.49% , Delta Air Lines DAL, +0.08% and United Airlines UAL, +1.06% will buy a spot in the main cabin, but with no advanced seat assignment and no option to upgrade the ticket.
The Reuters/Ipsos survey found evidence of distrust of big airlines among passengers. About 53% of respondents believe airlines prioritize profits over passenger safety…


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The Mondovi, Wis.-based temperature-sensitive truckload carrier recorded earnings per share of $0.25 for the quarter, surpassing the street consensus and Stifel estimate of $0.21.
The Gulf Coast port’s total tonnage spiked 11 percent year-over-year during the quarter, while containerized cargo volumes increased 18 percent.
The Danish shipping company will use the cloud computing platform to develop digital products and services across all brands in its A.P. Moller - Maersk Transport & Logistics division.
Registration takes less than 1 minute.
Shippers, carriers and terminals swapped accusations in their filings with the Federal Maritime Commission that their positions on detention and demurrage charges are being mischaracterized.
Container freight rates in the eastbound transatlantic trade jumped 33 percent from last week, while China-U.S. West Coast prices grew 11 percent, according to the latest data from the Freightos International Freight Index.
The European Shippers' Council said some shipments from Europe to Asia have been delayed up to eight weeks.


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Those who’ve yet to purchase BloodRayne: Betrayal can now get 20% for waiting, as through PSN in the US the game will be discounted starting today. However, the sale ends on December 13, so you best hurry. Europe saw a similar sale on the game back in November.
Buy our t-shirts, yeah
They're far more stylish than your average video game website tat.


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ATTOM Data Solutions has reported that the typical Q1 home sale generated a profit of $70,050 nationwide, down from $75,750 in Q4 of 2020, but still up 26% from $55,750 in Q1 of 2020.
The typical home-sale profit of $70,050 represented a 34.2% return-on-investment (ROI) compared to the original purchase price–down from 37.1% in Q4 of 2020, but still higher than the 30.8% level recorded one year ago.
The rise in profit and profit margins in Q1 came as the national median home price decreased 2% from Q4 of 2020, to $275,000, but remained 16% higher than where it stood one year ago. Median values, measured annually, rose in 97% of markets around the country, jumping by at least 10% in more than three-quarters of them.
“The latest data on home prices and seller profits across the U.S. provide the latest markers of how the U.S. housing market keeps roaring ahead even as major parts of the broader economy try to overcome the impact of the pandemic,” said Todd Teta, Chief Product Officer at ATTOM Data Solutions. “However, the market did take a break from rising prices in the first quarter of 2021, and while that’s not unusual for the beginning of the year, it’s definitely something to keep on eye on as we move into the spring buying season. The next few months will speak huge volumes about whether the market keeps barreling ahead. For now, though, sellers remain in the driver’s seat, ringing up great profits.”
Regionally, the largest annual increases in profit margins came in two Tennessee markets, the metro area of Knoxville (up from 45% in Q1 of 2020 to 122.1% in Q1 of 2021) and Nashville (up from 48.2% to 92.1%); followed by Boise, Idaho (up from 60.6% to 102.8%); Crestview-Fort Walton Beach, Florida (up from 23.7% to 58.7%); and Chattanooga, Tennessee (up from 38.1% to 72.5%).
Aside from Nashville, the biggest annual profit-margin increases in metro areas with a population of at least one million were in Columbus, Ohio (margins up from 38.6% to 60.6%); Baltimore, Maryland (up from 19.9% to 41.1%); Phoenix, Arizona (up from 37.1% to 55.4%); and Seattle, Washington (up from 66.7% to 83.3%).
Conversely, profit margins dropped year-over-year in just 18 of the 149 metro areas analyzed (12%). The biggest decreases were found in another Tennessee market, the Memphis market, where margins were down from 34.8% to 8%). Memphis was followed by Columbus, Georgia (down from -3.4% to -17.6%); Prescott, Arizona (down from 48.9% to 36.4%); Barnstable, Massachusetts (down from 48.7% to 36.4%); and Santa Rosa, California (down from 56.4% to 48.1%).
Despite the economic fallout from the pandemic, median home prices in Q1 of 2021 surpassed figures from a year earlier in 97% of metropolitan statistical areas. Nationally, the median home price of $275,000 in Q1 was up 16% from $236,250 in Q1 of 2020, despite a 2% drop from the peak of $280,000 in Q4 of last year.
The biggest year-over-year increases in median home prices during the first quarter of 2021 came in Crestview-Fort Walton Beach, Florida (up 38%); East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania (up 34%); Montgomery, Alabama (up 33%); Ocean City, New Jersey (up 31%); and Mobile, Alabama (up 31%).
The largest year-over-year declines in median prices during Q1 were found in Pittsburgh (down 10%); Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (down 2%); Charleston, South Carolina (down 2%); Santa Rosa, California (down less than 1%); and Brownsville, Texas (up less than 1%).
Click here to view ATTOM’s Q1 2021 U.S. Home Sales Report.


