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You could argue that in no sector is disruption more palpable than in finance. For a long time, new entrants found it difficult to break into the market – but the rise of fintech companies has quickly changed that. These disruptors have helped to usher in a new era where technological prowess and a customer-centric approach have loosened the grasp of incumbents on the market. It’s also provided greater choice for customers, allowing them to select the business which best caters to their needs. But what about the rising number of consumers who are being turned down by primary and secondary financing? Where do those with less-than-perfect credit fit into the equation?
Respecting that these customers were underserved and appreciating this was an untapped market, Progressive Leasing, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aaron’s Inc., has made its mark. For over 19 years, the firm has provided simple and affordable purchase options for credit-challenged consumers and it now stands as the largest and longest-tenured virtual lease-to-own provider in the US. Ben Hawksworth, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), says the firm ultimately owes its success to two things: its deep customer focus and its significant scale.
“What gives us an edge is our scale – we're the number one in the industry and we have been at it the longest,” he observes. “With US$2bn in revenue, thousands of retail partners and a very loyal customer base, this scale has proven to be a real competitive advantage for us and it’s one we hope to leverage as we move forward.” Indeed, today Progressive Leasing’s lease-to-own option has helped millions of customers and their families, meaning that they can buy the goods they need (whether it’s a mattress or a mobile phone), even if they have imperfect credit or an inability to pay for their purchase upfront. Looking forward, Hawksworth is well-equipped to steer the firm as it grows in size. A seasoned business and technology leader, Hawksworth spent almost two decades at the two largest payment providers in the US. As such, he has first-hand experience of how to scale technology. “When you're dealing with thousands of transactions a second, you have to design your systems and think about your products and processes a little bit differently,” he says. “You have to ensure that they're hardened, that they can withstand the forces of uptime, reliability and accuracy.”
Hawksworth and his team have worked diligently to ensure that the customer remains front and center of the firm’s vision. As a digitally-focused business, this journey starts with software development and, more specifically, product development. “We have an intense focus on our products and solutions and how they meet our customers’ needs,” Hawksworth explains. “From our Quality Engineers to our CEO, everyone is involved in the product experience creation. We measure usability, practice design-first thinking and, at the end of the day, we’re really passionate about taking the friction out of the process for our customers at every step.” To sum this up, one of the firm’s core values is to ‘innovate and simplify’. This simple mantra, Hawksworth believes, is one which is central to Progressive Leasing’s way of thinking.
To put this vision into motion, the business has turned its attention to agile methodology, a software development practice which helps teams respond to the unpredictability of constructing software. Hawksworth and his colleagues have practiced an agile approach at a team level for quite some time but the real challenge was how to scale this as teams naturally became more interdependent on each other and as products became more complex in a rapidly growing organization.
This is where Progressive Leasing first had the idea for an Agile Portfolio Office (APO). Hawksworth describes this as a place which “brings a center of gravity to our software development lifecycle and adds central accountability to the process of development”. Essentially, this helped to put a structure in place which enabled collaboration, allowed the firm to scale and to promote visibility into the product development lifecycle. Progressive Leasing then decided to take this one step further by exploring a dual track, agile product development methodology where discovering what to build is just as important as the building process. “Our analysis showed that we spent too much time figuring out the feasibility of a product or a feature during the actual execution of the sprint work itself,” explains Hawksworth. “Dual-track puts accountability on three people – the product manager, the UX designer and the tech lead – to assess the feasibility, effort and scope of an idea. It allows us to truly determine whether or not an idea is worth building before we start the work.” Successful ideas from the discovery track are then followed up through a so-called delivery track. This allows Progressive Leasing to concentrate its energy and efforts on projects which will deliver value. “By spending a little more time upfront, it makes for a much more rewarding experience for our engineers and product managers,” he adds.
Hawksworth has only just scratched the surface of Progressive Leasing’s journey. The business is also implementing an API management platform from Google which he says will “give the business the ability to innovate on the edge” allowing it to innovate more quickly, consistently and securely. In line with its customer focus, Progressive Leasing is also exploring new ways to reach and interact with its customers. This often involves tailoring the customer journey to the type of device they’re using. “It means that we’re increasingly putting more and more of the process into our customers’ devices whether that’s a mobile phone or a tablet,” he says. “That’s really where we can take technology and deliver a better experience for our customers and retail partners.” Additionally, Hawksworth highlights how the firm is also striving to make its workflow more “content driven” using a content management platform to deliver real-time, uniquely customizable workflows for its retail partners.
As a digitally-driven firm, product development isn’t just a technology issue at Progressive Leasing: it’s company wide. As the company rapidly grows, constraints and bottlenecks are something that every department faces. Hawksworth says: “I have the ability and the pleasure to be able to sit down with our CEO and talk about how maybe a legacy design or a legacy constraint creates friction or slows down our delivery process. We can easily talk about investing in the foundation as much as in new features and products,” reflects Hawksworth. “We really try to balance staying focused on product innovation and eliminating legacy constraints.” Another challenge with software development undoubtedly lies in customer transparency. It’s a core value for Progressive Leasing which the company won’t concede on. “That’s really the key quest for us,” Hawksworth admits. “We never want to compromise on customer transparency and, simultaneously, we want to deliver the best user experience that we possibly can. Those two things can naturally be at odds with one another and so it’s up to us to find that perfect harmony.”
This is a delicate balancing act that is undoubtedly paying off. Progressive Leasing has grown nearly 10 times in size over the past six years, with its success culminating in a bumper Black Friday holiday. “We had the single most successful day in the company’s history which was a testament to the hard work that our product, engineering, sales and operations teams put into the business,” says Hawksworth proudly. “It demonstrated that we met our own expectations of flawless execution on our most successful day.” However, such growth brings along its own challenges and opportunities – one of which involves attracting and retaining key talent. Today, the business has several hundred people working in its technology and product department with more being added every day. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, a region which has been dubbed ‘Silicon Slopes’ for its buzzing tech scene, Progressive Leasing has to work hard to ensure it not only gets the best talent, but that these individuals also work well within the firm’s culture. Progressive’s innovative recruitment team has turned to firms like Tekmark Global Solutions to find unique skills and the best talent – but for Hawksworth, it’s not about skills alone. “In this competitive market, we have to move quickly but we also feel very strongly about spending quality time with candidates to make sure they are going to be a good cultural fit,” says Hawksworth. “The culture is really one of the main reasons I joined the company. It’s second to none. It’s great to see Progressive Leasing has managed to maintain this culture even though we’ve grown to be a two-billion-dollar company and my job is to make sure we keep it strong and vibrant. Firms like Tekmark understand how important culture is for us and they speak the Progressive story innately with candidates to attract the right talent required to sustain our growth.”
Progressive Leasing owes a lot to its team, and it also relies on key partners, both externally and internally, to maintain its rapid momentum. “Internally, my biggest partner is our Chief Product Officer and our VP of Product. We simply can't afford to be misaligned. If we aren't running in the exact same direction, at the exact same target, we will not be able to deliver our vision. Meanwhile, externally, we've leveraged a firm called Silicon Valley Product Group (SVPG) to help us to fine-tune our process and ensure that we’re all on the same page.” With this support, Progressive Leasing is set to continue on its upward trajectory and whilst no one can predict where the finance sector will head in the future, one thing is for certain – Progressive Leasing will remain laser-focused on the customer experience. “We believe that really listening to our customers will give us the best roadmap to our ongoing success,” Hawksworth affirms.
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Exclusive: Yahoo News Head Moves to Disney.com, Which Will Get Big Redo
Yesterday, BoomTown reported that Mark Walker, the head of the powerful Yahoo News site, was leaving the Internet giant for another company.
That company, sources said, will be Disney, where Walker will be leading a major overhaul of its flagship Disney.com site.
The property, which has largely been a promotional and aggregation play for Disney’s many family-oriented offerings–such as its popular Disney Channel cable television shows–still sees 20 million unique visitors monthly.
Walker will report to Jimmy Pitaro, the former Yahoo media head who is now co-president of Disney’s online division with John Pleasants. Walker worked directly for Pitaro at Yahoo.
Walker’s job, said sources, will be to find a new direction for Disney.com, including adding original programming to the site, as well as more personalization for its users.
It’s a big task for Walker, since Disney’s various Web efforts have a long and often rocky history, from its disastrous purchase of Infoseek in 1998 and efforts to create the Go.com portal to its savvy acquisition of several innovative kid-focused sites such as Club Penguin in recent years.
Still, like many traditional media giants, Disney has never achieved the kind of digital success its spectacular brand has promised. The hiring of Pitaro and Pleasants by CEO Bob Iger was a sign that the company was going to make some big changes again.
BoomTown will query Iger about all this at the ninth D: All Things Digital conference this summer, where he’ll be interviewed onstage.

domain: news


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PARIS, May 9 (Reuters) - Electric power utility EDF said better availability of its French nuclear fleet and higher power tariffs boosted first-quarter sales by 3.7 percent to 20.45 billion euros, from a restated 19.7 billion euros in Q1 2017.
But compared to the 21.13 billion euro 2017 first-quarter revenue published a year ago, sales were down 3.2 percent. EDF said the restatement was due to accounting reasons.
EDF said first-quarter nuclear electricity production in France rose 4.1 percent to 113 terawatt-hour (TWH), in line with its forecast for nuclear output greater than 395 TWh in 2018.
Sales from French generation and supply were up 0.2 percent to 7.9 billion euros, sales from French regulated activities were up 6.7 percent to 5.2 billion euros, UK sales were up 0.4 percent to 2.6 billion euros and sales in Italy were up 4.8 percent to 2.6 billion euros.
The company also confirmed its 2018 earnings guidance. (Reporting by Geert De Clercq Editing by Bate Felix)


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Hot ‘n fresh off the Enjoi website today…
“A huge corporation asked us to make them a commercial for their new video game for free. Being the generous and sweet people that we are, we complied and made it free of charge. The following is what we felt was a fair representation of the support of said Corporation. They denied it and sent it straight back.
Congratulations! You are now the lucky benefactors of our hard work.”
Attached to this piece of news was the video itself, which you must do yourself a favour with and watch by clicking here.
One word, STOKED.


