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vivo donates surgical masks, letters of appreciation to hospitals, front liners
In an effort to boost the morale of frontliners and further ensure their protection, vivo Philippines has given out appreciation letters and thousands of surgical masks to select hospitals through the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and other local government offices to help with the ongoing efforts against COVID-19.
The handwritten letters of gratitude and encouragement, and masks were turned over to the OVP for distribution to the Philippine General hospital, and the Bonifacio Global City administration office for distribution to St. Luke’s Medical Center – Global City. vivo directly handed similar donations to The Medical City Ortigas.
“With their valiant efforts, our medical frontliners are truly the heroes in this battle we are waging, but we also understand they are also human and can be physically and emotionally exhausted,” said Charisma Buan, vivo Philippines PR Lead.
While most of the letters were addressed to frontliners, some were also directed to COVID-19 patients to give them hope.
“Along with providing much-needed support, we also want to instill hope during this pandemic, especially to the victims and their families. With our modest contribution, we hope to help our medical frontliners in flattening the curve soon.”
Vivo is a leading global technology company committed to creating trendsetting smart mobile innovations and services. Vivo is devoted to forming a vibrant mobile internet ecosystem, and currently owns and operates an extensive network of research operations, with R&D centers focusing on the development of cutting-edge consumer technologies including 5G, AI, mobile photography and next-generation smartphone design.
In recent years, Vivo has taken frequent efforts in the sports field and is committed to promoting the mutual penetration of the brand’s diverse fields and diversifying its brand image. Vivo Philippines announced its partnership with the NBA by the end of 2018.
Currently, Vivo has over two hundred million users enjoying its mobile products and services around the world. Vivo is present in 18 markets globally and features offline retail stores in over 1,000 cities worldwide. In the Philippines, Vivo is the top3 smartphone brand in terms of market share with 1.5 million users nationwide.
For inquiries about Vivo, visit the Vivo website at vivoglobal.ph or check out their Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/vivophil), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vivo_philippines/), and Twitter (https://twitter.com/vivo_phil) accounts.


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WORLAND — The shockingly wet spring of 2011 allowed sugar beets to get off to a good start in the Big Horn Basin with less early-season irrigation – and it is coinciding with a new market for those beets.
Or rather, there is a market that is now reviving after some 25 years of inaction.
The company that bottles Pepsi’s line of soft drinks in Worland is once again using sugar — from Big Horn Basin sugar beets — in some of its products.
That’s a big switch from what’s gone on in the last quarter-century, when the Admiral Beverage Corp. regularly sweetened its Pepsi line with high-fructose corn syrup hauled in on rail tankers from the Midwest, even as the factory sat surrounded by fields of sugar beets.
That means Wyoming Sugar Co., the local sugar factory that opened in 1917 and is now owned by beet farmers, can once again help reinforce the local Pepsi bottler’s slogan: “Proudly Made in Wyoming.”
“Wyoming Sugar Company is proud to supply sugar to Admiral Beverage,” said Vic Salzman, vice president and manager. “It is exciting to see our sugar being used close to home.”
The idea is to sell a “nostalgia” line of products, notable for the taste of sugar-beet sugar that was once part of many Pepsi drinks.
In 2009, Admiral Beverage was a player in Pepsi’s experiment that regionally test-marketed “Throwback” versions of Pepsi Cola and Mountain Dew, containing sugar instead of corn syrup.
“Consumers today seek products that have a rich history and deliver an authentic experience,” said Esther-Mireya Tejeda, Pepsi spokeswoman in New York City. “For some, Pepsi Throwback is a trip down memory lane. For others, it is a chance to experience an authentic twist on their favorite brand. Pepsi Throwback originally hit shelves in April 2009 as an eight-week, limited-time offering, and after three, limited-time-only runs, we learned that consumers wanted Pepsi Throwback year-round.”
After the test period for the retro drinks ended, explained Admiral president Kelly Clay, the Worland company wanted to keep it going. “It was so successful for us that we didn’t want to give it up. Now the company has made it a national product and we are tickled to death.”
Clay said his company had persistently lobbied the national brand. “We’ve been pressing for a sugar product for years. I think the big companies are understanding there’s a definite demand for real sugar drink products.”
And it’s not just limited to a few regional markets now, as Pepsi has added the Throwback brand as a permanent part of its beverage portfolio.
“Really, we’ve seen success all over,” said Tejeda. “We are currently activating Pepsi Throwback with a strong digital presence. We also have an awesome radio campaign and in-store point-of-sale that reinforces the brand message at all points of contact. With the help of retailers and local bottlers to get the word out, we are finding traction and developing a loyal consumer base.”
The sweetener wars
By late 1984, the nation’s biggest soft-drink bottlers, Coke and Pepsi, had switched sweetening their lines from sugar to corn syrup. “Coke switched to high-fructose corn syrup for financial reasons,” recalls Clay. “It was cheaper to make. So, to be competitive, everybody switched from sugar. But we resisted. We told the company that if we could stay with sugar, we’d make up the difference in cost. But the big companies own the trademarks, so they call the shots.”
Bighorn Basin beet growers weathered the switch to high-fructose corn syrup because the sprawling sugar commodity market offered other outlets for their crops, from cookies and candy to other products sweetened with natural sugar. Growers adjusted their plantings based on market demands as the soft drink switch to corn syrup took hold over several growing seasons.
It all began when Americans reaching out to vending machines in 1980 received a shock: prices for candy bars and soda pop had suddenly doubled.
Protective sugar-import tariffs allowed producers to charge higher prices on domestic sugar used by bakers, confectioners and soft-drink bottlers, pushing the price of pop and candy up permanently.
The retail cost of a bottle of pop did not drop, even though corn syrup was nearly half as costly as refined beet sugar by the mid-1990s, and 60 percent less than cane sugar. Domestic sugar prices today remain inflated thanks to subsidies.
According to Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Indiana), Americans are paying almost twice as much for sugar than they would be if there were no federal subsidies.
The Herald-Times of Bloomington, Ind., reported that Lugar told a crowd at a popular Indiana candy store in late June that he supports legislation to repeal sugar subsidies, saying they were “concocted by law to favor a very few.”
A 2007 paper issued by the conservative Cato Institute concluded that “sugar policies are a textbook case of economic damage done by big government intervention in the marketplace.”
“High sugar prices also damage U.S. food manufacturers, including makers of candies, chocolate, and breakfast cereals,” the Cato paper stated, citing U.S. Department of Commerce figures. “The sugar-growing industry employs 61,000 people, but 988,000 are employed in food businesses that use sugar and are hurt by current policies.”
Tom Schatz, president of Citizens Against Government Waste, a nonpartisan taxpayer watchdog group, last year called on Congress to end sugar subsidies, especially the Feedstock Flexibility Program that forces the federal government to purchase surplus sugar from large sugar processors and then re-sell it to ethanol plants, at a loss.
“Federal sugar subsidies are not only costly, they are also protectionist,” Schatz said in an April 2010 news release. “Some members of Congress run for cover behind the ‘no net cost’ myth. The truth is: big net cost. By keeping foreign sugar out of our markets, the government is knowingly shifting the cost burdens onto consumers and taxpayers. ”
Wyoming sugar beet growers received $8 million in federal sugar subsidy payments between 2000-04 – the only period out of the past 15 years that state farmers benefitted.
The voting records of Wyoming’s U.S. Senators Mike Enzi (R) and John Barrasso (R), according to the Cato Institute, reflect an “internationalist,” or pro-subsidy pattern.
Enzi in 2001 voted with the majority against phasing out U.S. Sugar subsidies.
But early this year in Brazil, Barrasso shared Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) perception that high import tariffs on ethanol made from Brazilian sugarcane might well violate World Trade Organization rules, according to a Reuters report of a January trip the senators took to Brazil.
“We agree with the president here that (the U.S. tariff) should not be there,” Barrasso told Reuters.
An early battle in the sweetener wars came in 1981, when a group of 102 Coke bottlers across the U.S. sued the parent company for violating its 1921 assurance that the secret-formula Coke syrup would always be made with sugar.
Coca-Cola, the bottlers charged, had in 1980 switched to the cheaper sweetener — corn syrup — but refused to pass the savings on to bottlers who would not agree to conditions of the new regime. By 1993, only 30 plaintiffs remained in the suit, and a federal appeals court ruled that Coke had indeed breached the contract made in 1921. Despite Coke’s argument that technology may have rendered the old contracts obsolete, the court observed, “While the availability of satisfactory sweeteners might make a ‘sugar only’ contract an oddity today, sugar as a sweetener is not obsolete.”
The initial U.S. District Court ruling in favor of the bottlers called for Coke to pay $20.7 million in compensatory damages. Coke appealed that decision, and though the higher court sided with the plaintiffs, it reduced the damages award to only $1 per plaintiff.
Throwback to the sweet beet
Consumer demand has for centuries spurred competition and creativity in producing sweeteners, and sugar beet cultivation itself is a product of that history.
Two hundred years ago, Napoleon awarded the Cross of the Legion of Honor to French banker and scientist J.P. Benjamin Delessert for devising his charcoal clarification process to make the humble sugar beet, beta vulgaris, into crystallized sugar. Napoleon’s patronage and intense interest came in response to the British naval blockade of West Indies cane sugar shipments to France. The Little Emperor in 1811 ordered 80,000 acres in France planted with sugar beets and set up six specialized sugar beet schools. Cultivation and refining of the sugar beet has pretty much followed the same unique, vertically integrated process ever since.
To participate in growing beets as a dependable cash crop, farmers agree to the sugar refining company’s specifications for seeds, acreage planted, time of harvest and delivery to the mill.
The Worland sugar refining plant was started during World War I by a group of Utah investors. For many years after World War II, Worland-area sugar beet farmers and this local mill had a steady outlet for much of their product: Admiral Beverage, which began operating in Worland in 1947. It was a convenient, symbiotic relationship — a local bottler employing many people, using sugar produced by local farmers and refined in the local factory, also a steady employer. Until corn syrup changed that relationship.
Wyoming Sugar Co. is a grower-owned refiner formed in late 2002, succeeding previous corporate operators Holly Sugar, then Imperial Sugar, which went bankrupt in 2001. Local bankers kicked in $3.5 million to help the grower cooperative acquire the old plant, the second-smallest in the nation, which annually processes local beets grown on about 20,000 acres. Western Sugar’s plant at Lovell — another grower-owned plant — is the smallest U.S. sugar beet refiner. Since the fall of 2006, all the nation’s beet sugar processing plants have been owned by grower cooperatives.
What about that long absence of beet sugar from those locally made soft drinks during the corn syrup era?
“Certainly, it was a large changeover,” said Wyoming Sugar’s board chairman Dick McCamey.
Plant manager Vic Salzman explained that Cargill Sweeteners North America had been marketing the Worland sugar to customers in the Midwest and Western U.S. Now Worland sugar will also go, once again, to the local bottler.
“Admiral Beverage has added to our portfolio of customers,” said Salzman. “We have been able to work adding Admiral Beverage sugar requirements into our current business plan. Wyoming Sugar provides 50-pound bags and 2,000-pound totes of sugar to Admiral Beverage.”
Besides crystallized sugar, the plant produces byproducts of molasses and beet pulp pressed and pelletized into livestock feed.
Salzman declined to provide figures on how much beet sugar the cooperative supplies annually to Admiral Beverage.
But regardless of the raw numbers, seeing beet-sugar soda in Bighorn Basin stores is a big deal for local growers.
“It’s huge for our area. I drink a Pepsi Throwback every day,” said Chris Bolken, who farms beets at Emblem. “I’m glad to see it’s still on the shelf. It gives us another avenue to sell our commodity — to a customer that uses raw, natural sugar, and that’s great.”
“I think it’s awesome. The product is now all locally grown and made,” said Kevin Keller, Worland-area beet farmer and member of the cooperative. “Anytime you see a business that wants to buy your product, it’s good news.”
“The Worland plant makes some of the best sugar in the world,” said Admiral Beverage chief, Kelly Clay. He revealed that his company — North America’s fifth-largest Pepsi bottler — has just revived bottling a 7-Up with sugar, as well as an original-formula “Heritage” Dr. Pepper.
Clay’s persistent promotion of sugar over corn syrup earned him the honor of “Friend of the Sugarbeet Industry” earlier this year at the American Sugarbeet Growers Association convention in Tucson, Ariz. He told the growers he expects such sugar-based drinks to continue catching on. As he told WyoFile: “We’re hoping to keep making Throwback until I’m pushing up daisies.”

