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ECARX reached an agreement with COVA Acquisition Corp, and the company will list on Nasdaq by way of special purpose acquisition company (SPAC).
ECARX (Chinese: 亿咖通科技), a tech company that develops hardware and software solutions including infotainment head units, digital cockpits, vehicle chip-set solutions, a core operating system and integrated software stack, is expected to be listed on Nasdaq through SPAC in Q4 2022.
After COVA, a blank check company, completes the acquisition of ECARX, ECARX will be valued at USD 3.82 billion according to market expectations.
Moreover, the company will use the funds raised from the transaction to roll out its new product, expand international market and undertake strategic acquisition and investments.
ECARX closed three financing rounds and the proceeds totaled around USD 650 million. Its major investors include Geely Group, Baidu, Susquehanna International Group and China’s State-Owned Capital Venture Fund.
To date, the company’s products are installed on more than 3.2 million vehicles, and its revenue reached USD 436 million in 2021. Meanwhile, the company partners with Geely, Volvo, Mercedes-Benz and Lotus. Most notably, Li Shufu, the founder and chairman of Geely, is also the co-founder and largest investor of ECARX.


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Capcom have announced that Resident Evil Revelations 2 will first be released episodically.
The sequel will be released across 4 weeks, with weekly episodes costing players €5.99. Players will also be able to purchase a Season Pass for €24.99.
For those wondering about a complete retail release, Capcom are still planning exactly that but it will be after all of the episodes have been released.
It has said by Capcom that episodes will include hours of terrifying gameplay ending with dramatic cliff-hangers.
Let us know if you will be purchasing the episodes or wait for the retail release via the comment section below.

domain: news


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London-based design app startup Marvel (not to be confused with Marvel of comic book fame), has raised $2m in new funding from a selection of different investors, including Index Ventures, Connect Ventures, and ustwo.
Having started as a side-project in 2013, Marvel is now home to eight team members, and the app has 160,000 users. It’s a prototyping platform where basic, static designs are uploaded and converted into interactive prototypes that perform like apps or websites. It’s sold on its ease of use. There’s no coding experience needed, yet still powerful enough for both casual and business applications.
Marvel’s app makes creating digital prototypes from static images easy, and the company has now raised $2m in new funding
In an interview with TechCityUK, co-founder Murat Mutlu explained the long-term vision for Marvel, saying he wants it to become, “the de-facto standard for bringing digital ideas to life.” The new funding will be used to grow the team to 16 members, primarily in the design and development area, but also adding those experienced in customer success and content.


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by Laurie Sullivan on Apr 29, 3:02 PM
Built by former agency execs, the platform supports applications across entertainment, education, internal communications and other areas at companies including Ameritrade, Cannes Lions, CBS News and Vayner Media.
by Laurie Sullivan on Apr 28, 2:21 PM
The Markup released initial findings from a study that found Facebook has been quietly gathering personal data about a variety of situations, including prospective college students when they apply online for financial aid.
by Laurie Sullivan on Apr 27, 11:36 AM
Google executives throughout the call reported "volatility" during the end of the third quarter after suspending advertising and other services in Russia early in March.
by Laurie Sullivan on Apr 26, 3:25 PM
A study released by Apple and conducted by a professor at Columbia Business School looks to change perceptions that have circulated about the impact of Apple's App Tracking Transparency. For instance, Apple argues that its first-party Search Ads business "grew for a variety of reasons unrelated to ATT, and that it does not affect the apps' ability to collect and use first-party data.
by Laurie Sullivan on Apr 25, 4:40 PM
Yelp called on other platforms Monday to crack down on reviewers getting paid to review products and services, to stop illegal compensated reviews from posting online in exchange groups, forums, direct messages and other places.
by Laurie Sullivan on Apr 22, 1:37 PM
The feature gives users of Google's search engine and YouTube in Europe a new cookie choice -- one they can accept or reject with one click while signed out or in the Incognito Mode.
by Laurie Sullivan on Apr 21, 4:02 PM
"We are sure that keyword-based search is dead," says Eudald Camprubi, CEO of Nuclia, which built a search tool powered by AI and a database to store data that the company believes will change the way people access and discover meaningful data.
by Laurie Sullivan on Apr 20, 11:12 AM
Helium 10 identified consumer spending habits by analyzing paid clicks on specific items trending up or downward on Amazon. Here's what they found.
by Laurie Sullivan on Apr 19, 2:55 PM
Microsoft, apparently, is at it again -- looking to build a program that will boost Xbox's limited ad inventory by adding Xbox games where brands can advertise, as well as allowing more developers to sell ad space.
by Laurie Sullivan on Apr 18, 1:12 PM
Alphabet and Meta are among the digital giants backing Frontier's carbon capture technology and removal projects.


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1) Cask, a high-end liquor store at 3185 College Avenue in Berkeley, has softly opened and is offering free trike-powered delivery to the Rockridge and Elmwood neighborhoods, Inside Scoop reports. The shop is the latest venture from the ampersand-loving folks behind San Francisco’s Bourbon & Branch and downtown Berkeley’s Tupper & Reed, which is expected to open in six weeks or so.
2) Last week, we broke the news of the LIBA Falafel brick-and-mortar’s soft opening at 380 17th Street in Uptown Oakland. We’ve gotten a few more details since then, including the shop’s current hours, which are from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. Weekend and evening hours are forthcoming. Owner Gail Lillian tells us the restaurant is really playing around with its seasonal falafel bar toppings, which currently include things like grilled curried peaches, pickled grapes with star anise, and roasted cauliflower with za’atar and currants.
4) Roli Roti has a acquired a new, 10,000-square-foot production facility in Oakland that will allow the popular food truck to greatly increase its free-range chicken and heritage pork offerings, Inside Scoop reports. Also of note: Owner Thomas Odermatt says he has his eyes on building out a small, “hole in the wall” brick-and-mortar restaurant.
5) Over in the Gourmet Ghetto, Berkeley’s La Fable (1508 Walnut St.) has closed, Berkeleyside Nosh reports. Word on the street is that it will be replaced by a vegetarian restaurant.
6) The Filipino takeout spot Lucky Three Seven (2868 Fruitvale Ave., Oakland) continues to make moves: Just a week after expanding the restaurant’s hours to midnight daily, the owners are now planning a big block party for National Night Out on Tuesday, August 5, from 3 to 9 p.m. Festivities will include live music, a boxing match, free hot dogs and ice cream, a lumpia eating contest, and maybe — if they can swing a permit — some fireworks. The block of Brookdale Avenue in front of the restaurant will be closed off for the event.
California Magazine looks at how and why so many U.C. Berkeley grads — from Belli Osteria’s Paul Oprescu to Cupkates’ Kate McEachern — wound up going into careers in food. “Ultimately, for them, feeding America seemed infinitely more creative and fulfilling. And in some cases wildly more profitable.”
8) And here’s Eater’s take on what’s on every trendy restaurant menu right now — from newfangled deviled eggs ($9) and moules frites that spent a semester in Thailand ($16) to a pork chop from a wise, soulful farmer (for $31 with no sides, natch).
9) ICYMI, a cocktail competition in Albany made me wonder if artisan oils are the next trendy cocktail ingredient, and a vegan fast food restaurant tries to move forward in the aftermath of a staff implosion.
And one last quick note: I’m out of town on vacation for this next week, so I leave you in @cyntaur’s capable hands. See you in August!
Got tips or suggestions? Email me at Luke (dot) Tsai (at) EastBayExpress (dot) com. Otherwise, keep in touch by following me on Twitter @theluketsai, or simply by posting a comment. I’ll read ‘em all.


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Technology has been a big boon to the gambling industry. While it may have initially been the high-rollers who made use of mobile devices to ensure they could play whenever and wherever they wanted, the past decade has seen this tech trickle down to gamblers of all income brackets and backgrounds.
The article is about how smartphones have changed the gambling industry. It talks about how one of the most significant changes has been the convenience of playing games on platforms registered at wishcasinos.com safely and securely, instead of at a traditional casino. The article also discusses how smartphones have affected the online gambling world.
Accessibility is a major factor driving how smartphones have changed the gambling industry. Mobile casinos offer players the opportunity to enjoy their favorite casino games whenever, wherever and however they want. Casinos no longer need to be visited in person, with the majority of players now enjoying playing on their phones or tablets.
Safety and Convenience
The rise of smartphones has also brought about a shift in the way people gamble. Because of its convenience and safety, many players now prefer to use their mobile device rather than going to an actual casino. Not only is this more secure, but it allows players to access various games at any time and place they choose.
Another factor that has changed the gambling industry is improved communication. The rise of smartphones has allowed for better communication between customers and casinos, allowing players to ask questions or make complaints quickly and efficiently. This also means that games can be played remotely with much better customer service than before.
Finally, the introduction of smartphones has allowed for increased interaction between players and casinos. Social features like in-game chat rooms and game leader boards are now commonplace, giving users an additional level of engagement with their favorite games. This has been a great way to keep customers engaged and improve loyalty to particular casinos.
What are the Pros and Cons of Online Gambling on a Smartphone?
The pros of gambling on a smartphone are that it is convenient and fast, allowing players to play their favorite casino games whenever they have time. Smartphones also offer a higher level of privacy, as gamers don’t need to leave their homes in order to go to a real-life casino. Additionally, mobile casinos typically feature bonuses and promotions that can help entice and reward players.
The cons of gambling on a smartphone are the potential for addiction, as smartphones make it easier than ever to access online casinos. Additionally, there is also the risk of security problems if proper caution isn’t taken when playing on mobile devices. Lastly, some mobile games may not feature quite the same level of graphics, sound or animation as their desktop counterparts..
It’s no secret that smartphones have changed the gambling industry. They’ve changed the way we live and gamble altogether. With new technology comes new opportunity, and with new opportunity comes new challenges. The way we gamble is changing, and it’s important to be aware of how these changes will affect us in the future.


