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When Ford asked owners of its trucks and utility vans which work-related problems drove them nuts, forgetting to bring crucial tools to a job was high on the list. On Wednesday at the Chicago Auto Show, Ford demonstrated radio frequency identification technology that should allow its 2009 F-150 trucks and E Series vans to instantly advise owners if they have every tool on their checklist with them when they set out or, for that matter, before heading home.
Ford won’t say how much it plans to charge for the RFID package, which includes 50 radio tags truck owners can glue or tie onto their tools, as well as the embedded antennae and cabin-mounted reader necessary to monitor what’s been packed in the truck. As a prerequisite, the truck owner also has to purchase a newly designed dashboard computer screen and printer system that can connect wirelessly to the Internet, which stores the tool checklist and displays the RFID data.
The package represents a new twist on RFID, which has been used among other things for identifying and tracking livestock, Viagra on its way from Pfizer to drug stores, and a growing range of products meandering through the warehouses and back rooms of major retailers like WalMart. For the most part, though, manufacturers have avoided permanently affixing radio tags to consumer goods. Their goal has been to avoid clashes with privacy advocates who claim the tags might make consumers vulnerable to clandestine spying on their buying habits and behavior.
Ford, though, is betting consumers will not only accept this RFID application but pay for it. The data on the tags cannot be read more than a foot or two outside the truck bed and would be meaningless to anyone without access to files in the on-board computer


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Walmart To Use Warehouses Filled With Robots To Battle Amazon
Walmart says they're going to be building mini-warehouses around the nation, that will be filled with robots, as they wage an ongoing battle with Amazon in the race for online sales.
According to the Boston Herald, it was more than a year ago that Walmart opened a test warehouse in Salem, New Hampshire. Clearly, it went well. Even though Walmart won't comment on exactly how many of these robot-filled warehouses they'll be building, they do say they'll build dozens of them. According to WRAL TechWire, each will be 20,000 to 30,000 square feet. The Boston Herald says one is already under construction in the city where Walmart was born, Bentonville, Arkansas. There are also at least two already being built in Texas, in Plano and Lewisville, and one in American Fork, Utah.
So what's the goal? Walmart is hoping that robots will be able to accelerate the speed of customer pickups, at the curb. How? By pulling items and taking them to human workers who will then get them ready for the customer. Fresh vegetables, meats, and such will still be hand-picked by humans, who will also have to carry anything too large for robots.
The robots won't be working alongside customers, though. Instead, they'll be busy in the warehouses that will be built next to existing stores, or in special areas of the stores themselves. Some locations will have windows allowing customers to watch the robots in action.
Amazon already uses robots successfully, and Walmart is hoping to beat them at their own game.

domain: news


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At the end of June this year, global publishing giant Hachette announced the acquisition of UK-based gaming studio Neon Play. According to Hachette’s CEO Tim Hely Hutchinson, the move formed part of a plan for the company to “diversify into the games market”, in addition to offering opportunities for their authors to be published across different formats and platforms.
This acquisition is particularly interesting on a number of different levels. It comes at a time when trade publishers have been forced to reassess their digital strategies having witnessed a dip in ebook sales. It also follows several years of naval gazing and debate on whether there is actually any value in pursuing app development at all. The acquisition is a bold move, and one which demonstrates a hunger and dedication to make digital innovation in publishing work, in spite of the naysayers.
The state of play
Apps offer publishers and authors a unique way of telling their stories and engaging with their audiences. They offer creative and interactive ways of bringing a story to life and creating content to reach consumers who are spending increasing amounts of time on tablet and mobile devices.
But while most trade publishers still produce apps, in some shape or form, and with varying degrees of frequency, the success rate is remarkably low. Typically $10-20k is side-lined to produce an app to complement a book/ebook launch, but very few will achieve a return on this investment, and most will make a spectacular loss. More often than not, this is the biggest gripe for publishers, who struggle to reap any commercial benefit whatsoever in such a costly, yet low margin, business.
Aside from the cost of design, development and delivery, marketing apps and achieving cut through in this crowded marketplace has perhaps been the steepest learning curve and challenge for publishers. Many have found that the rules which apply to promoting books simply don’t work in the app world and that a whole new level of understanding, knowledge and skills is required. Publishers subsequently find that they’ve thrown money and resources at apps and had very little to show for it.
So, why continue to invest in something that apparently doesn’t make commercial sense, and is more likely to fail than succeed? For some, it’s a case of ticking boxes, keeping up with the Joneses and doing what competitors are doing. For others, there is true belief and conviction that publishers should be experimenting with digital interactivity in this way, exploring different ways to make their content go further, reach new audiences and give readers something extra.
Some books translate well into apps, and others don’t, as many publishers have discovered through trial and error. They’ve had mixed fortunes when converting their most in-demand adult fiction titles to apps, discovering that a great deal of creative thinking, imagination and interactive features are required in order to captivate audiences. But over the years we’ve learnt that the most successful apps are often those which are tied to a popular celebrity or brand, which is why celebrity chef cookery apps or apps for such popular book/film franchises like “The Hunger Games” or “Divergent” series do so well. Storytelling apps and games which are tied to well-known children’s characters from books, like Peppa Pig, or the release of the Dr. Seuss apps through Oceanhouse Media in 2011, have also been particularly big hits. The common theme here is that the most downloaded apps are those which are developed alongside highly interactive and visual print books, and relate to a popular entertainment brand.
The great entertainers
One would imagine that the Hachette-Neon Play deal will give the publisher a competitive edge in a number of areas, allowing it to become more experimental and playful with some of its content while bringing new skills to the workforce. But aside from these obvious benefits, the acquisition sends a clear signal that Hachette now considers itself more than just a publisher, but an entertainment provider.
Publishers are now expected to compete, not just with each other, but with all the entertainment streams vying for consumers’ attention – TV, film, music and games – and that attention is increasingly being directed towards mobile and tablet devices. At Digital Book World’s Launch Kids Program in March, David Kleeman, Senior Vice President for Global Trends at the research consultancy Dubit, cited an average 2 to 15 hours of tablet usage per week. Kleeman said, “Kids are immersed in a content tsunami right now, drinking from a firehose.” Being in-tune with consumer demand and expectation, providing innovative, interactive content in the format consumers want, readily available for the devices they’re using, has never been more important.
While apps might not represent a significant revenue channel, they can, if produced and marketed successfully, offer something which enhances the overall reading experience for consumers, and give publishers a seat at the table of the feeding frenzy which is the world of entertainment.
By David Montgomery


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In Europe, China and America, the major determinants of economic and market performance in the year ahead are political, not economic.
In theory, banks are supposed to be overflowing with tellers, ATMs and loan officers. In reality, they are increasingly focused on servicing legal claims.
The developed world took on too much debt during the good times and is now trying to shrink its balance sheet. If you look at the data, however, very little of this deleveraging has actually taken place.
Cutting spending down to size will be hard for a President Romney; boosting it any further will be hard for a re-elected President Obama.
The state’s grip on the economy has been tightening. Could foreign pressure persuade the new leadership to reverse course?
The economic legacy left by the baby-boomers is leading to a battle between the generations.
A new form of radical centrist politics is needed to tackle inequality without hurting economic growth.
What do soaring Chinese wages mean for global manufacturing?
James Tisch, President and CEO, Loews Corporation, says "the debt level of the United States government is a major problem," and also explains why he is red hot on natural gas.
Discussing whether Amazon or Apple is the better buy, with the FMHR crew. Meanwhile Toni Sacconaghi, Sanford Bernstein senior analyst, assesses whether Apple will miss earnings. Also, CNBC's Steve Liesman has the latest details on whether Spain will request rescue funds.
CNBC's Steve Liesman talks with Philipp Hildebrand, BlackRock vice chairman, about the long-term outlook on the U.S. economy at the Buttonwood Gathering in New York.
CNBC's Rick Santelli breaks down the latest numbers on consumer spending and jobless claims, and discussing what it indicates about the economy, with CNBC's Steve Liesman.
The Fed left rates unchanged and says the economy is limping along, with Michael Pento, Pento Portfolio Strategies; Greg Ip, The Economist; and Brian Edmonds, Cantor Fitzgerald.
National debt topped $16 trillion last month. Maya MacGuineas, President, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, offers insight.