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Missed Samsung’s Fan Edition series? Well, they’re back and now there are more devices within the slate! The company recently announced that after taking a year off, the FE line will be returning with a new smartphone, tablet, and for the first time, wireless earbuds.
For the unfamiliar, the Fan Edition products by Samsung are presented as affordable options for those who want the flagship features — think of it as an in-between for the budget ‘A’ series and the premium ‘S’ line.
In addition to the new FE line, there’s also an update for SmartTag; let’s take a look and see what Samsung has to offer.
Galaxy S23 FE
First up is the Galaxy S23 FE, which as you might expect, attempts to emulate Samsung’s Galaxy S23 flagship phone which came out earlier this year.
The Galaxy S23 FE brings the pro-grade 50MP main camera and 12MP ultrawide, though it will feature an 8MP telephoto lens as opposed to the 10MP one on the regular S23. That still brings an impressive spec list that would be hard to find in other mid-range phones.
It will also come with a larger 6.4-inch screen, retaining the same 120Hz refresh rate and vivid AMOLED panel for seeing your favourite media on. Additionally, the phone will be IP68-rated and have a larger 4,500mAh battery capacity.
As to where the cost-cutting measures can be seen, it seems that it will be the processor that takes the hit. The Exynos 2200 chip will be equipped inside the Galaxy S23 FE, which may prove divisive considering the reputation of Samsung’s Exynos processor amongst users.
The phone will retail at S$888 (128GB) and S$988 (256GB), with a myriad of cool colours available to choose from — which includes Mint, Cream, Graphite, and Purple. Two additional colours, Indigo and Tangerine, will be exclusive to the Samsung Online Store.
Galaxy Tab S9 FE Series
The Galaxy Tab S9 line was announced less than three months ago, and yet, we are already getting a Fan Edition version of their tablets. Quite the surprise from Samsung.
The FE series will come with two tablet options — the 10.9-inch Galaxy Tab S9 FE and 12.4-inch Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ — and offers several big features that will pique the interest of tablet users, all for a lower price than the regular Galaxy Tab S9 series.
Namely, both Galaxy Tab S9 FE tablets will be IP68-rated; a big feature that was touted for the flagship versions. The FE tablet line will also get an improved 90Hz refresh rate display, though it uses an LCD panel instead of AMOLED. Creatives will be glad to know that the S Pen is included in the box as well. However, like the S23 FE, it will also be using Exynos; the Exynos 1380 processor to be more specific.
Starting at S$669, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE series will be available in Mint and Grey for the Galaxy Tab S9 FE, while the larger Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ will get a Silver colourway.
Galaxy Buds FE
Finally, the last of Samsung’s Fan Edition devices for this year comes in the form of wireless earbuds — Galaxy Buds FE. The company’s earbuds have regularly gotten praise for their performance and now, there is an even more affordable option for people to consider.
While it will miss out on 360 audio, users will still be able to get Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Ambient Sound features with the Galaxy Buds FE; nowadays an essential feature for most people.
Samsung also says that the Buds FE will have the “longest battery life in the Buds series”, providing up to 8.5 hours of playback with earbuds with ANC off, with a total of up to 30 hours if you include the charging case. With ANC on, it is still an impressive performance of 6 hours and 21 hours respectively.
It will be priced at S$158 and come with Graphite and White as the two colour options. For those who might be interested in the Galaxy Tab S9 FE Series, the new FE earbuds are included for free during the 20 October to 10 November launch period, so be sure to take advantage of this promo!
Other than the new FE series of devices, Samsung was on hand to showcase the next iteration of their item trackers; SmartTag2.
The new SmartTag2 has a new look, coming with a ring-shaped design that Samsung says will enhance product durability due to the use of metal on the inside of the ring. With the new design, the tracker is also smaller than its predecessor, giving it more flexibility in terms of fitting with your items.
A key feature of the tracker is Lost Mode. If you happen to lose an item with SmartTag2 attached, anyone who finds it can scan the tag and see your message and contact information that you’ve inputted within the device. And it works with any smartphone that has an NFC reader and web browser.
Samsung users who have the company’s latest phones have the additional benefit of getting an improved Compass View, which now provides helpful arrows to show the direction and distance of where the Galaxy SmartTag2 tracker is.
Lastly, expect a longer battery life with the Galaxy SmartTag2. Compared to previous models it will last twice as long (up to 700 days) on Power Saving Mode and even for the Normal Mode, users will still get 500 days of battery life — a 50% increase.
Available in Black and White, the Galaxy SmartTag2 will cost S$38. Various cases for the tracker like a Key Ring Case, Silicone Case, and Rugged Case are also available for purchase.
After a year away, the return of the Fan Edition line of products is an exciting one for those who were already looking at Samsung’s premium devices, with many high-end features from the flagships making their way here as well. Plus the reveal of SmartTag2 is a nice bonus too.
All of Samsung’s newest product devices will be made widely available in Singapore on 20 October 2023 on the Samsung Online Store, Samsung’s official merchant page on Lazada and Shopee, as well as the major consumer electronics stores and telecommunication operators. But if you’re keen on the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE specifically, here’s a secret: you can order it from the Samsung Online Store on 10 October 2023 and get it earlier!
Photos by Russell Loh of the DANAMIC Team. Additional visuals courtesy of Samsung Singapore.


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After a year on the election trail, Robert Hammer is back in the credit card business.
The 44-year-old consultant took a year's hiatus from R.K. Hammer Investment Bankers, Newbury Park, Calif., to bid for the seat in Congress from California's 24th District.
Mr. Hammer, a Republican, came in second in the June primary election.
'I Was Simply Outspent'
"The fact that I came in second in a five-man race has not caused me to lose faith in the system," Mr. Hammer said a month later. "I was simply outspent."
With the sound bites, endless fund-raising, and 16-hour days now behind him, Mr. Hammer has returned to the relative quiet of the business world to resume his role as chairman and chief executive at his five-year-old consulting business.
In turn, he has shifted his focus from crime and safety, jobs and the economy, to credit card portfolio acquisition and credit card profitability.
Instead of campaign stops, he travels across the country giving issuers seminars on how to keep card programs profitable as part of MasterCard International's "university" for members.
In recent years, Mr. Hammer has expanded his vision overseas -- to China, Korea, India, Singapore, and Australia. "I see a huge opportunity for issuers, as the market saturates here, to develop the international marketplace," said Mr. Hammer, who has visited 40 countries and five continents.
A Vietnam veteran, Mr. Hammer has a master's degree in organizational psychology and a bachelor of science degree in business and economics.
Before becoming a consultant, Mr. Hammer was senior vice president, portfolio acquisition, at First Interstate Bank. In 1989, he helped it buy $200 million in credit card receivables and sell $400 million.
A market ripe for that kind of activity and First Interstate management's backing combined to allow the multimillion-dollar deals, he noted. After the flurry of activity, "it became clear they wouldn't be acquiring for the foreseeable future," and Mr. Hammer moved out on his own.
In the industry since then, Mr. Hammer noted, fewer acquisitions come with a premium price.
His message to card issuers seeking to increase profitability is to transform private-label into cobranded programs. "There's no reason for the retailer or bank to earn 1% when we could get 3% or 4%."
Upon his return, Mr. Hammer has contacted the 1,200 or so credit card executives he kept in touch with before his run for Congress. "I'm very happy to be back out of exile," he said.
But he carries some of his political experience with him. Mr. Hammer still speaks at a clip worthy of a candidate, and he sports a polished look -- pin-striped suit, red handkerchief, and tasseled loafers -- that is prime for the camera.
"I regret I'm not able to serve the people," he said, adding with a smile, "we'll serve the family."


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Killing Floor 2 update 1.23 for PS4 is now available for players. According to the official Killing Floor 2 1.23 patch notes, the new update has added fixes for crashing and stuttering/lag issues. In addition, Killing Floor 2 version 1.23 also includes performance and stability improvements.
Recently, an update was released with balancing and other changes. Unfortunately, since this update, many players were experiencing a number of issues when trying to play the game. Today’s Killing Floor 2 1.23 is expected to fix all these issues. Check out more details below.
Killing Floor 2 update 1.23 for PS4 is now available for download.


