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Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) has introduced a bill that would “simplify the tax code and reduce compliance burdens placed on small businesses.”
The Small Business Cash Accounting Act of 2004 would permit businesses that generally earn less than $10 million during the tax year to use cash-accounting methods to report their income.
Cash accounting would substantially reduce the cost of hiring bookkeepers, accountants, and lawyers for thousands of small businesses now forced to use costlier accrual-accounting methods, according to a press release from the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Under current law, added the release, the Internal Revenue Service typically allows only taxpayers that earn less than $5 million per year to use the cash method.
“By increasing the cash accounting threshold to $10 million, more small businesses will be relieved of the burdensome record keeping requirements they currently must undertake in reporting their income,” said Snowe, the committee’s chair. “My bill also changes current law to permit taxpayers with inventory to qualify for the cash method of accounting.”
Snowe emphasized that the bill will not reduce the amount of taxes a small business pays even by one dollar. Rather, it will simply permit more taxpayers to report income and account for costs in the year of the receipt or expenditure.
Under accrual-accounting rules, a business is deemed to have income when its right to the income accrues, or when a sale is made, even though the business may not collect payment from the customer until some future date. As a result, a business may be deemed to have taxable income well before it has the cash to pay the tax.
Snowe’s cash accounting bill is the first in a series of bills she hopes to introduce that would simplify the tax code for small-business owners, according to the release.


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Bayfield apple crop is ‘best in years’
Kate Weber-Smith isn’t quite sure how it worked out this way, but the apple harvest on Wisconsin’s Bayfield Peninsula is the best in years.
That’s despite a harsh winter that saw some fruit trees killed off by the cold, a cold and wet spring that saw late blossoms, and a delay in the summer growing season.
“It’s kind of a miracle considering the weather we had,” Weber-Smith said. “But the apples are big and beautiful and there are lots of them.
“They were a good week behind (reaching maturity). We usually can open on Labor Day weekend, but we didn’t have any apples to sell. But a week later, the early varieties started coming and now all of them are coming in bigger and better than we’ve seen in several years,” Weber-Smith said.
Weber Orchards, off Wisconsin Highway 13 south of Bayfield, has more than 1,200 apple and pear trees. Pickers are busy now as the harvest reaches its peak, into the first week of October.
Weber-Smith said Cortland and Macintosh apples did especially well, but that most of their dozen varieties ended up large and tasty.
The harvest is just in time, of course, for Bayfield’s 53rd annual Applefest, the city’s celebration of all things apple next weekend that regularly draws upwards of 40,000 people.
While apples somehow recovered thanks to ample rain and sunlight in late summer, many of the Weber’s pear trees did not.
“We lost a lot of pear trees just because of how cold it got last winter,’’ Weber-Smith said. “So we have far fewer pears than normal. The ones we have are very good, but we don’t have the numbers.”
Claudia Ferraro at Apple Hill Orchards gave a similar report.
“The apple trees for some reason must have loved that cold winter. Bur out cheery trees didn’t, they got hammered,’’ Ferraro said.
Apple Hill Orchards has 800 apple and 800 cheery trees outside Bayfield and cherry production “was probably down 60 percent or more. But apples are up,” Ferrarosaid.
“We’ve been doing this 31 years and this is about as good as we’ve seen the apple crop. They are big and red and juicy,’’ Feraro said. “We’re picking as fast as we can.”
Missy Morin at Bayfield Apple Company said their cherry trees also took a major hit.
“We had to plow under two rows of cherry trees that died due to the cold winter,’ she said, noting that’s about one-fourth of their cherry orchard. “The apples started late. They’re about 10 days to two weeks behind, but they are really nice. The nicest for us in at least three years.”
With the late start to the harvest, Morin said pickers are working “like crazy” on the orchard’s 70 acres, trying to get enough apples for Applefest. She said the cold winter appears to have killed off some of the pests that harm apple trees. That, she said, and the heavy winter snow and wet spring helped keep apple trees well watered.
“Some of the trees are just dripping with apples,’’ she said. “So we’ve got a lot of work to do.”

domain: news


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Nintendo's E3 2012 press conference is in full swing, and a new game announcement highlighted the events right out the gate. Within moments of emerging on stage and describing the Wii U, Shigeru Miyamoto revealed Pikmin 3 for the platform.
Much of the presentation dealt with how both the Wii U gamepad and the console's increased resolution over previous Nintendo systems will assist in enhancing the Pikmin experience. We'll get a video up as soon as it's available! The conference is streaming right now.


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M&S targeted in share-buying spree
ICELANDIC investors have built up a 3% stake in Marks & Spencer, spending £170m on the shares in recent days, according to a report in today's Guardian newspaper.
Confirmation of the stake is expected within days, says the report.
M&S said it was unaware of the stake-building, but appeared to be relaxed, indicating that purchases of its 'undervalued shares' did not come as a surprise. The buying has helped underpin the M&S price in recent days despite reports that trading remains dire at Britain's biggest clothing retailer.
Some analysts fear that current sales could be down in double-digits, with some even suggesting a fall of 20%.
Chief executive Stuart Rose said that trading remained tough when he reported the group's 19% profits tumble last month, along with a further fall in market share. But he has refused to give an update on current sales until the annual meeting next month.
The Icelandic investors are not named but could include cash-rich banks Kaupthing and Landsbanki. Along with retail conglomerate Baugur, they have been at the forefront of the multi-billion-pound Icelandic invasion of corporate Britain in recent years.
Kaupthing, Iceland's biggest bank, last month made an agreed £547m bid for Singer & Friedlander, the merchant bank and investment company. Landsbanki, Iceland's second-biggest bank, snapped up stockbroking firm Teather & Greenwood in February for £43m.
Reykjavik-based retail conglomerate Baugur has already bought up a huge chunk of Britain's High Street, including Hamleys toy store, jeweller Goldsmiths, fashion chains Oasis and Karen Millen and Iceland frozen foods firm Big Food.
It is one of the bidders currently circling Somerfield and has stakes in a number of other retailers.
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Hope and Tintin, Anime Expo’s diminished manga presence, and what is Marvel thinking of NEXT for their digital publishing?
Lots of reaction and ripples from yesterday’s announcement that DC was at long last joining the digital world with their DC Comics apps for iPad, iPhone and PSP. One of the more amusing developments came from the news that DC was definitely including creator royalties for digital sales, as announced in a widely leaked memo […]
Quietly in the night, with no fanfare, coming in on little cat feet, DC Comics has launched an application for iPhone and iPad. The app was developed by ComiXology, which also launched the Marvel and Boom comics apps, and the DC version has a similar interface.
Initial offerings include free comics: several stories from Batman Black & White, including one by Ted McKeever, Bayou from Zuda, and a preview of today’s Superman #700. Paid offerings — priced at the Marvel standard of $1.99 — include the first issues of Sandman, Unwritten, Fables and The Losers, issues of Fringe, and a bunch DCU issues, including all four issues of Justice League: Generation Lost — the first three issues are priced at $1.99, while issues 4 — arriving in stores today — is priced at cover price of $2.99.
Brian Hibbs has another retail-focused take on digital which begins: I had kind of hoped I was done talking about digital, for at least a little while, but I think there are still bits that people are confused enough about that staying on the topic for another month might make some sense. Bad news, Brian: […]
While we’ve been ranting and complaining and what not it has been an epochal week in digital comics publishing with so much crap going on, we are just going to link like crazy. The week started off, of course with BOOM! Studios making two big announcements. First, they joined Marvel with their own iPad/iPhone comics […]
Yesterday’s installment of Cup O’ Joe was an especially timely one, with Marvel’s new Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada explaining a few things. For instance, of his new title, he reminded us that Avi Arad, the film exec much responsible for improving Marvel’s film profile in Hollywood, was the previous holder of the COO title; […]
It’s coming fast, kids. IDW recently announced a four-week window for digital comics releases, and Marvel today announced their first day-and-date release of a comic, the INVINCIBLE IRON MAN ANNUAL #1 by Matt Fraction and Carmine Di Giandomenico. While the story concerns the origin of the Mandarin, in future days, this issue may be remembered […]
It is coming. And nothing will be the same. At least for bloggers, who will not be able to speculate endlessly about Apple’s expected announcement of an iTablet-like device on Wednesday. The device — a larger, even more readable version of the existing iPhone technology — is expected to have huge ramifications for the print […]
Is that an iceberg dead ahead? NO, it’s an E-READER, and they are coming right at ya, especially at the Consumer Electronics Show, currently underway in Las Vegas. At Steve Ballmer’s keynote last night, Microsoft unveiled its Slate device, which was cute and touchable, but not the fold over Courier everyone has been lusting after. […]