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LONDON — British American Tobacco said on Friday that it had made a nonbinding offer to buy the remaining 57.8 percent of Reynolds American that it does not already own in a cash-and-share deal worth $47 billion.
The deal would create the world’s largest publicly traded tobacco business based on net sales and combine companies, with brands that include Camel, Lucky Strike, Newport and Pall Mall. Besides a strong share of the market in the United States, the new company would have a significant presence in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America, British American Tobacco said.
The proposed takeover comes just over two years after Reynolds American agreed to acquire a smaller tobacco rival, Lorillard, for $27.4 billion and more than a decade after British American Tobacco merged its Brown & Williamson operations in the United States with R. J. Reynolds to form Reynolds American. The Lorillard deal was completed last year.
British American Tobacco, which already owns 42.2 percent of Reynolds American, said in a letter to the Reynolds American board that it had offered $56.50 a share in cash and shares, representing a 20 percent premium over Reynolds American’s closing price on Thursday.
Reynolds American shares closed at $47.17 on Thursday.
“We have been a shareholder in Reynolds since its creation in 2004 and have benefited from its growth in the U.S. market,” Nicandro Durante, the British American Tobacco chief executive, said in a news release. “The proposed merger of our two great companies is the logical progression in our relationship and offers all shareholders a stake in a stronger, truly global tobacco and next-generation products company.”
Next-generation products include e-cigarettes and vaping products that are an alternative to traditional cigarettes.
“Reynolds American has received a nonbinding proposal from British American Tobacco to acquire all remaining outstanding shares of R.A.I. stock,” a Reynolds American spokesman, David Howard, said. “R.A.I.’s board is reviewing the proposal and will respond in due course.”
Under the terms of the deal, for each share of Reynolds, investors would receive $24.13 in cash and 0.5502 shares of British American Tobacco.
The deal would equate to $20 billion in cash and about $47 billion in British American Tobacco shares. It would value Reynolds American at $81 billion based on market capitalization.
Shares of British American Tobacco rose more than three percent in early trading in London on Friday.
The transaction would be the latest shake-up in the global tobacco industry, which saw its biggest upheaval in years with the Reynolds American-Lorillard deal in 2014.
That deal required nearly a year of navigating regulatory hurdles, with the combined company selling several brands to win approval.
Reynolds American, based in Winston-Salem, N.C., is the parent company of R. J. Reynolds, the second-largest tobacco company in the United States, behind Altria Group. Reynolds’s brands include Camel and Newport, as well as the smokeless tobacco brands Grizzly and Kodiak. It also holds the rights to the cigarette brands Kent, Lucky Strike and Pall Mall in the United States.
It was formed in 2004, when R. J. Reynolds was combined with Brown & Williamson’s operations in the United States, but traces its roots to the founding of Lorillard in New York City in 1760 and R. J. Reynolds in North Carolina in 1875.
Reynolds American reported sales of $10.7 billion in 2015 and employs 5,600 people.
British American Tobacco said that it was required to publicly disclose the proposal promptly under United States securities laws, and that it had not yet negotiated with Reynolds as a result.
The transaction is subject to an endorsement by the independent directors of Reynolds and to approval by shareholders of both companies.
British American Tobacco said that it expected cost savings of about $400 million from the transaction, but that the exact figure would need to be verified by further discussions with Reynolds.
The Reynolds American transaction would probably not face the same kind of regulatory scrutiny as the Lorillard deal, as there is little overlap between the two companies.
Reynolds American primarily operates in the United States, while British American Tobacco’s focus is outside the country.
“We always expected this deal to happen eventually, but we are surprised by the timing,” Adam Spielman, a Citigroup analyst, said in a research note on Friday. “It is true that B.A.T. is doing this deal while borrowing rates are low, but it could have bought R.A.I. before R.A.I. bought Lorillard, when the share price was 57 percent lower.”
British American Tobacco, which is based in London, was founded in 1902 as a joint venture between the Imperial Tobacco Company and the American Tobacco Company.
It sells cigarettes and other tobacco products in a portfolio that includes more than 200 brands, including Dunhill and Rothmans, as well the Kent, Lucky Strike, and Pall Mall brands outside the United States. It reported revenue of 13.1 billion pounds in 2015, or about $16.1 billion at current exchange rates, and it employs more than 50,000 people.
On Friday, the company said that its revenue for the first nine months of the year increased by 10.2 percent based on current exchange rates.
Centerview Partners, Deutsche Bank and UBS, and the law firms Cravath, Swaine & Moore and Herbert Smith Freehills are advising British American Tobacco on the proposed transaction.


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Nvidia has taken the wraps off its next generation notebook-oriented graphics chip line, dubbed the GeForce 9M series. Besides promising 40 percent faster performance than its predecessor, the 9M series brings Hybrid SLI to notebooks, which allows a discrete GPU and an integrated GPU to work together, save power and deliver maximum performance when needed.
All of the new GPUs incorporate PureVideo HD and support DVI, HDMI 1.3, DisplayPort 1.1, and Blu-ray Profile 2.0. But unlike some of ATI’s latest graphics offerings, the new 9M series will not support DirectX 10.1. The new GPUs fall into three main categories, including the value sector which will be represented by the GeForce 9100M G, the mainstream sector featuring the GeForce 9400M, 9300M GS, and 9200M GS, and finally the performance sector which bolsters the top of the line 9600M GT.
The company didn't say when the GeForce 9M family members will ship exactly, but it suggested that machines incorporating them will launch “this summer” with PhysX support to come in Q3 via beta drivers.


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Safety sells, but it also costs.
That puts automakers in a delicate position of putting advanced safety technology on more vehicles (in part because of customer demand) while also keeping an eye on affordability.
In the past, only premium vehicles came with cutting-edge safety and driver-assist systems. Now, they are working their way into mainstream models.
“We’re trying to bring it to the masses,” Scott Shirley, Nissan North America’s vice president-marketing management, tells Wards at the Chicago Auto Show where the automaker introduces the ’19 Pathfinder Rock Creek Edition SUV and the ’20 Rogue Sport CUV.
He touts two Nissan systems, Safety Shield 360 and ProPILOT Assist.
Safety Shield 360, a combination of six advanced active-safety and driver-assist technologies, will be standard equipment on Nissan’s top-selling models by 2021, representing more than 1 million vehicles annually.
Safety Shield 360 includes front, side and rear sensing technologies. It will first be standard equipment on SV and SL grades of the new Rogue and Rogue Sport CUVs. It also is on the all-new Altima sedan.
Shirley also cites the widening availability and apparent popularity of Nissan’s ProPILOT Assist. Using a front radar sensor and a front-facing camera on the rearview mirror, it keeps the vehicle centered and maintains a pre-set gap with traffic in front.
The system combines Nissan’s adaptive cruise control and steering assist technologies.
“It doesn’t come without some investment, but it is a high-value proposition,” Shirley says of the safety technology.
Are dealership customers asking for it?
“ProPILOT assist definitely is bringing people in,” he says. “It’s the first such experience for a lot of people. They hear about autonomous driving, but then say it absolutely will happen when they experience ProPILOT assist.”
It’s one thing for the government to mandate a safety feature; it’s another thing for a customer to ask for it.
Yet, as vehicle costs rise (the average transaction price is about $35,000), the National Automobile Dealers Assn. cites affordability as a major issue. The trade group worries higher vehicle costs will push some people out of the market. Advanced safety systems, government-mandated or otherwise, play a role in those rising prices.
“The biggest thing for all carmakers is, these technologies are very advanced,” Shirley says. “They are hard to introduce. We’ll bring the costs down quickly. But this is advanced stuff. In my mind, it is as big an auto industry revolution as the introduction of airbags.”
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says cross-traffic-alert systems reduce crashes 22%; the combination of rearview cameras and sensors reduces accidents 42%; and adding rear emergency braking reduces backing crashes 78% compared with vehicles without those features.


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A Vintage Classic Annual Car Show, arranged by the Vintage and Classic Car Club of Pakistan(VCCCP) witnessed over 50 timeless pieces of vintage automobiles yesterday. Held at the Serena Hotel, Islamabad, the cars belonged to vintage car owners and fans.
There were over 50 cars, old and new displayed in the exhibition, most of which were at least 60 years old. The unique cars in the car show were a classic blend of heritage and vintage; the annual car show was attended by several visitors.
A wide majority of the visitors were young girls and boys, who were true vintage car fanatics along with the owners of the displayed vintage cars. Let’s view the images from the Classic Annual Car Show below;
Image courtesy: Dawn News
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more updates!