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Truckstop has set new Guinness records title for the largest toy truck awarded to the celebration National Truck Driver Appreciation WeekSeptember 11-17
Using 2,098 branded big toy trucks, Truckstop said, “Truck drivers are the rock stars of the road!” recently at their office in Boise, Idaho.
“Truck drivers are the backbone of America” said Kendra Tucker, Chief Executive Officer of Truckstop. “We wanted to do something big to show how much we appreciate them, and there’s nothing bigger than setting a Guinness World Record title. We appreciate the long hours and sacrifices truck drivers make. They are truly rock stars on the road. .”
The largest toy truck was more than 65 feet wide and nearly 14 feet tall and required more than 30 Truckstop employees to complete.
The toy trucks will be donated to the Western Idaho Community Action Partnership, a nonprofit organization that has served several Idaho counties since 1965. Their programs serve community members of all ages, and toy trucks will be donated to local children in need leading up to and during the holiday season.
For more information on how Truckstop is celebrating National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, visit https://truckstop.com/rockstars.
TA Petro is planning many events, giveaways
TravelCenters of America will honor truck drivers during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week with discounts, prizes and giveaways to let drivers know they are recognized, appreciated and valued.
As TA celebrates its 50th anniversary, this year’s celebration will include 50th-themed promotions and prizes.
Events include daily instant-win games for prizes, including merchandise and coupons for use at restaurants, stores and TA Truck Service. TA will also be holding events at select venues over the next week that will include games, free windshield washes and other initiatives to show appreciation to drivers.
In addition, TA will host a Truckers Against Human Trafficking Freedom project with Bridgestone Tires at TA Knoxville, TN on September 13 and an event with the Arkansas Trucking Association at Petro North Little Rock, AR on September 15.
Today, September 12, TA Petro is also running a special appreciation event on its website.
Free lunch at Truck World
One truck stop chain is showing its appreciation to truckers with a free meal next week.
From Monday, September 12 to Wednesday, September 14, truckers can enjoy a free lunch for three The world of trucks places
- Conneaut (780 State Route 7, Conneaut, Ohio)
- Hubbard (6985 Truck World Boulevard, Hubbard, OH)
- North Jackson (12700 Leonard Parkway, North Jackson, OH)
The company says the driver appreciation celebration will also include games, T-shirt giveaways and double loyalty points.
Sheetz cuts diesel prices
Sheetz, a large Mid-Atlantic chain of restaurants and convenience stores based in Altoona, Pa., announced it will celebrate Truck Driver Appreciation Week by dropping diesel prices to $4.49 per gallon.
The reduction in diesel prices began on September 5 and will continue until September 30. The price will be reduced at all 654 Sheetz stores that sell fuel pumps.
Sheetz will further show its appreciation by offering truck drivers a free meal, including their choice of any half of a Made-to-Order(R) Subwoofer, a bag of Freeze and any size self-serve coffee or fountain drink. To take advantage of the offer, truck drivers must enter “TRUCKYEAH” through the Sheetz mobile app, which will be offered September 11-30.
The company operates stores throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and North Carolina.
Love is giving away 23.5 million My Love Rewards points
Love’s Travel Stops celebrates National Truck Driver Appreciation Week throughout September. During the month, the company gives away 23.5 million My Love Rewards points (worth more than $230,000) to professional truck drivers, including hundreds of daily and weekly winners and a winner with 1 million points at the end of the month.
Every time drivers swipe their My Love Rewards card in September, they’ll have the chance to instantly win 1,000 or 2,000 My Love Rewards points. Thousands of winners will be chosen daily. They will also be entered for a chance to win weekly My Love Rewards points and a grand prize of 1 million My Love Rewards points at the end of the month. Winners will be notified by email.
My Love Rewards Weekly Points Giveaway:
- On September 16, one customer will win 500,000 MLR points ($5,000 retail value)
- On September 23rd, one customer will win 750,000 MLR points ($7,500 retail value)
- On September 30th, one customer will win a grand prize of 1,000,000 MLR points ($10,000 retail value)
Free distribution of fuel
Trucker Path, The Trucker Media Group, Sheetz and Kwik Trip/Kwik Star are getting along Free fuel raffles in support of National Truck Driver Week. Twenty fuel cards valued at $500 each, provided by Sheetz and Kwik Trip/Kwik Star, will be awarded to sweepstakes winners who are active commercial vehicle drivers.
The 2022 NTDAW Free Fuel Draw held until September 17. Drivers must have a valid CDL number and USDOT number to be eligible to win one of 20 $500 fuel cards.
The cards can be used for fuel and other items at Sheetz, Kwik Trip or Kwik Star locations. Sweepstakes valid in all US states except Alaska, Florida, Hawaii and New York.


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Will Europe continue to attract PP, PE imports in Feb?
The fact that Europe stood well above the other major regions in terms of prices also helped global suppliers divert their cargoes to the region in January. Now players are wondering whether this will be the case in February particularly after the settlements of February ethylene and propylene contracts with €60-70/ton decreases.
“Buying interest was vivid in January because converters returned from holidays with low stocks. However, it has now cooled off as buyers already met their requirements. Now that the monomer contracts assured the downturn in PP and PE markets for next month, demand is set to slow down further as buyers will now delay their purchases again upon the expectation of seeing much lower levels. We cannot be sure about the degree of interest for import cargoes next month,” said a trader.
A second trader said, “The new settlements for monomers will be reflected on downstream PP and PE prices in February for sure. Whether imports will continue to see interest next month highly depends on their ability to offer a competitive edge.”
A buyer in Germany pointed to the upcoming Chinese New Year holiday, noting “In the absence of China, major suppliers including in the Middle East and Iran should focus more on other export destinations. Therefore, more competitive imports are still likely in February across Europe.”
“It is not only Iranian and Middle Eastern cargoes, but also US cargoes are now being offered at very competitive prices in Germany,” said a distributor.
ChemOrbis Price Indices for Italy and Turkey also suggest a higher than usual premium between the two countries for both PP and PE. You can compare all prices in different regions by creating your own graphs in ChemOrbis Price Wizard.
More free plastics newsPlastic resin (PP, LDPE, LLDPE ,HDPE, PVC, GPS; HIPS, PET, ABS) prices, polymer market trends, and more...
- June expectations surface in Mid-Eastern, African polyolefin markets
- China’s local PVC market retreats from 8-month high
- Initial June PE offers to SEA signal firming despite buyers’ resistance
- Firming in ethylene lags behind propylene in Europe
- PET rally stalls in China after prices hit four-and-half-year high
- Asian PS retains firming path on supportive upstream
- June PE outlook under discussion in Europe
- Taiwanese major lowers June PVC offers to Asia despite firm China
- Local PP markets cautiously firmer in Vietnam, Indonesia
- Global ethylene prices continue to defy energy rally


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The tall 20-something stood at the corner of 16th and Walnut Streets, squinting at his surroundings in the bright morning sun.
"Do you know where the new Apple store is?" he asked the man next to him, as he adjusted his backpack.
"There," the man said, pointing to a spot up Walnut, "but it doesn't open until 5."
It was 11 a.m., and at 1607 Walnut St., workers were rushing to finish the facade of the new store, some of it still hidden behind brown paper that kept the curious from sneaking a peek.
With hours to go before the first Apple store within the city limits opened, an almost festive atmosphere had begun to take hold of the venerable shopping district.
Even retailers sharing Walnut Street with Apple were energized.
"I'm beyond excited," said Ann Gitter, co-owner of KnitWit, the women's clothing chain with two stores within a block of Apple - at 1718 Walnut and 128 S. 17th St.
In fact, Gitter said she had been regularly popping in to Dana Bank's Town Home gift and jewelry store at 1616 Walnut, across the street from the Apple site, "to spy."
Bank said she actually went across the street last week and "knocked on the hard hat of one of the men working in front to find out when the store would open."
"I'm over-the-top about it," said Nick Berardi, president of the Rittenhouse Row organization and owner of the Richard Nicholas Hair Salon for Men at 1617 Sansom St.
The opening comes as business appears to be improving over 2009, which most retailers consider one of the worst years they have ever endured.
"Business has picked up since January, and this summer is much better than last," Gitter said.
Both she and Bank, who moved to her current location after several years on 19th Street, believe that Apple will boost traffic and bring more business for everyone.
Gitter said Apple would provide "husbands and boyfriends of my customers with something to occupy their time while they shopped."
For Linda Berman, owner of the Children's Boutique at 1702 Walnut, the arrival of the Apple store is just another example of the growing "user-friendliness" of the shopping district also known as Rittenhouse Row.
"Shopping on Walnut Street used to be intimidating" because the retail stores once catered primarily to well-to-do Philadelphians, said Berman, who has been in business for 43 years, the last 11 at her current location.
As Center City has grown in the last 15 years, retailers have tried to make shopping an easier and "much friendlier" experience, she said. Berman's children's clothing store, for instance, hosts birthday parties and has a changing room for babies.
The Apple store "will only increase the numbers of people who come here, drawing Drexel and Penn students and residents of other neighborhoods who would rather shop at this store than drive to the ones in the suburbs," Berman said.
Bank and Gitter said they'd be lining up at 5 to get a first look at the new store. "I'll see if I can get in earlier," Bank said, although not too hopefully.
Bank had company. A half hour before the door opened, hundreds had gathered outside the store, and 45 minutes after the opening, a line of 200 people stretched from in front of the store to 17th Street.


