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All things being equal, people want free stuff. For Canada’s airline industry, that means if pricing, scheduling and quality of service are generally on par, consumers make choices based on rewards and loyalty programs. On May 1, Air Canada began its new service out of Billy Bishop Toronto City Centre Airport on the Toronto Islands, leading many to posit that the airline’s size and the scope of its Aeroplan rewards program would give it a huge advantage over the airport’s previously sole tenant, Porter Airlines.
The new competition for downtown travellers highlights the increasingly important role of loyalty programs. While Air Canada may not be as beloved among its customers as the smaller airline, it does have Aeroplan, and the prospect of earning—and redeeming—points from Billy Bishop flights might just be enough to sway even the most loyal Porter fan. According to loyalty marketing-research and consulting firm Colloquy, Canadians prefer a wide variety of ways to earn and redeem points. “That’s a big thing Aeroplan has over Porter,” said Colloquy partner Kelly Hlavinka. “The other aspect working against Porter is not having a strategic alliance with other airlines that Aeroplan does. When you can fly from Toronto to New York on United, then to Philadelphia on USAir and still earn Aeroplan points, maybe that consumer will bypass Porter to get enough points for that free trip to Hawaii.”
Porter’s loyalty program, called VIPorter, is a straightforward program for earning and redeeming points for flights. Given Aeroplan’s 25-year history, wide variety of airlines, and earning and redeeming options, comparing it to VIPorter isn’t apples to apples, it’s more like apples to grocery stores. Air Canada is also offering with its new island service many of the same freebies—like free snacks, beer and wine— that made Porter famous, as well as the chance for members to earn 25,000 bonus miles until July 31. “Porter is a great brand, and they have a very strong presence at the island airport,” said Air Canada vice-president of marketing Craig Landry. “But our program serves more than 32 million customers every year so it has a very diverse market. For the island service, Aeroplan is a broader loyalty program that customers can earn and participate in.”
Bob Macdonald, president of marketing consultancy Maritz Canada, says that while Aeroplan is too much for Porter to compete with head on, there are opportunities to be exploited. “If Porter can leverage the notion of its customer experience as so much easier and pleasant, then that’s a counterpoint to their traditional loyalty program that doesn’t have a lot of leverage in the marketplace,” said Macdonald. “Playing to their strength of the customer experience to create greater loyalty will be key.”
That’s just what Porter president and CEO Robert Deluce is counting on. While he said the company has no plans to expand or alter VIPorter, he’s confident Porter can prevail once consumers compare the companies’ travel experience. “Air Canada has a strong reach, and they could be highly successful in bringing people to the airport that have never been there before,” said Deluce. “Once they get [there], it’s up to us to see if we can convert those passengers into Porter fans, and that’s what we intend to do.”
For those who spend half their lives in airports, research shows earned status, such as priority boarding and express security, is treasured more than mere miles. Aeroplan is well-versed in the status game, so Porter’s challenge will be to make sure its non-exclusive “business class for everyone” approach measures up to what can be earned next door.


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India iPhone exports crosses US$ 1 billion in 5 months
Apple's iPhone exports from India have surpassed US$ 1 billion in the five months since April, showing the tech giant's expanding bet on the country amid the government’s push for domestic production.
The export shipments of iPhones manufactured in India, primarily to Europe and the Middle East, are expected to reach US$ 2.5 billion in the 12 months leading up to March 2023, nearly doubling from the year leading up to March 2022.
Earlier this year, Apple began producing the iPhone 13 in India, and the corporation just last week revealed its intentions to produce the most recent iPhone 14. Since 2017, the tech giant has been producing iPhones in India.
Despite contributing only a small portion of the world's iPhone production, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi's goal to position India as a viable alternative to China as the world's factory is encouraged by expanding exports. Due to tensions with the US government and nationwide lockdowns imposed by Mr. Xi Jinping's administration, which have hindered economic activity, Apple, which has historically produced the majority of its iPhones in China, is looking for alternatives.
Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.

domain: news


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In the lead-up to CES 2015, Samsung has announced two new speakers in its multi-room lineup which feature "360-degree" sound from a single point source.
The WAM7500 and WAM6500 speakers include proprietary "Ring Radiator" technology which funnels sound out of the top of the speaker in a circle.
The WAM7500 is designed to sit on a tabletop while the WAM6500 with its integrated battery aims for portability.
Samsung says the new speakers are fully compatible with the company's Shape Multiroom system released last year, and which will remain on sale through 2015.
Like the Shape products the new speakers will connect to Samsung TVs, sound bars and mobile devices with streaming from both local and Web sources.
The speakers are the first products to be developed in Samsung's new audio lab based in Valencia, Calif.
Availability and pricing is yet to be announced.


