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Wovenware is making AI to track disease-carrying mosquitoes in Puerto Rico
- It’s been roughly a year since Hurricane Maria — the tenth-most intense Atlantic hurricane on record — devastated the island of Puerto Rico.
- (The mosquitoes themselves don’t cause disease; rather, they pick up diseases from infected blood and spread them through bites.) Two years ago, Puerto Rico registered 38,058 confirmed cases of Zika, dengue, and chikungunya.
- The Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust — a San Juan-based nonprofit organization that aims to foster growth in the island’s tech sector — in 2016 won a $50 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to combat the spread of mosquitos on the island, with the goal of learning why a number of species have developed immunities to FDA-approved adulticides and larvicides.
- In early August, the company partnered with the Research Trust to develop a machine learning system that can automate the classification of Aedes aegyptis, a specious known to carry infectious diseases.
Battlefield V open beta results: DICE will scale back supply stations, improve vision
- Electronic Arts’ DICE studio said that Battlefield V’s open beta test drew players who poured tens of millions of hours into the game.
- The open beta ran from September 4 to September 11, with a focus on online play in the cities of Rotterdam and Narvik and modes such as Conquest and Grand Operations.
- One of the controversial additions to the game was “attrition,” where respawning players have limited ammo and health during certain parts of the online play, such as the final stage of Grand Operations, where 64 players battle for a number of in-game days.
- But players want DICE to tweak the attrition, and so players will spawn with stronger capabilities in the final game.
- The team will also tweak some weapons so the time it takes to kill enemies feels right.
Overwatch retools Torbjörn to make him a better damage-dealer
- Torbjörn began to fall off in popularity as his defense-focused playstyle couldn’t keep up with the high amounts of damage and speed of other characters.
- Adding new characters and maps is important to keep those players engaged and help grow its esports scene in the Overwatch League, but Blizzard also has to update and retool existing heroes.
- Instead, a new ability, Overload, increases Torbjörn’s defense, speed, and attack power for a short time.
- The old Molten Core increased his health and damage (similar to the new Overload ability) and also upgraded his turret.
- You can also toss now toss them a short distance when deploying them, giving Torbjörn access to turret locations that used to be out of reach.
- Symettra’s changes also gave her new offensive capabilities, turning her from a niche pick into a more consistent character.
- When Overwatch launched, it had four character groups: Tank, Support, Offense, and Defense.
The Walking Dead game creator Telltale Games lays off most of staff
- The Walking Dead game series creator Telltale Games has laid off a large part of its staff and may be in danger of shutting down.
- US Gamer also reported massive layoffs occurred, and The Verge said the company now has a skeleton crew of about 25 or so people from the original 250.
- Telltale Games saw meteoric success for its episodic game The Walking Dead in 2012.
- The company expanded dramatically under former CEO and cofounder Kevin Bruner, who grew the studio to more than 350 employees and added games such as Batman: The Enemy Within, Minecraft: Story Mode, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Game of Thrones.
- The company tried to replicate the decision-based storytelling of The Walking Dead across those games, but not all of them were as successful.
- The company had great storytelling skills, but if there was any fault, it was that it didn’t innovate on the technology, our source said.
Ousted Telltale CEO Kevin Bruner comments on studio’s fate
- The cofounder and former chief executive officer of Telltale Games has posted a public statement about the studio’s reported layoffs and potential closure.
- Bruner oversaw Telltale as it went from a small studio trying to make adventure games to one with a breakout hit in 2012 with The Walking Dead.
- In 2017, led by investor Lionsgate, Telltale’s board removed Bruner as CEO and replaced him with fellow cofounder Dan Connors.
- I left Telltale a year and a half ago after an extended period where the Board of Directors and I had very different visions of Telltale’s future and how we might get there.
- Today, I’m mostly saddened for the people who are losing their jobs at a studio they love.
- I’m comforted a bit knowing there are now more talented people and studios creating games in the evolving narrative genre.
AI helps Pixeldrive cut photo file sizes without substantially affecting quality
- They’re the cofounders of Pixeldrive, a web-based artificially intelligent (AI) tool that cuts photos down to as little as 10 percent of their original size.
- Pixeldrive — development around which kicked off eight months ago ahead of a planned launch in October — expands on research by Google and others investigating the use of neural networks in image compression.
- Photos make their way to Pixeldrive via one of two flows: an upload tool within a web-based dashboard built on Nextcloud, and integrations with third-party services like Dropbox.
- In fact, they said they’re already in talks with an unnamed phone manufacturer to integrate Pixeldrive’s AI into a photo-sharing app.
- Even on cutting-edge handsets with dedicated inference chips, Pixeldrive’s AI model takes three times as long to compress images, Doumet said.
Amazon Echo Show hands-on: More than a tablet glued to a speaker
- In some areas, performance of the first-gen Echo Show seemed a bit half baked, but the second generation made its debut yesterday alongside nearly a dozen other Alexa-powered devices, and it seems capable of making a case for the idea that a smart speaker with a screen is more than just a tablet.
- Whereas before you could see the time, trending stories, calendar events, some trending stories, and suggestions for things to say to Alexa, the new home screen gives you more options.
- Helping people cook meals still seems like a pretty important use case for Amazon, which last year said more than half of all Echo smart speakers are placed in the kitchen.
- The second generation feels like it drew some lessons from the initial experience as well as quality features from competitors like the Lenovo Smart Display or JBL Link View.
ProBeat: Amazon is throwing Alexa at the wall to see what sticks
- While Google is clearly focused on expanding Google Assistant’s language support and Google Home’s country availability, Amazon simply wants to stuff Alexa into everything it can.
- This year’s CES was full of companies adding Alexa to their existing device and simply marketing that.
- The former lets you control ordinary appliances, but still requires a separate Alexa device, and the latter adds Alexa to ordinary speakers, but it’s really just a dongle.
- Amazon also announced a $30 wall clock and a $60 microwave.
- Why would you want to tell Alexa to heat your food when you’re standing right there and can just hit the corresponding buttons?
- Amazon would be much better off focusing on making the Echo lineup unbeatable, teaching Alexa to outsmart the competition, and letting third parties do the rest.
California Cup will create Overwatch esports rivalry between Northern and Southern California
- When the global Overwatch League has its off season, a regional esports rivalry for Blizzard’s Overwatch video game will take over.
- The competition pits the Los Angeles Valiant against the San Francisco Shock, two inaugural teams in Blizzard’s popular Overwatch League.
- Above: The Los Angeles Valiant during an Overwatch League match.
- The Los Angeles Valiant are one of two Los Angeles-based franchises in Activision Blizzard’s Overwatch League, which began play in January as the first esports league to feature local market affiliations for its teams.
- The Valiant’s owners are Immortals, a global esports organization based in Los Angeles.
- The San Francisco Shock is also one of the 12 esports franchises competing in the Overwatch League’s inaugural season.
- It is owned by NRG esports, a San Francisco-based esports organization competing in eight professional video game leagues.
Google is bringing support for all Android apps to Daydream VR
- Describing three new features as “experimental” for testing by developers, Google is adding Android app support to all Daydream devices, and the Lenovo Mirage Solo is getting both six degree of freedom (6DoF) controller support and a “see-through” mode.
- New APIs will support positional control tracking with six degrees of freedom, enabling users’ hands to move more naturally within a 3D VR space — but there’s a catch.
- But Google expects that See-through Mode will also enable Mirage Solo to offer mixed reality features, blending real world visuals with augmented ones akin to the Magic Leap One — without the latter’s severely limited augmented window size.
- The Android App support and See-through Mode are coming for all developers to try “soon.” Applications for Google’s 6DoF controllers are being accepted now, with no specific ship date.


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EXTRA! EXTRA! 2006 Blinds.com in the News
Houston's Blinds.com prospers on Web
July 8, 2006 - "JAY Steinfeld's Blinds.com is set to take in $45 million this year — a far cry from its humble online beginnings.
"I'm a CEO of a company that thrives on e-mail, and 12 years ago I didn't know what e-mail was," he said.
What he lacked in technical knowledge he made up for in "guerrilla marketing."
For example, the original name for his Houston-based online company selling custom blinds, shades and shutters was Nobrainerblinds.com. His office was in his West University home and he got permission from his neighborhood post office to list his business address as "One Brainer Tower" to sound bigger than he was.
After his business took off, a competitor asked him, "How big is One Brainer Tower?"
"You'd be surprised," Steinfeld replied.
During the dot-com boom, shortly after Steinfeld first went online, it seemed like every entrepreneur, even those without a bricks-and-mortar storefront, had to have an Internet presence. Many saw the Net as a way to start or expand their business. Many tried and many failed."- The Houston Chronicle
Jay Steinfeld of Blinds.com The decision to be an internet only company to sell blinds
September 02, 2006 - "In 1996, when the Internet was still being thought of as an experiment, Jay Steinfeld created an online brochure for his draperies company "just to see what would happen." Several more smart decisions later, his company is the world's largest online supplier of blinds to consumers and decorators. The BusinessMakers interview the founder and CEO of Blinds.com."- TheBusinessMakers.com