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$1.35 Billion in Sales Expected for Burlington Stores, Inc. (NYSE:BURL) This Quarter
Equities analysts predict that Burlington Stores, Inc. (NYSE:BURL) will report sales of $1.35 billion for the current quarter, Zacks Investment Research reports. Four analysts have issued estimates for Burlington Stores’ earnings, with the lowest sales estimate coming in at $1.34 billion and the highest estimate coming in at $1.36 billion. Burlington Stores posted sales of $1.26 billion in the same quarter last year, which suggests a positive year over year growth rate of 7.1%. The firm is expected to report its next earnings results on Thursday, August 24th.
According to Zacks, analysts expect that Burlington Stores will report full-year sales of $1.35 billion for the current fiscal year, with estimates ranging from $5.98 billion to $6.05 billion. For the next year, analysts forecast that the business will post sales of $6.38 billion per share, with estimates ranging from $6.27 billion to $6.42 billion. Zacks’ sales averages are a mean average based on a survey of research firms that that provide coverage for Burlington Stores.
Burlington Stores (NYSE:BURL) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 25th. The company reported $0.79 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.70 by $0.09. Burlington Stores had a negative return on equity of 294.39% and a net margin of 4.08%. The company had revenue of $1.35 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.36 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.57 EPS. Burlington Stores’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.9% on a year-over-year basis.
A number of research firms have commented on BURL. Zacks Investment Research upgraded Burlington Stores from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $111.00 price target for the company in a research note on Friday, June 2nd. BMO Capital Markets set a $115.00 price target on Burlington Stores and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, June 8th. Wolfe Research assumed coverage on Burlington Stores in a research note on Friday, April 28th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $113.00 price target for the company. BidaskClub cut Burlington Stores from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, June 15th. Finally, Vetr cut Burlington Stores from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $105.25 price objective for the company. in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the stock. Burlington Stores currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $103.52.
In other Burlington Stores news, CEO Thomas Kingsbury sold 20,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $88.20, for a total value of $1,764,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 538,308 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $47,478,765.60. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Joyce Manning Magrini sold 3,333 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $93.05, for a total value of $310,135.65. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 56,882 shares in the company, valued at $5,292,870.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 45,833 shares of company stock worth $4,298,011. 2.60% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.
Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Comerica Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Burlington Stores during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $301,000. Guggenheim Capital LLC raised its stake in shares of Burlington Stores by 12.9% in the fourth quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 22,875 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,939,000 after buying an additional 2,613 shares during the last quarter. Quadrature Capital Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Burlington Stores during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $7,042,000. HighPoint Advisor Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Burlington Stores by 11.8% in the fourth quarter. HighPoint Advisor Group LLC now owns 6,454 shares of the company’s stock valued at $572,000 after buying an additional 681 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Teachers Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Burlington Stores by 65.2% in the fourth quarter. Teachers Advisors LLC now owns 253,839 shares of the company’s stock valued at $21,513,000 after buying an additional 100,210 shares during the last quarter.
Burlington Stores (NYSE BURL) traded down 2.06% during midday trading on Friday, hitting $85.69. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 2,423,837 shares. Burlington Stores has a one year low of $68.94 and a one year high of $104.07. The company has a market cap of $5.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.59 and a beta of 0.53. The company’s 50-day moving average is $92.95 and its 200 day moving average is $92.08.
ILLEGAL ACTIVITY NOTICE: This article was reported by American Banking News and is the sole property of of American Banking News. If you are accessing this article on another publication, it was illegally copied and reposted in violation of United States & international copyright & trademark laws. The original version of this article can be read at https://www.americanbankingnews.com/2017/07/22/1-35-billion-in-sales-expected-for-burlington-stores-inc-nyseburl-this-quarter.html.
About Burlington Stores
Burlington Stores, Inc is a retailer of branded apparel. As of January 28, 2017, the Company operated 592 retail stores, inclusive of an Internet store, in 45 states and Puerto Rico. Its product categories include coats, women, men, juniors, girls, boys, shoes, handbags and accessories, beauty and fragrance, home and toys.
For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com
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Genealogy companies save major announcements for Rootstech. MyHeritage is no exception. Several coming are presently embargoed, so we have to wait until the trumpets sound at the event to learn their news.
One development that’s new, and not embargoed, is that MyHeritage is selling their DNA kits on a Hot DNA Sale for $39 US ($57 Cdn) down from $89 US ($129 Cdn). It includes a DNA kit, 30-day complete free trial, and free shipping on 2+ kit.


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European markets buoyed on French election results
Theresa May called a surprise election last Tuesday surprising political observers and markets. The news was greeted with a sharp rise in Sterling and a fall in the FTSE 100 as international earners lost some currency benefit. Buyers of Sterling have reasoned that the election will lead to a Conservative government with a larger majority, resulting in Brexit negotiations that are less influenced by renegade backbenchers. However, while a greater majority will be helpful, many have argued that the reaction has been overdone and movements have been unduly influenced by overseas currency traders with a more limited understanding British politics. For many, this latest piece of news flow remains too little to make an informed decision on the next two years of negotiations and the longer term outlook for the UK economy.
Data released last week showed the biggest fall in retail sales for seven years. By volume, sales over the first quarter were down 1.4% on Q4 2016 and 1.8% month on month. However, price rises have made the total amount spent higher year on year. It appears that higher prices have forced consumers to cut back on the amount of purchases that they make, especially as real earnings growth is beginning to stagnate. The largest contribution from price rises has been from petrol stations where prices have risen by 16.4% over the year, driven by a higher oil price as well as currency movements. There is now a concern that the driving force of the UK economy, the consumer, has run out of steam. It is difficult to envisage where the shortfall will be made up in the rest of the economy.
The first round of the French presidential elections on Sunday has resulted in the front runners Macron and Le Pen going through to the run-off on 7th May. The run-off is widely expected to be won by centrist Emmanuel Macron as support for him rallies around an “anyone but Le Pen” campaign. Investors and traders have taken the news of the first round result well, leading to a rally in the Euro and European equities. While there remains a possibility of a Le Pen victory, which would be seen as bad for markets, the current polls remain strongly in Macron’s favour.
|UK 10 Year Gilt Yield||1.03||1.1||0.07||6.80%|
UK GDP figures for the first quarter of 2017 and Japanese inflation data will be released on Friday.


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The next story expansion for Stellaris will be available soon, which will take players to mysterious new regions of space filled with wonders and horrors.
A lot of changes, though not all of them something players wanted to hear.
Both the 2.0 and Apocalypse Update will bring those changes to the game.
Bringing the old world's legacy into space.
The superweapon totting DLC is out in less than a month, and the new patch is out with it. Check out the Stellaris: Apocalypse release date trailer!
But neither are playable.
Paradox Interactive are waging war against six YouTubers... in a nice way.


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People walk past a CVS Pharmacy store in the Manhattan borough of New York.
Shannon Stapleton | Reuters
SVC Health Wednesday raised its earnings outlook for the year, after beating Wall Street expectations for the fiscal second quarter.
The healthcare company said it now expects adjusted earnings per share for the full year to be between $8.40 and $8.60, down from its previous estimate of between 8. $20 and $8.40.
The shares rose about 4% in premarket trading.
Here’s what the company reported for the three-month period ended June 30versus what analysts expected, based on an analyst survey by Refinitiv:
- Earnings per share: $2.40 adjusted vs $2.17 expected
- Revenue: $80.64 billion vs. $76.37 billion expected
On an unadjusted basis, CVS reported net income of $2.95 billion, or $2.23 per share, higher than $2.78 billion, or $2.10 per share, a year earlier. Revenue of $80.64 billion also marked a year-over-year increase, versus $72.62 billion over the same period in 2021.
The results encompass the different slices of CVS in the healthcare sector. It has a huge pharmacy footprint, owns insurer Aetna and pharmacy benefits manager CVS Caremark, and provides patient care through MinuteClinics inside its stores.
CEO Karen Lynch said the company’s strategy of adding more health services is driving sales and deepening customer relationships.
“Despite a challenging economic environment, our differentiated business model helped drive strong results this quarter, with significant revenue growth across all of our business segments,” she said in a press release.
Same-store sales were up 8% year-on-year as customers bought home Covid test kits and cough, cold and flu medicines. That far exceeded the expected decline in same-store sales of 0.3%, according to consensus estimates from StreetAccount.
In pharmacies, same-store sales increased by 7.6%. In the store front, same-store sales jumped 9.4%.
The total number of pharmaceutical claims processed increased by 3.9% on a 30-day equivalent basis for the three months ended June 30 compared to the previous year. This was driven by an extended cough, cold and flu season compared to the same quarter in 2021.
Pandemic related sales
While sales increased for the quarter, CVS said in a press release that the growth was partially offset by a drop in Covid tests and vaccinations, the introduction of new generic drugs and pressure on pharmacy reimbursements. .
CVS administered more than 4 million Covid tests and around 6 million Covid vaccinations during the three-month period, Lynch said on an earnings call. That’s down from over 6 million tests and over 8 million shots administered in the first trimester.
One aspect of Covid care has increased, however: Lynch said demand continues to rise for antiviral drugs to treat Covid infections.
Pandemic-related services remain an important business for CVS, even as testing and vaccination volumes decline.
Chief Financial Officer Shawn Guertin said the company expects to administer nearly 20 million Covid vaccines this year, with around 75% already administered. It said it expected to supply around 19 million tests and sell more than 50 million over-the-counter test kits, more than double the number sold the previous year.
In total, he said these three categories will generate nearly $3 billion in revenue, down about 33% from the previous year. He said CVS was prepared to spend more in the second half of the year as it prepared for a potential spike in Covid cases.
Read the company’s earnings release here.
This is a developing story. Please check for updates.


