text:
Xiaomi shifted its focus away from the tablet segment after launching the Mi Pad 4 back in 2018. With Xiaomi out of the equation, brands including Samsung, Huawei, Lenovo, and even Amazon with its Fire tablets dominated the Android tablets segment. However, if a new report from XDA Developers is anything to go by, it appears as though Xiaomi is planning to make a strong comeback in the foreseeable future.
Xiaomi’s Upcoming Android Tablets
According to the report, Xiaomi is allegedly working on at least three Android tablets. These devices have the codenames ‘nabu’, ‘enuma’, and ‘elish’ respectively. In addition, these codenames are referenced in methods like ‘isPad’ in the source code of multiple MIUI 12.5 system apps.
Apart from this, Xiaomi tipster kacskrz has spotted a settings page demonstrating system navigation for tablets in a recent alpha build of the MIUI Home app (version 220.127.116.1189). Take a look at the settings page below:
The report also reveals the model names of Xiaomi’s upcoming tablets. While the devices with codenames ‘enuma’ and ‘eilish’ will have the model names K81 and K81A respectively, the tablet with the codename ‘nabu’ has the model name K82. In addition, it looks like just ‘enuma’ (K81) will offer LTE/5G cellular connectivity.
Coming to the key specifications, all three models are tipped to have an IPS LCD display with up to 120Hz refresh rate and 2560 x 1600 pixel resolution. Moreover, ‘nabu’ (K82) is likely to have a 10.97-inch display with 236mm x 148mm dimensions. It could also equip an 8,720mAh dual-cell battery. K81 and K81A are expected to feature chipsets built on Qualcomm’s sm8250 platform – Snapdragon 865, 865+, or 870, while K82 could feature Qualcomm’s sm8150 platform – Snapdragon 855, 855+, or 860.
Xiaomi has the infrastructure and potential to be a key player in the Android tablets industry. With these new tablets, the company could be looking to compete against the likes of Samsung and Apple. For now, we will have to wait to see when these tablets will see the light of day in the coming months. Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun has already confirmed that the company will launch new tablets sometime later this year.


text:
PORTLAND, Ore. — Waiting in a line that snakes around downtown Portland’s hip and funky VooDoo Donuts offers up plenty of examples of just how folks in the Pacific Northwest “Keep Portland Weird.”
Take a look, though, at the feet of those in line and chances are that if visitors have on a pair of performance shoes, those shoes were designed right there in Portland. But there's nothing weird about Portland turning into the performance shoe capital of the world.
And it isn’t just about Nike. Or Adidas. Or Under Armour. Or even Columbia, Mizuno, Keen or Bogs, to name a few. Portland has taken over the performance shoe industry from top to bottom.
“Portland is an interesting city,” Dick Lyons, Mizuno’s senior vice president, product divisions, tells Edge. “It has creativity and is not afraid to break the norms when it comes to design. The city has a stronghold of sports design, yet also offers design in other areas as well, which I think lends to more ingenuity and inspiration within the sports sector.”
All the creativity keeps drawing companies. And designers.
Portland turned synonymous with Nike, which interestingly enough is located just outside the city in Beaverton. While Nike has built itself into the world’s largest athletic footwear brand since its creation in 1971, the Swoosh has also served as the foundation for Portland’s growth.
Adidas and Columbia have helped pave the way too. Adidas, based in the same German town as Puma, formed a U.S. subsidiary in 1993, locating in Portland.
“Having our North American headquarters based in Portland (along with Nike) makes the city a natural epicenter for the industry,” Adidas spokesperson Lauren Lamkin tells Edge, while explaining the company has recently moved additional portions of its global operations and creative development to Portland.
Founded in 1938, Columbia Sportswear may know Portland better than anyone. What started as a hat company launched into footwear around 1993, the same time Adidas was moving to town.
While Adidas and Nike put a focus on everything from soccer cleats to basketball sneakers, Columbia grew up in the outdoor world, opening with the Bugaboot and building on that with hiking, trail, fishing and more.
“Is Portland a great design place and then turned into the home of some powerhouses like Nike?” asks Mark Nenow, vice president of Columbia’s footwear. “Or because Nike planted its flag here in the beginning, was that the catalyst? It is tricky. Portland has become a real creative place, a real unique place. It is really a melting pot of a lot of creative thinking, energetic and inspiring people. The footwear business feeds off that.”
With so much talent in town in the 1990s, Portland’s footwear design community has grown. Japan-based Mizuno opened a Portland office in 2005 and it has grown steadily since, even attracting key Japanese-based employees. Baltimore-based Under Armour, now the nation’s number-two athletic apparel manufacturer, opened a Portland design office in 2013.
“You can’t understate the impact of the history of footwear design and development in Portland and how this has led to where we are today,” Lyons says. “Footwear design talent has obviously migrated here over the years and this has helped develop a culture of builders and creators in Portland that has attracted many other brands.”
Then you have the small companies too, such as a young Bogs, which started in Eugene in 2002 and moved to Portland in 2011. “Portland was chosen because we recognized that we needed talented people to grow our business,” Bill Combs, president and founder of Bogs, tells Edge. “The access to the outdoors and the high quality of life didn’t hurt either.”
“You can’t underestimate the design talent that resides in Portland,” Lyon says. “Along with Boston on the East Coast, it’s really established as one of the two main hubs for footwear design and development in the U.S.”
So, while Boston folks may still want to hold onto a footwear fashion title, they may have to give up any hope of the performance title. “You might get some pushback from the Beantown crowd,” Nenow says. “Boston has been an interesting center of footwear as well. I think when straight-up athletic, yes, (Portland is the capital).”
As companies found the creative talent they craved in Portland, other pieces of the manufacturing pipeline started falling into place. For talent, the Pensole Footwear Design Academy focuses on footwear design, while the Eugene-based University of Oregon offers a master’s curriculum in footwear design based in Portland.
The allure of a city that combines big-city amenities with small-town charm, healthy lifestyles, sports and creativity helps draw talent already successful in the industry, says Lamkin.
All the pieces, says Nenow, have fallen into place, from merchandising, materials, development and sourcing. “All the A-to-Z components around the footwear business,” he says, “all the supply chain, a lot of things are forming.”
By bringing together design and business, Portland can attract talent from all over the world. “For people who want to get into this industry through design, merchandising or other parts of the business, Portland is...an attractive spot,” Nenow says. “It is not specific from this brand to that brand, but in general is lifting up Portland and that is helpful to everybody.”
Combs says from creative agencies to custom fabricators, having so many players—big and small—in one place bulks up the talent pool.
NBA All-Star Game: Sneaker Roundup
Paul Gaudio, Adidas’ global creative director, recently moved from Germany to Portland. He tells Edge that the array of interests in the town help to build a well-rounded design community. “Portland is not a traditional sports town,” he says. “Portland has the Blazers, Timbers and high school sports, but our proximity to the ocean, mountains, desert, lakes and rivers have fueled the outdoor sports/action sports culture.”
When it comes to building performance footwear, testing it proves important. And in Portland, landscape is certainly available, especially for companies like Bogs, which relies on technology that keeps feet dry and comfortable in the outdoors.
“We have recently expanded our business into new footwear categories,” Combs says. “This growth would have been more challenging if we didn’t have Portland’s creative talent and footwear knowledge easily accessible.”
Lyons says that testing ability extends beyond a hiking trail. The region’s “ideal climate” offers proximity to all types of terrain. “You do not have to travel far to test shoes on varying degrees of terrain,” he says. “There is also a large supply of runners in the market which makes it much easier to test products, catch potential new trends and capture feedback.”
Almost every footwear brand will use the word “innovation” somewhere during a marketing discussion. Proprietary technologies, though, do differentiate companies, as do product design. The Pacific Northwest has proven adept at creating new technologies. But of course, you’ll always need to add that in with that “Keep Portland Weird” culture.
“There is no performance without style,” Nenow says. “When it comes to footwear, we believe that. That is one of the laws of our universe. It is about design. We make sure it performs for the end use, but also a piece of beauty on the shoe wall or on the consumer’s foot.”
As Columbia works toward that goal of creating high-tech—and often waterproof—products that look alluring, so does Nike and everybody else. Being close by allows all the companies, from the small Bogs to the massive Adidas to keep an eye on what others are doing. And while each company will create out of their own niche and ability, having an awareness of others can help to build that “creative signature” that keeps each brand separate.
Combs says Portland priding itself on being different helps Bogs “be different, but be different with a purpose.”
Ultimately, though, locating in Portland equals access. Access to the pipeline associated with designing footwear and access to a growing and historical pool of creative talent. Combined together, Portland serves as the world’s capital of performance shoes. Weird.
Tim Newcomb covers stadiums, design and gear for Sports Illustrated. Follow him on Twitter at @tdnewcomb.

domain: news


text:
No one knows yet what the final effects of 2020 will be on the global economy, public health, and political structures. One thing is for sure though, additive manufacturing (3D printing) is here to stay. In the midst of the upheaval of supply chains and a realization of the importance of localized manufacturing, 3D printing has shown through, saving lives and providing solutions that were previously impossible.
Mirroring, and outpacing, the additive manufacturing industry at large, UF Innovate | The Hub resident client Slice Engineering has grown significantly this year, in spite of the turbulent times and unprecedented economic pressures on startups. We have stuck with our core values of adding innovation and applying fundamental mechanical design principles to the problems we encounter, and our customers, you, have rewarded us accordingly.
That dedication to core values has also landed us on a prestigious global list of startups to follow. Welp Magazine, an online publication focused on technology, recently published its global list of 28 Top Mechanical Design Startups to Follow in 2020. Slice Engineering debuted at #11, one of only a handful of US companies to make the cut.Learn more about Slice Listed as a Top Startup to Follow by Welp Magazine.