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Apple Supplier Japan Display Denies the Current Rumor of a huge Bailout but Keeps the Door Open to a Future Deal
In Q4 2019 Patently Apple posted two reports (01 & 02) covering news about Japan Display Inc.'s struggle to survive and their ongoing battle to find bailout funds to keep their operations viable. One of our earliest reports on this dates back to mid 2016. A new report on this never-ending saga claims that Japan Display has secured $920 million bailout, but Japan Display denies the rumor to a large extent.
Today Reuters echoed the Nikkei news in a report titled "Apple supplier Japan Display gets $920 million bailout from Ichigo." Yet Japan Display has issued a formal statement yesterday as presented below that clarifies the rumor.
In a press release issued yesterday stated that "The Nikkei News Paper reported that Japan Display Inc. ("JDI") is finalizing the deal regarding funding of approximately JPY 100 billion (US$920 million) from Ichigo Asset Management and also that Ichigo Asset Management will undertake JDI's preferred shares of approximately JPY 50 billion ($US460 million).
The contents in the report is not based on any information released by JDI. However, as announced on January 8, 2020, JDI has been discussing with Ichigo Trust regarding the funding and working to finalize the contract within January and complete funding in February or March of 2020. Details and conditions of the funding is still being discussed and the information will be announced once finalized."
Reuters report added that "Apple has agreed to shorten payment periods, relax debt repayment terms and put up $200 million. Japan Display generated 61% of its revenue from Apple in the last financial year.
Apple is also leading talks on the potential sale of Japan Display’s idled smartphone screen factory to Sharp Corp, another iPhone display supplier, sources familiar with the matter said."
Considering that Japan Display isn't supporting the current rumor, there's no use promoting it. Though if you're curious, check it out in today's Reuters report.


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BEIJING, March 5 (Reuters) - Taobao, China’s largest online retail marketplace, has no immediate plans for an initial public offering, a source with knowledge of the situation said on Friday, citing comments from a top executive at Taobao’s parent.
Jack Ma, chairman of Taobao’s parent Alibaba Group, made the remarks at a company event on Thursday evening, following recent market talk that the company may be seeking an IPO for Taobao, said the source with direct knowledge of the event, speaking on condition of anonymity because the event was private.
Ma said that Taobao’s focus for now would be on building up the company over the next two to three years, the source said.
Some have recently speculated that Taobao might seek an IPO following its rapid growth to cash in on its solid market position in the world’s largest Internet market.
The company is owned by Alibaba Group, which itself is 40 percent owned by U.S. search giant Yahoo YHOO.O. Alibaba Group is also parent of Hong Kong-listed Alibaba.com 1688.HK, operator of China’s largest business-to-business marketplace.
In January, Alibaba Group said it expects transactions on Taobao to double to 400 billion yuan ($59 billion) this year from last year, as China’s e-commerce market was set to grow significantly in the next five to eight years. [ID:nTOE60I06I] (Reporting by Doug Young; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)


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According to the stat trackers at VG Chartz, sales of Call of Duty 4 went back over 100,000 in North America last week. Call of Duty 4 sold a smooth 112,095 copies last week which positively had to do with the release of the GOTY edition which includes a code for the “Variety Map Pack”.
The Top 5 selling 360 titles(north america) for last week are..
- Call of Duty 4- 112, 095
- Rainbow Six Vegas 2- 79,111
- Army of Two-36,612
- Dark Sector-36,426
- Rock Band-29,762
American Chart for Week Ending 05th April 2008 [VG Chartz]
-Michael “Thrills Killa” Pacheco-
Filed under: Gaming News |


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Huawei Technologies is seeking to double its retail presence around the world, amid a growing a pushing to sell more mid-range and high-end smartphones.
Telecommunications equipment maker Huawei Technologies plans to launch a public cloud service in China in July, amid growing competition from local and foreign players.
Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba Group, made his first visit to the Cebit trade show 14 years ago, pitching Chinese products to Westerners from a small booth that attracted few visitors.
Google will try to boost the enthusiasm, commitment and sales of its enterprise partners with a revamped, consolidated program that offers more incentives and rewards.
After trying to charge upward of US$2,000 for an iPhone 6, grey market dealers in China are slashing prices as Apple prepares to begin sales of the product in the country.
Would you pay US$4,000 for an iPhone 6?
Some iPhones never die: they go to a four-story electronics mall in Shenzen, where stacks of them are sold every day.
Microsoft has been screaming "Cloud" in many partners' deaf ears for several years, but the company found a more receptive audience at its Worldwide Partner Conference.
Microsoft channel partners need to urgently redefine and evolve their businesses so that they can resell the company's cloud computing products, according to Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Turner.
Microsoft shifts its attention cross-country this week, from its Washington state headquarters, overcast with uncertainty, to Washington, DC, where company leaders will try to make sunny optimism shine at its annual partner conference.
China is threatening to block companies from selling IT products in the nation if they fail to pass a new "cybersecurity vetting system" meant to weed out secret spying and surveillance activities.
Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi plans to enter ten foreign markets later this year, including Brazil, Mexico and Russia, in a bid to expand globally with its low-cost but cutting-edge phones.
This week on World Tech Update, Google confirmed its acquisition of drone maker Titan Aerospace, a move poised to advance delivery of the company's data services and mapping applications.
HTC is hoping to expand its presence in China by partnering with one of the nation's largest retailers to sell its phones, and even help with product development, the Taiwanese handset maker said on Wednesday.
Amazon.com is getting the U.S. Postal Service to deliver packages on Sundays to its customers, adding an additional facility to help it compete in the Internet retail market.
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The streaming video wars are heating up between some big players.
Hollywood studios are betting big on the potential for the Chinese box office.
Media companies are struggling with declining ad revenue.
With Walt Disney stock plunging, CEO Bob Iger said Wednesday the company’s warning about its cable business was about being honest with investors. “Our business has performed extremely well, and we have a very, very strong outlook going forward, but we felt that given the importance of ESPN to the company and cable networks in general, …
Digital video is a big business and now the race is on to own the next frontier in this budding industry.


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Iraq’s mobile phone subscribers cross 27m
Dubai, October 10, 2013
Mobile phone subscriber numbers jumped from 20,000 in 2002 to 27 million in 2012 in Iraq, said a recent survey.
Iraq’s information and communication technology market looks to be driving the entire technological infrastructure development, according to the ‘Iraqi As Cosumer 2012’ (IRAC) study carried out by market research organisation TNS Mena and IIACSS, a public opinion and marketing research company.
About 95 per cent of Iraqi households own a colour television, 93 per cent have an electric or gas cooker and 90 per cent have a refrigerator, said the study.
The survey further revealed that a typical upper class household usually has AC in each room, fridge, microwave, dishwasher, washing machine, several plasma or LED TVs and an electric generator, while a typical middle class household features a plasma or LED TV, AC (no split system) and a smaller electric generator.
Steve Hamilton-Clark, CEO of TNS Mena, said: “This provides a huge opportunity for brands across all categories to increase penetration, introduce new products and services, and build loyalty.”
Hamilton-Clark observed that more clients of TNS would like to enter the Iraqi market which until now was hard to penetrate due to the lack of information about it.
“As information becomes accessible, marketers too must acknowledge this fast growing customer segment that needs specific understanding and marketing strategies,” he said.
The IRAC study embraces an understanding of socio-cultural, economic factors, emerging trends and their impact on consumer behaviour, attitudes and lifestyle.
“Now brands must work to find the best way to connect with their relevant consumer, using different media touch points and generating new channels for communications to ensure that the desires, wants and needs of the Iraqi consumer are accurately met,” Hamilton-Clark added. - TradeArabia News Service
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Walmart Inc., one of the largest companies in the world by market revenue, has had its hopes for further control over the Indian online retail market dealt a massive blow following the resignation of Binny Bansal, the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Flipkart Group.
According to a joint statement by Flipkart and Walmart, Bansal was forced to resign on Tuesday after an independent investigation was carried out on behalf of both companies into concerns regarding:
“serious personal misconduct.”
The statement went on to say that while there was no evidence found to corroborate the allegations that had been leveled against Bansal, it showed other lapses in judgment, especially related to how he handled the entire station.
The news comes as a major blow to Walmart, who will be losing a key management staff of the recently acquired e-commerce giant. Walmart purchased a 77% stake in Flipkart back in May for $16 billion with the aim of owning a large stake in the Indian e-commerce market, which has seen steady growth in the past few years.
The deal seemed to be lucrative for Walmart especially, as Flipkart had been able to account for about 40% of the online retail market in India when the deal was signed.
However, six months on from the deal, there is trouble in paradise. In October, Walmart announced to its shareholders that the deal to acquire Flipkart was going to constitute a $740 million deduction from their quarterly profit. The sudden departure of Bansal is another problem Walmart didn’t expect when it acquired the Indian e-commerce giant.
Nevertheless, Walmart’s commitment to Flipkart’s growth seems to be unwavering. The statement confirmed that in the wake of Bansal’s resignation, that Kalyan Krishnamurthy would continue to serve as the CEO of Flipkart. It also affirms that the leadership of Flipkart is looking to evolve into a public-traded company in the future.
Back in the US, Walmart continues to innovate and lead the industry with new processes and systems that promote productivity in its stores. The retail giant recently introduced a new scheduling system, which they say will provide a greater degree of flexibility and consistency to their associates. The scheduling system is set to launch in all Walmart stores at the end of November.
Featured image from Zee News India.
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Jawa Motorcycles have announced the restart of dealer operations across India. The company took to social media to announce that all their dealerships in the designated green zones will reopen for business, as part of the lockdown relaxations announced by the government.
The company dealerships which are set to restart operations will be ensuring their staff members have been trained to follow all the safety, hygiene and social distancing protocols. They will also ensure all guidelines set by the government as part of the restart of operations are strictly adhered to as well.
Jawa Motorcycles India took to social media platforms to announce the restart of operations. They stated:
"As we open doors to the new world, being mindful of the situation, safety & hygiene is our priority. Our Dealerships have been trained & equipped to follow social distancing, hygiene & sanitation protocols to ensure a safe environment. Look forward to seeing you soon."
Jawa also stated that the company will soon release an updated delivery schedule. They also announced a seven-step safety protocol which every dealership has to follow. These steps will ensure the smooth operation process while ensuring the safety of employees and customers alike.
These include: sanitisation of test ride vehicles, display vehicles and the service outlets, thermal screening of both employees and customers, appointment-based visits with priority support, digital documentation, safety protocol training, digital support and doorstep test rides, along with home delivery of customer bikes.
Currently, Jawa Motorcycles has stopped the online delivery estimator tool. The company will announce a new delivery plan soon, once production resumes and inches towards normalcy. The supply chain and production process of Jawa Motorcycles, similar to many other vehicle manufacturers, has taken a massive hit due to the shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thoughts About Jawa Motorcycles Restarting Dealership Operations Across India
Jawa is the latest two-wheeler manufacturer after Hero MotoCorp and HMSI to announce the restart of operations of its dealerships across India. The partial restart of operations and businesses allowed by the government will help the Indian economy inch forward slowly towards a new normalcy, after having taken a massive hit.


