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At today's hardware event, Google has announced a surprise new product: Clips. And it gets smarter over time. It will take short videos which you can trim into GIFs or you can freeze-frame into a picture at the flawless moment. An AI engine snaps photos when you are not even looking or paying attention.
Google have included machine learning capabilities within the camera that allows it to look for good clear stable moments to capture. But, with a nod to privacy, Google says that Clips can still do its thing while offline and not connected to Wi-Fi. It's a little standalone camera that changes how pictures are taken.
You have the ability to pair the Google Clips camera with your smartphone and then you just turn it on while resting it on a flat surface. There's no viewfinder on the camera itself.
To turn on the camera, you simply twist its shutter. The device can be clipped on or set down somewhere, or you can just hold it in your hand. The camera features facial recognition and it detects the faces of people in front of it.
You also have the ability to share photos from directly within the app. It learns over time who people around your home are to capture better shots.
Google Clips is coming soon to the USA only for $249US. Each motion photo moment captured by Clips lasts several seconds and is called a "clip", and they can be browsed using your Pixel phone.
These clips sync wirelessly to the Google Clips app for Android and iOS, and Google Photos users can back up unlimited photos for free. Lastly, the camera is priced at $249.


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Inspectors check the food quality at a supermarket in Beijing's Xicheng district on June 26. （Zou Hong/China Daily）
One year after creating the food safety lock, which has become popular nationwide, the Xuhui district Market Regulation Administration in Shanghai recently introduced guidelines on its use and manufacture.
Similar to a luggage tag and secured around a carrying bag, it has to be broken to be unlocked. The disposable lock is intended to guarantee that food is not tampered with during delivery from the restaurant to the customer.
"It's like putting a safety belt on the meal box," said Zhai Hengyao, an official with the district administration.
"But the problem is that the safety belt has been so popular that we have seen an increasing number of food business operators improvising with their own versions. So we think it's time to introduce guidelines and eliminate confusion."
After the administration introduced the food safety lock last June, with 50,000 free samples distributed to restaurants in its region, food delivery giant Meituan adopted it and has since had millions of its orders "locked" with the device.
The new guidelines require the locks to be made from recyclable plastic complying with the country's food safety regulations. They also suggest the locks be waterproof and be opened with an amount of force equivalent to that needed to unscrew a plastic water bottle cap, Zhai said.
The administration also said a recent internet market regulation proposal by eight central government departments, including the State Administration for Market Regulation and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, should be followed.
It calls for further regulation of the food delivery business and encourages the use of safety seals or locks.
"The whole nation has been investing so much to guarantee food safety from farms, to factories, to restaurants. Now it is important that the fruit of so much effort remains intact during the last kilometer to consumers' dining tables," Zhai said.
Tao Leijun, head of Shanghai-based Meituan delivery business, said "the lock can protect the rights of both consumers and delivery guys".
The company says consumers who find locks have been tampered with can reject orders.
Aside from the locks, the company has also given away 78 million pieces of tape to more than 1,000 companies.
As China's food delivery service increases in popularity, conflicts between consumers and deliverymen are rising.
In 2017, a deliveryman in Guangdong province was caught on a security camera in an elevator taking bites from a meal then spitting them back into the delivery box. He handed the meal to the customer as if nothing had happened.

domain: news


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Japan’s Transcosmos led the latest capital injection for Luxola, which said it planned to increase its product range, regional warehouse and storage capacity and improve customer experience.
Transcosmos president and COO Masataka Okuda said, “We believe that there is no other example within ASEAN comparable to Luxola as a reliable cross-border e-commerce company dealing with cosmetics, and we also think that its business will continue to expand even further in the future keeping pace with the growth of the cosmetics market in ASEAN.
“Our company offers global e-Commerce one-stop services in 31 countries around the world with a central focus on Japan, Europe, America, China and Korea.
“Through this new capital and business alliance with Luxola, we want to accelerate e-commerce one-stop services in the ASEAN market and continue to support the e-commerce development of our corporate clients in the ASEAN market.”
The financing round also included participation from new investors IMJ Fenox and a “prominent Asian entrepreneur”.
Copyright © 2014 AltAssets


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GAP's Fall Styles Feature Up-and-Coming Lakota Actress
September 9, 2021
SAN FRANCISCO - The GAP, Inc. has launched a new ad campaign that skips fashion models in favor of "change-making individuals" including JaShaun St. John, a 20-year-old Lakota actress from the Crow Creek and Pine Ridge Indian Reservations in South Dakota.
"We brought actors, activists, artists, and an astronaut together, showed them our new fall line-then added a mic," the GAP's website notes. "What we got were renewed voices and unique perspectives from individuals, for all."
St. John's role in the campaign grew out of her work with Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao, who recommended the young actress to the apparel maker.


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On September 10, a judge made a ruling on the court case of Apple v. Epic Games. The judge ruled against Epic Games’ claims that Apple holds a monopoly on payment methods for mobile games. Likewise, the judge also ruled in favor of Apple in its countersue of Epic Games. Epic Games will now have to pay 30% of the total revenue it earned while on Apple’s app because Epic breached its contract with Apple.
On that note, the judge also ruled that Apple App Store shouldn’t be the only option for customers to pay for apps and in-game items. The judge gave Apple 90 days to allow other payment methods on their apps.
On September 22, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney sent out a series of Tweets revealing that Apple doesn’t plan to bring back Fortnite on its app. Sweeney also added that Fortnite is backlisted from Apple. This is despite Sweeney’s claims that Epic Games is willing to follow Apple’s rules and regulations. Sweeney shared screenshots of messages between the two companies, including one showing Epic Games willing to follow Apple’s guidelines again last week.
Sweeney wrote that Apple’s decision to not bring back Fortnite on their app goes against the company’s promise that it will add Fortnite again if Epic Games follow its rules. Sweeney expressed that he believes Apple is allowed to get away with blacklisting them because of the fact they won their court case. Sweeney also believes the move is anti-competitive.
The conflict between Apple and Epic Games began in 2020 when Apple removed Fortnite from the Apple app store. Epic Games was using its own payment method to get around Apple’s fees. Apple saw it as a breach of contract, which details that Apple receives 30% of all revenue made on its app.
Sweeney promises that Epic Games will continue fighting, citing the need for regulation and legislative action.


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Best Used 2016 SUV for Fuel Economy
The market trend is quickly shifting from sedans to crossovers and SUVs. However, SUVs have two major cons when compared to their segment counterparts - high retail price and poor fuel economy. Even though they are a practical choice thanks to additional cabin and cargo space, it’s a little difficult for everyone to afford an SUV. So why not go for a used SUV instead? You don’t take the depreciation hit that first owner does, and since SUVs are built to last a lifetime, you can get an almost-new SUV at half the original price.
Now that we’ve planted this seed in your head, let’s have a look at the best used SUVs from 2016 with high fuel efficiency.
The plug-in version of the Toyota Prius is the most recent addition to the Prius lineup, but it will also be the first departure. In a brief statement, Nathan Kokes, brand manager for Toyota’s Advanced Technology Vehicle Marketing, announced that the current Prius Plug-in will be phased out in June.
Showing how integral internet forums are these days, Kokes broke the news on Prius Chat. As for the future of the Prius Plug-in Hybrid, he said: “we are hard at work developing the next generation Prius Plug-in Hybrid and we are looking forward to sharing more details with you as we approach our launch date.”
With the next-gen Toyota Prius expected to debut for the 2016 model year, the cancellation of the Prius PHEV probably wasn’t too big of a surprise for green-car enthusiasts, but it does show that the more advanced, plug-in version of the hybrid will live on after a brief hiatus. The new Prius Plug-In will likely be introduced for the 2017 model year.
Complementing the Prius Liftback, Prius c and Prius v, the Prius Plug-in was introduced for the 2012 model year, which provided added benefits that included 11 miles of driving range in EV mode, a top speed in all-electric mode of 62 mph and an EPA-rated 95 MPGe.
Continue reading to learn more about the current Toyota Prius Plug-In.
Toyota still leads the pack when it comes to electrified models and is asserting that lead with a new contest, the Prius Plug-in MPG Challenge, which pits 30 New York metro region drivers against each other to log the highest MPG over a one-month loaner period. The program kicks off its first wave of contestants today at a key hand-off in New Jersey.
The MPG Challenge underscores Toyota’s confidence in their Hybrid Synergy Drive’s ability to deliver amazing real-world returns, something that marks their models apart from pure EV’s like the Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model S as well as conventional economy hatchbacks like the Hyundai Elantra GT and Ford Fiesta. Toyota’s point of view in the efficiency debate is valuable. They’re betting that their Prius Plug-in can entice normal drivers to "hyper-mile," a term meaning to maximize potential range through creative (and very slow) driving.
Can the Prius Plug-in Hybrid resolve the range anxiety of EV drivers and the disillusion felt by buyers of small gasoline-powered cars that can barely get near their official EPA stats – no matter how slowly they drive. The idea is to use the MPG Challenge as both a sales promotion and consumer education platform, while also highlighting the latest tech advancements in the 2013 Prius Plug-in Hybrid in the hands of real-life potential buyers.
How is Toyota positioned to weather the current state of evolving eco-car priorities? As the hard-core greens adopt full EV models, will Priuses start coming factory-direct in Taxi-cab yellow with barf-proof vinyl upholstery?
Click past the jump for the full review of the Prius Plug-in Hybrid, including detailed info on ordering dedicated chargers from Toyota’s new home-electricity partner Leviton.