domain: news


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Discover more from Rise & Shine ☀
Tata Digital to get Rs 3462 Cr💰, WinZo opposes SRO🎮, Fintechs must uphold people's trust: PM💸
Tata Group to pump in another Rs 3,462 cr, WinZo opposes self-regulatory structure, Fintech industry must work on safety: PM, Funding Deals and more.
Start your day, the smart way!
1 Mail | 2 Minutes | 3 Stories
Market Watch 📊:
S&P 500 - 3,855.93 down 1.13%
Nasdaq - 11,425.05 down 0.95%
Nifty 50 - 17,822.20 up 0.03%
Sensex - 59,757.64 up 0.08%
Tata Group to pump in another Rs 3,462 crore in Tata Digital💰
Tata Group's ecommerce flagship Tata Digital is increasing its authorised share capital from Rs 15,000 crore to Rs 20,000 crore, according to a regulatory filing last week, setting the stage for fresh capital infusion by its parent Tata Sons.
Tata Digital has already taken board approval in the past month to receive an investment of Rs 3,462 crore in tranches from Tata Sons. This will take the issued share capital of Tata Digital to Rs 15,934 crore, leaving the company the headway to obtain additional equity infusion of around Rs 4,000 crore.
In its filing with the Registrar of Companies (RoC) on September 14, Tata Digital said the company was raising the money to repay existing debt and make investments in other ‘bodies corporate’, apart from business activities and other general corporate requirements.
In March, Tata Digital had increased it from Rs 11,000 crore to Rs 15,000 crore.
WinZo opposes self-regulatory structure for online gaming🎮
E-gaming startup WinZo has opposed the idea of joining a self-regulatory organisation (SRO) for e-gaming firms, two sources briefed on the matter told. The development comes amid efforts by the government to draft rules for online gaming companies.
WinZo had written to the Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrashekhar in June, expressing its views on the self-regulatory structure, the sources said.
WinZo identifies itself as a real-money gaming platform that is skill-based and not chance-based. Its founder Saumya Singh Rathore told the company was opposed to an SRO structure.
The platform hosts about 100 skill-based, third-party games, including fantasy cricket, football, chess, carrom, racing and others. Its main contention is the outsized influence certain gaming companies in the sector would have over the SRO.
Dltledgers (Distributed Ledgers Technology Pte Ltd), a blockchain-based, multi-enterprise supply-chain business network (MESCBN) platform has raised $8.5 million in a funding round led by the family office of the Tata Group and Centrum.
Holiday home fractional ownership platform ALYF has raised $1.5 million or Rs 11.25 crore seed capital led by 9Unicorns and Venture Catalysts.
Burger centred quick service restaurant (QSR) chain Biggies Burger has secured Rs 5.5 crore in seed round led by Indian Angel Network (IAN).
Fintech industry must work relentlessly on safety to uphold people's trust: PM💸
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India’s fintech industry has earned goodwill by being an enabler of inclusion, and there is a need for continued focus to empower the poorest of the poor by taking quality financial services to them. He added the sector needs to work relentlessly on safety and reliability to uphold people’s trust.
In his message at the Global Fintech Fest, Modi said the sector has shown what can be achieved when a government that encourages innovation comes together with the energy of young and inventive minds.
"Innovation for inclusion has been our mantra, leading to the revolution in public delivery ensured by the JAM Trinity, success of UPI in making digital payments a way of life, and India's global rise in the fintech and startup space as a hub of innovation and investment," PM Modi said.
Tweet of the day🐥
Other Top Stories
🩺 Flipkart adds medicines and other health-related products on its app
📊 Hoping to take BharatPe public in 18-24 months, says Chairman Rajnish Kumar
"Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it. Establish your priorities and go to work."
- H. L. Hunt
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Essar Oil to expand oil retail outlets to 5,000 by 2016-2017
Essar Oil Ltd. plans to have 5,000 fuel retail outlets by the end of Fiscal Year 2016-2017, the company announced. Headquartered in Mumbai, India, Essar Oil has started reopening its fuel retail outlets after the government decontrolled diesel fuel prices last year.
It has so far reopened all 1,400 outlets and added more than 150 new ones. Another 1,600 outlets are in various stages of execution, according to the company’s recent annual report.
“Essar Oil’s retail business has begun to contribute to the bottomline and promises to be a major value creator in the future,” Chairman Prashant Ruia said during his address to the shareholders.
This will help Essar Oil achieve more than a third of the capacities of public sector undertakings (PSUs) such as Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd. (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd. (HPCL) in just two years.
BPCL and HPCL operate around 13,000 retail outlets each and are expanding at a rate of 1,000 outlets every year.
PSUs are facing pressure due to increased competition from private oil retailers such as Essar Oil and Reliance. However, Essar Oil’s larger rival Reliance Industries Ltd. has been more cautious, re-opening only 500 outlets so far. It plans to restart all 1,400 close fuel pumps by March 2016.


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US: Jobs data knock Dow, S&P 500 from record pedestal
[NEW YORK] Big-box retailers and petroleum producers were among the losers Friday as major US stock indices retreated from records following a disappointing jobs report.
The closely-watched September jobs report showed the US lost 33,000 jobs last month, according to Labor Department data. Both the Dow and S&P 500 fell slightly from record peaks, while the Nasdaq edged up to finish at a record for the sixth straight session.
Equity markets elsewhere were mixed, with Frankfurt and Paris declining, but London advancing on a weakening pound.
Madrid stocks shed 0.3 per cent amid a political crisis over Catalan.
"Cracks are appearing in Catalonia's move to independence, but until the notion of independence is dispelled, contagion risk remains," said Jasper Lawler, head of research at London Capital Group.
In the US, analysts had been expecting much slower hiring in September due to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, but the economy had still been expected to add 75,000 jobs. Instead, data showed the first net loss since 2010.
The dreary headline figure was offset by other aspects of the report, with hourly wages rising and unemployment falling from 4.4 to 4.2 per cent.
Analysts said last month's data should be taken with a grain of salt.
"Sometimes you have to just sit back and relax, and this is one of those times," said economist Joel Naroff. "The decline in the number of jobs was a direct result of the hurricanes, and next month we are likely to see things turn around, probably with a vengeance."
US sectors with disproportionate losses on Friday included oil producers such as Chevron and ConocoPhillips, which shed more than one per cent.
Big box retailers were also weak after analysts expressed disappointment at the profit margin reported by Costco Wholesale.
Retailers have been hit by periodic waves of selling on worries that Amazon will drag on profits, a fear that also hit drugstore stocks on Friday.
Pharmacy chains CVS Health and Walgreens Boots Alliance both fell almost five per cent on speculation that Amazon will soon enter the retail segment.


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Samsung Electronics announced guidance Thursday morning in Korea for its third quarter of 2020.
The company expects consolidated operating profit for the three months ended September to be 12.3 trillion Korean won (US$10.6 billion), up 58% from the third quarter of 2019 and well ahead of estimates of 10.5 trillion Korean won forecast by Refinitiv.
Samsung expects consolidated revenue to be 66 trillion Korean won (US$56.9 billion) for the period, up 6% from the year ago quarter.
The company provided no further details on the drivers of revenue or profit, but analysts have been eyeing a rebound in demand across multiple business lines, including:
- Smartphones and associated memory chips
- Graphics chips for video game consoles
- Consumer electronics
Many smartphone manufacturers are presumed to have stockpiled on memory chips this quarter before Huawei became subject to US sanctions.
Samsung is scheduled to release detailed earnings later this month.
Source: Equities News


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German automobile manufacturer BMW has just released a new advertising video on their Canadian YouTube channel, showing the new BMW M4 ripping around a CGI aircraft carrier. I don’t know where it is filmed. Probably it is just successful use of CGI. Anyways the video looks real as hell and impressive. The video features a lot of tire smoke and exhaust sound. The most breathtaking scene is when M4 hanging its rear over the ocean while sliding around the track on the deck of the ship.
Check out the video below and tell us what you think in comments section please.


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Not just any product recall: Marks & Spencer pulls mussel meals over food poisoning fears
Food Standards Agency confirms recall of products after reports of illness
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has confirmed that three M&S home-brand mussels products have been taken off the shelves and "should not be consumed" if already purchased.
In a statement on their website the FSA says the products have been recalled amid "a small number of reports of illness in the UK." It goes on to say that the company is recalling the products as a "precautionary measure", while investigations take place.
The FSA warns customers not to eat the products and instead return them to the store for a refund.
The dishes involved in the product recall are M&S branded Mussels in Garlic, Mussels in White Wine and Mussels and Clams.
In a brief statement M&S said: “At Marks & Spencer food quality standards and our customers’ enjoyment of our products are key priorities for us."
"We take this very seriously, and as a precautionary measure, we have recalled all packs of M&S mussels, which should not be eaten by customers."
"The affected products have already been removed from our stores. However, if customers have already purchased these products, they should return them to their nearest store for a full refund as soon as possible."
The recall of the popular shellfish meals comes after a year of food scares in the UK, including the horse meat scandal. It follows the announcement from Britain's top medic last week that the superbug MRSA had been found in turkeys on a farm in East Anglia.
Earlier this year a number of shellfish and mussel harvesting sites were closed in Scotland amid the detection of high levels of toxins which could lead to diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP). The symptoms of DSP include vomiting, cramps diarrhea and nausea.
The FSA stressed that the withdrawal of the product was precautionary and that no conclusive link has been established between the Mussels and the reports of illness.
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- 5 Now diplomacy has failed, boycotting Israel might be the only way we can protect the people of Gaza
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A doctor has revealed that many people could be contaminating their face masks without even realising it.
With face masks now compulsory in shops and on public transport, it's clear that they will be a part of our daily lives for the foreseeable future. A TV doctor, however, has revealed that we could be contaminating our own face masks without even realising it.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, who is currently standing in for Dr Hilary on Good Morning Britain, revealed that even the slightest touch of the mask could result in contamination and, therefore, leave the user vulnerable.
Sarah warns that reusable masks need to be washed after each use, while disposable ones can only be worn once. Not washing your hands properly before applying your mask could also result in contamination.
While wearing the mask correctly, it's also important not to touch it.
Dr Sarah Jarvis warned about mask contamination on Good Morning Britain. (via ITV)
Dr Sarah explains "One of the big issues with masks is that if you do fiddle with them of course, and you haven't washed your hands, you could contaminate your face. It's a really good idea if you are going to be wearing them when you are out, when there is contamination around, to start wearing one when you are at home."
She says "That will mean you can get into the habit of putting it on only using the straps, not touching your face when taking it on or off."
Dr Sarah adds "Not putting it underneath your chin, not dangling it on one ear, none of those things will work and could contaminate you. And not putting it under your nose, please."
Watch a clip below.
Do you find wearing a mask uncomfortable or find it hard to breathe with it on? @DrSarahJarvis advises to 'practice' wearing one at home to ensure you wear it safely when you need put it on outside.— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) July 22, 2020
She says it's also helpful to get children used to wearing masks from age 7. pic.twitter.com/I5GBbGcpNi