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The Guardian and Vice are partnering to collaborate on news reports that will air in the US and the UK, across Vice’s channels. One is a London-based publisher founded nearly 200 years ago, the other a 22-year-old media brand based in New York.
The Guardian will bring its journalistic prowess to Vice’s brand, and Vice will provide its video production skills and access to a millennial audience.
“This partnership recognizes the Guardian and Vice as pioneers in digital news and underscores our commitment to using video to open up our journalism in new and interesting ways,” Katharine Viner, editor-in-chief at Guardian News & Media, said in a Guardian report announcing the deal.
A small team of Guardian journalists, led by multimedia news editor Mustafa Khalili, will be based at Vice’s offices in east London, working with Vice News producers and executives to produce original content.
Co-branded reports will air across Vice’s nightly news show: “Vice News Tonight,” Vice and HBO’s weekly series “Vice on HBO” as well as “Vice Specials,” the hour-long documentary series for HBO.
According to The Guardian, this is the first content partnership deal Vice News has struck with another news organization.
“This partnership provides a test case for the way forward in multiplatform exploitation of content,” Shane Smith, co-founder and chief executive of Vice Media, told The Guardian. “When that content is the foremost investigative news in the business, it becomes even more imperative. Real, fact-based, trusted news has never been more important."
In September, Vice launched its "Viceland UK" television channel on Sky.
David Pemsel, chief executive of Guardian Media Group, the parent company of TheGuardian and Observer, said in the article that the partnership represents the Guardian’s strategy “to innovate on a global scale to maximize both the revenue potential and impact of our journalism.”
In July, The Guardian revealed an operating loss of £69 million (or $90.5 million) in the year ending March 2016.Another British publisher, The Economist, has been making efforts to tap into the U.S. millennial audience. In October, the 173-year-old newspaper announced it would publish a weekend edition on the Snapchat Discover platform to reach Snapchat’s 100 million daily users, most under the age of 35.


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The new partnership commemorates the 14th anniversary of the No-sebum Mineral Powder.
April 2, 2020
No Sebum Mineral Powder by Innisfree and Mentos have teamed up for the Innisfree x Mentos No-Sebum Mineral Powder Mentos Edition.
To commemorate the 14th anniversary of the No-sebum Mineral Powder, Innisfree has created a No-sebum mineral powder edition inspired by the pastel colors and flavors of the Mentos candy. Six different types of the No-sebum have received a makeover with the round shapes and vibrant packaging that remind consumers of Mentos flavors.
The item is targeted toward young women and will be available this spring.
License Global is the leading news source for the brand licensing industry, delivering award-winning editorial content including news, trends, analysis, and special reports about the global consumer product and retail marketplace.
Through its print edition, website, daily e-newsletter and event publications, License Global reaches more than 150,000 executives and professionals in all major markets. The magazine also serves as the official publication for the sector’s trade events, which include Licensing Expo, Brand Licensing Europe, Licensing Expo Japan, Licensing Expo Shanghai and the Licensing Leadership Summit.
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A new set of GeForce graphics drivers quietly crept onto Nvidia's website late yesterday. This 266.58 driver release promises performance improvements for GeForce 400- and 500-series graphics cards, a plethora of 3D Vision-related enhancements, improved Nvidia Surround performance, and some fresh SLI profiles to boot. Now that's a graphics driver update.
Nvidia doesn't go into per-card performance increases, but the release highlights page quotes "examples of some of the most significant improvements measured on Windows 7." Apparently, with a GeForce GTX 580, Nvidia recorded performance gains ranging from 5% to 12% depending on the title. 4x antialiasing and 16x anisotropic filtering were enabled in all cases, it looks like.
On the eye candy side of things, Nvidia says GeForce owners can now enjoy ambient occlusion in StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. 3D Vision support has been added for a number of games, as well, including Gothic 4, Medal of Honor, Need for Speed Hot Pursuit, and some foreign-sounding games I've never heard of. On top of that, folks can now enjoy windowed 3D Vision graphics in the latest World of Wacraft expansions, EverQuest 2, Guild Wars 2, and Google Earth.
Enjoying 3D vision should now be easier from a hardware standpoint, by the way. The release highlights name a decent number of new 3D monitors and projectors, support for which has been added in the 266.58 drivers.
Last, but not least, Nvidia has chucked in some fresh SLI profiles and improved ones for titles like Gothic 4, Civilization V, Lost Planet 2, and World of Warcraft.


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Samsung (SSNLF) and Apple (AAPL) are battling for tablet supremacy, as the major consumer electronics companies try to one up each other for mind share and wallet share. After yesterday's unveiling, it's Samsung who has the upper hand.
At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Samsung showed off 4 new tablets, which are designed to be used by business professionals, the Galaxy Tab Pro, and the Note Pro. These tablets were designed in mind to allow the enterprise to do more with tablets, as opposed to just consuming content, which has been part of the drawback about them since Apple introduced the iPad in 2010, reinvigorating the space.
Samsung is feeling the heat from Apple, which seemed to dedicate its most recent quarter, the company's fiscal first-quarter, towards tablets. On Apple's fiscal fourth-quarter earnings call, Apple CEO Timothy D. Cook said he thought it would be an "iPad Christmas" this holiday season.
Judging from Samsung's most recent quarterly earnings report, in which the company reported provisional operating income of 8.1 trillion to 8.5 trillion won, it's clear that Apple is taking some market share back from Samsung, be it with the iPhone or iPad.
The Galaxy Tab Pro tablet will come in three sizes (8.4-inch, 10.1-inch and 12.2-inch), but the Note Pro only has a 12.2-inch screen. All of these tablets will be available sometime in the first quarter of this year, but Samsung didn't specify pricing or exact availability dates.
South Korean-based Samsung really made sure to note that these new tablets are dedicated towards business users, announcing several new features. The Pro devices are optimized for Cisco WebEx, and allow up to 20 devices to be synced all at once, enabling an e-meeting to take place.
In recent weeks, the ever-churning rumor mill has said that Apple is working on its larger iPad, of which some have dubbed the iPad Pro. It is thought that this iPad would be around 12-inches in size, and could be the way to merge the iPad, which Apple sold 14.1 million units last quarter, and the Mac, of which Apple sold 4.6 million units last quarter as well.
I've long speculated that Apple is trying to merge its mobile operating system, iOS, with its desktop operating system, OS X Maverick, and the "iPad Pro" seems as if it's the device to finally introduce that. Apple has brought some features from iOS to OS X, including Maps, Calendar, Notes and others, so it seems like this is starting to happen.
With Samsung introducing new tablets geared towards the business professional (along with several new televisions and smart appliances), it's clear Samsung is feeling the heat from Apple. I suspect though, that Apple will have the last laugh on this, as it almost always does.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.


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"We are really excited to be a part of the most promising technology community - the ITA. Through ITA activities, SiliconArts hopes to deliver its distinguished VR hardware platform (real-time ray-tracing) to the community and embrace the latest VR technologies from other members. We strongly believe that the ITA assets including its members, knowledge, technologies and network will be a great resource to SiliconArts in materializing its technology and, SiliconArts' contribution to the ITA will allow the organization to be equipped with an optimal hardware platform for near-future VR application." - Hee Jin (Colin) Shin, Co-Founder
This is a very exciting development. SiliconArts has joined The Immersive Technology Alliance. Why is that important, you ask? Specializing in raytracing IP and processor technology, SiliconArts' work represents the impending future of how video and audio content will be rendered in the not-too-distant future in virtual reality. In addition to impacting the qualitative results of audio and video processing, their technology has the potential of dramatically reducing the development time needs to create memorable content. Very exciting stuff!
The alliance also welcomes Cubicle Ninjas, a fast-growing marketing company that has deep commitements to virtual reality. More details can be found on the Immersive Technology Alliance website.
ITA Member NextVR is showcasing their new VR camera rig at IBC2014 in Amsterdam (Hall Number 10, Stand Number 10.A10). The patent-pending NextVR Virtual Reality Digital Cinema Camera System is a 360-degree stereoscopic array of high resolution, high dynamic range digital cinema cameras that capture immersive, ultra high definition stereoscopic video and spatial audio for virtual reality displays. NextVR will be using its tech to bring 3D virtual reality content to the market for use in products like the recently launched Samsung Gear VR.
MTBS had a blast at TIFF, the Toronto International Film Festival. Realizing the potential of VR, TIFF organized a special panel featuring the likes of James Stewart (Geneva Film Company), Palmer Luckey (Oculus VR), Jade Raymond (Ubisoft), Ariel Garten (InteraXon), and Felix Lajeunesse (Felix and Paul Studios).


