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With the global financial crisis seemingly over, the annual India Leadership Forum of the National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom) — which took place in Mumbai earlier this month — was positioned as an occasion for celebration. In the lead up to the event, officials were cheering about how the industry had triumphed over troubled times and reached its US$50 billion export target. “It’s a historic moment for the Indian IT-BPO industry as it touches the US$50 billion landmark,” said Nasscom president Som Mittal.
Unfortunately, the historic moment is yet to come. India’s software exports for the year ending in March are estimated to total US$49.7 billion — nearly there, but slightly short. Export growth in 2009-2010 is only expected to be 5.5%. Yet according to Nasscom chairman Pramod Bhasin, “The performance of the industry this year is far stronger than what is reflected [in] the growth numbers.” As for next year, the association reports, software and services export revenues should be up 12% to 15% to around US$56.57 billion. On the domestic front, growth in 2009-2010 will be much higher, at 12% — with revenues expected to reach US$13 billion — and rising 15% to 17% next year.
The real story of the Indian IT sector, however, is how it has coped with the crisis, changed strategies and prepared for the future. The global recession has affected big and small players differently. “The impact of the economic slowdown was relatively [bigger] on small and medium companies compared to their larger counterparts,” said Rajan Kohli, chief marketing officer at Wipro Technologies. Size differences aside, he adds, “it is how well the business is run which determines the health of [a company]. While the larger businesses have the advantage of management depth, their ability to change quickly is hampered by [their] size.”
Smaller companies will take more time to recover, industry experts predict, with some being forced into consolidation. But is the crisis mostly over? “The Indian IT industry has definitely started to show signs of recovery,” said Praveen Bhadada, engagement manager at Zinnov Management Consulting. Some of the indicators: fresh hiring and the Nasscom growth projections. “Companies like TCS (Tata Consultancy Services), Infosys and Patni are looking for global acquisitions to augment capabilities in markets not penetrated earlier,” Bhadada noted.
“The recovery has not been as dramatic as it was after the 2002 recession which followed the dotcom bust, but it is now gathering momentum,” said Ashok Soota, chairman of Bangalore-based MindTree. “The India story is still very strong.”
“The Indian IT industry seems to have stabilized but we are still cautious,” said Kris Gopalakrishnan, CEO & managing director of Infosys Technologies. “In the last quarter, Infosys saw revenues from the U.S. and the financial services sector increase. While we expect to see flat client budgets in 2010, this is better than the 6% to 8% drop we saw in 2009. In light of this, we expect to see an increase in clients’ offshore allocation. There has been a comeback of slightly larger sized deals and a continuing build up of traction in strategic transformation deals. We have also seen a rise in discretionary spending across some sectors as companies start investing in their future growth. At the same time there are concerns of possible setbacks to growth, so we remain cautious in our outlook.”
Hiring for the Future
One visible measure of the changed environment is recruitment. According to Nasscom estimates, Indian IT companies will be adding 150,000 employees to their payrolls in 2010-2011. The 2009-2010 estimates foresee an increase of 90,000, or 4%, taking the direct employment in the sector to 2.3 million and indirect employment to 8.2 million.
India’s largest IT company, TCS, is getting larger, at least in terms of people. CEO N. Chandrasekharan told the media at the Nasscom meeting that 30,000 employees would be added next year to its existing roster of 150,000. This would be not just in India, but also in Latin America, the U.S., Australia and Europe. In 2003, TCS had less than 100 people outside India; today it has more than 11,000.
The increase in these numbers reflects TCS’s strategy for the future. It wants to move to new geographies like Japan, which is more insular than most markets. Second, it wants to make that quantum leap from major player in the outsourcing arena to consultant. “Consulting [means] being close to customers and [having] great listening skills, all in one,” Chandrasekharan told business daily The Economic Times. “From my point of view, we are getting there, but it will take time. It’s a marathon because you can build skills, but [changing] perception takes a very long time. What happens is that IBM or Accenture will bid [along with TCS] for the same deal and do offshoring, too, but they will be known as something else. We have got to work on the brand and facilitation skills. We need to get more consulting persons in multiple markets.”
Infosys invested in talent during the crisis, too. While others were handing out pink slips, Infosys honored its hiring commitments. According to Gopalakrishnan, there was greater communication with clients, partners and employees so that everybody was on the same page during the crisis. Discretionary spending was reduced and unnecessary expenses were eliminated. The company also leveraged its new engagement model, which gave clients the flexibility to pay at a unit of work level or based on the outcome.
Kohli of Wipro spoke of a different approach, though several features are similar to those announced by others. Wipro’s approach includes a balanced emphasis on global and emerging markets; an increased focus on new growth industries which brought in additional business; customized offerings; attention to costs; and “reinvention.” Said Kohli: “Traditional IT services are getting commoditized or automated. The IT Product is giving way to ‘Service Ubiquity.’ Wipro has attempted to rise above the challenge by putting more skin in the game and offering outcome-based business models.” For one of its telecom service provider customers, for example, Wipro’s payments are linked to the profitability per subscriber. Also, “there were industry-specific solutions that enabled cost cutting and reduction in capital expenditure. Wipro has made great strides in this arena by following what we preach. We have launched a private cloud for internal use. There has been a dramatic reduction in procurement time, costs as well as energy. The private cloud serves as a prototype for customers.”
During the crisis, mid-tier companies faced problems as the bigger players — who would look at only million dollar deals earlier — started picking up whatever business they could. “The larger companies and global MNCs enhanced their focus on scouring the market for all deals – irrespective of the size of the deal,” said Atul Nishar, founder and chairman of mid-tier firm Hexaware Technologies. “Some companies resorted to predatory pricing in order to secure more business.”
To address that issue, Hexaware focused on a set of target accounts in select verticals. “We have become very proactive in providing solutions to existing customers,” said Nishar. “We were constantly in touch with existing clients and further strengthened our relationship with them, meeting them, understanding their pain points and accordingly addressing them. We leveraged the slowdown period to enhance and upgrade the skills of our employees. We were in touch with our employees, meeting them in small and large groups [and] constantly reassuring them and communicating with them. We also furthered our [intellectual property]-led growth strategy.”
In general, companies tried to cash in on their strengths. “Specific firms looked at specific strategies,” said Ganesh Natarajan, CEO of mid-tier company Zensar. “Zensar launched an Impact sourcing service to provide a risk and reward sharing solution to clients and started an IP discovery initiative within its project groups to add reusable knowledge artifacts to its repository and reduce time to market for new client solutions.”
“The strategies to weather the slowdown covered a wide range from growth-oriented initiatives to cost containment,” said Soota of MindTree. “The revenue expansion approaches included new markets, new business models and growth through M&A.” MindTree, for instance, acquired Kyocera Wireless India. The company took a new business approach and moved into analytics, wireless IP and the products business. Among the products are a video surveillance system and others in the area of telemedicine. These “white-label” wares will be licensed to original equipment manufacturers who can then market them under their own brand names.
“In this recession, larger businesses mostly resorted to cost and process optimization,” Kohli said. “It was a time for them to identify and invest in their big bets for future. For smaller companies, it was an opportunity to identify their niches, as customers look for vendors with the best skills for the job.”
A Paradigm Shift
According to Nishar, the efficiencies forced on the IT sector during the downturn will continue even as the economic climate improves. “From a client perspective, vendors had dropped prices and offered several savings models to ensure closure of deals and prompt starts. Despite the upturn in the economy, some of the commercial terms [strongly in favor of the clients] may not be easily changed. The pricing regime may have seen a paradigm shift for some time to come.”
Wipro sees sustainability, climate change, green IT and healthcare as the fields to be tapped over the next few years. New and emerging economies will be key geographies. “We have increased focus on globalizing our footprint. In the past two years, Wipro has opened centers in the U.S., Brazil, the Philippines, and China with a clear mandate of localizing our presence in these markets,” Kohli noted.
Bhadada of Zinnov added that, having come through the fire, the IT industry is much better positioned to handle future obstacles. “Companies will be willing to absorb more risk going forward. “Models such as risk-reward, revenue [sharing] or outcome-based revenue … will become mainstream.”
“Historically, it has been observed that a slowdown accelerates the changes that are underway,” said Soota. “This slowdown [accomplished that]. For example, new technology models like [software as a service]-based offerings and cloud offerings are getting into the mainstream. Similarly, business models like outcome-based pricing are getting more attention. Going forward, all these will have a permanent impact on the way companies operate and compete.” Adds Kohli of Wipro: “Downturns are opportunities in disguise; how companies (big or small) react to these downturns differentiates them over the long run.”
The specter of last year’s Satyam scandal was looming over the Nasscom gathering as well. “One of the big [lessons] for companies in this slowdown has been the need to develop the ethics of corporate governance, values and transparency within their organizations,” said Gopalakrishnan of Infosys. “The slowdown has, in a way, been a breakdown of trust for people, and as companies work towards investing in their future growth, it is essential that they lay emphasis on this aspect as well.”