text:
Unite, Britain’s biggest union, has welcomed the news that chocolate maker Cadbury is to pour £75 million of investment into its Bournville headquarters.
The money will be released over three years and will mean new production lines, new equipment and greater job security. The Bournville factory currently produces some of the firm's most popular chocolate, including Dairy Milk, Creme Eggs and Wispas.
Unite national officer, Rhys McCarthy said: “This investment is good news and the union has been working with Cadbury to get the best deal possible for workers during this restructuring. It is yet another example of success when unions and employers work together in the manufacturing industry.
“The company has poured in £33 million of investment over the last two years and now it is pouring a further £75 million into Cadbury. Cadbury is creating four brand new assembly lines with brand new equipment. This investment should help the company compete more effectively which in turn will boost job security for over 3,000 workers across the UK.”
For more information contact Ciaran Naidoo from Unite on 07768 931 315
Notes to editors
• Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest trade union with over 1.4 million members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Len McCluskey.


text:
Murk banishing on Switch? Yes, please.
Prideful Sloth’s adorably charming game, Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles is coming to Nintendo Switch. While the Switch port doesn’t have an official release date, they have a new trailer for the announcement which definitely indicates “soon.” In the meantime, it’s available on Steam and PlayStation 4 and will be available in the Nintendo eShop for US $29.99. Check out the announcement trailer here:


text:
Whether it's relaxing by the pool or participating in action-packed activities, the older and younger generations often have very different ideas about what makes for an unforgettable vacation.
A new analysis by online polling site YouGov has found that while young adults and their parents and grandparents have different priorities and interests when it comes to traveling, there are a handful of destinations that are truly multigenerational-friendly.
Collecting data from their online databases, YouGov found that the 18-to-34-year-old cohort prefers a little adventure on their vacations -- ranking experiences like safari and wildlife tours, skiing, and snowboarding as some of their top choices. Meanwhile, the older generations, those aged 50 to 64, said they'd opt for more laid-back options like traditional sightseeing, cruises, and visits to the countryside.
The respective generations also had their owns ideas of the top places they'd like to visit on their next jaunt.
But stressed parents planning your family summer trip, take heart.
YouGov says there are five travel destinations that have something for everyone, regardless of age. Scroll through the slideshow below to see their top picks and head over to YouGov to learn more.


text:
April 1, 2007
A memory chip the size of a white blood cell has profound implications for the future of computing.
This month Metropolis takes detailed looks at objects ranging in scale from the microscopic to the architectural. Links to the related stories can be found at the bottom of this article.
Earlier this year, two scientists announced that they had built a working memory chip about the size of a white blood cell. This was not only a computing breakthrough but something of a design accomplishment. Conventional memory chips are made exponentially smaller every year, à la Moore’s Law, but those are “just a smaller version of what Intel made five years ago,” explains James R. Heath, of the California Institute of Technology, who, along with UCLA’s J. Fraser Stoddart, created the device. Heath and Stoddart, by contrast, were designing on such a minute scale that they had to rethink completely what a memory chip could be. Indeed, the two men are chemists, not engineers, and they built their chips out of clusters of molecules instead of silicon.
The new chip is so small that they needed to devise molecules that would self-assemble in the required ways. Do terms like structure and architecture still apply at this scale? Heath says they do, noting that the chip’s circuitry, which is highly tolerant of defects, was based on some of the same principles as the Los Angeles freeway system’s. “When we first were exploring this, we actually made a computer [chip] that was designed along these levels—with streets, boulevards, and interstates.” Although the technology is about 15 years away from being integrated into your laptop, Heath is optimistic that the chip will ultimately have important applications. In the captions, he explains the details of his revolutionary design.


text:
Asus teases new Transformer tablet in Computex video
The teaser video (below) not-so-subtlety mentions the word “transform” so many times I feel fairly safe in suggesting that Asus will be unveiling a new Transformer tablet next month.
I would also take a wild stab and predict that this Transformer could well run Microsoft’s latest Windows 8 operating system.
Looking at the silhouetted tablet-shape it seems that there will be a prodtastic stylus in this new product of Asus’s.
Asus explained with the launch of the teaser trailer that “At Computex 2013, we’re announcing new products that reimagine the way you interact with desktop PCs, notebooks, smartphones, tablets and more. Join us in our journey as we transform your expectations of technology.”
No official information has been released as yet, but as soon as I get more news about the new Asus, I’ll let you know. In the meantime, check out the video.


text:
The market is rallying for the sixth day in a row.
What's Going on Between China and the U.S.?
Wilbur Ross, the Secretary of Commerce, talked to CNBC early Tuesday morning about the U.S.-China trade relations and whether or not the two countries can come up with a deal at the G20 Summit at the end of June.
Ross said that he doesn't believe that a definitive trade deal can be reached between the two countries at the summit.
Beyond Meat's Downgrade
"As we wrote last week, 'at some point, the extraordinary revenue and profit potential embedded in BYND... will be priced in' - we think this day has arrived," wrote analyst Ken Goldman.
The stock was downgraded from overweight to neutral.
The House Judiciary's Hearing on Big Tech
The House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday is kicking off its hearing into big tech.
Last week, the committee unveiled a sweeping "top-to-bottom" review of unnamed tech companies, the first probe of its kind by Congress, following reports of a dual effort from the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to tackle the perceived dominance and potential abuses of tech giants such as Apple, Facebook (FB) - Get Free Report , Alphabet (GOOGL) - Get Free Report and Amazon (AMZN) - Get Free Report .
More from Cramer Today
Advice from Jim Cramer: Setting Up A Portfolio For Your Grandchildren


text:
We have known for a while now that Samsung is working on a new budget smartphone series called the Galaxy M. The first three devices in this series will be the Galaxy M10, M20 and the M30. Samsung will reportedly be consolidating its Galaxy C, J and On affordable lineups with this series.
SamMobile exclusively reported about the color and storage options for these devices. It has been about two weeks since the Galaxy M30 surfaced on Geekbench. It appears that additional specs of this device have now been leaked. The Galaxy M30 reportedly measures in at 159 x 75.1 mm x 8.4mm.
Galaxy M30 specs may also include a 5,000mAh battery
The report claims that the Galaxy M30 is going to feature a 6.38-inch 2220×1080 pixel resolution Infinity-U display. It may be the first device with Samsung's Infinity-U panel. The illustrations that Samsung showed at SDC 2018 suggest that it would essentially be a waterdrop notch.
It's also said to feature a triple camera system at the back with 13-megapixel, 5-megapixel and 5-megapixel sensors. One would likely be a depth sensor which will deliver an enhanced bokeh (background blur) effect. There would be a 16-megapixel front camera as well.
As per the Geekbench listing, the Galaxy M30 will be powered by an Exynos 7885 processor with 4GB of RAM. The report mentions that the handset will have a chunky 5,000mAh battery much like the Galaxy M20. It's expected to ship with Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box.
Samsung is yet to confirm when the Galaxy M30 is going to be released, or the entire Galaxy M series for that matter. Given the increased rumblings about this series it's possible that the launch may not be that far off.


text:
Nissan presented drawings of design esport chairs inspired by three of the most famous auto manufacturers' cars, Armada, GT-R Nismo and Leaf, at the celebration of National Video Games Day.
Nissan has implemented the language of design and selected unique characteristics of each vehicle, together with the "Zero Gravity Seat" concept for many Nissan vehicles to look at gaming chairs.
The Nissan-inspired GT-R NISMO chair adopts a sporting strategy with a race-inspired silhouette, lightweight carbon and aluminium fibre, red leather and synthetic suede details.
Focused on comfort with a climate-controlled seat, pluck black and brown leather pillows and additional lumbar support over lengthy game hours, the Armada Gaming Chair has the classic character of an SUV.
Finally, a technologically advanced strategy requires the chair inspired by the all-electric leaf. Integrated USB charging ports add features, while electric blue-inserted light-grey leather seats indicate power efficiency.
The three chair designs are being unveiled just a few months after Nissan announced its partnerships with esports gaming teams Faze Clan and OpTic Gaming. "For any company trying to reach the Gen-Z and millennial-minded audience, streaming and esports is an enormous opportunity," Robert Cross, Nissan's director of media and activation said when announcing the partnerships earlier this year. "We believe this partnership presents a new approach in introducing ourselves and connecting with millions of fans through their favourite gamers."
Nissan has no plans to build the chairs at this time, but reps say the company will gauge public interest via Twitter and go from there.