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|By Kevin Benedict||
|May 20, 2014 03:04 PM EDT||
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It's me Kevin Benedict needing your feedback. I have been sharing my research with you in these weekly newsletters for the past four years, and I need to know if you find them useful and of value. Will you take a moment and send me feedback at [email protected]? I don't want to fill your inbox if these are not valuable to you. I look forward to your feedback.
Thuraya Telecommunications Company, a mobile satellite services operator and ViaSat Inc. have signed a partnership agreement to develop and launch a dedicated machine-to-machine platform combined with M2M specific products and commercial packages. Read Original Content
Arqiva, a communications infrastructure and media services company, and SIGFOX, a pioneer in cost-effective, energy-efficient Internet of Things connectivity, have announced that Arqiva will build and run a national IoT network, starting with 10 of the UK’s largest cities. Read Original Content
Connections between people and interoperable computerized devices such as home and personal-health monitors will become so ubiquitous that, in little more than a decade, we'll scarcely know the devices and networks are there, according to a report released by the Pew Research Center Internet Project. Read Original Content
The cost and time to mobilize enterprise applications can actually meet or exceed the original cost and time to implement those systems. In their new report, “StarMobile Transforms Enterprise Apps into Mobile Apps”, 451 Research details the advantages of StarMobile’s app development tool and how it can drastically reduce the cost and time to mobilize enterprise applications. Download report here: http://starmobileinc.com/report-451research-starmobile-transforms-mobile-apps-into-enterprise-apps/
The Internet of Things is growing at a triple-digit pace in sectors such as energy, transportation and municipal government, according to Mark Bartolomeo, vice president of connected solutions at Verizon Inc.’s enterprise business. Read Original Content
SureCall, a manufacturer of cell phone signal boosters, has announced its machine-to-machine booster designed for use throughout many industries that use cellular modems to transmit data, has received FCC certification under the commission’s new regulatory and technical standards. Read Original Content
Savi Technology, has been awarded a five-year U.S. Department of Defense contract as the sole provider to the $204 million RFID-IV program, which currently has a $102 million ceiling. Read Original Content
There will be four billion connected devices by 2020 across the Middle East and North Africa region, according to a new Frost & Sullivan forecast. Read Original Content
According to a new report from Navigant Research, annual utility spending on smart grid as a service technology will grow from $1.7 billion in 2014 to $11.2 billion in 2023 – totaling $57.6 billion over that period. Read Original Content
A new study, Smart Cities Market, reports that the global smart cities market is expected to grow from $654.57 billion in 2014 to $1,266.58 billion by 2019, at an estimated compound annual growth rate of 14.1 percent from 2014 to 2019. Read Original Content
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In his session at @ThingsExpo, Kausik Sridharabalan, founder and CTO of Pulzze Systems, Inc., will focus on key challenges in building an Internet of Things solution infrastructure. He will shed light on efficient ways of defining interactions within IoT solutions, leading to cost and time reduction. He will also introduce ways to handle data and how one can develop IoT solutions that are lean, flexible and configurable, thus making IoT infrastructure agile and scalable.
Oct. 1, 2016 09:15 AM EDT Reads: 1,669
SYS-CON Events announced today that Sheng Liang to Keynote at SYS-CON's 19th Cloud Expo, which will take place on November 1-3, 2016 at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, California.
Oct. 1, 2016 09:15 AM EDT Reads: 120
Just over a week ago I received a long and loud sustained applause for a presentation I delivered at this year’s Cloud Expo in Santa Clara. I was extremely pleased with the turnout and had some very good conversations with many of the attendees. Over the next few days I had many more meaningful conversations and was not only happy with the results but also learned a few new things. Here is everything I learned in those three days distilled into three short points.
Oct. 1, 2016 08:45 AM EDT Reads: 5,502
Cognitive Computing is becoming the foundation for a new generation of solutions that have the potential to transform business. Unlike traditional approaches to building solutions, a cognitive computing approach allows the data to help determine the way applications are designed. This contrasts with conventional software development that begins with defining logic based on the current way a business operates. In her session at 18th Cloud Expo, Judith S. Hurwitz, President and CEO of Hurwitz & ...
Oct. 1, 2016 08:30 AM EDT Reads: 3,413
So, you bought into the current machine learning craze and went on to collect millions/billions of records from this promising new data source. Now, what do you do with them? Too often, the abundance of data quickly turns into an abundance of problems. How do you extract that "magic essence" from your data without falling into the common pitfalls? In her session at @ThingsExpo, Natalia Ponomareva, Software Engineer at Google, provided tips on how to be successful in large scale machine learning...
Oct. 1, 2016 08:30 AM EDT Reads: 2,505
The Transparent Cloud-computing Consortium (abbreviation: T-Cloud Consortium) will conduct research activities into changes in the computing model as a result of collaboration between "device" and "cloud" and the creation of new value and markets through organic data processing High speed and high quality networks, and dramatic improvements in computer processing capabilities, have greatly changed the nature of applications and made the storing and processing of data on the network commonplace.
Oct. 1, 2016 08:00 AM EDT Reads: 1,312
An IoT product’s log files speak volumes about what’s happening with your products in the field, pinpointing current and potential issues, and enabling you to predict failures and save millions of dollars in inventory. But until recently, no one knew how to listen. In his session at @ThingsExpo, Dan Gettens, Chief Research Officer at OnProcess, will discuss recent research by Massachusetts Institute of Technology and OnProcess Technology, where MIT created a new, breakthrough analytics model f...
Oct. 1, 2016 08:00 AM EDT Reads: 2,271
The Internet of Things can drive efficiency for airlines and airports. In their session at @ThingsExpo, Shyam Varan Nath, Principal Architect with GE, and Sudip Majumder, senior director of development at Oracle, will discuss the technical details of the connected airline baggage and related social media solutions. These IoT applications will enhance travelers' journey experience and drive efficiency for the airlines and the airports. The session will include a working demo and a technical d...
Oct. 1, 2016 07:00 AM EDT Reads: 1,866
Almost two-thirds of companies either have or soon will have IoT as the backbone of their business in 2016. However, IoT is far more complex than most firms expected. How can you not get trapped in the pitfalls? In his session at @ThingsExpo, Tony Shan, a renowned visionary and thought leader, will introduce a holistic method of IoTification, which is the process of IoTifying the existing technology and business models to adopt and leverage IoT. He will drill down to the components in this fra...
Oct. 1, 2016 06:00 AM EDT Reads: 1,951
Digital transformation is too big and important for our future success to not understand the rules that apply to it. The first three rules for winning in this age of hyper-digital transformation are: Advantages in speed, analytics and operational tempos must be captured by implementing an optimized information logistics system (OILS) Real-time operational tempos (IT, people and business processes) must be achieved Businesses that can "analyze data and act and with speed" will dominate those t...
Oct. 1, 2016 05:45 AM EDT Reads: 1,347
If you had a chance to enter on the ground level of the largest e-commerce market in the world – would you? China is the world’s most populated country with the second largest economy and the world’s fastest growing market. It is estimated that by 2018 the Chinese market will be reaching over $30 billion in gaming revenue alone. Admittedly for a foreign company, doing business in China can be challenging. Often changing laws, administrative regulations and the often inscrutable Chinese Interne...
Oct. 1, 2016 05:30 AM EDT Reads: 654
I'm a lonely sensor. I spend all day telling the world how I'm feeling, but none of the other sensors seem to care. I want to be connected. I want to build relationships with other sensors to be more useful for my human. I want my human to understand that when my friends next door are too hot for a while, I'll soon be flaming. And when all my friends go outside without me, I may be left behind. Don't just log my data; use the relationship graph. In his session at @ThingsExpo, Ryan Boyd, Engi...
Oct. 1, 2016 05:15 AM EDT Reads: 1,441
Internet of @ThingsExpo, taking place November 1-3, 2016, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA, is co-located with the 19th International Cloud Expo and will feature technical sessions from a rock star conference faculty and the leading industry players in the world and ThingsExpo Silicon Valley Call for Papers is now open.
Oct. 1, 2016 05:00 AM EDT Reads: 4,762
Adobe is changing the world though digital experiences. Adobe helps customers develop and deliver high-impact experiences that differentiate brands, build loyalty, and drive revenue across every screen, including smartphones, computers, tablets and TVs. Adobe content solutions are used daily by millions of companies worldwide-from publishers and broadcasters, to enterprises, marketing agencies and household-name brands. Building on its established design leadership, Adobe enables customers not o...
Oct. 1, 2016 04:45 AM EDT Reads: 588
If you’re responsible for an application that depends on the data or functionality of various IoT endpoints – either sensors or devices – your brand reputation depends on the security, reliability, and compliance of its many integrated parts. If your application fails to deliver the expected business results, your customers and partners won't care if that failure stems from the code you developed or from a component that you integrated. What can you do to ensure that the endpoints work as expect...
Oct. 1, 2016 04:30 AM EDT Reads: 1,834
WebRTC adoption has generated a wave of creative uses of communications and collaboration through websites, sales apps, customer care and business applications. As WebRTC has become more mainstream it has evolved to use cases beyond the original peer-to-peer case, which has led to a repeating requirement for interoperability with existing infrastructures. In his session at @ThingsExpo, Graham Holt, Executive Vice President of Daitan Group, will cover implementation examples that have enabled ea...
Oct. 1, 2016 04:00 AM EDT Reads: 1,660
SYS-CON Events announced today that ReadyTalk, a leading provider of online conferencing and webinar services, has been named Vendor Presentation Sponsor at the 19th International Cloud Expo, which will take place on November 1–3, 2016, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. ReadyTalk delivers audio and web conferencing services that inspire collaboration and enable the Future of Work for today’s increasingly digital and mobile workforce. By combining intuitive, innovative tec...
Oct. 1, 2016 04:00 AM EDT Reads: 3,132
There is growing need for data-driven applications and the need for digital platforms to build these apps. In his session at 19th Cloud Expo, Muddu Sudhakar, VP and GM of Security & IoT at Splunk, will cover different PaaS solutions and Big Data platforms that are available to build applications. In addition, AI and machine learning are creating new requirements that developers need in the building of next-gen apps. The next-generation digital platforms have some of the past platform needs a...
Oct. 1, 2016 03:00 AM EDT Reads: 1,985
Fifty billion connected devices and still no winning protocols standards. HTTP, WebSockets, MQTT, and CoAP seem to be leading in the IoT protocol race at the moment but many more protocols are getting introduced on a regular basis. Each protocol has its pros and cons depending on the nature of the communications. Does there really need to be only one protocol to rule them all? Of course not. In his session at @ThingsExpo, Chris Matthieu, co-founder and CTO of Octoblu, walk you through how Oct...
Oct. 1, 2016 03:00 AM EDT Reads: 2,473
Smart Cities are here to stay, but for their promise to be delivered, the data they produce must not be put in new siloes. In his session at @ThingsExpo, Mathias Herberts, Co-founder and CTO of Cityzen Data, will deep dive into best practices that will ensure a successful smart city journey.
Oct. 1, 2016 02:30 AM EDT Reads: 2,722


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We would like to inform you that our online sales service will cease definitively on 01/10/2023. Any purchases made before this date will however be taken into account and incorporated into our projects. To find out more, click here.
In early September, designers and creators from all over the world met in Paris for the Who's Next show. For the first time this year, the show hosted IMPACT, the event for responsible fashion. Reforest'Action was a partner of this event.


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Apple rocked the smartphone industry when it launched the iPhone in 2007 and it built an entirely new market when it released the first truly successful consumer tablet in 2010. Next stop: TV. Rumors surrounding Apple’s imminent entrance into the television industry have been swirling for more than a year, and recent reports suggest Apple may enter the market first with a new version of Apple TV capable of replacing cable companies’ set-top boxes, followed by the launch of an own-brand HDTV. Cable service providers reportedly aren’t yet sold on Apple’s vision. Read the full story at Boy Genius Report.
About Shelly Palmer
Named one of LinkedIn’s Top 10 Voices in Technology, Shelly Palmer is CEO of The Palmer Group, a strategic advisory, technology solutions and business development practice focused at the nexus of media and marketing with a special emphasis on machine learning and data-driven decision-making. He is Fox 5 New York's on-air tech and digital media expert, writes a weekly column for AdAge, and is a regular commentator on CNBC and CNN. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com or subscribe to our daily email http://ow.ly/WsHcb
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George Sousa Jr. has coached a lot of basketball players of all ages and capabilities through the decades. He likens it to leading a company of 450 employees in an industry that demands a focus on labor.
“I always really enjoyed the idea of building a team,” says Sousa, president of Mariani Packing Co. since 2012 and a fourth-generation member of the family business based in Vacaville. “Business is the same way and so I really like that part of it — leading a team that has a lot of diverse skills that have to all come together to make agriculture products work.”
Founded in 1906, Mariani Packing Co. sells dried orchard fruits (like prunes, peaches, apricots), berries (cranberries, blueberries), tropical fruits (mango, pineapple), and raisins and dates, along with salad toppers and other products. The company claims to be the world’s largest independent producer of dried fruits at roughly 180 million pounds annually.
Its dried fruits are also used in other food brands, including its raisins in Kellogg’s cereals for the past 35 years. Mariani sells its products in about 40,000 retail outlets in the United States and in more than 65 countries, according to its website.
The company began in Cupertino when farmland covered the area, long before high tech arrived in Silicon Valley. Sousa’s great-grandfather, Paul Mariani, emigrated from Croatia and worked briefly at a coconut factory in New York City for $1 a day. He then followed his high school sweetheart, Victoria, to California, where her father owned an orchard and Paul got a job. The young couple soon bought their own orchard and started Mariani Dried Fruit.
Since its early eras, the company has spearheaded innovations, including when Paul Mariani Jr. (the founder’s son) introduced a technology in the 1950s to store dried fruit at a moisture level that’s ready to eat. Another major accomplishment, in the late 1980s, was Mariani’s introduction of a stand-up bag with a resealable zipper at the top; now this packaging is the industry standard.
“That was the next big thing for us. Our business took off,” says Sousa, who earned a degree in agriculture business management from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and returned to the company in 1982.
In 2020, as the third generation inched toward retirement, the seven cousins in the fourth generation met to discuss their vision for the company’s future. “What do we want to do?” George recalls them asking. “What do we want to leave as a legacy? What do we want to focus on?” They settled on a simple goal: to inspire healthy living.
They determined they wanted to improve their products — both staples and new commodities — by further reducing preservatives, calories and sugar. (When fruit is dried and minimal water content remains, sugar concentration becomes much higher than in a fresh piece of fruit.)
Additionally, Natalie Mariani King — Paul’s great-granddaughter — led the development of a company-wide wellness program as a result of the cousins’ conversations. She had previously set up a Mariani packaging facility in Thailand for tropical fruit for two years after college. She left the company to raise her children and run a nutrition practice, but stayed on as a board member. Now as marketing manager, she heads up communication strategy.
“We do have a point of differentiation, and that is our family,” she says. “We still run it. We care. We want to make an impact. That’s a source of trust for our consumers and it’s a commitment to quality that we have from the ground to the grocery store shelves. We should let people know that’s important to us.”
“We do have a point of differentiation, and that is our family.”Natalie Mariani King, marketing manager, Mariani Packing Co.
Despite Mariani’s many successes, challenges remain, including a big one in agriculture: extreme and unpredictable weather brought by climate change that makes strategizing and mitigation even harder. “It’s very similar to sports,” says Sousa. Farmers create game plans but they “have to make halftime adjustments.”
“Family business is not easy,” he says. “There’s a lot of dynamics with it. It’s a source of pride. But as you go through the generations and people have kids and get married and do different things, it’s a challenge to keep it moving forward. I’m really proud that not only have we gotten to this point, but we’re talking about strategies for the next generation and, hopefully, generations after that.”
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ACES Waste Services’ roots are in San Francisco, where the
co-owners’ ancestor started a waste collection company called the
Scavengers Protective Association. Today, the Amador County-based
company gives back to the community.
Founded in 1914, Elliott Homes has successfully weathered the
cyclical building market to emerge as an industry leader.
The Granite Bay farm was established in 1911 by a Japanese
immigrant and is still run by his descendants, including his
With Vite Ramen, co-founder and CEO Tim Zheng set out
to create a nutritious instant food product. He also
manufactured it ethically and designed the recipe to be faithful
to classic Japanese ramen styles.