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HUAWEI has just launched its latest smartphone series called the Huawei P30 and P30 Pro.
The Chinese tech giant's main selling point for its latest offering is the professional camera which it claims makes the devices 'queen of smartphone photography'.
Although Huawei P20 smartphones already contain professional Leica cameras, the P30 Pro is the first phone to have a Leica quad camera lens.
This enables the phone to have an impressive 10x hybrid zoom, allowing users to take crystal clear photos of objects far off in the distance.
The phone's camera also has a 40MP Super Spectrum lens, 5x optical periscope zoom, a brand new sensor which lets in more light than ever before and the ability to support 50x digital zoom with no tripod attached.
Huawei has said that the P30 Pro is on another planet to the P20.
Perhaps the most amazing feature of the phone is its ability to take clear and well lit photos in pitch black environments.
Huawei said it had to come up with a new formula for this to be possible, which involved changing the standard green filter to yellow so a lot more light can be seen.
The main difference between the P30 and the P30 Pro is that the former has a 6.1 inch screen and the latter has a 6.41 inch screen.
The P30 also only has a Leica triple camera whereas the Pro has the, arguably much better, quad camera lens.
The P30 is rain resistant whereas the P30 Pro can survive up to 1.5 hours in 30cm of water.
Reverse wireless charging is only available on the P30 Pro.
First impressions of the Huawei P30 smartphones
What we think...
- The main selling point of this phone is clearly the very impressive camera which is fairly easy to use and actually works in the dark
- The user interface is essentially the same as the P20 model which is quite sensitive and takes some getting used to if you're not a regular Huawei user
- Huawei says the phones can achieve 50x digital zoom without a tripod attached but the more you zoom the harder it is to get clear photos if you don't have a steady hand
- Both phones are very aesthetically pleasing and are avaliable in a nice range of colours including pearl white, breathing crystal, black, amber sunrise and aurora, which is based on the northern lights
- It does seem odd that there are some major differenes between the P30 and the P30 Pro such as the latter being the only one with the quad camera, water proof ability and reverse wireless charging, so Huawei customers should double check they're getting all the advertised features they want before they purchase the P30 over the P30 Pro
- The devices are likely to be popular with people whose main activity on a smartphone is taking pictures
Both phones have a small front camera notch as Huawei wanted to make the screen as big and unobstructed as possible.
They also both have curved glass on the front and back.
Other features of the new phones include a better performing finger sensor, dust resistance, a larger more powerful battery and new 40W supercharging speeds.
5G mode is not included on either device due to a matter of space.
The price of the P30 will start at £699 and the P30 Pro is £899 for 128GB and£1,099 for 512GB.
Both phones are available to pre-order now ahead of their release date on 6 April.
TOP STORIES IN TECH
Yesterday's Apple launch at its California HQ saw some major announcements – including a new TV app and an Apple credit card.
What is Apple Card? How and when you can get it in the UK.
Apple reveals News subscription service with over 300 magazines for $9.99 a month.
What do you think of the new Huawei smartphone? Let us know in the comments!
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Bus and coach manufacturer Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) was announced as winner of a Board of Trade Award, which recognizes companies for their excellence in international trade, demonstrating innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurialism.
Recipients were nominated and selected by the Department for International Trade, with the awards presented at a gala in Stirling, Scotland by Dr. Liam Fox, Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade.
Building on its market-leading position in the United Kingdom, ADL has successfully exported its expertise in double-deck and lightweight bus technology. The company’s international revenues have grown seven-fold since 2007 and now account for close to 50% of ADL’s business.
ADL has used its success in Hong Kong to springboard to other markets in the Asia-Pacific region including Singapore, New Zealand, and Malaysia. In the U.S., and Canada, ADL has sold 1,000 double-deck buses and is focusing on growing this further with locally manufactured double- and single-deck vehicles. Earlier this year, 90 double-deck buses entered service in Mexico City as part a landmark Latin American deal that was supported by the Government’s UK Export Finance agency. A launch order from Switzerland has generated additional interest in continental Europe for ADL to explore.


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Charisse Aquino-Tugade, Executive Director of the National Book Development Board, is interviewed by Dante ‘Klink’ Ang 2nd (not pictured) during his show ‘Business and Politics’ on news channel SMNI. PHOTO BY J. GERARD SEGUIA
THE large crowds that visited Manila during the three days of the International Book Fair are positive evidence that there is a market for book readers in the country. While the large turnout is not as big as it was before the Covid-19 pandemic, it still shows that the market is there.
During the fair, Filipino book markets included the librarians, who bought books in bulk; the students who chose books with more affordable price tags; the researchers who bought reference books; and the general readers, who promoted literature, the arts, and the social sciences.
Interest was also aroused in translated books. Translations have been published by the university presses of Ateneo de Manila, Ateneo de Naga, University of the Philippines and University of Santo Tomas. Penguin Random House Southeast Asia has an ongoing series “Southeast Asia Literary Classics” for which they commissioned Professor Danton Remoto to translate into English the masterpieces of national artists Amado V. Hernandez and Lope K. Santos.
The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino used to have an excellent translation series that translated books by Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, Rabindranath Tagore, among others, into Filipino. It’s a project that should continue. Emeritus Professor Dr. Soledad S. Reyes of Ateneo de Manila University won the Asia-wide AL Becker Award for Translation for the novel What Now, Ricky? It was written in Filipino by Rosario de Guzman-Lingat and published by Ateneo de Manila University Press.
Against this background, the National Book Development Board (NBDB) also called on the government to increase its support for the book publishing industry for another important reason: to improve literacy, especially among youth, by making more books available to them.
While working with the proverbial minimum, the NBDB has done a lot to get books into the hands of more readers. NBDB Executive Director Charisse Aquino-Tugade said providing publishers with subsidies and rebates allowed them to sell more books and explore e-commerce platforms. Readers across the country bought the books that Filipino publishers were selling on Shopee at discounts of up to 90 percent as the NBDB shouldered the retail price of the books.
The NBDB is negotiating with the Department of Education (DepEd), which is an institutional buyer of locally published books. The education department has a list of mostly foreign textbooks that can be purchased as supplementary textbooks. But if the topics and content can also be found in local textbooks, why can’t the DepEd patronize the local books? Textbook authors in the major publishers are vetted fairly thoroughly and the books go through a rigorous process from writing to editing to book production. In addition, the native books meet the requirements of the K-to-12 curriculum, while the teachers of the foreign textbooks have yet to adapt their curricula to it.
Aquino-Tugade reiterated that books, as products of knowledge, can yield economic results because their content can be translated into different languages and adapted into films, television shows, and theatrical productions, and goods made from them. This is how the South Korean culture industry developed when they started dealing with Korean authors and adapting their works into films and TV novels or K-dramas. The windfall in South Korea’s economy came in the hordes of tourists visiting the locations where the K-dramas were filmed, as well as the huge demand abroad for Korean products – from grocery items to fashion to contemporary English-language literature Translation.
We also have the Book Publishing Industry Development Act, or Republic Act 8047, which requires all cities and towns across the country to establish a local library. But statistics show that less than half of the 1,634 cities and towns in the Philippines have a library. Aside from storing books and offering free internet, libraries can also serve as third spaces and community centers where city dwellers can meet and discuss issues relevant to them. After all, there is life outside of the many malls that now cover the country like mushrooms after rain.


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About 300 customers had clustered at the entrances to South Coast Plaza’s Sears store Wednesday afternoon, awaiting that magic moment when doors would burst open and prices would fall.
Once inside the store, serious shoppers found Sears new everyday low-price strategy to be a mixed bag.
Carol Schwarzenbach of Tustin, for one, said the reductions unveiled Wednesday fell far short of making her pulse race. As Schwarzenbach sorted through the racks, she lamented that the more fashionable offerings in the girl’s department were only a dollar less than the department store’s old prices.
Dan Keller, on the other hand, said the new prices were great.
“I’ve done really well,” said the Fountain Valley man, who had already loaded up on “personal items” from the men’s department.
Schwarzenbach and Keller were among shoppers across the United States who flocked to Sears, the nation’s largest retailer, after the chain reduced prices on more than 50,000 items in its 824 stores. The stores were closed from 6 p.m. Monday to noon Wednesday to give employees a chance to change price tags and signs and prepare for the introduction of the “everyday low prices” approach.
The move came in response to competition from discounters as well as complaints from consumers that frequent price changes have made it difficult for shoppers to recognize a fair deal. As part of the new strategy, Sears says it will offer fewer special sales and instead will provide dependable prices.
While most Southern California shoppers interviewed Wednesday said Sears’ new discount prices were generally lower than before, many weren’t convinced that they were the best deals in town.
“Prices don’t look that low to me,” said Phil Bernard, a computer programmer from Topanga, as he looked over some blue jeans. “These are $19.95. I’ve seen them for $14 or $15 at other places.”
The prices on blue jeans seemed more reasonable to James J. Pittman, a bartender from Beverly Hills who grabbed two pairs. And Teresa Lee, after spotting a video camera at the Sears Santa Monica store whose price, she said, was more than $100 less than what she paid at another store, was even more impressed.
“I was skeptical about these discount prices,” said Lee, a 22-year-old legal secretary. “I usually wait for a sale. But I’m amazed at the low prices today. And it’s good knowing I can come back again some other day and get the item for the same price.”
Jim Harbeson, 42, of Corona del Mar, said the prices were lower on a lot of the tools he had seen but not on the router he needed. Though he wasn’t able to take advantage of the new low prices, “it seems to be an improvement,” he said.
The new emphasis on discount pricing was accomplished at Sears stores without the “warehouse look” some retailers favor. Although Sears employees were dressed in festive hats and aprons, the stores were little changed.
Sears officials generally said late Wednesday afternoon that it was too early to tell whether the new strategy was getting off to a successful start.
But Jim Berry, manager of the Sears store at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, said he was pleased.
“I would say that the response, at least in terms of shoppers in the store, was overwhelming. When we opened, we had crowds of people at all the entrances. I don’t think anybody went away disappointed.”