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Americans, who struggle with the high cost of prescription medication and buy prescription drugs from safe non-U.S. online pharmacies, should include their voice in the swelling opposition to the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) before Congress.
SOPA and its counterpart legislation in the Senate, the Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA), target reputable international online pharmacies, including those approved by PharmacyChecker.com, and seek to block access by Americans to safe and affordable prescription medication. These bills, if made into law, could be used to designate legitimate foreign online pharmacies as “dangers to the public health” and subject them to being blocked from the Internet as well as from appearing in search results and accepting credit card payments.
Access to medication is just one part of the legislation, which also focuses on protecting copyrights. There is good reason to clamp down on online pirates and counterfeiters. However, as currently proposed, SOPA tramples on the U.S. Constitution, encourages censorship, stifles innovation, and even subverts our foreign policy efforts to encourage other governments to allow their citizens uncensored Internet access! For a fuller understanding of the access to affordable medicines issues at stake, please read: “SOPA will have grave effects on the health of hundreds of thousands of Americans”.
If you go to PharmacyChecker.com today, you’ll find that we’ve joined the huge opposition to SOPA by encouraging Americans to take action against this damaging legislation. You can protest SOPA now by contacting your elected officials from RxRight.org.Tagged with: PIPA, Protect Intellectual Property Act, RxRights, SOPA, Stop Online Piracy Act


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It seems like just about every major tech company has come up with a branded payment system for its users. There’s Google Pay (once known as Android Pay), Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and now, Facebook Pay.
Facebook Pay was announced today, with the primary goal of providing Facebook users with a “convenient, secure, and consistent” payment experience throughout various company properties, including Facebook itself and Messenger. Instagram and WhatsApp support is coming down the line.
Unlike the other “Pay” services we first discussed, which function across a broad range of digital and real-world locations (including many major retail stores), Facebook Pay’s scope will be limited to the platforms mentioned above. This is perhaps for the best: one could argue that the world doesn’t really need yet another debit card alternative.
Regardless, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. How, exactly, does Facebook Pay work? According to the company, you can set up the service by simply visiting the Settings section of the official Facebook app or website. Upon doing so, you’ll be able to add a payment method of your choice.
Once you’ve finished those easy steps, you can use Facebook Pay to send money directly to your friends and family, donate to charities, fundraisers or other social causes, and purchase items on “select” Facebook Marketplace Pages and businesses. If you’re a fan of Facebook’s library of social games, you can also use it to pay for in-game microtransactions.
Facebook promises that all of your payment information will be “securely [stored]” and encrypted. If you’re particularly wary about the security, you can setup pre-purchase biometric or PIN code requirements as well.
You might be asking yourself why Facebook Pay exists. When it comes to paying for things online or sending money between users, we aren’t exactly starved for choice. In addition to the other “Pay” variants mentioned earlier, there’s also Venmo, Zelle, PayPal, debit and credit cards, Payoneer, and Stripe, to name a few.
However, there’s something to be said for the level of convenience Facebook Pay seems to offer; particularly for less tech-savvy users. If you don’t use the internet for much more than browsing Facebook and playing its built-in games, perhaps Facebook Pay is the right choice for you.


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Cryptocurrency has become a global phenomenon, revolutionizing the way we think about money and transactions. In recent years, Nigeria has emerged as a key player in the world of cryptocurrency, with a rapid increase in the number of cryptocurrency exchanges operating in the country. This article explores the reasons behind the rise of cryptocurrency exchanges in Nigeria and the impact they are having on the Nigerian economy.
The Nigerian Economy and the Adoption of Cryptocurrency
Nigeria, the largest economy in Africa, has a young and tech-savvy population that has shown great enthusiasm for cryptocurrency. With a growing distrust in traditional banking systems and a desire for financial independence, many Nigerians have turned to cryptocurrency as a viable alternative. Explore the topic further with this external content we recommend. Check out this informative document, uncover fresh viewpoints!
The Nigerian economy has also been hit by inflation and a volatile local currency, making cryptocurrency an attractive option for wealth preservation. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin provide a decentralized and secure means of storing and transferring value, allowing Nigerians to protect their wealth from the instability of the Naira.
The Role of Cryptocurrency Exchanges
Cryptocurrency exchanges play a crucial role in the ecosystem by providing a platform for buying, selling, and trading digital assets. These exchanges facilitate the conversion of Nigerian Naira into popular cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, allowing individuals in Nigeria to participate in the global cryptocurrency market.
One of the key factors contributing to the rise of cryptocurrency exchanges in Nigeria is the increasing demand for decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. DeFi has gained significant traction globally, and Nigerian cryptocurrency exchanges are enabling their users to access a wide range of DeFi services, such as borrowing, lending, and yield farming.
Regulatory Environment and Consumer Protection
The Nigerian government has shown a proactive approach towards regulating the cryptocurrency industry. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Nigeria has introduced guidelines and regulations to protect investors and ensure the proper functioning of cryptocurrency exchanges.
These regulations, while promoting transparency and accountability, have also led to the establishment of more secure and reliable cryptocurrency exchanges in Nigeria. Users can now have greater confidence in the platforms they use, knowing that they are operating within a regulated framework that prioritizes consumer protection.
Impact on Financial Inclusion
Cryptocurrency exchanges have had a powerful impact on financial inclusion in Nigeria. Traditional banking services are often inaccessible to many Nigerians, especially those in rural areas. Cryptocurrency exchanges provide an alternative financial system that is accessible to anyone with an internet connection.
By allowing individuals to easily buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies, these exchanges have empowered Nigerians to take control of their financial futures. They no longer have to rely solely on traditional banking systems or face barriers to entry due to lack of documentation or credit history.
The Future of Cryptocurrency Exchanges in Nigeria
The rise of cryptocurrency exchanges in Nigeria shows no signs of slowing down. As more Nigerians recognize the benefits of cryptocurrencies and their potential for financial empowerment, the demand for cryptocurrency exchanges will continue to grow.
The Nigerian government’s efforts to regulate the industry will also drive the establishment of more reliable and secure exchanges, ensuring that investors and users are protected against fraudulent activities. This regulatory framework will further promote trust and confidence in the cryptocurrency ecosystem. To broaden your knowledge of the topic, visit this suggested external resource. Inside, you’ll uncover supplementary details and fresh viewpoints that will enhance your educational journey. Check out this comprehensive Research, discover more now!
In conclusion, the rise of cryptocurrency exchanges in Nigeria is a testament to the growing popularity of cryptocurrencies in the country. These exchanges have provided Nigerians with a means to participate in the global cryptocurrency market, protect their wealth, and access decentralized financial services. With a proactive regulatory environment and a population eager for financial inclusion, Nigeria is poised to become a major hub for cryptocurrency innovation and adoption in Africa.
Find more information by visiting the related posts we recommend. Happy reading:


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Reddit User’s Plea Leads Portillo’s to Bring Back Discontinued Lemon Cake
He just wanted the recipe.
Chicago-based chain Portillo’s is known for having a cult following. Yes, leave it to Chicago to have a cult around an eatery that specializes in hot dogs. But recently, the restaurant has been newsworthy for another menu item – its lemon cake – after Portillo’s did one diehard fan a major solid and brought back the discontinued dessert.
Back in February, a guy named Ben took to the Chicago section of Reddit with a compelling demand. “I'm putting a $300 dollar bounty on Portillo's lemon cake,” he posted on the social news site. “For over a decade every Portillo's had a lemon cake. Then only a few Portillo's had it. Then it disappeared completely about 5ish years ago.” As a huge fan of this cake, Ben said he’s “been searching for a substitute ever since.” Finally reaching the end of his rope, the lemon cake lover decided to offer up cold hard cash to anyone who “can find me the exact recipe, with instructions, or find me a place that makes an exact copy.”
Luckily for Ben, his Reddit bounty actually got a lot of traction – so much so that eventually he heard from none other than Portillo’s itself. At first, a rep from the brand posted that the company would “make you a lemon cake and tell you how to make your own in the future.” The rep also answered the lingering question of why the cakes we’re discontinued in the first place: “the frosting would cause the cake layers to slide over time, so the cake didn't hold up well throughout the day.”
However, the Reddit post apparently garnered enough attention that Portillo’s eventually decide to do Ben – and all Portillo’s fans – one better. “Your devotion has inspired us to meet internally and figure out how we might bring back the Lemon Cake as limited-time offer,” the rep later wrote on Reddit. Indeed, this week the chain officially announced that the cake, which was taken off the menu over a decade ago, would be brought back to Portillo’s locations nationwide from June 13 to July 31.
“After we connected with Ben, we were inundated with messages from other customers,” Portillo’s CEO Keith Kinsey said. “We received inquiries from across the country asking us to bring the cake back. Ben’s plea for his favorite menu item really resonated with a lot of people; we couldn’t have asked for more passionate response from Portillo’s fans.” The restaurant even documented Ben’s plight in a YouTube video.
So there you have it: A story with a lemony sweet ending. Though this could establish a troubling precedent: The last thing we need is for people to think that begging on the Internet will make all their dreams come true. We’re looking at you, Nugget Boy.