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SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Global relocation startup SOFT LANDERS (CEO Han Manju), a member of the 2021′ Born2Global Centre(CEO Kim Jong-kap), announced on the 23rd of November that the company is officially launching Korea’s only one-stop relocation platform now that it has secured MVP (Minimum Viable Product) verification after two years of hard work.
A relocation service is a comprehensive service that assists employees transferred overseas with various tasks, such as air ticket reservations, short-term accommodations, vehicle rental, overseas moving, visa issuance, overseas insurance, local real estate contracts, and vehicle purchases.
SOFT LANDERS, which operates a platform for mediating support for employees overseas, has developed and is now launching such a platform, designed to help employees dispatched overseas settle down conveniently (soft-landing) by providing a package service necessary in overseas working environments.
From employees on short-term business trips to employees working/residing overseas on a semi-permanent basis, most of such employees’ needs can be met through the SOFT LANDERS platform.
A pharmaceutical company HR manager that has used the SOFT LANDERS service for two years said, “With SOFT LANDERS, our employees dispatched overseas saved 25% in costs and reduced time spent on related tasks by 90%.”
The terms used for buyer and seller by the SOFT LANDERS platform are notable. Buyers are called “members,” and sellers are called “alliance,” reminiscent of the alliances in the airline industry. CEO Han said he used the terms because he views himself as a collaborator and supporter of customers’ entering the global market, going beyond a common buyer-seller relationship.
The company began with consulting and has extended its services into nine categories (visas, insurance, air tickets, moving, local settlement, housing, vehicles, consulting, and education for overseas expatriates). SOFT LANDERS is striving to offer all these services required for relocation through a single platform.
Sales of SOFT LANDERS as of September this year more than doubled from last year, and this year saw the number of transactions and sales in each quarter grow by over 30%. Most of Korea’s global businesses, such as HYBE, Hanwha, SK, Adidas, and WEMADE, are using the relocation service of SOFT LANDERS for the short- and long-term dispatch of employees overseas and establishment of overseas subsidiaries.
With the official launch of its platform, the company has established a strategy to develop and operate more competitive services.
Recently, the package of SOFT LANDERS services frequently used by companies for overseas moves has resulted in a substantial increase in the efficiency of companies’ overseas business activities. The costs of overseas dispatch using the SOFT LANDERS platform are settled through one window, and dispatch records are registered in a system, allowing managers in charge to manage their dispatched personnel without difficulty even if the managers are replaced.
Marking the launch of the platform, the company is offering a lifetime exemption from the “Invite” service fees for members who purchase the service this year.
SOFT LANDERS’ “Invite” service increases the efficiency of preparations for overseas dispatch through various means, such as unified purchases through a single channel, streamlining of tax statements, and history management.
SOFT LANDERS received customized support such as mentoring and assessment in 2021 and was selected as a beneficiary of the startup scale-up package program of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. Last January, the company was also selected to participate in the 18th SparkLabs Mentorship-Driven Accelerator Program. Details can be found on the company’s website https://softlanders.com.
About Born2Global Centre
The Born2Global Centre, operated by Born2Global, is a full-cycle service platform that supports the global expansion of promising companies. Established in 2013 under the Ministry of Science and ICT, Born2Global has been setting the standards for a successful startup ecosystem in Korea and continues to expand and transform startups so that they are engaged, well equipped, and connected with the global market.
For more information, please visit born2global.com.
SOURCE Born2Global Centre


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In socialist Cuba, private restaurants and cafeterias in the municipality of Sancti Espiritus have been banned by the State from selling local beer brands to ensure the State stores are the only ones selling the less expensive brew.
The [state owned] Commerce and Gastronomy Municipal Company of Cabaiguan in Sancti Spiritus announced the prohibition of serving beer brands Mayabe and Cacique at private restaurants and cafeterias.
City official Carlos Puente Molina said to the local [state-run] press that those beers will only be sold in State-owned stores “with the fundamental purpose of avoiding diverting [supply] and raising the public’s level of satisfaction.” He did not mention when the new rule would take effect.
Under socialism, the State always take precedence over the private citizen. Even more so when private citizens are is doing an infinitely better job of serving the people than the socialist State ever has or could.


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Red Roof Inn, having already signed a deal earlier this year to expand outside U.S. borders into Brazil, now has its sights set on Canada. It reportedly has signed a 20-year deal with developer Glenn Squires to build and brand 40 hotels across Canada, with the support of Pacrim Hospitality Services. The first four hotels will be open by 2016. These will be new builds, not conversions, with most built as Red Roof PLUS+® properties, Red Roof’s enhanced and upgraded offering. The first 4 hotels will be slated to the Eastern and Atlantic regions opening in Grand Falls and Bay Roberts in Newfoundland & Labrador and Wolfville and Antigonish in Nova Scotia.
“This agreement signals Red Roof’s strong growth internationally and the demand for our upscale economy product. The key to our success is our ability to find partners with deep local knowledge,” said Andrew Alexander, president, Red Roof. “Canada is a perfect market for us. Canadian consumers are ready for a true economy hotel brand; a new value proposition.”
Developer Glenn Squires is CEO of Pacrim Hospitality Services, a Canadian independently owned hotel development and management company.
“There is a large demand for economy hotels to fill an open void,” says Squires. “This is a natural fit for Red Roof and especially the Canadian consumer who is eager for more choices and low costs paired with comfortable, amenity-filled rooms. Red Roof is the ideal brand for the hotel guest who wants it all without sacrificing their savings.” Pacrim will be contracted to assist in the development of the hotels in the Eastern and Atlantic regions as well as a second group of Canadian properties due to open in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta over the next few years.
Squires has taken a 50-percent interest and has partnered with Chinese investors to form Canada China Culture Hospitality Development Inc. operating as CCC Hospitality Development (CCC). CCC has committed to fund a number of Red Roof Inns across Canada.
“Red Roof and Mr. Squires have entered into an excellent partnership that not only extends the Red Roof brand into Canada but will benefit the Canadian traveler who will have an additional hotel category from which to choose,” said Phil Hugh, CDO, Red Roof. “We couldn’t have asked for a better development partner to ease our entry into the Canadian market.” Late last year, Red Roof® announced that it was partnering with respected Brazil-based Nobile Hotels to develop 35-40 properties – new builds and conversions - across the country over the next twenty five years. The first property, a conversion of an existing hotel, will open in Brasilia in 2015.


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The fintech endgame: New supercompanies combine the best of software and financials – TechCrunch
And why are so many software companies — which already boast highly differentiated offerings and serve huge markets— moving to offer financial services embedded within their products? A new and attractive hybrid category of company is emerging at the intersection of software and financial services, creating buzz in the investment and entrepreneurial communities, as we discussed at our “Fintech: The Endgame” virtual conference and accompanying report this week. These specialized companies — in some cases, software companies that also process payments and hold funds on behalf of their customers, and in others, financial-first companies that integrate workflow and features more reminiscent of software companies — combine some of the best attributes of both categories. From software, they design for strong user engagement linked to helpful, intuitive products that drive retention over the long term. Fintech is poised to revolutionize financial services, both through reinventing existing products and driving new business models as financial services become more pervasive within other sectors.