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Shruti Haasan's next film to release directly on OTT platform - Official announcement made!
This pandemic situation has made many producers and directors to release their films directly on OTT platforms, skipping the theatrical release because one is not sure when the theatres would reopen. The direct OTT release has paved a new way of business for the producers and we are witnessing a lot of notable biggies getting ready to release directly on streaming platforms. Jyotika’s Ponmagal Vandhal, Amitabh Bachchan - Ayushmann Khurrana starrer Gulabo Sitabo, Keerthy Suresh’s Penguin are some of the films that have already been released. Recently, it was announced that Akshay Kumar’s mega biggie, Laxmmi Bomb, the Hindi remake of Kanchana, will have a direct OTT release, along with 6 other notable Hindi biggies.
Following that, it has now come to everyone’s notice that the long delayed Hindi film, Yaara will make its way towards a direct OTT release. Yaara stars Thuppakki villain Vidyut Jammwal, Amit Sadh and Shruti Haasan in the lead roles and it is directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia. The film has been in the production for quite a long time and this news comes as a sigh of relief for the fans. Yaara will stream on Zee 5 digital streaming platform and it will release on July 25. The official announcement was made by Zee 5 and there are a lot more interesting releases to look out for. Notably, this happens to be Shruti Haasan’s first film to release directly on OTT, while for Vidyut Jammwal this will be the second film. Reportedly, Yaara deals with the story of two friends who get trapped into the world of crime. The stylish actor’s Khuda Haafiz is already scheduled to have a direct OTT release on Disney + Hotstar streaming platform.
Talking about Zee 5, three notable Tamil biggies have also been lined up for a direct OTT release and the list includes Varalaxmi Sarathkumar’s Danny, Yogi Babu’s Cocktail, and Vaibhav’s Lockup. Danny and Cocktail are reportedly scheduled to release on July 10, while the release date of Lockup is yet to be announced.
Other notable biggies which are going to release directly on OTT include Sushant Singh Rajput’s Dil Bechara, Jayasurya - Aditi Rao Hydari’s Sufiyum Sujatayum, Vidya Balan’s Shakuntala Devi, Janhvi Kapoor’s Gunjan Saxena, Alia Bhatt’s Sadak 2, Abhishek Bachchan’s The Big Bull, Ajay Devgn’s Bhuj: The Pride of India, and more. Looks like OTT releases are going to rule the next few months, until the theatres reopen. Stay tuned for more exciting updates.
Awaiting official confirmation so I can scream out loud in the balcony because we have been waiting for #Yaara since the day the shooting began. The retro gangster vibe is everything to be excited about! Thank you @dirtigmanshu @SunirKheterpal @VidyutJammwal @shrutihaasan ❤ pic.twitter.com/UHKqH55LSD— Rushali Prasad (@prasad_rushali) June 30, 2020
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text: Sprint Nextel’s newly announced WiMAX partnership with Clearwire is facing legal action from one of Sprint’s affiliate operators. The affiliate company, iPCS, which offers wireless services under the Sprint brand in 80 markets in Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio and Tennessee, says the WiMAX venture breaches its exclusivity rights in its service areas. iPCS has already been to court to block Sprint from offering wireless services over Nextel’s iDEN network in iPCS territory. Sprint and Clearwire plan to get their new WiMAX operation off the ground by the end of this year, with a view to creating a nationwide mobile broadband network. A number of cable operators plus chip manufacture Intel and search engine Google are also participating in the venture.


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August 4, 2010 BY Aaron Hope
We got a closer look at the Puerto Rico version earlier today, and now here’s our first glimpse at another nationally-oriented Nike Air Force 1 Low. The newest member of the AF1 WBF Pack comes to you courtesy of a country better known for its soccer prowess than roundball: Brazil. Much like Nunca’s capsule for the Nike Sportswear Six/True Colors Collection, these Brazil AF1 Lows are black with white accents and just a hint of patriotism in the form of a flag on the tongue tag and a WBF ‘United We Rise’-related pattern peeking through the translucent outsoles. Click the jump below for more shots and stick with Sneaker News for what looks to be even more World Basketball Festival sneakers from Nike Sportswear.


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The National Retail Federation says holidays sales were up this year, totaling $579-billion. Most of the spending went toward cars, clothes and electronics. Upwards of $82-billion was spent on food and drinks alone. Online shopping over the holidays topped $40-billion.
It's no wonder we have a "spending hangover!" We have 7 tips to help cure that hangover.
1. FACE YOUR FINANCES
Yahoo's "Financially Fit" host Farnoosh Torabi says step 1 to getting healthy again is a simple reality check: face your finances
"Go on line, log on, check your balance - savings, your checking. Knowing where you stand is a huge part of this battle," Torabi said.
2. CASH ONLY
Next make a pledge to go green, use cash and debit your way out of the hole.
One couple, both 30 year olds, wrote to Torabi on Facebook. They did managed to get out of debt in a year's time by "eating out" less and "cutting out" plastic altogether.
Another couple automated all of their bill payment. That's "essential" says the expert to prioritizing your debt in a budget.
3. MAKE A PAYDOWN PLAN
"You can hook up your checking account to this website and pay down your debt automatically," Torabi said. "In some cases, these websites really help you pay down that debt faster than you would on your own."
4. TIGHTEN YOUR BELT
Put yourself on a spending diet. Do you need the gym membership or can you exercise outside free?
"Maybe that means instead of cable you go back to basic and watch TV online, or go to a neighbor's house to watch Showtime," Torabi said.
5. SELL UNWANTED GIFTCARDS
Sell those unwanted gift cards gathering dust in a drawer
6. SELL OLD ELECTONICS
Another asset to liquidate is your old electronics, which may be worth more than you think.
7. RETURN UNWANTED PRESENTS
If you're not into it, take it back. So many stores have no questions asked policies. Take advantage of it.
CONNECT WITH NINA PINEDA AND 7 ON YOUR SIDE
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Warner Bros. has just released a new television ad for the upcoming Batman: Arkham Origins. In it, you get a brief glimpse at how Bruce grows into the crime fighting hero Gotham would one day need. Give it a look above.
Despite the fact that Rocksteady isn't working on this third entry in the Arkham franchise, it doesn't look like the quality has been compromised in any way. It's still visually stunning, features the same killer combat, and even throws in a few exciting additions for good measure. WB Montreal has clearly put a lot of time and effort into making a prequel that lives up to the series' pedigree.
Batman: Arkham Origins launches on October 25th for Wii U, PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. A handheld version, dubbed Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate, arrives the same day for PS Vita and 3DS.


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The Beat Saber PSVR release date has finally been announced and it’s coming very soon. Beat Saber will be available for the PSVR headset on November 20 for an unknown price (however, the PC version $19.99). The popular VR rhythm game was announced for the PS4 at E3 2018 but without a solid release date. Beat Saber PSVR also brings new content and features to the game.
Beat Games released Beat Saber on Steam in May 2018, and it has garnered an “overwhelmingly positive” rating on that platform and more is coming to the PSVR release of Beat Saber. First up is a new campaign mode that is exclusive to PSVR and will offer regular challenges to players. Five new songs are coming to Beat Saber on PSVR, alongside the game’s current soundtrack.
New modifiers will also be available to create more challenges and fun for players. A practice mode is being introduced, which will allow players to slow the game down, and start at any part of a level to help practice tricky parts. A new party mode will be available as well, allowing players to jump into levels even quicker. Beat Saber will even have a one saber mode, and a mode where beats don’t have directional arrows on them.
The developer plans to continue supporting Beat Saber after release with additional content. The first new content pack will include ten new songs, and is expected “very soon” after launch. Beat Saber on PC has been supported by custom, community created songs that have expanded the game’s soundtrack considerably. Players are hopeful that the PS4 release will include a level editor to add custom songs, but Beat Games have not commented on the feature yet. The game’s Steam page makes clear that Beat Games will include an official level editor on PC, but copyright laws and other issues could mar a PS4 version of the feature.