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Prices of food are set to rise 1.6 percent in April, following a 0.5 percent gain in the previous month, boosted by higher prices of both processed (2.2 percent vs 1.2 percent) and unprocessed food products (0.7 percent vs -0.4 percent). Additional upward pressure should come from: tobacco (2.8 percent vs 2.2 percent). Meanwhile, energy inflation is expected to slow to 0.8 percent in April from 3 percent in March, due to a decline in non-regulated energy products prices (-1.1 percent vs 5 percent). Also, cost of services related to transport should fall 0.7 percent after a 2.5 percent advance in the previous month.
Annual core inflation rate, which excludes energy and unprocessed food, is expected to fall to 0.5 percent from 0.7 percent in March. Excluding only energy, the inflation should remain unchanged at 0.5 percent.
On a monthly basis, consumer prices are expected to increase by only 0.1 percent, after a 0.3 percent gain in March and missing consensus of 0.2 percent. An increase in prices of processed food products (1.1 percent), non-regulated energy goods (1.1 percent) and recreational, cultural and personal care (0.9 percent) should offset a decline in regulated energy prices (-5.4 percent).
The harmonised index of consumer prices is expected to rise by 0.6 percent from the previous year; and by 0.5 percent from the previous month.


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Nexo, a cryptocurrency lender, announced a partnership with global payments major Mastercard to produce the world’s first “crypto-backed” payment card on Wednesday.
As digital assets grow more widespread, this is the latest step by crypto and traditional financial networks to join together.
Nexo stated that the card, which would initially be offered in a few European nations, will allow users to spend without having to sell their digital assets, such as bitcoin, which are used as collateral to back the credit issued.
The majority of traditional credit cards are unsecured and have a predetermined credit limit.
The card is connected to a Nexo-provided, crypto-backed credit line and can be used at 92 million Mastercard-accepting businesses globally, allowing investors to spend up to 90 percent of the fiat value of their crypto assets, according to Nexo.
There are no minimum repayments, monthly fees, or inactivity penalties with this card. According to Nexo, there are no FX costs for transactions up to 20,000 euros each month.
There are no limits on how much a consumer may spend or remove from an open credit line, and interest is only charged on the amount of credit that is actually used. Customers that maintain a loan-to-value ratio of 20% or less continue to pay 0% interest.
According to Raj Dhamodharan, Mastercard’s head of crypto and blockchain products and partnerships, digital assets are transforming the financial environment.
Nexo’s card is issued by DiPocket, an electronic money company.