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Feb 25, 2014
Sony has been on a tear of late, and it is clear that the ongoing Mobile World Conference was yet another opportunity for the tech titan to tantalize mobile fans and Android lovers with some upcoming gadgets. We were able to see two new phones, a tablet and wearable technology.
First up, Sony unveiled its newest addition to its premium Z line, the Sony Xperia Z2. This device is Android-powered, will have a 5.2″ display, 3GB RAM, Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor with 2.3 GHz quad-core Krait CPUs, and looks to be the “the worldâ€™s best camera and camcorder in a waterproof smartphone.” Its global launch target is March 2014.
The corresponding Xperia Z2 Tablet will also be waterproof, Android-powered, and will have a Snapdragon processor and noise-canceling technology built in. It is also due to be available in March 2014.
The Xperia M2 is aimed at being available to a large swathe of consumers; this mid-range device will be equally thin, have an 8 MP camera, and will include some free services out of the box, such as Playstation Mobile. It is Android-powered, and will be available globally in April 2014.
Sony is also making a huge splash in the booming wearables space with its SmartWear. Initially announced a the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2014, the SmartBand SWR10 will be available in March 2014. It will have a companion app, Lifelog, which will be available in the Goggle Play Store in March as well. The SWR10 looks to be a 24/7, waterproof lifestyle and fitness data collection app; it will be able to communicate with Android devices that have the Lifelog app via Bluetooth and NFC. Additionally, it will vibrate on notifications while connected, and will also be able to control the WALKMAN app on Sony devices.
MWC has been a great opportunity to get a feel for Sony’s direction with regards to mobile technology, and it is especially intriguing to see them get more involved in wearable technology.


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Ahead of Apple Arcade finally getting new games with Legends of Kingdom Rush out next week, new game updates have released for four games on the service today and yesterday. This week of updates follows the last few weeks that saw no new games but major updates weekly after the big overhaul in early April that brought in new categories with new games like Fantasian, Wonderbox, Clap Hanz Golf, a new Taiko no Tatsujin game, World of Demons from PlatinumGames, and more. This week, four game updates are available for The Oregon Trail LEGO Brawls, Clap Hanz Golf, and Slash Quest. Check out last week’s Apple Arcade roundup here.
Gameloft’s official successor to the classic The Oregon Trail titled The Oregon Trail on Apple Arcade got its first update since launch with 1.1.0 and it is a huge update. The Oregon Trail has new quests, achievements, improved tutorials, balance updates, and more. The update also has performance improvements including the frame rate and controller related improvements. Crash issues have also been addressed here alongside event repetition being addressed to not be as frequent. LEGO Brawls form Red Games Co begins season 9 with new mashup levels across classic LEGO themes, a gold rush game mode, new items to collect, progress tracking, and more.
Clap Hanz Golf, the first game from Clap Hanz outside PlayStation also gets a big update today adding World Tournament, new playable characters, an expansion to three modes, a new caddie, costumes, colours, and more. This update also adds native Apple M1 support. For mode expansions, Tour, Survival, and Score Attack have been updated today. Read my interview with the developers about Apple Arcade, mobile gaming, and more here. The final update of the week is Noodlecake and Big Green Pillow’s Slash Quest that has a new sports theme with Season 2. This included 11 new challenges, 6 new outfits, 3 new trails, and more.
Check out our forum threads for Clap Hanz Golf here, Slash Quest here, LEGO Brawls here, and The Oregon Trail here. Head over to our dedicated Apple Arcade forum for discussion on the service and every game included here. Have you been checking out the new Apple Arcade updates over the last few weeks or are you still catching up with the new games added to the service with the big overhaul?


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National Bank Financial Comments on Kinaxis Inc’s Q3 2016 Earnings (KXS)
Kinaxis Inc (TSE:KXS) – Research analysts at National Bank Financial issued their Q3 2016 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Kinaxis in a note issued to investors on Monday. National Bank Financial analyst R. Tse forecasts that the firm will post earnings per share of $0.28 for the quarter. National Bank Financial has a “Outperform Overweight” rating on the stock. National Bank Financial also issued estimates for Kinaxis’ Q4 2016 earnings at $0.28 EPS, FY2016 earnings at $1.10 EPS and FY2017 earnings at $1.40 EPS.
Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. RBC Capital Markets lifted their price target on Kinaxis from C$68.00 to C$72.00 in a report on Saturday, August 6th. CIBC lifted their price target on Kinaxis from C$52.00 to C$75.00 in a report on Saturday, August 6th. Canaccord Genuity lifted their price target on Kinaxis from C$52.00 to C$70.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, August 6th. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price target on Kinaxis from C$52.00 to C$68.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 3rd. Finally, Scotiabank reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a C$53.00 price target on shares of Kinaxis in a report on Friday, June 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. The company has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of C$62.95.
Shares of Kinaxis (TSE:KXS) opened at 66.17 on Thursday. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $61.88 and its 200 day moving average price is $51.88. Kinaxis has a one year low of $32.60 and a one year high of $67.91. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.63 billion and a P/E ratio of 143.54.
Kinaxis Inc is a provider of cloud-based subscription software for supply chain operations. The Company offers RapidResponse as a collection of cloud-based configurable applications. The Company’s RapidResponse product provides supply chain planning and analytics capabilities that create the foundation for managing multiple, interconnected supply chain management processes, including demand planning, supply planning, inventory management, order fulfillment and capacity planning.
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GOL plans preferred shares offering
Dec 26, 2012 (Menafn - AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION via COMTEX) --Brazilian low-cost and carrier GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. (bm&fbovespa:GOLL4) GOL said that its board of directors has approved the sale of the company's preferred shares held in treasury.
According to GOL, the purpose is the sale of preferred shares of the company held in treasury, given the termination of the company's stock repurchase program, due to the fact that the circumstances which resulted in the shares being held in treasury no longer prevail.
The maximum term for the sale of shares as authorized shall be February 13, 2013, counted as from this date. The number of shares to be sold is of up to 3,724,225 preferred shares of the company held in treasury.
GOL said that the number of outstanding shares of the company is 98,129,437 preferred shares, as recorded in the stock deposit account informed by the depositary financial institution on December 20, 2012.
For more information visit www.voegol.com.br/ir.
Comments on this story may be sent to email@example.com
(C)1997-2012 M2 COMMUNICATIONS


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Chain Store Age
Tractor Supply Co.’s succession plan has gone a bit off track.
The nation’s largest rural lifestyle retailer announced that it extended the current employment contract of CEO Greg Sandfort for a period of up to one year while an executive search firm looks for a successor. The news came as Tractor Supply also said that president and COO Steve Barbarick, who has been with the company for 21 years, had resigned, effective immediately. It gave no reason for his departure. Barbarick, who added the title of COO last year, was widely viewed as next in line for the CEO spot. . . . more


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About This Source - 7NEWS Australia
Seven News is the television news service of the Seven Network and, as of 2016, the highest-rating in Australia. The news service draws upon overseas channels for select international coverage. The network’s Director of News and Current Affairs is Craig McPherson.
Recent from 7NEWS Australia:
7NEWS Australia published this video item, entitled “Mask wearing for people in Sydney, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shoalhaven | 7NEWS” – below is their description.
Sydney’s COVID-19 cluster almost doubled overnight. From 11 cases to 21 – including a student at Saint Charles’ primary, Waverley.
Urgent coronavirus testing advice for anyone at Westfield Bondi Junction has also widened to include all of last week.
Now, in an Australian first, the government is extending the compulsory use of QR codes to all retail outlets, even those within a shopping centre.
Sydney is now awash with hotspots and there are new alerts for Fresh Nails at Bondi Junction, as well as a Chemist Warehouse and ANZ branch in Sydney’s CBD.
Mandatory mask wearing for people indoors, in public and on public transport in metropolitan Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Wollongong and the Shoalhaven.
More Details: https://7news.link/3gSRQH97NEWS Australia YouTube Channel
Got a comment? Leave your thoughts in the comments section, below. Please note comments are moderated before publication.
In This Story: Australia
7 Recent Items: Australia
In This Story: CBD
Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of 113 identified cannabinoids in cannabis plants. Clinical research on CBD includes studies related to anxiety, cognition, movement disorders, and pain.
In the United States, the cannabidiol drug Epidiolex was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2018 for the treatment of two epilepsy disorders.
2 Recent Items: CBD
In This Story: COVID-19
Covid-19 is the official WHO name given to the novel coronavirus which broke out in late 2019 and began to spread in the early months of 2020.
Symptoms of coronavirus
The main symptoms of coronavirus are:
- a persistent new cough (non productive, dry)
- a high temperature (e.g. head feels warm to the touch)
- shortness of breath (if this is abnormal for the individual, or increased)
Latest News about Covid-19
Below are stories from around the globe related to the 2020 outbreak of novel Coronavirus – since the WHO gave the Covid-19 naming. Most recent items are posted nearest the top.
5 Recent Items: COVID-19
In This Story: Sydney
- Population: 5.23 million (2018)


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November PMI rises to 61.2
By ECCT staff writers
Taiwan’s official Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) expanded for the fifth consecutive month in November, rising by 1.9 percentage points to 61.2, the fastest expansion rate since March 2017. According to a report by the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (CIER), all five of the constituent indicators rose, namely, new orders, production and manpower employment expansion, supplier delivery time, and inventory. Moreover, the PMIs of six major industry categories remain in expansionary territory, with levels well above the neutral 50 level. The transportation industry expanded to 69.2, the chemical and biotech medical industry to 60.7, the food and textile industry to 60.4, the basic raw material industry to 60.4, electronics and optical industry to 60.2 and power and mechanical equipment industry to 58.8.
In the service sector, CIER said that the non-manufacturing index (NMI) also rose 0.4 from a month earlier to 53.8, marking the sixth consecutive month of expansion.