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The Competition Commission of India announced last week that Google is not allowing producers who cooperate with the concern to install an alternative Fire TV system on their TVs.
On Thursday, Amazon announced that two TCL TVs with well-known Fire TV hardware software will debut in European markets in the fall.
So far, the Chinese company has only produced Android TVs. Protocol.com has learned that this is the result of an agreement between Google and Amazon, made a few months ago.
Not only Android TV
Thanks to this agreement, Amazon will be able to cooperate not only with TCL, but also with other manufacturers, such as Xiaomi (the concern was announced about such agreements at the beginning of the year). Earlier, incl. Chinese companies have not been able to do this due to licensing terms imposed by Google. The deal may relieve some of the pressure from regulators around the world on Google.
See also: Android TV successor is to be faster
At a press conference, Amazon Vice President of Entertainment Devices, Daniel Rioch, said the Indian Commission’s report speaks for itself. He declined to comment further on the matter. Google does not want to comment on its licensing policy regarding Android TV.
The concluded agreement applies not only to the TV market, but also to the requirements that Google imposes on mobile phone manufacturers that offer its operating system. If TCL decides to stop working with Google, it may offer a different Smart TV platform, but it will lose the ability to install Android on its smartphones.
The market for TV operating systems and smart TV receivers is becoming more open. Until recently, South Korean manufacturers Samsung and LG installed their own Tizen and WebOS software only on their own devices. Recently, they started making licenses available to other manufacturers. In the future, they can get advertising revenue from FAST services (Free Channels), such as Samsung TV Plus and LG Channels, which are not available in Poland.
A Hub Entertainment Research study showed that 56 percent. Smart TV owners in the United States use the Tizen system. The following were taken by the following systems: Roku (44%), LG’s WebOS (38%), Amazon Fire TV (29%), Android TV (28%) and Vizio SmartCast (21%). Some users use several systems, because apart from TVs, they also use set-top boxes.
New TCL TVs with Fire OS
TCL TVs with Fire TV will be launched in Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK first. The TCL CF6 series is available in 50″ and 55″ sizes. It combines QLED technology and 4K HDR Pro. With Game Master and HDR formats (HDR Dolby Vision and HDR10+), viewers can enjoy movies, sports and HDR games.
The strategic implementation of Fire OS, launched in Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, and the new line of 4K QLED smart TVs demonstrate our commitment to meeting the needs of our customers by offering them high-quality display technologies,” said Frederic Langen, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at TCL. And an excellent user experience, smart TVs at a great price. The cheapest model can be purchased for 400 euros, which is less than 1900 zlotys. In Poland, we will buy a 50-inch TCL TV model with Android TV for PLN 1489-2499.
“Our Fire OS TV portfolio is steadily growing across the globe, and we’re excited to expand it even further through our partnership with TCL,” said Eric Sarnio, Vice President of Amazon Devices International. “Together with TCL, we are able to offer an even more diverse range of high-quality, innovative Smart TVs that combine the best-in-class Fire TV entertainment experience with world-class TCL Smart TV,” he added.
Echo Richards embodies a personality that is a delightful contradiction: a humble musicaholic who never brags about her expansive knowledge of both classic and contemporary tunes. Infuriatingly modest, one would never know from a mere conversation how deeply entrenched she is in the world of music. This passion seamlessly translates into her problem-solving skills, with Echo often drawing inspiration from melodies and rhythms. A voracious reader, she dives deep into literature, using stories to influence her own hardcore writing. Her spirited advocacy for alcohol isn’t about mere indulgence, but about celebrating life’s poignant moments.


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Palm Beach, FL – (February 14, 2019) – Auto industry investing just may have become more sexy, for so many reason. Electric vehicles are becoming more mainstream every day, in almost every nation. Also, manufactures are cutting production numbers of traditional sedans and turning to trucks based on evolving consumer acceptance… So, it shouldn’t be a surprise that electric trucks are on the rise! According to a new report electric trucks are expected to show strong growth in the global market through 2025. An industry publication stated: “After a sluggish 2018, the electric truck market this year will begin a multiyear run of double-digit increases, a British analyst firm is predicting. The nearly six-fold growth from just under 180,000 units in 2019 to 1.2 million in 2025 will be pushed largely by sales in China. Increased emissions regulations in Asia and Europe also will play a major role, according to the new report…Awareness in the trucking industry that electrification can reduce fuel and maintenance costs also is increasing… a trucking electrification analyst with Interact, told Trucks.com. Active Companies from around the markets today with current and recent developments include: Trackloop Analytics Corp. (CSE:TOOL) (OTC:TLOOF), Electrameccanica Vehicles Corp. (NASDAQ: SOLO), NIO Inc. (NYSE: NIO), Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA), REV Group, Inc. (NYSE: REVG).
An additional segment to keep watch over is the aftermarket auto parts industry. According to a recent report, the worldwide market for Auto Parts and Accessories is expected to grow at a CAGR of roughly 4.4% over the next five years, will reach 2543700 million US$ in 2024, from 1969100 million US$ in 2019, according to a new GIR (Global Info Research) study.
Trackloop Analytics Corp. (CSE:TOOL) (OTCPK:TLOOF) (FRANKFURT:B2IP) BREAKING NEWS: Trackloop Analytics is pleased to announce, in collaboration with Volta Air Technologies (“Volta Air”) and BYD Company Ltd (OTC: BYDDF), one of the first all-electric refrigeration delivery vehicles demonstrated for commercial use in North America. BYD, of which Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK.A) is one of the biggest shareholders, is the largest electric vehicle manufacturer in the world. BYD plans to offer all-electric refrigeration delivery vehicles in North America. The demonstration vehicles use Volta Air’s latest transport refrigeration unit equipped with Trackloop’s real-time cold-chain monitoring & tracking software to create zero-emissions refrigerated delivery vehicles.
This collaboration has created a disruptive solution which will be alternative to conventional refrigeration units for urban delivery vehicles. Most delivery vehicles used commercially are either petrol-powered or diesel-powered and consume a significant amount of fuel. Trackloop’s software allows users to monitor and control all systems related to operation of the refrigeration unit, as well as location tracking. The two vehicles are currently being used for commercial demonstration purposes by Baldor Electric Company, owned by ABB Group (NYSE: ABB), in New York and Raley’s Supermarkets & D&D Produce in California. The vehicles have also been showcased at several food delivery and advanced transportation expos.
“We are very proud to be with leaders in the the food logistics industry, involved in building a more sustainable future. Working with BYD Motors and Volta Air on this project to successfully demonstrate the value of all-electric refrigeration delivery vehicles is a massive milestone in the company’s roadmap, and the industry as a whole”, said Trackloop CTO, Zayn Kalyan.
Trackloop is looking beyond existing technology to the future of the delivery vehicle industry as electrification and automation takes over the motor-vehicle industry as a whole. The company’s vision is to be vehicle agnostic and push the envelope, ensuring robust integration to electric and autonomous delivery vehicles. Read this and more news for Trackloop Analytics at: https://financialnewsmedia.com/news-tool
In other industry developments and happenings in the market this week include:
Electrameccanica Vehicles Corp. (NASDAQ: SOLO) closed up over 223.13% on Wednesday at $4.33 trading over 38.3 million shares by the market close. Its average volume is slightly over 280,000. The company, a designer and manufacturer of electric vehicles, hosted a virtual roadshow webinar on February 13, 2019 at 8:30 a.m. Pacific time. Jerry Kroll, Founder and CEO of Electra Meccanica, presented an overview of the business model and growth initiatives. The webinar was be accompanied by a presentation and followed by a question and answer session, which can be accessed via the webcast link or dial-in numbers below.
A telephone replay will be available and will run through February 27th, 2019 by dialing 1-844-512-2921 from the U.S., or 1-412-317-6671 from international locations, and entering replay pin number: 2519222. The replay can also be viewed through the webinar webcast link: http://public.viavid.com/index.php?id=132877
NIO Inc. (NYSE: NIO) recently announced that it closed its previously announced offering (the “Notes Offering”) of US$650 million in aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2024 (the “Notes”). The Company has granted the initial purchasers in the Notes Offering a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional US$100 million in principal amount of the Notes. The Company plans to use part of the net proceeds from the Notes Offering to pay the costs of the capped call transactions and the zero-strike call option transactions described below and use the remainder of the proceeds on research and development of products, services and technology, development of manufacturing facilities and the roll-out of supply chain, sales and marketing, and other working capital needs. An entity affiliated with Tencent Holdings Limited, one of the Company’s principal shareholders, and an entity affiliated with Hillhouse Capital Management Ltd., another one of the Company’s principal shareholders, have purchased US$30 million and US$5 million, respectively, principal amount of the Notes in the Notes Offering on the same terms as the other Notes being offered.
Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) recently announced that the company had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Maxwell Technologies, a leading developer and manufacturer of energy solutions. Tesla will commence an all stock exchange offer for all the issued and outstanding shares of Maxwell (the “Offer”), after which the Maxwell will be merged with a Tesla subsidiary and become a wholly owned subsidiary of Tesla.
REV Group, Inc. (NYSE: REVG) recently announced hat its ElDorado National (ENC) Brand of transit bus has received certification from the California Air Resources Board (ARB) on its 40’ 2019 ENC Axess Fuel Cell (FC) bus. This bus is now eligible for the California Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Inventive Project (HVIP). California transit operators purchasing this make and model bus can receive a voucher for $300,000 per bus. The HVIP program was developed to help speed up the deployment of low-emissions hybrid and zero-emissions trucks and buses, along with vehicles equipped with low NOx engines by helping fleets purchase these advanced technology vehicles with funding support.
DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates Financialnewsmedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. FNM’s market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks. All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release. FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks. For current services performed MNU has been compensated forty nine hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press release issued by Trackloop Analytics Corp. by a non-affiliated third party. FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.
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Actor Patrick Dempsey’s coffee chain bid appears successful
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SEATTLE (AP) -- Actor Patrick Dempsey said it appears his bid to buy a small coffee chain has prevailed in a bankruptcy auction that included Starbucks Corp.
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Late Thursday night, Dempsey announced that his company, Global Baristas LLC, made the winning bid for Tully's Coffee. He noted in a KOMO-TV interview that a bankruptcy judge will have the final say on Jan. 11. Still, Dempsey tweeted "We got it! Thank you Seattle!"
Dempsey's company will pay $9,150,000 for Tully's and complete the purchase later this month after the court hearing, he said in a statement.
"I'm thrilled that we won and I'm even more excited about saving Tully's Coffee and its hundreds of jobs," he said. "Tully's is a great company with committed employees, and with its base in Seattle, one of the world's greatest cities, I'm confident we will be able to successfully build the brand and help grow the economy."
Tully's Coffee has 47 company-owned locations in Washington and California. The company, with more than 500 employees, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October.
Dempsey, who gained the nickname "McDreamy" on the TV show "Grey's Anatomy" set in a fictional Seattle hospital, has said he wants to rescue the chain.
"Seattle has been very good to me over my career, and I am honored to have the privilege to own Tully's and work closely with the company's employees," he said in his statement.
RELATED: Fantasy Casting: 'Can't Buy Me Love'
After Thursday's auction, Starbucks spokesman Zack Hutson confirmed his company participated and "is currently in a back-up position" for some of Tully's assets. The final certification of the winning bid won't occur until the Jan. 11 bankruptcy court hearing, Hutson said.
"We have to wait until next week to make sure everything -- I believe the 11th -- to make sure it's all finalized," Dempsey told KOMO-TV.
The Starbucks spokesman said his company made an offer for 13 of Tully's company-owned stores in the Puget Sound region plus 12 outlets at Boeing Co. sites. Hutson said another bidder made an offer for all other assets -- and is in a backup position for those.
Also in the running was Baristas Coffee, which operates a chain of drive-thru espresso stands featuring female employees in skimpy outfits.
Both Starbucks and Tully's are based in Seattle.
The auction process was not public.
Fergie, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Heidi Klum all get an F on this week's Fashion Offenders.Watch Video »
Diva Double Date
Beyonce and Alicia Keys double date with their famous hubbies on today's Celebs Gone Social.Watch Video »
Where Are They?
See what the cast of "American Beauty" is up to today.Watch Video »
J.Lo's Mini Me
Jennifer Lopez shares an adorable photo of her look-alike daughter, plus more celebritots on social media on today's Celebs Gone Social.Watch Video »
Prince Harry, Jessica Alba and more stars who threw out the first pitch at baseball games.Watch Video »
Sofia Vergara poses in a revealing neon bikini while her "Modern Family" castmates hit the beach in Australia on Celebs Gone Social.Watch Video »