text:
Australian freestyle swimmer Shayna Jack claims she's innocent - that she did not knowingly take the banned substance Ligandrol, but that it may have entered her body through a contaminated supplement.
Earlier this week, the news broke that Jack had tested positive in June, before competing at the world swimming championships in South Korea.
For many, it would have been the first they'd heard of Ligandrol and the class of drugs known as SARMs - Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators.
But in fact, more than a year ago, a combined triple j Hack and Background Briefing investigation discovered a booming market for Ligandrol and other SARMs, and led to America's so-called 'top steroid cop' warning of their influx into Australian professional and amateur sport.
Jeff Novitzky is a leading sports doping experts who made his name investigating disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong. He's now in charge of cleaning up the UFC mixed martial arts competition.
"The sports supplement industry has quite a few problems, and there's very common occurrences of these supplements being contaminated or in some cases purposefully spiked with really dangerous drugs," Jeff told Hack in April last year.
"It's a worldwide problem."
I am sure this issue exists in Australia.
Shayna Jack's claim of a contaminated supplement is being investigated; without commenting on her specific case, the repeated warnings from national bodies such as ASADA as well as the number of athletes who argue this defence suggests there is a growing problem with contaminated supplements.
Australians are among the highest per capita consumers of vitamins, dietary supplements and sports nutrition in the world, and sales are booming.
Most supplements are perfectly safe, but within the many products there's a dizzying array of ingredients, and complex supply chains that wrap around the world.
So how do the drugs get into the supplements, and what are they?
How supplements can be contaminated
Supplements can be contaminated in two ways: intentionally or accidentally.
Although a supplement may be 'made in Australia', the raw materials (e.g. the protein powder) are often manufactured overseas in large facilities that supply bulk ingredients to hundreds of brands around the world.
According to Novitzky, who investigated supplement contamination in the US when he was with the FDA, in several cases the supply chain led back to Chinese labs that were also producing steroids and other banned substances.
"And I think that's where the problem and the issue originates," he said.
"How it works is the Chinese manufacturing facility will make a run of anabolic steroids.
And then the next run of the material could be a vitamin or a protein. And frankly the machines aren't cleaned off very well or can be cross contamination through particles of the substances going through the air.
Although these suppliers of bulk ingredients issue their customers with a 'paper audit' that guarantees the purity of product, most Australian brands don't do their own regular batch testing; they simply trust that what's on the label is what's in the barrels of white powder.
Regulatory authorities, also, don't do mandatory testing of source ingredients, or even of the finished product that goes on sale to the public.
Alongside accidental contamination, there's also a strong incentive for brands to secretly boost the strength of their product with performance enhancing drugs, and distinguish themselves in a market flooded with competitors.
"Absolutely I did see that as well," Jeff said.
"A lot of these manufacturers in the first and second run of their product would deliberately spike their supplements with prohibited and sometimes illegal substances.
"For the first few months of that supplement being on the market the consumer and end user would really notice a difference from using that supplement, whether it be muscle building if it was a steroid, or energy if there was a stimulant."
In the US, the FDA has identified more than 800 dietary supplements with hidden ingredients in the last 10 years, and there's probably thousands more; it's estimated less than one per cent of all dietary supplements have been tested.
"In my seven or eight years with the FDA I saw dozens and dozens and dozens of potential cases go unworked," Jeff said.
"It's a Wild West industry."
What about the drug Shayna Jack tested positive for?
In recent years, a new type of bodybuilding chemical has appeared on the black market, where it's hyped as the "holy grail" of supplements.
SARMs, which include Ligrandrol, are sometimes called 'synthetic steroids' and they have been promoted as a kind of 'health alternative' - you get the muscle gain without the risk of organ damage and shrunken testes.
Mostly developed in the 1990s to help cancer patients recover after muscle treatment; in 2010, just one athlete worldwide tested positive for SARMs; in 2016, there were 39.
Six of these were Australians - a triathlete, a wrestler, a weightlifter, a bodybuilder, and two motorcyclists. Since then, an Australian basketballer has tested positive, and a powerlifter.
In all these cases except one, the SARM was Ostarine - a drug developed to combat muscle wasting diseases, and subsequently abandoned.
In November last year, ASADA warned there appeared to be an increasing number of athletes linked to another, less popular type of SARM - Ligandrol.
However, exactly which athletes it was referring to is unclear; Shayna Jack is the only Australian athlete to have been publicly sanctioned.
Like every other SARM, Ligandrol has not been approved for human consumption; neither by the FDA in the US, or the TGA in Australia. Clinical trials suggest it may help users increase muscle mass without putting on fat, but it's medium and long-term health impacts are unknown.
Despite this, Australian bodybuilders have been carrying out their own extensive non-clinical trials; last year, Hack and Background Briefing revealed thousands of dollars of SARMs were being openly and illegally sold online and in Australian supplement stores.
Since that story, the Commonwealth has cracked down on online suppliers of SARMs and other illegal bodybuilding drugs, but, although several websites have vanished as a result, others have already sprung up to take their place.
A quick google search yields plenty of willing suppliers of Ligandrol, as well as other SARMs, including some that have been linked to cancer.
How do I know my supplement has not been contaminated?
In a 2016 study, Australian researchers selected 130 supplements from shops in Australia as well as online retailers, and found steroids in 24 of those products.
The actual proportion of contaminated supplements on sale is probably far lower (the researchers tested products they thought may be dodgy), but these results show there's a significant risk.
ASADA recommends Australian athletes use an online database to check whether an ingredient listed on a supplement label is permitted or prohibited in their sport.
It also has a mobile app that gives a complete list of all supplements sold in Australia that have been screened for prohibited substances by an independent laboratory. Tested supplements also have a clear stamp of certification. Given the scrutiny of Australian swimmers ahead of the world champs, it's hard to imagine athletes or coaches would avoid these simple precautions.
And yet, if Shayna Jack is the innocent victim of supplement contamination, there's a good chance the supplement hadn't been independently tested.
In a statement, Jack said she always checked her substances and had never heard of Ligandrol until her drug test came back positive.
Her two positive samples are from a routine out-of-competition test in late June - a month or so before the meet. Ligandrol can be detected for up to 21 days in urine, meaning the substance would have been ingested within two months of the championships.
"I understood the rules of ASADA, and I have followed all their processes," she said.
"In Australia, in a sport like swimming, I feel there is no possible way for an athlete to intentionally take a banned substance and not get caught.
"I get tested approximately every four to six weeks, so why would I take anything banned and do this to myself?"


text:
A senior U.S District (Massachusetts) Court Judge, Rya Wickert Zobel, ratified on Wednesday, September 26, that the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) may further push its supervision of all digital currencies.
On January 24 this year, the CFTC announced through a press release that it had officially filed "a federal court enforcement action under seal on January 16, 2018, charging product scam and misappropriation related to the ongoing solicitation of users for a Crypto called My Big Coin (MBC)."
The CFTC had entreated and sued technology entrepreneur Randall Crater, and several other defendants tied to his company, for allegedly violating the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) by influencing investors to purchase MBC through false statements. Almost 28 potential investors are alleged to have been defrauded of a general $6 million, thinking that MBC was "backed by gold" and strongly traded on different giant exchanges.
The defendants are also purported to have "arbitrarily" engineered the value of MBC to mimic the price swings of a legitimate digital currency, regardless of investors allegedly themselves being unable to withdraw funds or buy/sell their MBC crypto holdings.
Randall's lawyers had tried to red-card the CFTC's case, saying that the crypto circumvented the regulator's enforcement jurisdiction since it was neither a physical good nor a service where futures contracts are grounded.
However, judge Wickert ruled in favor of grouping both MBC and BTC with which Randall had allegedly compared the token as Cryptos in which "contracts for future delivery are [...] presently dealt in." Randall ruled that a product for the issues of CEA is wider than any specific kind or brand of that product, ending that:
“Here, the amended complaint alleges that My Big Coin is a virtual currency and it is undisputed that there is futures trading in virtual currencies (specifically involving Bitcoin). That is sufficient, especially at the pleading stage, for plaintiff to allege that My Big Coin is a ‘commodity’ under the Act.”
Judge Randall is said to have deferred to the previous precedent set by an earlier case from March, where Jack B Weinstein, a New York Judge ruled that the CFTC had all that it takes to regulate the commercial activities of another, purportedly "bold and vicious" Cryptocurrency-related scam from a company called Cabbage Tech Corp.
Judge Weinstein’s ruling ratified the applicability of federal commodity regulations to BTC under the CFTC's supervision, resulting in a successful court order which permanently stopped the activities of Cabbage Tech Corp last month.


text:
To begin with, new consumers of plant-based alternatives need to be taken into account, especially since they are neither new nor novices. In other words, the vast majority of them are consumers who come to plant-based out of conviction, not out of curiosity.
They are aware and committed to their own health and to the planet.
Probably, after a more or less fortunate debut, especially in the choice of products and brands, some people, the vast minority, will opt to return to their old eating habits, but the opposite will be true for the vast majority.
According to the first survey of consumers of plant-based alternatives in our country, published in January 2021 by Proveg Spain, around 80% are plant-based eaters, while just over 22% are reducetarians (people in the process of reducing their consumption of meat and/or other animal products). Both the popularity of plant-based products and the increase in demand are unstoppable.
The new real consumers, those who have chosen to eat plant-based alternatives to animal protein, will not only follow the path they have set themselves, but have become real specialists in the search for the product with the highest nutritional quality, with the highest protein content and the best organoleptic qualities, in order to end up choosing the most balanced between the two.
Because the alternative between eating or not eating animal protein has surpassed the expectations of manufacturers and consumers to establish itself as a range of options that continues to grow and, if the range grows, the demand grows and, if the demand grows, so does the market and the companies and, once again, it starts all over again.
The data show manufacturers and companies a golden horizon in which, if they do not take on challenges, high standards of quality and innovation and marketing campaigns designed with surgical precision, thanks to the tools of digitalisation, there is a clear risk of market loss.
According to figures provided by Markets and Markets, this market was valued at $12.1 billion in 2019 and is forecast to grow at an annual rate of around 15%, reaching almost €23,594 million, by 2025.
In order not to miss out on the new food models, which are no longer in the minority and are growing all the time, such as vegetarians, vegans, flexitarians, or simply curious omnivores who start out as reducetarians for the sake of experimentation, the products destined for manufacturing and those produced directly for points of sale have to be excellent.
And it will not be enough, they will also have to look like it, they will have to look attractive, be really appetising and gastronomically versatile, and provide accurate information on ingredients and nutritional values so that consumers integrate them into their diet with the conviction that they are contributing to a nutritional balance that will make their lives healthier and improve the health of the planet.
And they will also tell about it, a plus for marketing campaigns that, digital or not, have learned to take into account this promotional channel capable of moving mountains.
The market is boiling and the sector is demanding quality products because consumers have access to a wide range of products and are becoming more and more rigorous. Molendum Ingredients, a subsidiary of the Dacsa Group, has accepted the challenge and, thanks to a strong and decisive investment in research and technology, provides the food industry with innovative clean label and allergen-free ingredient solutions to meet the most demanding expectations.