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The biggest news of E3 2013 was the battle between the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, a battle centered on consumer rejection of digital rights management and used game restrictions. Meanwhile, in San Francisco, Apple quietly fired a shot that could eventually neuter traditional game consoles. iOS controller support could change everything.
Prior to last week's WWDC conference, I suggested that Apple might be on the verge of revealing a game controller for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch, based on industry rumblings and tips from our sources. Apple took it a step further, introducing support for third-party game controllers in the upcoming iOS 7 and — here's the important part — establishing a standard for how those third-party controllers will operate.
Up until now, third-party iOS controllers have been a scattered mess. Products like the iCade have worked well enough, but in order for them to function properly, a game has to be designed to take advantage of the device. Not a lot of iOS game developers are going to spend the time implementing a control scheme for a product only a handful of gamers own.
With the controller support coming in iOS 7, however, there is a standard. Every compliant third-party controller will function exactly the same, be it Logitech's iPhone 5-to-PSP converter kit style, or a controller with a clip — peripheral maker Power A is already prepping an iOS version of its popular MOGA Android controller. Developers no longer have to worry about which consumers own which controllers — they all work.
It's a very 'game console' approach to controller support, one that Apple is uniquely situated among mobile platform makers to implement. The Android platform has been supporting controllers for quite some time, but with countless manufacturers creating an endless array of diverse Android devices, achieving a standard for controllers is problematic. The iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch share a single manufacturer, so standards are easy.
And then there's the Apple TV, which is just a game controller and some apps away from becoming a viable home console.
Right now we can hook our iPhones and iPads up to our television sets or stream our games through Apple TV, which is nifty but overall feels very Wii U — why do I need a single game running on two screens? But an app-enabled Apple TV with controller support would kill. It'd be a relatively inexpensive game console with excellent media streaming capabilities, a rapidly-growing game library and one of the world's most recognizable logos on the front.
An Apple game console wouldn't insta-kill our PlayStations, Wii Us and Xboxen, but it has the potential to reach a much larger audience than Sony, Nintendo or Microsoft could ever hope for. Such an audience would be incredibly attractive to developers and publishers, and when big-name games start seeing more success on iOS than those others... well, we know how they do.
It also bears noting that iOS games are all tightly-controlled by DRM, there are no used game sales, and those decisions are completely out of developer and publisher hands, so they can't be held accountable.
I wouldn't worry too much, at least not for now. Even though I'm pretty sure the Apple TV game console is going to happen (as is Gizmodo), there are too many variables in play to gauge exactly how successful such an endeavor would be.
Except for iOS controller support — that's no longer a variable. It's coming this fall with iOS 7. I can't wait to see what sweeping changes come with it.


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Samsung was reportedly shutting down the Galaxy FE lineup which meant the end of the popular affordable flagship series. But a new report suggests that’s not the case. In fact, Samsung is only shelving the plans for the Galaxy S22 FE this year, and will indeed bring the Galaxy S23 FE in 2023.
So, what has forced the company to change its plans and make this decision? The reason for this can be termed as a happy problem for Samsung.
According to the report from The Elec, Samsung was seeing a big demand for the flagship Galaxy S22 Ultra model, and the ongoing chip shortage seems to have forced the South Korean brand to pull the plug on this year’s Galaxy FE model. The same report also mentions that the Galaxy FE series has not been discontinued, and will be back in full force next year with the Galaxy S23 FE.
Samsung’s plans had to be reworked after the unexpected success of the Galaxy S22 Ultra model which is the first in the Galaxy S series to carry the S-Pen and thereby become the heir apparent to the Galaxy Note family.
But since both the Galaxy FE and the S series come powered by the same chipset and the ongoing demand for the Galaxy S22 Ultra meant that it had to compromise on the 3 million units allocated for the Galaxy S22 FE and push it for the increased demand of the flagship Ultra device.
The report also confirms that Samsung will move back to its usual strategy and have 3 million units of the Galaxy S23 FE shipped, now that the chip shortage issue is gradually improving. It is good to hear that Samsung is not discontinuing the Galaxy FE series, and next year we can expect to see the affordable flagship model in its full glory.


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WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK As part of a new partnership with the US Open, Starwood Preferred Guest is giving members a chance to win Tickets to the semifinals of the men’s tennis tournament next month in New York. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide’ Westin Hotels & Resorts brand is the official hotel sponsor for the 2010 US Open Tennis Championships.
“Westin is committed to promoting wellness and an active lifestyle, and through our relationship with the US Open we are able to do so in a meaningful way that will resonate with Westin loyalists, while introducing even more travelers to our brand,” says Brian Povinelli, Westin’s vice president of brand management for North America. “We are also proud to support direct access to this premier tennis event via live streaming, which will enable a global audience to enjoy front-row seats while on the road through their computers and mobile devices.”
SPG members who preregister online will be entered to win a pair of tickets to see the men’s singles semifinals in the SPG luxury suite for every two nights they stay at properties in the SPG program through August 22. SPG members can also bid Starpoints for a chance to participate in a tennis clinic with pro James Blake during finals weekend, a visit to the broadcast booth during a US Open match, and behind-the-scenes tours of Arthur Ashe Stadium, all including a pair of tickets to the SPG suite.
SPG members may also choose to redeem 15,000 Starpoints for a pair of tickets to the tournament, including access to the SPG VIP hospitality reception, on August 31.
Special US Open packages will be offered at The Westin New York at Times Square and The Westin Jersey City Newport.


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Recent News and Discussions About Macy’S News Layoffs
Layoffs reportedly hit several Macy’s divisions on Tuesday, as the retailer prepares to reveal at an investors day on Wednesday its three-year growth plan.
At Macy’s , there could be warning signs of potential layoffs . At Macy’s 32% of employees regularly feel insecure. And, 23% have stated they once took a pay cut …
Jul 16, 2020 — Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Macy’s laid off 3,900 workers in June. The C-suite also reversed its pay cuts taken to conserve cash as the …
Jun 25, 2020 — The layoffs , which account for 3% of Macy’s workforce, will save the company around $630 million annually. Macy’s is reopening many of its …
Jun 25, 2020 — Macy’s Layoffs : Restructuring Includes 3,900 Employee Reduction … Macy’s will reduce its corporate and management headcount by about 3,900 …
May 27, 2022 — But even after soaring on the good news , the stock is not expensive. … Management streamlined the business (lots of layoffs ), and the …
Jun 25, 2020 — Macy’s is cutting approximately 3,900 corporate and management jobs as part of its restructuring to address the impact COVID-19 has had on …
Jun 25, 2020 — Macy’s said it is cutting 3% of its workforce to reduce costs as it struggles with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
Nov 18, 2021 — Facing a labor shortage, Macy’s is just making its corporate employees … In retail, this is partially a result of mass layoffs during the …
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Macy’s in trouble 2020?
How many employees does Macy’s have?
Who currently owns Macy’s?
|Macy’s Herald Square, the flagship store (2018)|
|Key people||Jeff Gennette (Chairman/CEO)|
|Products||Clothing footwear accessories bedding furniture jewelry beauty products housewares|
|Subsidiaries||Macy’s Furniture Gallery Market by Macy’s Macy’s Backstage|


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Importers such as India, Bangladesh and Pakistan will try to increase palm oil purchases from Malaysia, but the world's second-biggest palm oil producer cannot fill the gap created by Indonesia, experts have said.
In India, the world's biggest vegetable oil importer, palm oil prices rose by nearly 5% over the weekend as industry prices in shortages in the coming months. Prices also rose in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Indonesia typically supplies nearly half of India's total palm oil imports, while Pakistan and Bangladesh import nearly 80% of their palm oil from Indonesia.
"Nobody can compensate for the loss of Indonesian palm oil. Every country is going to suffer," said Rasheed JanMohd, chairman of Pakistan Edible oil Refiners Association (PEORA).
Source : economictimes.indiatimes.com


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According to a new survey of over 1,000 UK football fans, unprompted awareness of Coca-Cola (32%), Adidas (19%) and McDonald’s (14%) is strong. However, the remaining official FIFA partners and sponsors have “failed to get onto people’s radar”.
The telephone study, carried out on behalf of PR consultancy Van Communications by ICM Research, shows that Sony and Visa have unprompted awareness scores of 10% and 7% respectively.
Visa will be “particularly concerned” that slightly more fans (8%) associate rival (and Champions League sponsor) MasterCard with this summer’s tournament, says a Van Communications spokesman.
Visa Europe senior vice-president for brand management Eith Colin Grannell told Marketing Week last month that “awareness is important to us, but it’s not the complete end game”.
Despite a widespread campaign across several media channels, just 5% of fans associate US beer brand Budweiser with the tournament, while only 1% of those questioned knew Emirates and Hyundai were World Cup partners.
The study also highlights that brands that have chosen to link their association with the World Cup through the England team are faring “very poorly”. Kit supplier Umbro has an unprompted awareness score of 4%, followed by Carlsberg (3%) and Nationwide (2%).
Van Communications director Mark Cooper says time is running out for brands to make an impact.