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A threat group that identifies itself as Uawrongteam is dumping data stolen from FlexBooker – a popular online appointment scheduling tool for booking services ranging from counseling to haircuts – on a cybercriminal forum.
The data from FlexBooker is being offered up by Uawrongteam, along with other databases stolen on the same day, Dec. 23, from Racing.com and Redbourne Group’s rediCASE case management software, BleepingComputer reported.
FlexBooker sent a notification to its users, explaining that its Amazon AWS servers were compromised by what the company was able to identify as a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack. FlexBooker customers include the brands GoDaddy, Chipotle, Bausch + Lomb and Krewe.
— Mooniter (@mooniter) January 6, 2022
“After working further with Amazon to understand what happened, we learned a certain set of data, including personal information of some customers, was accessed and downloaded,” the company said.
More than 3.7M FlexBook Records Up For Grabs
According to Have I Been Pwned, the FlexBooker breach compromised 3.7 million accounts with information including email addresses, names, phone numbers and, for some, partial credit card data.
New breach: Online booking service FlexBooker had 3.7M accounts breached last month. Data included email addresses, names, phone numbers and for some accounts, partial credit card data. 69% were already in @haveibeenpwned https://t.co/LGaAnj1hUA
— Have I Been Pwned (@haveibeenpwned) January 6, 2022
Uawrongteam claimed that its stolen database contains 10 million lines, including payment details.
FlexBooker said in its disclosure that it considers the matter resolved and is “… still monitoring for any lingering issues.”
But the attack might not be over, warned Nasser Fattah with Shared Assessments.
“We know that there are financial losses associated with system outages, hence, why security teams have all eyes on glass, so to speak, when there is a DDoS attack,” Fattah explained to Threatpost on Friday. “And when this happens, it is important to be prepared for the possibility of a multifaceted attack and be very diligent with monitoring other anomalies happening on the network.”
Password Reset: On-Demand Event: Fortify 2022 with a password-security strategy built for today’s threats. This Threatpost Security Roundtable, built for infosec professionals, centers on enterprise credential management, the new password basics and mitigating post-credential breaches. Join Darren James, with Specops Software and Roger Grimes, defense evangelist at KnowBe4 and Threatpost host Becky Bracken. Register & stream this FREE session today – sponsored by Specops Software.


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Well, it looks like the wait is nearly over, folks. Microsoft have just slated in Windows 8's release on their Windows Team Blog for October 26. This means that the OS is just two and a bit months away from being in our grubby little hands.
Microsoft stated on the blog:
...October 26th, 2012! That's right! Just a few minutes ago, Steven Sinofsky announced at Microsoft's annual sales meeting that customers will be able to get Windows 8 - whether in upgrade fashion or on a new PC - starting on October 26th. Earlier this month at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference, Tami Reller told attendees Windows 8 would be available in October. But now everyone has a specific date to mark on their calendars. It's on mine!
Will you grab Windows 8 on release? I'm personally going to grab a copy, because I'm just a tech addict, but I'm thinking it will really shine on touch-based systems. I wouldn't mind seeing a high-res Ultrabook to keep up with the Retina MacBook Pro, but be touch-based, too.
- >> NEXT STORY: 64GB version of Samsung's Galaxy S III smartphone is on its way
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Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Studio 33 is known primarily for games created for the console including Formula One, Newman-Haas Racing, and Destruction Derby Arenas. Those games, developed for other publishers, are not part of the transaction.
EA, the world's foremost developer and publisher of interactive entertainment, has 4,000 employees, including roughly 2,300 creative people in its worldwide studio organization. EA makes games for all major platforms and last year published 22 titles that sold more than one million units worldwide.
"I couldn't be happier with the calibre of talent that will join EA in this agreement," said EA Executive Vice President Bruce McMillan. "The new team is already working on several projects that will be announced in the future. I predict that very shortly, EA Northwest will be a globally recognized powerhouse of interactive entertainment."
The primary focus of development at EA Northwest will be driving games. EA UK General Manager David Byrne will oversee the new studio. Studio Manager Chris Gibbs will lead development and John White will serve as head of the Technology Group.
"The North West of England is a creative centre that will continue to grow and gain recognition," continued McMillan. "There are more than 2000 active developers in the region and a cluster of globally recognized universities and art colleges supplying an on-going talent pipeline. This is a great place to make videogames."


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The shortage of chips that disrupts global car production could continue until 2022, and even in 2023, said one of the leading German manufacturers in the automotive industry.
Kovid was a stress test for an industry that needed a thorough review of its supply chains, said Daimler president Ola Kalenius.
Deliveries of semiconductor chips have failed to meet demand in a wide range of industries. That includes the production of a car that enabled a quick recovery from the pandemic, reports Blic biznis.
“The shortcomings caused the closure in Malaysia and could significantly affect production and sales in the third quarter,” Kalenius, who is also the head of Mercedes-Benz, told.
This meant that the shortage could last until 2023, but Kalenius hopes that it will be at the level of severity that they have experienced in the last few months.
Kalenius said that Kovid was a stress test and a “traffic jam” for the automotive industry. It will take some time, he added, until everything starts.
“We will learn from this stress test and look even deeper into all levels of the distribution chain in order to make the system more robust,” Kalenius said.
Harald Kroeger, a member of the board of Bosch – one of the world’s largest suppliers of parts and systems, said that the main reason for the decline in supply in the car market is that demand has risen dramatically, which, according to him, is good news for the industry.
“Only a year ago, we were in the dark age of the corona virus, sales fell and no one expected such a rapid recovery of the car market. “Now we are definitely in a hurry to try to fulfill that request,” he said.
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Marketers have long experimented with biological influences on consumer behavior — implementing tools and insights found in disciplines like neuromarketing. The goal would be to have the ultimate selling proposition: a perfect understanding of how to communicate a product or service in such a way that purchase would be…inevitable.
Whether that idea excites you or sends shivers down your spine, science marches on. So it was reported recently in PopSci that a group of international scientists got a little closer to figuring out that the act of applause – group clapping – is remarkably similar to viral marketing: “When people clap at a performance, they’re not really driven by how much they enjoyed what they saw, according to a new study. Instead, they decide how long to applaud based on the applause they hear around them.” Check out the full article via the link below.
Why do we think this is important? To create experiences that move people to action, marketers have to think creatively about group dynamics, and purposefully design the cues and triggers that deepen an experience by making it incredibly shareable and interpersonal. That includes online, social and physical moments – it’s omni-channel. You never want your brand efforts to resemble the proverbial “one hand clapping.”


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Gran Turismo for PSP and Gran Turismo 5 Announced
At today’s PlayStation E3 press conference held at the historic Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Sony Computer Entertainment unveiled two new games to the best-selling Gran Turismo franchise. This October 1, 2009, gamers can look forward to taking Gran Turismo on the go with Gran Turismo exclusively for PSP. And for the PlayStation 3 home console, Gran Turismo 5 promises to deliver exciting advancements that will take the series to a new level.
Gran Turismo producer and series creator Kazunori Yamauchi took the stage to introduce the long-awaited PSP debut of Gran Turismo to the crowd. Demoing the game live on the newly announced “PSP go” hardware, broadcast to the giant screen on stage, Yamauchi showed off the cutting edge graphics and realistic driving physics that Gran Turismo is known for. Pushing the PSP hardware to the limits and running at 60 frames per second, Gran Turismo will offer players over 800 cars and 35 tracks to unlock and master when it goes on sale on October 1, 2009 along with the new “PSP go”.
Revealed through a thrilling two minute long teaser trailer, Gran Turismo 5 wowed fans with jaw-dropping graphics. The trailer featured new cars, tracks, and hinted at some of the new features in store for fans when GT5 becomes available for the PS3.
The full trailers, plus video of the press conference, is available through the PlayStation Store on the PS3 in high definition, and lower resolution versions of the trailers are available here on the official Gran Turismo website.
Stay tuned to this website for the latest Gran Turismo news and announcements.