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It's hardly news that more Americans are choosing to purchase products online. According to a bevy of recent reports, nearly half of the U.S. adult population has made at least one purchase online. And what kinds of products are being bought online? The product profile is clear: consumers like to purchase airline tickets on the Web, not cars. Books, not hotel rooms.
Perhaps the biggest recipient of all this e-commerce action is the travel industry, which in January 2001 was responsible for nearly a third of all e-commerce transactions. Which must mean that although users are buying things from their office desks and workstations, the impulse to fly away remains ever-strong.
NO, JUST LOOKING:
25 percent of the total active adult Web population shopped for hotel reservations and 21 percent shopped for computer hardware, but only 10 percent and 9 percent, respectively, actually made purchases. 26 percent shopped for cars, but the percentage that actually bought an automobile online was so small it couldn't be measured.
LOOKING & BUYING:
45 percent of the total Web audience shopped for airline tickets and 22 percent bought them. 40 percent shopped for books and 25 percent made purchases.+
OH YEAH, I'M ON THAT BANDWAGON, TOO:
48.2 percent of the total U.S. population, and 81.2 percent of the online population, have made an e-commerce purchase.*
Sources: Milpitas, Calif.-based Nielsen NetRatings and Rochester, N.Y.-based Harris Interactive e-commercePulse; Diameter@plan Advertising, a division of Doubleclick, New York.
+All figures in above data points from an average six month period ending in Jan. '01
*According to a March 2001 survey


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Watching the Surface Pro 3 event yesterday, I wryly smiled as Panos Panay finally revealed Microsoft’s vision for the future of mobile computing: The damn stylus. Snap-in keyboards, friction hinges, and high-resolution displays are still there, of course, but it is the humble stylus that will elevate Microsoft from tablet also-ran to mobile computing greatness. Apparently.
At 11am Eastern Time (4pm UK time), Microsoft will hold a special Surface event in New York City. Microsoft has been uncustomarily secretive about the event, offering no guidance or embargoed materials to journalists. The only clue we have is a line from the invitation — ‘join us for a small gathering’ — which hints that Microsoft is probably going to unveil a small Surface tablet. A live video feed of the event is embedded below, and this story will be updated with the latest news once the event begins.
A few days after the release of Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1, and on the eve of the release of the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2, Microsoft has pulled the Windows RT 8.1 update from the Windows Store. Ironically, despite the fact that Microsoft only had to test Windows RT 8.1 on five devices, the update bricked some Surface RT tablets, causing them to fail during boot-up. In related news, reviews for the first Windows RT 8.1 device — Surface 2 — are in, and they’re not good.
Both Sony and Microsoft are betting on the second screen experience for the upcoming generation, and we’re finally beginning to get a better idea of what we can expect on smartphones and tablets. More importantly, the PlayStation Vita might just turn out to be the ace up Sony’s sleeve.
Microsoft has announced the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2. Both the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 are primarily iterative hardware upgrades, bringing improved performance, battery life, and sharper displays. The tablets themselves, except for a beautiful 1080p display on the Surface 2, introduce almost no new features. Instead, new functionality is provided by a variety of new attachments, such as the Power Cover, which will increase battery life by around 50%. Hardware is only part of the equation, though: Software is still sorely lacking.
Microsoft recently released broken patches and updates as part of this month’s Patch Tuesday. Ordinarily, this would be small potatoes — except it’s the third month in a row that Microsoft has released major security fixes or features, then yanked them within hours or days. The problems at Microsoft run deeper than bad patches — even multiple bad patches in a row — and to date, nothing the company has done or said, including getting rid of Ballmer, has spoken to the underlying problem.
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From eliminating single-use plastic straws from its stores around the globe by 2020 to partnering with McDonald's on creating a compostable coffee cup, Starbucks has been in the news over the last year as the coffee giant takes strides to make the company more eco-friendly.
In their latest mission, Starbucks announced last week they are deepening their efforts to make their company better for the planet by launching a plan to make 10,000 of its 28,000 stores worldwide 'greener' by 2025. The move to make their retail locations sustainable would include both new stores and renovations on previously existing buildings.
According to CNBC, they've been working with the U.S. Green Building Council since 2001 to help develop the LEED for Retail program. Today there are more than 1,500 LEED-certified Starbucks stores globally and as Starbucks transitions its locations to adopt more sustainable practices, they'll be sharing materials so other retailers can join them in going 'green.'
A new six-part framework, coined The Greener Stores Framework, lays out six key standards the more sustainable stores must abide by, ranging from waste management tactics to design upgrades.
Experts from the World Wildlife Fund are helping assist with the company's plan and Starbucks will be audited and verified by SCS Global Services, which oversees Starbucks' Coffee and Farmer Equity Practices.
"This framework represents the next step in how Starbucks is approaching environmental stewardship, looking holistically at stores and their role in helping to ensure the future health of our natural resources," said Erin Simon, director of R&D at World Wildlife Fund, U.S., in a release. "When companies step up and demonstrate leadership, other businesses often follow with commitments of their own, driving further positive impacts."
According to John Kelly, SVP of global affairs and social impact, the new set of standards will set Starbucks on a path to conserving more resources. The company expects it will save over $50 million in utility costs over the next decade as a result of the plan.
Kelly estimates that the program could divert around 50 million meals’ worth of food to people in need in the U.S. per year, and reduce water usage across its 10,000 “Greener Stores” by 30 percent.
"Woven into the fabric of Starbucks is the view that the pursuit of profits is not in conflict with the pursuit of doing good," CEO Kevin Johnson said in an interview with CNBC. "We have been on a sustainability journey for many years, it starts with the way we grow our coffee to the work we do with LEED-certified stores, to the work we do around greener cups and plastic straws. Today's announcement extends that to go beyond a LEED-certified store and will focus on operating those stores in a more sustainable way."


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China has hit out at Washington’s latest move against Huawei, arguing tighter restrictions violate international trade rules.
The Chinese foreign ministry has urged the US government to “stop suppressing Chinese companies”.
It comes as the US ramped up measures preventing the tech giant from accessing American chip technology on Monday amid an escalating row over security fears.
Another 38 Huawei affiliates were also added to the Department of Commerce’s Entity List, a blacklist of firms linked to Huawei.
The dispute has had ramifications on the UK’s 5G future, forcing the Government to ban Huawei’s 5G equipment instead of allowing a limited role within the network, due to doubts about its ability to be a reliable participant without US semiconductors.
Issues have also extended to other big Chinese firms, namely video sharing app TikTok – whose US assets President Donald Trump wants owned by a US firm within 90 days.
Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the US is “violating international trade rules, and undermining the global industrial chain, supply chain, and value chain”.
He also warned that China would “take necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies”.
“The more hysterical the US suppression of Huawei and other Chinese companies, the more it proves the success of these companies and the hypocrisy and arrogance of the United States,” he said.
“We urge the United States to immediately correct its mistakes, stop slandering China and stop suppressing Chinese companies.
“The Chinese government will continue to take necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.”