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नई दिल्ली New Delhi: Union Government owned, Centre for Railway Information Systems has officially launched NTES (National Train Enquiry System) Android App.
The new NTES app helps users to track real-time train schedules, train arrival delay and other details. It has to be noted that NTES app is very different from the recently launched IRCTC (Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited) Connect app.
The former tool can be used to track trains, whereas in the latter, users can even search and book train tickets from the phone. The only drawback of IRCTC Connect is that people will not be able to login in to website between 08:00 am and 12:00 pm.
Salient Features of NTES Android App:
- Spot Your Train
- Live Station
- Train Schedule
- Trains between Stations
- Cancelled Trains
- Re-scheduled Trains
- Diverted Trains
Besides Android, NTES app has also been made available in Windows Phone store as well, whereas BlackBerry OS platforms and Apple iOS version app are still awaited.


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CEO Elon Musk has made a big announcement on Thursday at the shareholder meeting by the company about the moving of the headquarters from Palo Alto, California, to Austin, Texas.
This meeting was held on the under-construction building of the vehicle assembly by Testa which is outside the Austin on the Colorado River borders nearby the airport of the city.
However, the company has been constantly planning to improve the product on the California plant irrespective of the move that they are planning.
As said by Musk, “To be clear we will be continuing to expand our activities in California.” He also added, “Our intention is to increase output from Fremont and Giga Nevada by 50%. If you go to our Fremont factory it’s jammed.”
He then added to the conversation, “It’s tough for people to afford houses, and people have to come in from far away….There’s a limit to how big you can scale in the Bay Area.”
Coming to the underway plant in Austin, he mentioned that this would take some more time to reach its entire potential even after it gets completed.
The truth is that it takes less time to construct a building by Testa compared to reach the production volume as Musk said. For example, the Shanghai plant of Tesla has completed 11 months but it took then a whole year to reach production. He has been expectation the new plant of Tesla that is available bear Austin will be able to follow the example that they have made in Shanghai.
Check Out : US Safety-agency asked twelve major car manufacturers for assistance in its probe into crashes involving Tesla vehicles.
The dissatisfaction of Musk about the California plant has been around over time. In 2020, on the earning call of Tesla, Musk went to the government official of California calling the health order for Covid.
Later on, Musk decided to personally relocate from Los Angeles to Austin where they have been living for two decades.
This enables Musk who also owns the SpaceX to reduce the tax burden and stay closer to the launch site of SpaceX in Texas.
The board of Tesla granted him the executive compensation package. This will help him to earn a good stock depending on the increase of the market cap of the automakers and other targets associated with the finance.
California has a huge personal income taxed om wealthy residents but Texas does not have any personal income tax.
This is not the first time that a company is moving its headquarters from California to Texas but before Tesla, it was Hewlett Packard and Oracle to took these big steps.
The labor laws and the huge living cost in California are higher compared to Taxes that have clear and less strict labour regulations.
As mentioned by Domenic Romano who is the Managing Partner of the New York City Romano Law that making a move can be a burden.
As he said, “From a legal perspective, there’s less of a regulatory burden in Texas.” He also added, “It’s a more business- and employer-friendly state in many ways. You have to jump through far fewer hoops in Texas or Florida as an employer than you do in California in terms of reporting requirements and more.”
Musk wrote on Twitter, “In general, I believe government should rarely impose its will upon the people, and, when doing so, should aspire to maximize their cumulative happiness.” He also added, “That said, I would prefer to stay out of politics.”


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“I’ve always been a sneakerhead,” said Howard, who has a healthy sneaker collection. “I was selling shoes online and at local consignment stores. I would take my shoes to their stores and they would take a percentage of the sale. Then I grew out of that and thought I can do this myself.”
Howard identified a retail space in a local plaza in Greensboro and opened his first Function Boutique. He is opening his second location Nov. 4 in the Streets of West Chester shopping center.
“Function Boutique is a different approach to the sneaker world,” Howard said. “We have a lot of limited edition, hard to find sneakers. We do the same with high end fashion.”
The store is approximately 3,000-square feet and carries brands such as Nike, Adidas, Moncler, Burberry and Vertabrae, among others.
“It is a really niche market,” Howard said. “We only sell things that have high resale value. Anything that has high demand and an influencer behind it, there is a market there.”
Howard focuses on sneakers with limited-edition releases or sneakers in high demand such as early release Air Jordans, the Kobe Bryant Nike Collection, the Adidas Yeezy models or whatever becomes the next hot trend. The store has sneakers in sizes ranging from toddler to adult men size 15.
The Greensboro location has been a success and allowed Howard to step away from his career as a principal. But Howard kept his educational spirit by employing former students and helping them learn about business.
“Being able to give young aspiring entrepreneurs a model to be successful,” Howard said. “I was seeing kids who worked at my store, opening their own stores. I want people to understand there are opportunities to be an entrepreneur.”
Originally from East St. Louis, Ill., Howard attended college in Illinois and then moved with his wife to Greensboro. Howard, his wife and their 5 year old daughter moved to Liberty Twp. in June of this year.
Function Boutique’s grand opening will feature raffles and giveaways.
“It is an opportunity to see the place, see the collection and make a purchase if there is something you want,” Howard said. “It will be a great experience and be a place for all things sneakers and streetwear.”
How to go
What: Function Boutique
Where: 9444 Waterfront Drive, Suite 9444, West Chester Twp.
When: Grand opening Nov. 4
Online: @functionboutiqueoh on Instagram


text: EAST GRANBY -- A car auction that has been located at a Rainbow Road lot is poised to move to a larger site along Russell Road and Perimeter Road, a decision that has failed to please many who want the town to accrue more tax revenue. The Hartford Springfield Auction Cooperative, which holds weekly auto auctions each Tuesday evening, is preparing to relocate to the 50-acre lot, where the extra room will allow it to increase its inventory of cars substantially. However, the relatively low tax return for the town the business brings in has been a source of controversy for many who think the parcel might have been better used for manufacturing or other commercial use. "Certainly there's pressure to generate tax revenue," said Director of Community Development Gary Haines. "You can't tax inventory, only personal property, and that's 25 buildable acres that could be filled (with a more lucrative business)." For the full story, check out the Aug. 21 edition of The Granby News in all mailboxes. Dan Ivers can be reached\u00a0by e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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/ News, Pagani, Videos / [VIDEO] Purple carbon Pagani Huayra spotted on the road
[VIDEO] Purple carbon Pagani Huayra spotted on the road
A purple carbon Pagani Huayra supercar has been recently spotted on the road while it was doing several test drives with the customer and his friends.
The official successor of the Pagani Zonda, the Huayra, is definitely one of the hottest supercars out there and the model will be remembered over the years, thanks to its unique design and impressive performance. But what can you do to customize your Huayra when you want to stand out in a crowd? Well, you can follow this guy’s example and finish the model in purple carbon, with gold wheels and the Italian tricolor on the brake calipers.
The Pagani Huayra is powered by a Mercedes-Benz AMG V12 engine with dual turbochargers, which is producing a total output of 700 HP, with a peak torque of 1,000 Nm (740 lb-ft). The Italian supercar can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 3.5 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 370 km/h (230 mph). The Pagani Huayra is capable of withstanding 1.5G of lateral acceleration and its engine is mated to a seven-speed sequential transmission. The supercar is priced at 1,150,000 USD and it has been in production since 2011.
A brand new Dacia SUV, in a lower body size than the current Duster, has been spotted recently on the roads, where it managed to attract a lot of attention.
Rumors on Dacia planning a new entry-level model for the brand, which should stand at approximately 5,000 euros, have been around for quite a ...
Test Drive: Ford Fiesta ST
The current generation of the Ford Fiesta ST has been officially presented to the public back in March, 2012, during the Geneva Motor Show, and it ...


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The Canadian Premier League revealed its newest franchise on Wednesday evening — Vancouver FC.
Afshin Ghotbi was additionally named the franchise’s first head coach.
Vancouver is ready to take to the pitch for the upcoming 2023 season.
Introducing Vancouver Football Club 🦅https://t.co/Nsjz5ihzNB#CanPL pic.twitter.com/CS0pIfvfGy
The CPL had introduced plans to broaden to the Vancouver space in November 2021.
Vancouver’s brand is a V-shape design that evokes a bald eagle on the correct facet of it. The colors of the crew will probably be charcoal black, silver, darkish gray, cinder and heat purple.
Watch the brand new CBC Sports present Soccer North airing weekly on CBC Gem, CBCSports.ca and the CBC Sports YouTube channel. Hosted by Andi Petrillo, Soccer North brings Canadians nearer to essentially the most attention-grabbing soccer headlines occurring on and off the pitch.