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Probably the greatest retailers in America have tossed their weight behind antitrust examinations concerning Amazon and Google.
The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), which checks Walmart, Target, and Best Buy among its individuals, composed a 10-page letter to the Federal Trade Commission, saying it is glad to help with administrative tests.
The letter, which is dated June 30, plots how the Association accepts antitrust laws should be adjusted to oblige huge tech organizations like Amazon, Google, and Facebook.
In doing as such, they could be wanting to benefit from the developing threatening vibe towards enormous tech in Washington D.C., where work is in progress to research if the FAANG organizations are manhandling their market strength.
“Our view is that cutting edge antitrust authorization should be driven by a more noteworthy acknowledgment that command over data can drive anticompetitive impact the same amount of as market power and value control,” RILA composed.
One of the primary concerns brought up in the letter is to do with tech monsters controlling how individuals search on the web. “It should… be very worried to the Commission that Amazon and Google control most of all of Internet item search, and can in all respects effectively influence whether and how cost and item data really achieves clients,” the letter said.
RILA trains in on Amazon for “degrad[ing] the buyer experience without anyone else stage,” and said the organization “will in general betray purchasers” by claiming to sell legitimately from confided in brands, notwithstanding when those brands stay off the stage and their product is being sold on by outsider dealers.
Peruse increasingly: Big tech’s mammoth power could be tested in blockbuster antitrust tests — this is what that implies for Apple, Amazon, Facebook, and Google
The letter additionally raises worries over Amazon’s “anticompetitive employments of information.” Specifically, it calls attention to that Amazon both accumulates outsider deals information and sells its own items, which RILA said presents “clear antitrust concerns in light of the novel qualities of such a stage.”
Refering to antitrust researchers at the University of Chicago, the letter stated: “By selling coordinations administrations to a considerable lot of its merchants, Amazon picks up a favorable position when it wishes to dispatch a store brand. It can examine information from its adversaries to build up a section plan against those venders.”
Toward the finish of the letter, RILA said it “stands prepared to work with the Commission.” RILA’s VP of development Nicholas Ahrens repeated this feeling in a meeting with Bloomberg.
“It’s entirely obvious to us that the FTC and distinctive applicable controllers ought to investigate these stage organizations,” said Ahrens. “We are here to help.”
The retailers’ letter increases pressure on opponents like Amazon. Fair presidential cheerful Elizabeth Warren is among those to have said that Amazon’s job as both commercial center and seller is a prime purpose behind separating Jeff Bezos’ organization.
A month ago, reports rose that the FTC and the Department of Justice have partitioned up the huge tech organizations between them for antitrust investigation. The FTC is said to have obligation regarding Facebook and Amazon, while the DOJ is getting Google and Apple.
Amazon and Google were not promptly accessible for input when reached by Business Insider.


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The NFT market LooksRare recently announced that it will reward users for NFT contributions. There are 250,000 views per day. It will be divided among the eligible lists.
You can now view $ LOOKS simply by placing NFT on LooksRare. Yes, that sounded good to you!
How does it work?
The first payroll list starts today, April 21, at 09:00 UTC and the platform makes the first payments at 11:00 UTC. Basically, when a user lists NFTs from the top 25 qualified collections by throwing a 24-hour number, they earn points every ten minutes; if the record meets the LooksRare criteria.
Once a day, the platform updates the collected user points to APPEARANCE. Users can pick them up on the Statement and Trading Rewards page. Therefore, the higher the volume of trading in the collection on all platforms (including OpenSea), the more points the user gets.
Why does LooksRare do it?
Simple – LooksRare wants to bring more fluid to its market. With so many new NFT brands emerging, not to mention OpenSea’s popularity, users can forget about LooksRare and opt for other brands.
Strike rewards come from business rewards. Instead, the platform will reduce this scheme by 250,000 and will instead include this amount in the new water supply program.
LooksRare is the market leader, which has placed itself as the main competitor for OpenSea. The new incentive and reward system is very popular in the NFT community.
On April 6, LooksRare made headlines after the CryptoSlam data platform accused the marketing platform of money laundering. According to CryptoSlam, these illegal activities have reportedly generated $ 18 billion in trading on the platform.