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Microsoft, Nokia launch $24M AppCampus development program
Microsoft and Nokia will each invest up to $12 million in the AppCampus program, which kicks off in May 2012. AppCampus will offer training, design/usability insight and funding to help students and budding entrepreneurs build businesses designing mobile apps and services for Windows Phone as well as Nokia's legacy Symbian and Series 40 platforms. While AppCampus will offer assistance and coaching to help developers monetize their efforts via the Windows Phone Marketplace and Nokia Store, participants will retain full intellectual property rights for all apps.
Finland's Aalto University will lead and manage AppCampus, providing premises, coaching services and access to academic and business networks. Students can begin applying for grants in May. For more information, click here.
Although Nokia has pinned its turnaround hopes on Windows Phone, the operating system has struggled to gain market share from Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android and Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS. Research firm comScore reports that as of January 2012, Microsoft controls just 4.4 percent of the U.S. smartphone market, far behind Android at 48.6 percent and iOS at 29.5 percent.
Analysts contend that Windows Phone's commercial viability hinges on offering a wealth of mobile apps and services to rival iOS and Android, but many developers are still bypassing the platform--a problem AppCampus seeks to remedy. Just last week, Rovio Mobile said it has no plans to port its latest blockbuster Angry Birds Space to Windows Phone, citing cost concerns and technical support challenges. Rovio later reversed course, stating it is working towards bringing the game to Windows Phone devices after all.
- read this release
Rovio CEO says company is working on Angry Birds Space for WP
Nokia launches Creative Studio photo app for Windows Phone
Microsoft shutting down Windows Marketplace for Mobile on May 9
Nielsen: Android, iOS fuel 90% of U.S. smartphone sales in Q4
Distimo: Windows Phone app download volumes 39x smaller than iOS


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WA franchisees scoop top PoolWerx title
Sorrento franchisees Ian and Irene Hughes have topped the PoolWerx national awards, winning the Franchisee of the Year as well as taking home the Western Australia Franchisee of the Year, Perth North Franchisee of the Year and Business-to-Business Excellence awards.
PoolWerx CEO John OÕBrien said Ian and Irene were worthy recipients of the awards and ought to be proud of their efforts. “The National Franchisee of the Year Award is only given to franchisees who have excelled in every single element of their business including customer satisfaction, results-to-plan, sales growth, support of the franchisee system and the PoolWerx brand,” he said. “The competition was fierce but Ian and Irene stood out in all aspects and thoroughly deserve the win.”
The couple have been operating the business since 2003. Ian Hughes said “Winning the overall Franchisee of the Year on its own is such an honour not to mention the other awards.”


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Each petrol station is essentially the same – the nozzle fits all vehicles, the pump takes regular credit cards and the price is on a large sign. The Biden administration wants to make charging stations for electric vehicles much more like this.
The new proposed rule will require that the half a million electric vehicle chargers it plans to finance be interoperable, in the same way that a petrol pump works with any vehicle. Charging stations funded under the federal program will also be open to all – and prohibit membership requirements – and set a common standard for payment and other technologies. The charging stations were to be built along US highways.
The proposal, which came from the Department of Transportation and the Department of Energy on Thursday, comes as consumers at the pump continue to pay record-high gas prices. As CNN previously reported, the US average for the price of a gallon of ordinary gas reached $ 4.96 according to the latest reading from AAA on Wednesday. It marked the 12th day in a row, and the 29th time in the last 30 that gas has set a record in America.
Although President Joe Biden recently admitted that there was nothing he could do to bring gas prices down in the short term, his push for electric vehicles is part of his plan to meet the climate crisis. In August last year, the president announced a goal that half of the vehicles sold in the country by 2030 will be battery electric, fuel cell electric or plug-in hybrid.
The new initiative is part of the administration’s efforts to ensure electric charge availability for all Americans and to address the key concerns to prevent drivers from purchasing electric vehicles. The key among them is range anxiety, a driver’s fear that he or she may not have enough charge to reach the next plug-in station.
The Biden administration is also addressing other concerns by demanding standardized pricing and payment systems, and investing billions in other measures such as fast-charging battery technology.
If it is completed as designed, the rule will apply to chargers funded by the federal infrastructure law that was signed in November last year. That includes about $ 5 billion that will go to states to build charging networks, including funding for chargers along interstates and other major routes.
“To support the transition to electric vehicles, we need to build a national charging network that makes finding a charge as easy as refueling,” said Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg.


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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A West Palm Beach nonprofit is once again helping entrepreneurs reach their goals. Inside 1909, a collaborative working space in downtown West Palm Beach is where you’ll find entrepreneurs from around the county.
“It's not just the space, it’s the connections between the people,” Ryan Walden said.
Walden oversees the non-profit’s accelerator program.
“We create this system by which people are actually incentivized to help each other which creates even more efficiencies in the group,” he said.
The free mentorship program lasts 6 months and includes immersive activities and workshops to help entrepreneurs. Walden says they are looking for a diverse group of around 10-15 founders who want to make a positive impact.
“Really anybody who has a business that’s beyond the idea stage,” Walden said. “We are not looking for napkin ideas. We want somebody who is taking this seriously and put a lot of thought into it.”
Greg Barbosa is the founder of Help Carol.
“Help Carol teaches baby boomers technology,” he said.
Barbosa said last year’s accelerator program helped get his boomer business, booming.
“The accelerator program for me really allowed me to set time away to focus on myself and my business and bet on myself instead of just following the trends and what was happening,” Barbosa said.
The deadline to apply to the accelerator program is May 21. Click here to sign up.