text:
ShopBack has launched a hyper-targeted TVC during Channel Nine’s catch up screenings of Love Island.
The TVC was produced to appeal to ShopBack’s fastest growing segment, millennials.
Working with their creative PR agency Poem’s content team, Poem Studio, the 30’ video brings together reality stars from three of Australia’s most talked about shows Martha Kalifatidis (Married at First Sight), Keira Maguire (The Bachelor), and Josh Moss (Love Island) and compares the ‘shock value’ of the massive cashback deals available via the shopping platform to the internet culture.
Watch the TVC below:
ShopBack head of marketing, Kevin Azzopardi said: “Not only are we educating the Australian market on who ShopBack is, but we are growing the entire cashback category and we’re doing it on a modest budget.
“That means we have to be hyper-targeted in our marketing approach, focusing on key segments which offer us the most growth potential.
“Our TVC is an extension upon our highly successful influencer strategy and we’ve seen positive results since its launch in October.”
ShopBack country manager, Angus Muffest said: “We’re a fun and cheeky brand and we definitely don’t take ourselves too seriously, being able to reflect this in our marketing is key to attracting core consumers”.
The spot has been viewed more than three million times via digital catch up and has exceeded 380k views organically via the influencers’ social channels, proving its appeal amongst the core demographics.
Poem co-founder and executive creative director, Matt Holmes said: “ShopBack is a dream client creatively, due to disruption being in their DNA.
“In a very short space of time, this ambition has presented us with the opportunity to already work with them across ATL, PR, influencer and experiential to earn the attention of their key millennial consumer audience while making an impression on key retail partners and their competitors.”
Holmes said: “Our hybrid approach between PR and creative is helping to drive better business results and we’re looking forward to a huge 2020 and some really fun creative campaigns working with the ShopBack marketing and sales teams.”
Client Lead: Shopback, Head of Marketing, Kevin Azzopardi
PR and creative agency: Poem
TVC creative and script: Poem Studio
TVC production: yeahsure


text:
A Toronto police officer, Const. Boris Borissov, is under scrutiny for allegedly attempting to sell a luxury watch he’s accused of taking from a deceased individual, according to prosecutors. “Brand new, original one, no box. I am asking for $9,000,” Borissov reportedly texted a prospective buyer, as stated by the prosecution. Suspended since February 2022, Borissov faces accusations of pilfering credit cards and a high-end Swiss watch from the deceased, then trying to sell a similar TAG Heuer watch to two construction workers, who testified in a Toronto court.
The workers, who had previous dealings with Borissov, buying items such as a Richard Mille watch and cigars, recounted receiving texts from him about the Swiss watch for sale. The texts included a link to an online listing for a TAG Heuer Grand Prix de Monaco Historique watch, the same model Borissov allegedly stole while investigating a Toronto man’s death.
Charged with theft, fraud, obstruction of justice, possession of property obtained by crime, and fraudulently obtaining computer services, Borissov has pled not guilty. His alleged misconduct includes using a stolen vehicle and misusing police databases.
Testimonies in court revealed Borissov’s interactions with individuals, including selling them various items before offering the TAG Heuer watch. Despite these offers, both men testified they declined to purchase the watch, priced significantly below its listed value.
Evidence presented in court included photos from the deceased man’s home, showing an empty TAG Heuer box among his belongings, suggesting a link to Borissov’s alleged attempt to sell the stolen watch. The case continues to unfold, with the court examining Borissov’s use of his police authority to commit alleged crimes, including the unauthorized use of police databases and possession of a stolen vehicle, as the prosecution builds its case against him.


text:
What you need to know
- A new leak has revealed some of the new features that will be included in the Galaxy S21 series' One UI 3.1.
- These include the ability to transfer app state from one device to another, background videos for incoming calls, and more.
- Samsung will launch One UI 3.1 alongside the Galaxy S21 series on January 14.
It's not a Samsung flagship release if literally every new feature hasn't already been leaked weeks in advance. With that in mind, the barrage of Galaxy S21 leaks continues. While we already have a good idea of what the phones' design, specs, and cameras bring to the table, the new software features Samsung has been baking into One UI 3.1 have largely flown under the radar thus far. Well, thanks to YouTuber Jimmy is Promo, that is no longer the case.
In a recently uploaded video, the YouTuber goes over many of the new features that'll launch alongside what will likely be the best Android phones of 2021 for some time to come. Perhaps the most interesting of these is the option to 'Continue apps on other devices.' As the name suggests, the feature allows you to transfer the current app state from one device to another, much like how Apple's Continuity feature works between iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
Alongside this, One UI 3.1 will also allow users to set videos as the background for the incoming calls screen, including the use of dancing AR emoji avatars. You can check the feature out at the 0:22 minute mark in the video above.
A welcome surprise that I'm sure many Samsung fans will appreciate is the option to choose between Samsung Free and Google Discover as their new feed to the left of the home screen. Users tend to prefer Google's offering in this regard, and it's nice to see Samsung finally listening to users' feedback.
While we've already known about this for a while now, the video also shows off S Pen support for the S21 Ultra, with Air View, Air Command, and many of the other Galaxy Note series you know and love making their way to Samsung's largest next-gen flagship.
On the camera front, Samsung has already made serious improvements to the phones' hardware, but it hasn't forgotten the software, either. The phones will have access to a new 'Director's view' that allows you to switch between the front and rear cameras without needing to stop recording.
Get More Galaxy S20
- Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra review
- Samsung Galaxy S20+ review
- Samsung Galaxy S20 review
- The best Galaxy S20 cases
- The best Galaxy S20 screen protectors
- The best Galaxy S20+ cases
- The best Galaxy S20+ screen protectors
- The best Galaxy S20 Ultra cases
- The best Galaxy S20 Ultra screen protectors
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
There's a lot to look forward to with Android 11, but when will your phone actually get it? Here's everything we know!
The budget-friendly OnePlus Nord N10 5G and N100 will launch in North America on January 15th, bringing more value to the prepaid market.
It's a new month, a new year, and there's a new security patch rolling out! Has your Pixel been updated to the January 2021 patch?
Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S20 FE and the device is sure to turn plenty of heads for the next few months. With stiff competition in the mid-range market, it's clear that Samsung wants to compete and the S20 FE is fantastic. If you're picking one of these awesome new devices up, make sure you pair it with a case to keep it looking awesome.


text:
By Eric Ng Ping Cheun
Previously announced in the 2005-06 budget, the government’s policy to transform Mauritius into a Duty Free Island has been emphasized again in the Government Programme 2010-2015. In people’s mind, the concept is not limited to developing shopping tourism but covers all economic activities. In that case, the project consists in dismantling all tariff barriers to permit the free flow of foreign goods into the country.
Import liberalization is currently well-paced. During the past five years, the government has set the stage for a modern integrated business, shopping and leisure hub. While several shopping malls have sprung up, some 87 per cent of tariff lines are now duty free and customs duties account for about 3 per cent of tax revenue. As a matter of fact, the collected amount of customs duties has fallen from Rs 4 billion in 2005 to an estimated Rs 1.6 billion in 2010, representing an average reduction of Rs 500 million per year. At this rate, customs duties could be brought down to zero in three years’ time if the government so wished.
The big question is, would such a duty reduction schedule be in the interests of both the local industries and the Treasury? On the one hand, small and medium enterprises need more years to re-engineer their production units. On the other, the government has to manage public finances properly if it decides to extend the additional stimulus package beyond 31 December 2010. A smooth implementation of the Duty Free Island project, phased over a longer period, would give the right impetus to the Mauritian economy in these turbulent times.
According to the Programme-based budget estimates 2010, the budget deficit would rise to 4.1 per cent of gross domestic product this year, and the public sector debt would overshoot the threshold of 60 per cent of GDP. However, the fiscal deficit could be higher as the current government would forgo some Rs 900 million by abolishing the National Residential Property Tax and the tax on interest. Although there exist other sources of revenue, like taxes on lotteries that could increase, it would be reasonable to slow down the pace of import liberalization to an annual duty reduction of Rs 300 million, thus extending the transition to a full-fledged Duty Free Island to five years.
Predictable trade liberalization
Investors like predictability. Within a span of five years, our enterprises will have ample time to become internationally competitive. Retailers should be provided with incentives to upgrade their shops to be able to tap the tourist market. The Mauritian destination will have to be promoted both as a seaside resort brand and as a shopping brand – a major strategic change that would take at least five years to take hold. By then, the new airport terminal should be ready to manage passenger and aircraft movements on a large scale.
As it is struggling against the dramatic plunge in the value of the euro owing to the European economic turmoil, our national air carrier needs some time to compete in a more liberalized environment. But the Duty Free Island can only take off with an open air access policy that allows for greater seat capacity, higher frequency of flights and diversification of source markets. In particular, we must expand the market of transit tourists. In 2008, 42,657 tourists, or 4.6 per cent of total arrivals, were in transit. But the number fell to 6,228 in 2009.
Lastly, the phased abolition of formal trade barriers should be accompanied by trade facilitation. Non-tariff barriers can be a larger chunk of the overall trade costs than customs duties. Simplification of customs procedures, rationalization of administrative formalities and minimization of transhipment costs will play a key role in making Mauritius a Duty Free Island.
* Published in print edition on 9 July 2010
65 years ago Mauritius Times was founded with a resolve to fight for justice and fairness and the advancement of the public good. It has never deviated from this principle no matter how daunting the challenges and how costly the price it has had to pay at different times of our history.
With print journalism struggling to keep afloat due to falling advertising revenues and the wide availability of free sources of information, it is crucially important for the Mauritius Times to survive and prosper. We can only continue doing it with the support of our readers.
The best way you can support our efforts is to take a subscription or by making a recurring donation through a Standing Order to our non-profit Foundation.


text:
U.S. delays announcement of additional duties on Bombardier
The U.S. Department of Commerce says it is delaying its announcement on preliminary anti-dumping duties against Bombardier Inc. until Friday. The company is expected to face additional export duties on its CSeries commercial jet.
October 6, 2017 By The Canadian Press
The decision follows last week’s move to impose nearly 220 per cent preliminary countervailing tariffs once deliveries to Delta Air Lines begin next year. | READ MORE


text:
Here’s Why Virtual Reality Won’t Get Kicked Out of Class
A group of first- and second-graders in Berkeley, Calif., recently went to Mars.
Now more teachers are clambering to let their students do the same, exploring new corners of the universe using virtual reality.
In a new survey of 1,000 teachers across the U.S. by classroom resource site TES Global, about a quarter said they want more game-based learning in class. And the number of teachers who want virtual reality in class doubled from last year, to 1 in 10.
So maybe it’s not quite “out with the textbooks, in with the VR headsets” but more and more, teachers are pushing for connected classrooms. Most teachers surveyed (8 in 10) are using technology in their lesson plans and fewer teachers report feeling like being connected to the Internet is a distraction in class.
But while big-name tech companies like Sony, Samsung, HTC, Oculus, and most recently Amazon are all lining up to create new gadgets to put on your face and watch VR, the stuff rolling out in classrooms is comparatively old-school.
Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.
Google developed a simple cardboard viewer for kids to wear in class. Attach a smartphone and voila, insta-VR. In January, Google Expeditions fired up a beta app for Android smartphones that can travel to more than 100 destinations. And Nearpod virtual reality for the classroom can transport kids to the kinds of places they used to only read about in school.
Students can use cardboard viewers to soar over the pyramids in Egypt or explore under the sea at the Great Barrier Reef. School districts in San Francisco and Polk County, Fla., are already testing out Nearpod’s tech.
For more on Google and VR, watch:
But even as teachers get more excited about bringing the Internet into the room and playing with VR, tech in class isn’t ubiquitous just yet. A full 27% of the teachers who were surveyed this year said they still don’t have enough computers or tablets to go around in their own class.