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Vertisoles Argentina Distributor
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (4 January 2019) – Vertisoles S.R.L. will distribute BRANDT’s proprietary plant nutrition products in Argentina.
BRANDT, a leading manufacturer of agricultural specialty products, will supply Vertisoles with its proprietary Manni-Plex® and Smart System® foliar lines along with additional specialty nutritionals. The products will be targeted to citrus, rice, soybeans, vegetables, potatoes, berries, peanuts and table grapes throughout Argentina. Sales and commercial development will be led by Guillermo Berthet, Partner and General Manager of Vertisoles, supported by Laura Battel, BRANDT’s Sales Manager for Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay.
“We are pleased to be working with Vertisoles to expand the use of BRANDT nutritionals in Argentina,” said Dr. Ramon Georgis, BRANDT Director for International Business. “Vertisoles is a dynamic company that shares our vision of delivering effective and innovative solutions to today’s growers.”
Vertisoles is a leading distributor of agrochemicals and plant nutrients. Originally based in the north east of Argentina, Vertisoles is expanding to serve markets throughout the country.
“We have known BRANDT personnel and products for a number of years, working to establish the BRANDT Manni-Plex line in citrus and blueberries,” said Berthet. “And we are delighted to strengthen our partnership.”
“We have distribution in 47 countries because we have great partners and a great team in the field,” said Rick Brandt, President and CEO of BRANDT. “We are proud to welcome Vertisoles into the BRANDT family: This is a great way to start 2019.”
A leading agricultural company, BRANDT serves growers around the globe. Founded in 1953 by Glen Brandt and his sister Evelyn Brandt Thomas to help Illinois farmers adopt new and profitable technologies, the company has experienced aggressive growth under the leadership of President and CEO Rick Brandt. Innovation, technology and strong customer service are a few of the core beliefs that drive BRANDT today. BRANDT’s focus is providing the products and services that give growers the best opportunity for return while building a stronger, healthier and more abundant food supply.


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Air Arabia’s second hub in Casablanca will provide the Sharjah-based LCC with a platform from which to reach the wider Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) market. The new airline, named “Air Arabia Maroc,” will …Read full article » United Arab Emirates: Tuesday, November 04 - 2008 @ 14:25
The Air Arabia shuttle service will operate between the Flora Deluxe Hotel Apartments in Dubai, Deira, and Sharjah International Airport. The service will run almost 24 hours, with the Dubai-Sharjah route operating from 03.00AM to …Read full article » United Arab Emirates: Wednesday, April 06 - 2011 @ 13:25
UAE travellers can reach Istanbul with Air Arabia & travel onward to key European cities with different low fares airlines.
A.K Nizar Head of Sales for Air Arabia said “Sabiha Gokcen International Airport is currently served …Read full article » United Arab Emirates: Sunday, January 07 - 2007 @ 15:23
Organized by Air Arabia in partnership with Oman’s Ministry of Tourism, Airbus, CNBC Arabia and CFM, the Arab Aviation and Media Summit 2013 is themed, ‘Aviation and Tourism: Enabler of Economic Growth.’
In addition to …Read full article » United Arab Emirates: Tuesday, June 04 - 2013 @ 14:16
Themed ‘Aviation and Tourism: Enabler of Economic Growth,’ Arab Aviation and Media Summit 2013 is aimed at exchanging constructive dialogue between two key stakeholders – industry business leaders and the media fraternity, and put spotlight …Read full article » Oman: Sunday, June 23 - 2013 @ 14:48
Organised by Air Arabia in association with CNBC Arabia and the American University of Sharjah, The Arab Aviation and Media Summit 2012 brought together industry experts and regional media to discuss the growth of the …Read full article » United Arab Emirates: Tuesday, May 01 - 2012 @ 09:27
From introducing 35 additional summer flights to meet customer demand throughout the region to the opening of their own travel shops across the UAE and in key destinations, it was a hectic first summer for …Read full article » United Arab Emirates: Thursday, August 26 - 2004 @ 09:04
Air Arabia LLC, the first and only low-fares airline in Middle East and North Africa, is now more accessible in Dubai with its first-of-a-kind sales shop near Clock Tower, Deira offering low fares to destinations …Read full article » United Arab Emirates: Sunday, December 18 - 2005 @ 14:14
The programme, which reflects the company’s commitment to eco-friendly operations, is launched in partnership with Air Arabia and Sharjah International Airport.
As part of the ‘Go Green’ initiative, Sharjah Aviation Services implements ambitious environmentally friendly …Read full article » United Arab Emirates: Tuesday, January 22 - 2013 @ 12:16
This month Air Arabia introduces ‘September Super Savers’ offering passengers reduced fares throughout the region.
Air Arabia’s main aim is to meet customer needs by making air travel simple, more convenient and easily accessible to everyone …Read full article » United Arab Emirates: Monday, September 13 - 2004 @ 13:53


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Restoration Hardware is going nuts after crushing earnings.
Microsoft hit an all-time high after crushing fourth-quarter earnings expectations in world finance, literally figuratively ‘the line. Its Azure revenue grew at 89% year-over-year ’ no wonder, then, company’s performance possibly most important factor. Apple has not traded for a price-to-earnings ratio above 18 since 2009 macy (m) fell significant 16% day wednesday before bell. According to ValueLine, over the past five years, held average of just 13 here why might be selling despite beat. 1 ebay keeps getting hammered bearish analyst notes market seems coasting along easy street here keep coming rosy glow surrounds everything. Similarly, Netflix, which also popped on earnings, was net buy 7-for-1 stock split finally made it cheap enough investors get in stocks. APA customer Restoration Hardware storefront nike sales forecasts. Restoration beat both top and bottom lines as we close q3, now see reversal trend north america. The home-furnishings provider boosted its Tesla flying ahead Thursday s opening bell reporting third-quarter results that blew Wall Street estimates in what company described as truly historic quarter , mark parker, ceo. Shares of citigroup (nyse:c) crushed expectations today with $1. Bloomberg Gadfly Columnist Michael Regan reports bank earnings 23/share $20. He speaks Markets 8 revenue, way at casual glance, these look pretty good. His opinions are his own walters: pension fund rising so debts? schools, local governments stressed california’s booming economy tax revenues surpassing projections. (Source: Bloomberg) Netflix surges 3 weeks ago All eyes subscriber boom numbers agency current quarterly Tuesday $108 early friday it currently trading up 3% $107. shares soared much 15 percent latest report The posted third 52. reported surprise profit Wednesday $1. electric-car maker said Model sedan best-selling car US terms Shoe Carnival jumped late Tuesday easily beating view, following strong Q2 from fellow shoe retailer DSW earlier day 14 $30. Earnings per share (EPS): 89 cents vs 1 hardware, provider, surged 16. 68 estimate, according Refinitiv consensus estimate; Subscriber additions: 6 78% $144. 96 million; is projecting 9 40 tuesday, better-than-expected companies forecasts 13 but they re smallest price reward 2000. 4 million additions next software giant lines, $US1 second-quarter released monday. 14 $US30 s&p 500 5% gain during same period. 1 billion with sharply. analysts surveyed by were expecting $US1 consistently releases recently, amazon. 08 $US29 com (nasdaq:amzn) set bar going into update later month. 2 soaring (TSLA) | After Wednesday’s close, adjusted $2 rh says it. 90 $6 revenue topped down 3. 8 billion, better than $0 04% premarket hoping more. 15-a-share loss $6 $5. 3 billion lines 01 on. guidance fiscal year 2019 will add subscribers fourth t-mobile their … continued post soars new appeared first business insider. each ideal backside traces footwear $0. domestic-furnishings additionally information financial yr Thursday 68 excluding charges related tax cuts jobs act, $8. initially moving all, 4% after-hours trading 98 revenue. jump occurred gave both top- bottom-line factset, put $1. Taking out this benefit, Alphabet $10 22 $75. 58, still Zacks Consensus Estimate $9 67 estimate.