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Will podcasts prove to be recession-proof? One business that’s booming during the pandemic - podcasting
Podcasting has exploded in popularity in recent years, and while some may consider this form of expression as nothing more than an audio-based forum for the opinionated, the truth is that this medium has opened a breadth of content possibilities, not just for individuals but also for businesses.
Since 2008—the year the last global financial crisis kicked into high gear—podcasting has seen consistent year-over-year growth, showing its value and popularity as a form of on-demand content. 51% of the U.S. population has listened to at least one podcast, and up to 90 million Americans listen to podcasts on a monthly basis. As of May 2020, there were 1 million shows with more than 30 million episodes in 100 languages. That’s a lot of content consumption.
Between 2018 and 2019, the global podcast advertising market rose by an estimated 42% and is expected to top 1 billion by 2021. But, the million-dollar question is whether this trend is here to stay or is simply a passing phase. The current COVID-19 pandemic has upended the economy and resulted in extensive lifestyle changes as the global majority work, play and spend more time at home social distancing. Because of that, 74% of corporations and media buyers believe that the virus will have a greater impact on advertising than the 2008 financial crisis. And yet, unlike many other industries, podcast consumption has boomed despite, or perhaps because of, the social and economic fallout from this outbreak. In fact, staying at home has led to a 60% increase in the amount of content we consume.
Podcasting has also demonstrated its ability to mass-produce on-demand content in response to major global events. From the very beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, the podcasting industry was among the first to react and begin releasing a seemingly endless stream of pandemic-related content, even before the full effects of the virus were seen. In contrast, other content producers, particularly video, stagnated and suffered with a slower response time.
Like other digital media formats, podcasts are not completely immune to disruptions, layoffs and delays brought about by the current crisis. Both digital and traditional media advertising took a hit at the start of the pandemic as 24–46% of brands either paused or adjusted their advertising spending for 2020. While individual podcasters may be fine, a recession could hit new start-ups or highly leveraged companies particularly hard. However, podcasts generally seem not to have been overly disturbed by the pandemic, due in part to their ability to adapt more easily to social distancing constraints compared to more complex mediums.
While the number of podcast advertisements for certain industries has fallen during the COVID-19 pandemic—for instance in the travel, live entertainment and gambling industries—other sectors have seen a pronounced upsurge, including VPNs, household products and alcohol with ads increasing by 144%, 45% and 13%, respectively. Global podcast listenership rose by 42% in April, while rates increased by 29% and 25%, in Italy and Spain, two of the first countries to be quarantined. Megaphone, a podcast hosting and monetization platform, booked twice as much new business in April as it lost in March. Despite lack of commuters, there was a rise in podcasting ad revenue, a trend that will likely still be applicable post-COVID-19 with the rise of more Remote First office.
Podcasting also represents an ideal alternative for companies whose conferences or live events have been cancelled or postponed indefinitely due to the outbreak. In the absence of a physical presence, audio-streaming a live event may actually boost audience engagement compared to video, especially considering that many individuals typically listen to audio content while multitasking, for instance when performing housework, walking the dog or exercising.
Podcasting also offers strong audience loyalty. 80% of podcast consumers listen to most or all of an episode and listen to an average of seven different shows per week, representing an ideal target for branded marketing purposes. In addition, podcast listeners are more likely to be active social media users compared to the rest of the population and more likely to follow brands on social media.
Podcast consumption is not slowing down, and with that, advertising is on the rise which means a wide range of opportunities for branded podcasting as a marketing medium. Podcasting is here to stay. While no industry is ever completely recession-proof, the podcasting sector has proven itself to be far more resilient than most to major global turbulence. As a result, startups and brands should re-evaluate their marketing tactics and find ways to pivot into and take advantage of this channel. Although there is no doubt that the world we live in will change drastically following the pandemic, we can at the very least be assured that the human need to reach out and speak to others is one thing that won’t be changing.
|Fatima Zaidi is the CEO and co-founder of Quill Inc. the world’s first one-stop marketplace where podcasters can find pre-vetted expert freelancers who will save them time, improve their podcast quality, and help grow their audience. As a member of the National Speakers Bureau, Fatima has keynoted on world stages alongside speakers like Gary Vaynerchuk, and Richard Branson. In addition to being a commentator for BNN Bloomberg, she is a frequent contributor to publications including The Globe and Mail, and Huffington Post. She won Notable’s young professional of the year awards and has been recognized as one of Flare Magazine’s Top 100 Women|

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Las Vegas Grand Prix ticket sales dates announced ahead of eagerly-anticipated 2023 race
Ticket sales information for the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix has today been announced by the event organisers, with just under a year to go until F1 cars take to the streets of the famous city for a spectacular Saturday night race.
It was confirmed back in March that Las Vegas will become one of three races in the United States from next season, joining the established Circuit of The Americas in Austin and the new-for-2022 Miami International Autodrome.
A pre-registration ticketing portal was recently launched and highlighted an extraordinary demand for the November 16-18 event, with fans who signed up also asked to donate a lucky $7.77 to the Las Vegas Grand Prix Foundation – greatly benefitting the local community.
In the next phase, pre-sale will be available to American Express Card Members from Tuesday, November 1 at 10am PT (Pacific Time) through to Thursday, November 3 at 9.59am PT, before moving to the priority interest list on Thursday, November 3 at 10am PT and public sales on November 5 at 10pm PT.
All Grandstands and General Admission ticket options will be sold as three-day passes and will include food and non-alcoholic beverages. Premium tickets will offer multi-day passes and will include all-inclusive food and beverage.
A limited number of tickets will be available at this time, with more chances to buy coming in the next few months.
Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said: “The Las Vegas Grand Prix is set to be an incredible event and in just over 12 months the best drivers on the planet will be racing through the streets of the entertainment capital of the world.
“It’s going to be something no one will want to miss and the energy and enthusiasm for the race is already building. We know our passionate US fans and those from all over the world will want to be there to witness the thrill first hand and we can’t wait for November 18 2023.”
For more information, visit the official race website here.


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Vivo X70 series confirmed to debut on September 9
Vivo is all set to launch its X70 series of smartphones in China on September 9. The line-up will include the vanilla X70, X70 Pro, and X70 Pro+ models. The official teaser has revealed that the top-end X70 Pro+ variant will be offered in black and orange colors. It will have a large quad rear camera setup with ZEISS T* branding. Here's our roundup.
The phones will have a Full-HD+ display
The Vivo X70 series will feature a punch-hole design with slim bezels and an in-display fingerprint sensor. On the rear, there will be up to four cameras. The vanilla X70 will bear a 6.5-inch flat AMOLED display, while the X70 Pro and Pro+ will have a 6.65-inch and 6.7-inch curved AMOLED panel, respectively. They will offer a Full-HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate.
The X70 Pro+ will boast an 8MP periscope telephoto lens
The X70 might sport a 50MP main snapper, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 13MP tertiary sensor. The X70 Pro is expected to offer a 48MP primary sensor, a 13MP ultra-wide snapper, an 8MP telephoto lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. The X70 Pro+ will reportedly pack a 50MP main lens, a 48MP ultra-wide sensor, a 32MP telephoto snapper, and an 8MP periscope lens.
They will boot Origin OS 1.0 based on Android 11
The Vivo X70 and X70 Pro might pack a MediaTek Dimensity 1200 chipset and offer 44W fast-charging support. The X70 Pro+ is expected to draw power from a Snapdragon 888+ 5G processor with 66W fast-charging support. The devices will be loaded with up to 12GB of RAM, up to 256GB of storage, a 4,500mAh battery, and will boot Android 11-based Origin OS 1.0.
Vivo X70 series: Pricing and availability
Vivo will announce the official pricing and availability details of the X70 series at the time of the launch which will take place in China on September 9. However, considering the specifications, the range is likely to start at around Rs. 45,000.


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On 6 March 2019, the Ministry of Health ("MOH") announced that it is planning a ban on partially hydrogenated oils ("PHOs"). PHOs are a key source of artificial trans fat, which is currently regulated by the Sale of Food Act (Food Regulations) ("Food Regulations") in Singapore. According to the World Health Organisation ("WHO"), trans fat has no known health benefits and increases the risk of developing heart disease.
At present, regulation 78 of the Food Regulations only prohibits pre-packed edible fats and oils from containing trans fatty acids at levels exceeding 2% of total mass. This limitation was implemented in 2013 to tackle the excessive consumption of trans fat in Singapore.
The upcoming ban will build on the current Food Regulations framework and extends to PHOs found in pre-packaged foods in addition to PHOs found in prepacked fats and oils. The MOH has noted that banning PHOs will not have an adverse effect on Singaporeans' food options and cost.
The MOH will be consulting further with the industry and working with relevant agencies on the implementation details. The local food industry will also be given time to make adjustments.
This development is consistent with the global trend of countries adopting various policy approaches to tackle the issue of artificial trans fat over the last decade. In line with this, the WHO has stated that mandatory national limits on industrially produced trans fat are the most effective way to reduce trans fat consumption. In particular, the WHO has also released a set of guidelines in 2018 urging countries to eliminate artificial trans fat from the global food supply. Other countries such as the United States, Canada, and Thailand have already banned PHOs.
Seen in light of the MOH and Health Promotion Board's recent public consultation on reducing sugar intake from pre-packaged sugar-sweetened beverages, it appears that this upcoming ban is indeed part of Singapore's ongoing efforts to promote healthy lifestyles amongst its citizens.
More details can be found in the MOH's Committee of Supply 2019 Factsheet, accessible here.