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(WPRI) — Harbor Freight Tools is recalling half a million flashlights due to a burn hazard.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the 80-lumen, 12V rechargeable flashlights can overheat while charging.
No injuries have been reported to date.
The flashlights were sold exclusively at Habor Freight stores for $2 – $4 from Aug. 2018 through Jan. 2019.
Consumers should stop using the flashlights and return them to any Harbor Freight for a $5 gift card.
Harbor Freight is also recalling 150,000 propane torches for a burn hazard.
The CPSC says the trigger on two models of Greenwood branch torches can fail to disengage when the trigger is no longer pressed. The company has received two reports of this happening to date, according to the CPSC.
The recalled products were sold for between $20 and $30 at Harbor Freight stores and online from Nov. 2013 through Oct. 2018. The torches with no igniter feature SKU number 61589 while the torches with a push-button igniter have SKU number 61595.
Consumers should stop using the torches immediately and return them to the place of purchase for a free replacement.
Two topical anesthetics were also recalled this week because the packaging does not meet federal childproof safety standards.
The recall involves approximately 8,500 bottles of EZY Gel Topical Anesthetic Gel and about 26,500 containers of Numb 100 Topical Anesthetic Cream.
The EZY Gel was sold for about $60 online and at Biotouch stores, beauty suppliers, and tattoo salons nationwide from Aug. 2013 through Aug. 2018. Numb 100 was sold for about $18 online and at Laser Jet and other health and beauty stores nationwide from May 2017 through Nov. 2018.
Both companies are offering refunds.
Biotouch can be reached toll-free at 844-557-9023 or by email at firstname.lastname@example.org and Clinical Resolution Laboratory can be contacted toll-free at 877-566-9687 and by email at email@example.com.


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As a result of the increased focus on healthier eating, more strategies are being developed to support this behavior change including First Lady Michelle Obama’s continued efforts to urge people to eat more fruits and vegetables. This is the rationale for Team FNV’s founding (Fruits n’ Veggies).
It combines the desire to encourage more people to lead healthy lifestyles with the understanding that nothing advances this objective more effectively than having influential people do so. In fact, FNV advanced the influencer model by hiring famous people to work on its team.
Team FNV, which Michelle Obama supports, is made up of well-known individuals like Jessica Alba, an actress and businesswoman behind The Honest Company, as well as celebrities, athletes, and Internet sensations like Steph Curry, John Cena, Nick Jonas, Kristen Bell, Cam Newton, Cindy Crawford, Victor Cruz, and Madison Beer (with 2.5 million Instagram followers).
The team is additionally strengthened by a wide range of brands that support what is being done on behalf of people everywhere to bring awareness of the harmful effects of not having our daily FNV. Because Roster FNV has such a fantastic team of influencers, there is a tremendous possibility to encourage more people to consume their fruits and vegetables .
A new campaign kicked off on October 30th coincides with a special November 20th event in Virginia, including the First Lady.Utilizing a multi-media strategy to persuade more people to sign up for their challenge for healthy eating, previous Team FNV campaigns have been tremendously successful in raising awareness.
With increased awareness, laws are now being passed in some states against some quick-service restaurants that encourage unhealthy eating. Some of these campaigns prohibit the inclusion of toys in unhealthy meals and require these places to offer FNV and other healthier options as part of every menu item. Some people think that this will aid in addressing the growing worries about childhood obesity.
The Challenged App will be used in the most recent FNV campaign. The socially focused app offers a platform for users to build their challenges, from minor to large, like the one Team FNV is undertaking to advance social projects while also taking advantage of the chance to contact influencers and celebrities. Working together on these two platforms, the information about this health-conscious club may swiftly raise knowledge of the advantages of fruits and vegetables, transforming the concept of getting healthier into a fun challenge where everyone wins!
Increasing demand for FNV – Fruits and Vegetables
- Healthy foods are essential for our body and mind, and FNV provides a great way to get the nutrients we need.
- FNV fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which are essential for our health.
- The FNV fitness campaign encourages people to be active and eat healthy foods, and fantastic way to get kids moving and eating healthy.
- Celebrities greatly influence kids, and by endorsing FNV fruits and vegetables, we can increase demand.
- The food industry spends $1.6 billion advertising unhealthy foods to kids, but we can fight back by promoting healthy options like FNV.
- We must ensure that youth have access to healthy foods like FNV fruits and vegetables to make the right choices for their bodies and futures.
Positive impact of FNV campaign
Two out of three persons who are aware of the FNV campaign report eat fruits and vegetables at least twice a day, according to a recent study. Comparatively, less than half of those who are not familiar with the campaign do so.
The survey also discovered that millennials who are aware of the FNV campaign are more likely to prioritize eating fruits and vegetables. Eight out of ten respondents stated they would try to eat more fruits and vegetables if they knew about the campaign, as opposed to just six out of ten who were unaware of it.
These results imply that the FNV campaign has a beneficial effect on people’s eating patterns and that there is a chance that demand for fruits and vegetables will rise even higher.
Team FNV fruits and veggies consumption
Nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fiber are abundant in FNV – Fruits, and vegetables. Adults should consume 1.5 to 2 cups of fruit and 2-3 cups of vegetables per day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Only 26% of American adults fulfill the fruit standards, and only 21% eat the appropriate quantity of veggies, according to the CDC.
Your health can be enhanced in a variety of ways by eating more fruits and vegetables. They can also aid in lowering your risk of developing chronic illnesses like cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
If you’re looking to increase your fruit and vegetable intake, the CDC recommends adding them to your diet in the following ways:
- Include a fruit or vegetable at every meal.
- Add fruits and vegetables to your favorite recipes.
- Eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables to get the most nutrients.
- Keep fruits and vegetables within reach, so you’re more likely to eat them.
This report details the amount of fruit and vegetables Team FNV consumes to assist you to attain your goals.
Each day, our staff members eat an average of 3.5 cups of veggies and 2.5 cups of fruit.
Apples, bananas, carrots, celery, grapes, lettuce, and tomatoes are some of our favorites. Additionally, we relish consuming 100% fruit and vegetable juices.
How to Start FNV – Fruit and Veggie Campaign
The Produce Marketing Association, Bolthouse Farms, and advertising company mOcean are partners in the FNV Campaign. The campaign’s objective is to promote teenagers’ consumption of fruits and vegetables in the US.
Bolthouse Farms will run television and online advertisements aimed at teenagers to start the campaign. Teenagers in economically and socially disadvantaged places who may not have as much access to fresh produce or who may not feel as much social pressure to eat it will be the target audience for the advertisements.
It is hoped that by airing these advertisements, more teenagers will be inspired to include fruits and vegetables in their diets.
The FNV campaign is built around five core strategies:
1. Make fruits and vegetable fun, exciting and desirable
2. Create an emotional connection to FNV
3. Increase the convenience and accessibility of FNV
4. Help people understand the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables
5. Encourage businesses to support the FNV campaign
Create a memorable and innovative advertising strategy that will appeal to your target market. The campaign ought to highlight the advantages of consuming fruits and vegetables as well as how delicious they may be.
The FNV campaign is off to a strong start, with more influencers joining to support the promotion of the significance of fruits and vegetables. It’s critical to keep in mind that there is a growing need for FNV as we continue our work. Make sure everyone is aware of the advantages of eating healthy foods and let’s keep up the great effort!


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Maryland Live! unveils final 1,043 slots, becomes country's third-largest commercial casino13 September 2012
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, Maryland -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Maryland Live! Casino celebrated the grand opening of "Phase II" of the $500+ million gaming and entertainment destination with the unveiling of the final 1,043 new slot machines and electronic table games. With a total of 4,750 slot positions, Maryland Live! Casino becomes the third-largest commercial casino in the country.
The final portion of the casino floor features a mix of the latest games and classic favorites, including some new games not previously offered, such as Deal or No Deal, Zorro, Phantom, Top Dollar, Red Hot Fusion, Mississippi Stud, Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em and 4-Card Poker. A dedicated High Limit Slots Room, the Shop Live! retail store, a comfortable bus lounge for large and small groups, and other first-class amenities highlight the final phase of development.
"We are pleased to open our second phase well ahead of schedule. Maryland Live! Casino now offers more gaming, more entertainment, more amenities and more convenient covered parking," said Joe Weinberg, Managing Partner, Maryland Live! Casino. "We've received tremendous feedback from our customers about how easy it is to get to our facility, the convenience of our covered parking and how much they enjoy the world-class gaming, dining and entertainment offered at Maryland Live!"
Maryland Live! Casino broke ground on January 27, 2011 and opened Phase I of the facility on June 6, 2012, with 3,176 slot machines and electronic table games, including a High Limit room; nationally acclaimed restaurant brands, including Bobby's Burger Palace, The Cheesecake Factory® and Phillips® Seafood; the multi-station Live! Buffet; Noodles, an Asian wok and noodle bar; the R Bar, a unique, interactive bar inspired by the game of roulette; and a 5,000-space covered parking garage with direct access to the casino floor.
Phase II openings between July and August 2012 included an additional 531 slot machines and electronic table games and Rams Head Center Stage, a 500-seat, state-of-the-art performance venue featuring live entertainment nightly.
In late fall 2012, local legendary steak house The Prime Rib® will open, to complete the Live! experience.
To commemorate the Phase II opening, Maryland Live! Casino is giving Live! Rewards Players Club members a chance to win some incredible prizes:
Members can win their share of over $100,000 in cash and prizes during the $100,000 Cash & Prize Sweepstakes, September 14-16. Through September 30, Cruise Live! offers members a chance to win one of 50 Caribbean cruises, provided by Royal Caribbean Cruises. Grand prize drawings will be held on September 30. In addition, the casino will be giving away 21 cars over 21 days, plus $100,000 in prizes, during Drive Live!, October 1-29. Players can earn entries now through October 29 for a chance to win one of 21 cars from Antwerpen Auto, the official auto partner of Maryland Live! Casino.