text:
tech2 News StaffJan 22, 2019 16:09:07 IST
The Redmi Go ( which will be the company's first Android Go smartphone) has been spotted several times via rumours, but there was no definite marketing name for it.
Now the phone is seen to be certified on NTBC in Thailand as reported in GizChina.
The Redmi phone that has been listed bears the model number M1903C3GG where it has been stated that phone will be called as Redmi Go.
As per the report, the same device back in December 2018 received approvals from Singapore’s IMDA, the US’ FCC and Russia’s EEC, sporting the model number M1903C3GG.
There's no other information about the specifications in the listing, but the previous certification sites revealed the phone to come with about a 6-inch display, dual-SIM slot, 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, and is expected to run on Android 9 Pie.
Find latest and upcoming tech gadgets online on Tech2 Gadgets. Get technology news, gadgets reviews & ratings. Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison.


text:
The unannounced Galaxy A50s eluded us for about a month while Samsung was preparing the Galaxy Note 10 for Unpacked, but now the mid-range model has resurfaced, this time through the Wi-Fi Alliance. The WFA has approved the SM-A507FN/DS earlier today, confirming very little about the device itself but putting it on the radar once again.
Testing is seemingly done, now it’s time for approvals
We’ve exclusively reported roughly three months ago that Samsung is working on a new mid-range phone known by the model number SM-A507F, so the phone’s existence doesn’t surprise us. Likewise, following our initial report, the Galaxy A50s was spotted on a couple of benchmarking websites like Geekbench and AnTuTu. With this part of the testing seemingly concluded, Samsung now appears to be getting closer to the smartphone’s market release as it begins acquiring the necessary certifications.
The Wi-Fi Alliance hasn’t disclosed any details pertaining to the Galaxy A50s, aside from the fact that it runs Android Pie. But judging by previous encounters, the upcoming mid-range model might not be too different from the regular Galaxy A50. Benchmarks show that it uses the same Exynos 9610 chipset as the standard A50, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage.
Most changes will likely affect the camera performance but time will tell exactly what the company has in store for the refreshed model. Samsung’s release plans are currently unknown but nearly six months have passed since the standard Galaxy A50 became available so, in theory, the Galaxy A50s might make an official appearance in the coming weeks.


text:
Volkswagen 8th generation Golf arrives next March and the key engine is going to be a 1.0 litre petrol unit. We also now have details of some of the basic equipment on the car.
We already knew that the new car is being built on the current main VW platform and that the the new Golf will be lighter and bigger than the current model.
We now know that the key engine for the Irish market will be a 1.0 litre petrol, producing 110 horse power - a car that reflects the middle ground being taken in advance of full electrification.
A diesel will also feature - a 2.0 litre unit producing 115 horse power - again an engine that will likely play a part in the run-out of diesel engines from the market as the tide continues to turn against diesel. There will be eight versions of the car in total.
VW says the petrol and diesel engines have been refined and advanced to achieve low emissions and improved fuel efficiency.
The new Golf will also have a mild-hybrid function that allows the car to generate energy while braking, although it won't appear as a fully electric car. Fully electric will be the preserve of the Volkswagen's ID family of cars, the first of which is due to arrive in Ireland next year.
Standard equipment on the car will include LED headlights and rear lights, keyless start, a digital cockpit and a We Connect system that will accommodate mobile on-line services. There will also be automatic air conditioning, a lane assist system that helps stop you from from crossing lanes unintentionally and a front radar to detect vehicles and objects in front.
VW says that practically all displays and controls are now digital, with touch buttons and sliders the replacing traditional controls.
VW says the car is a "trendsetter in terms of its digitalised and connectivity-oriented interior world, its assisted driving features and its online-based functions and services."
Karlheinz Hell, Volkswagen's small car boss, told Auto Express magazine: "The next Golf will take Volkswagen into the era of fully connected vehicles with extended autonomous driving functions. It will have more software on board than ever before. It will always be online and its digital cockpit and assistance systems will be the benchmark in terms of connectivity and safety."
The new Golf is expected to go on sale here in March of next year.


text:
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union antitrust regulators will decide by July 30 whether to clear Apple Inc's $3 billion bid for music streaming and audio equipment company Beats, the European Commission said on Wednesday.
IPhone maker Apple unveiled the deal last month, which will help it catch up in the fast-growing and lucrative music streaming business.
The Commission can either clear the deal unconditionally or demand concessions if it sees competition issues. It can also open an extensive investigation if it has deeper concerns.
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; editing by Robin Emmott)
Trending On Reuters
China's e-commerce giant, Alibaba Group, has been fined 800,000 yuan ($129,000) by the price bureau in eastern Zhejiang province for violations by third-party sellers during promotions on its e-commerce platforms. Full Article


text:
Bitcoin (BTC), which resumed its rally last month after a brief pause, appears to be heading for a new high as the year comes to a close. On Monday, Bitcoin breached the $42,000 mark for the first time since April 2022.
The world’s most prominent cryptocurrency staged a solid turnaround this year after taking a massive hit in 2022. Bitcoin’s recent rally comes amid heightened speculation that an SEC approval for a Bitcoin ETF is on the anvil and would play a major role in driving the crypto market to new highs.
One of the major reasons behind this heightened speculation is the recent resolution of legal issues faced by Binance.
Changpeng Zhao, the CEO of Binance, the largest global cryptocurrency exchange, recently agreed to plead guilty to federal criminal charges. This development has restored confidence among investors, easing worries about the exchange's outlook and contributing to the overall stabilization of the broader cryptocurrency market.
Bitcoin has jumped more than 6.1% in the past 24 hours. On Monday, Bitcoin surpassed $42,000 briefly before settling at $41,841. Ethereum (ETH) has also gained more than 4.1% in the past 24 hours to settle at $2,234, its highest level in more than 18 months.
Monday’s jump will definitely renew confidence among investors about the underlying strength of the crypto market, as it is a significant milestone after last year’s collapse of TerraUSD and Luna coin.
NVIDIA Corporation NVDA is a major player in the semiconductor industry and has been one of the standout success stories of 2023. As a leading designer of graphic processing units (GPUs), the value of the NVDA stock tends to surge in a thriving crypto market. This is primarily due to the crucial role that GPUs play in data centers, artificial intelligence, and the mining or production of cryptocurrencies.
NVIDIA’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 264.4%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 13.3% over the last 60 days. NVIDIA currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here
Coinbase Global, Inc. COIN offers financial infrastructure and technology to support the global cryptocurrency economy. COIN provides a main financial account for consumers in the crypto space, a marketplace with liquidity for institutional crypto asset transactions, and technology and services for developers to build crypto-based applications and accept cryptocurrencies securely as payment.
Coinbase Global’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 91.7%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 45.6% over the last 60 days. Coinbase currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Block Inc. SQ is an online digital and mobile payment platform for consumers and merchants and is the parent company of Square and Cash App. The users of Cash App can buy, sell, send and receive Bitcoin. In addition, SQ’s decentralized tbd platform allows developers to build decentralized finance applications to run on programmable blockchains. SQ is also one of the largest Bitcoin investors.
Block has an expected earnings growth rate of 90% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 17.3% over the last 60 days. SQ currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.
PayPal Holdings, Inc. PYPL provides digital wallet services that enable users to purchase, transfer, and sell various cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, and Litecoin. Through PYPL, users can use cryptocurrencies to pay for goods and services from online merchants. Additionally, PayPal’s mobile wallet platform, Venmo, also allows users to engage in cryptocurrency buying and selling activities.
PayPal Holdings’ expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 20.6%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 0.6% over the last 60 days. PYPL currently carries a Zacks Rank #3.
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report