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May 30, 2014
Hugo Boss wants to tackle luxury market
May 30, 2014
© 2014 AFP - The German ready-to-wear company Hugo Boss wants to crack the growing luxury and women’s fashion markets, said its CEO in an interview published on Friday, May 30 in the business daily Handelsblatt.
"We want to position the brand at a higher level and give a new dimension to our womenswear collection," said Claus-Dietrich Lahrs to the German business newspaper.
In 2013, the company from Metzingen drew 15% of its revenues ($2.4 billion in 2013) from the luxury segment while womenswear accounted for about 11%.
The group wants to “significantly improve " sales in the luxury sector and to attain double-digit progress in sales of women's apparel, said Claus-Dietrich Lahrs.
It will count on 1,000 or so of its own stores worldwide to realize these ambitions as, according to the company, this will promote an upscale and exclusive brand image.
The company currently generates 50% of its sales from directly managed stores but expects that figure to rise to 80% by 2020, also plans to open more.
Copyright © 2023 AFP. All rights reserved. All information displayed in this section (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the contents of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presses.


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The Latest News On The API Economy
Google implemented a number of changes to its Maps API Standard Plan. Apps created on or after June 22nd will be subject to a host of new rules surrounding access and limits. Active domains utilizing the APIs prior to June 22nd are grandfathered in to differing degrees depending on implementation.
Postman is the Chrome app and Cloud collaboration tool that integrates into your existing workflow to simplify the process of prototyping and testing APIs. In this tutorial, Kumar Gaurav explains a simple process for getting Postman to detect and import all RAML API definitions from inside a folder.
Part of HipChat’s popularity is down to the fact that it offers integrations with services like Google, Asana and GitHub, as well as hundreds of others. This tutorial on the Medallia blog shows followers how to set up a system that pushes notifications to a Hipchat room to keep your team informed.
Leading travel companies are broadening their distribution channels by building platforms that enable partners and customers to connect and access their inventory and sales systems via application programming interfaces. APIs are the tools powering many of today’s mobile and Web applications.
We've added Fifteen APIs to the ProgrammableWeb directory in categories including Notifications, Music, Goals, and Credit Cards. Highlighted today are an API for Digital Bible Platform, and APIs for a musical visualization platform and a goal platform. Here's a rundown of the latest additions.
Fabric, Twitter's mobile development platform, has added deep linking capabilties thanks to a newly launched integration with Branch, a deep linking and attribution tool. Twitter launched Fabric in 2014 with the goal of helping developers more easily build robust mobile apps.
BetterWorks announced an API that connects data points from across an enterprise into a single report, dashboard, or method. The API enables companies to gather the data necessary to create and measure company goals. BetterWorks aims to "combine the power of goals and the value of people".
The number of available web search APIs has been reduced in recent months; Google and Yahoo have shut down a number of their web search APIs. This is the first part of a two-part article covering the state of web search APIs. The second part highlights search APIs provided by Google and Microsoft.
This is part two of a two-part article covering the current state of Web search APIs. This article takes a look at the Web search tools/APIs provided by Google and Microsoft. Article includes comparison charts highlighting some of the key differences between Google and Microsoft search tools/APIs.
Sixteen APIs have been added to the ProgrammableWeb directory in categories such as Government, Healthcare, WebRTC, and Transportation, among others. Featured today is an API from the FCC that provides data gathered from consumer complaints. Here's a rundown of the latest additions.
Airbnb's CEO, Brian Chesky, hinted that Airbnb may soon open an API for third party integration. Chesky envisions the company shifting from a marketplace to a travel platform upon which third parties can plug into. While no specifics were given, Chesky suggested that lack of an API is a hole.
Google Maps API is the most popular tool for building location-based services. Now, the Google Maps Operations team is leveraging their experience to collaborate with Udacity and create a free course that teaches students how to integrate maps and location features into websites.
Facebook’s photo tagging suggestion feature automatically recognises friends’ faces in a photo to make it fast and easy to tag people you know on the platform. In this tutorial, Narendra Rajput deconstructed the process to see how it works, then wrote a small Ruby script to automate the process.
With the many vulnerabilities of scraping bank account data causing concerns for some large banks, Wells Fargo recently announced that it intends to create an API to enable integration with accounting software Xero to give small businesses better visibility of their banking data.
Twenty Two APIs have been added to the ProgrammableWeb directory in categories including Recognition, Engagement, Editing, and Games. Highlights include the Skype Bot REST API for deploying Skype messaging bots and the Microsoft Speaker Recognition API which can identify users by voice.
Pronounced ‘fire’, FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) is the HL7 specifications for supporting APIs in exchanging data among HIT systems. By enabling the sharing of data, FHIR has the potential to unite PHM and EMR tools and streamline the process of providing care.
Snapchat, which recently surpassed Twitter in daily usage, has unveiled an API that allows advertisers to purchase Snapchat ads programmatically and at scale. Part of a broader launch of new ad offerings, Snapchat's Ads API could help the company grow its ad revenue and pave the way for an IPO.
Fog Creek Software has announced the release of HyperDev (beta), a platform that developers can use to build web applications and experiment with front-end and back-end code without having to configure servers, run shell commands, compile files, and complete other extraneous tasks.
Fourteen APIs have been added to the ProgrammableWeb directory in such categories as Human Resources, File Sharing, Conversions and Presentations. Featured today is the store locator API from Walgreens and Tiltify fundraising by game streaming API. Here's a look at what's new.
Google has released a new version of the Android SDK, which contains the final set of APIs for Android N. Developers can now add N behaviors to their apps. Along with the APIs and SDK, Google also pushed out a fourth Android N Developer Preview. The beta operating system is ready for download.


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Delivery drivers in Ohio have sued their employer, Inpax Shipping Solutions, a company that delivers packages for Amazon, for unpaid overtime wages and time shaving, in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Ohio Minimum Fair Wages Standard Act.
The lawsuit alleges that Inpax is not properly paying its workers overtime wages. According to the lawsuit, the drivers were getting paid $140 per day, despite the number of hours they were working. This resulted in unpaid overtime wages when the drivers worked more than 40 hours in a workweek. Under the FLSA and most state laws, delivery drivers must be paid at a rate of time-and-a-half (1.5x) their regular hourly rate for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek. For example, if a driver makes $14.00 per hour, all hours over 40 must be paid at $21.00.
In addition to under paying workers, the lawsuit claims that Inpax regularly under-recorded the hours the delivery workers actually worked. According to the lawsuit, despite working 60 to 70-hour weeks, workers were only paid for roughly 45 hours, and managers were in charge of logging employee hours. “Essentially not paying workers their proper overtime, Inpax is stealing time, money and that time and money equate to real life things,” said the attorney for the drivers.
The wage theft lawsuit was filed as a collective action, hoping to include all delivery drivers who were cheated out of overtime wages by Inpax’s pay practices within the past 3 years. The company has faced similar overtime lawsuits in the past. Workers for companies that make Amazon deliveries have filed similar lawsuits in Maryland and other states.


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New York’s pristine waters and picturesque parks have been marred by a growing menace – plastic waste. However, according to New York Attorney General Letitia James, the blame doesn’t lie with litterbugs but with the companies responsible for flooding the world with plastic bottles and packaging, particularly PepsiCo, the maker of popular brands like Pepsi, Mountain Dew, and Lay’s chips.
In an unusual twist, James is shifting the spotlight from individual responsibility to corporate accountability in the battle against environmental degradation. She has launched a lawsuit against PepsiCo, accusing the beverage giant of downplaying the environmental risks associated with its plastic packaging and creating a public nuisance in the state of New York. James asserts that PepsiCo must be held accountable for its actions.
The Buffalo River, a scenic waterway in New York, is now teeming with plastic waste, posing a threat to the state’s drinking water and natural environment. “All New Yorkers have a basic right to clean water, yet PepsiCo’s irresponsible packaging and marketing endanger Buffalo’s water supply, environment, and public health,” James stated in a press release. “No one should have to worry about plastics in their drinking water, plastic garbage littering their scenic riverfront, or plastic pollution harming wildlife.”
In recent years, companies like PepsiCo have attempted to address their environmental impact by promoting the use of recycled or recyclable packaging. PepsiCo’s spokesperson stated, “PepsiCo is serious about plastic reduction and effective recycling, and has been transparent in our journey to reduce the use of plastic and accelerate new packaging innovation.” However, James and environmental advocates argue that shifting the responsibility to consumers is not a viable solution and that it is the companies themselves, like PepsiCo, that need to take more substantial action.
PepsiCo’s Plastic Pollution Problem
Last year, the Attorney General’s office conducted a survey of waste in the Buffalo River and its watershed, revealing that a significant portion of the waste was plastic. Shockingly, approximately 17% of this plastic waste bore logos of products manufactured by PepsiCo, as highlighted in the lawsuit. Waste from other brands accounted for a much smaller share of the total.
The plastic waste, like all plastic in the environment, is gradually breaking down into smaller particles, polluting New York’s waterways, and even finding its way into people’s bodies. “The City of Buffalo and other New York communities source their drinking water from Lake Erie, and microplastics have been detected in Lake Erie,” the lawsuit reported. Scientists are still researching the potential health risks associated with ingesting plastic waste, but concerns are growing.
Moreover, the lawsuit alleges that PepsiCo has failed to adequately inform the public about the ultimate destination of its plastic packaging, misleading consumers into believing that recycling effectively addresses the plastic waste problem. In reality, plastic recycling faces numerous challenges. Some of PepsiCo’s snack packaging, for instance, is not recyclable at all, and recyclable items like bottles can only undergo recycling a limited number of times. Additionally, PepsiCo has failed to meet its own recycling goals, according to the lawsuit.
The Limits of Recycling
Experts caution against relying solely on recycling to combat the plastic waste crisis. Kirstie Pecci, the executive director of Just Zero, a nonprofit dedicated to waste reduction, pointed out that certain materials like glass and paper can be recycled repeatedly, whereas plastics have severe limitations. “The recyclability of plastic has always been severely limited, and it will not improve,” she warned. Simply sorting waste into recycling bins is insufficient to solve the problem.
What Lies Ahead
Attorney General Letitia James aims to prove in court that PepsiCo has created a public nuisance and compel the company to take meaningful steps to reduce its waste, potentially by adopting alternative packaging solutions. She is also advocating for warning labels on PepsiCo products and seeking damages for the harm caused to the Buffalo River and its residents, with the exact amount to be determined in a trial.
Environmental advocates are hopeful that this lawsuit could set a precedent and influence lawmakers to adopt more stringent measures against plastic pollution. Judith Enck, president of Beyond Plastics, a Vermont-based organization dedicated to ending plastic pollution, believes that James’ lawsuit could serve as a model for others to follow. Typically, lawsuits addressing plastic pollution are initiated by non-profit organizations, but having a state official take action adds significant weight to the cause.
“New York State law allows you to hold polluters accountable, whether it’s toxic waste or construction and demolition debris,” Enck stated. “There’s no reason why plastic pollution should be any different.”
The battle against plastic pollution in New York has taken an unexpected turn as Attorney General Letitia James holds PepsiCo accountable for its role in the crisis. This lawsuit has the potential to reshape the conversation around corporate responsibility and environmental protection, setting a precedent for future actions against plastic pollution.