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It's common when businesses settle a big lawsuit to initially be surprised at a deal and then, shortly thereafter, to be surprised it didn't happened sooner. Such is the case with Uber-Waymo, who settled their case on Friday.
After all, both companies really got what they most wanted.
What Waymo got:
- a pound of flesh (aka 0.34% of Uber's stock).
- a system in place to prevent its intellectual property from finding its way into Uber products.
What Uber got:
- the chance to bring its dirty laundry away from public view.
- the potential to get back to business without further uncertainty hanging over the team that it is trying to build the company's driverless future.
So why didn't it happen sooner: Lawsuits may be about business, but they are also about people. Reaching a deal necessarily requires letting go of emotions and ego. (And there was plenty of both in this case.)
- Sometimes it takes a good chunk of the litigation process for the people involved to "feel heard." In this case, Waymo did get the opportunity to air its grievances. Uber, meanwhile, might or might not have been able to avoid a big verdict, but there was no scenario that was likely to make the company look good.
The Dara factor: The change in Uber leadership made the deal possible.
- Travis Kalanick is still defiant in the face of Waymo's charges. Bloomberg reports that, as a board member, Kalanick still opposed the deal that was struck. And, Reuters reports he issued a statement saying Uber would have won at trial.
- But he's not CEO and Dara Khosrowshahi is. And more than anything, Khosrowshahi has been trying to turn the page.


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DTC Hosts BaselWorld Seminar
Key executives hear about the progress of diamond marketing efforts
The Diamond Trading Co.s Supplier of Choice initiative continues to have an impact on the diamond industry, according to Jonathan Kendall, director of DTCs international and trade marketing group. Speaking at a DTC-seminar at BaselWorld in April, Kendall said more than 250 client initiatives are now driving demand and more than 33% of DTC goods are in more efficient distribution channels. The DTC calculates trade advertising at $275 million, exceeding its target of $200 million by 2004.
Other presenters at the seminar covered a variety of topics, including U.K. retailer Michael Wainwright, managing director of Boodle & Dunthorne, who illustrated how turnover tripled and profits increased when his seven-store chain began branding its name and offering its own line of diamond jewelry.
How Its Worn
Dominique Assenat from Peclers, a French trend-research company, revealed cultural trends affecting the ways women wear diamond jewelry. She said diamond jewelry marketers should pay attention to such trends. The rising popularity of diamond brooches among fashionable women, for example, is due in part to the jewels being pinned on womens clothes in locations other than just a jacket lapel. She said stylists are using hair clips as wearable modern tiaras. Necklaces are being used to draw attention to a womans back or shoulders, not just her décolletage. She also noted the increased use of diamonds in high-value fetish objects such as jeweled cell phones and in mens jewelry.
Rosy Blue & Vera Wang
Dilip Mehta, CEO of Rosy Blue, told seminar attendees about the advantages of bringing a well-known fashion name to a product to accelerate a companys branding efforts. The successful debut of Vera Wang Jewelry this spring has helped Rosy Blue leapfrog to near the top of the heap of noticeable consumer jewelry brands in a very short time, said Mehta. Vera is already an insider; she understands fashion and she is herself a jewelry consumer. Wang is conducting a series of personal appearances at retailers carrying the line, including Neiman Marcus, Bailey Banks & Biddle and several high-end independent jewelers, which should further drive the brand.
by Peggy Jo Donahue
||Diamonds worn creatively add excitement to the category, says Dominique Assenat, a French trend researcher who spoke at the Diamond Trading Co. seminar on diamond marketing during BaselWorld. She encouraged marketers to present diamond jewelry in fresh ways to help wearers appreciate its drama. The May issue of Vogue features actress Nicole Kidman wearing diamonds in ways Assenat recommended: A huge diamond brooch accentuates her bustle, while a diamond necklace emphasizes her back.


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On Sunday, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, congratulated the Giga Shanghai plant for producing its one-millionth car. He also announced that Tesla had produced more than three million electric vehicles.
This achievement is especially noteworthy considering Giga Shanghai’s earlier production outage earlier in the year. The plant was closed for three weeks in April because of a resurgence in COVID cases. Tesla had to suspend its operations at Giga Shanghai to upgrade the plant during the first two weeks of July.
Recent reports claim that Giga Shanghai’s production capability grew to more than 50,000 Model Y’s monthly in July. This number should rise to 60,000 per month in the next few weeks. A YouTuber posted a video showing a group of 9,000 Tesla electric cars awaiting shipment at Shanghai South Port.
Tesla makes electric cars in Fremont, California, Austin, Texas, and Berlin-Brandenburg, Germany.
Tesla reported that it shipped 254,695 vehicles during the second quarter, an increase of 26.5% over last year.


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In recent months, trading in non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on the Ethereum blockchain has seen a steady increase. The data from the cryptanalysis company CryptoSlam According to the report, trading in NFTs has increased for the past three consecutive months and in February broke through the $1 billion mark for the first time in nine months.
Competition in the NFT market drives up trading volumes
The main exchanges for non-fungible tokens on the crypto market are the two decentralized marketplaces Blur (BLUR) and OpenSea. They dominate trading NFTs on Ethereum and are noisy DappRadar responsible for over 95 percent of all NFT trading in the crypto market.
How Data from Dune show, Blur in particular has recently been able to significantly expand its market share. The newcomer to the Ethereum NFT sector specifically targets experienced NFT traders and uses a sophisticated token airdrop campaign to attract traders and trading volume to its platform.
Although Blur has only been on the market since October 2022, the project has already managed to dethrone the long-standing top dog OpenSea. Loud CryptoSlam however, there seems to be some evidence that nearly 80 percent of Blur’s trading volume is due to wash trading. Speculators would therefore only trade on Blur NFTs to qualify for BLUR token airdrops.
One of the biggest sell-offs of all time in the NFT market seems to confirm this assumption. A crypto whale sold over 1,000 of its NFTs worth 11,680 Ethereum on Blur and bought them back only a short time later.
According to an analysis by Nansen, Blur’s airdrop campaign was one of the main reasons that prompted the whale to take this action.
Sustainable recovery in the Ethereum NFT market?
While the overall growth in trading volume is encouraging for the NFT market, the latest numbers should be taken with a pinch of salt. The fact that much of the trading volume could very likely be attributed to wash trading at Blur casts doubt on the sustainability of the rise. It therefore remains to be seen whether Blur will be able to register enough traders and maintain the trading volume even after its airdrop campaign.


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Negotiating trade is not a crossword puzzle with a solution you can find in the back of the book.
It is the building of a house of cards. The rules are simple. Balance. Lean. Nudge. Repeat. But little things can tilt the table — weather, growth in one area, development in another.
The U.S. house of cards is getting shaky.
President Trump came into office saying America was getting the bad end of deals around the world. China, Mexico, even Canada. Everyone was taking advantage. And that was where the tariffs came in, with the president imposing fees on a variety of imported goods. The world responded in kind.
“Trade wars are good, and easy to win,” Trump said.
On Wednesday, his Commerce Department reported otherwise.
The numbers for 2018 show a 10-year high to the trade imbalance. Of that $621 billion chasm — up $119 billion from 2016 — most came from U.S. money going for Chinese goods. The imbalance with China is the largest it has ever been: $419.2 billion.
All of that doesn’t have to be as bad as it seems. Americans want to buy things affordably, and with a hot economy, there is money to buy them. That’s a good thing. But the impact on Pennsylvania isn’t.
“Many Pennsylvania farmers and manufacturers have already been harmed by tariffs. Additional trade barriers will only make things worse,” Beth Anne Mumford, state director of the Koch Network-backed Americans for Prosperity PA, said in a statement.
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Allentown, is one of the original sponsors of a bill that would limit the president’s authority to impose tariffs.
“Trade is good for America. About 1.4 million jobs in Pennsylvania are supported by international trade. But trade wars are very, very dangerous,” Toomey said in February as he announced the bill.
A month later, support is growing. Pennsylvania companies like Allegheny Technologies in Pittsburgh and Colonial Metal Products in Hermitage aren’t the only ones feeling the pinch. Bipartisan support has grown to more than a dozen senators signing on and 60 business, trade and policy groups endorsing the bill.
Toomey’s stance is important for Pennsylvania, especially as a Republican who has been in the president’s corner. It shows that sometimes power is in strength, but when you are building a house of cards, the strength is in the restraint.


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FTA Helps U.S. Soy Exports Grow to Korea
- Success Stories
In 2014, the Korea - U.S. (KORUS) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) obligated the Korean government to allocate 25,000 metric tons (MT) of food-grade identity preserved (IP) soybeans in the tariff rate quota (TRQ), allowing Korean soy food processing sectors such as tofu, soy milk, soy sauce and soy paste to import U.S. food-grade IP soybeans free of import duty. This number is equivalent to about 10 percent of the Korean food-soybean imports. To maximize the market share impact of U.S. food-grade IP soybeans imported under KORUS FTA, the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) has encouraged Korean soy food processors to execute TRQ as much as they are allocated, or transfer surplus of TRQ allocation in one sector to others who need more. One example of these tactics was the Korea food-bean buyers teams sent with funds provided by FMD and MAP to the U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange in 2013 and 2014. This event provided a platform that facilitated food-soybean trade between Korea and the U.S. Coupled with this FAS-funded marketing program, KORUS FTA turned out to be instrumental for the U.S. to capture a dominant market share of Korean food-soybean imports. In 2014, the U.S. captured an 85 percent market share in the target market with 226,800 MT exported to Korea valued at $161 million. In 2013, the U.S. held an 84 percent market share with 207,300 MT valued at $153 million, with a 67 percent market share with 182,800 MT valued at $120 million in 2012. The ratio of TRQ executed by the Korean soy food processors against allocations increased to 95 percent in 2014 from 60 percent in 2013 and just 35 percent in 2012.