text:
National Consumer Protection Week reminds to be alert for scams
This past week marked the Federal Trade Commission’s 21st annual National Consumer Protection Week, a time in which the FTC partners with other agencies and consumer groups to focus attention on the ongoing problems of identity theft, scams and fraud that catch so many off-guard and lead to costly poor money decisions.
Early March is a fitting time for this extra focus as scammers tend to be more active and succeed in snaring more victims during tax season when taxpayers are nervous about filing their annual returns. While it may seem simple to avoid falling prey to scammers and identity thieves, it is always helpful to have frequent reminders about the best ways to protect yourself since the scammers are always adept at coming up with new and more aggressive approaches to snare new victims.
Recently, I saw first-hand one of the newer schemes when a colleague showed me a voicemail he received claiming to be from the Social Security Administration. The message stated his Social Security number had been suspended due to suspicious activity and urged him to return the call immediately to have the number reinstated. Upon returning the call, he would certainly been asked to verify certain pieces of personal information like his Social Security number, date of birth and other details enabling the scammer to obtain enough information to steal his identity or sell the information online to someone who would. It is easy for these imposters to fake the caller ID information so that call appears to be coming from SSA’s actual customer service number, (800) 772-1213.
According to reports made to SSA, there are many variations of this scam. Some state the agency needs additional information to increase a benefit payment already being received by the target victim. Others threaten that benefit payments will stop until the victim calls in to verify some personal information. Other variations will inevitably appear until the scam stops working. During 2018, SSA received reports from more than 35,000 people who, in aggregate, lost more than $10 million to these criminals.
Fake calls from individuals claiming to be from the IRS also continue to circulate. These tend to be particularly threatening and aggressive, claiming a warrant was issued for the taxpayer’s arrest and they need to make payment of taxes owed immediately, typically via an untraceable payment method like iTunes gift cards.
Both the IRS and SSA have taken steps to notify the public about these scams and educate them on how to avoid them. The IRS makes it clear it will never contact a taxpayer by phone, email or text message regarding an unpaid tax liability. Notifications regarding taxpayer accounts, proposed adjustments to tax returns, or other tax-related matters are always sent via postal mail. Telephone contact from an IRS representative will only occur when a taxpayer is already undergoing an audit and has had previous contact with the IRS about the issue in question. Similarly, SSA will never contact a benefit recipient threatening a reduction in benefits or promising an increase in benefits in exchange for personal information. Unless you have initiated contact with SSA about an issue, question any call that appears to come from it. The best practice if you receive a call from what looks like an IRS or SSA phone number is to not answer the call or hang up immediately. Never provide your Social Security number, bank account number or other personal information to anyone who calls you.
Also, be wary of email communications. During 2018, the IRS reported a 60 percent increase in email schemes designed to get victims to reveal personal information. Messages with links or attachments require extra vigilance. These messages can be well-disguised to look legitimate, as if they came from your bank, IRS or someone trying to send you an important document. Links in these messages are likely to take you to a fake website that asks you to enter your personal information for “verification purposes.” Clicking on attachments to these emails can trigger installation of software designed to collect your personal information or login information for your financial accounts by tracking your computer activity. Unless you are expecting an email from someone, assume the message is bogus and immediately delete it.
David T. Mayes is a Certified Financial Planner professional and IRS Enrolled Agent at Bearing Point Wealth Partners, Inc., a fiduciary financial planning firm in Hampton. He can be reached at (603) 926-1775 or firstname.lastname@example.org.


text:
India’s Internet landscape
Internet Trends 2017 report by KPCB highlights the growing dominance of the mobile phone as the medium of choice for Internet usage in India
The Internet Trends 2017 report by venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers highlights the growing dominance of the mobile phone as the medium of choice in India which, according to it, has 355 million internet users (as of June 2016) and 277 million broadband users (as of March 2017). Also, 80% of all web traffic in India emanates from the mobile, a proportion that is the second highest in the world after Nigeria.
The report also highlights one of the big challenges to the mobile ecosystem in India: cost. While prices of smartphones have fallen, the average selling price is still around 8% of per capita GDP.
That puts it out of reach for many Indians.
Editor's Picks »
- Market optimism before 2019 general election: History may not repeat itself
- UltraTech Cement: No respite from cost pressures
- Mindtree sees strong revenues but client concentration remains high
- Bandhan Bank’s share defies gravity as growth story is intact
- Fund managers slashing allocations to equities in emerging markets, shows BAML survey


text:
How is the Panama Canal Expansion Working Out?
It’s hard to believe it, but a year has already passed since the unveiling of the expanded Panama Canal. Plagued with delays and increases in costs, it once seemed the expansion project would never be complete. Now that some time has passed with the operation of the expanded canal, international shipping experts are starting to analyze whether the expansion was successful and who is benefitting most from the widened gateway between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
Xeneta CEO Patrik Berglund recently wrote an article on just that topic titled, “
The ultimate answer Berglund gives to the question he raises in the title is resoundingly in the affirmative as he finishes the article with, “yes, it would be fair to say the Panama Canal expansion has been a success to both importers, exporters, and consumers on both sides of the Pacific Rim.”
Berglund also highlights the benefits of the Panama Canal expansion for carriers with:
The expansion was a god-send for the cash-strapped competitive industry. At no cost to the carriers, they now have legitimate options on shipping to the US, and are able to utilize either or both depending on the volumes of cargo they are carrying. If times are good, Supra-Panamax’s and Mega’s can use the Suez Canal, while in leaner times, carriers can rely on their 13,000 TEU vessels and transit through Panama. Or they can operate both; with the ports of both Baltimore and Savannah working hard to improve their intermodal reach into America’s industrial Midwest and south.
While the expansion appears good for the international shipping industry all around, the results do not actually appear to be as positive for Panama and the Panama Canal Authority according to Berglund’s article.
While the debt incurred by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) is separate from Panama’s sovereign debt, many say the 12% ROI promised is specious and repayment will not be as smooth as promised. Transit tolls cannot be raised above those charged by the Suez Canal Authority, and with China-USEC transit times via either canal within 36 hours of each other, Panama offers no serious advantages; in truth China-Canada WC -rail offers the best service into the US Midwest and Canada as far east as Montreal. That’s sobering competition.
That does not mean the Panama Canal expansion is unsuccessful for Panama and the ACP, but it will take some time for the costs of the expansion to be made up.
In fact, Berglund does say in the article that the expansion was “absolutely not” a waste of time and money for Panama, adding, “Panama had to either enlarge the canal or fade into shipping obscurity.”
For the last several years, we’ve watched U.S. East Coast ports work on expansions and infrastructure improvements themselves to receive bigger ships traveling through the Panama Canal, hoping to increase their share of the import market over West Coast ports, especially from China and other major Asian exporting countries. Those efforts continue.
Berglund’s article addresses the cargo growth East and Gulf Coast ports are experiencing, but also points out how U.S. exporters are benefitting from the canal expansion, not just importers:
Surprisingly, equal beneficiaries of the expansion seem to be increased exports of LNG, LPG, coal, and grain from the US Gulf to Asian ports that are now able to transit through the expanded Panama Canal, along with shipments of grain coal, and soybeans that are now flowing to China and Asia from Colombia, Argentina, and Brazil…
Xeneta’s PR Manager Fernando Nikolic reached out to Universal Cargo, sharing this article with us. We thought it was a good, easy to read article and decided to share it with you, our readers.
If you have an article on international shipping you think we’d enjoy or that would benefit our readers, comprised largely (but certainly not exclusively) of shippers who import and export out of the U.S., please feel free to share it with us.


text:
We’ve spoken at length about the importance of branding a small business and being consistent. What about larger companies like KFC? Well, as reported by Business First, the KFC. Corp. is now opening a new branch of fast-casual restaurants WITHOUT Col. Harland Sanders in the logo.
While the larger branding experts have decided to only use the KFC brand as an endorsement, rather than as the full logo, the new logo leaves something to be desired, in my opinion. There’s very little that seem appealing.
The new logo is in an effort to distance the new fast-casual concept (ala Qdoba or Panera) from the fast-food restaurant that KFC is known for. Red Lobster also recently revised its branding, trading bright bold colors for darker more coastal colors in an effort to feel more upscale as a dining location.
I will be very interested to watch the pilot “KFC eleven” store that has opened up as of August 5th, 2013 in Louisville, KY.


text:
Blockchain is believed to be the next big thing and is all set to revolutionise all businesses irrespective of the industry. Some countries are cracking down this tech by encouraging companies to take a dive into the blockchain technology. The Netherlands is one such country that has emerged as a leader on this front as it is home to numerous blockchain startups.
One such blockchain company based in Amsterdam is Bitfury Group. Fiunded in 2011 by Valery Vavilov, Bitfury develops blockchain solutions for businesses, organisations, governments, and individuals. It offers solutions such as bitcoin mining, blockchain security, asset management, cryptocurrency compliance, and datacentre cooling.
Launches AI division!
In a recent development, Bitfury has announced the launch of its AI division. It will work with the blockchain services portfolio of the company. The company’s engineering team has been building the Artificial Intelligence division for several years.
“Just as blockchain technology enables us all to fix our most broken and distrusted systems, artificial intelligence will bring new and extraordinary benefits to nearly every facet of our lives,” said Valery Vavilov, CEO and co-founder of Bitfury. “To help this incredible technology achieve maximum impact, Bitfury is expanding our mission to offer hardware and software solutions designed especially for AI applications.”
AI products on cards
The new AI division will use Bitfury’s existing hardware and software technologies. With Artificial Intelligence, the Dutch blockchain unicorn intends to build integrated product solutions and cloud-to-edge enterprise solutions for governments and corporations. The first AI products from Bitfury will be launched later this year.
Ropes in veteran technologist
Besides the launch of the AI division, Bitfury appoints veteran technologist, Fabrizio Del Maffeo to lead the same. Del Maffeo was the former Vice President and Managing Director of AAEON Technology Europe, which is ASUS Group’s AI and IoT computing company.
Del Maffeo said, “I look forward to leading Bitfury’s AI team and to launching products that make it easier, safer and more cost-efficient for businesses to adopt artificial intelligence at scale.”
Blockchain projects from Bitfury
Bitfury’s blockchain projects include Exonum, which is a private blockchain framework; Crystal Blockchain, an advanced analytics platform; and Lightning Peach, an open-source lightning network project.
Stay tuned to Silicon Canals for more updates in the tech startup world.