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- Samsung’s upcoming foldable phones may feature an S Pen slot
- Current Galaxy foldables support S Pen but do not have a dedicated slot for it
- The addition of an S Pen slot is likely to increase the device’s weight
Upcoming Samsung Galaxy foldable phones may get one of the most awaited features. Since 2019, the South Korean tech giant has been launching new Galaxy foldables each year. Last year, the company added support for the S Pen stylus on the Galaxy Z Fold 3. The Z Fold 4, which debuted in August this year, also offers S Pen support. However, these do not have a dedicated storage slot for the S Pen like the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
Reports that had surfaced before the Galaxy Z Fold 4 claimed that it would come with an S Pen slot. However, it appears that the South Korean tech giant decided to cancel it, probably because doing so would increase the weight and thickness of the phone.
Future Galaxy foldables to address several issues
According to a recent report by The Elec, Samsung held a meeting with suppliers in October to discuss its foldable smartphone strategy. Among other things, the company said that one of the issues that need to be resolved to increase the popularity of the Galaxy Z Fold series is the absence of a dedicated S Pen slot.
The recently released Galaxy Z Fold 4 weighs 263 grams. It is heavier than the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which weighs 240 grams, and the iPhone 14 Pro, which weighs 206 grams.
Samsung also wants its future Galaxy foldables with an S Pen slot to be lighter, thinner, and more durable. Some of the other issues that the company wants to address on its foldable phone include reducing the screen crease and improving the camera experience. The Z Fold 4 offers a 21.6:18 aspect ratio. During the meeting, the company also stressed the development of software to offer a 4:3 aspect ratio experience.
Samsung expects increased market share for foldable phones in future
Apart from talking about the issues that Samsung wants to address with its future foldables with the suppliers, it also shared its expectations about the foldable phone market. The company believes that the foldable smartphone market will have a CAGR of up to 80 percent by 2025. The reasoning behind it is that iPhone users in their 20s and 30s are switching to Samsung foldables in South Korea. The rate of adoption of Samsung foldables increased three- to four times compared to before.
Samsung believes that up to 90 percent of existing users of foldable phones will purchase foldable smartphones as their next device. The South Korean tech giant also believes that Apple will enter the foldable market. But instead of folding smartphones, the Cupertino-based company is likely to release laptops and tablets with foldable screens.


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While most of us remember the textbooks and assessment books used during our school days, some may not know who the publisher is. But turn to the back of the book, and you will notice the familiar logo of publisher Shing Lee.
The homegrown company, a household name in Singapore’s education industry since the 1970s, has published an array of education books. Today, Shing Lee has ventured beyond print textbooks to online interactive learning platforms.
While it is developed by a third-party IT vendor, the content and the step-by-step marking engine are owned by Shing Lee.
It has also extended its reach overseas, with a presence in more than 40 countries worldwide.
In recent years, it has gone digital and is taking active steps to grow the business that began in 1935 as a small bookstore in Chin Swee Road selling Chinese comics and stationery.
This digital and global shift was spurred by its participation in various overseas trade shows to gain more contacts with potential partners.
“Our efforts in this have certainly paid off,” said Shing Lee's CEO Peh Shing Woei, whose grandfather started the 83-year-old company.
Breaking new ground
In 2015, the company participated in its first education technology show – Bett Show in London (the biggest education technology show in the world) – with funding support from International Enterprise Singapore (now Enterprise Singapore).
“We became more aware of existing products in the market and gradually developed strategies for extending our business into the digital arena, which includes the e-learning platform,” shared Shing Woei.
The company developed a student-centered online platform for Mathematics, which includes a Learning Management System with a step-by-step solution-marking engine.
“The product serves to revolutionise learning and teaching in Singapore and beyond. We want to increase our worldwide presence and competitiveness in the education industry,” he noted.
Shing Lee is now a regular participant at trade shows, which has helped it open doors to more business opportunities and collaborations.
It has been to the Bett Show from 2015 to 2018, including business matching meetings and education technology forums arranged by Enterprise Singapore.
“We managed to get plenty of good business leads and learn about many innovative educational technology products in the market,” he said.
“These have helped us fine-tune our digitalisation roadmap to maintain our competitive edge.”
Through the International Marketing Activities Programme, which assists local companies to participate in trade missions and overseas exhibitions, Shing Lee found it easier to manage its operational costs for attending such events.
“The support from Enterprise Singapore has helped us link up with potential partners and clients around the world through our presence in various trade fairs like the Frankfurt Book Fair and the Annual National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Meeting and Exposition,” said Shing Woei.
Leverage support to transform and go global
Over the years, Shing Lee has developed new capabilities, accessed market opportunities and grown its brand globally.
Asked for his advice to companies in an old trade, Shing Woei said: “Visit the relevant industry trade shows locally and overseas with your key management team.
“Find out how the industry has evolved. This will help the company formulate strategies for transformation to stay relevant and to prevent technology from disrupting your business.”
Hear from Shing Lee Publisher’s CEO, Mr Peh Shing Woei on how they managed to transform the brand using digital technology, click here.


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Firefighters have rescued people trapped in their homes and cars following flash flooding in west London this morning.
Dive-bombing seagulls have turned a London street into “something out of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds”, say residents.
Barclays worst for card fraud repayment
Published: 24 January 2013
Nearly one third of card fraud victims have been forced to wait weeks or even months to get their cash back, despite obligations on banks to refund them immediately, a consumer group has found.
Some 29% of Which? members who had suffered credit or debit card fraud said they had experienced delays getting a refund.
Barclays and Barclaycard customers were the least likely to be reimbursed straight away, with nearly four in 10 (39%) of card fraud victims having to wait longer than a week to get their cash back.
One in 12 Barclays/Barclaycard customers who fell victim to card fraud had to wait between two and six months before they received a refund, Which? found.
Even First Direct, which came out best in the survey, delayed refunds to 17% of customers, Which? said.
Some 98% of fraud victims surveyed eventually got their money back, suggesting that the overwhelming majority of cases were valid.
Under the Payment Services Directive, if someone is a victim of fraud, the bank must refund them immediately unless it has good grounds to suspect that the cardholder has been negligent or acted fraudulently.
Which? executive director Richard Lloyd said: "Our research shows that banks are too often failing to refund customers immediately when they have been victims of fraud.
"With £340 million lost to card fraud a year, there are large sums at stake that can leave people seriously out of pocket and unable to pay essential bills."
Mr Lloyd said that banks should be doing everything they can to help people who fall victim to fraud "through no fault of their own".
Last October, chief ombudsman Natalie Ceeney said that too many cases were being brought to the ombudsman service where banks or card providers had failed to investigate a fraud just because the correct Pin number was used with the card.
On its own, the use of the correct Pin is not enough to prove the cardholder was complicit in the fraud or negligent under the regulations.
But the ombudsman service said it was seeing cases in which customers had been told over the phone by their bank that the matter was closed because the correct Pin was used.
Barclays expressed surprise at the findings and said it had a range of initiatives to help prevent its customers becoming victims of fraud and had details of how it could help people on its website.
Barclays said in a statement: "We sympathise with anyone who becomes a victim of fraud and we have no greater priority than the safety of our customers' money and work hard to settle their fraud quickly.
"In the majority of cases across Barclays and Barclaycard, eight in 10 cases are refunded within one working day with a selected few going on for further investigation."
Which? interviewed more than 4,000 members who had fallen victim to card fraud for its research.
A spokesman for the UK Cards Association said: "Customers who become the victims of fraud get a high level of protection from their card companies and can expect to receive a full refund on any losses."
He conceded that while some frauds were complex, the findings suggested that "we have further to go, working with our members, to ensure that customers move through that process quickly".
Here are the percentage of card fraud victims of various banks who experienced delays of anywhere between a week and six months, according to Which?'s findings:
- First Direct, 17%
- Capital One, 18%
- John Lewis/Waitrose, 17%
- HSBC, 21%
- Nationwide, 23%
- NatWest, 24%
- Smile, 21%
- Santander, 27%
- Tesco, 25%
- Bank of Scotland, 24%
- MBNA, 27%
- RBS, 28%
- Lloyds TSB, 28%
- Marks & Spencer, 28%
- The Co-operative Bank, 29%
- American Express, 32%
- Sainsbury's, 27%
- Egg, 29%
- Halifax, 34%
- Barclays/Barclaycard, 39%
- All, 29%
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Week 5 of the Fit Lifestyle Challenge doesn't leave Laura feeling left out when her friends order Chinese.
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In response to supply chain issues around Shanghai, Apple is moving some of its iPad production away from China to Vietnam as well as asking supply chain partners to work on building up stock inventory to weather any future issues: “The iPad will become the second major line of Apple products made in the Southeast Asian country, following the AirPods earbud series. The move highlights not only Apple’s continuous efforts to diversify its supply chain but also the growing importance of Vietnam to the company. Apple shipped 58 million iPads last year, with the vast majority of the device’s suppliers
The iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 13 Pro have been seen. Details on the presumptively-named M2 chipset imply that it may not be as stunning in the performance sector as many would hope ahead of a possible debut of the next generation of Apple Silicon at WWDC later this month. The cutting-edge technology will not be ready until next year, according to TSMC: “Apple’s planned upgrade to its silicon portfolio, especially the A16 for the new iPhone range and the rumored-to-be-named M2 chipset, which many believe to debut in the next MacBook Air, may not live up to the lofty expectations many have set.” TSMC, a chip provider, is bringing new manufacturing facilities online that will offer its N3 N4P fabrication technology, although they will not be ready for mass production.
With WWDC starting up next week, not only are developers looking forward to details on the newer version of all of Apple’s OS platforms (and looking for release dates on the developer beta versions), the question of when Apple is going to announce the next MacBook Air continues to dominate the consumer channels: “Apart from all the operating systems being previewed, Apple could also launch the 2022 MacBook Air during WWDC 2022. According to the latest edition of the Power On newsletter, Gurman says “if there’s any hardware at WWDC, it will likely be on the Mac side. The company has been aiming to launch the next MacBook Air with M2 chips at the conference.” If that’s the case, expect a redesigned MacBook Air with the next-generation M chips”
A fun detail from Apple’s latest round of patents this week, with another twist on how to place a camera onto your wrist via an Apple Watch. This time, rather than shooting through the face of the watch, the idea is to use a camera in the digital crown, as the patent explains:”A lens can be integrated within the aperture and/or behind the aperture of the dial to focus an image of a scene,” it continues. “An image sensor disposed behind the aperture can further be configured to detect movement of a marking on the dial to allow the image sensor to function both as a camera for capturing pictures of a scene, and as a sensor that detects rotation of the dial for sensing rotational inputs.””
The major changes are, of course, going to in the operating systems and Apple’s annual update to each platform. More importantly than the individual changes is the overall direction Apple will be taking to bring the platforms closer together and to keep people tightly tied to Apple’s cloud-based services. Jessica Bursztynsky takes a look at what iOS updates we can expect: “The changes to the iPhone include updates to notifications, messages and the Health app, according to Bloomberg. Apple introduced new notification changes last year, too, including the option to bundle them together into a summary at a certain time of the day, and a new Focus mode that limits the notifications you see during specific times.”
In my role as Managing Partner at New Profit, I have extensive experience innovating and investing in an equitable future of work. I’ve also had a front-row view into how the pandemic transformed our workforce—from the shift to remote work to the war for talent and the Great Resignation. While it remains to be seen which of these shifts will become permanent, there are several workforce and education trends that corporate leaders, human resource professionals, frontline managers, educators, and policymakers should prioritize and plan for in 2022.