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Customers flee SSE for smaller competitors as 'Big Six' energy suppliers face ongoing threat from regulators
- SSE customer base dropped to 7.77 million as it lost 230,000 accounts
- Ofgem looking at a stricter regime for energy suppliers from 2021
Energy supplier SSE has reported the loss of 230,000 customer accounts as the ongoing desertion of the 'Big Six' energy suppliers in favour of cheaper competitors continued.
This follows on from the previous year ending in March when the company lost 210,000 accounts.
Alistair Phillips-Davies, chief executive of SSE, said: 'As expected, 2017/18 is presenting a number of complex challenges to manage.'
SSE has reported the loss of 230,000 customer accounts.
A mix of sweltering summer weather, a threatened government price cap, and shifting wholesale fuel prices has meant volatile market conditions for the industry.
SSE raised dual fuel prices by 6.9 per cent on April 28th.
The headache comes as the total gas and electric market share continues to slide for the Big Six suppliers.
Where in 2011, they enjoyed 99 per cent market share, this has dropped significantly with 1 in 6 customers now favouring alternative providers.
George Salmon, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown said: 'Having consistently raised its payout year on year for a quarter of a century, SSE has been a dividend machine for investors. However, recently the group's cash flows have been consistently weak, and it looks like tougher regulation could well be on the way.
Ofgem told energy network companies to prepare for tougher price controls from 2021. Investors were warned to prepare for lower returns as it pledged to deliver 'even better value for customers'.
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After several years of sustained growth across most startup markets, 2019 will close with a low single-digit increase year over year (YoY) in private capital funding before turning flat in 2020. There are a few key reasons for this, but the abundance of ink spilled in anticipation of a recession is not one of them. Here’s a sneak peak into what will moderate VC and private equity (PE) investments in 2020:
- Investors will exert more scrutiny over high startup valuations. To woo investors in 2020, founders will need to skew toward substance over style. Charismatic unicorn CEOs such as The We Company founder Adam Neumann sought exorbitantly high valuations while frivolously bleeding cash in 2019. And unicorn IPOs of years past like Uber and Tesla have struggled to meet expectations since going public, leaving investors of all stripes wary of startups that sound like they’re overpromising and underdelivering.
- Startup founders will scrutinize the sources of funds for would-be investors. 2019 surfaced stories of some well-known venture funds that took money from questionable sources such as the Saudi government and Jeffrey Epstein. In an economy increasingly sensitive to social values and ethics, startup founders will need to dig deeper into the details of where their funding is sourced.
More scrutiny on both sides of the fence is a welcome change after a year highlighted by so much turbulence. This will drive average deal sizes down in the aggregate next year. Adding to that downward pressure, we see far fewer new companies entering hot markets like AI. With smaller deal sizes overall, coupled with fewer early-stage deals in large markets, 2020 is sure to be a year of moderation in private capital. There’s one relatively new market, however, that will buck the trend.
In the first three quarters of 2019, regulatory technology (aka RegTech) grew 103% YoY, and it shows no sign of slowing down. In fact, we expect funding in this category to double again in 2020. Corporate data breaches, consumer privacy concerns, and a wave of new GDPR-like regulations create demand for technology tools that help enterprises meet compliance challenges. Unicorns such as Rubrik, Netskope, and Verafin represent a new class of disruptors in RegTech. (For more on this category, clients can watch our on-demand webinar for corporate risk and compliance pros.)
Read our full report for more on what to expect in VC-backed startup markets in 2020. To understand the major dynamics that will impact firms across industries next year, download Forrester’s Predictions 2020 guide.


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Global business management software provider to SMBs, Accredo, is ramping up its presence in the Australian market, opening up a head office in Melbourne and appointing a new CEO as head of its Australian business.
Written by: Peter Dinham | Published in: PeopleNEC has beefed up its senior management team with three new executive appointments as it pushes to build a position as a leading ICT services and solutions company in the Australian market.
Written by: Peter Dinham | Published in: MarketChina's Huawei Technologies is to start reinvesting local profits back into the Australian market, with the local board and company founder and CEO, Ren Zhengfei, currently on a visit to Australia, already on the lookout for opportunities for further business development and investment.
Written by: Peter Dinham | Published in: PeopleFull-service telecommunications wholesale aggregator, Telcoinabox has merged its Australian and New Zealand management teams to create one local team at its Sydney headquarters.
Written by: Peter Dinham | Published in: MobilityGenesys’s communications-enabled business processes workload distribution solution, iWD, is gaining significant traction in the Australian and New Zealand regional market, according to the company, but it is pushing its mobile engagement solution hard, despite apparent reluctance by the market to invest at the moment in the concept.


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SAVE IT: Get ready to jump ship, savers told
Savers need to be on their toes as some accounts close, rates are slashed and bonuses drop off.
Coventry, the AA, Scarborough and Skipton have closed telephone and internet-based accounts to new savers.
These paid between 2.2 pc after tax (2.75 pc before) and 2.52 pc (3.15 pc).
AA has launched Internet Extra 3, paying 1.68 pc (2.8 pc), against the 2.4 pc (3 pc) it paid on version number 2.
Stay on your toes as rates tumble
The new rate includes a before tax bonus of 1.84 pc (2.3 pc) for a year.
Both the closed Coventry and AA accounts came with a 12-month bonus. When these run out, savers should jump ship.
Savers with the Halifax Guaranteed Saver Reward, on sale from
March 16 to April 19 last year, will see their rate drop from 1.4 pc
(1.75 pc) to just 0.4 pc (0.5 pc) from this week.
Those tempted by the bank's Isa Direct Reward a year ago will suffer a fall from 1.5 pc tax-free to 0.5 pc.
Savers who opened an Alliance & Leicester Online Saver Issue 3 a year ago lost their 1 pc bonus at the end of February. They now earn just 0.4 pc (0.5 pc) on balances up to £25,000 and 0.6 pc (0.75 pc) on up to £50,000. Those with Online Saver Issue 4 will start to lose their bonus next month.
If you took out a Birmingham Midshires Access Reward 4, on sale a year ago, move your money. It now pays just 0.4 pc (0.5 pc).
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PlayStation Plus announces drop of $120 worth of free games
| Last updated
Featured Image Credit: Sony, Martin Katler via Unsplash
PlayStation Plus has revealed the titles included in its final essential tier free game drop of 2023. It’s a line-up that’s split fans, but I’d call it a total win.
Before we dive into what will join the service on 5 December, allow me to remind you that you have just a few more days to grab November’s offerings. Those are Mafia II: Definitive Edition, Dragon Ball: The Breakers, and Alien Fireteam Elite. Mafia II is well worth picking up, particularly if you’re a fan of Grand Theft Auto. Featuring vehicle chases, shootouts, and a police wanted system, it should feel familiar to fans of Rockstar’s iconic franchise. You can soon get your hands on a brand new line-up though which is worth $120.
Sable is one of next month’s freebies. Take a look at it in action below.
PlayStation Plus’ essential tier December drop includes LEGO 2K Drive, Sable, and Powerwash Simulator. As pointed out by Reddit user Big-Teddy, these games have a combined retail value of just under $120, $119.97 to be precise. LEGO 2K Drive is the most expensive game included this month, typically retailing for the new-gen standard of $69.99. Powerwash Simulator and Sable then both typically sell for $24.99.
This is going off RRP. You may, of course, have been able to bag these games on offer. Still, you’ll save far more money by downloading them on PlayStation Plus. I had the chance to review LEGO 2K Drive earlier this year, and it’s perfectly possible to have heaps of fun while totally ignoring the game’s pesky microtransactions.
I’m looking forward to picking up Sable, a game that’s been recommended to me on so many occasions that I’m somewhat ashamed I haven’t yet picked it up - and who doesn’t adore Powerwash Simulator? It’s one of those games that was likely on very few people’s radar and yet has turned into a zen, relaxing phenomenon. Hopefully, there’s something that appeals to you.


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The total number of hours that 2-to-11-year-olds spend watching TV each week has held steady at about 17 for the last three years, according to Interpublic Group of Cos.' Magna Global. WPP Group's MindShare reports that total TV hours have actually risen 8% over the last 10 years for this group.
While Nickelodeon says TV watching by kids 6-14 grew in 2005 by nearly an hour a week to a little more than 23 hours, the Nick survey also reveals kids spent nearly 17 hours a week on broadband. Kids 8-14 sent about 14 text messages and made nearly nine cellphone calls a day.
The problem for content providers and advertisers isn't that kids have abandoned traditional TV. The problem is that kids' attention has become so fractured, and in this DVR and on-demand media age, they want to determine not just what they'll watch but when they'll watch it.
For marketers, it makes the content to which they attach their ads more important than ever. "If kids are interested in your content and want to see it, then that spells well for you. If they don't want to see it, it doesn't matter how much distribution you have," says Al Kahn, CEO of 4Kids Entertainment, which produces shows including "Winx Club" and "Yu-Gi-Oh!"
What's a marketer to do?
Buy more programs, says Debbie Solomon, senior partner-group research director at MindShare, Chicago.
There are other tactics. Continue to buy on broadcast and cable TV, but also buy across other platforms like online.
The situation "has forced us to make sure our content is available everywhere and anywhere kids want," says Jim Perry, senior VP-ad sales at Nickelodeon. "Every conversation is multiplatform. It's about how to use Nickelodeon. We don't have conversations anymore about how to just use Nick TV."
the omnipresent nick
The Nickelodeon brand is now spread across platforms including subscription game service Nickarcade.com, Verizon Wireless' VCast mobile video, video-on-demand, broadband video with TurboNick, and iTunes for video iPods.
Advertisers are weaving themselves into Nickelodeon's omnipresence, like PepsiCo's Quaker did last fall. That's when Nickelodeon ran an on-air stunt for its show "Danny Phantom" giving viewers the chance to build their own "enemy ghost" in an online game at Nick.com. Quaker was an on-air sponsor, placed "enemy codes" on its packaging that drove users to the online game and served as the exclusive sponsor of a sweepstakes to win a trip to Los Angeles to meet the creator of the show.
"We want to be everywhere our audience is," says Steve Youngwood, exec VP-digital media at Nickelodeon. "If you didn't do that, very simply somebody else will do it ... technology allows the consumers to get what they want, how they want."
Disney ABC Kids Network is also active across multiple platforms. Tricia Wilber, senior VP-advertising sales and promotions at Disney ABC Cable Networks Group, has said in upfront presentations that her kids network-reaching nearly 30 million 2-to-11-year-olds across Disney Channel, ABC Kids and Toon Disney-plans to offer integrated marketing to key advertisers this year that reaches across TV, print and online. That includes episodes of Disney Channel and "Jetix" series that will be streamed online later this year.
Technology has also allowed kids to watch shows on their schedule via on-demand programming. Kids VOD ranks in the top three on-demand categories for Comcast Corp., along with movies and music, the cable operator says. Comcast offers a handful of VOD-only kids networks, such as Pre-K Kids and Vortex. It also carries PBS Kids Sprout, which was born last year as an on-demand offering and now has expanded into its own digital network.
Kid-oriented content performs well on VOD, says Mike Bologna, partner-director of emerging communications at Mediaedge:cia, New York. Mr. Bologna, who's placed marketers including Campbell Soup Co. on kids VOD, notes the constant need of today's young ones to be entertained, and these factors make kids VOD attractive to advertisers.
When it comes to specific VOD networks, kids outlets typically rank in the top five or 10 among all VOD networks, says Braxton Jarratt, senior VP-marketing and business development at Tandberg Television, which provides VOD software and services to operators.
Comcast recently began deploying new VOD ad technology from Tandberg that inserts timely, targeted ads into VOD programs. Until now, ads have been inserted into VOD content months in advance, making it unattractive for marketers with time-sensitive messages.
"With VOD ad insertion, you have the ability to target any geographic or demographic anytime," Mr. Jarratt says. That means advertisers are likely to use VOD increasingly to reach kids, because it'll be easier to deliver targeted messages and because, quite simply, kids are showing up on-demand.
In a 2005 study from Marquest Research, about 29% of adult respondents in VOD homes with kids reported watching VOD programming three or more times per week, compared with only 12% in VOD homes without kids.
ON-DEMAND CONTENT SOARS
Cartoon Network saw total views for its kids on-demand content (which doesn't include the popular Adult Swim franchise) rise 171% from November 2004 to November 2005, says Chris Pizzurro, VP-digital ad sales and marketing for Turner Broadcasting System. Cartoon Network's on-demand advertisers have included Campbell and Paramount Pictures.
PBS Kids Sprout, with on-demand advertisers like Kimberly-Clark Corp.'s Huggies and Pull-Ups, has also seen a rise in on-demand orders for its content-up to 7.5 million per month in January on Comcast, a 25% increase from its previous average of 6 million per month, says Sandy Wax, president of the network.
But research directors at media agencies remain cautious about the frenzy over multiple platforms. That's because marketers haven't yet figured out uniform methods to measure ROI, says Lisa Quan, VP-associate director of broadcast research at Magna Global, New York. "I can't see that it hurts to be across all platforms," she says, "but I don't think it's essential."
Maybe not essential, but VOD offers a potential bonus in viewership beyond kids. Advertising has the benefit of hitting a dual audience, says Mr. Bologna of Mediaedge:cia, since the ads usually reach the parents. After all, it's mom and dad who order the program.
For kids wearying of Pokemon, meet "Ben 10." Ben Tennyson, a 10-year-old creation appearing on Cartoon Network, develops 10 alien powers that extend beyond Saturday a.m. cartoons to a smart online "Battle Ready" game for young Web warriors.