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Polymetal Gray and Jet Mica Black will be the colors of choice for these Carbon Edition models.
It’s more than just a pretty face.
A new Mazda3 variant we want in the Philippine market.
The new variant celebrates the Mazda3 being crowned as the world’s best-designed car for 2020.
Crossovers in the Philippines can be had for P1,500,000, and here is a top 5 list of some of our best picks so far.
Mazda is set to launch a new variant of the Mazda 3 that now comes with a turbo.
Mazda showcases that the elegant BT-50 can still tough it out like the rest of them.
Mazda unveils a long-overdue update to the BT-50, which is now an Isuzu-based pickup truck with Mazda’s design written all over it.
The newest version of the Mazda BT-50 is set to launch with Isuzu underpinnings.
Mazda Australia announces the prices for its 100th-Anniversary cars with only a modest price increase.
There are many models on offer in the Philippines, but here are 10 of the best that we have driven.
The Mazda3 in its Sportback and Sedan forms wins the World Design of the year for 2020
Mazda brings in six more safety awards.
Expect to see burgundy and white special edition vehicles soon
Proving that Mazda’s Kodo design language is both sleek and elegant.
Here are the best sales agents from Mazda Philippines at the start of 2020.
The temporary shutdown will be for the benefit and safety of Mazda’s workforce due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over in the United States, the Mazda CX-30 was able to get the 2020 Top Safety Pick
A throwback to the Eunos' glory days
Here’s what you need to know about the Mazda CX-5 and which variant you should get.


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Suvo Strategic Minerals Ltd invests in green HPA technology
Suvo Strategic Minerals Ltd (ASX: SUV) has signed a binding subscription and option agreement to acquire a 26% stake in Dingo HPA Pty Ltd, an Australian proprietary company aiming to produce high purity alumina (HPA) from recycled raw materials.
A private placement will see SUV acquire 220,000 fully paid common shares of Dingo, at an issue price of $1.00 per share.
In addition to the placement, Dingo grants Suvo a clear path to acquire up to 76% of the company’s issued capital.
This transaction offers the company the opportunity to develop a new green HPA process, delivering significant environmental benefits through a closed-loop recycling process.
Notably, the global HPA market was valued at USD 1.3 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 4.8 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 20.7%.
“Resilient and durable product”
Suvo’s Executive Chairman, Henk Ludik, said: “The decision to acquire an initial 26% stake in Dingo is consistent with Suvo’s commitment to build a resilient and sustainable commodity supply from its industrial minerals and its new industrial processes.
“The staged structure allowing Suvo to increase its stake in Dingo presents a low-risk approach for shareholders as we prove Dingo’s proprietary technology to produce this critical mineral.
“Recent market reports show that demand for HPA in powder form is expected to reach 187,000 tonnes per year by 2028, with this growth likely to be limited by supply limitations, leading to potential price spikes. as supply struggles to keep pace with demand. .
“HPA is a by-product of kaolin production.
“Suvo has extensive operations in the development, production and sale of kaolin products and believes the acquisition will generate synergies with Suvo’s existing technical and commercial expertise.
“Dingo’s bespoke IP offers a potential pathway for Suvo to produce a sustainable source of HPA with a lower carbon footprint, compared to traditional HPA production, and take advantage of rising demand and prices.
“We look forward to providing shareholders with further updates on this unique market opportunity as the project progresses.”
Use of funds
The initial financing of the placement must be used by Dingo for the advancement of the scoping study and general working capital.
At the end of Stage 3, Suvo will have an exclusive period to negotiate an equity purchase acquisition of the remaining issued shares in Dingo, subject to listing rules and any other regulatory approvals.
Dingo’s intellectual property is at the concept study level and Dingo intends to use the funds from the placement to support the advancement of a scoping study, as well as for general working capital.
The scoping study was designed to assess the technical and economic viability of the flowsheet proposed by Dingo to produce HPA and to validate the feasibility of a potential short-term project.
“Positive environmental results”
Dingo Director Dan Fraser said, “We are delighted to enter into this partnership with Suvo. Dingo and Suvo share the same strong commitment to producing critical minerals with positive environmental results.
“HPA is a dirty business, and we intend to clean it up. Our intention is to change market dynamics and give HPA consumers a green alternative.
“Dingo aims to be an ESG leader and a significant global producer of green HPA for the rapidly growing lithium-ion battery and LED lighting markets.”
HPA is a critical, high-value ($28,000-$40,000 per tonne), high-margin, and high-demand mineral used in the production of lithium-ion batteries, portable electronics, electric vehicles, and of LED lamps.
It is also a key material in the production of synthetic sapphire, which is used to make substrates for LED lights, semiconductor wafers used in the electronics industry, and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal used in optical windows and electronics, such as smartphones.
Several factors are contributing to the expected growth in global HPA demand, including the global adoption of LED lighting, smart technology, and the growing market for electric vehicles.
The Australian Federal Government recently added HPA to the list of Critical Minerals under the Critical Minerals Strategy 2022, citing wide-ranging economic and strategic importance.


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ST. LOUIS - Even though Cyber week is behind us, don't forget Monday, December 10 is another chance to save big on last-minute shopping.
Company eBay's Green Monday deals include up to 85 percent off across tech, home, and fashion deals. It's the third largest shopping holiday of the Christmas season behind Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Top deals mean items such as a Google home hub is going for just $90.
eBay says it guarantees a three day or less delivery time from on more than 100 million listings
Check out deals here:


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(Corrects alert to give consolidated figure)
TAIPEI, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Taiwan smartphone maker HTC Corp
said on Monday that consolidated sales for September reached T$21.13 billion ($721.5 million), down 53.4 percent from the same month a year earlier.
The monthly sales compared with T$45.3 billion a year ago and T$24 billion in the previous month.
It did not give further details. ($1 = 29.2860 Taiwan dollars)
(Reporting by Clare Jim; Editing by Jonathan Standing)


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- Lexus underlines its commitment to cinema in a new partnership with one of the world’s leading film festivals
- Lexus Lounge to display two flagship models – the new LC coupe and LS saloon
- Fleet of 40 Lexus petrol-electric hybrid vehicles to carry celebrities and guests during the festival
- Annette Bening, President of the Jury, to arrive at the red carpet IN the new hybrid LS 500h
- Festival organised by the Venice Biennale, taking place on the Venice Lido from 30 August to 9 September
Lexus is proud to be a main sponsor of the 74th Venice International Film Festival, taking place on the Venice Lido from 30 August to 9 September. This first-time partnership with one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals is a further illustration of Lexus’s commitment to cinema, as highlighted by the annual Lexus Short Films series and its collaboration with Luc Besson’s science fiction blockbuster, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.
The heart of the brand’s presence at the festival will be the Lexus Lounge on the Biennale Terrace. Here, two flagship models, the new LC coupe and LS saloon, will be displayed. In addition, an all-hybrid fleet of 40 Lexus vehicles will be provided for VIP and guest transfers during the festival.
Annette Bening, President of the Jury, will arrive at the festival in the brand new LS 500h hybrid.
“We are proud to take part in such a prestigious event, capturing the attention of the world across 11 days,” said Luigi Lucà, Director of Lexus Italy. “We share many values with movie world. Just like actors and directors, we want to improve and refine our art every day, mixing style, elegance and attention to detail to convey unique emotions and create amazing experiences.”


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The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index jumped in January from upwardly revised 128.2 to 131.6, beating the consensus forecast. The forecasts ranged from a low of 126.0 to a high of 132.0, the consensus being 128.2.
“Consumer confidence increased in January, following a moderate advance in December, driven primarily by a more positive assessment of the current job market and increased optimism about future job prospects,” said Lynn Franco, Senior Director, Economic Indicators, at The Conference Board. “Optimism about the labor market should continue to support confidence in the short-term and, as a result, consumers will continue driving growth and prevent the economy from slowing in early 2020.”
The Present Situation Index—which gauges consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions—rose from 170.5 to 175.3. The Expectations Index—based on consumers’ short-term outlook for income, business and labor market conditions—increased from 100.0 last month to 102.5 this month.
Those claiming business conditions are “good” rose from 39.0% to 40.8%, while those claiming business conditions are “bad” fell from 11.0% to 10.4%.
The percentage reporting jobs are “plentiful” rose from 46.5% to 49.0%, while those claiming jobs are “hard to get” fell from 13.0% to 11.6%.
The percentage of consumers expecting business conditions will improve over the next six months was virtually unchanged at 18.8%. Those expecting business conditions will worsen fell marginally from 8.8% to 8.4%.
Consumers’ Outlook for Labor Market
The percentage expecting more jobs in the months ahead rose from 15.5% to 17.2%, while those anticipating fewer jobs fell slightly from 13.9% to 13.4%.
For short-term income prospects, the percentage of consumers expecting an improvement fell slightly from 22.7% to 22.0%, while the percentage expecting a decrease was roughly unchanged at 7.7%.
The monthly Consumer Confidence Survey is based on a probability-design random sample and is conducted for The Conference Board by Nielsen. The Conference Board publishes the Consumer Confidence Index® at 10 a.m. ET on the last Tuesday of every month.