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South Africans are genuinely interested in wagering of all kinds, and the nation is currently crazy about online casino gaming and sports betting. The demand for both kinds of entertainment skyrocketed in the area due to increased accessibility to mobile devices and the enhanced stability of internet connections in the country. All in all, it is hard to tell which type of gambling is more popular among the locals, so let’s dive into the specifics of both.
The State of Online Casinos in South Africa
The online casino industry is expected to reach a revenue of $322.3 million in 2024, and by 2028, there will be 2.6 million active users on such platforms. As interest in virtual gambling sites continues to grow, so does the selection of operators. The choice is now so rich that it’s not always easy for users to make a difference between reliable operators and shady ones. That is why many of them turn to reputable review sites such as playcasino.co.za where they can easily find the best online casinos in South Africa, and have them ranked based on useful criteria.
The Widespread Love for Gambling
South Africans have always been passionate about gambling, and land-based casinos have been the pillars of this type of entertainment for a very long time. The locals enjoyed all sorts of game categories, including card games, lotteries, and slot machines. And even though brick-and-mortar casinos still have a special place in the hearts of South African punters, their popularity has been affected by the emergence of online casinos.
The Rise of Online Casinos
Like many other countries in the world, South Africa has seen a huge rise when it comes to the development of online gambling sites. More and more punters appreciate the convenience of virtual platforms, and thanks to the development of mobile technologies, they can even play on the go. Furthermore, punters located in rural areas didn’t even have easy access to land-based venues, and now they have all the games right at their fingertips. Even those who are hooked to the atmosphere of physical casinos are gradually being drawn to innovative options known as live dealer games available in all the top virtual casinos.
The Demand for Sports Betting
Almost 50% of South Africans placed at least one sports bet in the period of 12 months between October 2021 and October 2022, and almost 25% of them did so several times a week. On top of that, around 90% of bettors place their wagers on the web. In fact, by 2028, the online sports betting market is expected to reach 1.9 million users. Due to advancements in both tech and local regulations, online sports betting is more accessible to South Africans than ever, and it is now perfectly legal to place wagers on the web, as long as you do business with licensed bookies.
The Selection of Platforms and Markets
South Africans can choose from a large number of online bookies, and the majority of them offer a rich selection of sports categories to wager on. Some of the most popular categories include football, rugby, and cricket, as well as some niche sports and international sporting events. Of course, football is by far the most loved sport in the country, and as such, it also gets much more attention than others when it comes to betting. The variety of bets is also pretty exciting since the locals can choose to bet on outright tournament winners, individual player performances, and many other specs related to domestic and international leagues.
The Appeal of Online Bookies
Even though some punters still remain loyal to physical sportsbooks, many of them cannot resist the innovations introduced by online platforms. Some of the features adored by online punters include real-time updates, statistical analysis, and live streaming of major sporting events such as those organized by fifa.com. Additionally, virtual bookies regularly treat users to attractive promotions and bonuses.
South Africans are passionate people, and both gambling and sports are among their greatest interests. Thanks to the recent rise of virtual wagering platforms, locals can now easily pursue both pastimes, and even though it is projected that online casinos will attract more users than virtual bookies, it will be exciting to see what the near future will bring.


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“Jim’s passion and experience brought new energy to J.Crew and enhanced our ability to relate to a broad range of consumers, and we thank him for his hard work and thoughtful contributions to position our company for long-term success,” said the Board of Directors. “Building on Jim’s early progress, the leadership team remains committed to driving performance and results, as well as continuing to strengthen operations, enhance customer loyalty and extend brand reach.”
“Returning J.Crew to its iconic status required reinventing the brand to reflect the America of today with a more expansive, more inclusive fashion concept,” said Brett. “However, despite the recent brand relaunch already showing positive results, the Board and I were unable to bridge our beliefs on how to continue to evolve all aspects of the company.”
Brett’s responsibilities will be assumed by an office of the CEO, comprised of four senior J.Crew executives who have significant operational and merchandising experience with successful retail brands: Michael Nicholson, President & Chief Operating Officer; Adam Brotman, President & Chief Experience Officer; Lynda Markoe, Chief Administrative Officer; and, Libby Wadle, President of Madewell Brand.
The office of the CEO will manage the company’s operations as the Board works to establish a permanent management structure.


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Yesterday’s post covering paid iPhone and iPad apps on sale for free was a solid one, and you’ll still find a few freebies in there if you head back and check them out. We’ve tried to outdo ourselves today though, and we think we’ve managed to put together a great list with something for everyone. Definitely dig it now to make sure you don’t miss any of these limited-time sales. More →
At the Black Hat Conference in Las Vegas last week, Apple introduced its first bug bounty program. Whereas Apple has historically relied upon security researchers and hackers to discover and report critical security exploits out of the goodness of their hearts, Apple finally wised up and realized that it might want to include some sort of financial incentive for those who have a knack for discovering important security flaws.
I’ve stuck by the official leather iPhone cases for years, mostly because I’m the kind of predictable person who walks into the Apple store and buys whatever Steve Jobs tells me to. But I also have a real thing for wooden phone cases: they give a good feel in the hand, offer lots of protection, and look fantastic.
Unfortunately, most of the ones you find are being hawked by street vendors, and don’t last a week. But a company called Pad & Quill have started making slim wooden cases for the newer iPhones, and they’re not bad at all.
Today’s list of paid iPhone and iPad apps on sale for free might just be the best list we’ve put together in a long time. We always spend plenty of time and effort on these app sale posts, but today there were way more great choices than usual and we’ve pulled out the cream of the crop for your iOS device’s enjoyment. More →
Apple’s new iOS 10 software is about one month away from being released to the public at this point, but most hardcore Apple fans have already been using it on their iPhones and iPads since June. As it has done in the past, Apple released iOS 10 as a private beta for developers shortly after announcing it during the annual WWDC conference, and then it released a public beta as well, allowing anyone with a compatible device to test the new software ahead of its release.
On Tuesday, Apple released a new build of its next-generation mobile operating system ahead of schedule, and iOS 10 public beta 4 followed soon after on Wednesday morning — so what was so important in iOS 10 beta 5 and its corresponding public beta that they be released just one week after the previous versions of iOS 10? More →
Apple on Monday seeded iOS 10 beta 5 to developers, which means you can also download it and install it on your iPhone or iPad right now. Just like with previous releases, you can install iOS 10 beta 5 even if you don’t have access to a developer account. We’d advise you to keep waiting for the iOS 10 public beta 4 instead, which should be rolled out on Tuesday. More →
Samsung’s got a thing for dual-curved edge displays. The company likes it so much, that it’s already rumored to consider launching the Galaxy S8 only in an edge version, just like it did with the Galaxy Note 7. However, while the curved display of the recent Galaxy S and Galaxy Note are definitely eye-catching, Samsung is yet to come up with ways to add useful features to the curved portions of the display.
Apple, which is also expected to make iPhones with curved screens in the future, might help Samsung with that little problem. More →
Is Pokemon Go respecting your privacy when it comes to the amount of data it collects? That’s a question you should ask yourself considering that the game does require you to provide the game unlimited access to your location data and camera. And you’d think you should not be worried about Niantic swiping over your data for malicious use – or even spying purposes.
But Niantic’s CEO has already been one of the central figures of a major privacy scandal while at Google, the Google Maps-related Wi-Fi sniffing “program.” You may not remember the whole thing, and you may think it’s not real, but a new report does an excellent job recapping its highlights, painting John Hanke as a CEO that you’d better think twice before trusting.
Apple’s radical iPhone design you wanted this year isn’t happening. That much is abundantly clear. But Apple is working on a brand new iPhone for next year, multiple rumors have said, which makes plenty of sense considering that 2017 will mark the iPhone’s 10th anniversary, and Apple may want to celebrate it in style with a hot new iPhone launch.
A new report from Asia indicates that one of the changes coming to the iPhone concerns the chassis. Apple is reportedly dumping metal for glass next year for at least one iPhone version, and Foxconn is already working on parts that would meet Apple’s requirements. More →
Looking for a collection of free apps that used to cost at least a dollar? You’ve come to the right place! Today’s selection of free apps features some useful productivity tools, a GIF maker and a game about pizza. But if for some reason that doesn’t satisfy you, you can always check Monday’s post to see if anything is still free.
Apple has the best LCD displays in the iPhone and iPad, and this year’s iPhone might receive further improvements similar to what Apple did with the 9.7-inch iPad Pro. But that doesn’t mean Apple’s displays are the best in town. A review of the Galaxy Note 7’s AMOLED screen indicates that Samsung has been able to improve OLED screen technology since launching the Galaxy S7 series this spring. The Galaxy Note 7 matches, or breaks, some of the records of the Galaxy S7, which was touted as having one of the best smartphone displays in town. More →
Pokemon Go players were furious when Niantic ruined their gaming experience a little over a week ago by releasing an update for Android and iPhone that removed the nearby Pokemon tracking feature, but also by making Pokemon catching a lot harder than before. Niantic explained why it removed the tracker and why it killed third-party Pokemon mapping support, and promised to fix the Pokemon catching bug. On Monday night, they followed through.
Pokemon Go for iPhone (version 1.3.0) and Android (version 0.33) are available to download right away, bringing several important fixes to the game.
Summer might be winding down, but another week of free apps is just starting to heat up. As always, we have a sizable collection of free apps for you to peruse today, from classic games to photo editors to a fitness tracker made specifically for Pokemon Go. If you’re looking for free apps, you’ve come to the right place.


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"The Web's first high-definition cross-gaming universe", launching with a ten-day-long celebration.
Menlo Park, November 6th, 2008 – Starting today, casual gamers can test their skills against competitors from around the world at Moondo ( www.moondo.com), the Web’s first high-definition cross-gaming universe for the PC. To celebrate the launch of the colorful moon-themed universe, casual gamers are being treated to a Moondo Eclipse, a ten day celebration event complete with tournaments, the introduction of cool avatar items and power-ups and more.
The cross-gaming dynamic in Moondo allows casual gamers to bring their character and power items with them between a variety of gorgeous multiplayer action games in the universe. The more time gamers spend playing Moondo games, the more cross-game items they can earn, which improve their character’s stats (i.e. speed and power) across all games in the world.
The free browser-based games work on a proprietary technology that allows gamers fast access to the action by streaming graphics and audio data to their PCs instead of requiring large downloads. The crisp HD images and ability to scale to up to accommodate any size screen ensures one of the most immersive online game experiences available.
“Many mainstream gamers do not have the time to invest in MMO games or the budget for a high-end console,” said Sam Glassenberg, head of the game studio that created Moondo. “The beauty of Moondo is that anyone can jump into one of its free online games and experience 3D visually intense, action-packed game sessions unlike any other casual game on the web. We welcome any gamer who feels they have skills to check out this exciting new universe of games.”
The Moondo Eclipse tournament will reward prizes to gamers who earn the most crystals in cross gaming competition. Besides the tournament, highly-customizable Moondo outfits and power-ups will also be available to players. Gamers can show off these new items in the Moondo Eclipse fashion show that will run throughout the eclipse.
Moondo currently offers shooting, racing, and sports games. Moondo games bring the core ‘fun’ and thrills of multiplayer action games to more casual audiences – with a bright and vivid look, simple controls, and short game sessions. Screenshots of Blaze, Moondo’s upcoming action game where players battle each other in fast-moving vehicle combat, will be available to players as a sneak peek during the eclipse.
Founded in 2006, Funtactix is a small, pioneering game studio dedicated to delivering rich, social game experiences to a wider audience of gamers. Its flagship cross-gaming universe, Moondo ( www.moondo.com), allows players to share characters, friends and power-items across its growing assortment of short-session, free-to-play, multiplayer games. To learn more, visit www.funtactix.com.