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After 20 years and eight games, developer Silicon Knights is on the ropes, according to Kotaku. In a feature detailing the troubled development of X-Men: Destiny with anonymous former employees of the studio, the site reports that Silicon Knights has dwindled to a staff of fewer than five, and that's including company president Denis Dyack.
The feature paints a dim portrait of Dyack's behavior during X-Men: Destiny development, with the former staffers describing him as aloof and disconnected during the game's creation. They also suggested that the studio head was more concerned with putting together a pitching demo for Eternal Darkness 2 than working on Destiny. The developers said Dyack had as much as 40 percent of the studio--including numerous senior people--working on the sequel to the studio's acclaimed GameCube effort from 2002 instead of the Activision super hero game.
"At SK, publishers are viewed with an extremely adversarial perception," one source told the site. "Instead of a symbiotic relationship, it was essentially parasitic. The less Activision knew about the goings-on at SK, the easier it was for Denis to spin his web of warped reality with them."
Development on X-Men Destiny proceeded slowly, with one developer telling the site, "We seemed to intentionally tank the game." The studio reportedly asked Activision for a lengthy extension on the game that would have increased its budget by about 35 percent. Eventually, Activision announced the game publicly and put the Silicon Knights logo on a trailer, which developers said forced the studio to get serious about the game in a bid to save its reputation, with six-day-a-week, 10-hour-a-day minimum crunch being imposed (and worsening as the game neared launch).
X-Men: Destiny hit shelves in September of 2011, and met with critical disdain and consumer disinterest. Shortly after, the studio confirmed layoffs of 45 staffers after a project was cancelled. The developer's struggles continued, as it lost a high-profile lawsuit against Epic Games over its Unreal Engine license earlier this year, and underwent another round of layoffs. At the time, Dyack said, "We are scaling back to a core group and focusing all our efforts on future opportunities."


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Anime Convention / Anime Expo
Get bit by the con bug as we report first-hand about the conventions that we go to around the world! See if you are in any of our photos and find out more about the cons themselves!
What You Need to Know: Crunchyroll has two booths for fans to enjoy, including the first-ever Crunchyroll Games booth at Anime NYC. Photo opportunities ga...Readmore
“SideM and T.M. Revolution together on stage?! What a dream come true!!” Event: Bandai Namco Entertainment Festival 2019 Date: October 19-20, 2019 Location:...Readmore
What You Need to Know: Anime NYC powered by Crunchyroll announced today that international performance artist and pop star Poppy will be joining Anime NYC...Readmore
What You Need to Know: VIZ Media notably expands its publishing catalog as it announced a wide range of new acquisitions set for summer 2020 release duri...Readmore
What You Need to Know: Multimedia entertainment company VIZ Media, LLC adds the world-renowned Star Wars franchise to its publishing catalog with the acquis...Readmore1〜25 / 397 Posts


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Wanted: Chili and soup cooks
Six individuals or teams have signed up so far to compete in next weekend’s chili and soup cook-off here, and more cooks are sought for the friendly competition.
The cook-off, which will raise funds for the Holton Fire Department, has been set from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, on the Holton Square in conjunction with the Fall Fest Vintage Market.
Those wanting to participate in the annual chili and soup cook-off must provide four to five gallons of their homemade recipe that Saturday.
There is a $1 registration fee, and cooks are encouraged to pre-register by contacting David Powls at The Holton Recorder at 785-364-3141.
A list of cooks set to participate in the event will be published in an upcoming edition of The Holton Recorder.
In addition to the soup or chili, participants must provide their own table, extension cord for electric hook-ups, a larger cooker to keep their food warm and larger bowls and spoons to serve residents who wish to purchase a larger bowl of their food. Cooks are also encouraged to decorate their display.
Tables need to be set up by 10:45 a.m. that Saturday for judging and public participation at 11 a.m.
To sample the variety of chili and soup that day, a pack of tasting bowls will be sold at a cost of $5 per person. The fee will include enough tasting bowls to sample all the chili and soup provided that day.
The tasting bowls will be available to purchase at a table in front of The Holton Recorder that Saturday. All proceeds from the purchase of the tasting bowls will be donated to the Holton Fire Department.
In addition, members of the public can also purchase a larger bowl of their favorite recipe from the participating cooks, who are encouraged to donate a portion of those proceeds to the fire department. Each cook will set the price of any larger bowls sold.
Like previous years, various prizes will be awarded including “People’s Choice,” “Best Chili,” “Best Soup” and “Fire Chief’s Favorite.”
The best chili cook will receive $50 in Chamber Bucks and five free tickets to the Kansas City Renaissance Festival. The people’s choice winner will receive a one-year subscription to The Holton Recorder.
Holton Fire Chief Kevin Ingels has agreed to serve as one of the judges for the event and noted that donations to the fire department are always appreciated.
For more information, call The Holton Recorder at 364-3141.


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The one thing that exhibitors will not have to worry about once they resume operations, is having a content-rich line-up.
According to Karan Taurani, Vice President, Elara Capital, there are ample movies that will be available for release over the next six months.
"Big-budget Hindi movies, like Coolie no.1, Sooryavanshi, 83 Biopic, are ready for release,” he said.
In a research note, he said that movies require a three-month span for dubbing of content. Hence, all pending films expected to be released in Q1 FY21 too will be ready for release in July. There is enough amount of content available until September this year to ensure that cinemas are full.
In terms of the regional movies, multiple films are ready for release from June-July onwards.
Taurani also believes that box office collections will continue to move positively after the lockdown is over, as people will be bored of watching OTT content at home, and will move out of their houses to watch big movies on bigger screens. So, footfall is expected to witness a sharp surge post the theatre reopening.
Despite the optimism around strong content, Taurani is of the view that the status of the outbreak after the lockdown period will decide the fate of the exhibitors.
“In case, the number of infected cases move up sharply despite the lockdown and it is extended further by two to three weeks, it will have a negative bearing for exhibitors. People will monitor the situation closely before hitting movie theatres even after the lockdown is called off,” Taurani told Moneycontrol.
He further highlighted that large multiplex chains like Inox, PVR and Cinepolis will see new screen addition and execution, tariff hikes, renegotiation with the property owners for rentals, renegotiation for distributors share to get postponed by six months.
Besides, after theatres reopen, it will take occupancy levels around two to three weeks to come back to what they were before the shutdown.
The spread of COVID-19 in developed nations will lead to a bigger delay of large Hollywood releases globally, which too will impact box office revenue for exhibitors.
“Hollywood contributes almost 12 percent of box office revenue for PVR and Inox, with PVR having a relatively larger share (15 percent to 18 percent),” Taurani added.
The exhibitors are seeking help from the government and have urged for a GST break for one year.Taurani believes that temporary relaxation of GST and lower distributor share may reduce near term losses for the exhibitors.


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The u10 and u11 girls team held a bag pack fundraiser over the weekend in
Tesco Artane. It was a great team effort by everyone involved. Big thanks
to Tesco Artane, Gavin Dunne for organising and all the parents and girls
who gave up their time to support and make it a huge success.