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Tractor Supply Company says it’s putting its customer data into action and using artificial intelligence to communicate one-on-one with customers.
Additionally, the rural lifestyle retailer’s president and CEO Hal Lawton, who took over from Greg Sandfort last month, has promoted three senior executives and expanded the retailer’s executive committee.
- Seth Estep, SVP of General Merchandising, has been promoted to to EVP, chief merchandising officer. A 13-year veteran of Tractor Supply, Estep assumed responsibility for Petsense in January 2020.
- John Ordus, SVP of Store Operations, has been promoted to EVP, chief stores officer. Ordus has over two decades of Farm and Ranch retail experience, and joined Tractor Supply as a store manager in 2002
- Colin Yankee, SVP of Supply Chain, has been promoted to EVP, chief supply chain officer. Yankee joined Tractor Supply in 2015, coming onboard from Neiman Marcus where he was VP of Logistics from 2013 to 2015.
- Yankee and Christi Korzekwa, SVP of Marketing, have been named to its executive committee of which Estep and Ordus were already members.
“Today’s promotions of Seth, John and Colin reflect the confidence that our board of directors and I have in their capabilities and dedication to Tractor Supply’s growth and success,” said Lawton. “These executives have tremendous industry insights and have made significant contributions to the company’s growth over their tenure with Tractor Supply.”
The move comes just three weeks after Lawton took over for Sandfort, who noted on his last earnings call that the retailer made solid progress on many of its ONETractor strategic initiatives in 2019, including the rollout of Stockyard in-store kiosks and mobile POS technologies to all 2,000 stores across the chain.
He also noted the retailer’s Neighbor's Club loyalty program is approaching nearly 15 million members and boasts an 80% retention rate.
“Our loyalty program is a transformational asset to Tractor Supply that we will continue to elevate to drive greater relevance, engagement and loyalty,” commented EVP and CFO Kurt Barton on the call. “We're actioning the rich customer data we are receiving from our Neighbor's Club loyalty program.”
Looking ahead, Barton said Tractor Supply’s artificial intelligence enabled tools are allowing the retailer to scale its marketing efforts to target communication on a one-on-one basis.
“Our Neighbor's Club communication is being customized to offer products and services to an existing customer, engage a lapsed customer, or welcome a new customer to the program,” he explained.
Tractor Supply also put a new tool into place in the back half of 2019 that allows the retailer to find look-alike “lifestylers” and then digitally engage with them.
“We made great progress to improve our targeting of high value customers and look-alike customers throughout various digital channels,” Sandfort said.
In addition, the retailer said new space productivity technology for SKU localization and assortment will be implemented across the chain to help drive specific growth plans by category and refine Tractor Supply’s product mix.
“As you are acutely aware the retail industry is experiencing disruption and reinvention at an unprecedented speed,” Lawton said. “Leading retailers need to excel at not only merchandising customer service and execution, but also at data, technology, flexible supply chains and productivity.”


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Will VR Revive the Game Industry?
Virtual Reality (VR) technology is taking center stage at the annual Tokyo Game Show, which gave reporters a preview Thursday at Makuhari Messe hall in the Tokyo suburb of Chiba, ahead of the exhibition’s opening to the public this weekend.
The show is one of the world’s biggest devoted to video games, with 614 companies participating, demonstrating more than 1,500 game software titles.
The arrival of VR is apparent everywhere as players at the booths are wearing VR headgear, which delivers an immersive, 3-D 360-degree experience.
VR has many potential uses, including job training, but it’s expected to take off in games as early as this year.
Sony Corp.’s (NYSE:SNE) VR goes on sale next month. Sony Interactive Entertainment Director Yasuo Takahashi says VR will help revive the game industry.
|NYSE:SNE||32.22||14 September 2016||0.06||32.15||32.42||32.15||543,600|
|HeffX-LTN Analysis for SNE:||Overall||Short||Intermediate||Long|
|Neutral (0.15)||Neutral (-0.17)||Neutral (0.22)||Bullish (0.39)|
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Mysterious Apple Minivans Are Being Spotted in the Wild [VIDEO]
According to a report by AppleInsider, a number of sensor-laden minivans said to be owned by Apple have been spotted in the wild. One such vehicle has been captured on video as well in Palo Alto, California, by a MacRumors reader while driving past a residential side street located approximately 10 miles from Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino.
While these Apple van sightings have surfaced at a time when back to back car-related rumours have hit the web, claiming that Apple may be developing a self-driving vehicle at a top-secret research lab located near the company’s headquarters, the source believes that it’s more likely that Apple is merely using them to improve its Maps service, given that the mysterious vehicles would require special permits if they were actually self-driving automobiles.
Meanwhile, Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray has said in an investors note that taking just a 10% share of the total U.S. car market would represent a new $50 billion revenue opportunity for Apple. He also said that early feedback from investors on the prospect of a so-called “Apple Car” has been positive.
If Apple could achieve just a “moderate success” of 10 percent in the U.S. car market, Munster said it could mean $50 billion in new revenue for the Cupertino, Calif., company. That would be a massive increase of 23 percent over his current estimates for fiscal year 2015.
He believes many on Wall Street continue to wonder what new product categories could “move the needle” for a company the size of Apple. “We believe the potential for a car gives investors something, along with the Watch and TV, to look at as the next big thing for Apple,” he wrote. “We believe this hope should be positive for the multiple on shares of AAPL and help support the stock over the next six months.”
Check out the following video of a mysterious Apple owned minivan in Palo Alto and tell us what you think:


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If only baseball cards weren’t so overproduced in the late ’80s and early ’90s. Does anyone know how much a box full of 1992 Ray Lankford cards are going for these days?
The most famous baseball card in the world, the Honus Wagner T206, sold for $2.1 million on Friday at the Goldin Auctions’ showcase, according to the New York Post. The card sold is the “jumbo” version...
A rare baseball card of Honus Wagner sold for a record amount at an auction. See how much the prized collector's item went for.
The Honus Wagner baseball card is the most sought after card of all-time has been auction off this morning for a reported $2.1million according to Dan Good of the New York Post. It is the highest price ever paid for a card in a public sale, surpassing the $1.62 million paid for the same card back in 2008.
Wagner was a Pittsburgh Pirate and revered as one of the greatest shortstops...
Tweet In an online auction run by Goldin auctions on Saturday morning, the rarest and most expensive baseball card in the world, the 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner card, was auctioned off for a record $2.1 million. The $2.1 million sale for the card breaks the previous record ever paid for a trading card, which was [...]
Modern day ballplayers Alex Rodriguez and even Derek Jeter have nothing on Honus Wagner.
A rare 1909-11 baseball card with Wagner featured on the front sold at auction for a whopping $2.1 million after weeks of extended bidding. The price includes a buyer's premium but was still about a third short of the $3 million the auction expected to fetch.
The item was the centerpiece...
The value of a Honus Wagner baseball card not only continues to hold its value, but it continues to improve. The Holy Grail of baseball cards, the 1909 T206 Wagner, sold at auction on Friday for $2.1 million. The card of 50-100 copies to believed to be in exsitence. The legend behind the card of one of baseball’s first superstars is that Wagner demanded his card removed from packaging...
An expensive bidding war is expected to ensue over an extremely rare 1909 Honus Wagner "cigarette" card, with some expecting bidding to reach $3 million.
A famous baseball card was sold at auction for over $1.2 million. Is that how you would spend your money if you had that much?
St. Louis-based collector Bill Goodwin is set to put his 1909 Honus Wagner card up for auction Tuesday, and he expects it to bring in at least $1 million—perhaps even upwards of $1.5 million.
Bill Goodwin of suburban St. Louis has been in the collectibles business for a quarter of a century, but he says the 102-year-old baseball card he's putting up for auction is about as good as it gets.
Goodwin will begin an online auction for a 1909 Honus Wagner baseball card, one of the most sought-after sports collectibles in the world. Goodwin expects the card to fetch at...
Via AP on Fox
March 26, 2012


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If you’ve been hankering to try the much-hyped Impossible Burger, but if all of the current locations serving it are still too far away for you to want to travel to, now may be your chance to get in on this plant-based burger phenomenon that bleeds and tastes just like a regular meat patty. For a limited time, Postmates has teamed up with Impossible Foods to help get their burgers delivered in various parts of the country.
Photo courtesy of Impossible Foods
The main area the Impossible/Postmates partnership will be happening in is Los Angeles, where Fatburger, who recently picked up the shockingly meat-like vegan patty, will be offering delivery of the Impossible Burger via Postmates to your home. All locations of the SoCal-based burger joint that currently carry the vegan meat will be offering this opportunity.
If you’re not down with delivery because it’s too pricey, there is a limited-time free delivery offer if you do get the Impossible Fatburger. That only lasts through this Sunday, November 26th, but the delivery will continue at a normal price after that.
It’s not just LA that’s getting Impossible Burgers delivered in the area. Impossible Foods is also currently in the midst of a nationwide “Burger Tour,” where they stop off at different tailgating venues (aka college and NFL football games) across the country. If they’re in your area on an upcoming weekend, Postmates will deliver the burgers to you as well. You’ll have to check Impossible Foods’s social media feeds (especially their Instagram stories) to see where they’ll be next, however.