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DirectX 12 has been lingering out in the open for a while now, and Xbox head Phil Spencer only got a moment to touch on it during the Windows 10 event that Microsoft hosted tonight. DirectX 12 is meant to usher in a new dawn for gaming on PC, Xbox and mobile – and this first look didn’t disappoint in the slightest.
Using identical hardware for a benchmark demo, Spencer showed off the massive improvements DirectX 12 brings to the table through software alone. The DirectX 11 side eventually stopped running the demo on display, incapable of continuing to process more complex (and frequent) environments. The DirectX 12 side, again on the exact same hardware, did not.
Spencer emphasized the importance of DirectX 12 in games and applications that rely on CPU processing, stating that the newer framework will boost performance by up to 50% in some cases. At the same time power consumption is greatly reduced, allowing for far more expansive games on mobile platforms.
But what does this mean for the Xbox One in particular? Well it’s tough to say, and Spencer didn’t really touch on it at all. With CPU power being given a bump, one would expect open-world games to benefit the most. Large worlds will be able to be rendered better on DirectX 12, which could see a shift in the power struggle between the Xbox One and PS4. Although, gaming is still primarily a GPU focused industry, so it will be interesting to see how developers end up using the extra power.
DirectX 12 isn’t out just yet, but studios such as Unreal are already using it to power their next titles. Unity also has support for DirectX 12 already, so if you’re looking at a PC upgrade you should probably look for cards with support as well.
Last Updated: January 21, 2015


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In yet another sign that Windows 10 is hurtling toward its official release at full speed, Nvidia has released Microsoft-signed certified drivers for Windows 10. They've got a leg up on their two main rivals, AMD and Intel.
Showing results 1 to 20 of 619
Office for Android doesn't yet run on devices with an Intel processor. Here's a list of tablets to avoid if you need to use Office right now.
Online censorship watchdog Greatfire says that Microsoft was attacked over the weekend, causing havoc for Chinese users. [UPDATED with Microsoft statement]
Microsoft has made available firmware updates for its Intel-based Surface family, including one meant to address ongoing connectivity issues with the Surface Pro 3.
A new version of the Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit mostly improves compatibility with applications software, and specifically with Java and Chrome.
On this Microsoft Patch Tuesday, the ARM-based Surface 2 is getting a number of firmware updates. But Intel-based Surface Pro 3 users have more weeks to wait for more Wi-Fi fixes.
Microsoft is readying a fix meant to remedy an issue with the Intel Core i7 Surface Pro 3 tablets that is meant to remedy overheating issues reported by some users.
Talk about Chromebooks and the conversation will eventually turn to the threat they are to Microsoft and Windows 8. That is true, but the lowly laptop from Google may be a bigger concern for Intel.
First teased during its April Build conference, the Raspberry Pi-ish device is the result of the combined efforts of Microsoft, Intel and product manufacturer CircuitCo.
Microsoft is trimming between $100 and $200 off the price of its second-generation, Intel-based Surface Pro 2 tablets just ahead of availability of its Surface Pro 3.
Stronger demand for enterprise PCs---also known as the flight from Windows XP once Microsoft support ended---has delivered better-than-expected second quarter sales for Intel.
The language Microsoft uses internally is changing; and that means the way it works is changing too.
Apple, Intel, Salesforce.com, and now Microsoft are just a few of the big corporate names adding their voice forward to protest Arizona's SB 1062, a law that would allow employees and workplaces to discriminate against people based on their religious beliefs.
As January comes to a close, here's another attempt at making sense of the firmware updates Microsoft delivered this month for ARM-and Intel-based Surfaces.
MSFTNews Twitter account hijacked, sends out SEA messages. Within an hour the tweets were removed.
Microsoft is offering a $150 price cut on its first-generation, Intel-based Surface Pro with a 256 GB solid state drive as part of a bunch of Surface 'holiday deals.'
From October 14-17 the InterContinental Hotel in Malaysia hosts controversial security conference Hack in The Box. Its lineup includes iCloud hacking and the Microsoft bounty winner.
Amazon's entry into the games console market could have a huge impact on Microsoft, Sony, Nvidia and AMD, as well as help to establish Qualcomm as the Intel of the post-PC era.
Windows RT and Windows Phone 8 aren't doing well, but Microsoft can still make out with some help from Intel and Windows 8.1 If its great ARM experiment doesn't work out, supporting Microsoft's key applications on Android and iOS won't hurt.
The Redmond giant says it has successfully disrupted a harmful network of botnets.
The best of ZDNet, delivered
- 1 ZDNet Cloud TV: Hurdles to overcome (highlights)
- 2 Perfectly legal ways you can still get Windows 7 cheap (or even free)
- 3 34 ways to improve your iPhone's battery life
- 4 How much does an iPhone 6 really cost? (Hint: It's way more than $199)
- 5 So you have an app idea and want to make a bajillion bucks