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TAHLEQUAH (TNS) — Cash isn’t the king it once was. Nowadays, more people are using plastic to make their everyday purchases — but at what cost?
A couple of businesses around Tahlequah are now charging fees to customers who use credit or debit cards in their stores, which helps them avoid costs applied by credit card companies.
The practice is especially prevalent at beauty salons, nail salons and barber shops, but some contractors — like plumbers and electricians — also pass on the fees to customers. In some instances, it has revived the use of personal checks.
While some people may feel credit card fees are just the cost of doing business, other owners consider the opposite to be true.
Ann Granger, owner of Tahlequah Smoke Shop, said the fees can hinder her ability to make a profit.
Granger recently switched card companies, and now she charges credit customers an extra 2 percent of the total price.
“Before, we were paying the whole thing, and it was anywhere from $2,500 to $3,000 a month in just credit card fees,” she said. “If you take that off your bottom line, that’s a lot of money.”
Granger said the company she works with imposes a 4 percent charge on all her card transactions. So she decided to split the difference with the customer.
“I’m spending 2 percent,” she said. “Otherwise, we’d have to go up on all cigarettes, but we thought that’s not fair to the people who pay cash. So that was the route we took.”
Granger added that the fee applies to both credit and debit card transactions.
Around three months ago, Danny Reese, owner of the Hit-N-Run, said he switched credit card companies as well, after his machine broke down.
“It’s a 4 percent charge for anyone,” said Reese. “And it’s not me; it’s the banks that are doing it. They’re putting out the credit card machine, which we use. So when someone uses it, it’s going to kick 4 percent to them. Used to, I had to cover it.”
Reese said the convenience store has signs to inform customers of the fees and that the attendants try to let everyone know about the extra charge.
“I don’t necessarily like it, because if customers get $20 worth of gas, that would be 80 extra cents [for them],” he said.
Oklahoma, among a few other states, has statutes that prohibit seller-imposed surcharges on cardholders who elect to use credit cards as a form of payment.
However, an opinion issued by former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson states the prohibition law applies only to consumer credit sales.
“If it was a transaction in which — and I’m using this as a rough example — a consumer goes and purchases groceries at a grocery store and they use their credit card to pay for those items, those items that were purchased by that consumer wouldn’t necessarily be considered a consumer credit sale,” said Drew S’Renco, chief examiner of the Oklahoma Department of Consumer Credit.
S’Renco also said that if someone uses a debit card for a purchase, he doesn’t think that would necessarily “constitute a consumer-credit sale,” adding that it was only his opinion, and not that of the Attorney General’s Office.


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Reuters and upstart syndication service Politico have signed a distribution agreement that will see both share content across their networks.
Politico content, primarily US political stories will be available alongside Reuters content to Reuters clients.
The more interesting part of the deal sees Reuters content offered for free to Politico members in return for ad placement. Politico currently offers a market unique service that allows member newspapers and online outlets to republish a limited number of Politico articles in return for ad placement with shared revenue. The new deal with Reuters sees the number extend to 10 articles and/ or image per day from Politico and Reuters available for free in return for ad placement. Reuters and Politico will split their share of the ads with end users.
Despite its strong global presence, Reuters has always been an underdog in the US market vs AP, primarily due to the ownership of AP coming from the newspapers themselves. Reuters only has 14 distribution agreements in the US, and with Politico on board now extends that reach by 60.
(via NY Times)


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A lot of concerns have been raised regarding cryptocurrencies’ decentralized nature and their ability to be used almost completely anonymously. The authorities all over the world are worried about the cryptocurrencies’ appeal to the traders of illegal goods and services. Moreover, they are worried about their use in money laundering and tax evasion schemes.
Many people believe that cryptocurrencies are the hottest investment opportunity currently available. Indeed, there are many stories of people becoming millionaires through their Bitcoin investments. Bitcoin is the most recognizable digital currency to date, and just last year one BTC was valued at $800. In November 2017, the price of one Bitcoin exceeded $7,000.


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OnePlus is letting out information by degrees about its upcoming flagship, the OnePlus 5T just to create hype until it finally takes the wraps off its new smartphone. The Chinese OEM yesterday revealed that the new OnePlus 5T handset will be announced in New York and today it has released the official launch event date.
The next OnePlus flagship will be officially announced on November 16 in Brooklyn, New York City. The OnePlus 5T launch event holds the title “New View” that quite likely refers to the FullView display on the smartphone. The event will kick off at 11:00 AM EST (9:30 PM IST).
For those OnePlus fans who wish to attend the OnePlus 5T launch event, they can purchase event tickets on OnePlus launch page. The tickets priced at $40 will be available from November 8. Besides announcing the date for the upcoming launch event, OnePlus has also revealed the availability of the OnePlus device in certain global markets. The OnePlus 5T will be available for purchase in North America and Europe on November 21. The device will go on sale in China on December 1.
— OnePlus (@oneplus) November 6, 2017
Talking about the aspects, OnePlus CEO Pete Lau had earlier confirmed that the smartphone will retain the 3.5mm audio jack. Pete had further hinted about the pricing of the OnePlus 5T smartphone. When asked on Weibo if 4000RMB would be enough for the new OnePlus handset, he simply clinked in with “Enough”. This implies that the smartphone might not be that expensive than the current flagship OnePlus 5.
For what we have known so far (based on leaks & rumours of course), the OnePlus 5T might have a minimal bezel display. The phone is expected to feature a 6-inch full HD+ AMOLED screen, pack Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC. It is said to come in two storage variants- 6GB RAM/64GB storage and 8GB RAM/128GB native storage. This time around, the fingerprint sensor is said to be removed from the front panel and place it on the rear side. The front camera might get bumped up this time as compared to the one in the OnePlus 5.


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Home furnishings retailer Dunelm has postponed the opening of its new store in North Staffordshire as a result of the lockdown.
Work to build the company's latest branch on the Wolstanton Retail Park, in Newcastle-under-Lyme, started in May last year.
The new Dunelm store is being built between the existing M&S and Matalan stores at the retail park, and around 50 new jobs are expected to be created as a result of the opening.
Work on the 22,000 sq ft store is almost complete after construction staff continued to work on the building throughout the pandemic.
But its grand opening has now been pushed back due to the current lockdown restrictions, meaning the store will not open next month as expected.
A new date for the opening is yet to be confirmed.


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The year 2020 has been a difficult one for many businesses, with more than three dozen retailers filing for bankruptcy. This marks an 11-year high, and the oldest department store chain in the country, J. C. Penney, was one of them.
The company had been struggling for years before the pandemic, but the Covid crisis only exacerbated their problems. Penney employed around 90,000 full- and part-time workers in February, but has since closed more than 150 locations.The luxury department store Neiman Marcus also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early May. To reduce their debt and strengthen their finances, they created a new board of directors and Geoffroy van Raemdonck remains CEO. Neiman Marcus is hoping to take advantage of the strong upturn in the luxury market as high-income consumers spend more on themselves while travel and other social activities are suspended.Guitar Center, which began its business in Hollywood in the 1950s selling organs for the home, was also affected by the pandemic.
With shoppers turning to the Internet to buy instruments and sheet music, Guitar Center filed for Chapter 11 in late November.Tailored Brands, owner of Men's Wearhouse and Jos. Bank, filed for Chapter 11 in August. The company had been struggling with a years-long drop in sales before the pandemic, but the temporary store closures caused by Covid-19 harmed them even further. Tailored Brands announced plans to close up to 500 stores over time and reduced their corporate workforce by 20%.Ascena Retail Group, owner of Ann Taylor and Lane Bryant, also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July.
The company had been making an increasing effort to grow their business as more women went to fast-fashion retailers such as H&M and Zara, but the pandemic caused them to struggle even more.Sycamore Partners acquired Ascena Retail Group and is committed to keeping most of their remaining stores open to the public. However, they will have to work to win over a generation of younger consumers looking for comfortable, casual clothing.GNC filed for Chapter 11 in June after previous attempts to reduce their number of stores and shift investments to digital technology failed. The retailer said that the pandemic only exacerbated their financial pressure of recent years and they hoped to reduce their debt by closing between 800 and 1200 stores while looking for a buyer.Preppy clothing company J. Crew also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early May after being criticized for losing contact with their once-loyal customers.
J. Crew hoped to spin off its Madewell brand into an IPO that could have helped pay its debt burden, but faced rejection from creditors.In September, J. Crew emerged from bankruptcy with 181 J. Crew stores, 140 Madewell stores, and 170 factory outlet locations still open.
Brooks Brothers, one of the oldest clothing chains in the country, also filed for Chapter 11 in July due to expensive leases resulting from their real estate expansion over the years and fewer men buying suits and ties due to the pandemic.Discount clothing and accessories chain Stein Mart applied for Chapter 11 protection in August and liquidated all 281 stores due to sales dropping during temporary store closures in spring. Home goods chain Pier 1 Imports also filed for Chapter 11 in mid-February after nearly 60 years in business when plans to find a buyer were unsuccessful due to worsening pandemic conditions.Closing sales at Pier 1's hundreds of stores temporarily stalled until spring and summer when local lockdowns were lifted. Despite all these bankruptcies this year, new filings continue to fall 14 years later.