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Swift and decisive move by Google last night as it axed all third party reviews appearing against hotels on Google Maps and Google Places.
Now, when a user sees a hotel listed they will get all the existing content (photos, address, web link, prices) but the number of reviews has been stripped down to almost a handful.
Previously sites such as TripAdvisor, Yelp, Igougo and many online travel agencies were seeing their reviews fed automatically into a hotel’s Google page.
Such activity has irked the likes of TripAdvisorfor months, with CEO Steve Kaufer claiming the process and way reviews were displayed was “bad for consumers, for the industry, for hoteliers and restaurateurs”.
Google has instantly killed such concerns by simply wiping out all those reviews. Director of product management Avni Shah says in a blog post:
“Based on careful thought about the future direction of Place pages, and feedback we’ve heard over the past few months, review snippets from other web sources have now been removed from Place pages.”
Now that you have Google Places… (browncosocialme.com)
……As Google Places pages are so important now in the organic searach results, how can you improve the placement and then retain it once you win it. We recommend that you do monthly updates of your photos and videos on your Google Places page. ….


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As part of its goal of supplanting Toyota as Europe's top-selling Japanese brand, Nissan has named Paul Willcox as its new European sales and marketing chief.
Willcox is currently head of Nissan's UK national sales company and replaces Simon Thomas, who is leaving the carmaker after 20 years to pursue a career outside Nissan. Willcox starts his new role on July 1.
Colin Dodge, head of Nissan's Africa, Middle East, India and European region, said the appointment of Willcox came as Nissan is "making strong progress with our ambition to be the No. 1 Japanese brand in the region."
Willcox "will ensure that the Europe team stays focused on aggressively pursuing further growth," Dodge added in a statement.
In the first five months Nissan's new-car sales in EU and EFTA countries rose 21.7 percent to 206,314, compared with a year earlier, according the ACEA, the European automakers association. Toyota group sales, including Lexus, fell 4 percent to 256,935 in the same period. Toyota brand sales were 245,254, down 5.4 percent. Lexus sold 11,681 units, up 37.1 percent.
Willcox joined Nissan in 1992 after starting his career at Peugeot in the UK. In 2008, he was appointed managing director of Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd, after which Nissan secured its position as the No. 1 Japanese brand in the UK with more than 100,000 unit sales in 2010.
He will initially work between the UK and Nissan's European headquarters in Rolle, Switzerland, before transferring to Switzerland permanently on August 1.
Nissan said it will name a new head for its UK sales company in due course.


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• GBP advances against major counterparts, including AUD and EUR
• Eurozone retail sales stronger than expected but support on EUR remains limited
• Rupee tumbles along with the equity market in India as COVID cases hit new record
Exchange rate between GBP and some of its major counterparts are gaining this morning, including AUD and EUR. GBPAUD currently trades around 1.8075 at press time, up about 0.34%; GBPEUR currently trades around 1.1545, up about 0.12%. UK has entered the second stage of its lockdown, with offline retailers, hairdressers, beauty treatments and outdoor hospitality re-opening under social distancing guidelines. As a result, business confidence among small businesses has been rising aggressively, according to the survey conducted by the Federation of Small Businesses. In Australia, RBA has confirmed the loose monetary policy last week, but unwanted news from vaccine rollouts creates worries among investors. Due to the potential blood clots, AstraZeneca vaccine will no longer be offered to those under 50 in Australia. This would potentially create delays in the vaccination schedule and has created some pressure on AUD as well.
Eurozone has some good news, but its support to the currency remains limited. In February, retail sales increased by 3.0% on a MoM basis, beating the consensus at 1.5%. According to Eurostat, volume of retail trade increased by 6.8% for nonfoods and 3.7% for automotive fuels. On the other hand, foods, drinks and tobacco fell by 1.1%. Among the member states, Austria (+28.2%), Slovenia (+16.4%), and Italy (+8.4%) have led the gains. Among major economies, France has witnessed a -1.2% and Germany +1.2%. Unimpressive data from major economies may be one of the reasons that this release has failed to transfer more support to EUR. Currently, EURUSD trades at 1.1889, down about 0.18%.
In India, the local currency plunged with stocks, amid worries that surging cases may worsen the economic contraction, which is already the worst in seven decades. INR has dropped significantly against USD, with USDINR reaches above 75 for the first time since August 2020. Currently, the pair trades around 75.353, up about 0.5%. On Sunday, India reported 168,912 new infections, totaling more than 13 million. India’s hospitals are running out of beds, yet immunization centers have been turning people away due to shortage of vaccine supply.