text:
Retail Abu Dhabi, the retail platform of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), has announced details of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Shopping Season – a brand-new, destination-wide winter retail campaign running across the emirate from December 10th to February 14th next year.
The season will feature winter festive sales, rewarding promotions, new collection launches and only-in-Abu Dhabi shopping experiences across thousands of fashion, beauty and lifestyle stores, as well as discounts of up to 80% in malls across the UAE capital, Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
Encompassing more than 3,500 retailers in more than 20 malls, it will also see the launch of Retail Abu Dhabi One – a new membership programme developed to give shoppers access to exclusive-to-Abu-Dhabi products, experiences, attractive deals, brand events and exciting rewards.
“A true retail industry game-changer, Retail Abu Dhabi One is a first-of-its-kind membership concept that will boost spend and footfall across Abu Dhabi malls and give retailers and brands the chance to aggregate their own loyalty cards into a destination-wide, members-only platform that offers exclusive-to-Abu Dhabi experiences to passionate shoppers,” said HE Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, Executive Director of Tourism and Marketing at DCT Abu Dhabi.
“As a focal point of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Shopping Season, Retail Abu Dhabi One aligns shoppers, retail stakeholders and partners to further cement Abu Dhabi’s global standing as the ultimate shopping destination.”
Retail Abu Dhabi One will engage members directly through personalised offers based on their retail preferences to use the generated data to target and drive awareness of ongoing promotions and experiences across the emirate. Retail Abu Dhabi One will also boast additional AI and machine learning-driven functionalities, including chatbots, to enable more engaging conversations with shoppers, price comparisons with other destinations and the ability to recommend exclusive products sold only in the emirate.
“This umbrella programme enables DCT Abu Dhabi to support retailers and brands in developing experiences, and match customers with offers specific to their interests. The generated data will also enable our partners and malls to expand their audience reach and offer exclusive and specific-to-Abu Dhabi shopping experiences. These will include providing first access to product launches, promotions only available in Abu Dhabi, limited collections, exciting rewards and private deals,” added HE Al Shaiba.
“A key differentiator in the destination’s holistic shopping offering, Retail Abu Dhabi One is a social shopping aggregator which complements existing loyalty schemes offered by retail groups, brands and malls. The programme fills an industry gap with a unifying and unique product that will enhance our understanding of consumer preferences and inform our future offerings.”
Retail Abu Dhabi One has already won support from major retailers including Chalhoub Group, M.H. Alshaya Co., Al Tayer Group and Apparel Group, with members given access to ‘first to market’ experiences by hundreds of leading global and regional brands across fashion, lifestyle, home furnishing, F&B, hospitality, jewellery, department store and luxury goods such as IWC, Chaumet, Van Cleef & Arpels, Saint Laurent and Dior. In line with ‘gifting season’, members gain access to Abu Dhabi’s exclusive gifting guide offering tailored experiences, member discounts and access to first-in-Abu Dhabi product launches.
Elsewhere in Abu Dhabi Shopping Season, a massive Shop & Win promotion with Visa will see the global payment leader’s cardholders that spend AED 200 or more in participating outlets automatically enter a mega draw for a chance to win a Mercedes Benz GLC200 Premium.
“On the eve of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Shopping Season, Visa’s strategic and collaborative partnership with Retail Abu Dhabi continues to propel the emirate’s annual retail calendar with incredible rewards through a city-wide shop and win, as well as only-in-Abu Dhabi shopping experiences that are designed to safely and responsibly engage consumers across the Emirates and beyond,” said Shahebaz Khan, Visa’s General Manager for UAE.
Etihad Airways is also offering four million Etihad Guest Miles to the Abu Dhabi Shopping Season prize pool draw, with 16 shoppers set to be awarded 250,000 Etihad Guest Miles each – split across eight Visa cardholders and eight Visa Etihad Guest cardholders.
“With four million Etihad Guest Miles up for grabs during Abu Dhabi Shopping Season, our biggest-ever Retail Abu Dhabi partnership aims to incentivise shoppers to choose Abu Dhabi this winter to celebrate, shop and get rewarded. Through this partnership, we aim to bring the festive spirit to our valued Etihad Guest Members and Etihad Guest Visa cardholders through added value, special offers and a chance to earn and win millions of miles. These can be used for travel, hotel stays or even more shopping,” said Yasser Al Yousuf, Vice President Commercial Partnerships, Etihad Airways.
Throughout the month of January, Dubai Shopping Festival will help parents keepJanuary 19, 2022 | By RetailME Bureau
Al Seef is a charming attraction which blends the old and newJanuary 14, 2022 | By Zubina Ahmed
It is the final week of the 27th edition of the Dubai
Foodlink Global Restaurants & Catering Services, the F&B services enterprise in India
‘Tis the time to be jolly! The festive season is back. Celebrate
“It sounds like this, Luh Pan Koh-ti-dyan and means ‘the daily bread’,
The long weekend might be over but the Etisalat Beach Canteen 2021
UAE gears up to celebrate this year’s National Day celebrations in the
UAE-based Etisalat Group has signed an agreement with elGrocer, a leading online
Amazon.ae announced that the 11.11 sale is back once again this year
Abu Dhabi Cooperative Society’s COOP City store is now open in Lake
Union Coop, a consumer cooperative in the UAE, revealed that 78% of
Union Coop has opened its 23rd branch within the UAE in Jumeirah
Nando’s has revealed their revamped Sheikh Zayed Road outlet where newcomers and
It is the final week of the 27th edition of the Dubai
Reliance Retail, one of the largest retailers in India, has acquired a
In celebration of its 25th anniversary, Home Centre, one of the largest retailers
Throughout the month of January, Dubai Shopping Festival will help parents keep
Retail sales during 2021’s November-December holiday season grew 14.1 percent over 2020
Dubai’s leading Cloud kitchen company Kitopi announced two new market launches in
Al Seef is a charming attraction which blends the old and new
Renowned Lollipop and sugar confectionery brand Chupa Chups opened its first ever experiential
Leading luxury brand Louis Vuitton opened its first travel retail store in
A Dubai-based female entrepreneur Marie-Hélène Stavelot has launched an online platform that
By: Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, SVP of MENA, Checkout.com Covid-19 changed a lot


text:
Job offersmore »
- Export Commercial Assistant - Barcelona, Spain
- Farm Construction Manager - Phoenix (AZ) USA
- Lemon/Citrus Packing-house Manager - Phoenix (AZ) USA
- Account-Manager - Wickede/Ruhr, Germany
- Grower for pot plant production - Tönisvorst - Germany
- Assistant Grower & Growers - Ohio, USA
- Fruit & vegetables Export-Import manager - Avignon or Perpignan, France
- Area Manager North Europe - Netherlands
- Area Sales Manager Oost Europa - Netherlands
- Benelux Sales Manager - Grow lights, Holland
Top 5 - yesterday
- “Single pineapple box ready for introduction”
- "Packing under our own brand is about driving innovation, driving taste, adding value"
- Central Valley grape crop benefits from lack of extreme heat
- Multi-million dollar campaign and in-store displays drive Halos mandarin sales
- Plums and cherries: Delicious new hybrid from California
Top 5 - last week
- Second season for Idaho's only commercial blueberry grower
- Walmart plans to sell Japanese supermarket unit Seiyu
- Greenyard under fire after listeria contamination
- AU: New fully recyclable packaging set to take fresh produce industry by storm
- NY cherry growers could harvest sweet profits with tall greenhouses
Top 5 - last month
Exchange ratesmore »
Organically Grown Company to be owned by a perpetual purpose trust
"Imagine a company where the largest stockholder never wants to sell its stock or take a profit. And where leadership is directed to focus 100 percent on its founding purpose: to deliver a positive impact on people and planet through its products and services." This is what Organically Grown Company (OGC) said as it becomes the first U.S. business to utilize trust law to structure its operational and funding model. According to them, it will support purpose-based entrepreneurship, ownership and succession.
Organically Grown has been in the industry for 40 years. Now, OGC said it is addressing one of the most common business challenges of our times, how does a values-based business scale and transition its founders without “selling out” – by bringing a new ownership model to the marketplace.
Previously employee- and grower-owned, OGC is making a move to buy back all the shares from its stockholders and transfer them to the Sustainable Food and Agriculture Perpetual Purpose Trust. The Trust, created by the company, will eventually hold 100 percent of the ownership rights, never to be sold. The Trust is overseen by a committee whose members are organic industry veteran leaders including Joe Rogoff, a former Whole Foods Market President, and Organic Valley CEO George Siemon.
Through this new structure, the pressure to maximize short-term quarterly profits and exit-value for shareholders is removed. According to OGC, it will instead aim to maximize “purpose” by creating long-term returns to mission-aligned evergreen investors and sharing the balance of profits with their stakeholders, including farmers, coworkers, customers and community.
“This groundbreaking ownership model embeds OGC’s commitment to organic and sustainable agriculture, and corporate, social and environmental stewardship into our governance and financing structure. Placing the company into a Purpose Trust ensures that we stay focused on our mission as North Star, share real-time rewards with our stakeholders and have aligned financing to increase our impact,” said Elizabeth Nardi, CEO of Organically Grown Company.
In purpose-run companies, the intent is that profits are a means to an end but not an end itself and are primarily reinvested to serve the mission. Control rights and responsibility lie with the staff who are tasked with producing long-term value rather than immediate financial returns.
“The Purpose Trust provides a new model for the social enterprise sector, which is hungry for alternative ownership structures,” said Kate Danaher, senior director, Integrated Capital at RSF Social Finance, which provided crucial financing to enable the conversion. She added that OGC is an excellent fit with RSF’s work to transform the food system and provide the kind of capital social enterprises need to achieve their mission. “The Purpose Trust provides an option for entrepreneurs and investors that has not existed before, and I expect an increasing number of social enterprises to seriously consider this path.”
To develop the concept for and implement the Purpose Trust, OGC partnered with attorney Ronald D. McFall, a lawyer in cooperative law, and a team from his firm, Stoel Rives LLP.
“Organically Grown Company is on the leading edge of a movement to shift the paradigm in business to ‘steward ownership’ where companies are self-owned by their community of stakeholders for the long-term, rather than a commodity to bought and sold,” says Natalie Reitman-White, VP of Organizational Vitality and Trade Advocacy at OGC. “We are excited to forge partnerships to spread these models.”
For more information:
Organically Grown Company
Tel: +1 (503) 907-3705
Publication date: 7/10/2018
Receive the daily newsletter in your email for free | Click here
Other news in this sector:


text:
Cisco Revamps Collaboration Line With New Video Systems, Business Edition Platform
Cisco Wednesday unveiled a series of updates to its video system and endpoint lines, along with a new version of its Business Edition collaboration platform, in a move the networking giant called the most significant refresh of its collaboration line in the past three years.
As part of the release, Cisco introduced new TelePresence MX endpoints, video software and Business Edition (BE) 7000, a scaled-out version of BE targeted at larger enterprise customers.
According to Rowan Trollope, senior vice president of Cisco's Collaboration business, the new products are aimed at giving organizations of all sizes, and all budgets, access to high-quality video and collaboration technologies.
"Our belief is that the experience is first. Anyone can build a solution that is low cost, but not anyone can build a solution that's low cost and has an incredible experience," Trollope said during a conference call with reporters earlier this week. "And that's what you are going to see today from us."
On the video side, Cisco is rolling out a second-generation version of its TelePresence MX200 endpoint for smaller-size conference rooms, along with new TelePresence MX700 and MX800 endpoints for medium- to larger-size rooms. Cisco said the revamped MX200, which starts at $17,900, is a 42-inch unit with embedded four-way multiparty conferencing. It's designed for smaller offices, with Cisco saying MX200 deployment times take an average of just eight minutes.
The TelePresence MX700 and MX800 endpoints are higher end, starting at $49,900, and are designed for larger organizations that need to connect distributed teams over video. According to Cisco, the 55-inch MX700 and 70-inch MX800 are the first endpoints in the industry to support next-generation H.265 video coding, meaning they require less bandwidth to run.
"That is really providing future bandwidth efficiency," said Snorre Kjesbu, vice president and general manager for Cisco's Collaboration Endpoint Group, during the conference call earlier this week. "You can now run full HD 1,080p/60 at half of the bandwidth that you used to be able to do."
Another new product targeted at the SMB segment is the Cisco TelePresence SX10 Quick Set, a plug-and-play system starting at $3,999 that is designed to let smaller organizations leverage the video hardware they already have in place. "It can basically turn any flat-screen TV into a collaboration system," Kjesbu said.
As for software, Cisco introduced the TelePresence SX80, a video codec the company said is ideal for integrators looking to equip large spaces with video functionality. The SX80 also supports H.265 and can be used with up to three screens. It's priced at $17,900.
Tim Savage, principal and managing director at ENS Group, a Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Cisco partner, said he was glad to see Cisco investing so heavily in its video line, given the rise in video adoption he expects to see in his customer base over the next few years.
"I think video is the next email," Savage told CRN. "That's where I see a lot of growth coming from, and I really do believe video will become ubiquitous in our environments."
Savage also said he was excited to start offering a new technology Cisco launched called Intelligent Proximity, which can wirelessly share slide presentations and other materials being shown on a larger video conference screen with users' mobile devices.
Cisco said the solution uses system-based device pairing to "sense" when users enter a conference room with a smartphone or tablet, and then sends those users a request to ask if they want to pair their devices with the bigger conference screen. Intelligent Proximity also can allow users to review previously shared slides on their mobile devices, Cisco said, without having to ask the presenter to go back.
"I think those are the things that really make Cisco shine," Savage said. "For us, as a partner, to be able to go out and show [Intelligent Proximity] to our clients -- the 'wow factor' goes a long way sometimes in closing a deal. And Cisco always gives us the 'wow factor.'"
NEXT: Cisco's New BE7000, Updated BE6000
Cisco also introduced Wednesday the BE7000, an integrated collaboration platform that, like the BE6000, offers voice, video, mobility, messaging, conferencing and contact center capabilities on a single box. While the BE6000 is targeted at smaller and midsize organizations with between 25 and 1,000 users, the BE7000 is targeted at larger organizations with 1,000 users and above.
The launch of the BE7000 comes roughly three months after Cisco discontinued the BE3000, another version of the platform that was targeted at the lower end of the market and, according to partners, was the perfect fit for organizations with fewer than 25 seats.
Cisco, since then, has recommended that SMB-focused partners sell the BE6000 as an alternative to the now-defunct BE3000, but some solution providers told CRN that that has been a challenge, given the longer deployment times required by the BE6000.
In an effort to combat this, Cisco Wednesday said it was offering a new "25-user starter license bundle" for the BE6000, along with a new wizards-based tool that can slash BE6000 deployment times from "days to minutes."
Still, some Cisco partners said they were disappointed that Cisco didn't unveil a new Business Edition platform specifically for organizations with fewer than 25 seats.
"Nothing has changed," said one SMB-focused Cisco partner, who asked not to be named. "They still haven't fully addressed the sub-25 market."
Cisco told CRN that partners are, in fact, "finding success" in selling the BE6000 to organizations with 25 or fewer seats. ENS Group's Savage said he's been one of them, and that he expects the new BE6000 video capabilities introduced this week -- including out-of-box functionality to connect with third-party video systems such as Microsoft Lync and Polycom -- to further fuel that success.
"I think that's where BE6000 really shines in the small arena -- video," said Savage. "If you can get somebody to appreciate the value the BE6000 brings to the table in terms of really being the only video system you can buy out of the box in the [SMB] space -- it's a great sell and it's an easy sell."
The BE7000 is selling for around $23,000, while the BE6000 starts at $9,900.
Cisco also said Wednesday it's updating its Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution (HCS) to make it easier for mobile users to access the solution over the Internet without needing a VPN.
All of the new or updated products are due out in either April or May, Cisco said.
PUBLISHED MARCH 12, 2014


text:
vAuto’s Pollak to Offer Used-Car Seminar at NADA
OAKBROOK, Ill. — At the upcoming National Automobile Dealers Association Conference and Expo, Dale Pollak, chairman and founder of vAuto and author of Velocity 2.0: Paint, Pixels and Profitability, will be presenting the "Used Car Dominance/Lower Costs in the New SAAR Era" seminar.
Officials said Pollak's seminar will offer "breakthrough paradigms" for the variable department. This includes a new structure, new processes and specific techniques to help dealers solve the most common and more complex problems that keep them from maximizing full variable sale and potential profits.
"In order to improve efficiency and results, dealers must understand and embrace new metrics and skills, as well as be willing to change new- and used-car department structures and responsibilities," Pollak suggested.
The seminar will be offered
—11 a.m. (EST) on Feb. 13
—11 a.m. on Feb. 14
—8:30 a.m. on Feb. 15.


text:
From ChannelAdvisor’s Press Release:
SearchAdvisor Feature Offers Online Retailers Insight into Conversion Process for Maximum Profits
Research Triangle Park, NC – June 23, 2008 – ChannelAdvisor, the leading provider of e-commerce channel management solutions, today announced the launch of SearchAdvisor’s new Multi-Channel Assist feature that evaluates the impact of paid search keywords and comparison shopping ads that contribute to online purchasing decisions. Retailers can incorporate these metrics into automatic bidding rules for increased profitability across multiple e-commerce channels.
Many of today’s tracking systems fail to deliver the full story of online campaign performance. Consequently, search marketers struggle to measure the true value of paid search keywords and comparison shopping ads that contribute to buying decisions, especially if they contain broad terms that consumers typically use to initiate their search. SearchAdvisor’s Multi-Channel Assist feature assigns a measurement to terms that assist in conversions, regardless of where they occur in the buying cycle or which channel consumers use to get to their products.
The new feature will benefit online retailers such as Park Seed Co. (www.parkseed.com), the world’s largest mail order gardening company selling millions of seeds, bulbs, plants and gardening accessories throughout North America.
“Multi-Channel Assists brought us a new understanding of how consumers search and buy our products,” says Ivana Petrovic, Paid Search Manager, Park Seed. “The reports have helped us justify bidding on broad terms that at first didn’t appear profitable. The process has helped us realise new revenue opportunities across all channels.”
“ChannelAdvisor’s multi-channel focus continues to fuel our success on paid search and comparison shopping engines,” says Walt Yates, eCommerce Director, Park Seed. “Due to their breadth of expertise on all the online marketplaces, we’ve been able to get a better return on investment than we have with previously used products”
“Search marketers have had to put lots of effort into validating their advertising budget decisions,” said Scot Wingo, CEO of ChannelAdvisor. “With the Multi-Channel Assist feature, we’re delighted to offer online retailers visibility into the entire conversion process, from click to purchase, leading to more profits across all e-commerce channels.”
More about SearchAdvisor: www.channeladvisor.com/search.
- More about Professional Search Services: https://www.channeladvisor.com/products/searchadvisor/services.html
written by Greg Ives — greg.ives at channeladvisor.com


text:
MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said the consortium of Ayala Corp. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) has complied with its requirements for the P1.72 billion single ticketing system for the MRT and LRT.
DOTC spokesperson Michael Sagcal said there is no "impediment" preventing the department from issuing the notice of award to the AF Consortium.
"We've awarded the project, and there is no impediment preventing us from continuing with the next steps of the project. We would like the public to enjoy the modern ticketing system as soon as possible," Sagcal said.
"Without a court order or any issuance preventing DOTC from proceeding, DOTC will continue with the process."
The SM group said it will appeal the decision of the DOTC awarding the automatic fare collection system (AFCS) contract to the AF Consortium.
Earlier, SM Prime president Hans Sy said their group submitted the "superior" bid since it was an "an unconditional offer to pay the government the full bid amount of P1.008 billion upfront."
However, Sagcal said the bid submitted by the AF Consortium complied with the DOTC's requirements.
"An 'unconditional' bid simply means that the bidder accepts all terms of the bid, which AF did," Sagcal said.
Sagcal explained that the AF consortium's proposal involved offering an availability payment of P279 million and P800 million transaction fee.
"The bid provided a schedule of the different options on how the TF will be paid (eg. x amount for 300-350 million passengers, y amount for 350 to 400 million). AF chose to compute their bid based on the 750 million (passengers). I guess SM chose a different structure. In any case, AF's structure met our requirements," he said.
Sy had earlier questioned that particular provision of the AF Cosortium's bid.
“Under the terms of the AF Consortium bid, 72% of the total amount will only be paid to the government in 2024 or 2025, and only if the conditional volume is met. Otherwise, the government will not be able to collect anything at all,” Sy said.
The AF Consortium submitted a bid of P1,088,103,900 for the AFCS project, besting the SM Consortium's bid of P1,088,000,000.
The MRT-LRT single ticket is envisioned to be like Hong Kong’s Octopus Card, which serves as a debit card, aside from being a stored-value train ticket. The single ticket could also be used for other modes of transportation such as buses, paying toll, electronic banking, and even shopping.