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Sony has announced its latest gaming accessory, the official PS3 Wireless Stereo Headset. Pairing with your console via the bundled USB dongle, the headset offers 7.1 virtual surround sound and has a retractable microphone for voice chat in games.
Controls include dedicated volume and microphone mute buttons, while the headphones’ status – including battery and volume – are shown on-screen. It’s worth noting that the virtual surround system will only work on PS3 games, not in Blu-ray movies, which is a shame.
No word on battery life at this stage. The official PS3 Wireless Stereo Headset will go on sale this September, priced at $99.99.


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Article | 27/10/2010 Google traffic rise shows search giant's Internet dominationMicrosoft makes more money and Apple is worth more on the stock market but when it comes to Internet traffic only one name counts and that is Google.
Article | 22/10/2010 Gene Simmons battles Anonymous group after new DDoS attacksKiss bassist Gene Simmons has started an unwise war of words with the shadowy anti-copyright group believed to be behind a recent spate of DDoS attack...
Article | 22/10/2010 Mac users warned of growing virus threatAttacks on the Mac are now significant enough to warrant Apple users investing in an anti-virus product, security company Panda Security said as it la...
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In a statement released on Tuesday, the department store chain, Nordstrom, announced that they plan to permanently close 16 of its 116 full-line stores as it restructures its brand in response to the Coronavirus pandemic.
“We selected these 16 stores based on a variety of factors, including the unique needs of the market, the current state of our business and real estate agreements,” Nordstrom said. “These types of decisions are never easy because we realize what this means for our employees. We’re committed to taking care of them as best we can, including providing support and resources through this transition.”
The news comes after other major retailers including Neiman Marcus and J. Crew, have filed for bankruptcy as the pandemic continues to batter the retail industry.
Of those 16, 5 are located in California, including the store at Pleasanton’s Stoneridge Mall.
The closures, however, do not apply to the 250 Nordstrom Rack stores and smaller boutiques, the company added.


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Economic development creates opportunities to grow state, local and metro areas, which are essential for economic growth, improved quality of life and community development. michigan articles below.
The September/October 2019 Issue features the booming logistics and transportation industry. Plus, a look at Qualified Opportunity Zones and Business/Industry/Tech Parks.
California is the top-ranked state for Opportunity Zones and Michigan leads in Automotive Manufacturing Strength in Business Facilities' 15th Annual Rankings Report.
As states are racing to be among the leaders powered 100-percent by renewable energy, industrial giants like Samsung are pledging to join them in adopting this gold standard for sustainability at their manufacturing plants.
The project will add 400 jobs at the Orion Township assembly plant; GM will also invest $1.8 billion in its U.S. manufacturing operations across six states, adding 700 new jobs
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will invest $4.5 billion to build a new assembly plant in Detroit and add production at five existing Michigan facilities
The January / February 2019 issue features our annual State of the Year and Deal of the Year awards, our editor's picks for top utilities, and more.
New York and Virginia, which each got selected to host Amazon’s HQ2 mega-project, are co-winners of the Gold Award in our 2018 contest.
The new 115,000-square-foot building in Northville, MI will feature modern design and collaborative open workspaces.
Plascore, Inc. will create 10-15 jobs at a new 73,500-square-foot addition in the City of Zeeland, MI.
Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan have been named the Top Manufacturing States in a new rankings category in Business Facilities' 13th Annual Rankings Report; Louisiana is tops in Cybersecurity Growth Potential.
The research institute will benefit from Toyota’s existing team and University of Michigan’s research talent and facilities, where it can perform extreme-limit testing in a wide variety of environments.
Las Vegas-based Switch will establish a new $5 billion SUPERNAP data center in Gaines Township in greater Grand Rapids, MI.
Daimler Trucks will invest $375 million to enable production of its new DD5 and DD8 medium duty engines at Detroit™ brand headquarters and manufacturing facility in Redford, MI.
Michigan’s gateway port to Lake Erie and St. Lawrence Seaway will undergo a broad range of major improvements and alterations expected to transform the city of Monroe’s harbor into a leading cargo transportation center on the Great Lakes.
YFS Automotive Systems, Inc. will build its second U.S. manufacturing facility in Detroit, creating 160 new jobs and investing $26.9 million in a new facility to design, test, and manufacture automotive fuel system components.