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Holiday companies allow riot police to re-book getaways for free
Tui companies First Choice and Thomson are allowing riot police to re-book their holidays free of charge after all leave was cancelled during the UK uprisings.
Four days of UK riots saw the police forced to abandon their getaways to deal with the violence and looting.
But holiday companies have stepped in to assure them that they will waive their re-booking fees to get a well-deserved break.
Distribution director Nick Longman told Travel Mole: 'We know how important holidays are and that nobody needs a holiday more than members of the police force right now.
'We want to ensure that all members of the Police will still be able to take their well earned break with us, at a time convenient to them.
'Our retail staff, some of whom have been affected by the riots, will be only too happy to help police officers re-book their holidays, so we advise all officers affected to pop into their local Thomson or First Choice shop.'
According to Travel Weekly, Longman added: 'As a national retailer Thomson and First Choice would like to thank Britain's police force for protecting our high streets so fearlessly, and we look forward to welcoming them on our holidays.'
UK riots damaging British tourism


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At the end of this school year we will be rolling out a new system to manage Apple products in the county. This new system will give us the ability to setup Apple devices quicker, and with less interaction from our SysOps. This will also allow us to standardize and manage the software and settings [...]
Sometime in April or May the tech department will start rolling out Windows 10 on a school by school basis. Changes will be made to make our machines more secure and resistant to Trojans' and ransomware. With Windows 10 will come a newer version of Software Center as well as Office 2016.
During spring break, our Microsoft System Center installation was migrated to a new server and a new version to provide support for Windows 10. We are currently migrating our workstations to a new SCCM client. During this upgrade there may be some issues with software center until the upgrade is complete.
The tech department will be applying a software upgrade on the Wireless Controller at each school during the spring break week. While this upgrade is being performed wireless may be unavailable in the buildings for an hour or more. This upgrade is a necessary step for a later deployment of Windows 10. During this week, [...]
During the months of February and March we will be installing 300 new computers and replacing/upgrading 500 of the oldest computers throughout the county. During this time, we will also be recycling 300 of the oldest computers still in use as well as any old machines that have previously been taken out of service and [...]


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Nothing new here. September 15th MSN ran the big headline… “Trump Takes Payment In Gold Bars” from his latest tenant, a precious metals dealer. Three gold bars worth a $176,000 for the security deposit.
The newest tenant at Trump’s 40 Wall Street skyscraper is a precious-metals dealer, and Trump has agreed to accept the tenant’s $176,000 security deposit in gold. The dealer, Apmex, will give Trump three 32-ounce bars of gold, each about the size of a television remote control, The Wall Street Journal reported.
It’s the first time Trump has agreed to gold instead of cash as a lease deposit. “I figured Trump is a smart guy, and he’ll realize that taking gold is a better idea than taking cash,” said the chief executive of Apmex.
Remember Trump has declared bankruptcy a total of 4 times now, although never personally… it’s never personal. And I’m sure that’s what the tenant is telling Mr. Trump too….
Here’s gold since Trump took payment…Terms & Conditions page for a full disclaimer.
iheartWallStreet.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.


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3 reasons why your social media isn't working
- Joey Beachum, Epik Consulting
Just about any business with any kind of marketing budget uses social media in some way – even if a company’s social media effort basically involves getting a grandkid to “do the Facebook.”
Of all the businesses that use social media, though, how many would you say are pleased with the results they are getting? How many would say their social media efforts are working?
Probably not as many as marketing and social media professionals would prefer.
In fact, only five percent – just five percent - of companies using social media are “highly satisfied” with their social media campaigns. That is such a low number as to be disturbing for someone like myself who believes in the power of social media and the internet to help business owners.
So what gives? Why isn’t your social media working?
Reason No. 1: You’re Not Investing Enough Time and Money
Social media takes time to do well and generate any kind of results. Time equals money, and truth be told, many business owners view social media as a marketing shortcut of sorts that gives feedback for essentially nothing.
If only that were true.
The fact is, social media requires a significant investment in time and money. You need to consistently feed the social media beast and devote time to making new connections, engaging with and talking to other users and building strong relationships with potential customers.
You also need to invest money, because being social the right way involves having personnel who know what they’re doing and have the skills necessary to be a brand representative online. (More on that a bit later.)
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With sesame allergies on the rise in the US, we may see the ingredient added to the list of major allergens which must be declared. Dr Susan Mayne of the FDA explains more...
List view / Grid view
Bridge Cheese founder Michael Harte shares his experiences of importing and exporting goods under the new EU trade agreement and looks at how the industry is having to adapt to the changing rules and regulations.
Louise Palmer-Masterton looks at the meaning behind vegan and plant-based and discusses whether there’s actually any difference between the two - and why it matters.
In the latest FSA Takeaway, two experts discuss some key findings of the Food Allergy and Intolerance Research Programme, how good quality research informs the FSA’s work, and where its next study will lead.
New Food’s Joshua Minchin finds out how the Scotch whisky sector has fared over the past 12 months and how the sector may develop…
Professor Chris Elliott analyses the Commission’s recommendations and puts out a plea for the UK to get its own affairs in order before it begins seeking global export fame.
New production methods show great promise that the taste and texture of vegan ice cream can be further improved.
This International Women’s Day, New Food hears from Sara Roberts, a female leader challenging the norm for small businesses on the stand against climate change.
With growing consumer demand for seaweed in European countries, Jens J Sloth and Susan L Holdt of the Technical University of Denmark explain why the lack of seaweed regulation is an immediate concern, and how laboratories should prepare for new legislation.
New Food gains insight into one of the world’s favourite pizza brands and the innovative process behind its doughs.
Researchers in Belfast teamed up with the Mars Global Food Safety Center and Agilent Technologies to help farmers and producers, particularly in the developing world, more easily identify fraud.
On World Obesity Day, Dr Renata Micha outlines the scale of the world’s obesity crisis, and explains why 2021 is a crucial year for authorities if they are to solve a growing crisis.
Arla’s Graham Wilkinson explains how the dairy cooperative has progressed towards its ambitious sustainability targets during the most challenging of periods.
Sylvain Charlebois looks at the deep-rooted underlying issues of buttergate and why the sector will come out stronger following an investigation.
Dr Caroline Potter examines the huge potential for upcycling within the food industry, and offers advice to manufacturers looking to reduce the amount of food they throw away.


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Gunmen rob grocery store in Snowmass
Three masked gunmen apparently robbed The Village Market in Snowmass Village Thursday night – the third such holdup in the Aspen area this month.
Early reports indicated three men, all wearing white masks, held up the grocery store at gunpoint shortly after 9:30 p.m. One of the men was described as a 5-foot-10-inch white male, wearing a green sweatshirt with the sleeves cut off, and the mask.
Details on the stickup were sketchy at Aspen Times press time last night. Police and sheriff’s deputies were working to contain the area around the store and had blocked off both entrances to the area. Two officers entered the store at 10:15 p.m., yelling out “Snowmass Police.”
Fire and ambulance personnel were also on the scene. A clerk at the store reportedly received minor injuries when he was struck on the head, according to police.
Authorities at the barricades near the store would not discuss developments with an Aspen Times reporter.
Efforts to track down suspects leaving the resort were hampered by a steady stream of traffic flowing from the Snowmass Mall following last night’s free Thursday night concert on Fanny Hill.
The robbery was the third such heist in the upper Roaring Fork Valley in two weeks.
Three armed robbers, all wearing masks, hit Clark’s Market in Aspen on Aug. 5 and escaped with what Aspen police termed a sizable sum of cash. The following night, two masked gunmen took a more modest amount of cash from the Aspen Alps, a condominium association.
Both heists remain under investigation and no arrests had been made as of yesterday.
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UPDATED: The administrators of Focus DIY have confirmed the appointment of restructuring firm Gordon Brothers to advise on the sale of all stock with a view to “closing down the chain”.
Retail Week revealed on Friday that Gordon Brothers had been hired to liquidate stock this week, prompting fears of mass store closures.
Closing Down Sales will commence this weekend.
Ernst & Young said “it has not been possible to find a buyer for the Focus DIY Group as a whole”.
3,000 jobs are at risk across about 120 stores.
Simon Allport, Joint Administrator said, “We have been working hard to sell the business as a going concern and to maximise value for creditors.
“While we have been successful in securing up to 900 jobs from the sale of 55 stores in three separate deals, finding a buyer for the whole of the business has not been possible.
“UK retailers are facing one of the most challenging retail environments in recent times and the DIY sector has become highly competitive, with only the strongest players being able to thrive and survive.”
Ernst & Young said the stock liquidation is “likely to result in a number of Focus stores closing with remaining employees going through a redundancy process”.
It added that employees will be offered appropriate support and advice.
Focus collapsed into administration earlier this month after a credit default, as revealed by Retail-Week.com.
111 redundancies were made at head office at the time.


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There was good news for women and bad news for women at Apple's conference Tuesday. The good: A female executive took the stage. The bad: All anyone could talk about was her pink lace trench coat.
Almost immediately after Senior Vice President of Retail Angela Ahrendts took the stage (the only female presenter during the two hour event, by the way), Twitter erupted with commentary on her Burberry pink lace trench—some of it complimentary, some of it downright offensive. Either way, you'd hardly know Ahrendts was talking about the retail plan for one of the world's most valuable brands.