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The debut of the Google Pixel 6a smartphone in India has been confirmed. The next mid-range Pixel phone was introduced at the Google I/O 2022 keynote on Wednesday, and Google communicated the news via its official Twitter handle on the sidelines of the event.
Google Pixel 6a Features and specifications
After the Pixel 4a, the Pixel 6a will be the first Pixel smartphone to launch in India. Because of the country's lack of 5G network and penetration, Google decided not to introduce the Pixel 5 and Pixel 6 series there.
However, the industry has evolved dramatically in recent years, prompting Google to enter the fray and compete with the latest Apple iPhone SE 2022 and other mid-range flagships from manufacturers like as Xiaomi, Realme, and OnePlus in the nation.
Full HD+ resolution is supported by the 6.1-inch OLED display, although the refresh rate is just 60Hz. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and has a fingerprint sensor. It is equipped with a Google Tensor processor, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage.
A 12.2-megapixel wide sensor and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor are included in the Pixel 6a's dual rear camera configuration. The phone has an 8-megapixel camera on the front. The Google Pixel 6a has a 4410mAh battery, however it does not support rapid charging.
Google Pixel 6a price and availability
The Google Pixel 6a was revealed at the presentation for $449 (about Rs 34,700), and there is just one variant available. Based on current currency rates and additional taxes, the price might approach Rs 40,000, where it will encounter fierce competition. Any price beyond Rs 50,000 will be difficult to sell in the country.


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DIGICEL LAUNCHES EXCITING CHRISTMAS PROMOTION AS IT CELEBRATES ITS 1ST ANNIVERSARY IN BVI
Friday, 27 November 2009 – Road Town, Tortola: In celebration of Digicel’s First Anniversary and as a show of appreciation to its many valued customers in the British Virgin Islands, Digicel today announced that some lucky subscriber will walk away with a brand new car as part of over $25,000 worth of prizes to be given away over the next three months.
The 1st Anniversary and Christmas promotion will be launched officially with a live musical event at the BVI Taxi Association Car Park this evening from 5 o’clock. The show will feature top local artists including Lincoln Ward, Ritical, Ouida, Platinum and Shotta, Xtreme Band and DJ Turbo. MC will be Paul “Gadeithz” Peart.
To be eligible to win one of several great prizes, persons only need to top up $20 or more, buy a Digicel phone, send a text, make a call or pay their bill in full and on time. However, if you are not yet a Digicel subscriber, it is not too late to switch to Digicel today and win.
The grand prize up for grabs is a red Suzuki Swift from International Motors, which will make one Digicel subscriber extremely happy this Christmas. Other major prizes to be won in December, January and February include an all expenses paid cruise for two arranged by Travel Rewards and a 50 inch Panasonic plasma television. In addition, there will be weekly prizes of iPods, digital cameras, BlackBerry smartphones, gas and grocery vouchers and free credit.
“Digicel is extremely delighted to have reached this milestone, our one year anniversary in the British Virgin Islands,” stated CEO Alan Bates. “We could only have done this with the support of the government and people of this territory and this is our way of expressing our sincere gratitude. We encourage everyone to participate fully in this promotion and have a Bigger, Better Christmas with Digicel.”
In reflecting on the past year, Mr. Bates said since Digicel was launched in BVI in November 2008, residents have truly benefited from market liberalization with subscribers getting better calling plans, better value rates, a wider range of handsets, better customer care and better network coverage. He said Digicel continues to work on enhancing its products and services and subscribers can look forward to greater benefits in the coming months. One new service recently introduced is the Internet using Edge Modems.
Some of the promotions introduced over the year include:
- Free Weekends (Top Up $10 Monday to Friday and get all Digicel to Digicel local calls free all weekend);
- Unlimited International (Unlimited access to email and web browsing on BlackBerry, unlimited calls to any local mobile or landline and unlimited international calls to the USVI, Puerto Rico, USA, Canada and to fixed lines in the UK for $115 per month);
- Caribbean Plan (Top Up $49 per month and get unlimited calls to all Digicel Caribbean and Central American countries – except Antigua/Barbuda and Guyana);
- Caribbean Unlimited Plan (Unlimited local, Digicel Caribbean and international calls to USVI, Puerto Rico, USA, Canada and UK landlines, and unlimited text, web browsing and email at $129 per month); and
- 17 cents promotion (Calls to any number any time in the BVI at 17 cents per minute).
The CEO added that in the past year, Digicel also has become an exemplary corporate citizen in the BVI and is proud to have supported numerous sporting and cultural and community events in the territory. Digicel has entered into long term partnerships with the BVI Cricket Association, BVI Football Association, Kids And The Sea KATS, Special Olympics BVI, the Road Town Festival Committee and the East End/Long Look Festival Committee. In addition, several other church groups and community organizations on Tortola, Anegada and Virgin Gorda have benefitted from the company’s generosity.
Mr. Bates also recognized the contribution of Digicel’s endorsees – athlete Tahesia Harrigan and entertainers Ouida Nisbett and Alvin “DJ Turbo” Dore. He ended by commending and expressing sincere thanks to the staff of Digicel BVI for working diligently to position the business as a formidable player in the telecommunications industry in the BVI.
ABOUT DIGICEL GROUP
Since its launch in 2001, Digicel has become renowned for competitive rates, unbeatable coverage, superior customer care, a wide variety of products and services and state-of-the-art handsets. By offering innovative wireless services and community support, Digicel has become a leading brand across its 31 markets worldwide.
Digicel is incorporated in Bermuda. Its Caribbean and Central American markets comprise Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Panama, St Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and Turks & Caicos. The Caribbean company also has coverage in St. Martin and St. Barths. Digicel Pacific comprises Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.
Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean, Central American and South Pacific sports teams, including the West Indies Cricket Team, Special Olympics teams throughout the region and national rugby teams in the South Pacific. Digicel is also title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Championships and the Copa de Naciones Digicel, which are the Caribbean and Central American qualifiers to the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Visit www.digicelgroup.com for more information on Digicel Group.


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Freud asked, "What does a woman want?" A better question might be: "What does a woman really want?" In contrast to what she says she wants, especially if she tells you she's busy leaning in, shattering the glass ceiling, carving out a pathway on a male-dominated career track, or whatever?
The answer, revealed in this BloombegBusinessWeek article about the latest trend in workplace feminism:
Women want…offices with pink furniture.
Also blowouts on demand and "trendy beauty products" just a few steps a way from their desks.
And also–believe it or not in these days when breaking down the door to the boys' club is supposed to be every career woman's goal–a place to work where no men are allowed–because men are so loud and competitive, you know.
Here's the Bloomberg scoop on New York City's "the Wing," one of several "female-focused spaces"–combination communal office and social clubs–that seem to be springing up everywhere for women entrepreneurs tired of working out of their homes:
[T]he Wing—so-named because, like the wing of a house, it’s a separate space—is just for women. Co-working is hardly new; industry trade magazine Deskmag estimated there would be 10,000 co-working spots worldwide by the end of 2016. But female-focused spaces have become a niche in the industry as a response to contemporary feminism and a reaction against fratty venues that advertise kegs and pingpong.
“Women are craving community, connection, and confidence, and that’s what we’re going to give them,” says Stacy Taubman, 38, founder of Rise Collaborative, which is set to open in St. Louis this month and will offer members networking events, a book club, and a chance to mentor teens. Then there’s SheWorks Collective, also in Manhattan; New Women Space, in Brooklyn, N.Y.; and Hera Hub, in Phoenix, Southern California, Washington, D.C., and Stockholm.
Here are some of the amenities at the Wing:
In addition to a pastel-and-gold-tinted communal workspace and a library with books (yes, there’s a copy of Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own) arranged by color, the Wing provides its 400 members with on-demand blowouts, a lactation room, and vanities stocked with trendy beauty products from partners including Glossier, Diptyque, and Ouai Haircare.
In addition, because it's an exclusive members'-only outfit with a pricy monthly fee, the upscale working gals can savor the thrill that "those people" won't be let into their sorority:
Membership is $1,950 a year or $185 a month, plus a one-time registration fee of $100—and whatever extra you spend on hair and makeup services or soba noodles and lattes. Subscriptions have doubled since the club opened, [the Wing's co-founder Audrey] Gelman says, and the Wing’s Instagram account has more than 45,000 followers. “Part of that is having a personality and a distinct point of view,” she says, “which means not being everything to everyone.”
And indeed it's not:
A third of the Wing’s members are from Brooklyn, most are in their 20s or 30s, and pretty much all of them look like they stepped out of an Urban Outfitters ad. Original members include J.Crew President Jenna Lyons, rapper Remy Ma, and Leandra Medine, founder of fashion site Man Repeller. It’s a space for women who are already successful, not a support group for those struggling to get there. Still, the Wing is less expensive than popular co-working spaces such as WeWork, whose membership starts at $220 per month, and Gelman says she wants to make it even more accessible. When asked about scholarships, though, she replies, “I don’t think the CEO of [co-ed co-working space] WeWork”—Adam Neumann—“is being asked if he’s giving out scholarships.”
But not quite every single male on earth is barred from this community, connection, and confidence, it turns out:
A man walks through the elevator doors, and Gelman throws him a friendly wave. “That’s our AV guy,” she says. “He’s basically the only man that comes through here.”
Because when you need someone to get the viruses out of your computer–in contrast to the blow-drier onto your hair–you, um, need a man.