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Just in time for last minute shoppers, B&H just announced free next day delivery on thousands of products. Most cameras lenses and normal photo and video accessories qualify for the next day delivery. You can find the full list of gear here at B&H Photo.
There is just one day left to get free expedited shipping on tons of camera and photo gear gifts if you want them in time for Christmas. B&H has dozens of last minute gift ideas ranging from $5 to $500, which you can find here at B&H Photo.
Also, most of the cameras and lenses at B&H also have free expedited shipping if you’ve waited until the last minute to pick up a bigger gift. You can find them here at B&H Photo.
After we recently saw Amazon list an availability date for the Canon 7D Mark II for October 30, B&H now confirms on its 7D Mark II product page that the camera will ship out next Thursday on October 30 for both the body and the kit options. Check it out here at B&H Photo.
Still looking to grab a solid deal before time runs out? Check out the latest deals below. [Read more...]
For those procrastinators out there (I’m raising my hand too), the cutoff times for free standard shipping before Christmas is approaching. Here’s a quick rundown of who’s shipping what and when. [Read more...]
I just confirmed with Chuck Westfall via email that the Canon 5D Mark II will ship tomorrow, Tuesday, November 25th to US retailers:
Canon USA will begin dealer shipments of the EOS 5D Mark II camera tomorrow, November 25th. Delivery schedules in other countries may vary.
Technical Advisor/Professional Products Marketing Division
Consumer Imaging Group/Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Expect those pre-orders to start rolling in by the end of the week folks. The wait is finally over.
Keep your eyes on these links for availability:
Canon 5D Mark II (body only) – Ritz Camera – Still Taking Pre-Orders
Stay tuned to Photography Bay’s Canon 5D Mark II Reviews and Resources for the latest.


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There are times when a issue gets weighed down with so many interest groups that the obvious answers get lost. Take this example, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (which has as many issues as the FDA) is trying to stop people's couches from catching fire when people fall asleep smoking.
For years, there has been an obvious way to address accidental fires: requiring tobacco companies to make cigarettes, which are the leading cause of fatal fires, self-extinguishing. But tobacco was exempted from CPSC jurisdiction when the agency was created in 1972, and a 1994 attempt to give the agency authority over cigarettes failed.
The alternative was to focus on the furniture that was catching fire. And the tobacco industry, which wanted to avoid further regulation of cigarettes, did its best to steer the CPSC in that direction.
You can stop the fire either at the origin or by controlling the fuel. (Technically you could control the oxygen, but that doesn't really work in this scenario.) That sets up the two main interested groups, the tobacco companies and the furniture makers. But then you look at how to make the furniture less flammable and you see that the most common way is to use brominated compounds. So that adds in the chemical companies that produce these brominated flame retardants (BFRs) have a stake in the game. But that pulls in the scientists that are worried about the effects the BFRs could have on the biochemistry of both humans and the environment. The scientists have some reason to be worried; before BFRs, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) were used as fire retardants and those have some serious heath issues.
Whew. The tobacco companies have historically been quite good at lobing the various branches of government to look past the obvious problems with their product. This is no different.
Increased awareness of the health risks of fire retardants, meanwhile, confronted the CPSC with a dilemma: how to strike a balance between the need to prevent fatal fires and the risk of exposing millions of consumers to potentially harmful chemicals. It was enough of a conundrum to drive away consumer groups, which in recent years have chosen to sit out of the upholstered furniture debate.
The answer is obvious to me. Add the risk of setting yourself on fire to the list of risks you take when you take up smoking. There isn't a good way out of this problem other than making the population less stupid. Getting the tobacco companies to do things takes too long and the chemical option is not safe. The only way out is education and coming to terms with the fact that there are some things that the government can't do.
Besides shouldn't the CPSC be focusing their energy on all the questionable products that are coming over from China? The ones with melamine and lead and who knows what else? I think that might be a better use of their time and our taxes.


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BOSTON Following a review of local shops, Garelick Farms has tapped independent Cronin & Co. to create its next broadcast campaign, the agency has confirmed.
The client spends about $1.5 million annually on ads and in recent years has employed Boston's Connelly Partners, also an independent, as its lead creative resource. The shop had produced work tagged "Add something."
Connelly president Steve Connelly said Garelick has been inactive for about a year, and he left the door open for working with the client again. "Everyone in this market knows our radio and television creative for Garelick," he said. "We've sold a lot of milk and made a lot of people laugh in the process. As always, we'll let the caliber of our work speak for us."
Cronin said it will work with the dairy on a broadcast effort set to break in January. "Garelick Farms offers premium products in a very competitive market, so our challenge is take the best parts of the brand and help evolve it," said agency president and chairman Bill Cronin.
Glastonbury, Conn.-based Cronin claims about $65 million in overall billings from a mix of consumer and business-to-business clients.
Connelly also presented ideas in the Garelick review; the other contenders were not disclosed.
Though relatively small in terms of budget, the Garelick business has long been a sought after New England account because of its high media visibility and potential as a creative showcase.
"Twins," a Connelly-produced spot for the dairy that broke more than a year ago, presented a typical morning in the life of a pair of look-alike blond-haired brothers. Even their mom has trouble telling them apart at the breakfast table. She places a glass of chocolate milk in front of one boy, a glass of strawberry milk in front of the other. They quickly switch glasses: mom had mistaken one son for the other.
Garelick has long been involved in a pitched battle with local rival HP Hood, which in March enlisted Interpublic Group's Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos in Boston to help launch its low-carbohydrate line extension Carb Countdown.
—with David Gianatasio


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Olugbenga Agboola, CEO/Co-founder of Flutterwave Africa’s payment startup says the platform will be continuing with its initial public offering (IPO) in its bid to access bigger partners.
This announcement came after the fintech platform had made headway in resolving allegations of financial impropriety in Kenya.
According to Agboola in an interview with Bloomberg, the company brushed aside accusations that it had refused to honour former employees’ stock rights and that staff were harassed and bullied, saying these were “very, very isolated,” cases and they wouldn’t impact the IPO.
Flutterwave, which operates in more than 30 African countries, has gotten approvals that put it on the road to doing business in Kenya, a crucial African market, Agboola added.
The company also won licenses from Rwanda’s central bank earlier this year, allowing it to expand its operations in that country.
“There’s some kind of customers we’ll attract when we are public,” he said in the interview. “The large global clients who need you to have the same level of compliance and level of global view that they have.”
The news follows Flutterwave’s announcement earlier this month that it had extended its remittance solution Send App to Canada and the U.S., allowing for money transfers from those countries to customers in Africa.
“The Send App is a user-friendly remittance solution built on our cross-border experience and global payment infrastructure reach that empowers diaspora Africans to make money transfers to the African continent quickly and easily,” Agboola said.
Flutterwave noted that remittances to Africa were $100 billion in 2022, with funds going to 200 million people.
This year has also seen the company launch Tuition, a product that lets African users pay fees to educational institutions both within Africa and overseas by using local currencies, and form a partnership with Token.io to offer pay-by-bank capabilities.
Agboola expressed confidence in the company’s ability to expand and grow its reach further. According to him, there is the possibility for expansion into new markets and possible acquisitions when possible.


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The makers of the world's first burrito vending machine are turning their attention to pizza.
Box Brands, based out of Los Angeles, is developing a machine that will bake a 10-inch pizza in 90 seconds.
The pies will cost $5 and come in a variety of combinations, including a sausage-and-egg "breakfast" pizza.
The makers of the machine stress that the Pizza Box does not contain a microwave. The pies are cooked instead using a proprietary pizza oven, says Box Brands' Joey Pomerenke.
"The idea behind the Pizza Box is to introduce the concept as the new drive-thru "ATM" or "AFFM" —Automated Fast Food Machine — as we like to call it, like you would see in a large retail parking lot," Pomerenke said. "For the first time ever, Americans will have a pizza drive-thru option, not just burgers and tacos."
The first Pizza Boxes are set to hit the streets of Los Angeles in five months.
In the meantime, Box Brands is expanding its burrito vending machine nationally.
The "Burrito Box" offers five different burritos, all for $3, that customers can select from a touch-screen menu. The varieties include Chorizo Sausage, Roasted Potato, Uncured Bacon, Free-Range Chicken and Shredded Beef. All the ingredients are 100% natural with no hormones or antibiotics, according to the company.
Here's the Burrito Box:


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Havanna, the traditional alfajores and chocolates company based in Mar del Plata, announced an investment of more than $1,000 million to launch a project with which it will double its production capacity.
The firm, owned by the Inverlat fund since 2003, will build a freezing chamber that will allow it to integrate its production process and have permanent stock for export throughout the year, as reported.
Havanna has 250 stores in Argentina and 235 abroad, and its main export destinations are Brazil, the United States, Spain, Paraguay and Chile.
With this investment – which will be carried out with financing from the Argentine Development Bank BICE and the Argentine Credit program (CreAr) of the Ministry of Economy – it plans to increase local turnover by 30% and exports of its Green Sector products (without TACC/Vegan). 150%.
Currently, the firm produces and sells 5,000 tons of alfajores and other products in its portfolio, and employs 1,200 people directly, with more than 3,000 to be added through its franchises.
The implementation of the project will allow them to dispense with the outsourcing of the refrigeration service, a key instance, more specifically in the export process.
Thus, the objective of this investment is to achieve constant production throughout the year that allows it to supply and increase the marketing of its products internationally, to reach new markets such as Asia, the Middle East and different countries in Europe.
As a result of the increase in international demand, exports have been growing steadily since they began their operations abroad: in 2020 they reached US$3 million and by 2024 they plan to exceed US$7 million.
The company has been listed on the Stock Exchange since 2016. The opening of its capital then allowed it to build its new factory in the Batán Industrial Park.
“The Mar del Plata Industrial Park is a concrete example of investment and growth. Havanna represents a strong impact for the local productive matrix due to its volume of production, exports and generation of jobs, which are central objectives of the management promoted by Minister Sergio Massa,” said the Secretary of Industry and Productive Development, José Ignacio. from Mendiguren.
The president of BICE, Mariano de Miguel, assured: “Havanna is an Argentine company that represents us internationally because its products are present in the most important cities in the world.”
And he added: “Just as we accompany the CreAr program launched by Minister Sergio Massa to many SMEs throughout the country, we also support cases of large companies like Havanna that add value, generate foreign currency and add jobs. ”.


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Amari Johor Bahru recently welcomed Johor State's tourism leader to pour the final concrete on the 19th floor and celebrate the hotel’s development milestone.
Viking Ocean Cruises took delivery of Viking Sea, the company’s second ship, marked by a delivery ceremony at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Ancona, Italy.
EcoVadis has recognised Carlson Wagonlit Travel’s responsible businesses practices with a 2016 silver rating and top marks in all EcoVadis CSR pillars.
Singapore Airlines and SilkAir customers can now enjoy more options when travelling between Singapore and China as a result of a new codeshare agreement with Air China.
The Greek Islands remain a top-tier travel destination for Australians and now STA Travel has made it more affordable than ever with a special offer.
Explore Adelaide’s major attractions and visit some of South Australia’s most picturesque and famous regions with the release of Adelaide Sightseeing’s new Day Tours brochure.
Four Points by Sheraton Sydney has announced an exciting appointment as the hotel continues to establish a strong team ahead of the grand unveiling in June.
NEW! Virgin Australia Industry Rates to LA! Valid for Sales to 31Mar16. from $335* pp. plus taxes.
Fine Food Queensland, one of the country's largest food events and the sister show of Fine Food Australia, will take place in Brisbane in just under a fortnight.
APT has congratulated US partner AmaWaterways as it yesterday celebrated the debut of its first-ever ‘Taste of Bordeaux’ sailing aboard the MS AmaDolce.
A favourite amongst holidaymakers since it opened 25 years ago, Amari Koh Samui is proud to unveil its brand-new look!
Over one million travellers have experienced the world’s first virtual reality holiday on Hamilton Island via remarkable 360-degree interactive vision on YouTube.
For the second year in a row, the Air Transport News (ATN) Awards have recognized air transport IT specialist, SITA, as the ‘IT Company of the Year’.
ATEC has welcomed the announcement that Western Australian Premier, Colin Barnett, will take over the portfolio of tourism, following yesterday’s cabinet reshuffle.
According to an independent analysis by STR, Airbnb’s presence in Sydney, Australia, is growing, but it does not appear to have had a significant impact on the market’s hotel performance thus far.
APAC's first commercially objective ranking of luxury hotel, tour, cruise and on site performance will be announced next month at the inaugural Virtuoso Asia Pacific Luxury Awards.
Negative publicity is still cause for concern within the travel and tourism Industry
Jet Airways Special sale fares economy class to Mumbai, Delhi or Chennai start from just AUD755
REDY2GO has expanded its operation with the introduction of private car transfers
After achieving top sales, personal travel manager John Lengacher, representative for Windsor in Victoria, has earned a place on the Etihad Airways famil to Abu Dhabi.


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A new exploit has been found in Fortnite Season 6, giving players the ultimate mobility with a simple door edit.
Crafting is the new mechanic introduced to Fortnite Season 6. This exploit allows you to instantly craft items in your inventory.
Fortnite YouTuber, OrangeGuy, has found a Season 6 exploit that allows players to gain unlimited health. Here's how to do it.
A new Fortnite Season 6 exploit allows players to max-out their Gold Bars in only a few minutes. Here's how it works.
Fortnite streamer Tom "72hrs" Mulligan exposed a massive Gold Bar exploit for Arena and the Season 5 FNCS.
Fortnite players find another teleportation glitch that allows them to instantly steal high-ground from opponents.
This Fortnite glitch lets you steal rare skins from your friends and keep them for the whole match.
Fortnite players have found an exploit that allows them to enter the Stark Industries vault without a keycard.
This broken Fortnite strategy lets you and your team spam Doom's Gauntlets an unlimited number of times.
Another Fortnite exploit lets you build through walls with ease.
Prime Shotgun is the latest game breaking weapon that has been added to Fortnite in v21.30. Here's all about the...
Fortnite v21.30 is finally here. From the No Sweat Summer event to new POIs to weapons, here's everything that arrived...
Fortnite's most ambitious device is back in the game and now works even in Zero Build. Here's all about the...


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From Abba to Zappa and punk to funk, vinyl records are back in the groove - and the opening of a new outlet is hoped to send collectors in a spin this weekend and heading for Spalding.
Uptown Vinyl Records Music Shop has opened at the Spalding Lifestyle and Garden Centre – just in time for tomorrow’s Record Store Day – the annual celebration which champions a reason to dust off collections that for many have been resigned to the attic for years.
And there to give support will be Britain’s Rasta poet Benjamin Zephaniah.
A selection of more than 40,000 vinyl records, many selling for around £3 to £5, can be found decked in memorabilia in a specialist area of the lifestyle centre, next to the Johnson Community Hospital in Pinchbeck Road, which is becoming even more of a retro paradise with its vintage wines and shabby chic furniture.
Alan Barnsdale, the owner of the collection, couldn’t have chosen a better time to launch his new business, with the with the launch of a new chart, an upsurge in the sale of record players and the demise of the CD and download markets.
He is looking forward to welcoming collectors and new, who are discovering the physical joy of holding a vinyl record that excited their parents and grandparents, during tomorrow’s Record Store Day.
The lifestyle centre opens on Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm.
For the full story and pictures, see Tuesday’s Lincolnshire Free Press


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On behalf of the Hereford Business Improvement District
Hereford residents are looking forward to what might be the busiest Christmas yet with loads to do in the city this year.
From enjoying the city’s biggest ever Christmas lights switch on from Hereford City Council on Wednesday 19 November in High Town, to late night shopping evenings and free parking from 4pm on 19 and 26 November and 3, 10 and 17 December, there’s plenty going on for everyone.
Just some of the events taking place this year include:
- High Town Christmas lights switch on with live music from Sunshine Radio and Santa Abseil on Wednesday 19 November at 7.15pm
- Old Market Christmas event and lights switch on from 5.30pm on Saturday 22 November
- High Town Truffle Market on 11 December from 9am to 4pm bringing you some of the best local products that Herefordshire has to offer
- High Town Christmas Market selling a range of Christmas gifts, decorations and produce on 12 and 19 December from 9am to 4pm
- Late night shopping and free parking from 4pm on 19 and 26 November and 3, 10 and 17 December.