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St. Petersburg has a new social club for dogs and their owners. St. Pete Pup Club is officially launching this Saturday with a pup-themed party/art show at Black Crow Coffee Co. Enjoy artwork from 30 local artists, a pet photo booth, live pet portraits by Evan Cool Art, and a pup kissing booth and raffle to benefit Southeastern Guide Dogs. Bring your dog and make some friends.
Black Crow Coffee Co., 722 2nd St. N., St. Petersburg. Sat., May 11, 6-10 p.m.
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MMORPG Lineage 2M developed by NCSOFT has generated over $152 million in revenue in less than three months since it launched in South Korea.
The estimate comes from Sensor Tower.
The game that debuted on November 25 is the latest and the highest-grossing installment in the Lineage series. The overall revenue of the franchise is now estimated to have surpassed $4.4 billion, even if Lineage 2M has somewhat cannibalized Lineage M revenue.
Google Play accounts for the most of lifetime user spending in Lineage 2M, generating $128.3 million (84 percent of the total). Owners of Apple devices have spent $24.5 million (16 percent of the total) on the game.
Around 1.6 million people have installed Lineage 2M. 1.3 million of those installs (79.6 percent of the total), are from Google Play. The App Store accounted for about 323,000 installs, (20.4 percent of all the total).
Average revenue per download is estimated to be about $97.60.
Note: Sensor Tower’s estimates of Lineage 2M revenue in January are slightly higher that the ones previously shared by AppMagic.


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SAP SE (SAP.N)
1 May 2015
FRANKFURT, April 21 - The weaker euro boosted revenue at German business software maker SAP in the first three months of the year and drove operating profit up 15 percent, although a rise in newer cloud-based software sales squeezed margins.
FRANKFURT, April 21 - German business software maker SAP on Tuesday reported a 15 percent rise in operating profit helped by a cheap euro, even as rising sales of cloud-based software dampened profit margins relative to its classic licensed software business.
FRANKFURT - Klaus Tschira, one of the co-founders of European software giant SAP, has died unexpectedly at the age of 74, his foundation said on Tuesday.
FRANKFURT, March 31 - Klaus Tschira, one of the co-founders of European software giant SAP, has died unexpectedly at the age of 74, his foundation said on Tuesday.
FRANKFURT - Cloud software company Salesforce.com Inc aims to overtake SAP in terms of sales on the German company's home market in the coming years, the Europe chief of Salesforce told a German magazine.
FRANKFURT, March 20 - SAP, Europe's largest software maker, said on Friday it expected the weak euro boost to operating profit growth by up to 14 percentage points, upping its forecast after the currency weakened further in recent weeks.
FRANKFURT, March 20 - Europe's largest software maker SAP expects a 11-14 percentage point boost to its current-year operating profits following further weakening in the euro against the U.S. dollar and other currencies, the company said on Friday.
FRANKFURT - German business software maker SAP said on Thursday it would recommend a 10-percent dividend increase to 1.10 euros ($1) per share to its shareholders.
FRANKFURT, March 19 - German business software maker SAP said on Thursday it would recommend a 10-percent dividend increase to 1.10 euros ($1) per share to its shareholders.
HANOVER, Germany - Business software maker SAP is betting its development of online corporate purchasing services for its multinational customers can boost revenue and profits as it shifts its core business onto the cloud.
Earnings vs. Estimates
Analyst Research Reports
Trading Report for (SAP). A detailed report, including free correlated market analysis, and updates.
Provider: Stock Traders Daily
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SAP SE: Business description, financial summary, 3yr and interim financials, key statistics/ratios and historical ratio analysis.
Provider: Reuters Investment Profile
Provider: Ford Investor Services, Inc.
Provider: Sadif Analytics Prime


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Apple fans are intrigued by an image posted online believed to be a leaked preview shot of the latest iPhone.
The photo shows what Apple fans believe is the 'iPhone 5se', the iPhone model Apple is expected to launch in March, pictured beside the iPhone 5. It was published on website One More Thing, the same site which had a leaked image of the iPad Air 2 display two years ago as well as the iPad Air design.
Apple specialist site 9to5Mac reported sources had revealed the phone would be known as iPhone 5se, meaning 'special edition' or 'enhanced'.
The iPhone would have a 4-inch screen, the same size as the iPhone 5, and feature the curved glass of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s.
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
It would feature the same 8 megapixel rear camera as the iPhone 6 and sources told 9to5Mac that the iPhone 5se would feature the A9 and M9 processor, like the iPhone 6s.
The website said it believed the iPhone 5se would replace the iPhone 6 and 6 plus in the line-up, and appeal to people who want all the up-to-date features in a more compact form.
The March announcement by Apple is also expected to feature an iPhone 7, or a new iPhone model by a different name. An upgrade to the Apple Watch was also expected to feature in the presentation.
The photos of the model could turn out to be fake, but the site One More Thing has published leaked images from "Apple insiders" which turned out to be legitimate before.


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In the last 18 odd months, the words “pre-owned” have cropped up time and again in industry conversations. Estimated to be worth $16 billion annually according to an estimate by financial services company Kepler Cheuvreux, pre-owned watches is no longer the realm of auction houses, pawn shops, or dodgy grey market dealers.
While there have been smaller players like Timepiece360, Luxury Closet, among others operating in Dubai; the entry of Watch Box, the Philadelphia-based eCommerce platform for pre-owned watches, into the region is set to give the pre-owned market a big fillip. WatchBox Middle East is a joint venture between the company and Dubai-based retailer Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons. This is the latter’s first venture into the secondary market and the company’s Chief Commercial Officer Mohammed Abdulmagied Seddiqi had mentioned to us during an interview last year that they were going to enter the pre-owned business soon.
“The ability for customers to trade watches and recognize value enables them to buy new watches more frequently, increasing the overall selling velocity in the market. A high quality, trusted, transparent secondary market also amplifies confidence in the primary market,” explains Mohammed, the grandson of the late founder of the luxury retailer. “Major luxury watch brands are beginning to recognize how the secondary market drives new watch sales and are paying attention to the secondary market value of their watches, as well as working on solutions for customers who want to trade in watches towards the purchase of new watches.”
WatchBox combines its online platform with white-glove customer experiences. It was launched in 2017 and has already expanded to markets in Switzerland, Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Africa before entering the Middle East. It reported a $200 million revenue run rate for 2019 with the goal to grow to $500 million in the next 3-5 years. Over 45,000 watches were traded and sold over the last two years, according to the figures we have obtained. Approximately 100 transactions (sold, purchased, traded) happen each day across all locations.
“Long established retailers like Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons have done a remarkable job in building demand and consumer interest in the luxury watch category across the Middle East – to the tune of over CHF 20 billion (at retail value) exported from Switzerland over the last 18 years.
Yet, the market lags behind other major watch centers in offering a trustworthy secondary market solution; offering trade-in services and selling desirable and collectable pieces no longer in production – or not readily accessible on the primary market,” says Amanda Ellison, Global President and Chief Operating Officer at Watchbox.
It is estimated that WatchBox has pumped in $10 million into this joint venture with the Dubai retailer. This includes the opening of a 1,721 square feet standalone store at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and there are plans to open shop-in-shops at select Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons’ stores. The WatchBox model delivers access to their entire global inventory, valued at over $80 million. Hopefully, WatchBox’s experience in the pre-owned space combined with the credibility of their retail partner will help elevate conversations about pre-owned watches in the region.
“WatchBox prides itself on its white glove service, the experience of buying or trading a pre-owned watch should be as close as possible to buying a new watch. Accordingly, watches are evaluated, authenticated, and brought as close to mint condition before being presented for sale,” says Ellison adding that each watch is accompanied by a two-year WatchBox warranty. According to Ellison, what really differentiates WatchBox from anything else that already exists in the region is the fact that the customer experience is “something in between” e-commerce and traditional bricks and mortar retail. “Up until now, the pre-owned landscape in the region has been rather fragmented, with activity among small second-hand dealers, as well as watches traded privately between collectors.
The watches available ‘out there’ may be authentic, but you will find a wide variance in condition, a factor that led WatchBox to define its global quality standard for the modern pre-owned space. If we limit this discussion to businesses that are ‘established’ in the traditional sense, those that exist in the region cater primarily to the vintage market, with recent auction activity from Christies and Sotheby’s, and shops such as Momentum. WatchBox’s expertise is in the modern pre-owned arena,” she says.
The hottest commodity across the Watchbox platform remains the stainless steel luxury sports watch, specifically the ones on steel bracelet. This encompasses the full spectrum of Rolex Professional watches, Patek Philippe’s Nautilus collection, and Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak, among others. The most expensive watch sold on WatchBox this far has been a $2 million Patek Philippe. The DIFC store here stocks hard-to-get models like the Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5711and the Rolex GMT-Master II, but just don’t expect to buy it at list price.
“Across all regions, WatchBox specializes in the unique and complicated models by Patek Philippe and F.P. Journe, and we tend to realize higher price point sales in our Hong Kong and Singapore locations. We anticipate that the Dubai market will follow this trend,” says Ellison. According to Danny Govberg, CEO of Watch Box, interest for indie watchmaker F.P. Journe has been steadily rising over the last few years as more people come to recognize the talent and ingenuity of the watchmaker, and just how limited its production is. “The overall secondary market value of the brand really popped within the last six months, particularly for the early brass movement models which command a significantly higher premium,” observes Govberg.
Given the spike in popularity of vintage watches in the auction market, is there scope for expansion in the vintage category in this region? “Perhaps in the future. Our focus today is on building and growing the modern pre-owned space,” answers Ellison.
Incidentally, WatchBox’s sister company is the US jeweler Govberg. Richemont recently announced that it was going to pull out all its brands from Govberg since the luxury conglomerate now owns WatchBox’s competitor, the UK-based WatchFinder. Incidentally, WatchBox in the region is not limited to just brand’s retailed by Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons. Did any of the brands that work with the Dubai retailer have any reservations about them entering the pre-owned business? “We enjoy well-established and trusted relationships with all of our brands. So far we have only received positive feedback in relation to this endeavor,” signs off Mohammed Abdulmagied Seddiqi.