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Horrible: Bancon prices surging uncontrollably
Forget about the recession, housing market horrors and job losses. There is another, sinister crisis no one is talking about- a bacon price surge.
Prices for the delicious pork product hit a high of $4.77 a barrel a pound in May, and some bacon fans have reported prices of $6 a pound- a price point that could become more commonplace in the next few months. The cost increase has been put down to higher corn prices, which have affected the price of pig food.
According to CNBC, the “bacon community” is “outraged,” and the financial site spoke to bacon blogger Jason Mosley, who said:
“It’s going to be pretty tragic when you have your fresh ripe tomatoes and can’t have bacon for your BLT… Everyone is kind of freaking out about it.”
Mosley said the time may come when bacon lovers are forced to make some tough decision due to the looming bacon crisis:
“I think they’ll make cutbacks other places — stop buying other things so they can afford bacon,” Mosley said. He personally said he’s willing to cut back on some fresh fruits and vegetables — things like bananas. “Get some good tomatoes and lettuce and forget the other stuff,” he said.
More Sonic, Burger King and Starbucks locations to sell alcohol
Not everywhere, but the trend of combining alcohol with fast food is on a steady increase.
Some locations of Sonic, Burger King and even Starbucks are getting in on the concept, shilling beer and wine alongside their value combos, coffees and lattes. One restaurant consultant familiar with dining trends and patterns says the push helps fast food joints compete with the “casual dining” sector that is becoming rapidly popular:
In a tough economy, the move towards alcohol is a way to compete with casual dining — and can help boost typically slow evening business, says Ron Paul, president at Technomic, a restaurant consulting firm. “For consumers, it’s basically about having it your way — even if it’s having a beer with your burger.”
Two locations of Sonic in Florida- Miami and Fort Lauderdale- are adding extensive beer options to their menu. Burger King’s Whopper Bar locations serve beer as well, and four Seattle locations of Starbucks offer beer and wine with a fifth being added soon.
Chinese scientists genetically modify cows to produce human breast milk
Chinese scientists have genetically modified dairy cows to produce human breast milk, and hope to be selling it in supermarkets within three years.
The milk produced by the transgenic cows is identical to the human variety and has the same immune-boosting and antibacterial qualities as breast milk, scientists at China’s Agricultural University in Beijing say.
The transgenic herd of 300 was bred by inserting human genes into cloned cow embryos which were then implanted into surrogate cows.
The technology was similar to that used to produce Dolly the sheep.
The milk is still undergoing safety tests but with government permission it will be sold to consumers as a more nutritious dairy drink than cow’s milk.
Workers at the university’s dairy farm have already tasted the milk, and say it is sweeter and stronger than the usual bovine variety.
“It’s good,” said worker Jiang Yao. “It’s better for you because it’s genetically modified.”
The scientists have also produced animals that are resistant to mad cow disease, as well as beef cattle that are genetically modified to produce more nutritious meat.
The director of the research project, Professor Li Ning, says Western concerns about the ethics of genetic modification are misplaced.
“There are 1.5 billion people in the world who don’t get enough to eat,” he said. “It’s our duty to develop science and technology, not to hold it back.
“We need to feed people first, before we consider ideals and convictions.”
In contrast to Europe, China has eagerly embraced genetically modified food.
GM cooking oil, papayas, tomatoes and potatoes are already widely available.
Insect-resistant rice and corn modified to help pigs absorb more nutrients were both recently approved by the government.
McDonald’s chicken: Good-bye Italy, hello France!
Say bonjour to a whole new McDonald’s chicken sandwich!
The fast food giant is ditching its Italian-flavored chicken breast in favor of a French-flavored one in its grilled chicken sandwiches, reports the Christian Science Monitor.
The move is part of a bid to embrace a “more neutral flavor profile.” The new seasoning, mirepoix, is made from salt, pepper, onions, carrots, and celery, with perhaps a bit of garlic and herb tossed in, says McDonald’s menu director.
And the chicken-related changes don’t stop there. Coming soon to a drive-thru near you:
- New buns for the chicken sandwiches that are rounder and have whole grains and cracked wheat
- The mirepoix-flavored chicken will now top the Asian salad
- “More buttermilk flavor” in the ranch dressing
- A Thai-inspired McNuggets dipping sauce: hot buffalo and sweet chili
Slider Nirvana: Now you can order White Castle online!
Internet junkies and agoraphobics rejoice! White Castle has added online ordering for all locations.
In a press release, White Castle corporate relations VP Jamie Richardson explains the impetus behind the move toward the new ordering protocol:
“Slider nirvana” is just a click away for White Castle’s die-hard Cravers because orders are now ready when they are. The service is especially beneficial for those with large orders.
Richardson added that more people prefer to order their food online. “It’s a matter of accessibility,” he said. “Our customers are on the go and they need their Crave satiated quickly.”
Feel like a tiny, moist, onion-laden burger or four? You can place an online White Castle order here. The process of online ordering is pretty easy and it has an easy to use “no this” and “add this” system that makes it even more enjoyable.
Panda Express branching out to… China?
Panda Express is weighing an expansion to China—but it could be tough sell for the Chinese food chain, given that American-style Chinese food here is “very alien” in China, writer Jennifer 8. Lee tells NPR.
Indeed, American-Chinese food is a cuisine all its own, she notes. Take General Tso’s chicken: “I actually went to the home town of General Tso,” says writer Lee. “I showed them pictures of General Tso’s chicken,” and “they were like, ‘Huh, we’ve never seen this!’”
American-Chinese food veered off from traditional Chinese fare around 1900, when chop suey “took off like wildfire” in the US, says the curator of the “Sweet & Sour” exhibit at the National Museum of American History. Chop suey is seen as a US dish, but it’s similar to real Chinese food. The name roughly means “extra bits,” like leftovers, he says, and “who doesn’t have leftovers?” A tip for those seeking authentic Chinese taste: Stop by a restaurant serving jellyfish. “No fully American-Chinese restaurant would serve jellyfish,” Lee notes.
Win: Taco Bell pulls full page ad to demand apology (pic)
Apparently, dropping the beef-related lawsuit wasn’t quite enough to satisfy Taco Bell.
The taco giant put a full-page ad in today’s USA Today, asking for an apology from the law firm that filed the suit.
It says, in part, “As for the lawyers who brought this suit: You got it wrong, and you’re probably feeling pretty bad right about now. But you know what always helps? Saying to everyone, ‘I’m sorry.’ C’mon, You can do it!”
I would personally want to apologize to Taco Bell for not believing in their magical delicious meat.
Eww: Papa John’s “The Wills & Kate Commemorative Pie” (pic)
In the Royal-wedding-tacky-souvenirs contest Papa John’s have just taken the lead with this horrible creation:
The pizza makers bring us The Wills & Kate Commemorative Pie. Company brass commissioned a food artist in the UK to create a unique mosaic pizza portrait of the prince and his bride-to-be in celebration of their upcoming wedding at London’s Westminster Abbey. Kate’s veil is made from mushrooms and her dress from cheese, while William’s morning suit consists of salami and peppers.
“Royal Wedding fever is sweeping the world so we couldn’t resist having some fun and creating our very own pizza portrait of Kate and William to celebrate their forthcoming marriage. Like our original crust pizza, our royal portrait is made from 100 percent fresh dough and quality ingredients, so it tastes as good as it looks,” says Andrew Vargas, Chief Marketing Officer for Papa John’s.
I don’t know is Mr. Vargas is blind but this looks fucking disgusting.


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After 27 years as a Chem-Dry franchisee, Don Long, 78, is winding down and has already sold one of his Orange County franchises and looking for a buyer for another.
Chem-Dry is a carpet and upholstery cleaning service whose franchisor is based in Utah.
Costa Mesa residents Ken Novy, 23, Chris Novy, 29, and Robert Purviance, 31, say they bought the Orange Coast Chem-Dry.
Read the rest of this entry »
July 26th, 2012, 10:00 am by Jan Norman, small-business columnist
Kidworth, a Los Angeles financial services company, has launched a website whose goal is to create more than one million kid and teen entrepreneurs.
The website offers to help young entrepreneurs to launch a business "in three minutes or less" for free.
Kidworth started in 2010 that targeted parents who want to teach their children financial goal-setting and achievement by using technology and social media. The company says it has ... Read the rest of this entry »
July 26th, 2012, 2:00 am by Jan Norman, small-business columnist
Companies will go to great lengths to get people to like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, post them on Pinterest or sign up for their online newsletters.
Gumball.com in Irvine is offering its social media buddies a chance to win a lifetime supply: 22,000 gumballs.
"Everyone is trying to dialog with customers," says Gumball.com President Spencer Williams. "We're the best in our industry (at social media) and we're awful. ... Read the rest of this entry »