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A hand full of memory manufacturers have suggested that they are keen to get on NVIDIA's SLI Memory programme at this years' Computex trade show.
We have learned that - since the announcement made by Corsair and NVIDIA on May 15th
- at least five memory manufacturers have been in talks with NVIDIA about joining the company's scheme. These include big players in the memory market like Crucial, GEIL, G-Skill and Mushkin.
SuperTalent has also expressed interest in joining NVIDIA's programme. EPP profiles are basically a second performance orientated
SPD and take up minimal space on the modules' onboard SPD ROM.
Corsair, OCZ - the two leaders in high-performance memory modules - and Kingson Technology - the world's largest memory manufacturer - have already embraced the technology and it seems that other memory manufacturers don't want to fall out of favour with consumers buying nForce 500-series motherboards.
NVIDIA's nForce 500-series platform is currently the only solution available for prospective buyers of AMD's AM2-based Athlon 64 processors, as ATI's partners are not quite ready to ship AM2-based RD580 motherboard solutions with ATI's SB600 south bridge.
ATI is rumoured to be coming up with its own proposal that it will submit to JEDEC - the major body behind controlling memory standards - in order to get widespread support on its own chipsets. However, it will not matter whether this proposal is accepted by JEDEC or not if all memory manufacturers want to be a part of NVIDIA's own memory programme.
Discuss in the forums


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Style Notes: Kendall and Kylie Star in Pacsun Campaign; Jesse Tyler Ferguson Makes Ties for Tony Awards
Thursday fashion fun.
Before they were writing books, becoming supermodels and stirring up lip-related controversy, one of Kendall and Kylie Jenner's first gigs was designing seasonal collections for PacSun. The sister's latest summer line for the retailer (priced between $25 and $70) will be released tomorrow, but you can get a glimpse of the pieces in their new promotional video which features crochet rompers, pastel pink bikini tops, an amusing poodle and Kylie's freakishly long nails. [YouTube]
Natalie Portman has been cast as Jackie Kennedy in the late former-first lady's new biopic, Jackie. Given Mrs. Kennedy's reputation for stellar fashion (hello, pastel skirt suits), we're willing to bet that the costumes will steal the show. [THR]
Modern Family star Jesse Tyler Ferguson and his husband, Justin Mikita, created a limited-edition bow tie for the Tie Bar in celebration of the 2015 Tony Awards. The tie is part of the couple's Tie the Knot for The Tie Bar collection, the proceeds of which benefit the Tie the Knot foundation to support LGBT rights. [WWD]
Avon stock prices soared on Thursday following what now appears to be a fake offer to buy out the company. A questionable entity called PTG Capital Partners claims to have filed with the SEC to buy Avon's remaining stock for what economists are calling a "ridiculous price" — $18.75 per share for a total of $8.2 billion. Red flags surrounding the offer, including mix-ups with the company's name (in a statement they referenced themselves as both PTG and TPG) as well as a suspect address (125 Old Broad Street in London), have left investors scratching their heads. [WWD]


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Remasters are not a new thing in the gaming world, but is this particular one worth your time?
Let's look back at 'Tomb Raider', the iconic, trendsetting video game that defined a generation.
Lara Croft's early entries are getting a full makeover for modern consoles.
Why 'Tomb Raider' remakes can serve as a nod to the past and bolster the series' future.
Our hopes for the new, Unified Lara Croft in the Tomb Raider series
A live action series based on the 'Tomb Raider' franchise penned by 'Fleabag' star Phoebe Waller-Bridge is currently in the works at Amazon.
Crystal Dynamics and Amazon Games announce a partnership for the release of the newest installment in the Tomb Raider saga.


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Game provider American Gaming System (AGS) has struck a deal with Caesars Sportsbook & Casino. Players will have access to more than 30 land-based slot games with titles such as Capital Gains, Gold Wins Deluxe, and Tiger Lord.
- AGS grows presence in the U.S
- More plans to expand in 2023
In January, AGS announced a new online partnership with the leading entertainment company. The aim is to boost the operator’s online real-money gaming operations.
New Jersey and Pennsylvania players will have access to high-performing online game content thanks to the new deal.
When discussing the new agreement, Caesars’ Digital Senior Vice President, Mathew Sunderland said: “AGS games are an exciting addition to our collection of online casino games. We anticipate this new content to be popular among our players given its successful track record for performing well online and in brick-and-mortar casinos.” He added that there are plans to expand across more markets over the coming months.
Caesars is the largest casino-entertainment Company in the U.S. and one of the world’s most diversified casino-entertainment providers. They have one of the largest gaming catalogs in the industry. If you love slots, you won’t find a better casino than this one.
The Las Vegas company supplies casinos worldwide with top-performing slots, table games, and mobile games. They began by offering their gaming experience to the Native American market but soon expanded across the country, including casinos like Parx in Pennsylvania.


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Retail giant Walmart made it official this week: the company will continue to purchase sustainable seafood from Alaska. The company announced on Jan 27 an update to its sustainability policy that will ensure that wild Alaska salmon is back on its store shelves for purchase by millions of domestic consumers.
Walmart has expanded its sustainable seafood policy to accept certification from the United Nation's Food and Agriculture–based Responsible Fisheries Management program, which currently certifies wild Alaska salmon.
Fish harvesters, including Cordova District Fishermen United, said they were pleased with Walmart’s decision. “For years, Walmart has acknowledged publicly that wild Alaska salmon is among the world’s most sustainable seafood, and this decision finally ensures that their policies reflect this reality,” said John Renner, vice president of Cordova District Fishermen United and a spokesperson for Alaska Salmon Now.
The policy change came on the heels of months of discussions and negotiations over Walmart’s policy that allowed only Marine Stewardship Council certified seafood to be purchased. The bulk of Alaska salmon industry participants cut their ties with London-based MSC in 2012 over concerns about increasingly higher costs and other issues with MSC.
Incoming Walmart president and chief executive officer Doug McMillon said in a letter to Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, that “Alaska has been a model of fishery sustainability for decades, and American consumers have come to recognize the quality and sustainability of Alaska seafood.” McMillon said it was his goal to work with the Alaska seafood industry and its partners to uphold principles of The Sustainability Consortium, of which Walmart is a founding member, so that Walmart can continue to source seafood from Alaska for years to come.
That decision should reaffirm to the seafood purchasers around the world that there should not be just one arbiter of sustainability,” said Greg Gabriel, executive director of the Northwest and Alaska Seiners Association. “Alaska has proven time and time again that our fisheries have been sustainable long before MSC, and retailers everywhere should be proud to provide sustainable Alaska salmon to their customers.”