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Amelia Lown presents ceremonial key to Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran T.D., at the launch of the Roscrea Loyalty Scheme
Minister of State for the Office of Public Works (OPW) and Flood Relief Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran T.D. launched the Roscrea Loyalty Scheme on Friday, a new initiative to encourage people to shop locally and to visit Roscrea Castle, Damer House and the Blackmill for free.
The OPW has worked with the Roscrea Chamber of Commerce and Tipperary County Council to bring this initiative to fruition.
Under the scheme, shoppers spending €15 in local participating retail outlets will be provided with a voucher which will entitle them to a free family entry at Roscrea Castle, Damer House and the Blackmill.
A similar initiative has been in operation in Cashel since March 2015 and has proven to be a great success in promoting tourism and economic activity in the town.
Speaking at the launch in Damer House, Minister Moran said: "I am delighted that my Office, the OPW, in conjunction with all the local partners have initiated this scheme today for Roscrea. Its success has been proven in Cashel and I hope that a similar positive impact is experienced in Roscrea.
“The importance of tourism to the Irish economy cannot be underestimated and while the remit of the OPW is conservation and presentation, I am delighted that my Office can get involved in schemes such as this”.
The Minister went on to say: “Culture and heritage promote individual, community and national wellbeing. Since the 1st of May, 2018, people with disabilities and their carers have free admission to all OPW managed heritage sites.
“This builds on the very successful initiative I introduced last summer which provides free admission to our heritage sites to children under 12”.
Shoppers will get a voucher entitling them to a free family entry to Roscrea Castle, Damer House and the Blackmill on spending €15 in participating local retail outlets. The programme is being run in conjunction with Roscrea Chamber of Commerce and Tipperary County Council. This heritage site is managed by the OPW in conjunction with the Roscrea Heritage Society.
President of Roscrea Chamber of Commerce, Mr Seamus Browne, said: “today is a milestone for the traders of Roscrea, our greatest treasure now has a stronger role in advancing the prosperity of the town. “Prosperity” is a word that has disappeared from most small rural towns over the past 10 years, but today the business people of Roscrea have been given an opportunity by the OPW to add a string to their bow, enabling them to encourage additional footfall through their doors with the OPW Loyalty Scheme.
“The Chamber and the local Heritage Society with the assistance of Tipperary Co. Co. have worked together over the past 18 months with the OPW to bring this scheme to Roscrea, but it is not entirely the role of the Chamber committee to make the scheme work.
“I now urge you the traders of our town to make that link with OPW work over the next two years and not to allow it to be broken. The only way forward is to work together as business people of the town, by working together a lot more can achieved.
One of the greatest advances of our time is the internet, online shopping is the biggest treat of this time to small retailers, this voucher can only be handed out in your premises with an over the counter transaction of €15 or more, these are the initiates we need to grasp and work with if we want to grow our business.
“So I ask all traders to promote the scheme as strongly as possible on your advertisements, Facebook pages and so on, to attract as many visitors as possible to Roscrea,” concluded Mr Browne.
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GoDaddy has actually gotten on the marketplace given that 1997. In 2018, it has more than 18 million consumers and also has more than 77 million domain names.
The domain name registrar has actually gone down over 15,000 subdomains made use of as component of a procedure to trick individuals.
The whole procedure was found by the protection company Palo Alto Networks.
Once they pushed on the web link in the mail, they were rerouted to these subdomains held on GoDaddy web servers. The websites were reputable, however their proprietors were not mindful that this was taking place on their websites.
Every one of these mails had something alike: they all “marketed” items that appeared to be advertised by celebs. The names of popular individuals that enemies made use of were, to name a few, Stephen Hawking, Jennifer Lopez, Blake Shelton, or Gwen Stefani.
The majority of the items advertised on these subdomains came from the pharmaceutical area: nutritional supplements, marijuana oil, fat burning tablets or dietetic items.
Just how the procedure serviced the GoDaddy subdomains
The examination of the protection company was a complicated one and also lasted 2 years.
GoDaddy likewise performed an examination. He concerned the final thought that the fraudsters team has actually made use of phishing assaults over the last couple of years to get to client accounts.
Once they accessed to their GoDaddy accounts, assaulters produced subdomains of legit websites. They utilized them to host marketing messages developed to make phishing mail individuals acquire their items.
The registrar revealed that numerous customers’ accounts were influenced.
GoDaddy has actually removed over 15,000 subdomains. Additionally, he has reset the passwords for the endangered accounts as well as has actually alerted their proprietors.
Web traffic on subdomains developed by enemies was a significant one. Quotes vary around one million perceptions.


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One analyst estimates that Jeep is worth $22 billion as a standalone brand.
Continue reading Jeep and Ram could be spun off from FCA, says Marchionne
Jeep and Ram could be spun off from FCA, says Marchionne originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Apr 2017 12:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Anya Hindmarch has opened a new store in Los Angeles at 8461 Melrose Place. The 2,000-square-foot shop was designed by Martino Gamper.
“We have a dedicated customer in L.A., and obviously have a real affection for the city, which is such an important market for us,” said Hindmarch. “It was time to open a bigger store to show more of our men’s, women’s ready-to-wear and bespoke collections. It felt very traditional with all the greenery and nature, and our fellow brands have a lovely vibe. I also love that Alfred Tea Room is right next door,” she said.
Inside, the gallery-like space is divided into different areas for men’s, women’s and bespoke collections, delineated with colorful velvet chairs and geometric tables made from spliced-together planks of reclaimed wood.
It’s a busy week for the company, which is opening in Bergdorf Goodman and Galeries Lafayette, as well as retail stores in Hong Kong and Singapore, later this week. Next is a focus on China after success with a Lane Crawford pop-up shop last season, and the Middle East, with a Dubai store coming soon.


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Jeep sees 43pc spike in desktop CTR with addition of mobile
April 17, 2014
Jeep tries cross-screen marketing
Jeep wrapped up a mobile, tablet and desktop campaign last year that resulted in more than 50 percent of impressions reaching the same consumer across multiple devices.
The car brand worked with Universal McCann and Millennial Media on the campaign that ran during the third and fourth quarters of 2013. Jeeps campaign pushed the 2014 Patriot and Compass vehicles with messaging tailored to each platform.
Consumers are moving between screens with increasing speed, and brands like automotive that look to connect at various points in the awareness and decision-making process must have a cross-screen strategy, said Mollie Spilman, executive vice president of global sales and operations at Millennial Media, Baltimore.
While a significant amount of automotive research is still conducted on the PC, mobile has proven to be instrumental in accelerating those PC views, she said.
Drive on mobile
Jeep ran banners across mobile phones, tablets and desktops.
Creative differed based on the platform to ultimately drive consumers to Jeep.com where they could learn more about the cars.
The idea behind this approach was that consumers are in a different part of the path to purchase depending on which screen they are in front of.
Jeep’s cross-screen ad
For a car brand in particular this kind of approach makes sense since consumers primarily use their smartphones and tablets to research versus shop for cars.
In fact, the automobile industry was singled out in a report from DG Mediamind last year as a vertical seeing higher than average interaction rates with mobile ads. This success is primarily chalked up to the fact that automakers use mobile advertising for branding versus conversions (see story).
Jeep’s ads claimed to reach 1.4 million cross-screen consumers.
Gaining cross-screen steam
Similar to other automotive brands, Jeep has tested a number of different ad units in the past few years.
Late last year, the automaker ran a campaign with an ad unit that expanded when consumers pulled it down from the top of the screen (see story).
Additionally, Jeep leveraged the iPad with an ad with a 360-degree view of the interior of the Cherokee last year (see story).
In this case, the cross-screen format is geared towards helping Jeep break down the creative aspects of the campaign to form a narrative across screens.
Each device supports specific behaviors and is used more prominently at certain times, Ms. Spilman said.
PCs are most likely used during work hours, while tablets are often turned on at home, she said. Smartphones are used throughout the day, with the highest usage during morning and commuting hours.
Lauren Johnson is associate reporter on Mobile Marketer, New York