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February 27 is officially Pokemon Day, a celebration of the day the first-ever Pokemon titles, Pokemon Red and Pokemon Green were released in Japan for the Game Boy console. To celebrate this momentous occasion, The Pokemon Company has been making exciting new announcements every single day of the week beginning on February 21st.
Announcements during the celebration included a software update for Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Pokemon Shining Pearl, the debut of an Anniversary version of May in Pokemon Masters, new dishes and Shiny Starly added to Pokemon Cafe Remix, and tons of new merchandise including a clothing collaboration with popular brand OmoCat. However, the Pokemon Company definitely wasn’t going to forget about Pokemon Day itself, and it was recently announced that Sunday, February 27 will see the broadcast of a brand new “Pokemon Presents” announcement event.
The Pokemon Presents broadcast will air via YouTube on Sunday, February 27 at 14:00 UTC / 9:00 AM EST / 6:00 PST / 23:00 JST. It is currently predicted to last approximately 14 minutes.
— Serebii.net (@SerebiiNet) February 24, 2022
Although the content of the upcoming Pokemon Presents event has not yet been confirmed, fans have already begun to speculate. Some are hoping for a DLC or free expansions to Pokemon Legends: Arceus, which was recently released to high sales and positive critical acclaim. Others are eager to hear news of a new title, whether it be the long-awaited (and as of yet unnamed) Generation 9, remakes of Pokemon Black and Pokemon White, another Legends game set in a different region, or something else entirely. Still, other fans are waiting on news of Nintendo Switch ports for earlier Pokemon games such as Detective Pikachu.
The Pokemon Company has a history of making major announcements during Pokemon Presents events, including the aforementioned Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl as well as last year’s New Pokemon Snap. Although it has only been a month since the release of Pokemon Legends: Arceus, big news could definitely be on the horizon.
What announcements are you hoping to see during the Pokemon Presents broadcast on February 27? Comment below and let us know!


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Madison Logic Acquires BBN Ad Platform
Now the Largest Provider of “Full-Funnel” Media and Marketing Solutions
NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwired – Mar 2, 2015) – Madison Logic, the leading provider of data-driven, full-funnel B2B marketing solutions powered by Intent, today announced it has acquired the ad platform, BBN. Through the acquisition, Madison Logic adds a premier, top-of-funnel media offering to its industry-leading, mid- to bottom-of-funnel data and demand generation offering.
Tom O’Regan, CEO of Madison Logic, comments, “BBN has built the industry-best platform of B2B publishers. Madison Logic has built the largest purchase intent-powered data set. By bringing the two companies together, we can more fully meet the needs of B2B marketers and publishers who have expressed an urgent need for a media, marketing and enterprise solutions partner that can help them optimize and manage their sales funnels, top to bottom, utilizing the leading edge formats including video, native and high impact branding solutions.”
With B2B marketers increasingly seeking to reach and engage demand among decision-making audiences as they progress along the buyer journey, Madison Logic owns and provides access to the world’s largest set of demographic and behavioral intent data in B2B marketing, leveraging over a billion interactions per month from 125 million decision makers across all industries. With the Madison Logic/BBN unrivaled data set, marketers can leverage high-ROI solutions based on mid and lower funnel targeting criteria and encompassing content syndication, email marketing, retargeting and sequential targeting.
“The acquisition makes Madison Logic the largest, most comprehensive provider of full-funnel media and marketing solutions,” states Erik Matlick, Chairman of Madison Logic. “We now deliver the most robust, vertically integrated solutions available. More importantly, marketers can increase both the scale and precision of their of brand and demand generation activities.”
Filling a Market Gap: Meeting Marketers Growing Needs in a Bigger, Broader Way
According to Ted Kohnen, CMO at global B2B agency Stein IAS, “Madison Logic is stepping into an unoccupied space in the market, and by doing so is stepping up to meet one of our clients’ most pressing needs. From tech to financial services, and industrial to professional services, clients are working hard to define the messages and content that progress prospects along the customer journey. Now, with the solutions Madison Logic can put on the table, we can seamlessly target and intersect buyers at every stage, from awareness to interest, engagement, to justification and selection, all using a single partner.”
Madison Logic’s media solutions comprise leading edge formats including video, native and high impact brand solutions viewed across all devices. Their ability to report on engagement, company size and industry allows them to study the impact awareness campaigns have on demand gen programs. Madison Logic maintains over 1600 direct publisher relationships that utilize their solution to deliver full funnel demand generation campaigns.
“Mediacom has had a successful relationship with Madison Logic in lead generation for our clients. We look forward to adding their top of funnel branding to our campaigns. We believe this acquisition fills a void in the market created when LinkedIn acquired Bizo and gives our clients the opportunity to work with the largest data driven full funnel solution in the B2B industry,” states Adam Potashnick SVP, Americas Media Director, Mediacom.
Always On Company Based Targeting: Improves cross platform and multichannel marketing
Marketers have learned that the key to effective messaging is to be there with the right message at the right time. Targeting companies and audiences is a good starting point but applying holistic “Always On” messaging campaigns, driven by intent signals, produces the best engagement rates.
Kim Chrystie, Director of Media at EMC, further states, “From a display standpoint, we are partnering with Madison Logic to target our customers with the right message, at the right time. The Madison Logic value proposition is actionable because it combines display reach with uniquely targeted, data-driven demand generation. Our goal is to drive efficient and effective inbound marketing, and Madison Logic helps us accomplish this is in a holistic way.”
Brian Gleason, CEO of Xaxis Americas, “It’s exciting to see BBN joining forces with ML. We’ve enjoyed working with BBN in the past and feel confident that the quality and scale of the ML B2B data set will enhance that. We look forward to continued collaboration and innovation across the B2B landscape.”
BBN will continue to go-to-market under the BBN brand name for the immediate future, but the end-to-end solutions offered by BBN and Madison Logic will be consolidated and sold as a unified fashion.
Madison Logic achieved record revenue and EBITDA growth in 2014. Year over year revenue jumped 75 percent in the most recent quarter ending December 2014 with International revenue growing over 200 percent at the end of fiscal year 2014. New customer acquisition more than doubled compared to 2013. Keeping up with its tradition of high profitability, Madison Logic recorded more than 800 percent EBITDA growth in 2014.
With the acquisition of BBN, Madison Logic is poised to deliver another spectacular financial performance in 2015. Q1 revenue booking run rate is up over 140 percent compared to 2014 and year-over-year revenue projected to grow more than 70 percent with a significant rise in profitability.
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Lexus announced that the redesigned 2013 ES 350 will start at $36,100 (plus an $895 destination fee) when it hits showroom floors next month. Toyota’s luxury brand points out that the new ES 350’s base price is 1.7 percent less than the outgoing 2012 model, which starts at $36,725.
Luxury hybrid shoppers will also have a new option in August, as the all-new 2013 Lexus ES 300h will be sold alongside the redesigned ES 350 with a base price of $38,850. Lexus says that at $2,750 more than the non-hybrid model, the ES 300h has “the lowest hybrid premium in the Lexus line-up.” Still, competitors like Lincoln sell the 2012 MKZ and MKZ Hybrid for the same base price.
While the outgoing ES 350 shares its platform with the midsize 2012 Toyota Camry, Automobile Magazine reports that the 2013 ES 350 shares its DNA with the larger 2013 Avalon. Ten airbags, a backup camera, a moonroof, NuLuxe vinyl seats, Bluetooth and an eight-speaker stereo with a USB port and satellite radio are among the 2013 ES 350’s standard features. Notable options include heated seats and navigation, as well as pre-collision, lane departure, rear cross traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring systems.
Cars.com reports that the 2013 ES 350 carries the same 268-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 as the 2012 model, but the ES “gets a little longer for 2013 and now uses the brand's new spindle grille and a revised suspension.” The new ES 300h features a 2.5-liter four-cylinder Atkinson cycle engine. The ES 300h produces a combined 200 horsepower and features an EV mode which allows it to travel short distances solely on electric power.
The EPA reports that the 2013 ES 350 gets 21/31 mpg city/highway, which is an improvement compared with the 2012 model’s 19/28 mpg estimates. The new 2013 ES 300h gets 40/39 mpg city/highway, which is comparable to similarly-powered cars like the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid.
Shopping for a Lexus ES or an upscale midsize car? Check out the U.S. News rankings of this year's best cars. Then, look for a great deal on a new car by checking out this month’s best car deals. You can also find the best local prices in the area by using our Best Price Program. Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.


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Xero is spending some of its $16 million cash reserves to beef up its presence in Australia.
The online accounting software company, which is based in Wellington, has bought the Australian online payroll provider Paycycle for $A1.5 million.
Founder and chief executive Rod Drury says payroll services are essential to Xero's accounting package and win the support of Australian accountants.
He told shareholders at the annual meeting in Wellington on Thursday that Xero is working with New Zealand Post to provide digital postal services and eliminate unnecessary repetition of things like invoicing.
Xero's growth continues to impress, with the numbers of business paying customers jumping 25% to 45,000 in the June quarter, and annualised revenue of $15 million.
The company had intended to break-even this year, but Mr Drury says it's decided to keep pursuing further growth, particularly in the potentially lucrative US market.