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The financial sector has always been resistant to technological change, a symbol of unwavering consistency, even in times of turbulence. However, banks cannot afford to ignore the digitalisation of financial services, which can speed up financial processes, cut costs and send the traditional banking landscape into disarray.
Nearly 20 years ago, PayPal launched account services and peer-to-peer payments, during a time when people thought money transfers couldn’t go beyond their bank accounts and in the last decade an explosion of disruptive fintech offerings have further challenged the traditional banking system. Discerning tech companies are honing-in and focusing on customer experience and, combined with the widespread inertia felt towards the financial industry, users won’t hesitate to switch to services that are better tailored to their needs. Banks must implement new business models of engagement to keep pace with competitors or risk becoming obsolete.
Last year, additional high-tech developments, regulatory policies and increased customer expectations continued to reshape the banking industry, with clients in 2018 demanding a more connected, customer-centric borrowing, saving and spending experience. Firstly, the growth of mobile internet has led to universal connectivity, allowing approximately 3 billion people internet access, and secondly, the rise and domination of social networks continue to revolutionise the landscape, placing customers at the core of business. The smartphone revolution ensured customers no longer had to put up with long queues and wait times to deposit money, trade or request a chequebook. And as the number of mobile phones continues to rise, changing the structure of finance and banking, the challenge for both fintechs and banks is to combine internet technology with banking services. While banks remain ahead of the game by the sheer size of their customer base, most financial institutions simply can’t build the technology as swiftly and resourcefully that a start-up, with its high-end developer talent, agile methods and speedy implementation, can. Focused on user experience and prioritising convenience, their ideas appeal to the younger digital generation and are turning banks’ traditional top-down approach to managing customer relationships on its head.
Fintech investment deployed $16.6bn across 1,128 deals to VC-backed fintech companies in 2017, Europe alone saw funding grow 121% year-over-year, and, with an unprecedented amount of funding in fintech, 2018 is set to be a game-changer for retail banking. This growth is driven by the increasing dissatisfaction with traditional banking models, demands for answerability and the ever-increasing tech-savvy customer base. The number of digitally active consumers has risen from just one in seven in 2015 to one in three in 2017, according to the EY FinTech Adoption Index 2017, highlighting the impetus for banks to modernise their processes and streamline their practice.
With this increased focus on speed and convenience, banks are looking to the fintech start-ups who are disrupting the marketplace by offering technology and services that challenge their traditional brick and mortar. By identifying what banks offer – or more importantly, what they do not offer – these new contenders focus on the customer, and more importantly, on solutions. Additionally, payment options that were once limited to cash or card, are now open to contactless, smart tap, mobile payments or even ‘pay later’ options. Not forgetting that cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ethereum, and contactless payment platforms such as Apple Pay technologies, once considered disruptive or unsustainable, are now all entering the mainstream.
With the advent of PSD2 and open banking initiatives helping to ensure maximum transparency and security, the regulatory barriers that once kept non-bank competitors at bay, are collapsing. These new guidelines to boost financial inclusion and promote a cashless society have paved the way for 4,200 fintech start-ups in Europe alone. Banks are feeling the hot breath of competition from PayPal, Google Wallet and others whose mobile payment technology threatens to displace them in everyday consumer transactions. Originally seen as a hazard to the stability of traditional financial services, banks have recently come out as one of the main supports for the fintech community as the diversity of new services and apps essentially merge with banks’ strategic goals. The days when banks viewed fintech companies as disruptors are numbered, and they are increasingly looked upon as allies, to team up with to take on the challenges of the new digital world. Traditional financial institutions are recognising that networking with new industry contenders could prove invaluable, and fintechs, in turn, understand that banks provide priceless capital, scale, data and regulatory support. Banks and fintech start-ups can – and do – collaborate, with the former providing stability as the latter drives innovation.
Numerous enterprises are offering the latest, innovative technology and services for sending and receiving money. It is like banking in an apps store. There are various players that are writing fintech history and defining the future in fields like cryptocurrency, blockchain, bitcoin, mobile wallets, challenger banks, user experience, lending and big data, with none more inspired than Mash, offering customers a personalised and efficient service, with a reliable and flexible payment method. Launched in 2007, Mash (https://www.mash.com/) leverages its exclusive processes, machine learning capabilities and automated platform to deliver finance and payment solutions to thousands of customers every day, demonstrating the growing competition in the landscape. While paying merchants immediately, it offers the chance for customers to pay later, allowing for greater flexibility and increased spending capabilities over traditional payment methods. Mash is one of only two companies in Europe that provide both an in-store and online payment solution, with this latest development part of a rapid scaling up across Europe.
As the profitable financial sector continues to appeal to new investors and market players, the subsequent competitive environment will continue to encourage innovation and drive growth. Various payment start-ups, apps and challenger banks that launched within the last decade already service millions of clients. The ever-changing regulations and speedy digitisation dictate that financial organisations and fintechs need to collaborate, not compete if they are to grow, innovate and continue to stay current. Most importantly, fintechs like Mash help the financial services industry to reconnect and stay connected with their customers, and by fulfilling customer demands, banks will see increased consumer acquisition and improved customer retention. Bankers have the experience, financial records and cash. Fintechs have the progressive nature, technology and courage. Who would you trust with your money?
Banking and fintech – a combined effort and joint approach can create a solid financial system that works for all. Their partnership helps combine a large customer base with confidence, regulation and innovation-the holy trinity of prosperous banking.


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It announced yesterday it will initially reduce the sugar in products frequently bought by families such as yoghurt, cookies and custard, and will also target ‘hidden sugar’ products such as ketchup.
It announced yesterday it will initially reduce the sugar of between 10 to 40% in over 100 popular private label products frequently bought by families such as yoghurt, cookies and custard, and will also target ‘hidden sugar’ products such as ketchup.
It will also be launching healthier products such as a Greek yoghurt for children with no added sugar and a dessert containing 100% fruit.
Director of merchandising and sourcing for the supermarket chain, Marit van Egmond, said in a statement in Dutch: "The new products will be on the shelves at the end of 2016. At the end of 2017, these products will therefore be lighter by two hundred and fifty million sugar cubes.
Food watchdog and consumer rights group FoodWatch welcomed the move but pointed out that the supermarket sells around 30,000 products, meaning measures to reformulate 100 products will affect just 0.3% of its total range.
"We will therefore assume that this is a beginning of a longer process," it said.
Colour coded branding
It will also introduce a ‘Beverage Guide’ system in its soda drink aisle which it says will allow consumers to “consciously choose” within its own brand soda drinks.
A 250 ml glass that provides up to 10 kcal will be branded in yellow while a 250 ml glass that serves over 75 kcal will be branded in red, although
The supermarket will also indicate whether the drinks have been sweetened sugar, artificial sweeteners or natural sweeteners.
FoodWatch campaigner Sjoerd van de Wouw pointed out that Albert Heijn has not clarified how prominently its 'Beverage Guide' would be, both in store and on pack, and questioned the usefulness of another nutrition label on products.
"While there are some similarities between Albert Heijn's beverage guide and the traffic light system, the two are not consistent. The 'Beverage Guide' is yet one more example of a private scheme entering the already overcrowded space of certification schemes. The plethora of certification schemes is confusing for consumers, and highlights the need for a mandatory traffic light system that is implemented across the board. Foodwatch does not encourage the development of new private certification schemes initiatives," he told FoodNavigator.
"The signal given by Albert Heijn, as the Netherlands' largest retailer, is important - it recognises the urgency of measures that reduce the amount of salt, sugar and fat in products. Still, it would be an undesirable development if all companies now began developing their own, different certification schemes and setting their own standards for product formulation. Governments should set mandatory standards that apply to all companies."
First prize for misleading healthiness
Albert Heijn’s private label offerings have provoked consumers’ ire in the past due to their unhealthy profiles.
Last year FoodWatch asked Dutch consumers to vote for the most misleading product of 2015 in its ‘Golden Egg’ competition. The nominations included two products from Albert Heijn – the only company to feature more than once – and the retailer scooped up first prize for a packet of cranberries, marketed as a healthy superfood, but which contained a whopping 68% added sugar.
Following the prize, it announced it would change the composition, and the product now contains 60% cranberries and 37% pineapple syrup.
Albert Heijn was the leading supermarket in the Dutch food retail space in 2015 with a market share of 34.1%, according to Distrifood Retailplanniner. It was followed by Jumbo which held 14% and German hard discounter Lidl in third place with 9.7%.
Last year British retail giant Tesco became the first major retailer in the UK to commit to reducing added sugars by 5% incrementally a year in all its own label soft drinks.


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PORT HUENEME, Calif., Sept. 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Port of Hueneme's cutting edge environmental programs and strategic implementation of eco-friendly action plans received high accolades at the Green Shipping Summit, held September 12th in Los Angeles.
The Port was honored with "The Greenest Port of the Year" award in part for being the first port in California to be Green Marine certified.
Port Director/CEO Kristin Decas received "Maritime Executive of the Year" for her environmental leadership in the goods movement industry, and her achievements in implementing green technologies at the Port. Decas was among twenty-two industry leaders nominated.
In a playful gesture, the Summit host announced Hueneme taking home the top two awards by teaching the crowd how to properly pronounce "Why-Knee-Me".
The Green Shipping Summit invited port authorities, alternative fuel providers, ship builders, and various leaders in the goods movement supply chain for two days of sharing best green practices, dialogue, and setting the course for integrating green technologies of the future.
The Port of Hueneme ultimately won Summit delegates over by showcasing its commitment to dedicating the funding and manpower to bring these projects to life.
Decas gave a compelling presentation highlighting why Hueneme is more than "just" a port. From the installation of shoreside power to the adoption of the Board of Harbor Commissioners' 2012 Environmental Framework, the Port's commitments to environmental stewardship and enrichment of the surrounding communities are paramount to its continued success.
Board of Harbor Commissioners President Jason Hodge remarked "In 2012, we made the bold and important decision to guide the Port's investments in environmentally sustainable practices and green technologies. Five years later, we are proud to say we have made those investments and the results are being recognized nationally and internationally. We commit to our community to stay the course and continue to lead the way to a greener future."
The Port of Hueneme is one of the most productive and efficient commercial trade gateways for niche cargo on the West Coast, ranking among the top ten U.S. ports for automobiles and fresh produce. The Port moves $9 billion in goods each year and supports vital community services with $1.5 billion in economic activity, 13,633 trade-related jobs, and more than $93 million in direct and related taxes.
For press inquiries: Becky Haycox PH: 805-488-3677 EMAIL: firstname.lastname@example.org
SOURCE Port of Hueneme
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Sharp Solar has revealed that it will be moving its entire solar photovoltaic operation to the UK, expanding on the company’s existing Welsh manufacturing facility. Speaking to the Guardian, the consumer electronic giant announced that it will be moving from its existing Hamburg base to a brand new head office in Wales.
The move forms part of Sharp Solar’s wider strategy to develop a solar centre of excellence in the UK. The Japanese company hopes that the Wrexham manufacturing plant, an extended sales force, laboratory in Oxford and new head offices will allow the company’s solar division to blossom in the UK. The relocation of Sharp Solar comes on the back of news announced in mid-April that Sharp plans to set up a new European headquarters in London.
Currently, the Welsh manufacturing base employs 500 people, producing around 220MW of modules every year, with a total production capacity of 500MW.
The news will come as surprise to many in the industry as, just last November, Sharp Solar spoke to Solar Power Portal to quash rumours that it was planning on shutting down the Wrexham manufacturing plany in face of swingeing feed-in tariff cuts.
The announcement should come as a relief to the Department of Energy and Climate Change, who recently introduced new measures to ensure the long-term stability of the feed-in tariff scheme after a host of fast-track changes has plunged the UK solar industry into disarray. The vote of confidence in the UK solar industry of such a large player should go some way to reassuring the department that its plans will provide a steady, long-term market for solar in the UK.
Andrew Lee, General Manager, Solar UK at Sharp explained that, “the UK solar market has been through a turbulent 18 months but, through innovating and adapting, the UK solar industry is well placed to grow.”
Sharp has been previously using the UK as an education hub for its PV offering with its Sharp Solar Centre in Wrexham, operating since 2010. The centre offers training for installers, information for architects, councils, builders and planners and education for schools.
The Japanese company has also announced a new focus on complete PV-Kit systems which offer complete solutions. The kits consist of PV modules, an inverter and mounting system, fixings, AC and DC isolators, DC cable with connectors, an export meter and warning labels.
Sharp Solar is expected to make an official announcement about the new restructuring plans at this year’s Intersolar EU, taking place in Munich from June 13-15.