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The Quarterly Mobile PC Shipment and Forecast Report indicated that shipments of tablets, a category including Apple’s iPad, will reach 364m in 2014. The devices’ popularity will be fuelled by their growing appeal in emerging markets, where lower prices and smaller screen sizes are attractive to buyers.
By contrast, shipments of notebook PCs and ultra-slim PCs are expected to reach the 177m mark next year and to continue their relative decline over the next few years, NPD said. This category is forecast to have 176m shipments by 2017, compared with tablet shipments of 589m.
Richard Shim, senior analyst at NPD DisplaySearch, noted that supply chain indications show that previously planned production of notebook PCs is being pulled back because of declining adoption rates. Brands are increasing their repertoire of tablet PC models, Shim added.
As the market evolves and brands seek to differentiate their products, the NPD research also highlights how tablet PCs with smaller-sized screens are set to dominate.
Tablet PCs with screens smaller than 8″ are expected to comprise 59% of the market in 2013, but this will rise to 63% in 2015, or 277m units, before increasing again to 350m in 2017.
Shim said: “Smaller tablets are important because they will encourage adoption in emerging regions. Smaller screen sizes translate to lower priced tablet PC options since display panels tend to comprise just over a third of the total cost of a tablet, which makes them attractive in price-sensitive markets.”
Data sourced from NPD Display Search; additional content by Warc staff , 31 July 2013
Story sourced: http://bit.ly/13ZGqGN


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A CHARITY shop has been left £1,000 out of pocket after a vandal damaged a range of its furniture.
The British Heart Foundation furniture and electrical store, in High Street, Burton, was targeted by an offender who used a tool to tear into eight sofas.
It is not the first time the store has been targeted by this sort of attack and outraged bosses said following the latest strike, almost every item of furniture that was on display will have to be thrown out.
Shop assistant Hannah Large said she thought the store had rid itself of the problem with no reports of vandalism in the past six months, having previously been regularly blighted with the issue since opening three years ago.
She said: “It had been going on since we opened, but stopped for the last six months. Nearly all the stock on the shop floor has been damaged.”
Staff have no idea who the vandal is, with no-one reported to have been acting suspiciously and no CCTV cameras to call on.
Ms Large said: “I’m at a bit of a loss as to who is doing it. I wish we had a picture of them, so we could name and shame them. It’s despicable to be destroying charity stock. It’s not what you expect someone to do. I can’t fathom it.”
The store said police would be called in to investigate the vandalism spree, with staff wary of losing out on more cash and Ms Large said it should be remembered where the money raised goes.
She said: “That’s £1,000 that the charity has lost in one room. That’s two people who aren’t getting pacemakers. It’s happened dozens of times, so it must be thousands that has been lost altogether.”