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Feb 07 2024
Rivian, a leading player in the electric vehicle market, has announced significant price reductions for its base models, the R1T pickup truck and R1S SUV. This move comes amidst a perceived slowdown in EV adoption, prompting Rivian to adjust its pricing strategy to remain competitive. By making their electric offerings more accessible, Rivian aims to stimulate consumer interest and counteract market shifts. The decision reflects the company's commitment to driving sustainable transportation solutions while adapting to evolving consumer demands in the automotive industry.


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China will be celebrating the Qingming tomb-sweeping festival on 4 April, which sees pet-owners paying respects to their deceased animals by cleaning their tombs and gravestones.
On the outskirts of Beijing, Baifu Pet Cemetery already holds over three thousand graves of pets including dogs, cats, chickens and even chinchillas. Yet Chinese pets have not always been treated with such importance. When under the ruling of Communist Chairman Mao Zedong, raising a pet in China was considered a bourgeois pastime and was banned. Today, having a pet is considered a symbol of financial success.
Chinese pet owners consider their animals as equals, and often visit the cemetery with family members. They bring decorations to place on the graves such as flowers, food – and even photographs with poignant messages.
Groundskeeper and gravestone designer Zhang Youwang explained that the cemetery was founded in 2005 and is the first of its kind, filling in a much-needed space for the growing demands of China's increasing number of pet lovers.
"For those who do not raise dogs or pets, it's difficult for them to understand. [They ask] how could people treat animals in this way? They're just like people, they are people, it's equal, they're all the same. So when [the animal dies], they need to come visit their grave even more often than a human's [grave]. Why? Dogs are so loyal to people. They have thoughts, even about people. Good thoughts, bad thoughts--they have them all," he told Reuters.
A single plot of land for a grave site at Baifu can be rented for a lease of 30 years, with a starting fee from 2,000 to 5,000 yuan (£214.95-£537.36) plus an additional fee of 50 yuan (£5.37), which must be paid yearly. Baifu cemetery also provides gravestones that begin at 2,000 yuan (£214.95) but can go as high as 20,000 (£2149.46). They also have their own cremation services.


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Apple and Samsung are seemed to be ready for the upcoming trial of patent cases, as both the companies reveals their final list of patent infringing products.
According to CNET, on Tuesday, Apple submitted a list of the devices which it thinks that has breached its patent. The list contains some big names of Samsung products, including the Admire, Galaxy Nexus, Galaxy Note, Galaxy Note II and Galaxy S3.
On the other hand, Samsung states that a significant number of major Apple devices, including iPhone 4, 4S, 5 and iPad 2, 3 and 5, have infringed its patents.
For the past several years, Apple and Samsung have been found to be indulged in different patent battles, where both parties accuse each other of breaching the documents. However, Apple is seen as the winner in most cases.
Nonetheless, Samsung is still not giving up the hope, as they brought 4 patents on the court with a strong determination.


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The use of high memory tags is catching on for MRO operations, where the name of the game has changed from simple asset tracking to storing information about various products. A video from Xerafy demonstrates how to save time and overhead costs by utilizing high memory RFID to store company maintenance records, process control identifiers and audit checks.
Download the latest newsletter
Fishers, the commercial laundry and textile rental business, has launched a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with the University of Strathclyde to help the company better capitalize on its innovative RFID enabled bed linen and towels. Fishers embeds all of its high end “ZHEN” bed linen and towels with RFID tags that allow Fishers and its customers [...]
Target has aggressively pursued RFID technology over the past several years. It’s no secret that the giant retailer’s deployment to more than 1,600 stores in 2016 represents retail’s largest rollout. Now, we know that Target is sourcing its tags from Avery Dennison. Avery announced this week that its partnership with Target includes deployment of RFID [...]
RFID is on the rise. In Kurt Salmon’s first large retail study of RFID in 2014, 34 percent of respondents had either implemented or were piloting RFID. Today, that number has more than doubled to 73 percent. Part of the reason for the significant growth in RFID use is that more and more retailers have [...]


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Apple Launches $999 iMac for Educational Institutions
Apple has quietly launched a lower cost $999 iMac for educational institutions this morning. The new low-end model is labeled "Education only" and is not available for individuals. The new iMac appeared on Apple's Higher Educational online store early this morning. The specs now have been published on the site and reflect the following reduced features.
• 3.1GHz Intel Core i3 Dual-Core
• 21.5-inch LCD
• AMD Radeon HD 6750 with 256MB
• 2GB RAM
• 250GB Hard Drive
• OS X Lion
Interestingly, this new iMac does not have Thunderbolt, just a mini Display Port. The next higher model is $1149 and offers a 2.5GHz Quad-Core i5 with 4GB of RAM and 500GB hard drive.
Apple, in the past, has also offered special education only models for institutions. These larger educational purchases may be more price sensitive than the rest of the market, and Apple has adjusted the hardware down in order to fit the sub-$1000 price point. Apple appears to still offer an even cheaper $899 20" iMac that houses the previous generation Intel Core 2 Duo and does not even appear to include OS X Lion.
As previously rumored, the next-generation iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will feature a unified volume button and a mute button, according to leaked CAD images shared in a video on the Chinese version of TikTok and posted to Twitter by ShrimpApplePro.
Instead of separate buttons for volume up and volume down, the iPhone 15 Pro models are expected to have a single elongated button for...
Apple says iOS 16.4 is coming in the spring, which began this week. In his Sunday newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the update should be released "in the next three weeks or so," meaning a public release is likely in late March or early April.
iOS 16.4 remains in beta testing and introduces a handful of new features and changes for the iPhone. Below, we have recapped five new features ...
A first-generation iPhone still sealed inside its box sold for $54,904 at auction, which is more than $54,000 over the original $599 price tag of the device when it was released in 2007.
The original iPhone was put up for sale by RR Auction on behalf of a former Apple employee who purchased it back when it first came out. Back in February, an original, sealed iPhone sold for over $63,000,...
The iOS 16.4 update that is set to be released to the public in the near future includes voice isolation for cellular calls, according to notes that Apple shared today.
Apple says that Voice Isolation will prioritize your voice and block out the ambient noise around you, making for clearer phone calls where you can better hear the person you're chatting with and vice versa.
While year-over-year iPhone upgrades are not always groundbreaking, new features can begin to stack up over multiple generations. For example, the iPhone 15 Pro will be a notable upgrade for those who still have a three-year-old iPhone 12 Pro.
If you are still using an iPhone 12 Pro and are considering upgrading to the iPhone 15 Pro when it launches later this year, we have put together a...
Apple's high-end iPhone models have started at $999 in the U.S. since they first launched back in 2017 with the iPhone X, but could this finally be the year that starting price sees an increase?
This week also saw some more rumors about Apple's upcoming headset and the company's explorations in the booming AI industry as well as the release of a new round of beta updates, so read on for all...
Samsung today kicked off a special "Discover Samsung" event, which will be a week-long savings event focusing on Samsung monitors, smartphones, TVs, appliances, and more. While some deals will stick around the entire week (through March 26), others will refresh every day.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small...
Top Rated Comments
Giving up quad core, 2gb ram, and a nice chunk of hdd space to save $150 doesn't seem worth it. I realize that might change when you are buying 50 of them, but still...
Also, I wonder why Apple would want their slowest, worst machines to be the ones used in education. It will be the first experience a lot of kids have with a Mac. You'd think they might just offer some extra volume discounts to education on their standard models.
The specs Apple are offering are enough for your average school needs.
The 2GB of RAM is kind of lame, but the HDD space won't matter for most universities as most give users network space on the University's servers (So that you don't have to sit down at the same machine every time).
But the 2GB of RAM is easily upgradable by the IT department at a later date, and for a much cheaper price.
The only bad part of this deal is the dual core i3, but it will still be plenty fast for the majority of student tasks.
The problem with the wired mouse at uni is that half the scroll wheels don't work any more due to excessive use... the keyboard's alright though.