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Infibeam Avenues today announced its standalone and consolidated financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2019. Continuing its profitable momentum, the company has posted another profitable quarter.
Though, Infibeam’s third-quarter of financial results for FY20 saw 0.7% decline in consolidated net profit and 5.9% slide in revenue from the previous quarter.
The Ahmedabad-based company posted total revenue of Rs 158.3 crore for the quarter whereas profit came down by marginally (about Rs 20 lakh) to Rs 25.9 crore in compared to last quarter.
Infibeam said the third-quarter revenue and profit was marginally seem affected as it does not include the revenue of non-core businesses such as online e-commerce marketplace, and technology platform solutions for small & medium enterprises.
Infibeam claimed to have done successful digital payment processing volume of Rs 15,900 crore despite intense competition and an overall slowdown in
Last year, the company has increased its focused on the core business of digital payments, data centre infrastructure and technology platforms for government and enterprise clients.
“We will continue to invest and build cutting edge technology and innovate in digital software and payments that will improve the way merchants and customers trade and transact thru digitization and democratization of Commerce,” said Vishal Mehta, Managing Director, Infibeam Avenues Ltd.
It also claims to have over 1 million merchants using payment & software web services.
In 2019, Infibeam had invested in Go Payments, which offers prepaid cards to corporates and SMEs, for 48% stake. It plans to increase its stake in the firm to 52.38% making it one of the subsidiaries.
For the next quarter, Infibeam aims to process digital payment transactions worth Rs 18,000 crore through the addition of new merchants, new geographies and volumes from existing merchants on the platform.
Infibeam also plans to enter into the card issuance business.
The company believes that with the end of MDR cap on debit cards, except Rupay cards, on below Rs 2000 transactions will reduce pricing pressure on them.
All debit cards including Visa, Master, Maestro, etc. will now be chargeable for transactions below Rs 2,000, which was zero from 1 Jan 2017 to 31 Dec 2019.
In 2019, it also divested from its non-core businesses including e-commerce marketplace, product retail and platform solutions for SMEs, to focus on digital payments space. And strong transaction growth in the digital payments was the reason behind the improved Q1 FY20 result, said Infibeam in a press statement.
Primarily started as an e-commerce firm, it had pivoted to B2B services such as payment gateway (CC Avenue), bill payments (Bill Avenue), and data center services.
In October 2018, Infibeam had lost Rs 92,00 crore in company’s market capitalisation. Since the crash at the stock market, the share price of Infibeam Avenue has not been able to recover.


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FALCONER, N.Y. — Truck-Lite has unveiled new designs for its polybags, retail boxes and clamshell packaging.
The company began rolling out the new packaging this month and will continue to do so over the first quarter. Truck-Lite says it marks its ongoing commitment to providing customers with the information needed to make informed choices.
“Consumer packaging is a hugely influential aspect of a customer’s purchasing decision, especially in a premium product like Truck-Lite. We’re confident that this change strengthens our in-store presence,” said Beth English, vice-president of marketing.
Among the changes, the retail boxes will allow for a greater lighting presence in a retail setting. The boxes will have new, full-colour design with see-through windows so the actual product can be viewed.
The size of the polybags and the material used has also been improved, Truck-Lite announced. The clamshell packaging now features a multi-lingual design with colour-coded category branding to provide customers with more information at the point of purchase.
“We’re very excited for our customers to see the new packaging. It is expected to boost our customer’s retail sales with a better in-store presence and is part of our strategy to provide the best possible customer experience,” said English.
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Offers on Nintendo Switch, Games and Accessories are a Great Value for Families
As the holiday season approaches, families are looking for ways to spend more time together – shared experiences that create long-lasting memories. This Black Friday, Nintendo is offering a bundle that will provide those memories right out of the box! Starting on Nov. 28, select retailers will offer the bundle, which includes a Nintendo Switch system and a download code for the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe game, at a suggested retail price of only $299.99*. That’s the price of a Nintendo Switch system with a game for no extra cost!
With the multiplayer fun of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and two Joy-Con controllers included with the Nintendo Switch system, families can open the bundle and start playing together right away.
In addition to the bundle, several Nintendo Switch games will be available at a suggested retail price of only $39.99 each – that’s $20 off their regular suggested price. This software offer begins on Nov. 27 at participating retailers. Players looking to explore fantastic worlds or engage in some friendly competition with family and friends can take advantage of the $20 discount on games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, Super Mario Party, Splatoon 2, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Mario Tennis Aces and Kirby Star Allies, among others.
“With Nintendo Switch, parents are not just giving a gift to their kids – they are providing fun for the whole family who loves to play together,” said Nick Chavez, Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Families who have been waiting to pick up a Nintendo Switch system have the perfect opportunity on Black Friday to take advantage of one of our many offers and add some Nintendo fun to their holiday plans.”
Additional Black Friday offers include a pair of Joy-Con controllers (Gray or Neon Red & Neon Blue) at a suggested retail price of $59.99 ($20 off), and the Poké Ball Plus accessory to use with the Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! And Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! games (sold separately) at a suggested retail price of only $19.99 ($30 off). The Joy-Con offer starts on Nov. 27, with the Poké Ball Plus promotion beginning on Nov. 28 at participating retailers. For a full list of offers and participating retailers, visit https://happyholidays.nintendo.com/deals/.Continue reading


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bristol, UK (21 st October 2010) PQube are pleased to announce that at this year’s MCM Expo in London, BlazBlue: Continuum Shift will be at the centre of a brand new Guinness World Record attempt.
One of the top BlazBlue players in the UK, and finalist at the UK’s biggest fighting game tournament Super vs Battle 20X, Kyle ‘Kyzertron’ Dixon will be attempting to set a Guinness World Record for the most recorded wins in a single hour.
The record attempt will be taking place at the BlazBlue: Continuum Shift booth on Saturday the 30 th of October, between 1pm & 2pm.
'It will be a pleasure to have Kyle set the world record in the presence of so many BlazBlue fans at this year’s MCM Expo’ says Abid Gangat, Key Account and Trade Marketing Manager at PQube. ’We will see a high level of competition on the day, and encourage BlazBlue fans to get involved in this fantastic event!'
Anyone wishing to participate in Kyle’s record attempt must;
· Register their interest with Abid Gangat at PQube - firstname.lastname@example.org
· Arrive at the BlazBlue booth no later than 12.30pm on Saturday the 30 th October.
Gaz Deaves, Gaming Editor at Guinness World Records, said: “We’re looking forward to seeing Kyzertron’s attempt at setting this record on BlazBlue: Continuum Shift. At a competitive level, the nature of the game is quite unique in the fighting genre, so we should see some genuinely interesting play on the day.”
‘We’re thrilled that Guinness World Records has decided to include BlazBlue in their forthcoming Gamer’s Edition’, says Geraint Evans, Marketing Manager at Zen United. ‘BlazBlue’s popularity continues to rise at an incredible rate and it’s great to see it recognised as one of the finest examples of its genre’.
BlazBlue: Continuum Shift will be available on XBOX 360™ and PLAYSTATION®3 this November.
For further inquires about BlazBlue Continuum Shift’s presence at MCM Expo please contact:
PQube is a pan-European Publishing and Distribution partner with well established relationships with international developers, publishers and all retailers in the UK. Founded in 2009, PQube’s team of industry professionals have a track record of success and a passion for the interactive entertainment sector.
About Arc System Works
Arc System Works is a developer and fighting game specialist from Japan – best known for the Guilty Gear and, more recently, BlazBlue series - which has garnered international critical acclaim for its innovative fighting system and spectacular 2D artwork.
About Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records is the universally recognized authority on record-breaking achievement. First published in 1955, the annual Guinness World Records book is published in more than 100 countries and 25 languages and is one of the highest-selling books under copyright of all time with more than 3 million copies sold annually across the globe. Guinness World Records celebrated its 50th anniversary edition in 2004, a year after the sale of its 100 millionth copy. Guinness World Records also annually publishes the Gamer’s Edition; a records book devoted solely to the world of computer gaming and high score record achievements. Guinness World Records 2011 Gamer’s Edition is on sale in January 2011.


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China represents a huge, and still largely untapped, market for computer makers: in a country of 1.3 billion people, only 40 million computers were bought in 2008, when the 300 million people living in the United States bought 66 million. As Chinese incomes rise and computer ownership grows, chip makers that establish themselves now will reap vast profits and dominate the market for years. Currently, China depends on Intel, ARM, and other Western companies for the CPUs that power its digital infrastructure, but the Chinese government is determined that a homegrown alternative will share in the spoils.
China’s ambitions hang on a state-sponsored project, started in 2001 at the Institute of Computing Technology in Beijing, aimed at developing a family of indigenous processors that can be used in everything from cheap netbooks to supercomputers. To save costs, the chips are made using older silicon technologies and are based on an architecture invented in 1981 and owned by MIPS Technologies, based in Sunnyvale, CA. China chose to license an existing architecture because creating a new one would have meant reinventing the extensive software libraries that programmers need to create applications, not to mention educating the programmers themselves. The Chinese have surrounded the basic MIPS design with their own subsystems, adding instructions in recent versions so that the chips can run software written for the x86 processors that Intel and AMD make for personal computers.
The chips are commercially manufactured outside China by Geneva-based STMicroelectronics (see “Companies to Watch”) under the trade name Loongson. They already appear in cheap netbooks and desktop PCs. If China succeeds in making Loongson chips an alternative to Intel- and AMD-based systems in its emerging market, the implications could be felt throughout the developing world, with its billions of potential customers, for decades to come.
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