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Trucking rates gain, but continue to face headwinds
Data on producer prices shows that wholesale inflation pressure remained subdued in June. Industry detail showed a second consecutive gain in trucking rates during the month, though much of this gain was driven by seasonal strengthening
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the producer price index (PPI) rose 0.1 percent in June from May’s levels. This exceeded consensus estimates of a 0.1 percent decline and follows a similar 0.1 percent gain the previous month. Overall results during the month were weighed down by a decline in goods prices, as a 3.1 percent drop in energy prices led to the largest monthly decline in the goods sector since January. This was partially offset by a 1.3 percent increase in the prices for trade services, which measure the margins that retailers and wholesalers receive. The core PPI, which excludes food, energy, and trade services, was unchanged in June as year-over-year growth fell to 2.1 percent.
Market watchers and policymakers typically use the PPI to gain some insight into what the underlying pressures of inflation are in the economy. Recently, various measures of inflation have come under additional scrutiny, as Federal Reserve officials have been signaling that concerns over low inflation could lead them to cut interest rates soon. While the PPI is not the Fed’s preferred measure of overall price levels in the economy, this morning’s core PPI results would suggest that inflation pressures remain generally subdued in the middle of the year.
Long-distance truckload rates rates improve in June
Headline PPI data has offered little in the way of news over the last several months, with core wholesale inflation settling just above 2 percent. However, the monthly PPI release offers a tremendous amount of detail each month, allowing for insight into pricing trends for commodity, product, and industry groups. Industry detail in the June PPI data showed that rates in the trucking industry climbed at a respectable pace during the month. Producer prices for the General Freight Trucking industry rose 1.0 percent in June from May’s levels, marking the second consecutive solid gain for trucking rates. Despite the monthly gain, year-over-year growth in overall trucking rates slipped further to 3.2 percent from 4.1 percent in May, which is the slowest pace of yearly rate inflation since the third quarter of 2017.
While rate gains in May in the trucking industry were solely driven by the long-distance less-than-truckload (LTL), June gains were more evenly distributed across the industry. Long-distance truckload rates surged 1.5 percent during the month, ending a streak of four consecutive monthly declines. Long-distance LTL and local trucking rates experienced more modest gains during the month, with each rising 0.4% from May’s levels.
While this appears to be good news for rates in the industry, it is worth noting that the industry detail in the PPI data is not adjusted for seasonality. As a result, much of the gains experienced during the month are simply the result of seasonal patterns that typically occur at this time of year. As a result, year-over-year growth fell across most trucking metrics, with only long-distance truckload making a slight improvement to 2.7 percent from 2.5 percent in the previous month.
Behind the Numbers
June’s headline results were slightly stronger than expected, but core price trends continue to signal little in the way of an inflation threat in the economy. This is notable only for the fact that the June data comes just days after Fed Chairman Jerome Powell signaled that the Fed could cut rates as soon as the July 30-31 meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee. Moreover, Fed officials specifically cited stubbornly low inflation as one of the chief reasons for a potential rate decrease. The Fed prefers the personal consumption expenditure deflator as a price metric for inflation, but the PPI data also suggests that there is not much inflation pressure in the pipeline.
On the trucking side, the increase in rates in the industry is a welcomed sign after consistent declines to start the year, but it is probably all seasonal. Our own SONAR tender volume data (SONAR: OTVI.USA) shows that volume had a seasonal surge in volume following Memorial Day. That is good news, but the surge was still several percentage points lower than the rise in volumes last June. As long as volume is flat or slightly negative year-over-year and capacity is still up, there will continue to be downward pressure on yearly rate inflation in the industry. The comparisons to last year are going to be tough throughout the remainder of the year, especially for long-distance truckload, and it appears likely that PPI data in the industry will turn negative before the year is out unless there some significant improvements in the freight economy.
Ibrahiim Bayaan is FreightWaves’ Chief Economist. He writes regularly on all aspects of the economy and provides context with original research and analytics on freight market trends. Never miss his commentary by subscribing.


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As grateful as I am for holiday celebrations, there’s a downside to all the office parties, cookie exchanges, and open houses: temptation and overindulgence.
Enter Zeal, a year-old Boulder restaurant founded on the premise of healthy eating. Co-owner Wayde Jester and his team are developing a flexible, multiday juice cleanse specifically designed to combat the weight gain and toxicity that comes from, shall we say, excessiveness. Known for its flavorful flights of fresh vegetable and fruit juices pressed on site, Zeal has designed a new regimen that Jester claims can “help train your body to consume less food and fewer calories as well as boost your metabolism to support your weight loss goals.“
Give One Year of 5280 for just $16.
The cleanse is in the final stages of production (be the first to know about the launch by clicking on Zeal’s Facebook page). Those interested should choose a timeframe carefully as Zeal recommends a three-day preparation period that includes eliminating red meat, caffeine, alcohol, and processed sugars from the diet. But once you commit, consider the delicious rainbow of nutrient-dense juices the ultimate chaser to the season of joy.
Tip: Of course, Zeal isn’t the only company offering juice cleanses. Find more information about programs offered by Nekter, Pressery, and Vibrant Earth by clicking on their websites. And don’t miss Vibrant Earth owner Jill Latham’s tips for a healthy holiday season.
1710 Pearl St., Boulder, 720-708-6309


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10% Off Kmart Coupons, Coupon Codes - January 2019Liquidation sales at the Sears stores closing begin April 29, according to USA Today.
In April 2016, Sears Holdings announced that it would be hosting Going Out of Business Sales in an additional 68 of its Kmart retail stores, This was in addition to 10 more Sears final store closings that were scheduled to be completed by the end of July, and the dozens of Sears and Kmart final store closing sales that had barely been completed.
Kmart – Shop & Save on the App Store - iTunes - AppleSears kicked off liquidation sales at 46 closing stores on Thursday.
Save money online with Kmart deals, sales, and discounts January 2019.The store, at 121 Bolivar Road, was included in the latest round of Sears and Kmart closures announced out of bankruptcy court.
Here’s all the Kmart stores that will have liquidationWhile Kmart now falls under Sears ownership, the department store still offers that same affordable products and great selection that they always have.
kmart sale | eBay
Kmart's Same-Store Sales Beat Walmart's; Sibling SearsAnd liquidation sales at the affected stores will begin on Friday.
Kmart Bets on Bankrupt Companies' Wares to Climb Out ofKmart shoppers have been enjoying low prices and quality products since 1899.The news is a blow for the retails chain and its employees, who are losing a slow.
Here's where the 64 Kmart stores are closing - USA TODAY
For nearly 50 years, Kmart has provided its customers competitive prices with a huge selection of inventory.Going-out-of-business sales will begin as early as Thursday at 35 Kmart stores and 8 Sears locations.The closing locations include 13 Kmarts and 33 Sears stores across 28 states, including California, Connecticut, Illinois.
Yes, the Kmart Cyber Monday Deals will start on Mon Nov 26 2018 with many items available in the discounted Cyber Monday sale.
List Of Sears And Kmart Stores Planning Liquidation SalesGet this Week Kmart Ad sale prices, grocery ad specials, weekly circulars, printable coupons, and offers.Check ShopYourWay.com before you shop at Sears to find the latest Sears coupons, sweepstakes, sales, reward points and many other offers.At Sears and Kmart stores open for at least 12 months, sales fell 3.9 percent during the second.The struggling department store chain said liquidation sales at the closing stores will begin as early as Aug. 30.The decline in same-store sales in the latest quarter was the smallest in more than three years.
Kmart Black Friday Deals Kmart offered a wide variety of incredible deals during its Black Friday and Thanksgiving sales in 2018.When making your purchase online you can take advantage of their deals, bargains and sales as well as use Kmart coupon codes at the checkout.
Kmart Coupons, Promo Codes & Deals - January 2019Kmart I like Kmart they have a variety to sell and you always find something different.The official B2B auction marketplace for Sears Kmart Overstock, offering authorized business buyers access to overstock and customer returns inventory in bulk quantities.Today, Sears Holdings caught the attention of the Los Angeles Times by announcing that multiple Kmart stores in the state of California would be closing.
10% off Kmart Coupons, Promo Codes & Deals 2019 - GrouponThe Kmart website provides you with all of the great products that they sell in their stores.
Cleveland Kmart Coupons & Sales | Find&Save
Complete info about U.S. and international store closings is here.Much like other retailers, electronics were featured prominently.Join the group by clicking below for KMart, Sears and Shop Your Way.
Kmart - YouTube
Cheap Kmart Deals & Kmart Sales
WNY will lose another Kmart; liquidation sales start soonHowever, most Kmart coupons will not work on these items as they are.
Kmart Weekly Sale January 20 – February 2, 2019In fact, the Chapter 11 filing of its parent company, Sears, has given Kmart incentive to offer extreme deals.Kmart president Alasdair James told Reuters that the revival of the Bluelight specials reflects research that says customers remember the iconic sales fondly.Kmart has a customer service section on its website where answers to most questions can be found.
Shoplocal.com | Your Local Deals - Sales and Weekly Ads