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Samsung Galaxy A90 5G brings access to 5G networks into the mid-range category
The next-generation wireless 5G technology is nascent to a few countries, supported by only a handful of smartphones that have belonged to the flagship series so far – Galaxy S10 5G, Galaxy Note 10 5G, and OnePlus 7 Pro 5G among others. Samsung on Tuesday launched the Galaxy A90 5G that is a mid-range phone with 5G. It is also the first Galaxy A series phone to rock a Snapdragon 855 processor. While these top-end features have now trickled down to the Galaxy A series, Samsung is expanding DeX mode with Galaxy A90 5G as well.
Samsung Galaxy A90 5G does not have a price tag as of now, but it will be available in South Korea starting Tuesday. The smartphone is expected to arrive in India, but since 5G isn’t a factor here, it will be interesting to see what tweaks Samsung makes to the Galaxy A90 5G. Apart from its capability to support 5G networks, Galaxy A90 5G comes across as a premium device that borrows most features from the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note 10 phones.
For the specifications, the Galaxy A90 5G has a 6.7-inch FHD+ (2400×1080) Super AMOLED Infinity-U display. It runs One UI based on Android 9 Pie and is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor. There are two RAM and storage configurations – 6GB/128GB and 8GB/128GB – former is expandable via microSD card up to 512GB. The smartphone leverages the Snapdragon X50 5G modem to provide 5G speeds on supported carriers in South Korea. However, Samsung may plan to expand the list of supported carriers globally.
There are triple cameras on the Galaxy A90 5G – a 48-megapixel primary sensor, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle sensor, and a 5-megapixel depth sensing sensor – all three accompanied by an LED flash. There is a 32-megapixel camera given on the front of the device. There is a 4500mAh battery that charges at up to 45W fast charging.
Constantly braving the onslaught by Chinese players, Samsung has been coming up with incessant smartphones in all price brackets to increase volume. It has, previously, lost its position of being the top seller in India to Xiaomi and OnePlus in the budget and premium markets, respectively. Samsung rejigged its strategy to focus on the online-only segment with the Galaxy M series back in January, which proved to be fruitful for Samsung. Even its Galaxy A series sold a good number of units after Samsung bullishly outed back-to-back models with features matching that of rival’s phones and, in fact, borrowing some from Samsung’s Galaxy S series.


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ENGW Vs AUSW | One-off Test Jul 18, 2019
ENGW 240/7 (96.5)
Latest News on India Innovation Centre
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Panasonic has teamed up with TCS to open innovation centre in BengaluruJapanese consumer electronics major Panasonic opened its first India Innovation Centre (IIC) in collaboration with global software major TCS.


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The Google for Entrepreneurs Exchange programme will be held in Dubai for the first time this December.
Running from 5-11 December, the programme will be organised and hosted by AstroLabs – a member of the global Tech Hub network of Google for Entrepreneurs, and the only Google-partnered hub in the Middle East.
Focusing on the travel and hospitality industry, the programme is supported by a number of sector leaders, including DTCM, Emirates, Jumeirah Group and Careem.
The application is open to start-up founders around the world who have developed, launched and already gained some initial traction for a tech product targeting the travel and hospitality sector.
Those wishing to apply need to be fluent in English and be able to spend the whole week in Dubai.
The organisers will cover certain expenses, including hotels, transportation for the programme, and lunch during the day.
In addition to practical training modules from mentors working on projects in the field, participants will also get behind-the-scenes tours of exclusive venues and operation centers in Dubai.
The deadline for application is noon on Wednesday, 14 October. For more information visit astrolabs.com/gfex.For all the latest business news from the UAE and Gulf countries, follow us on Twitter and Linkedin, like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube page, which is updated daily.
Subscribe to Arabian Business' newsletter to receive the latest breaking news and business stories in Dubai,the UAE and the GCC straight to your inbox.