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Home » PepsiCo Plans 3,300 Layoffs, Six Plant Closings
PepsiCo Plans 3,300 Layoffs, Six Plant Closings
Facing “continued weakness in the U.S. liquid refreshment beverage category, which resulted in disappointing performance in our domestic beverage business,” PepsiCo Inc. on Oct. 14 reported a 10 percent drop in net income in its third quarter ended Sept. 6 and announced it will close up to six plants and eliminate about 3,300 jobs.
The bad news came despite a 2 increase in volume and 11 percent increase in overall net revenue in the quarter. Year-to-date figures show a 13 percent increase in net revenue and a 1 percent increase in net income.
"In the third quarter, our worldwide snacks and international beverage businesses performed well once again. We had solid top- and bottom-line results in the face of a challenging macro environment and the most difficult quarterly comparisons on commodity cost inputs,” said Chairman/CEO Indra Nooyi. “We were adversely impacted by continued weakness in the U.S. liquid refreshment beverage category … We are taking important steps to revitalize our beverage portfolio."
The 3,300 jobs cuts will come globally, about 40 percent relating to the closing of the six plants and other capacity rationalization actions, which will be announced by the end of the year.
Those steps are included in the “Productivity for Growth initiative,” a broad-based productivity program, “which we expect will produce $1.2 billion in pre-tax savings over three years. The majority of the savings will be invested in our businesses. A primary focus will be restoring growth to our North American beverage business. At the same time, we will increase our investment in developing markets, make selective investments to continue growing our global snacks business and accelerate our global R&D initiatives to help secure our future innovation pipeline. We firmly believe that now is the time to invest in our future growth."
See http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=78265&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1209173&highlight= for the full announcement about the PepsiCo layoffs
Happy Family Bought by Groupe Danone
Dannon parent acquires 92 percent of seven-year-old toddler food company.
Anuga 2013: A Taste of Global Innovations Set to Take Place October 5-9
The huge global food show will be October 5-9 in Cologne, Germany.
Vermont Passes Genetic Labeling Bill
The Vermont House of Representatives approved H.112 on May 10. The bill will go to the senate next in fall 2013. If passed, the earliest the act could become law is January 2014.
GMO Labeling Effort Reaches Washington
Senate and House bills would require the FDA to develop regulations for the labeling of food containing bioengineered ingredients.
Burger King CEO To Take Over at Heinz
Bernardo Hees of 3G Capital is new CEO of Pittsburgh acquisition.
The New Hostess Company Resumes Operations
The Metropolous-Apollo-controlled company plans to reopen four plants and hire workers, but not union labor.
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$10 Billion Offer for D.E Master Blenders 1753
Former part of Sara Lee eyed by European fund Joh. A. Benckiser.
Pinnacle Foods Goes Public
Blackstone Group sells 32 percent of Pinnacle Foods into stock market.
- All news »
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New depths of gloom in Japan
Japan's largest manufacturers are at their gloomiest in four years as exporters struggle with a rising yen and collapsing consumer demand in the US.
The Tankan index of manufacturer sentiment slid to 11 points in March from 19 in December, the second quarterly decline in a row, the Bank of Japan said today.
Large companies said they plan to cut capital spending by 1.6% this year, the worst projection since the economy emerged from a recession in 2002.
The BoJ said last month it would take 'flexible' steps if needed.
JPMorgan Chase says there is a 55% chance the bank will cut the key rate from 0.5% by December.
Toyota last month warned it may not meet sales targets because the rising yen was eroding competitiveness just as US consumers were tightening their belts.
The only glimmer of optimism in the Tankan came from large services companies, for whom the outlook index stood at 13.
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In 3D Printing News Briefs this weekend, we’re talking about a successful 3D printer Kickstarter campaign, a high-temperature material, a partnership, and a new podcast. The Factory One 3D printer raised twice the amount it needed during its crowdfunding campaign, and a Farsoon customer has developed a new high-temperature titanium for 3D printing. Digital Manufacturing Centre and Produmax are working together to drive a new manufacturing era in the UK. Finally, EOS is launching a new podcast, called Additive Snack.
iFactory3D Announces Very Successful Kickstarter
Last month, German startup iFactory3D began a Kickstarter campaign to crowdfund its iFactory One 4-in-1 conveyor belt 3D printer, which features a cool new print error protection system and features for automation. The printer is designed to be upgradeable and customizable, meant for both home and business use, and is clearly very popular. The startup reached its initial goal of $100,000 in just one week, and ended up raising, from 434 backers in Canada, Europe, the US, and Singapore, an impressive $207,000, which is more than twice the original amount for which it asked. General sales for the iFactory One will begin in April of 2021, and iFactory3D also plans to launch a new line of 3D printers next year, which will rely on both crowdfunding and traditional venture capital sources.
“We have just rolled out a successful Kickstarter campaign and reached around 186% of our funding goal. The project was supported by 434 backers, discussed by the community, and featured in various media sources. This means good prospects for the technology in general and for our company in particular,” said Artur Steffen, the CEO of iFactory3D. “We are proud to receive support from the community and are grateful to everyone who voiced their opinion on our product and contributed to it. Thanks to the feedback, we have had a chance to improve the printer’s feature set to meet the current needs of users!”
Farsoon Customer Develops High-Temperature Titanium
Aerospace Hiwing (Harbin) Titanium Industrial Co., Ltd (ANTi), a Farsoon Technologies customer, has developed TA32, a high-temperature titanium powder for metal 3D printing. The company has experience in both titanium and the aerospace industry, which often relies on high-temperature titanium alloys to make important, lightweight components like housings, rotors, and intake pipes, and partnered with Farsoon in 2018 with an investment in its metal laser sintering systems. In addition to the TA32 powder, AHTi also developed its processing parameters for use with Farsoon’s open FS271M printer.
The novel α-type TA32 Titanium alloy has a good tolerance for operating in temperatures up to 550°C, and can even work short-term up to 600°C. The material has good mechanical qualities, including creep, fatigue, and tensile, and would be a good alternative to steel or nickel-based superalloys. ANTi’s TA32 powder also reportedly has great material properties, including high fluidity, purity, sphericity, and bulk density, and its physical properties are a good match for metal 3D printing.
Digital Manufacturing Centre Partners with Produmax
Part of the Silverstone Technology Cluster, the Digital Manufacturing Centre (DMC), together with its new partner, high precision aerospace engineering expert Produmax, will be working to drive a new era in UK manufacturing by combining engineering expertise, resources, and talent. The DMC, which will launch commercially in March 2021, will benefit by being able to offer end-to-end component development and production for customers in the aerospace, automotive, motorsports, and space sectors, while Produmax will operate a satellite site at the DMC with a suite of DMG MORI precision engineering and machining equipment, which should work well with the DMC’s Renishaw 3D printers.
“The partnership between the Digital Manufacturing Centre and Produmax signifies the coming together of two experienced teams and industry players, both investing in disruptive technology and the future of British manufacturing. The facility itself will be unique and a pioneer for many connected engineering and production technologies, but it is our key partnerships with highly regarded companies like Produmax that will help to fulfil the DMC’s true potential,” said Kieron Salter, CEO at the DMC.
“With a well-earned reputation and an impressive track record within space and aerospace manufacturing, Produmax is an ideal technical partner as we work towards our 2021 launch. Their provision of on-site precision engineering, machining and inspection services will help us to deliver a complete end-to-end engineering-led solution for customers across a range of industries, with fully connected digital support and an uncompromising dedication to quality.”
EOS Launches Additive Snack Podcast
The latest 3D printing podcast on the scene is the new Additive Snack, by EOS. Hosted by Fabian Alefeld, the Additive Minds Consultant Manager for EOS North America, Additive Snack will offer interviews, expert insights, and real-world stories from the industry, so listeners can learn about how to achieve additive manufacturing business growth. Each episode will feature a different AM expert, and the first one, with bei Boston Consulting Group (BCG) partner and associate director Dr.-Ing. Wilderich Heising, is already available for your listening ears. You can listen to Additive Snack episodes on Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, or Amazon Music. Just subscribe on whichever platform you prefer.
“AM can be confusing, and the path forward can be complex. Additive Snack is here to bring clarity to the chaos by providing best practices and common mistakes to avoid on your AM journey,” the Additive Snack website states. “No marketing B.S and no product pitches. Just the education, inspiration, and information you and your organization needs to drive business growth.”
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Microsoft appeared to be opening the Champers over its record profits
, however the spin aimed to conceal what appears to be a slowing of sales of its Vista operating system.
According to Electronista,
which had a detailed look at the figures, the sales rate of Microsoft's Windows Vista is gradually slowing down.
The Vole only shipped about 28 million copies of Vista in the latest quarter ended September, or 9.3 million copies per month.
While Volish spinners emphasised a 27 per cent growth in business licenses and said that many home users were buying the more lucrative Vista Home Premium or Ultimate editions, they covered up the fact that the was a decline from the 10 million per month sales reported early in summer.
In fact Vista sales were only much cop in the first three months after its January release. In those heady days Microsoft flogged 20 million copies per month thanks to a wave of early adopters and users waiting for Vista to replace older systems


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Apple just announced App Store Awards 2021, with the MBBank app the only banking application in Vietnam among the Top Apps of 2021 on iOS.
While the presence of international brands like Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and Gmail does not come as a surprise, the Made in Vietnam MBBank app has piqued people’s interest. What is so intriguing about this app?
MB is the first Vietnamese bank to provide consumers several account numbers – akin to a wallet with many compartments – via the MBBank app. App users may quickly create a personalized account number, a phone number account, a date of birth account, or a quartet account, based on their preference.
Notably, the MBBank app is the only financial application to appear in Vietnam’s Top Apps of 2021 on iOS.
Customers may now make transfers with their unique account numbers, which are easy to remember and convenient, rather than memorizing a long series of digits (like the old 13-number accounts). This successful approach has helped reduce consumer uncertainty while transferring money.
Getting a 2-in-1 deal via VietQR code
MB quickly added a quick payment mechanism using the VietQR code into the MBBank application. Payment transactions are completed in a fraction of a second using the VietQR code, eliminating the need to input payee data like account numbers, account names, beneficiary banks, etc., as with traditional money transfers. Users may also customize their mascot and color during VietQR payments.
Handy for business owners, shippers, and customers
The QR payment feature can be especially useful for small- and medium-sized enterprise owners, delivery shippers, and consumers. Customers or shippers just need to scan the QR code to immediately process the transfer order. Sellers will also receive the funds quickly and without incurring any further fees. MB has increased the QR code payment limit to VND500 million ($21,740), making this service extremely convenient for both buyers and sellers.
With a digital mindset in its DNA, MB has recently enhanced the capability of this cashless payment method, allowing business owners to actively settle with VietQR in addition to providing a smooth payment experience. Specifically, business owners may use the MBBank app to generate a transaction QR code with the due amount of the goods, product content, and beneficiary account, making inventory and settlement easier. Furthermore, the MBBank app also incorporates personal computers, permitting customers to easily calculate while shopping.
‘Fear of losing money? MB will compensate’
Customers were drawn to the slogan ‘Fear of losing money? MB will compensate’ that appeared recently on the MBBank app.
Particularly, MB is the first bank in Vietnam to provide clients up to VND100 million in compensation in case they fall victim to fraud while making online payments with an MB account or international payment card. Those who spend more than VND10 million on debit and foreign credit cards between Nov. 4, 2021 and Nov. 4, 2022 will be alerted to activate this special protection mode for a one-year period.
MB is the first and only bank offering compensation to customers in case of fraudulent online payments.
Understanding user psychology and pioneering exceptional financial product experiences, particularly on digital platforms, is the path MB defined to lead digitalization.
MB continues to assert its superior quality and advanced technology as the sole banking app on the list of Top Apps of 2021 on the iOS operating system in Vietnam, thereby contributing to a cashless society.
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For people who live on the north side of Mount Pleasant, a stop at one of the shops or restaurants inside the Market at Oakland has become a regular convenience. It’s a luxury that many couldn’t do without.
Since opening at the end of 2007, the Market at Oakland has gone from just a few storefronts to 20 leases for AVTEX Commercial, the owners of the shopping complex.
Tex Small, owner and CEO of AVTEX Commercial, said they realized the anticipated growth of the north area and decided that it would be perfect for retail.
“We are blessed to be in the position we are,” he said. “There has been a tremendous amount of growth in the area and we anticipate more. We look forward to continuing to serve the area.”
He said a number of new stores are on the way.
“We have signed five new leases in the last few months and we anticipate more coming soon,” he pointed out.
Small explained that when the shopping center opened in 2007, growth was limited until 2012 because of a sluggish economy. That is no longer the case.
“Since then it has gradually gotten better and we have noticed that home real estate has improved in that area. With an increase in home buying and building, retail got better, too, at the Market at Oakland,” he said.
Businesses that have been with the shopping center since its inception include Trek Bicycle Store, East Bay Deli, Jersey Mike’s, Tresses Salon Studio, UPS and Wild Wing Café.
“We are happy to have these stores with us for so long,” Small said with gratitude. “Their loyalty to the area means a lot.”
Small expressed that he also is grateful to residents of north Mount Pleasant for their tremendous support of the shopping center, especially to the restaurants.
“There is a true community atmosphere that we are so happy to be a part of,” he remarked.
Small said he anticipates more buildings to be constructed in the area around the shopping complex in the future and that the center probably will eventually be expanded.
“We have so much support from the town. We feel very fortunate,” he pointed out.
Market at Oakland is convenient not only for local residents but also for visitors to the area beaches. Tourists who visit Wild Dunes, Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s are all nearby.”
As the tagline reads: “Where north Mount Pleasant shops” — the Market at Oakland is worth a stop.”
AVTEX Commerical also owns retail complexes in Georgia and in Greenville, as well as the office building at Coleman Boulevard and Mill Street in Mount Pleasant. For more information on the Market at Oakland, visit www.marketatoakland.com.
By Theresa Stratford