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In the wake of recent revelations over privacy concerns with Facebook apps, a new report finds some MySpace apps -- including some games -- are sharing user ID data with advertisers, in violation of the social network's terms of service.
A Wall Street Journal report
cites Wonderhill's GreenSpot
and RockYou's RockYou Pets
games among those apps that transmit a MySpace user ID to advertisers as part of a web address sent when a user clicks an ad.
While MySpace user ID's are not necessarily linked to a user's real name and personal information, advertisers could use this user ID information to access any information the user has made publicly available. Advertisers including Google, Quantcast and Rubicon said they were not actively using the data.
A RockYou spokesperson told the Journal that the user ID sharing in their apps was an inadvertent result of a third-party service that the company uses, and that the company is "reviewing all third-party providers to ensure compliance with our platform partners' terms of service."
Last week saw many Facebook applications, including games published by LOLApps, taken down
from the popular social network for more wide-reaching breaches of user privacy.
The Journal report found the data sharing among MySpace apps appears to be less widespread than that at Facebook, where all of the network's top 10 apps were found to be sending personally identifiable user ID data to outside companies.
Privacy concerns have been a major concern for online gaming companies of late, with Blizzard CEO Greg Canessa recently telling Gamasutra
that his company was still trying to "wrap its head around" privacy issues. Facebook game publisher Zynga is the subject of a pending lawsuit
over last week's Facebook privacy breach.


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Christmas wish: A loaded trade market for Pascal Siakam
Whether the Toronto Raptors are willing to hear it or not, it's become pretty clear that this is a team that needs to undergo a rebuild. At the very least, retooling remains very much a necessity. Scottie Barnes remains relatively the only bright spot for the team with huge questions surrounding the futures of OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam who could both hit the free agency market after the season. Heading into the holiday season, the Raptors have to be hoping for a loaded trade market for one of their trade candidates.
If I had to guess, I'd say there's a better chance the Raptors trade Siakam than Anunoby at this year's trade deadline. Toronto probably feels they can keep one and not both. I'd imagine they'd lean toward retaining the young star. And that's Anunoby.
Having a bidding war for Siakam heading into the trade deadline will make that decision a lot easier for the Raptors. Even then, knowing how the Raptors operate, that's no guarantee a trade will even occur.


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Turkish Cargo organizes webinar titled 'Cargo Talks'
Turkish Cargo is organizing a webinar titled ‘Cargo Talks’ during which the valuable stakeholders of the air cargo industry, who finger on the pulse of the industry, will exchange opinions, and the important agenda items such as digitalization, vaccine transport, and the future of the industry will be discussed.
The digital event on the present and future of the air cargo industry that has been becoming ever more important as it provides speed, privilege, and reliance brings the logistic chain professionals and the valuable stakeholders of the air logistics industry, who finger on the pulse of the industry, together.
The international event to be held at top level with the representatives of the industry, during which the important developments such as the condition of the air logistics in the pandemic period, rising costs, flexibility areas, digitalization and smart technologies will be discussed, is composed of the “Future of Air Cargo and Digitalization in Air Cargo” panels and the presentation to be performed for vaccine transports.
The digital event that is checked in on http://www.cargotalksbyturkishcargo.com site that is free and public is going to be commenced with the opening speeches to be delivered by Mr. Ilker AYCI, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Turkish Airlines and Mr. Turhan ÖZEN, Chief Cargo Officer at 14:30 in local time Turkey on February 10, 2021, and moderated by the renowned blogger Sam Chui.
During the panel, the kahoot contest, which is an interactive game, is going to be held, and the participants of the digital game prepared special to the webinar will compete with each other to win an air ticket. In the global digital event, the participants will find an opportunity to create an excellent network and virtually receive a training through the panels in which very important logistic agendas are to be discussed. You are invited to our free webinar special to the global supply chain industry!


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NRG Energy has agreed to buy Texas Genco LLC for about $5.8 billion in a further consolidation of the U.S. wholesale power generation industry. NRG will plunk down roughly $4 billion in cash and $1.8 billion in common and preferred stock. In addition, the company will assume approximately $2.5 billion of Texas Genco debt.
“Texas Genco is an ideal strategic fit with NRG,” said David Crane, NRG’s president and chief executive officer, in a statement. “The strengths of its people and its assets align closely with our own, bolstering NRG’s platform for growth and our ability to drive value for our shareholders.”
Just four months ago, Duke Energy Corp. agreed to buy Cinergy Corp. for nearly $9 billion in stock.
In a merger of yellow-pages publishers, R.H. Donnelley Corp. announced that it will buy Dex Media Inc. for about $4.2 billion, creating the third-largest print and Internet directory publisher in the United States. Each Dex share will be exchanged for $12.30 in cash and 0.24154 Donnelley shares.
“This combination will create a company with the scale, innovative products and services, and proven business processes to lead our industry into the era of integrated local commercial search, encompassing both print and digital platforms,” said David C. Swanson, R.H. Donnelley’s chairman and chief executive officer, in a statement. “Dex brings a proven marketing capability, a leading online operation, and a track record for innovation that will allow us to accelerate our growth.”
In a blockbuster deal in Europe, drug distributor Alliance UniChem PLC agreed to merge with Boots Group PLC, the U.K.’s largest drugstore chain, in a deal valued as high as $5.6 billion, according to Bloomberg. The new company, to be called Alliance Boots, will become Europe’s second-largest drug distributor with nearly $23 billion in annual sales, according to several reports.
In another sizable deal, British-based cable operator NTL Inc. is buying British cable-TV provider Telewest Communications for $6 billion, creating Britain’s second-largest communications company, according to the Associated Press. Telewest shareholders will reportedly receive $16.25 per share in cash and 0.115 NTL shares for each Telewest share, and NTL will assume $3 billion of debt.
Meanwhile, a number of published reports suggested that Spanish telecom Telefonica SA would soon announce that it will pay $24.1 billion to acquire Dutch telecom Royal KPN NV. According to The Wall Street Journal, Telefonica spokespeople denied the report, while KPN declined comment.


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NOVI, Mich. (Nov. 13, 2008) — Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc., parent company of Cooper-Standard Automotive Inc., posted a net loss on sales of $599.7 million, a slight decline from a year earlier, for the third quarter.
Lower auto sales in North America during the quarter more than offset increased sales from Brazil and Europe, acquisitions and favorable exchange rates, Cooper-Standard said.
The company posted a $32.6 million net loss for the three-month period, compared with a net loss of $12.8 million for the same timespan in 2007, caused primarily by lower North American light vehicle production, restructuring charges and vehicle mix changes related to shifts in consumer demand.
For the first nine months of the year, Cooper-Standard's consolidated sales increased $318.5 million from 2007 to $2.1 billion. The firm posted a net loss of $5.3 million through three quarters, compared to net earnings of $1.6 million last year.
The company did announce a record $309.7 million of expected net new business through September, a 52-percent increase vs. net new business in the same period last year.
Edward A. Hasler, Cooper-Standard Automotive president and CEO, said the global financial crisis, volatile economic conditions and sharp decline in automotive sales presented “unprecedented challenges” impacting the company's performance in the third quarter. The firm was able to offset the impact of those factors to some degree by “proactively flexing our manufacturing costs, reducing administrative expenses and the continued recovery of raw material cost escalation.”


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ConsumerReports released their 10 top cars of 2016 on the market in America across 10 popular categories. They based their results on performance, reliability, safety, and owner satisfaction. Check them out.
This 16 year old makeup artist from Australia makes pretty damn awesome job. She is very popular on Instagram and dreams to work in special effects one day.
Apparently, Drake likes to spend much of time in his mansion that he has bought just recently for $7,7 million in a gated community of Hidden Hills, California.
Drake said that “it has one of the most luxurious pools in the world. With its own grottos, it was designed to outdo Hugh Hefner's notorious Playboy Mansion pool.”


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“We won’t be making any more Resistances,” Insomniac CEO Ted Price told VG247 during an interview at Southern Methodist University’s Game::Business::Law Summit today. Short, sweet, and to the point.
Guess Insomniac finally came to the conclusion that Resistance… was futile.
Seriously, though, the Resistance games were among the best shooters available on the PlayStation 3. I’m a little wistful that they won’t be continuing the franchise, but happy to see that Insomniac isn’t content with just making sequels. Here’s to bigger and better new IP’s from one of the best studios in the game right now.


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BUSINESS professionals in Yorkshire are becoming more confident about their prospects, says a survey.
Figures from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales said accountants in practice and companies across the region were more optimistic about key financial performance indicators during the third quarter of the year than they were in previous months.
The latest Business Confidence Monitor also forecast positive sales volumes growth for the region – rather than contraction – for the first time this year.
Gail Monnickendam, who chairs the institute’s Yorkshire regional strategy board, said firms in the region expect sales volumes to increase by 1.3% over the next year.
Export sales volumes are expected to rise by 2.8%.
Some 26% of firms in the region said they found it harder to get access to capital – against 37% of firms across the UK as a whole.
Two-fifths of firms in the region report late payment from customers as a greater challenge to performance than 12 months ago.
This represents a 23% rise compared to this time last year.


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In an age where Google is our gateway to the online world, have you ever wondered about the algorithms that determine your search results or the mysterious engines shaping your online experience? For Tech’s Sake, a podcast delving into the depths of technology, recently featured an insightful interview with Professor Gareth Jones, Principal Investigator in the ADAPT Centre at DCU, and an expert on information retrieval and search technologies.
The episode titled “Dude, where’s my bias-free search engine?” delves into the fascinating realm of search engines, algorithms, and the science behind our online interactions. Hosts Elaine Burke and Jenny Darmody talk to Professor Gareth Jones to unravel the mysteries behind everyday tech tools that shape our digital lives.
Professor Jones provides a comprehensive overview of how search engines operate, demystifying the intricate algorithms that drive the search results we encounter daily. He answers questions about whether platforms are truly listening to us to generate personalised recommendations and offers insights into the future of searching audio and video content.
With the algorithms and recommendation engines playing an increasingly pivotal role in shaping our online experiences, delving into their workings can help users to navigate and understand the digital landscape more effectively.
The podcast is available on Apple podcasts.
For Tech’s Sake is a co-production from Silicon Republic and The HeadStuff Podcast Network. The full interview with Professor Jones will be exclusively available for the HeadStuff+ Community members shortly.