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New API and Self-Serve User Interface Deliver Enhanced Ease of Use and Enable Faster Large-Scale Use of Programmatic TV
AudienceXpress, the leading programmatic TV advertising platform, today announces a significant step forward for the quickly growing programmatic TV marketplace, delivering a full, end-to-end automated solution for its platform. This is the first time a programmatic TV solution will be fully automated to enable the direct automated buying and selling of TV inventory, similar to that of other media, including video and display. The news was first announced at CES, where the product is being featured and made available to trial partners.
In support of the full automation initiative, AudienceXpress is releasing both a new Application Programming Interface (API) and a fully “Self-Serve User Interface” into Beta. The API allows applications developed by agency and DSP partners to directly connect into the AudienceXpress platform using machine-to-machine communication to plan, buy and report daily on their programmatic TV campaigns. The self-serve user interface allows an agency or an advertiser to log in directly to the AudienceXpress platform to build plans using advanced data sets, execute the campaigns and track them each day without having to rely on support from AudienceXpress.
AudienceXpress is leading the programmatic TV advertising industry in developing and rolling out full automation of the programmatic TV buying workflow, and will now offer a level of automation the marketplace has come to expect from other programmatic media offerings. “These two product launches demonstrate a major step forward in the true end-end automation of the programmatic TV workflow. We can now have partners access the full scope of our platform without any managed services support. That is only possible with true automation from planning through reporting,” said Walt Horstman, President of AudienceXpress.
Horizon Media, the largest and fastest growing privately-held media services agency in the world, will be one of the first to integrate with AudienceXpress’ API. “Our strategy is to partner and integrate with best-in-class tech platforms across all media channels including TV. With this API, our team will be able to manage all facets of our programmatic TV campaigns independently and seamlessly,” commented David Campanelli, Horizon Media’s EVP, and Director of National TV.
US International, honored recently as MediaPost’s Programmatic Agency of the Year, will be an initial user of the AudienceXpress self-serve user interface. “We want to log into a platform for TV campaigns just like we do for digital. We like to roll up our sleeves and get into the details of seeing exactly how our campaigns are planned, executed and performing. This self-serve UI lets us do that. We don’t have to wait for someone to get back to us with a proposal or a report to review. We can access all of that information, how we want it and when we want,” said Ryan McArthur, EVP at US International.
The AudienceXpress platform uses the proprietary Visible World Gateways that are integrated into the traffic, billing and ad serving infrastructure of inventory partners across the U.S. Over the past 18 months, it has been building out its tech stack to automate all steps of the workflow, including advanced audience data ingest, data-driven planning and pricing, campaign execution and trafficking and reporting and optimization. The result is a touch-less platform that allows an agency to build a TV plan, fully execute it downstream with TV inventory partners, and deliver overnight reporting throughout the campaign.
AudienceXpress’ introduction of the Application Programming Interface (API) and “Self-Serve User Interface” was covered by AdExchanger’s Kelly Liyakasa on January 6, 2016.
AudienceXpress, a subsidiary of Visible World, is a leading programmatic TV ad buying platform that automates the planning, buying, optimization, and daily reporting of linear TV campaigns nationwide. AudienceXpress’ Web-based platform allows media buyers to optimize campaigns and reach target audiences quickly and easily. AudienceXpress offers simple, scaled delivery of a national audience, superior audience targeting technology, fully automated execution, next-day impression reporting, and data-driven consumer insights.www.audiencexpress.com


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A full growth cycle for a Christmas tree lasts more than a decade. The industry was hit hard by the 2008 financial crisis, the full effects of which are just now being felt.
There are lots of reasons for the tighter supply of Christmas trees this year.
Photography by ND700, Shutterstock.
To be clear, we are not experiencing a Christmas tree shortage. No one said anything about that. Some growers called it a “tight supply.” One person I spoke with said there was an “under supply.” But the important thing, they all stressed, is that there’s no shortage of trees.
There are lots of reasons for the tighter supply this year. Supply chain disruptions have impacted trucking and transport availability. And in general, those costs have also risen for producers. There are also extreme weather events to deal with and a general loss of acreage for Christmas trees across the country. But one of the main reasons you might not find that perfect fir dates back to 2008 and the financial crisis.
Along with other industries, farmers were hit hard by the Great Recession. And growers of Christmas trees were under extra pressure, forced to forecast more than a decade out, rather than a single season. While producers of cereals or grains might be able to change up crops from year to year based on predictions and costs, tree-growers are locked in for the long haul. “Most of our farms run on a ten-year rotation,” says Marsha Gray, executive director of the Christmas Tree Promotion Board. “And a lot of things can happen along the way.”
Seedlings typically take two to three years to get started in a nursery or by a wholesaler, and then they go to the field for another eight to ten years. In 2008, many tree farmers simply couldn’t stick with the business. They didn’t have the funds to plant a crop that wouldn’t see a return for a decade, or they had to scale way back. And 13 years later—or, the full growth cycle of one Christmas tree—here we are.
“Now, I’m looking at 2032, 2030, when I’m going to be planting this spring,” says Russell Wagner, the president of the Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers Association and a grower himself, at TLC Tree Farm in Hegins, Pennsylvania. Shortly after the 2008 recession, Wagner retired from his nine-to-five job and looked to scale back a little with his tree farm.
Young fir trees at a Christmas tree nursery. Photo by dba duplessis, Shutterstock.
He couldn’t stay away from the farm for long, ramping up production a year or two later. This year he just doesn’t have as many trees available. Normally, he would keep his fields open for a “choose and cut” right up until Christmas Day. This year, however, the fields are already closed off and the farm will have a more limited supply of fresh cuts for customers. “I have a lot of people interested in a block of trees that I’m holding for next year, [asking] ‘When are you going to allow us in those fields over there?’ Next year,” Wagner says. “It’s difficult, but I’m holding them.”
Of course, it’s not solely the decisions made a decade prior that impact growing lots. Even with all the planning in the world, farmers can’t escape the weather. This year, extreme weather events came into play in a big way. From overwhelming heat to flash floods, growers are often able to weather these kinds of fluctuations and simply wait them out. Typically, Gray says, if there’s a weather concern in the first year of planting, “we still have nine years to make up the difference. We can plant extra, we can stretch the tree, there’s a lot of things over a ten-year period our growers can do to get trees to market on time.”
That’s not the case in 2021. The extreme heat in Oregon—that state that grows the most Christmas trees in the nation according to 2017 data from the USDA—actually sunburned some of the trees, turning their tender young shoots from a pale green to a bright red. “Most of those trees, they trimmed them out, and in one to two years, they’re back on the market,” Gray says. “So it doesn’t kill the tree, it just makes it look kind of unattractive.” Many other young seedlings were lost for good, although Gray says a small portion of trees that were truly wrecked, growers were sometimes able to sell for wreaths or decorations.
While this year’s weather was unique, many growers are preparing for more extremes in the coming seasons. “I do believe we still haven’t fully seen the ramifications of [this year’s weather],” says Scott Powell, president of the Michigan Christmas Tree Association and nursery manager at Dutchman Tree Farms in Manton, Michigan. “We will see an under supply coming up, because folks that I’ve talked to out west, they’ve seen maybe an 80 to 90 percent loss from what they planted in the spring of 2021. We’re not going to experience that until 2030, probably.”
The other factor hindering availability comes into play before the trees even get to the field. Both Powell and Wagner say there’s a shortage of seedlings available at nurseries and through wholesalers, which poses a challenge to experienced growers, but can also keep new farmers out of the business altogether. “We all depend on the nurseries. From what I’ve been hearing, they’re maxed out,” Wagner says. “Nurseries are selling more of their stock to existing growers and don’t have any left to get to a new grower. So the poor guy that wants to get started has a hard time finding any plants to put out in spring of 2022.” That could mean preparing for another short supply in another ten years.
But, as each grower mentioned, there are trees out there, and there will be trees available right up until Christmas. They might be a little more expensive than last year (estimates are between five and ten percent higher), but you can find them. The trick this year, say growers, is to open up your expectations. That 10-foot Douglas fir you love with your cathedral ceiling? Yeah, that might be too tall an order. Instead, Powell says, “Maybe I’m going to settle for an eight to nine [foot], or even a seven to eight [foot].”
Wagner puts it simply: “There are enough trees, if you’re not too picky.”
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Zscaler (NASDAQ:ZS) issued an update on its FY 2020 earnings guidance on Tuesday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $0.12-0.15 for the period, compared to the Thomson Reuters consensus earnings per share estimate of $0.19. The company issued revenue guidance of $395-405 million, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $402.93 million.Zscaler also updated its Q1 2020 guidance to $0.00-0.01 EPS.
Shares of ZS stock traded down $0.42 on Tuesday, reaching $61.60. 4,673,268 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,404,779. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $77.21 and a 200 day moving average price of $72.07. Zscaler has a 1 year low of $30.72 and a 1 year high of $89.54. The company has a market cap of $8.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -198.71 and a beta of 1.31.
ZS has been the topic of several research reports. OTR Global downgraded shares of Zscaler from a mixed rating to a negative rating in a research note on Monday, August 19th. Rosenblatt Securities started coverage on Zscaler in a research report on Monday. They issued a neutral rating and a $65.00 price target for the company. Wedbush increased their price target on Zscaler from $87.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, July 24th. Piper Jaffray Companies upped their target price on Zscaler from $65.00 to $82.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, May 31st. Finally, Bank of America set a $77.00 price objective on shares of Zscaler and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, May 31st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Zscaler has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $73.71.
In other Zscaler news, insider Amit Sinha sold 4,807 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $65.52, for a total value of $314,954.64. Following the sale, the insider now owns 127,664 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $8,364,545.28. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Karen Blasing sold 1,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, June 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $77.12, for a total value of $77,120.00. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 287,113 shares of company stock valued at $23,507,372. 27.40% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.
Zscaler, Inc operates as a cloud security company worldwide. The company's flagship services include Zscaler Internet Access solution that connect users to externally managed applications, including software-as-a-service applications and Internet destinations; and Zscaler Private Access solution, which is designed to provide access to internally managed applications, either hosted internally in data centers, and private or public clouds.
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In the News
The high cost of internet access in Canada is leaving low-income families behind, says a national organization that is calling on the federal government to act.
ACORN Canada, a charitable organization that advocates for low- to moderate-income families, is set to release a report on Tuesday that says "digital equity" must become a federal priority.
Nova Scotia ACORN is collaborating with our community partners, LakeCity Works, to launch a Computer Enrichment Program!
HALIFAX—A small group of anti-poverty activists took to the streets of downtown Halifax on Saturday, urging Canadian telecom giant Eastlink to offer more affordable internet, as many of their competitors do.
ACORN (the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) has been advocating for low-income internet service across Canada since 2013 with a campaign called Internet for All. The local ACORN chapter organized a rally for the start of the holiday season to make a cheeky statement about Eastlink’s response to its demands.
Canada’s telecom watchdog won’t force Montreal-based telecom service provider Bell to publicly disclose how much its sale agents earn through the carrier’s various sales channels.
According to a November 7th, 2018 Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) letter posted to PIAC executive director and general counsel John Lawford, Bell established “that the likelihood of specific and direct harm outweighs the public interest in the disclosure of the designated information.”
The request was filed by the Fair Communications Sales Coalition — a consumer group comprised of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC), the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) Canada, the National Pensioners Federation (NPF) and the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) — on November 2nd, 2018.
MobileSyrup: Consumer groups advocate for new code of conduct, suitability rules on day two of CRTC hearings
A coalition of four Canadian consumer advocacy organizations delivered testimony on the second day of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission’s (CRTC) unsavoury telecom sales practices hearings.
Representatives from the Fair Communications Sales Coalition (FCSC) — comprised of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC), the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now Canada (ACORN Canada), the National Pensioners Federation (NPF) and the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) — used their time to further advocate for the implementation of a new telecom sales code of conduct, while also arguing in favour of implementing suitability rules within Canada’s telecommunications industry.