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Experts Challenge Fast Food Chains’ Claims of Necessitating Price Hikes Amid Minimum Wage Increase
Debunking the Fast Food Price Hike Narrative: Experts Assert Wage Increase Manageable for Companies
Following the recent minimum wage increase in California, experts are questioning claims made by some fast food chains that they need to raise prices or cut jobs to deal with higher labor costs, according to the published article of KNX News. They say that despite what CEOs are saying fast food companies can handle the extra costs without having to raise prices much. Ali Bustamante from the Roosevelt Institute pointed out that these companies are making a lot of money so they can manage without hurting customers or workers.
Michael Reich, a professor at UC Berkeley agreed saying that the impact on companies might not be as bad as they say. He explained that the average cost for companies will only go up a bit, even if the minimum wage goes up a lot. Tia Koonse from the UCLA Labor Center added that in places where wages are already high claims of job cuts because of higher labor costs are not true.
Experts Argue Against Fast Food Price Hike, Advocate for Worker Investment Instead
Despite some fast food chains saying they need to raise prices, experts are saying otherwise. They believe companies can handle the higher wages without making customers pay more. They’re urging companies to use this as a chance to invest in their workers which they say will be good for everyone in the long run. This debate shows how complicated things can get when talking about how much people should get paid and how businesses should operate.


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Ireland is chief executive officer and chief designer of kathy ireland Worldwide, a design and marketing firm founded in 1993 with the mission of “finding solutions for families, especially busy moms.”
magazine has ranked kiWW at No. 28 on its list of the
, the highest ranking for any single lifestyle brand. The company reported nearly $2 billion in worldwide retail sales.
“We are thrilled to welcome Kathy to take the stage at this year’s Licensing International Expo,” says Charles Riotto, president, LIMA. “The tremendous success that Kathy and her company have achieved in strategically developing and growing a long-term, worldwide brand through licensing is
”Kathy Ireland is a great example of how licensing can drive a brand’s success, so she is an ideal keynote speaker for Licensing International Expo 2012,” says Chris DeMoulin, president of Advanstar Licensing Group. “Brands of all sizes that are looking to increase their reach will be able to take something away from Kathy’s address and all of the other opportunities at this year’s trade show and conference.”
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Exports of region
With a population of 1.3 billion, China is undoubtedly the world’s manufacturing powerhouse. But as Chinese families rise to the middle class at unprecedented rates, the country is starting to be viewed as something different: a relatively untapped market for wine and other “Western” goods.
According to export experts, serious wine sales to China have only caught on in the past five years. But the rate at which those exports are growing have outpaced many other sectors.
In 2008, the value of U.S. wine imported by China was more than $19 million, according to the Wine Institute. That number may seem small considering the more than $50 billion impact California’s wine business has on the state. However, that paltry export number is likely to skyrocket in the coming decade.
“There’s definitely an interest that’s developed … and it’s particularly among people in the under-35-year-old crowd,” said Christopher Beros, managing director of the California-China Wine Trading Co., based in San Francisco.
Beros added that the significance of this trend could mean huge dollars for U.S. — and particularly California — wineries.
And as that wine-drinking segment expands, ages and accumulates more disposable income, the demand for wine will balloon along with it.
Only a handful of tri-county wineries currently export to China, and most of those that do just started in the past year or are preparing to begin in the coming year. One of them is Starlane & Dierberg Estate Winery in Santa Ynez.
The winery has been working with the California-China Wine Trading Co. to export a small portion of its cases to China. As with any product being prepared for export, there’s a lot of legal wrangling to sort out, which is why going through an export specialist can make the process a bit easier.
JiaMin Dierberg, the winery’s Asia-Pacific sales director, said Dierberg & Starlane has two things going for it. The first is that it produces Bordeaux and Burgundy varietals, which apparently the Chinese can’t get enough of. The second is that they have JiaMin Dierberg, who was born and raised in China, so she understands the audience and can speak to them directly at wine trade shows there.
One of the biggest uphill battles Dierberg and others in the wine export industry noted is educating the Chinese public about California wines.
“I think China has gotten a lot wealthier, but it is still a developing country. Wine knowledge is still really limited,” she said.
Unfortunately for California, the Chinese have a major bias for French wine. Accounting for nearly 40 percent of China’s wine imports, France dominates and has for decades.
“They think if you want to have really good wine you have to have French wine,” Beros said.