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Burger King celebrates Halloween with the release of the new Franken Whopper in Canada.
Story continues below
Available exclusively in the BK App, the Franken Whopper takes the brand’s signature Whopper and adds layers of onion rings and fries.
The Franken Whopper is available at participating Burger King locations across Canada for a limited time through Halloween.
Image via Burger King


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Google has announced it is rolling out a new AdWords system called Enhanced Campaigns, which will allow businesses to run a single advertisement campaign across multiple devices.
Google said businesses will be able to advertise their products and services simultaneously across both mobile and desktop and target people in certain locations or at certain times of the day.
“A breakfast cafe wants to reach people nearby searching for [coffee] or [breakfast] on a smartphone.
Using bid adjustments, with three simple entries, they can bid 25 per cent higher for people searching a half a mile away, 20 per cent lower for searches after 11am and 50 per cent higher for searches on smartphones, Sridhar Ramaswamy, Google’s senior vice president of engineering, wrote on the Google Blog.
“These bid adjustments can apply to all ads and all keywords in one single campaign,” he said.
With a focus on increasing cost per click on mobile search ads, Google is introducing a free mobile ad conversion measurement tool that allows businesses to track the duration of calls from potential buyers.
Google has offered some support resources on its blog to help businesses prepare for the changes.
Businesses will be able to upgrade their campaigns at the end of February, with all campaigns to be automatically upgraded by mid-2013.
Follow CIO Australia on Twitter and Like us on Facebook… Twitter: @CIO_Australia, Facebook: CIO Australia, or take part in the CIO conversation on LinkedIn: CIO Australia


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As if Microsoft has any room to be talking right… Today, apparently a Microsoft executive took a cheap shot at Apple, specifically the Apple iPhone 4 troubles, by comparing the iPhone 4 to Microsoft’s Window Vista OS.
Here’s what Kevin Turner, Microsoft’s chief operating officer said in a keynote speech at Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC), which runs through Thursday in Washington, D.C.:
“It looks like the iPhone 4 might be their Vista, and I’m okay with that… One of the things I want to make sure you know today is that you’re going to be able to use a Windows Phone 7 and not have to worry about how you’re holding it to make a phone call.”
The Apple iPhone 4 issue is something that world has been buzzing about literally since day 1 when the antenna issues were discovered by users. Apple has not yet made any public statements about the iPhone 4 troubles, and has actually started deleting comments from Apple forums where people are discussing Apple’s problems.


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FORT WAYNE – The Franciscan Center will open a thrift store in the next few weeks, officials announced Thursday.
The non-profit has secured the location of the former Goodwill Store at Coliseum Corners, on Coliseum Boulevard between Clinton Street and Parnell Avenue, to start its own effort, called The Franciscan Center Family Thrift Store.
Officials said that thanks to the generosity of their new landlords, Coliseum Reality, the new Family Thrift Store was able to take possession of the store on April 1, stock the store, and will open for business mid-May.
Tony Ley, executive director of The Franciscan Center, said the store will sell donated items such as clothing and unused sporting equipment to fund programs that provide sack lunches, food, and home care supplies to thousands of families on the south side of Fort Wayne.
While it sounds funny to say, Ley said, we are truly turning rollerblades into food.
By the Franciscan Center’s calculations, a set of rollerblades donated to the Thrift Store, for example, could provide four lunches for the Sack Lunch Ministry or a sack of groceries for a family at the Food Pantry.
Something sitting in someone’s garage right now can provide support for those in need without any out-of-pocket costs to the donor, Ley said.
And just as important, 100 percent of your donation stays local and funds only local needs.
Officials said the store is still in need of additional store displays, fixtures, and clothing racks, and needs clothing, in all sizes, genders, and seasons; holiday-themed decorations; books, CDs, movies, games and other media; school uniforms; housewares; and sporting equipment.
More information is available at 260-744-3977 or www.thefranciscancenter.org.
The Franciscan Center, founded in 1989, runs a food pantry, medicine cabinet and sack lunch program on the south side of Fort Wayne with over 80,000 client visits in 2012.


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Is O'Reilly a Buy After Being Revved Up?
Marshall is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.
O'Reilly Automotive (NASDAQ: ORLY) was up over 9% on the news that the auto parts company posted record earnings. After the run up, is there room for the stock to go higher? Quite possibly, but the better bet on the auto parts industry might be one of its peers, AutoZone (NYSE: AZO).
O'Reilly posted posted EPS of $1.14, compared to $0.94 from a year ago, and above analysts' estimates of $1.08. The details of the earnings beat included same store sales growth of 4.2% year over year for the quarter (check out how hedge funds are trading O'Reilly).
What got a number of investors excited was the fact that the company expects to post $5.57 to $5.67 of earnings per share for 2013, compared to previous analysts' expectations of $5.52. While the outlook boost is positive for the industry, the stock run-up may have put O'Reilly in over valuation territory, but still leaves the door open for other major auto parts retailers that are yet to announce earnings.
Other major peers include U.S. Auto Parts, The Pep Boys (NYSE: PBY) and Advance Auto Parts (NYSE: AAP). US Auto Parts reported its 3Q results that showed net sales down, but its net loss narrowed from $5.2 million a year ago, to a loss of $2.5 million. This retailer is much smaller than its peers, trading with a sub $100 million market value. The online auto parts retailer has also seen its stock pushed down by almost 60% the last twelve months after missing earnings estimates badly over the last four quarters.
Meanwhile Pep Boys posted 3Q results that included an EPS loss of $0.13, on the back of a 2.7% drop in same store sales. Pep Boys had traded near $15 per share during the second quarter of 2012 after a buyout bid from Gores Group. However, the bid fell apart and the stock tumbled to below $8.70. The auto parts retailer has slowly been rebounding, now trading above $11. Unlike other auto retailers, Pep Boys has a largest dependence on service revenue. Advance Auto Parts also recently posted earnings, outperforming by posting EPS of $0.88 compared to expectations of $0.75. Revenue was flat, despite an almost 2% decline in same store sales.
Back to O'Reilly, its store locations appear to be rather clustered, with around 30% of its stores in Texas and California. AutoZone has been using its cash flow to expand and grow square footage, opening over 70 stores in the U.S. and over 20 in Mexico. AutoZone's recent earnings showed a 15.6% rise in earnings per share to $5.41, up from $4.68 during the same quarter a year ago. So let's see why AutoZone is the best opportunity in the industry.
IBISWorld estimates the auto parts to be a $40 billion industry, in which AutoZone is the market share leader:
AutoZone is cheaper than O'Reilly:
Although AutoZone isn't the cheapest auto parts retailer in the industry, it doesn't have to be, as AutoZone has some of the best returns and profitability in the industry:
Don't be fooled
The overwhelming positive for the industry is the rising age of cars on the road, which has reached 11 years. The large number of 'old' cars should continue to drive the demand for auto parts and services. So which auto parts company is the best buy? Although AutoZone is not the cheapest in the industry, it is one of the best with regards to profitability and return generation, not to mention cheaper than O'Reilly. AutoZone's price to earnings ratio of 12.5 is also on the low-end of its 5-year range (low of 10.6 to high of 18.6). Investor's don't have to completely rule out O'Reilly, as it may well be one of the top five picks for 2013 (check out all five). Billionaire Jim Simons also took a new position in O'Reilly during the third quarter (check out Simon's top picks), but I continue to like AutoZone better.
mhargra has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is this post wrong? Click here. Think you can do better? Join us and write your own!


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After being slapped with a $1.05 billion fine and the potential ban on more than 20 of its devices, Samsung has been handed another set back. This time it is not by a jury but rather by a judge at the United States International Trade Commission.
Apple had filed a complaint with the ITC that Samsung infringed upon six Apple patents, two design patents and four software patents. Judge Thomas Pender has now come back and found Samsung guilty of infringing upon one design and three software patents but found Samsung not guilty of infringing upon the other two patents. Pender’s ruling is not final — it must be reviewed by ITC’s full commission and signed by the U.S. President before it can go into enforcement; the ruling can also be appealed. Once — if — the ruling is finalized and not overturned on appeal, the ITC will likely ban all Samsung devices, that are found to infringe, from entering the United States.
Of the four patents Samsung has been found guilty of infringing upon, one is related to the design of the front face of the iPhone, and the other three are: a touchscreen patent, a patent for displaying translucent images on a screen, and a patent to detect when headphones/earphones are plugged into a device.
I find it interesting that Samsung seems to continue to lose in the United States but is largely found to not infringe on Apple patents around the world. (With a few exceptions, of course.) The more cynical dotTechie would say this is because the United States justice system is pro-American companies. I, on the other hand, suspect this simply has to do with the fact that Apple has a stronger patent portfolio in the United States than elsewhere, in part due to how patents in our country are granted as if they grow on trees.