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L2 Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO – Get Rating) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 153 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $320,000.
A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of AZO. D Orazio & Associates Inc. acquired a new stake in AutoZone during the third quarter worth approximately $25,000. Allworth Financial LP acquired a new stake in AutoZone during the fourth quarter worth approximately $29,000. CVA Family Office LLC bought a new stake in AutoZone during the fourth quarter worth $31,000. Larson Financial Group LLC lifted its stake in AutoZone by 157.1% during the fourth quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 18 shares of the company’s stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 11 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton lifted its stake in AutoZone by 280.0% during the fourth quarter. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton now owns 19 shares of the company’s stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 14 shares during the last quarter. 95.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
AZO has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Truist Financial cut their target price on AutoZone from $2,329.00 to $2,215.00 in a research note on Wednesday, March 2nd. Argus upgraded AutoZone from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $2,210.00 target price for the company in a research note on Tuesday, March 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on AutoZone from $2,175.00 to $2,200.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 2nd. Citigroup increased their price target on AutoZone from $2,210.00 to $2,250.00 in a research note on Friday. Finally, Raymond James increased their price target on AutoZone from $2,100.00 to $2,400.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 19th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $2,075.11.
AutoZone (NYSE:AZO – Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, March 1st. The company reported $22.30 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $17.79 by $4.51. AutoZone had a negative return on equity of 109.21% and a net margin of 15.44%. The firm had revenue of $3.37 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.16 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $14.93 EPS. The business’s revenue was up 15.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that AutoZone, Inc. will post 111.56 EPS for the current fiscal year.
In other news, VP Albert Saltiel sold 2,752 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,154.70, for a total value of $5,929,734.40. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 323 shares in the company, valued at approximately $695,968.10. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, VP Eric S. Gould sold 2,550 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $2,000.00, for a total value of $5,100,000.00. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 7,682 shares of company stock valued at $16,146,334. Company insiders own 2.60% of the company’s stock.
AutoZone Company Profile (Get Rating)
AutoZone, Inc retails and distributes automotive replacement parts and accessories. The company offers various products for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products. Its products include A/C compressors, batteries and accessories, bearings, belts and hoses, calipers, chassis, clutches, CV axles, engines, fuel pumps, fuses, ignition and lighting products, mufflers, radiators, starters and alternators, thermostats, and water pumps, as well as tire repairs.
- Get a free copy of the StockNews.com research report on AutoZone (AZO)
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By Meg Shen and Brenda Goh
HONG KONG/SHANGHAI — Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor Co Ltd reiterated its interest in Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV on Tuesday, but said it had not held talks or signed a deal with executives at the Italian-American automaker.
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China’s largest sport utility vehicle (SUV) manufacturer made a direct overture to Fiat Chrysler on Monday, with an official saying the company was interested in all or part of FCA, owner of the Jeep and Ram truck brands.
Automotive News first reported the news, quoting Great Wall Motor President Wang Fengying as saying she planned to contact FCA to discuss acquiring the Jeep brand specifically.
Those comments sent FCA shares higher – but also raised questions over the ability of China’s seventh-largest automaker by sales to buy larger Western rival FCA, or even Jeep, which some analysts value at as much as one-and-a-half times FCA.
Great Wall sought to dampen speculation on Tuesday. It confirmed it had studied Fiat Chrysler, but said there was “no concrete progress so far” and “substantial uncertainty” over whether it would eventually bid.


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AustralianSuper has partnered with a Logos-led consortium backed by the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) to buy an industrial land adjoining Sydney Airport for A$802m (€513m).
Australia’s flag carrier Qantas is selling the 13.8–hectare lot in the inner Sydney suburb of Mascot to reduce debt.
The site, regarded as one of the last available scalable logistics and commercial development opportunities in the coveted South Sydney market, was originally reported to be valued at around A$500m.
Darren Searle, Logos head of Australia and New Zealand, declined to comment on the premium paid for the land – or the shareholdings of the partners in the deal.
He told IPE Real Assets: “Our investors took a view that we were keen on the real estate and we wanted to execute a deal. We put our best foot forward.
“It is expensive real estate. (But) it is some of the best real estate (in Australia). We intend to maximise the value and will build a multi-storied warehouse around a very intense development to capitalise on the location and give our investors appropriate returns.”
On completion, the logistics complex will have an end value of more than A$2bn.
Searle said part of the transaction included an existing Qantas distribution centre sold on a leaseback basis.
Separately, Searle said, the consortium and Qantas had entered discussions regarding potential future development options for the sites, including the creation of a dedicated precinct for Qantas, as well as the sale of an additional 3-hectare land adjoining some of the lots being sold.
AustralianSuper head of property, Bevan Towning, said the fund’s participation in this transaction highlighted its appetite to make major direct investments into significant long-term property development opportunities.
“Growing AustralianSuper’s investment in major logistics assets that are focussed on growing demand for e-commerce and distribution hubs close to key infrastructure and population centres will match member needs for strong, sustainable long-term returns,” said Towning.
Searle said ADIA has been invested with Logos since 2016 as part of the Logos Australia Logistics Venture.
To read the digital edition of the latest IPE Real Assets magazine click here.


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In the first few months of 2012, it seemed like things were slowing up from the frantic pace of new food trucks and carts in 2011. Now that it’s mid-May and we’re hearing about all these commencement addresses, it seems like a good time to see who graduated to putting a food truck on the streets of NYC in the New York Street Food Vendors Class of 2012.
There are lots more new New York Street Food Vendors than we originally realized.
Speaking of heros, right at the beginning of the year, Our Heros started parking in the Financial District with hot and cold heros, platters, soups and salads. In the last few weeks, they have also started coming up to midtown a couple of days a week.
One of the better new trucks on the New York Street Food Vendors list is Mexico Blvd, who rub their meats with spice blends that impart vibrant flavors. Their menu isn’t large, with mainly tacos and tortas, but it is delicious.
Mike ‘n’ Willies also has a nice selection of tacos, and sliders as well, with bbq pulled pork, chickpea fritters, brisket and even fish tacos.
On the Asian front, a new cart called Fun Buns was rolled out by the team behind Bian Dang. They will eventually have 3 different types of bao (Chinese buns), although only 2 types are being served as of today.
Chinese Mirch also has bao, which they call duck sliders on the menu, as well as momos, which are Tibetan dumplings.
Just a couple of weeks ago we saw the debut of the Munchie Mobile, owned and run by NYU students who make big burgers, chicken sandwiches, grilled cheese and even pancakes. They should be able to satisfy most munchies cravings.
Other new food trucks in 2012 are the Urban Lobster Shack On Wheels, this week brings a new vegan and fresh juice truck called The Squeeze, and if you like big meatballs and rock ‘n’ roll, check out Marky Ramone’s Cruisin’ Kitchen.
Despite new laws designed to discourage food trucks, Hoboken has a couple of new ones. Cool Beans debuted about a week ago with iced coffees & teas, banana whips and waffles. Molly’s Milk Truck is scheduled to hit the street on May 20th with an American menu of healthy salads and sandwiches.
There are a couple of new food carts too. Kelvin Natural Slush has a new Ice Cube at the corner of Bleecker St & 6th Ave, although it is off the corner for repairs for the next week or two. We also want to try a great looking new cart on Union Square West called Morocho, which their menu describes as Peruvian Fusion. Last but not least, the King of Falafel & Shawarma opened a new cart in Manhattan to go along with his award-winning cart in Astoria.
There are also new places to enjoy all these food trucks, new and old. There’s the new World Financial Center Food Truck Court, the Long Island City Food Truck Lot, and even the return of a few trucks to the old Tavern on the Green spot in Central Park by West 67th St.
There are more food trucks than ever to enjoy, and more places to enjoy them. Man, I love this job!


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|By PR Newswire||
|March 25, 2014 01:10 PM EDT||
LOS ANGELES, March 25, 2014 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- The electronic cigarette has rapidly become one of the fastest selling products in recent history. With sales surpassing $1.7 Billion in in the United States in 2013, even Big Tobacco cant help but bite a chunk out of this ever growing pie. Through the acquisition of up and coming e-cigarette companies such as Blu Cigs and GreenSmoke, and the development of their very own line of e-cigs, the three largest tobacco companies in the world are now major players in the e cigarette industry.
E-cigarettes have become such an enormous industry, that it has spawned its own sub-category of e-hookah pens, made specifically to cater to a growing demand for flavored e-cigs. But what is an e-hookah and how is it different from traditional hookahs? Most importantly, what's the difference between an electronic hookah and an e-cigarette?
An e-hookah, also called hookah pen, e-shisha, and e hookah stick, is an electronic vaporizer (similar to e-cigarettes) that is meant to resemble the experience of smoking a traditional hookah or shisha. It is easy to use and requires no assembly or clean up, unlike the "old school" hookahs. Hookah pens are often available in many tasty fruit flavors and usually contain far less nicotine than electronic cigarettes. But a trend has been growing. More and more hookah smokers (who are mostly non cigarette smokers) are demanding zero nicotine e hookah pens. Companies such as NEwhere Premium Vapor Products have developed full product lines of zero nicotine e-hookah in addition to their traditional e-cigarette lines.
According to Nielsen data, in 2013, NEwhere was one of that fastest growing electronic cigarette companies in the country. Company executives are now reporting that the success of their new zero nicotine e-hookah pens, which were launched just a few short months ago, is already far exceeding sales projections for 2014 due to the increase in consumer demand.
With federal regulations on electronic cigarettes looming in the distance, the zero nicotine e-hookah trend couldn't have emerged at a better time for this ever so popular industry. After all, how can you regulate an e-hookah as a smoking device when it doesn't create smoke? How can you regulate its nicotine content or quality, when it doesn't contain nicotine? Simply put, you can't.
To find out more about zero nicotine e-hookah pens, click here.
Media Contact: jack Sirounian, NEwhere INC, (888) 991-7471, [email protected]
News distributed by PR Newswire iReach: https://ireach.prnewswire.com
SOURCE NEwhere Inc.
To leverage Continuous Delivery, enterprises must consider impacts that span functional silos, as well as applications that touch older, slower moving components. Managing the many dependencies can cause slowdowns. See how to achieve continuous delivery in the enterprise.
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An IoT product’s log files speak volumes about what’s happening with your products in the field, pinpointing current and potential issues, and enabling you to predict failures and save millions of dollars in inventory. But until recently, no one knew how to listen. In his session at @ThingsExpo, Dan Gettens, Chief Research Officer at OnProcess, will discuss recent research by Massachusetts Institute of Technology and OnProcess Technology, where MIT created a new, breakthrough analytics model f...
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There is little doubt that Big Data solutions will have an increasing role in the Enterprise IT mainstream over time. Big Data at Cloud Expo - to be held November 1-3, 2016, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA - has announced its Call for Papers is open. Cloud computing is being adopted in one form or another by 94% of enterprises today. Tens of billions of new devices are being connected to The Internet of Things. And Big Data is driving this bus. An exponential increase is...
Sep. 29, 2016 08:00 AM EDT Reads: 2,708
Internet of @ThingsExpo has announced today that Chris Matthieu has been named tech chair of Internet of @ThingsExpo 2016 Silicon Valley. The 6thInternet of @ThingsExpo will take place on November 1–3, 2016, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA.
Sep. 29, 2016 08:00 AM EDT Reads: 2,652
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Tweet us your pre-CES questions… NOW!
As we prepare to join the growing iPad, iPhone, iPod, and Mac accessory and app industry at the 2012 International CES next week, iLounge’s Editor-in-Chief Jeremy Horwitz (follow @horwitz on Twitter) will be taking pre-CES questions on Twitter this morning from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM ET. Topics will include anything that interests readers, including further discussion of yesterday’s next-generation iPad tweets, big things we’re expecting to see at CES, and more.
iLounge began its partnership with the Consumer Electronics Association three years ago with the creation of the iLounge Pavilion, a unified area for all iPod, iPhone, iPad and Mac related products. This year’s Pavilion is bigger than ever, and home to approximately 350 vendors—based on what we’ve heard thus far, we’ll be seeing and showing you some very cool things. Additionally, iLounge expanded its partnership with CEA to become the premier place for Apple-related coverage at CES, the official iPartner of the 2012 International CES.
Tweet your questions to @horwitz and be sure to keep an eye on our @iLounge Twitter feed throughout the coming week. We’ll be posting tons of news on all of the latest and greatest products directly from the 2012 International CES.
- iLounge Weekly coming Monday, sign up now
- Happy Easter weekend from iLounge!
- Follow our live coverage of today’s Apple event
- Happy Presidents’ Day from iLounge
- CES: CableJive, Macally + Puregear
- CES: Just Mobile, Parrot, Tylt + Zagg
- Apple to sell limited-edition Olympic Apple Watch bands exclusively in Brazil
- Report: iPhone 7 will include Lightning adapter instead of Lightning EarPods
- Edward Snowden designing device to prevent iPhone wiretapping
- Report: Apple Car team running into challenges, launch may slip to 2021
- Corning announces Gorilla Glass 5
- Apple under fire for providing refurbished replacements under AppleCare+
- Report: Apple acquires cloud music provider Omnifone? [Update: No]
- Apple releases second iOS 10 public beta
- India clears the way for Apple to open retail stores
- Apple Pay launches in Hong Kong
- Netatmo Tags for Welcome Smart Home Camera
- iDevices Socket HomeKit-enabled Light Adapter
- Koogeek Wi-Fi SmartPlug for Apple HomeKit
- Marbotic Smart Letters for iPad
- Ecoxgear Sol Jam Bluetooth Speaker
- Gumdrop Cases DropTech Case + Hand Strap for 9.7” iPad Pro
- Braven BRV-1M Bluetooth Speaker
- Braven BRV-Blade Bluetooth Speaker
- Invoxia Voice Bridge
- Incase Keyboard Case for iPad Air 2
- Inside the betas: iOS 10 Photos gets Advanced Computer Vision
- Inside the betas: iOS 10 Music app delivers ‘clarity and simplicity’
- Inside the betas: iOS 10 Maps gets a major redesign
- Inside the betas: iOS 10 shakes up the user experience
- Inside the betas: watchOS 3 promises a real speed boost
- Inside the betas: A sneak peek at what’s new in tvOS 10
- Filling the Gap: A look at third-party HomeKit apps
- Instant Expert: Secrets & Features of tvOS 9.2
- Instant Expert: Secrets & Features of iOS 9.3
- Opinion: Why Apple needs a dedicated HomeKit app