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According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, e-retailers in China sold $534.45 billion (3.453 trillion yuan) worth of goods in the first 11 months of 2015. An increase of 34.5% over the same period a year ago.
According to Internet Retailer these numbers includes both physical and virtual products and when breaking it out online sales of physical goods grew 33.0% to $446.87 billion (2.887 trillion yuan).
During the same period online sales of virtual products increased 42.9% to $87.56 billion (565.7 billion yuan).
Replicating Its Success Overseas
At the same time cross border e-commerce is booming. According to the State Post Bureau parcels shipped from China to other countries handled by the government-run postal service, China Post, increased 90% in 2015 compared to the same period last year.
E-commerce companies like Alibaba and JD.com is playing a key role and has during the year opened offices in Europe and is expanding further in the US. At the same time Singles’ Day on 11th november has morphed into China’s biggest excuse to shop online and Alibaba is now trying to replicate its success overseas.
– This year we saw many mergers and acquisitions for e-commerce companies and large Chinese e-commerce companies expanded by focusing on new business areas, such as cross-border e-commerce, omnichannel and e-commerce in villages, says China E-commerce Research Center senior analyst Zhang Zhouping.


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Mainland China’s total sales from official lottery products increased 19.9 percent in full-year 2018 to approximately CNY511.47 billion (US$75.93 billion), show data from the country’s Ministry of Finance.
Sales of welfare lottery tickets in the 12 months to December 31 reached approximately CNY224.56 billion, 3.5 percent higher than the figure in full-year 2017. Sports lottery sales grew by 36.8 percent year-on-year to CNY286.9 billion.
The official data also showed an increase in lottery sales in all of the 31 provinces and cities of mainland China authorise to sell lottery tickets except Tibet, which recorded a year-on-year decline of 4.3 percent.
Growth rates in lottery sales of above 30 percent year-on-year were recorded in the Jiangxi and Guizhou provinces, said the Ministry of Finance.
Sales of lottery products in December rose by 8.4 percent compared to the same period last year to CNY43.02 billion.
According to the data, sales of sports lottery tickets reported a 17.8 percent year-on-year increase to CNY22.42 billion. Sales of welfare lottery tickets reached CNY20.60 billion, down by 0.2 percent from the prior-year period.
Guangdong remained mainland China’s biggest single-province market for lottery products in full-year 2018, with total lottery ticket sales reaching CNY48.99 billion in the period, up by 15.9 percent from 2017. Guangdong was followed by Jiangsu province, where total lottery ticket sales were CNY44.50 billion, up by 25.3 percent year-on-year.
Feb 26, 2021Casino slot machine maker and digital games provider Aristocrat Leisure Ltd says it plans to launch in the first quarter this year a new product with responsible gaming features, which has already...
Feb 26, 2021
Adjusted EBITDA reported by Asian casino operator Melco Resorts and Entertainment for the fourth quarter of 2020


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New Delhi: iQOO, a subsidiary of premium smartphone maker Vivo, has announced a great discount on its smartphones. The company has recently launched many new phones and has introduced upgrade versions of many old models. IQ’s smartphone is being sold on the e-commerce platform Amazon. For this, the company has started Quest Days in association with Amazon. In this sale, which runs till April 11, a discount of up to Rs 20,000 is being given on IQ phones.
iQOO Z6 5G Smartphone
iQOO Z6 was launched by the company in India some time back. This is a great phone coming in the segment under Rs 15,000.
The first thing is the price and offers. There are three variants of the iQOO Z6 5G smartphone available in the market. In this, the price of the variant with 4 GB RAM and 128 GB storage is Rs 13,999. The price of the variant with 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage is Rs 14,999 and its top version phone with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage costs Rs 15,999.
An instant discount of Rs 2,000 is being given on these phones on purchases made using HDFC Bank cards.
Now let’s talk about the features of the phone. iQOO Z6 5G smartphone has a 5000 mAh battery which comes with 18W charger. It has a 6.58 inch Full HD Plus display. This display comes with 120Hz refresh rate and 240Hz touch sampling rate. iQOO Z6 5G Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset works on Android 12.
Triple rear camera setup has been given in this phone, in which 50 megapixel main camera, 2MP macro and 2MP camera have been given. For selfie, it has a 16MP front camera.
Color Changing iQOO 9 5G
iQoo has launched a new color variant of the iQoo 9. Now this phone has also been introduced in Phoenix Orange color. Now this phone is available in three colors. It is being said about the Phoenix color variant that this phone changes color in sunlight. For this, Frosty AG glass has been used in it.
Prices & Offers
There are two variants available for the iQoo 9 Phoenix smartphone. The price of the phone with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage is Rs 42,990. The phone with 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage is priced at Rs 46,990. This phone can be purchased on Amazon for Rs 38,990. In this, you can get a discount of Rs 6,000 on purchasing with any bank card. In the exchange offer, a discount of up to Rs 4,000 is being given on this phone.
Apart from this, you can also buy iQoo Z series and iQoo 7 series phones in the Quest Days sale at low prices.