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Beginning today, commuters on all North Station lines will be able to buy and view their tickets on their smartphones, thanks to an app developed by a British mobile-ticketing developer. The Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) says that the implementation will save much of the time spent on on-board transactions that will slow down conductors as well. MBTA adds that the new ticketing system will also cut down the punch-ticket debris. Commuters can now purchase one-way, round-trip, or 10-ride tickets using credit or debit cards.
“The goal was to give people as much time back as possible,” said Richard A. Davey, state transportation secretary. “Here, literally, the ticket machine is in your pocket.” Basically the ticketing system works by downloading the MBTA mTicket app via iTunes and Google Play. An app for BlackBerry phones is coming soon. Users will simply have to select their origin and destination and then purchase by entering their payment information. Once done, users will only have to push “activate” on the app before boarding then show the ticket afterwards to the conductor. MBTA adds that South Station lines and ferries are expected to follow after Thanksgiving.
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Apple Inc (Cupertino, Calif., U.S.A.) reported a rare miss in quarterly results after sales of its flagship iPhone fell well short of Wall Street expectations, hammering its shares. Shares of the world's most valuable technology corporation dived more than 5% to below $400 after it said it sold 17.07 million iPhones -- well short of the roughly 20 million expected by analysts.
Apple's CFO said iPhone sales came in ahead of internal expectations but were hurt in September by customers waiting for a new version.
The September quarterly report was Apple's first under new Chief Executive Tim Cook, who took over in August after co-founder Steve Jobs resigned.
Cook takes over during a critical juncture for the company, which is battling a fast-rising Google Inc in the mobile arena while fending off consumer electronics giants such as Samsung and Amazon.com Inc.
"Expectations for this company were red-hot, that is why we downgraded it," says BGC Partners analyst Colin Gillis, who lowered his rating on the shares days before. "The reality is their business is not an annuity. They have to sell their quarter's worth of revenue every 90 days."
"They had a big upgrade cycle with the iPhone, the numbers came in weak. They need to set records every time they report to keep up the momentum."
Apple said its revenue rose to $28.27 billion but that was also lower than the average analyst estimate of $29.69 billion, according to Thomson Reuters.
The company reported a net profit of $6.62 billion, or $7.05 a share. That fell shy of expectations for earnings of $7.39 per share.
"There's no question this was a transition quarter ahead of the 4S," says WP Stewart portfolio manager Michael Walker. "With the early pace of iPhone 4S sales, my guess is that disappointment is relatively short-lived. I'm not going to call Q3 a throwaway quarter for iPhones, but it was definitely transition.”
The company moved 4 million iPhone 4S units -- more than double its predecessor -- in its first three days, despite lukewarm reviews.
A large spike in sales of Mac computers during the September quarter failed to lift earnings. Apple sold 4.89 million Macs, up 27% from a year ago. And it moved 11.12 million iPads.
Gross margin came to 40.3% -- a tad higher than Wall Street's forecast of 39.74%. International sales accounted for 63% of the quarter's revenue.
Some analysts had feared the lack of a new iPhone in more than 15 months would hurt the September quarter, while arguing the holiday season would turn out strong after the introduction of the fifth version of its smartphone.
"We expected iPhone sales to decline in the September quarter from the June quarter as a result of the announcements we made at WWDC in June, where we said we would launch iOS 5 and iCloud in fall," says Peter Oppenheimer, Chief Financial Officer. "That basically created the rumor of the day across the September quarter, especially at the end."
Apple said it expected December quarter earnings of $9.30 a share on revenue of about $37 billion.
The forecast for the December quarter far surpassed Wall Street's projection for just above $9.00 -- a rare instance of its outlook exceeding expectations. Apple typically guides so conservatively that investors disregard its forecasts. But that failed to discourage the after-hours sell-off. Before the numbers, Apple's shares had climbed to as high as $425 in extended trade.
"What is interesting is the guidance is less conservative than usual for their next quarter. It's a timing issue, where it looks like the business that people thought would be in the September quarter is occurring in the December quarter," says Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu. "One of the things obviously is the iPhone 4S just started shipping a few days ago."
(Reporting by Poornima Gupta and Edwin Chan; Editing by Gary Hill)
Connected vehicle technology is rapidly evolving to encompass Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V), Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I), Vehicle-to-Device (V2D), and Vehicle-to-Pedestrian (V2P) signaling and communications. This research examines the V2V and V2X market including technologies, solutions, and major players.
The report evaluates market opportunities and challenges for IoT Device Management solutions across various industry verticals. The report includes forecasting for global and regional markets as well as potential across deployment types and sectors including automotive, manufacturing, smart cities, and more.
Analysis of the DAS market, including carrier WiFi, small cells, and SON, and the leading companies in the DAS ecosystem and their solutions. The report also includes evaluation of market drivers, challenges, and provides forecasts for 2016 to 2021.
Comprehensive coverage of NGN OSS/BSS including opportunities within Big Data and IoT, analysis of the drivers and issues related to the technical and business aspects of OSS/BSS, deployments and operations issues, and quantitative analysis with forecasts for anticipated growth through 2021.


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Consumers still don't save enough
"Encouraging economic signs coming primarily from a huge drop in global oil prices, and the prospect of improved economic growth in 2015, lead us to expect that the country's household sector could continue make further slight improvements to its indebtedness situation," said Loos.
In 2008 the average annual debt-to-disposable income ratio was 87.1%. This is how much money, on average, adults in South Africa owe to financial institutions. However, since then the household sector has gradually lowered its debt ratio to an estimated 78.4% average for 2014.
The Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) is expected to lower this year, and along with slightly faster economic growth, consumers could see an improvement in real disposable income growth from 1.5% in 2014 to 2.5% in 2015.
"We expect that the Household Sector still has room to grow its borrowing at a slower rate than nominal disposable income growth," said Loos.
Loos expects this to result in a lower household debt in 2016, at 77.7%.
Weak savings rate
In the third quarter of 2014 [July to September], the household net savings – the amount of savings after all deductions - was -2.3% of disposable income.
This implies that the levels of gross saving [the amount of all savings together] are insufficient to cover the depreciation on fixed assets, such as homes.
"The rate had become slightly "less negative" compared to the -2.5% all-time low reached late in 2013, but this is small reason for excitement," said Loos.
"The weakening savings rate has been a multi-decade trend. Various reasons have been put forward over the years, but it would appear that tougher times may be the catalyst for a higher savings rate and vice versa," said Loos.
Loos went on to explain that another theory for the low savings rate is that urbanisation has increased people's confidence in their ability to get another income source should they lose their current job, for instance.
This means that fewer people are saving every month, as they believe they are able to find another job rather easily.
"In short, South Africa's dismal household savings rate is not expected to show an improvement in the 2015-2016 forecasted period," said Loos.
For more information on handling debt in 2015, click here.
Loos warned that one key risk to the lower household debt forecast will be the housing market. Over the past three years, the housing market has gained momentum.
"A stronger than expected performance by this [housing] market in the forecast period [2015-2016] can risk leading to stronger than predicted credit growth, and the resumption of an increase in the Indebtedness Ratio, we would deem undesirable," said Loos.
This momentum in the housing market can be attributed to lower oil prices, as well as lower global food prices.
From a household savings point of view, interest rates may well be low, which will encourage consumption more than saving. Even though the economic forecast for household debt looks promising, consumers are urged to save their money, and be financially healthy.
For more information on the housing market, click here.
Featured It’s possible to change your marriage regime
Many people wed before they sign an antenuptial contract (ANC). This is especially practiced by people in customary marriages and those not clued up about the ANC. The law says if there’s no ANC before the wedding takes place, the marriage will automatically be in Community of Property.
Keep this in mind when taking out new financial products
Adding a product to your personal finance portfolio, such as insurance or an investment, is a big decision. We found out what you should keep in mind before taking out a new product, how you can assess the products you already have, and how you can generally improve your financial position.
Are you in debt denial?
With debt levels increasing at 13% more than income levels, South Africans are more debt-stressed now than arguably ever before. This is iterated by the National Credit Regulator’s (NCR) report that nearly half of credit-active consumers in South Africa have damaged credit records. However, only a few seek the necessary help.
Why should you invest in a mutual bank?
Often when people think about banking, they always think about commercial banks. Mutual banks hardly come to mind, but these banks offer investment opportunities that are often overlooked.
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When: Until 19 March 2020
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What did Larry Page know and when did he know it? Well, the US Department of Justice says that Google ceo Larry Page knew for years that online Canadian pharmacies were allowed to place ads that targeted US consumers and, ultimately, caused medicines to be imported illegally,The Wall Street Journal writes. Google, you may recall, last week agreed to forfeit $500 million ( read here).
"Larry Page knew what was going on," Peter Neronha, the Rhode Island US Attorney who led the investigation tells the paper. "We know it from the investigation. We simply know it from the documents we reviewed, witnesses that we interviewed, that Larry Page knew what was going on...Suffice it to say that this is not two or three rogue employees at the customer service level doing this on their own. This was a corporate decision to engage in this conduct."
In reaching this conclusion, the feds reviewed more than four million documents, including internal e-mails, showing Page, 38, was aware of the ad sales, although the paper writes the e-mails will not be released. The feds did not name Page or other execs last week when Google confessed to the improper activity and Neronha says there are no plans to prosecute them. Interestingly, Google has still not placed a press release on its web site with its mea culpa.
Shipping meds from pharmacies to US consumers from other countries usually violates federal law, including the Controlled Substances Act. And the issue has generated considerable attention from the FDA and the pharmaceutical industry, which wants to eradicate importation, citing safety concerns over manufacturing and shipping, as well as counterfeit meds.
The feds say Google knew it was potentially violating US law since at least 2003, but did not take sufficient steps to ban such ads until an undercover sting operation was employed against Google two years ago. Until then, Google execs testified repeatedly in Congress that they had rigorous controls to stop unlawful ads, including third-party services for screening sites, the paper writes.
But Neronha tells the Journal that was "window dressing" that allowed Google to continue ringing the register while making the right noise about taking action. Meanwhile, he adds that Google employees helped undercover Justice Department agents in the sting operation evade controls designed to stop companies from advertising illegally.