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If you described your car as a smart device, everyone but Elon Musk might look at you askance. But the modern car really is one, points out Ivan Poupyrev: “It has internet, a map, artificial intelligence, and people you can talk to.” Poupyrev, Google’s director of Engineering, Advanced Technology and Products and the mastermind behind its Jacquard project, is shooting for the same seamless integration with the wearable devices he’s helping to make a reality. The aptly named initiative weaves technology into everyday fashion items, aiming not to manufacture an ostentatious “wearable tech” device but “to make technology disappear, so that people live their normal lives, [with] technology becoming something in the background.”
Poupyrev was inspired to create Jacquard after thinking about how stashing your smartphone in your jacket pocket turns the garment, in a sense, into a piece of technology. “So why doesn’t the jacket do more?” he asked himself. In his hands, clothes become overachievers: The cuffs of a Levi’s trucker jacket have call-answering capabilities; the strap on a Saint Laurent backpack can drop a Google Maps location pin. (In June, Google Cloud and LVMH announced an AI and cloud-based partnership focused on LVMH’s maisons, presaging more fashion-tech innovation ahead.)
The collaborations don’t stop at designer labels. Earlier this year, the tech giant worked with the residents of Champions Place, a living community for young adults with disabilities, to get feedback on how smart clothing—such as jackets that allow you to make emergency calls—could address their needs.
Poupyrev keeps one question at the forefront: “How can technology adapt to us, instead of us adapting to technology?” For him, design is paramount. “Google is not making its own backpack or clothing or jacket,” he notes. For the designers they work with, technology is “an ingredient. We take a backseat and let creators be the decision makers. We try to co-create with them, rather than dictate what should be done.”
This article appears in the September 2021 issue of ELLE.
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Look mum, no satellite dish. Sky launches streaming television that doesn’t require a satellite dish or even a set-top box
Sky has announced a bespoke television that will stream television content over fibre broadband lines, instead of using the traditional satellite dish mounted on the side of the house.
Called Sky Glass, the television is being touted as “dramatically simplifying the way customers watch TV by integrating hardware, software and content.”
Traditional television channels have been concerned about the growing uptake of streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+ and even Disney+. And this uptake has only increased during the Coronavirus lockdowns.
Sky sought to offset the impact of these streaming services via its Sky Mobile app for smartphones, tablets and PCs.
But now the television giant has gone one step further, and is offering a complete television streaming solution, known as Sky Glass.
Available in the UK from 18 October, it is a complete television unit that comes with Sky and other apps included.
Sky says the Glass television comes with “cutting-edge design available in five colours and three sizes,” as well as ultra HD and Quantum Dot technology producing over 1 billion colours. Added in is Dolby Atmos sound that comes with built-in speakers and sub-woofer.
It is also said to be the first television certified as a CarbonNeutral product.
Users can speak to the Sky Glass, using the “Hello Sky” to find what to watch.
“Sky Glass is the streaming TV with Sky inside, providing the total integration of hardware, software and content,” said Dana Strong, group chief executive. “Built on over 30 years of understanding what our customers want, this is a TV that only Sky could make. We believe this is the smartest TV available, and that customers will love it.”
Size wise, Sky Glass comes in three sizes, namely small 43”, medium 55” and large 65”.
Colours include ocean blue, ceramic white, racing green, dusky pink, or anthracite black, with matching remotes and customisable speaker fascias for extra personalisation.
A mounting bracket is integrated into the TV, or a colour matched stand is also available.
Sky also said it has made Sky Glass affordable.
Prices start from as little as £13 per month, but a Sky subscription is also required, so factor in an additional £26 for Sky Ultimate TV (which includes HD).
This translates to £39 per month to get the 43” Sky Glass TV. For just £4 more a month the user can increase the size of the TV to a 55”, or £8 more for a 65”.
If buying Sky Glass outright, the smallest 43” Sky Glass will cost £649, the 55” will cost £849 and the 65” will cost £1,049.


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Retailers are increasingly looking for new ways to make their operations more environmentally friendly, and RFID for sustainable fashion retail is one of the solutions.
Is RFID The Key to Sustainable Fashion Retail?
Sustainability is a buzzword in the fashion industry and has been for many years. As the world looks for ways to slow the extent of climate change, retail is an important beacon for change.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) most recent report makes for uncomfortable reading. The panel predicts that global warming will reach 1.5 degrees Celsius by the early 2030s, resulting in unprecedented ice melt, seawater rising, and extreme heatwaves. However, there is also hope that reducing emissions and global consumption could halt rising temperatures, enabling the world to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.
One industry that requires urgent change is fashion retail. The fashion industry alone accounts for as much as 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions as well as 20% of wastewater. Additionally, 85% of the world’s textiles end their life in landfills or incinerators.
Many retailers are already doing what they can to make their operations more sustainable. This includes investing in sustainable materials as well as making physical stores more environmentally friendly. However, consumers are demanding more. This requires new innovations, and RFID for sustainable fashion retail could prove to be the solution.
Many retailers already understand the value offered by RFID in improving the efficiency of operations and omnichannel retailing, but are less aware of the applications of RFID for sustainable fashion retail. However, the technology is crucial if retailers are to make their supply chains more environmentally friendly.
The Emergence of Sustainability in Fashion Retail
Fashion retail sustainability is not a new trend, but it’s certainly true that the move towards more environmentally-friendly fashion has sped up in the last few years. This has been exacerbated both by consumer trends and the damning evidence coming out of research from organisations like the IPCC.
At the G7 summit in August 2020, 32 fashion companies pledged to make their businesses more sustainable. This includes cutting out the use of single-use plastic by 2030 and seeking out environmentally-friendly raw materials. Luxury fashion, meanwhile, is aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050.
In luxury fashion, Chloé is going further. In October 2021, they became the first luxury fashion brand to receive B-Corp certification, a testament to their commitment to the ‘triple bottom line’. With their latest footwear line, they used 58% lower-impact materials, compared to 40% for their autumn/winter 2021 collection.
It’s not just a desire to help the planet that is driving fashion retailers to commit to sustainability initiatives, though. Consumer behaviour is also changing. Today, 66% of people say sustainability is a key factor when they make a purchase. The figure is even higher for the younger, millennial age group, at 75%.
There’s even more evidence of how consumer demand is changing. The Sustainability and the Consumer Report from 2021 by Drapers examined how consumers in the UK are reacting to sustainable fashion retail.
The study found that, between January and July 2021, 64% of consumers had made a conscious decision to be more sustainable, and 54% of consumers chose to be more sustainable with their fashion retail choices specifically. Overall, one-quarter of consumers say they think about sustainability all the time when making purchasing decisions.
Changing consumer behaviour is evidently driving fashion to be more sustainable. In fact, 50% of C-suite executives in fashion and textiles say that consumer demand is affecting their approach to sustainability. For many brands, responding to consumer demands might mean establishing carbon offsetting or making biodegradable packaging. But committing to fashion retail sustainability will require more than this.
The Problem of the Supply Chain
Fashion supply chains are endlessly complex. Globalisation and cost pressures have ensured that few fashion brands actually have an end-to-end view of their entire supply chain. However, the key to fashion retail sustainability actually lies in the supply chain.
Retail brand Patagonia have stated that 95% of their total carbon emissions come from their supply chain. A staggering 86% of this figure is solely from the creation of the materials necessary for production. Overall, retail supply chain emissions are 28 times as high as operational emissions. However, emissions created in other areas of the supply chain–for example, getting products from production to stores–is not to be underestimated.
For retail brands, cutting emissions within their own operations–distinct from the process of creating raw materials–could deliver 20% of total reductions in carbon emissions. A more efficient approach to transport, retail, and packaging could deliver a saving of 308 million tonnes of CO2 by 2030.
Not only is there a consumer demand for change across the supply chain–and for companies to be able to articulate that change and take control of their entire operations–but there could be financial risks to not adapting. Companies will face up to $120 billion in costs from environmental risks in their supply chain by 2026 due to physical impacts like floods and the increased cost of raw materials due to climate change.
Aside from supply, there are other areas within fashion retailing that will require an overhaul to be more sustainable. One of these is reducing waste. While part of the responsibility for reducing waste lies with the consumer (12% of people aged 18-24 buy fashion once a week, and 11% say they bin clothing they don’t want anymore), fashion retailers can also do more on their side. For example, every season, about 30% of clothes that are made are never sold. Improved operations and logistics–and utilising data to understand consumer trends–could help reduce the amount of clothes that go unused.
Similarly, fashion retailers can invest in circular modes of production and selling, whereby clothes can be returned to a company at the end of their life. Drop-off boxes for recycling clothes are already a staple in some stores, and all go towards improving the sustainability of fashion retail.
While there are a number of ways retailers can improve their sustainability, many companies are simply not ready to make the changes. In order to reduce their environmental impact, companies should be embracing technological innovations such as enhanced data gathering, digitised supply chains, and RFID for retail.
Turning to Technology to Solve Sustainability Issues
Today, 95% of retail CEOs say they plan to increase their investment in digital solutions, evidence that the entire industry sees the value in digital innovation. And while technology has evidently contributed to more emissions by making clothes cheaper and faster to produce, technology like RFID for sustainable fashion retail can also be a way to solve many of the industry’s environmental problems.
One of the biggest problems in the retail supply chain is a lack of visibility. As consumers increasingly demand information on the sustainability of retail operations, retailers will need to turn to new ways of obtaining that data.
Not only does digitising of supply chains increase efficiency and transparency (both of which are important when reducing overall environmental impact), but it also offers retailers in-depth data into their supply chain. More data equals more accountability–it’s a way for retailers to show consumers that they are actively working towards sustainability in their operations.
Retailers that are concerned about the cost of introducing digital innovations in their supply chain needn’t worry. Research shows that around 90% of actions necessary to reduce overall environmental impact can be delivered for a cost below $50 per tonne of CO2. In the end, companies that work towards digitising their supply chains save up to 50% on their costs: and that’s not counting the drastic sustainability benefits.
Additionally, the cost of innovations like RFID for retail has been steadily falling over the last ten years to 80% of its original cost. This is crucial, as RFID could be the solution for sustainable fashion retail.
How RFID Can Benefit Sustainable Fashion Retail
RFID has huge benefits for retail. Not only can the technology support omnichannel retailing but also make supply chains more efficient and help improve the customer experience. Overall, retailers–especially in the fashion industry–are increasingly turning to RFID to solve retail problems.
93% of retailers in the US already use RFID, up from just 34% in 2014. Additionally, 22% of softlines retailers have plans to adopt RFID in order to support supply chain and analytics. Despite this, though, many are still unaware of the value of RFID for sustainable fashion retail.
When it comes to making fashion more sustainable, two things are vitally important: data and traceability. As we’ve explored, without end-to-end visibility, it’s impossible for retailers to understand the environmental risks in their supply chain. Furthermore, without data, retailers cannot be transparent and will lack the understanding to make changes to their supply chains to make them more sustainable.
The solution to both of these problems is RFID for retail. When retailers embrace RFID for sustainable fashion retail, they take the first step toward more environmentally-friendly business practices.
Reduce and Reuse Applications
With millions of items sent to landfill every year, retailers need to find a solution to the problem of retail waste. When RFID is used for sustainable fashion retail, it can help retailers find ways to reuse stock and reduce the raw materials required for creating products.
For example, RFID can show retailers which products are and aren’t selling in real-time, allowing retailers to make immediate decisions to improve sustainability. They could make adjustments to stock at the initial manufacturing stage, minimising their use of materials.
Additionally, RFID also has applications for sustainable fashion retail in promoting a circular fashion economy by allowing garments to be returned to retailers at the end of their life. RFID could allow reuse and recycling applications for old stock by tracking exactly where stock is and allowing for more accurate sorting of old stock in preparation for recycling.
Smart Inventory Management
Using RFID tags in retail results in a 25% improvement in inventory accuracy. With Detego’s end-to-end RFID software, retailers can achieve 99% total inventory accuracy. This is crucial for fashion retail sustainability, as more efficient inventory logistics means less waste along the supply chain and in stores.
With RFID for sustainable fashion retail, stores can trust that they are only ordering what they need, and they have the ability to quickly react to consumer trends, producing only what will eventually sell. This prevents overstocking and makes transportation more efficient.
Optimising Retail Space
We know that e-commerce is more sustainable than physical retailing. In fact, on average, shopping online emits three times less CO2 than visiting a real-life store. However, brick-and-mortar stores are clearly here to stay.
Research from Deloitte found that more consumers are embracing omnichannel shopping–a mix of physical and online–rather than solely e-commerce. In fact, 27% of online retail purchases are fulfilled at a physical location.
As the need for a mix of physical stores and online shopping becomes more apparent, retailers will have to think carefully about how to improve the sustainability of their stores. RFID for sustainable fashion retail offers a way to do this–by optimising retail space by only selling the items that are in demand at that particular time.
We already know that without end-to-end visibility, retailers cannot begin to create a sustainability strategy. The technology grants retailers full visibility of their operations, as stock makes its way from warehouses to distribution centres or stores.
By harnessing the data created by RFID tags, retailers can begin to publish information about their sustainability strategy. Not only will this inform future sustainability actions by letting retailers know which policies are performing, but it also lets consumers know that you’re taking action against climate change. As such, RFID for sustainable fashion retail has multiple benefits: it makes retailers more sustainable and improves customer interactions with your brand.
An RFID retail solution
Stock accuracy, on-floor availability, and RFID omnichannel applications in stores.
Book an RFID demo to find out how our cloud-hosted RFID for retail solution could help you improve your sustainable credentials. Our multi-user app can provide intelligent stock takes and a smart in-store replenishment process, making your retail strategy more sustainable. With RFID for sustainable fashion retail, you get end-to-end visibility of your supply chain, making it easier to make changes to be more environmentally friendly.