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Earlier this week, Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime cited history as a way to defend the Wii U's position against the oncoming Xbox One and PS4. In an interview with Forbes, he said, "The interesting thing there is, if you look at the last two hardware cycles, it was not the most powerful machine that won, not in the case of the PS2, not in the case of the Wii."
And he's not wrong. The PS2 sold 150 million units worldwide, making it the best-selling console of all time, and the Wii, despite being significantly less powerful than its HD competition, sold over 100 million units (for reference, the second-place PS3 is at about 80 million units through October 2013). But for Nintendo to have any chance in this battle, it's going to have to start actually producing games, and giving people real reasons to pick up the system.
Make no mistake: The Wii U is mere months away from being in third place in a three-man race, despite getting a year-long head start. While technically in the lead as of now, Nintendo only managed to ship 4 million systems in the first year--a number that both Sony and Microsoft are on track to outpace. Nintendo had a year head start and spent it jogging at a leisurely pace, and now Microsoft and Sony are flying by on motorcycles.
But more importantly, Reggie's logic is as full of holes as a dalmation (wait, those are spots? Whatever.) Pointing out that the least powerful hardware won for the past two generations is like saying that Top Ramen is the best food in the world because it sells like crazy. Sure, it's technically true that the least-powerful system was also the best-selling, but those two things aren't actually as connected as it might seem. Correlation does not imply causation, and the lack of power isn't actually related to the success--it's all about the games.
The PS2 launched in 2000, and by the end of 2001 it had SSX, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Silent Hill 2, Final Fantasy X, Devil May Cry, ICO, Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec, and Grand Theft Auto 3. That's an incredible first year--seriously, I can't even think of an analogy that can compare. Pixar? The Beatles? Is there even something that works for this? And while the Wii wasn't a harbinger of hits like the PS2 was, it still had a fair share of massive successes. It had The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Metroid Prime 3, Mario Galaxy, and, of course, Wii Sports.
Jump to the Wii U and… well… it's rough. After 12 months you're looking at a system that has just enough games to justify a purchase. Pikmin 3 and New Super Mario 3D World managed to tip it over the edge, but only by a little, and now it's in a weird place. Early next year the PS4 gets the huge, AAA inFamous: Second Son, and the Xbox One gets the huge, AAA Titanfall. What is Nintendo combating that with? Another Donkey Kong Country? That's… mostly it.
The horizon isn't particularly compelling, either. Microsoft has the grand promise of a new Master Chief outing and Sony is teasing a fourth date with Nathan Drake (that's when he puts out, btw). Nintendo's trio of Mario Kart, Bayonetta, and Smash Bros, while admirable, are unlikely to secure any kind of knock-out punch. The Wii U is falling behind in the area it has absolutely no reason to be falling behind in: games. As of this moment there's no Zelda on the horizon, no Star Fox, no Metroid, no astounding third-party games, and no reason to be too optimistic about Nintendo's 2014.
Reggie is right in saying that the Wii U's lack of next-gen oomph isn't enough to disqualify it, but the problem is deeper than that. This weekend, when Reggie takes the stage at the Spike TV VGXs to talk about the Wii U, he'd better bring something big, otherwise the console is going to fade into obscurity, regardless of its processors or its predecessors.


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PINNACLEMENA ANNOUNCES MY RIDE EXPO 2020 IN MANILA, THE 1ST MODIFIED SUPER CARS EXPO IN THE REGION
|The distinguished panel of judges were presented during the My Ride Expo 2020 press conference held on January 8, 2020 at Black Olive Restaurant in Pasig City. From left, race driver, actress and painter Gaby de la Merced, Jennifer Beduya, managing partner PinnacleMena Events, international race driver Angie King, Diji Shujani, managing director PinnacleMena, marketing man and Race Chips and PayApp manager Raul Roque, media personality, broadcaster and producer of Auto Review Ron de los Reyes, and motorbike racer Des Buncio.
Photo: Monch Henares.
PinnacleMena Events Corporation, a Dubai-based company comes to Manila to hold their first major event entitled MY RIDE EXPO 2020, slated on January 23 - 25, 2020 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
It will be a 3-day exhibition of over 50 modified cars, and bikes, with a VIP section for Super Cars. My Ride Expo 2020 is dubbed as the first ever expo specifically showcasing modified cars and bikes in the region.
Following the success of PinnacleMena events abroad, My Ride Expo 2020 is a culmination of the combined exhibits to be enjoyed by car enthusiasts and motoring fans in Manila. The goal is to make this an annual event commencing this year in Manila, followed by expos in different locations, like Cebu and Davao.
Tickets are sold at P250 each, and goers are encouraged to keep hold of their tickets as it will also give them a chance to win 5 cars, 5 small bikes, 100 laptops, 100 mobile phones, and cash prizes in the raffle draw. It is truly a one-of-a-kind event.
Participating owners of the 50 modified cars and bikes will also be competing for the top place in body and looks overseen by international judges and people’s votes. Large rewards are at stake for the lucky winners.
Get ready to experience the rush of being surrounded by the most hi-tech, unique, low-riders, high-rollers (4x4), slick, shiny, modified & full of accessories cars and bikes in the region.
Witness the first international modified super cars expo in the region with MY RIDE EXPO 2020.
Follow @myrideexpo on Instagram and Facebook. For for more information, and to buy tickets, visit www.myrideexpo.com.
Tickets are also available at www.smtickets.com.


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It was a seminar held in a car showroom. But the oil in the air was olive, not motor. And more attention was paid to Chablis than chassis.
At one end of the Harte Infiniti showroom in Hartford Tuesday, the women- only guests were treated to fried sesame chicken, brie wrapped in phyllo, and skewers of fresh fruit before settling into white folding chairs for the program.
Surrounding the lecture area, sporty sedans in hues of indigo blue and beige silk beckoned subtly, only by their very existence.
There would be no hard sell, said Tom Dillon, Harte's general manager. No salespeople would even surface, unless asked.
Infiniti's national office brought in Ellen McGrath, a clinical psychologist from California, to speak. The topic was "Women's Health Issues," specifically related to stress management.
McGrath may have been speaking at a car showroom, but she was no airbag.
Her talk had nothing to do with selling cars.
And yet, it had everything to do with selling cars.
Her appearance was part of a national marketing program Infiniti launched four years ago to draw women to its showrooms and raise their comfort level in a setting that has been historically hostile.
Infiniti is taking an unusual marketing approach, but throughout the auto industry companies are increasingly paying attention to their once-ignored female customer.
It just makes good business sense. Dealers say that about 50 percent of all car and mini-van buyers are women, and that about 80 percent of all decisions in that $166 billion-a-year market are influenced by women.
According to Automotive News, Americans spent about $145 billion last year on new cars, and $21 billion on new mini-vans.
Some companies conduct focus groups -- using that feedback as they design new cars and plan advertising strategy. Many dealerships sponsor car clinics for women. And all dealerships interviewed for this story said their salespeople are trained to treat female and male customers equally.
The idea to hold women's forums was the brainchild of Deborah Thayer, media planning manager, Infiniti/Nissan Division, Nissan Motor Corp. USA. When she started the program four years ago, only three dealerships were taking part. Now 42 participate -- about one-third of all dealers. As for the success of the program, 12 percent of the women who attended sessions last year bought an Infiniti. That's about 280 cars, averaging $20,000 apiece.
The cost of the program to Infiniti is about $500,000, she said, with regional headquarters picking up additional expenses, and dealerships such as Harte footing the bill for the buffet.
"Infiniti realizes that we've neglected women in the marketplace," Dillon said. "Men who've run this business have had a narrow-minded view."
"We started [the forums] out of necessity," he said. "We had lost sales to Lexus."
Lexus had a car that he described as "nice with wood on the inside and soft seats," whereas Infiniti's comparable luxury cars were "austere, hard looking and macho."
"We didn't have a car to offer women," he said.
So Infiniti changed its top-of-the-line models, softening them, and has consequently increased sales.
Companies such as Ford also sought out female customers out of necessity.
"Ford had gotten its socks knocked off by Chrysler Corp., with its Voyager and Caravan [mini-vans]," said Brad Hoffman, an owner of Hoffman Enterprises, East Hartford.
Those mini-vans commanded 90 percent of the market, and Ford's Aerostar, with its rear-wheel drive, was hurting.
So when Ford decided to design a new Windstar mini-van, it conducted focus groups with women and used their recommendations in its design. The most significant feature that came from the group was providing a low step up to get into the van, he said.
Ford expects its share of the mini-van market to be 50 percent or more, according to Hoffman.
Cadillac conducted a marketing test, which it released in March, that explored ways to attract women and members of minority groups to its cars. Much of what was reported about women's car needs was information that C. Bowie Thomas, president of Thomas Cadillac in Hartford, said he has known for a long time from his own observations.
"Men don't think about what high heels will do to a rug under a gas pedal," he said. "Men don't think they need a glove compartment big enough for an extra pair of nylons and makeup. And lot of women don't like to have a console because they like to put their purse there."
"We've been asking for direction," Thomas said, adding that it was not just a problem with Cadillac."GM in general hasn't taken women's concepts seriously."
At Middletown Toyota, Joe Klimas Jr., an owner and general manager, understands that the female customer may feel "intimidated" in the atmosphere of an automobile showroom.
But he believes the approach to that problem is for the salesperson to talk and ask questions in a way that puts the customer at ease -- not to hold all-women forums.
"Are we at a point where we really have to cultivate a female customer?" he asked.
"It's nice, it's cute, maybe it's the chic thing to do," Klimas said of the Infiniti seminar. "But I believe how you treat a customer is more important than the facade you put up."