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What’s up with LG? First the company announces the tablet it won’t release, then a Windows 7 tablet PC leaks online, and now an unnamed official has gone on the record and revealed LG’s Android tablet plans.
“LG Electronics decided to launch a new tablet PC, so-called LG Pad, both in the domestic and overseas markets in the first quarter of the next year when Google unveils Honeycomb, tablet PC-version Android OS,” an anonymous LG senior official reportedly stated according to the Korean-language site MK.
The report also states the LG Pad will sport an 8.9-inch screen, effectively splitting the difference in size between the seven-inch Galaxy Tab and 9.7-inch iPad. The LG Android tablet will also feature a Nvidia Tegra 2 dual core processor. In addition, the LG Pad will be targeted at the European and North American markets.
However, don’t get your hopes up for an LG tablet just yet. Endgadget reached out to LG for comment, and the Korean-based tech giant had nothing to say on the record.


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Toy News: New photos of "Unite Warriors" Scattershot
Ever since "Combiner Wars" Scattershot was released months ago, Transformers fans have speculated about Takara Tomy releasing a more extensive retool of the Silverbolt sculpt in Japan. Now fans finally have a clear look at Scattershot and just what has been changed thanks to TF Yuki! While the vehicle mode is pretty much the same, the robot mode photo reveals several changes including two blasters (instead of Silverbolt's) and new chest panels for Scattershot himself! For many, this is the Scattershot they've been waiting for. What do you think? Chat about it on Facebook!
UWコンピューティコン、テックボット攻撃指揮官スキャッターショットです！ 4月になれば、もっとイロイロと情報が公開出来ると思います♪ お楽しみに！ pic.twitter.com/yDw27SzUT3
— TF YUKI (@TFYUKI) March 31, 2016


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Modern Warfare 3 mayhem. Copies stolen and shops start selling early
French Police have confirmed that a truck containing 6,000 copies of the shooter have been hijacked, and shops in Britain have confirmed to CVG that they have been selling the game early.
French site TFI News reported that the truck with full cargo suffered a huge collision on Saturday morning in Paris, which is when two masked individuals emerged and stole the truck, using tear gas to neutralise the truck driver and passenger. Truck value is estimated at about 400,000 euros.
And the second peice of dilligence to get to relates to broken embargos. Shops in the London area have confirmed to CVG that they've broken the seals on their boxes of copies of MW3 early and sold them to endearing customers (some even went out last Friday). Fears went out at first about the possibility of the banhammer being laid down upon these early adopters; but Robert Bowling, creative strategist at Infinity Ward, dispelled the fears: "No plans to ban legit fans, but try to wait til midnight launch on Tuesday to play #MW3." "Can't wait to jump online with everyone then!"


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For many years, genealogists have believed that all books published in the U.S. prior to 1923 are now public domain, meaning those books can legally be copied and sold. Anything published in 1923 or later might be under copyright. The keyword here is “might.” The subject became a bit complicated starting in 1923. I wrote about that in an earlier Plus Edition article that is still available at: http://eogn.com/wp/?p=41410. (A Plus Edition user name and password is required in order to read that article.)
Now the folks at the highly-respected Internet Archive have made a claim that Section 108h of the U.S. Copyright laws are even less restrictive, at least for libraries. That may not be the same as for private individuals, however. Here is a brief quote from the statement:
“The Internet Archive is now leveraging a little known, and perhaps never used, provision of US copyright law, Section 108h, which allows libraries to scan and make available materials published 1923 to 1941 if they are not being actively sold. Elizabeth Townsend Gard, a copyright scholar at Tulane University calls this ‘Library Public Domain.’ She and her students helped bring the first scanned books of this era available online in a collection named for the author of the bill making this necessary: The Sonny Bono Memorial Collection. Thousands more books will be added in the near future as we automate. We hope this will encourage libraries that have been reticent to scan beyond 1923 to start mass scanning their books and other works, at least up to 1942.”
Again, this exemption from the extension of copyright is only for libraries and only for works that are not actively for sale.
You can read the full story in the Internet Archive Blog at: http://blog.archive.org/2017/10/10/books-from-1923-to-1941-now-liberated.


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Sak Potts staged one of the bigger spectacles on the second day of Copenhagen Fashion Week’s three-day Fall 2023 schedule. The Copenhagen-based label is best known for its leather and shearling trimmed “Foxy Coat,” 70s-inspired outerwear that sells for upwards of $1,400, and has been a street style must-have in every global fashion capital since it was first introduced shortly after the brand’s founding in 2014. The brand invited around 1,600 guests to Copenhagen’s jewelbox of a downtown amusement park, Tivoli Garden, where twinkling lights guided them through a winding garden to fill a two-level concert hall. Once seated, the Tivoli Youth Guard strode in toy soldier precision to line the theater’s aisles and play a triumphant processional march.
And then, at last, models walked onstage in a fall collection carrying over the sleek, utility-forward direction from last season, Spring 2023, when Saks Potts introduced a matured, working-woman’s rebrand. There was a matching red shirt-and-pants set, then a strapless dress, in a fabric laser-cut with constellation-like dots and swirls. Outerwear came in the hardworking shape of a black aviator jacket stuffed with shearling or a crocodile-like trenchcoat zipped all the way up to the model’s chin and topped with a red scarf wrapped around her head.
Then there were the families. One model, in a shiny red puffer jacket and swooshing brown cargo pants with a little olive bra top peeking out from beneath, carried her infant daughter; another model wore a half-buttoned brown shirt over matching trousers, cinched by a curved belt bag of that earlier croc-effect material whose double pockets draped over her pregnant belly. At the finale, the entire cast and both designers brought out chairs and posed as a group, Christmas-card style, downstage.
More From Harper's BAZAAR
Fashion week, Saks Potts cofounder Cathrine Saks said in an interview, “shows everybody our DNA, our universe.” DNA was part of the family-themed show, with the exception of the brand’s first bona fide hit product—the foxy coat. It’s a hero piece the brand is moving away from, both aesthetically and in terms of its original materials. “Time changes, we're changing as well,” Saks said by way of explanation. Those changes involve phasing out materials like fur, a process that the brand announced last year—which the current fashion week wouldn’t have allowed anyway.
The move away from fur isn’t merely a choice—it’s something of a loose mandate. This is the first season of Copenhagen Fashion Week—which is not considered one of the big four global fashion weeks but increasingly draws attention for its designers’ poppy, influencer-friendly aesthetics—in which designers secured a spot on the official calendar by meeting 18 “minimum standards” for sustainability. Set by Copenhagen Fashion Week’s organizers and third-party sustainability consultants, the standards intend to function as a holistic checklist that nudges brands in a more environmentally and socially sound direction, at their physical runway shows, in their design studios, and at their stores. (So, if executed correctly, every facet of every brand.)
Included on the list: fashion shows should not create waste, with unrecyclable seat cards or setpieces that can’t be reused; designs should use at least 50 percent recycled materials; and there is a blanket ban on fur. These guidelines were first introduced three years ago, with a 2023 deadline to comply, and they’re the only form of eco-adjacent regulation implemented by a major fashion calendar. Twenty-eight designers made it onto the calendar this season; only one dropped out.
These well-meaning minimums open up a Pandora’s box of follow-up concerns. Fur is controversial, but petroleum-based faux substitutes attract just as much debate. Set pieces that are upcycled after one show could be re-made into an item with a postponed throwaway date. Through it all, there’s an underlying impetus for audiences to buy more than they really need, just because new products are released under a shiny spotlight. And to remind guests of as much, an anonymous crusader set up a scarecrow-like sculpture wearing a “Make Less” t-shirt and a grumpy frown outside several shows.
“Of course, yes, the most sustainable thing would probably be for Fashion Week to shut down,” Cecile Thorsmark, Copenhagen Fashion Week’s chief executive officer, said in an interview prior to the main event. “But that's just not going to happen.” The minimum standards’ requirements add a layer of accountability that stretches beyond event season and into designers’ day-to-day businesses, she added.
Interviews with one of Saks Potts’s creative heads and five other designers on the calendar, as well as with outside sustainability experts, reveal that most agree that Copenhagen Fashion Week’s first round of requirements are perceived as a welcomed baseline. Higher minimums than the outlines given this season could and should be expected of fashion labels, they said, but they also expressed that any acknowledgement of fashion’s damaging environmental impact is better than none at all.
From the front row, the latest installment of Copenhagen Fashion Week looked much like what you’d see from the same view in any other city. All that revealed the zero-waste policy’s presence were the emailed show notes and the occasionally stripped-down sets. Aeron built a maze-like installation in the center of a cavernous art studio for models to wander through mid-show. At Remain, curtains strung along both sides of the runway were a screen for projecting the models’ silhouettes, lined up like leather-jacket clad warriors, before their final walk. Remain CEO and creative director Denise Christensen says the fabric used for the set will be incorporated into future collections; what isn’t will be donated to local design schools.
Most designers this season could play within their preferred aesthetics while meeting the event’s standards. Eszter Áron of Aeron integrated her sourcing team into her design team so the two could be intertwined from the start, ensuring that material considerations were given equal weight to the designers’ imaginations. One notable result: a slick, cape-like raincoat made from cactus-derived fibers that closed the show. Rotate, best known for its ‘80s reminiscent party dresses and dramatic coats, shifted 60 percent of the sequins in its latest going-out lineup to “preferred materials” that sparkled just as much as previous collections’. Rotate’s creative directors Jeanette Madsen and Thora Valdimars, said they’ve tapped Danish and Dutch universities to help them research new production techniques that won’t dim their sparkle. OpéraSport cofounder Awa Malina Stelter said her label’s first collection in 2019 already met Copenhagen’s 2023 standards, with organic, GOTS-certified cotton and other fabrics made from 90 percent industrial waste.
A hard right turn into a new aesthetic because of the minimum requirements would have indicated a flaw in the program, Thorsmark, the fashion week’s CEO, said. “Otherwise, we're never going to convince the consumer that fashion that's produced more sustainably is just as attractive as the conventional alternative.”
“If anything, moving toward more sustainable practices makes the design process more exciting and brings a new dimension to our work,” said Stine Goya of her namesake label. She reports that 62% of the Aspen-rave collection shown on Wednesday, with bulbous printed puffer jackets and sheath dresses dripping in icicle-like embellishments, was made from “responsibly-sourced materials.”
“Slowly but surely, we’re getting closer to our goal of a fully sustainable collection, but it really is a journey and there are still necessary steps we need to take,” she added.
Everything designers mentioned is a well-intentioned effort. But as anyone who’s looked a little closer at where their clothes come from knows, it’s nuanced. The terms are loose: what are “responsibly-sourced materials,” for example, and who gets to decide? A lot is up for interpretation, and it’s clear that no two labels are meeting a standard like “at least 50 percent recycled materials” exactly the same way—or with a unanimously “better” alternative. Experts throughout the field all have different opinions. So did guests discussing this season’s collections outside the shows.
Chana Rosenthal, principal and founder at reDesign, a sustainability-focused consulting firm, found the requirements’ generality to be their biggest weakness. “The vagueness actually makes it more appealing in a way to brands, because part of the [sustainability] challenge has been brands saying they're doing something and then they’re not actually doing it,” she explained. “But also, it takes time. This isn't something that's easy to transition.”
The organizers are also aware of the minimum’s broad scope. Thorsmark says future seasons will come with new and more specific requirements as design technology improves and brands find the resources to adjust.
Lisa Bergstrand, founder of Bergstrand Consultancy, a firm that advises brands on sustainability initiatives, said there are bigger existential questions for any fashion week to answer while more granular adjustments are made. “For there to be meaningful change in the long term, I think a closer look needs to be taken at fashion’s focus on trends, which is one of the biggest drivers of overproduction and overconsumption.” It’s not merely how the clothes are made, but how they’re marketed, and how often, that contributes to consumer desirability.
There’s also the question of whether Copenhagen’s program can be, or would be, adopted elsewhere. American designers, many of whom already face immense financial pressures, may chafe at such measures. Still, standardized environmental checks seem to many experts like the most promising path to encourage suppliers to shift their priorities in a way that makes more eco-conscious production accessible to more labels.
For now, designers we spoke with are still optimistic that their adjustments will have a ripple effect in the big four fashion weeks’ direction. It could be challenging to bring larger markets on board with any sort of universal sustainability agenda, Rosenthal says, because the mega-brands of the flagship fashion weeks are well-entrenched in their ways. Still, some of the most influential designer stables have already developed policies transforming the products that make it to market, if not the shows where they debut. Kering began phasing out fur in the fall 2022 collections. LVMH set a goal to earn 25 percent of its profits from regenerative or circular products, instead of brand-new pieces, by 2030.
This month’s upcoming markets—New York, then London, Milan, and Paris—are dominated by far larger fashion houses with far bigger audiences. Copenhagen Fashion Week is growing in notoriety, but it’s still small. And in this industry, Cathrine Saks says, “You have a bigger voice when you're a bigger company.”
Halie LeSavage is the fashion commerce editor at Harper's BAZAAR. Her style reporting covers everything from reviewing the best designer products to profiling emerging brands and designers. Previously, she was the founding retail writer at Morning Brew and a fashion associate at Glamour.