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Pasta Pass and NEW Annual Pasta Pass Go on Sale Thursday, August 23
Olive Garden is redefining “unlimited” this year with its sale of the Never Ending Pasta Pass by giving 1,000 superfans the opportunity to buy an exclusive Annual Pasta Pass for only $300. The first-of-its-kind Annual Pasta Pass includes 52 weeks of unlimited servings of guests’ favorite pastas, homemade sauces and toppings, accompanied by unlimited soup or salad and breadsticks. This unprecedented pass will be available to purchase alongside 23,000 $100 Never Ending Pasta Passes exclusively at www.PastaPass.com for 30 minutes beginning Thursday, Aug. 23 at 2 p.m. ET. Last year, 22,000 Pasta Passes were claimed instantaneously, giving guests an all-access pass to Olive Garden’s most popular promotion of the year, Never Ending Pasta Bowl.
“We have the most passionate fans who look forward to Pasta Pass and Never Ending Pasta Bowl throughout the year, and they’ve made it clear that eight weeks just isn’t long enough,” said Jennifer Arguello, executive vice president of marketing for Olive Garden. “So we listened, and we’re excited to give our guests more of what they’ve been asking for – an Annual Pasta Pass that extends our Never Ending Pasta Bowl promotion year-round.”
Never Ending Pasta Pass
- 23,000 available
- $100 each
- Eight weeks of unlimited access to Never Ending Pasta Bowl
Guests who claim one of the 23,000 Pasta Passes for $100 can enjoy eight weeks of access to unlimited pasta, homemade sauces, pasta toppings, soup or salad and breadsticks for the duration of the Never Ending Pasta Bowl promotion Sept. 24 through Nov. 18.
Annual Pasta Pass
- 1,000 available
- $300 each
- 52 weeks of unlimited access to Never Ending Pasta Bowl
For less than $1 a day, 1,000 lucky recipients of an Annual Pasta Pass will receive 52 weeks of unlimited pasta, homemade sauces, pasta toppings, soup or salad and breadsticks.
Never Ending Pasta Bowl
Throughout Never Ending Pasta Bowl beginning Sept. 24, all guests can enjoy unlimited servings of their favorite pasta combinations, homemade soup or salad and freshly baked breadsticks, starting at $10.99. Guests can choose among pastas, homemade sauces and toppings to create more than 100 possible combinations. This year, a new Creamy Spinach & Artichoke Sauce and Garden Veggies topping are added to the lineup.
For more information or to purchase an Annual Pasta Pass or Never Ending Pasta Pass on August 23, visit www.PastaPass.com. Guests can join the conversation with #PastaPass.


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Miles kubheka was inspired by food shortage to quit his job at microsoft and decided to launch his grocery business in Alexandra, Johannesburg.
During the pandemic, Miles kubheka realized that the traditional market setting was not designed to favor poor consumers or communities as it often exposed them to high food prices.
He also noticed that low-income consumers spent a large chunk of their finances buying food, the households are most at risk as household income drops suddenly, food prices increase unexpectedly and many live in homes which do not allow them to purchase large quantities of food.
Miles Kubheka, the CEO and founder of Gcwalisa.
Miles Kubheka decided to launch his first grocery refill dispensary outlet in Alexandra, Johannesburg to make sure that low-income consumers are well catered to in the retail business
He believes that the best solution was an outlet that provides low-income communities the opportunity to purchase stable household food items at variable quantities, using their own refill dispenser to suit their budget.
Miles Kubheka also launch his retail outlet Gcwalisa to tackle waste challenges because he aimed to reduce single-use plastic in his community.
His retail outlet is changing the face of retail in the townships. Kubheka said that his outlet purchases products directly from the manufacturer, so consumers have the opportunity to purchase more affordable household items. He further explained that his business model enables brands to supply the informal market in bulk using a branded refill dispenser. Customers can then purchase their groceries in micro-sizes.
The South African businessman, got funding to start his business after he was awarded $31,000 for becoming one of the finalists of the SAB Social Innovation Awards to invest in his business. He was also assigned a mentor to guide him on his entrepreneurial journey and till today his business is doing great.
Miles kubheka advice other entrepreneurs that wants to be like him, “just start” support is most likely to come “when you start with something”.