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Over 120 countries import Kazakh products
The first Kazakh industrialization program, launched as an anti-crisis measure, subsequently became an effective tool for the consistent development of the manufacturing industry and the transition of raw materials industries traditional for the Kazakh economy to higher degrees of processing, the Ministry of Industry and Industrial Development informs.
For ten years of industrialization, rapid growth in industrial production has been ensured and the main targeted indicators have been significantly improved.
As part of the industrialization program, 1250 projects have been launched. About 195 thousand jobs were created, including 120 thousand permanent jobs and 75 thousand temporary jobs.
The production of more than 500 types of goods not previously produced in Kazakhstan has been established. The share of the manufacturing sector in the industrial structure increased from 32% in 2009 to 38% in 2018.
Production grew by 42.3% in real terms. The largest contribution to the growth was made by the metallurgical industry (42%), food production (13.7%), mechanical engineering (10.7%) and construction materials production (10%).
The economy attracted over 32 billion US dollars of foreign direct investment.
The structure of the manufacturing industry has changed: new directions have been added - the auto industry, large-scale railway engineering, oil and gas engineering, and the production of complex fertilizers.
With the launch of a plant for the production of titanium ingots and alloys, production of previously unreleased products has begun. The share of Kazakh titanium in the world market amounted to 11%, in the aerospace industry - 17%.
Production volumes in the engineering industry increased 3.8 times.
At 20 production sites of 11 pharmaceutical enterprises, international GMP standards have been introduced.
The building materials industry completely overcame import dependency on basic bulk materials.
During the years of industrialization, production has been increased and articles of non-oil exports for 70 goods have been formed, the export of which exceeds $1 million.
Today, more than 120 countries in the world consume products made in Kazakhstan.
Aviation authorities of Kazakhstan and Bermuda held talks
28 January 2020, 17:08
Kazakh-Japanese “The Horse Thieves. Roads Of Time” takes part in film festival in Sweden
28 January 2020, 16:31
Government lays out measures to accomplish Head of State’s tasks
28 January 2020, 11:13
200 tenge coin put into circulation in Kazakhstan
28 January 2020, 10:38
Kazakh President had several meetings in UAE
28 January 2020, 09:08
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held talks with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan
27 January 2020, 16:08
Abu Dhabi to hold Days of Kazakh Cinema
27 January 2020, 15:10
AIFC and OneWeb sign partnership agrt to accelerate connectivity in Kazakhstan
27 January 2020, 13:16
Kazakh Paralympic athletes won 43 medals at Belarus Open Swimming Championships
27 January 2020, 12:35
Kazakh PM held a meeting on coronavirus
27 January 2020, 09:45
Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia discussed coop in artificial intelligence
24 January 2020, 18:03
Head of State chaired an expanded government session
24 January 2020, 17:24
Kazakhstan saw a 5.4% increase in average per capita income within the year – survey
24 January 2020, 15:21
Kazakh Government sums up last year, sets goals for 2020
24 January 2020, 13:18
Kazakh Foreign Ministry held 2nd Inter-ministerial Commission meeting
24 January 2020, 10:04


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Developer The Chinese Room has provided information on how long it will take to complete Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture, including a statement on whether or not the game will see a physical release.
The Chinese Room replied to a few fan queries over the weekend regarding the upcoming release of Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture, one of which asked how long an average playthrough will take. The Chinese Room clarified that the average playthrough will mostly like be 4 – 6 hours, but those who tend to explore will take longer.
Another fan wondered if Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture will ever see a physical release. It seems more than likely Everybody’s Gone to Rapture won’t be coming to a retailer near you in physical form, unless the digital release sells “a large number of copies”.
Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture will launch August 11, exclusively for PlayStation 4. Those who purchase the game within the first two weeks of launch will receive a free Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture dynamic theme for their PlayStation 4. You can also check out the official launch trailer and story details, which were release last week here.


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Our Spider Senses are tingling, or rather, our Peter Tingle. Disney and Sony recently announced that Tom Holland’s Spider-Man will stay in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Fans of the character were pretty excited, but not as excited as Tom Holland, who posted a response on his Instagram account. Learn more about it, here.
There were disputes between Disney and Sony over who has the rights to the character, Spider-Man
For the past few weeks, Disney and Sony disputed over the rights to Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. At the end of the conversation, it looked as though Spider-Man would be leaving the MCU. (After Peter Parker worked so hard to get into the Avengers, nonetheless.) Naturally, some fans were pretty upset at the news, mostly because Spider-Man: Far From Home ended on a cliffhanger. During an interview with GQ, Tom Holland elaborated on the character’s move to Sony.
“I’m not shy about expressing how incredible the last five years have been with Marvel,” Holland said. “I’ve truly had the time of my life, and in so many respects, they have made my dreams come true as an actor. Sony has also been really good to me, and the global success of Spider-Man: Far From Home is a real testament to their support, skill, and commitment. The legacy and future of Spidey rests in Sony’s safe hands. I really am nothing but grateful, and I’ve made friends for life along the way.”
However, after weeks of dispute, Disney and Sony announced that Spider-Man would stay with the Avengers and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Fans on social media went crazy, and Tom Holland celebrated the news with a clip from The Wolf of Wall Street.
Tom Holland shared his excitement on Instagram with a clip from ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’
You know what? He’s not leaving. When news broke that Spider-Man would remain in the MCU, Tom Holland posted his response — a clip of Leonardo DiCaprio’s character from The Wolf of Wall Street announcing he’s not leaving. Fans also shared their response on social media, sharing their excitement for upcoming Spidey-content.
“Back in a snap! Had a feeling we would see you again,” actor Mark Ruffalo wrote as a comment.
When does the next Spider-Man movie premiere?
We’ve got some bad news for Spider-Man fans. Just because Spider-Man is staying in the MCU, does not mean that his movies premiere anytime soon. Marvel announced the upcoming movies for Phase 4 and Peter Parker will not appear for at least another year. That’s not the say that the character won’t make a cameo in upcoming films or even in Disney Plus series’.
Thanks to Disney’s streaming platform, Disney Plus, a few characters from Avengers: Endgame will earn their own spin-off television shows exclusive to Disney Plus subscribers. That includes Wandavision, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, and Loki. Disney Plus launches in the United States on Nov. 12, 2019.
Until then, Spider-Man: Far From Home is available digitally. The movie premieres on DVD, Blu-ray, and Ultra 4K HD on Oct. 1, 2019.


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Red Octane obviously knows where we're coming from, and has developed a wireless version of the mini Gibson SG we've come to know and love. Set to release in November to coincide with the launch of Guitar Hero II, the wireless PS2 guitar will sport a new glossy white finish and a slightly more angular styling. Suggested retail price shall be $59.99.
"RedOctane has long been committed to offering high-quality videogame accessories for gamers," said Dusty Welch, head of publishing at RedOctane. "Being able to give our fans an option to rock the wireless guitar controller was definitely a priority for us, and it'll provide another exciting experience for players to achieve rock star status!"
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Dozens Of Layoffs Reported At SAS
Posted July 12, 2006 8:46 a.m. EDT
CARY, N.C. — Dozens of people who work at
will be getting something that's not often handed out at the Cary company -- pink slips.
SAS is eliminating jobs in the marketing department, thanks to lower-priced competition.
Seventy-two sales positions were cut at the software company.
SAS has more than 10,000 employees worldwide. About 4,200 work in Cary.


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A 100% export oriented Dyestuff Plant of Lonsen Kiri Chemical Industries Ltd was inaugurated today in presence of Chief Minister Narendra Modi at Dudhwada, in Padara taluka, near Vadodara.
The new unit is scheduled to produce 20,000 tonnes of reactive dyes – expected to be enhanced to 50,000 tonnes – a year. The unit will become world’s second largest reactive dyestuff manufacturing facility in India.
Lonsen Kiri Chemical Industries Ltd is a joint venture of Gujarat based leading manufacturer and exporter of dyes and dye intermediaries, Kiri Dyes and Chemicals(KD & L) and Hong Kong, China based Well Prospering Group(WPL).
Well Prospering Group(WPL) is one of the 13 subsidiaries of world’s largest dye manufacturing company Zhejiang Longsheng Group.
KDCL has 40% stake in the joint venture while remaining share is with WPL.
The new facility will focus to serve market outside India. The JV expects to increase the global market share by minimum 10%.
In view of robust demand of dyestuff in the international market both joint venture partners intend to put the best strengths of both the countries together in terms of product technology, economy of scale, modem engineering designs, latest effluent treatment measures, combined sales and marketing, etc. after successful functioning of plant we will become world.’ s second largest reactive dyestuff manufacturing facility in India.
The chemical unit will provide employment opportunity to about 500 locals in Padara taluka. The JV is eyeing a sales turnover of Rs 500 crore in the first two years of production. The two companies had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government at Vibrant Gujarat investors Summit in January 2009 in this regard.
Speaking at the inauguration function, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi said “A Chinese company making investment in Gujarat indicates the pro-active industrial policies of the state” . Modi said there is scope for further investment in agro-based industries in Gujarat in the next 10 years after it achieved agricultural growth of 9.6 per cent, the highest in the country, according to a survey carried out by a US agency.
“Through this alliance we are looking at developing a long-term relationship with Gujarat. The successful completion of the project within seven months shows that Gujarat is investor friendly to foreign investors,” said chairman of joint venture Zhifeng Xiang, who also presented a cheque of Rs 11.11 lakh to Modi for Gujarat government’s girls’ education initiative Kanya Kelavani’.
“The company will make use of environmental-friendly measures and re-cycle and re-use the effluents. Around 90 per cent of the water used in manufacturing dyes and chemicals will be re-used once its goes through the effluent treatment plant. We will also be setting up rain water harvesting facility,” Lonsen-Kiri Industries Ltd managing director Manish Kiri said.
Kiri Dyes & Chemicals Limited, was incorporated on 14th May 1998 as a Kiri Dyes and Chemicals Private Limited at Ahmedabad, Gujarat KDCL has been promoted by Mr Praveen A. Kiri and Mr. Manish P. Kiri. KDCL is engaged in the business of manufacturing of reactive dyes which are called synthetic organic dyes used for cotton fabrics like garments, dress materials, bed-sheets, carpets etc. The dyes are of basically colours like black, blue, red, orange, yellow and numerous variants of these basic colours identified by color index number internationally.
The product range of the company comprises of more than 120 dyestuffs used by textiles, leather, paint and printing-ink industries with total production capacity of 10800 MT per annum. KDCL supplies reactive, acid, and direct dyes as well as dye-intermediates in various forms like standardized spray dried/tray dried – powder/granular, crude and reverse osmosis. All the products manufactured by the company have found global acceptance. KDCL has already commenced the first phase of Backward Integration Expansion Plan at Padra in
the District of Vadodara and commenced manufacturing of Vinyl Sulphone in March, 2006.