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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Della Lamb Community Services is facing shortages for its Operation Santa Claus, and the nonprofit is looking for help.
Operation Santa Claus begins Friday, but there's still a critical shortage of frozen turkeys and toys.
When Operation Santa Claus began 43 years ago, 100 families participated. Now, Executive Director Judy Akers said the organization is setting up to serve almost 1,300 Kansas City families that need assistance this holiday season.
“Throughout the year we ask for donations, like new toys, new sweat suits, new underwear, and new socks for kids, as well as new hats and gloves,” Akers said.
But so far, Della Lamb hasn't received enough donations.
Families are provided toys, children's books and clothing including socks, underwear, gloves, scarfs and active wear suits. Della Lamb also provides frozen turkeys and all the fixings so low-income families can have a festive holiday dinner.
“If we don't have enough of those items come in, then we have to go purchase those items,” Akers said.
Cash donations are also welcomed. A $50 tax-deductible donation will provide a small family with toys and all the grocery items needed to prepare a complete Christmas dinner.
You can donate on Della Lamb's website or in person at the nonprofit's office at 500 Woodland Ave. in KCMO through Dec. 12.
Operation Santa Claus will take place Dec. 8, Dec. 9, Dec. 12 and Dec. 13 at Della Lamb.


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Qualcomm Quadrooter Bug Affecting 900 Million Android Phones To Be Patched Next Month
by Jules Wang
Review by Charles Mohapel
pocketnow.com, Android Central.com, Check Point News ISBN/ITEM#: CM160808ANDROID
Date: 08 August 2016
Previously Android users had to worry about the nasty "Stagefright" exploit, but now it's so yesterday as far as threats go. On Monday August 8, 2016, security firm Check Point announced a group of four vulnerabilities which it has designated "Quadrooter". All four vulnerabilities spewcifically target Android phones with Qualcomm hardware, meaning around 900 million devices are vulnerable. For now, the only way to know if your phone is theoretically vulnerable is to download Check Point's QuadRoot scanner app from the Play Store.
Another Def Con convention down and developers have people talking about this year's Stagefright.
Security company Check Point is publicizing four major Android vulnerabilities that it is dubbing as a package, "Quadrooter", found in Qualcomm-made chipsets.
Snapdragons are estimated to be on about 900 million Android handsets from the Nexus devices to Samsung, HTC to LG, BlackBerry to Blackphone.
Any malware presents itself as an app that the user may install, but for the malware to target these four vulnerabilities, it does not have to request for any special permissions. Access through any one exploit can let attackers into your device for them to root it. The exploits have to do with the inter-process communication router, the anonymous shared memory feature in the Android kernel, GPU kernel graphics processing, and the CPU-app sync feature.
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Najwa Karam features in debut venture for her song ‘Ma Fi Nom’.
A landmark joint venture between the Rotana Audio Visual Group, a member of Rotana Holdings, and Sony Gulf, the leading consumer electronics brand, has provided Arabic audiences with the first 3D experience featuring a music video clip on Najwa Karam in her song ‘Ma Fi Nom’.
The 3D music clip marks the beginning of the era of 3D production in the region. The hi-tech feat was pulled off with the assistance of three professional teams from the US and the UK. Additionally, the Lebanese W&P Production group undertook extensive research on 3D techniques to familiarize the Middle East crew with the breakthrough technology, including the sophisticated equipment and digital cameras that were used for the shoot.
Popular Lebanese singer Najwa Karam was chosen to feature in the clip for her distinct Arabic flavour with a contemporary twist that fits well with modern 3D technology. Her unique signature style is reflected throughout the video and enhanced with 3D technology. Filmed by director Walid Nassif, the song ‘Ma Fi Nom’ and particularly its drum beat present a novel music style, which accompanied by her sonorous voice provide the most compatible rendering to translate into a 3D platform.
The three-day shoot took place in Northern Lebanon at Nahr Ibrahim, in the Kesserwan area of Basateen Al Ossi, Jeita Grotto and the studio in Mansourieh, and has been one of the biggest production budgets in the Middle East.
Salem Al Hendi, President of Rotana, Mathew Mathai, General Manager, Marketing Communications, Sony Gulf, and Mohammed Judeh, Manager, Sony Gulf, are the key members behind this first-ever 3D initiative. Clyde Desouza, a senior stereographic consultant in the region, provided 3D stereography consultation for the music video.
The 3D version will premiere at the ABC Achrafieh theatre in Lebanon. The video clip will later be played in over 600 Sony outlet stores throughout the Arab world. The clip was also shot in 2D to enable Rotana TV viewers to watch it on their regular TV sets.
The video additionally features a solo by Abdelmalek Al Baljani from Morocco, a contestant from the Arab Got Talent reality show.


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LinkedIn is all set to acquire Lynda.com, a prominent online learning platform, for almost $1.5 billion as the popular social networking site is expanding expands their services for professional users.
Online Learning On LinkedIn
LinkedIn will soon host all the courses offered by Lynda.com on their platform, including instructional video tutorials that will help users to hone their business skills, software skills, technology skills and creative skills. This just might prove to be an effective push in recent years by technology firms into online business study. With this acquisition, the social networking giant will be able to successfully shift to the fast evolving and developing online learning market. For instance, if you are a jobseeker, then you can utilise the network to learn about what are the essential skills required for available vacancies in a specific sector and pursue the relevant course in the same platform.
Lynda.com, based in California, has effectively developed over 6,300 online courses along with 267,000 video tutorials. If you wish to be a user, then you will be required to pay a subscription of around $375 per year to access the online courses designed by over 1,000 authors. Leading global business schools and universities, such as Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, McCombs School of Business and Harvard have already registered.
LinkedIn Is Expanding
As it is, LinkedIn is one of the most popular social networking sites used by professionals, graduates and even MBA students for job hunting. It also enables the users to showcase digital learning certificates through their profiles from various online education platforms like Coursera, edX and StraighterLine. In the past year, the company introduced a new college ranking system that relied on the career success of its users and further extended with the 2015 graduate school rankings. With this acquisition, LinkedIn will also gain a firm foothold in the potentially profitable corporate training sphere. It will be able to utilise the existing business client base of Lynda which includes outdoor clothing firm Patagonia and the US-listed media group Time Warner.
Lynda has already sold 5 million licences to enterprise and professional users, which includes clients from all the Ivy League colleges and nearly 50 per cent of the Fortune 50. According to LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner, the assemblage of premium video offered by Lynda.com enables users to develop essential skills required to boost one’s career. He said “When integrated with the hundreds of millions of members and millions of jobs on LinkedIn, Lynda.com can change the way in which people connect to opportunity.”
Eric Robison, chief executive of Lynda.com, believes that LinkedIn shares the same passion for making people empowered as the company so that they can effectively change their lives with easy access to education and professional growth.
Making Education Simpler
Online education has developed substantially as EdTech companies have joined forces with leading educational institutes to deliver specific academic content on the internet. The online business study programmes offered by Lynda range from social media marketing and project management to data analysis and leadership development. The learning platform was established in 1995 is a school in California. However, it has grown significantly since them into a lucrative learn-by-video company, obtaining most of the almost $290 million funding in the last 2 years. It is expected that the acquisition of Lynda by LinkedIn will be completed by the second quarter of the year.


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While this week’s financial fallout from Wall Street will affect corporate IT spend, high-end smartphone makers won’t experience any great pains given mobile handsets are critical business devices and market shakeup could even bring new business opportunities.
“Overall there will not be a big impact, though any time the economy is tough technology will experience somewhat of a hit,” said Ryan Reith, an analyst at Worldwide Mobile Phone Tracker, IDC, told InternetNews.com. “But we don’t foresee a slowdown in the high-end device market.”
Such predictions aren’t surprising given the strength of the mobile device industry and wireless data services markets. Nearly every vendor boasted good financials so far this year, with some celebrating double-digit growth in the first two quarters despite increasing competition both on the services and device landscapes.
The big reason is that mobile devices are spurring productivity, which do impact the bottom line, according to pundits, and so companies look to make budget and tech cuts elsewhere.
“When the economy environment gets tough, corporations look at limiting costs such as travel and IT,” Carolina Milanesi, an analyst at Gartner covering mobile devices, told InternetNews.com.
“However, for many enterprises a BlackBerry or a smartphone have helped improve productivity and have become indispensable,” Milanesi said. “They might not upgrade to the latest device but they will more than likely keep the service.”
While Research In Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM), Verizon Wireless and AT&T (NYSE: T) declined comment about current stock market news, executives are indicating the fallout could be rosier than most expect.
Verizon Wireless’ CEO told investors at a Goldman Sachs Communacopia XVII Conference today that the financial events could have a positive impact.
“The consolidation in financial services will create some [wireless] opportunities,” said Denny Strigl, president and COO at Verizon Wireless.
Strigl’s take is on par with Sprint CEO Dan Hesse’s view, though Hesse sees another wireless market issue in play.
“The events of the last few days don’t indicate a significant change, and there could be a benefit as users may keep their devices longer leading to less churn,” Hesse told investors during his presentation. “Customers will still have to pay something to leave a plan so they may stay put,” Hesse pointed out.