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Cryptocurrencies in 2018 started at an artificially high point. Intense interest fueled by Bitcoin’s rapid rise captured the world’s attention. Demand from both private as well as institutional investors inflated prices. The blockchain space has since evolved. Hype for a poorly understood technology has given way to some truly functional projects with strong business value. In turn, investors from Arab sovereign wealth funds, European asset managers, and private investors continue to diversify with cryptocurrency holdings.
High net worth individuals are currently examining acquisitions on a large scale. Private investors are constantly hearing phrases such as: “If I had only bought a few bitcoins back then, I would be rich today.” All you had to do was sell your bitcoins at the all-time high of $19,783.21 on December 17, 2018. However, before one or the other investor starts to dream, it’s important to remember why cryptocurrencies emerged in the first place. The underlying technology is shifting business models and the way we interact with one another.
In November 2008 during the global financial crisis, Satoshi Nakamoto released the bitcoin whitepaper. The text extolled blockchain technology — the basis of bitcoin, and cryptocurrency. What started with 50 bitcoins at that time can grow to a maximum of 21 million digital coins by the year 2140. In 2010, the first Bitcoin exchange office went online.
10,000 BTC Pizza
Two Florida programmers — lacking fiat currency — made the first bitcoin purchase on May 22, 2010. They paid 10,000 BTC for perhaps the most expensive pizza ever. Since then, the first cryptocurrency transaction has gained mythical status in the blockchain space. Enthusiasts celebrate it as Bitcoin Pizza Day. But what’s behind bitcoin? Put simply, it’s a digital currency based on blockchain technology. All transactions go into a transparent database — an immutable distributed record of transactions.
Bitcoins are the rewards for lending your computing power to solve the cryptographic puzzle of writing transactions to the blockchain. Other cryptos have slightly different consensus mechanisms but they generally follow a similar pattern. Meanwhile, there are several ways to buy and store cryptocurrencies. One way is to purchase coins from a cryptocurrency exchange and store them in a “wallet.” The device stores and transfers coins between users. There are both online, or hot wallets and hardware, or cold wallets. Hardware wallets are the most secure because they are completely detached from a computer and the internet. Online wallets, meanwhile are quick and easy to use, but there’s a higher risk that hackers will target the online marketplace and the bitcoins will be lost forever.
Cryptocurrencies in 2018
At the beginning of 2018, various finance houses were tinkering with crypto and blockchain offerings. Some investment funds (Switzerland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein) were in the pipeline for the first quarter of 2018, and certificate solutions on multi-currency baskets were also under review. Below are some of the advantages of cryptocurrency.
In a peer-to-peer network, there is no central authority, state, or bank that controls or prevents payments made within the network. If you’re currently working on your own cryptocurrency or building a decentralized platform, Espeo Blockchain can help you code it or appropriately store the data or build solid development and security pillars for it. In the current climate, it is essential to build a thorough base and have a strong business plan.
Currently, more than 1.7 billion adult people worldwide do not have a bank account, which means that the vast majority of humanity is completely excluded from finance. However, nearly six billion people worldwide have a smartphone with Internet access. With bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies, these people can also do business without a bank account or credit rating.
Bitcoin has no central authority and its cryptographic algorithm limits the maximum number to 21 million. Unlike fiat currencies and the central banks that print them, however, can print unlimited quantities driving inflation.
Cryptocurrencies have lower fees for international transactions compared to banks. Moreover, the speed of cryptocurrency transactions often resolves faster than international bank transfers or remittances.
The structure of the blockchain guarantees a high level of security. Decentralized, distributed networks of nodes make it extrely difficult to hack. Once stored on the blockchain, no one can change the data. Interestingly, there are over 100,000 daily hacker attacks on bitcoin and nobody can get through. What shows that blockchain, the technology which stays behind bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies is just unhackable.
There are now more than 2,000 different cryptocurrencies in 2018. Rino Borini, co-founder of Finance 2.0 and program director of CAS Digital Finance at Zurich University of Applied Sciences advocates for cryptocurrency. “In a digital world, he said, “digital currencies are only logical.” Bitcoin is still the clear leader, followed by Ethereum, Ripple, Bitcoin Cash, Stellar, and EOS.
Which currencies will hold their own in the future is difficult to predict, as they compete for market share. Many experts believe that most of the existing coins will fail, leaving the most useful projects as market leaders. It, therefore, makes sense for investors to concentrate on the well-established players. Even professional investors, who are now investing in this asset class, spread in multiple currencies, instead of putting everything on a map.
Easier than creating a digital wallet are investments in cryptocurrencies via classic securities. These are slightly less risky and are also available for less experienced investors. You can read more about them here: security token explained, ICO vs STO. With a commitment in a structured product, specifically a tracker certificate, one does not invest directly in the cryptocurrency but follows the price movements like a shadow.
Investment risk depends on price losses and creditworthiness of the issuer (default risk). However, the investor must remain vigilant. Just because he has purchased a tracker certificate from a bank, it doesn’t mean that it’s iron-clad. Should the price of his cryptocurrency crash or even disappear from the market, there is, of course, a total default risk here as well.
Bank Vontobel was the first issuer to launch a tracker certificate with the ZXBTUV — Voncert on Bitcoin in mid-2016, which has gained more than 2,500% since its launch (as at 18.12.2017). At that time, the product was sold for $664 USD, at the close of the transaction, it was worth $19,120. The certificate was quoted in US dollars and allowed investors to participate 100% in bitcoin price development.
The product ZXBTUV expired in July 2018. Switzerland saw a rapid expansion in blockchain startups. A rush to develop profitable blockchain projects and cryptocurrencies in 2018 prompted an enormous demand for software development. Switzerland’s Crypto Valley has become a major hub for blockchain innovation due to favorable regulations and a deep talent pool. No wonder even Espeo has a foothold in Zug.
Earlier this year, the market experienced a market correction as the frenzy surrounding cryptocurrencies died down. However, the current climate is healthier as projects have to actually reflect business value. As a result, competition in the blockchain space is fierce. Institutional issuers Leonteq and Bank Vontobel have already reacted to this. Since the end of November 2017, Bank Vontobel has been able to set falling prices with two new short mini futures on bitcoin. However, the extreme price increase already reached the stop-loss level on December 7, 2017, and the products were liquidated.
Vontobel has already added and issued new short mini futures on bitcoin. Leonteq also launched the SHORTQ last November, a short tracker certificate that had already reached the stop-loss level in less than a month due to the true price explosion and was liquidated. However, Leonteq is currently not planning to follow suit with a new Short Tracker certificate. Alternatively, since December 11, 2017, it has been possible to bet on rising or falling prices with the first freely tradeable bitcoin futures at CBOE and CME. Interactive Brokers, for example, now offers its customers to short cryptocurrencies in 2018.
Benefits and risks remain
As good as the bitcoin profit is, experts advise caution. “The scalability, i.e. the number of transactions per second of all previous blockchains are very bad, even with bitcoin,” says Lucas Betschart, President of the Bitcoin Association Switzerland. “New, better-scaling solutions for bitcoin will likely come,” he says. Technological progress is also making cryptocurrencies in 2018 more mature. Cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin have huge potential for disrupting traditional finance. But there are still some hurdles to overcome, such as the extremely high power consumption and the transaction times for casual payments.
Spare your nerves
Cryptocurrencies in 2018 did not see the rapid gains of 2017. However, investors who believe in the idea of a decentralized currency in the long term should seriously consider putting a certificate in a custody account. But in order to spare your nerves, don’t follow the exchange rates daily. Perhaps the best advice comes from André Kostolany. “Buy cryptos and take sleeping pills,” he said. Unfortunately, there aren’t any Swiss pharmacies that accept bitcoins, but maybe that is only a matter of time.
About Jürgen Kob:
Jürgen Kob has worked for various banks and asset managers in Germany, Luxembourg, and Switzerland as a consultant and portfolio manager. For several years he has developed into an expert with a large network in the field of blockchain & cryptocurrencies. Today he advises companies in Crypto Valley Zug on their foundation and as ICO advisor. In addition, as a member of the board of directors of various companies, he supports strategic matters. Jürgen Kob is a member of the FINTECH Circle Institute London (UK), Crypto Valley Association and Bitcoin Association Switzerland.
Authors: Jürgen Kob & Paweł Sobotkowski