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Struggling Debenhams secures £40m lifeline
Embattled Debenhams has secured backing of £40m giving it more time to arrange a longer-term refinancing and store closure plan.
The struggling chain, which has branches in Manchester, Liverpool and Stockport, has been trying to reach a deal with its banks.
Debenhams chief executive Sergio Bucher described the new 12-month credit facility as a “first step in our refinancing process”.
He added: “The support of our lenders for our turnaround plan is important to underpin a comprehensive solution that will take account of the interests of all stakeholders, and deliver a sustainable and profitable future for Debenhams.”
The rescue process is expected to involve the closure of struggling stores and lenders taking a stake in the company.
Debenhams has 165 stores and employs about 25,000 staff.
The retailer reported a record pre-tax loss of £491.5m last year and said sales fell sharply over Christmas.
Last year, rival chain House of Fraser went into administration before Mike Ashley, the Sports Direct founder, bought the department store for £90m.
Since then a deal has been struck to save the House of Fraser store on Deansgate in Manchester.
Debenhams also announced a new sourcing partnership with Li & Fung, a Hong Kong-based supply chain manager.
The retailer has been talking to property advisory firms about organising the closure of as many as 50 stores under a company voluntary arrangement (CVA).
Other struggling high street chains including New Look, Mothercare and Carpetright have been forced to close stores in the face of high rates and changes in consumer spending.
The shift to online spending has badly damaged many of the established high street brands including House of Fraser.


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Nintendo hosting “Super Sale” on the Australian Switch eShop this week
Update: Nintendo Australia has confirmed the sale, starting Thursday and has mentioned the same games as Europe. Prepare the wallet!
The #NintendoSwitch #eShop Super Sale kicks off this Thursday, 09/06, including first time discounts on #NewPokémonSnap, Shin Megami Tensei V and #LEGOStarWars: The Skywalker Saga. pic.twitter.com/imnIOgDNXo— Nintendo AU NZ (@NintendoAUNZ) June 8, 2022
Aha, here we are again! Another new Nintendo Switch eShop sale announced for later this week. It’s always tricky to report on these sales, because we never know exactly what’s going to happen.
So, normally I would say something like – hey we in Australia might not get this sale at all and that would be a bummer. But last time we got the sale, just missing any of the first party Nintendo titles. Which was a first.
So this week, eShops sale, may or may not happen in Australia, may or may not have Nintendo titles or we could have different titles all together.
I shouldn’t point out that New Pokémon Snap, Shin Megami Tensei V and Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker could be on sale. But they might.
The #NintendoSwitch #eShop Super Sale kicks off this Thursday, 09/06, including first time discounts on #NewPokémonSnap, Shin Megami Tensei V and #LEGOStarWars: The Skywalker Saga. pic.twitter.com/P9vHOPRmiE— Nintendo of Europe (@NintendoEurope) June 7, 2022


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LIVE FROM LTE ASIA 2014: SingTel plans to consolidate its network infrastructure by shutting down its 2G network in two to three years and then reuse the spectrum.
Kuan Moon Yuen, SingTel’s CEO for its consumer unit in Singapore, said the benefit of 4G to operators is being able to “move everyone up the curve, then we can shut down our 2G network and reuse that spectrum.”
A major benefit of 4G to operators is of course a more efficient network (almost two times as efficient as 3G). But he said the real reason is to consolidate the network to “make it leaner, so you don’t have to operate multiple networks”.
Giving a keynote at LTE Asia today, Yuen said SingTel launched VoLTE across Singapore last year. Customers are recognising the higher quality, but he said that they are not willing to pay more for high-quality voice, as operators around the world have found.
He explained that VoLTE is important to operators because it’s not efficient to run two networks to support 4G since they have to fall back to 3G for voice. “Let’s move everybody over to 4G and VoLTE. But we need devices makers to come to the party. The ecosystem has to be there.”
One big plus for VoLTE is that call set-up times are cut to less than two seconds from about 10 seconds with 3G.
Yuen said LTE is about speed. “Once you give them the taste of speed, they want more — everywhere. We have to continuously enhance our coverage in elevators, car parks, etc.”
Adoption of LTE has been four times faster than 3G, he said. It took 3G 32 months to overtake 2G; it took only 17 months for 4G to surpass 3G. This was due to a number of factors, such as more LTE-ready phones at the time of launch and a compressed technology cycle, which has quickly brought down the cost of phones and allowed 4G to go mainstream in just two years.
He said 90 per cent of the phones sold are now 4G. 4G users consume twice as much data as 3G users. “We’re also seeing adoption in the prepaid segment – tourists want 4G.”
The operator’s 4G customers make up 35 per cent of its users base but account for 40 per cent of data traffic.
He said many customers now don’t want to offload to Wi-Fi – even at home because they’ll have to downgrade to 15-18Mb/s.


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A restaurant which counts Prince Harry, Katie Price and Robbie Williams among its diners has been nominated in the town’s Restaurant of the Year competition.
London Street Brasserie has been serving the rich and famous and the ordinary folk of Reading since April 2000 and has become known as one of the places in town to visit for a treat.
One of its customers is The Oracle general manager Steve Belam, who has nominated it in the Reading Retail Awards.
He said: “I always use London Street Brasserie for special lunches and dinners. The service and food is excellent.
“Fish is always very fresh and they do often have exceptional oysters in season.
“This is no doubt a London standard restaurant. Just brilliant, gorgeous and outstanding.”
James Alcock has been general manager of the restaurant since it was opened by celebrity chef Paul Clerehugh, who also owns the Crooked Billet in Stoke Row.
He said: “We keep growing year after year. It’s great, the recession hasn’t really affected our clientele, but I think the choice of so many restaurants in Reading has brought more footfall.
“Reading has such great links to London and it’s a thriving town.”
He added: “The people we get in come for special occasions and want to be spoilt.
“I think for the past few years, in the hard times, we have kept hold of our loyal guests.
The London Street Brasserie building dates back to the early 1700s and operated as a toll house for traffic entering the town over Duke Street Bridge.
It was later a pub, chemists, hairdressers, tobacconists and newsagents before Mr Clerehugh took it on in 1998 and carried out some much-needed repairs.
Local celebrities Sir John Madejski, Kate Winslet and Antony Worrall Thompson have also visited the restaurant, which has picked up many awards, including a Pride of Reading award for best restaurant in 2007.
Readers of Observer Food Monthly also voted London Street Brasserie Britain’s Best Cheap Eats for its set menu.
Customers can enjoy a two-course menu daily between noon and 7pm for £16 with the option of dessert for an extra £5.
Mr Alcock said: “It’s the best ingredients and ideal for people going to the theatre or the cinema.”
Time is running out for entering your favourite restaurant in the Reading Retail Awards 2014. Visit www.readingretailawards.co.uk and make your nomination before Monday, July 7.