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Recently I read that there is a potato chip shortage in Japan because of the typhoons that hit Hokkaido last summer, wiping out a lot of potatoes. Several potato chip companies including Calbee and Kikeya have started limiting their varieties or discontinuing the large size bags. Calbee has permanently stopped making 18 varieties including French Salad Flavor and Plum Flavor. Kiokeya had permanently discontinued Garlic Flavor and eight other flavors. Calabee has had to import potatoes from the United States due to the shortage in Japan, but claims the majority of American potatoes are of insufficient quality.
(Last year I bought a can of ChipStar Strawberry Chips.) The article I read did not mention Pringles potato chips, which has many varieties, often available on a limited time basis. I remember Pringles in the US in plain, BBQ, and sour cream and onion flavors, but that's all.
The 2017 Pringles line up includes these flavors
This year kicked off with the same Japan-exclusive flavour that was available back in February 2016, only this time with extra wasabi.
Jalapeno & Onion
Released on 14 March, this is the latest addition to the staple Pringles lineup, currently available in stores.
Music – Tasty Salt
The Music range returned for 2017 with another campaign offering free speaker attachments to customers who purchased 19 Pringles.
Music – Sour Cream & Onion
Music – Jalapeno & Onion
Another variety currently in stores for a limited time, this one combines the creamy flavours of cheese and mayonnaise.


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Last week, Amazon announced that it is looking for the right city to house its second headquarters. Several American cities of varying sizes are competing for the facility, including Chicago, Washington, D.C., Salt Lake City, Austin, Charlotte, Tulsa, and Columbus, OH. The dominant narrative of the American economy right now is simple: Americans need good jobs, and the new Amazon headquarters promises to add 50,000 jobs to whatever city wins the bid. Despite President Trump’s grievances about the online shopping juggernaut taking away jobs by disrupting the way retail traditionally works, Amazon’s warehouses are adding thousands and thousands of entry level jobs in a country that desperately needs them. But many Seattle Android app developers and tech observers are worried that those much-needed human jobs will melt away as the company continues to make advances in automation.
For now there’s an interesting balance at Amazon’s warehouses between man and machine. As it stands today, Amazon “employs” 100,000 robots around the world — and Android app developers can expect many more to join its workforce in the coming years. Automation alleviates the often literal pains of warehouse labor, preventing employees from the kind of back-breaking work that can make jobs like this a living hell. Amazon claims that the robots are doing the mindless work too, although it’s arguable whether or not finding items off shelves and packaging them is actually stimulating. This is a lot of what the flesh-and-blood workers do in Amazon’s warehouses; they are “stowers” and “pickers” and “packers” who replenish merchandise for the robots to haul, package up items for shipment, or, perhaps most interestingly, troubleshoot issues with their mechanical co-workers.
The company recently granted The New York Times access to its facilities to watch the robots at work. The resulting report reveals innovation such as a yellow mechanical arm that stacks bins off of conveyor belts and beetle-like robots that carry 3,000 pound shelves of merchandise on their backs. This is the fruit that has come from Amazon’s purchase of Kiva Systems for a whooping $775 million in 2012 (it is the fourth largest acquisition the company has made, after Whole Foods, Zappos, and Twitch). Now Amazon Robotics, the outfit is plowing ahead on new ways to improve efficiency in the warehouses. Their hard work in automation innovation has lead to reliable two-day shipping (something Android app developers can get behind), but as they move forward, the balance between human and non-human workers will likely start to tilt to the bots.Tags: AI, amazon, amazon acquisition, Amazon headquarters, Amazon jobs, Amazon Robotics, Amazon warehouses, american economy, American jobs, android app development, Android app development Seattle, Austin, automation, Charlotte, Chicago, Columbus, efficiency, Kiva Systems, labor, new york times, robotics, robots, Salt Lake City, Seattle Android app developers, tech news, technology, Tulsa, Twitch, two-day shipping, washington dc, Whole Foods, Zappos


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Awesome: How Sticky Notes Turned Into 70,000 Pizza Slices For The Homeless!
Owner Mason Wartman, who left his Wall Street desk job to open the shop, says pay-it-forward pizza started with one customer, one dollar, and one Post-it note.
The customer was inspired by an Italian coffee house practice called caffè sospeso (suspended coffee), by which customers can pre-purchase cups of coffee for less fortunate customers.
Wartman wrote the purchase on a Post-it and slapped it on the wall behind the register to be redeemed by the next homeless patron to enter the store.
As word spread, more and more customers participated. And Rosa's wall blossomed with colorful notes signifying acts of kindness and a guaranteed slice for everyone who walked in, regardless of their ability to pay.
Posted By Joe