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Mobile Financial Services came to Bangladesh in 2011 and since then, have rarely had a reason to look back as an industry. While banks were still the “safer” option for a while, the MFS industry managed to break past the reluctance the population had and now more or less run the show, with 10.24 crore account holders out of a population of 16.6 crore people and transacting an average of Tk. 1786 crores daily.
The pandemic may not be very good for the world but a definite silver lining has been the rise of cashless transactional platforms and MFS has reaped benefits to the fullest. In fact, the transactions from mobile financial services like BKash, Rocket and Nagad hit a crest of Tk. 62,999 crore in July of last year, when COVID-19 was peaking in the country.
The growth of this industry may be attributed to the fact that physical visits to crowded banks and handling of cash are both being avoided by the general population during the pandemic. Mobile financial service apps like the ones mentioned above bring forth a solution to transfer cash in its various forms- bills, payments, donations, shopping expenses, etc. – from the safety of our homes. Affluent as that may sound, it might be surprising to know that the unprecedented success of the MFS industry in recent times may actually have been fuelled by low-income, migrant workers!
One may wonder why this surge in transactions, especially caused by the lower income group of people, would take place during the pandemic but the reasons are right in front of our eyes. Banks are physical establishments that require people to go to them and work with countless other documents to get transactions done. This puts educated people at an inconvenience for time and less educated people at an inconvenience for the process. The MFS system works with simple clicks and saves both time and reduces the hassle of processing. It is a win-win solution for both groups of people. For the population that are unbanked, the MFS system is an instant hit because it is nearly all they have by way of mobility of finances.
Second, MFS has been a boom for low income groups who wish to send cash to their families in the village, as mobility during the pandemic has not been the wisest decision for most. The pandemic has put a damper on travel as the government lockdowns bear down on civilians. Money, however, must reach the homes of all workers who are stuck in the cities and if not physically, then digitally. Apps like BKash, Nagad and Rocket help these workers send money to their near and dear ones without having to physically move. Workers now know that the smooth running of their families’ daily expenses need not suffer simply because they cannot travel. The user-friendly interfaces help people from all backgrounds transfer cash safely and quickly.
Third, as mentioned briefly above, some statistics show that at the conception of MFS systems, people were more interested in depositing and withdrawing money through the apps. However, now, it is being observed that people are genuinely getting the hang of cashless and contactless transactions and they are interested in those, rather than withdrawing money, thereby saving withdrawal costs. The pandemic helped the apps gain traction but actual benefits have sustained the industry.
The acceptability of cashless and contactless transactions has grown to an extent where it helps with almost everything that involves real money- paying utility bills, daily spending, transportation, medical bills, restaurant and retail bills etc. Of course the pandemic has pushed customers towards digital platforms for their daily transactional needs but again, this kind of a one stop solution is definitely more preferable than moving from one place to another to pay for different things at different places – pandemic or no pandemic.
Yet, this is not to say that only the low income groups have brought the MFS industry where it stands today. Businesses and government agencies have also started using the apps to transfer salaries and other payments to relevant receivers, adding to the surge in popularity of the cashless finance industry. Government payments through the MFS system have increased over time, also adding to the uptick in the digital finance service industry. This direct link was made when the government introduced stimulus packages for the payment of garment worker salaries and the MFS transactions ballooned. The salaries were also paid through this platform and resulted in more account sign ups, adding to the surge. As the MFS system is a main cause of small businesses getting digitized, it helps to level the playing field for small and big businesses as well.
The bigwigs of the MFS industry call the rise of MFS services as an upsurge of the economy, post the harsh lockdown of last year, both locally and globally. It has been noted that customers’ mindset is changing and they are growing more and more comfortable with this sort of a financial system. It is an empowering tool and a reassuring one. Experts feel that it is the collective efforts of both the regulator and the service providers that this situation has come to be and that the future holds a lot of potential for this industry. A World Bank paper goes so far as to say that including digital finance as part of the overall financial industry was a priority before the pandemic but now, has become nothing short of indispensable for short term economic relief as well as for more long term sustainable recovery solution. The figures show that thanks to digital finance platforms, Bangladesh is well on its way to fight the financial recession brought about by the recent circumstances.
The country is set to see newer innovations in the digital or mobile financial services in the form of small, short term, collateral free loans for its users. The whole process is supposed to be paperless, cashless and digital and will take only a few minutes to avail. These loans are expected to bring transformative change and opportunity for very small businesses, marginalised people and niche groups like students or migrants with sudden, short term emergencies.
The MFS system has not only helped the country during times when the world recession was showing zero signs of abating but also during those times when the world was healing. It helped the country hold strong during the ongoing pandemic and revive itself sooner rather than later. Nevertheless, there are certain loopholes that are seemingly deterring the very same people who are behind the drastic success of the MFS/DFS system – the ones on the lower rung of the economic ladder. While the MFS industry has introduced more financial inclusion than orthodox financial institutions such as banks, more inclusion needs to come for this group of people in the form of lower cash withdrawal charges. Charges of Tk. 20 per 1000 is way too high for the average man. Just simple behind-the-envelope math will tell you that a surcharge of Tk. 100 will have to be borne by a person who wishes to send a meagre sum of Tk. 5000 to his family- a sum that may seem daunting to people that live hand to mouth and have literally no savings to their name.
The crème de la crème of the financial world emphasizes that the cost of cash withdrawal per 1000 must come down to a single digit number for there to be a significant impact on the growth potential of the industry. While service providers claim that there is not much room as a majority of the cut goes to agents and reducing their earning will hamper growth, experts state that there is room to make concessions in withdrawal costs as due to the rise in the popularity of the industry, their cost of doing business has come down; besides, everyone benefits from the added volume that lower withdrawal costs will bring. This debate is still hot and while we are clear on the stance taken by the experts, we have yet to see a response or action pertaining to this issue from the service providers’ end. From what we see, the blood fuel of the industry is the poor man and the industry would do well to give this population a respite in costs and hence enhance their own chances of moving up the economic ladder.


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Economic Development Hub
Small contractors have ample opportunity in region
When doing business with the city of Dayton or a major government organization, it can be intimidating to navigate the paperwork.
But, the more a small business knows, the easier it will be to get in. Leaders say too many small businesses are discouraged from navigating government channels, but if they learned, they could see major benefits in terms of contracts.
At a recent event by the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce at Central State University’s Dayton campus, officials said 8As – certified minority- and woman-owned businesses – are much sought after, but often get lost in the paperwork.
Jean Smith, director of small business for Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, said Wright-Patt advertises contract opportunities through Requests for Information (RFI) and Sources Sought (SS) postings on the Federal Business Opportunities Web site, fbo.gov.
She said small businesses often find it difficult to navigate, and often don’t have the resources to spend searching that web site.
“If small businesses are not responding to the RFIs or SS’, it is difficult to confirm the number of small businesses that have the capabilities to satisfy government requirements”, she said, “We need your responses that help develop the market research to show there are small businesses out there that can satisfy our requirements. Your responses help validate the rule of two: If two or more small businesses can perform the work at a fair market price, then the contract shall be set aside for small businesses to compete.”
Smith said they are planning a training outreach event to focus on navigating Fed Biz Ops and maybe creating a Q&A Fed Biz Ops information sheet for small businesses to use.
Matt Larrick, buyer at the city of Dayton, said local small businesses can still get in on large contracts scooped up by major contractors, as many of them subcontract and have requirements to employ some minority- and woman- owned businesses.
Larrick said the city of Dayton tries to prefer local companies that are local to Dayton, but also requires certain price points to keep local firms competitive with outside companies.
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As with Mi Band 3, the information has been leaked through the AndroidTR site by a collaborator of the MiFit application to Spanish; which in other opportunities has contributed data on the launching of other devices of Xiaomi. The name for this new utility of Xiaomi, is related to information of an update of a software that analyzes the pulsations “Beats” to the user. In MI Band a similar software data is sent to the wristband, but the “Beats” could be more accurate.
For that fact, this new update has allowed us to assume that it is not just an update, but is linked to the launch of a new device called “Beats” in the product line Amazfit. This name could only be provisional because in the rest of the devices we have seen how there was no reference between the code name and the launch name.
If it is true this next launch, Xiaomi Amazfit Beats with GPS, would be a hardware with few complexities in its management but durable with a reduced cost, making it accessible to a wide spectrum of buyers.
Many of the devices developed by Xiaomi, for example, MI Band, positions it among the leading utility development and marketing firms; as we can see the evolution of its applications and improvements, in the case of MI Band that has change since a basic steps and dream recorder, to register pulsations and have a screen.
It is expected the improved functions, found in other previous devices of the company. With references like “distance remind”. A heart rate sensor and incoming call notification on our phone. Also support for Alipay, a payment system for mobile devices. The appearance would rather continue in line with the latest Xiaomi devices, wearing a conventional watch form with a touchscreen.
Most likely Xiaomi will incorporate GPS into their devices and this new Amazfit Beats would not be an exception as we have been able to confirm in several sections of the code that it also has GPS.
What is not clear is if only its launch is expected or it is just information of a prototype. But we bet on its launch in the not too distant future.It remains for the company to decide and clear all doubts about the almost imminent launch of this device, something that is expected soon, considering the presence of this new software in version 188.8.131.52 of the MiFit app.