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As vast and sophisticated as the mobile tech industry may have become, in the end it still relies on some very basic ways for making money. You can either sell hardware, like Apple’s doing, or sell ads, which account for roughly the same proportion of Google’s regular income. Netflix and Amazon’s Kindle store have found success as cross-platform services, but spending on mobile software is unlikely to ever match that of the old days when we paid for Windows, Office, and Photoshop on the desktop. It’s easier to sell things that a person can touch and interact with physically. This is why HTC is diversifying into selling weird cameras, why LG and Samsung keep churning out new smartwatches in search of a perfect formula, and why everyone at CES earlier this month had a wearable of some kind to show off. And in spite of their lamentations about tough competition, HTC, LG, and Lenovo are all generating profits from their smartphone operations, and Samsung’s recent sales decline hasn’t been enough to put the Korean company on the wrong side of the ledger. None of these manufacturers have a profit driver of the caliber of the iPhone, but they’re running sustainable businesses even while relying almost wholly on Google’s Android software.
Just to illustrate: Apple has sold one billion iOS devices to date, and last year alone, one billion Android smartphones have been shipped (so this excludes tablets). These numbers – Apple’s profits, Android devices shipped in just a year – are insane.


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Hulu said its new live TV service will be available on the Amazon Fire TV box and Amazon Fire TV Stick.
RELATED: Hulu Launches Live TV Beta
Hulu viewers who use those devices will be upgraded to Hulu’s new user interface and will have the option to also subscribe to the new Hulu virtual MVPD service, which offers more than 40 channels of live TV.
RELATED: Hulu's Aim: Modernizing the TV Experience (subscription required)
Hulu’s live service was originally launched on five platforms: Apple TV, Xbox One, iOS and Android mobile devices.
“Focusing on a handful of devices allowed us to learn a lot from our viewers on those devices and make many improvements over the past few weeks. Now, we’re excited to bring the brand-new Hulu to even more TV fans,” said Richard Irving, Hulu’s head of product, in a blog post.
Read more at B&C.
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Network on the Hook to Secure Enterprise IoT
IoT devices have been a cause for concern for consumers for the past several years now; however, we are just starting to see the impact that insecure IoT could have on larger targets, including enterprises. For an already burdened security team, the increase in insecure IoT network connections adds another set of concerns to their growing ‘to do’ list. The cost of adding security to each IoT device or network-connected application is too high – both for organizations who purchase the products and the device makers who manufacture them. Rather than focusing on the devices themselves, we will see an increase in businesses looking to secure the entire network instead of each individual endpoint, which can help minimize both the risk and cost involved with maintaining security across IoT devices.
Doubling Down on Bug Bounties
Bug bounties – programs set in place by enterprises to pay white hat hackers who discover and disclose vulnerabilities in their products – took on a renewed prominence in 2017 as more and more organizations introduced or expanded their offers. With heightened focus on not only organizations’ products, but also their practices, we are likely to see more enterprises use bug bounties to both ensure their offerings are safe and demonstrate their commitment to ethical conduct. In 2018, we can expect to see increased rewards and more incentive-based programs as companies look to use bug bounties as a way to appear transparent and dedicated to safety for both themselves and the broader public.
Security Spend to Soar Across the Network
The rise in high-profile cyberattacks in 2017 has led many organizations to reconsider how they are allocating their security budget in 2018. While much of the IT department is feeling the need to do more with less, the percentage of budget that is allotted to security is continuing to grow. A recent study from PwC and Juniper Networks shows that security is the most important priority for both CIOs and VPs of IT when it comes to their network solutions. Rather than dedicating funds to standalone security products, though, we’re likely to see security spend across more parts of the infrastructure. As security is embedded into each component of the network, we can expect that more security dollars will be invested across the network infrastructure, not just in standalone security solutions.
Acquisition of Point Products on the Rise
Innovation within the security industry is at an all-time high, with countless startups and smaller security organizations developing products that can greatly benefit organizations’ security. However, the majority of these products are point solutions that provide security for a small piece of the overall infrastructure. Conversely, larger organizations often have a wide-ranging security portfolio that can address many pieces of security infrastructure, but may lack the specific approach that a niche player has developed. Given these mutual needs, we are likely to see more of these innovative companies acquired by larger organizations who embrace the innovation and are able to incorporate these solutions into a broader security ecosystem. Consolidation will be king in 2018.


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3DEO, a metal 3D printing company based in Los Angeles, California, has received ISO 9001:2015 certification in order to further the commercialisation of its technology.
The company provides stainless steel components in the medical sector.
Matt Petros, 3DEO’s CEO, said: “The ISO 9001 certification is a terrific milestone for 3DEO. A strong quality management system is the backbone of any world-class production line. The ISO certification marks an important step in realising 3DEO’s long-term vision of leveraging next-generation technologies to build the world’s highest quality, data-driven factory of the future. In the previous generation of manufacturing, spot checks and random sampling were best of class. 3DEO is building a dynamic production line with real-time streaming data that allows ongoing monitoring and end-to-end closed-loop feedback. For 3DEO, ISO is the starting point of what we expect to become the next generation of manufacturing.” ISO 9001 is the internationally recognised […]
Above: PepsiCo food, snack, and beverage product line-up/Source: PepsiCo PepsiCo turned to tooling with 3D printing...