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With the release of Guitar Hero: Metallica last Monday, I got to thinking about just how much these so-called guitar games are really contributing to a rebirth of the music industry. If we just look at the numbers, someone is getting rich, and I would imagine the big record companies are recouping some of their losses from all the free downloads that they just haven't been able to stop. Some say the split isn't too good for the record companies on the game content, but the advertising it provides boosts sales incredibly.
Rock Band became a certified one billion dollar seller this month, a feat that Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock accomplished back in 2007 (becoming the first single game to reach that mark). Rolling Stone estimates over 40 million extra tracks have been downloaded for Rock Band. The numbers don't lie.
If you've turned on the TV at all this month, you were witness to a plethora of commercials for the Rock Band DLC version of Pearl Jam's Ten and the new Guitar Hero: Metallica. Now, the Metallica game is a stand alone so I can understand all the advertising, but Ten is merely DLC. I may be wrong, but I think this is the first time that DLC has had a legit television marketing campaign. I'll be interested to check out the numbers next month and see how well it paid off.
These games have turned in to great marketing tools. Just last year we saw new albums from Motley Crue, Metallica, and Guns 'N' Roses. All three of these bands are major players on the guitar game front. Realistically, one has to assume that the resurgence of what were once considered antiquated relics from a time that really passed them by has something to do with how prevalent they are in these games (maybe Metallica is an exception, but it ain't hurting them).
According to a December 2008 article by the Washington Post, once a song is available on Rock Band or Guitar Hero, the download sales increase dramatically, up to 843%. It is obvious that these games are one hell of a marketing tool. This New York Times article states:
Both Rock Band and Guitar Hero have helped the ailing music industry by licensing songs and using online networks to sell additional tracks for gamers to play along with. Those tracks, which usually sell for around $2 each, are more profitable for record companies and musicians than iTunes sales.
MTV, which has focused more than Activision on selling additional songs online, recently announced that it had sold 15 million tracks, and sales are especially impressive for hard-rock bands. During the week in June when Mötley Crüe released “Saints of Los Angeles,” the first single from its new album, the song sold 14,000 copies on iTunes and 48,000 on Rock Band through Microsoft’s Xbox Live network, said Allen Kovac, founder of the group’s management company and record label.
What's even stranger is that people are no longer listening to Crue and GnR to be ironic anymore, all of the kitsch has worn off and they are back to being legitimate, big name bands again. There is a lot more to the power of these games than meets the eye. Hell, my nine year old nephew asked for a Judas Priest record last Christmas, and he was dead serious about it. I, of course, obliged.
Now AC/DC has it's own game on Rock Band, and Metallica and Aerosmith have their own games on Guitar Hero. So, what's next? Well, Apple Corps inked a deal to lend The Beatles catalog to Rock Band, Guitar Hero has taken out trademarks on Guitar Villain, Drum Villain, Keyboard Hero, and Sing Hero, word is there will be a DJ Hero, and a Guitar Hero: Van Halen and Jimi Hendrix. This phenomenon has only just begun, and there is a lot of money to be made here.
This marriage of music and video games is nothing new. In our next volume of Guitar and Video Games, we'll be looking at the history of the joint venture of pop music and video games. Stay tuned.
- Jordan M.
Sulphur Springs, TX


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With help from Sabrina Rodriguez
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— The Commerce Department’s new export restrictions on Beijing seemingly amount to a de facto export ban for a wide swath of Chinese industry that could cause a major shift in how U.S. companies do business in China.
— The administration has significantly narrowed further export curbs for Huawei by focusing on how it can apply controls to U.S.-made equipment used to manufacture semiconductors in foreign factories.
— More than 470 businesses and trade groups are continuing a push for deferral of all tariffs on all imports in May and June.
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A POTENTIAL GAME CHANGER FOR CHINA EXPORT CONTROLS: New export controls for China could be a sea change for U.S. companies that do business in the Asian country, potentially restricting transactions with any Chinese company that has any dealings with the People’s Liberation Army or any other branch of the Chinese military.
At the center is a final rule that broadened the scope of who and what dual-use goods, which have both civilian and military applications, are subject to restrictions for military end use. The rule will require export licenses for any transaction for not only direct military end users but also any private companies that support a military end use in China. The new rule would apply license requirements for exports of semiconductor equipment, aircraft parts, sensors and other technologies.
A ban by any other name? One industry official told Morning Trade that the new rule represents a “significant shift” in U.S. policy. It will act as a de facto export ban since most Chinese companies, for better or worse, have ties with the military and there will be a presumption of denial for most export license applications. The rule is vague enough that even if a Chinese company is engaged in an unrelated project with China’s military, it could be a reason to deny any request by a U.S. company to export goods or technology to that Chinese firm, the official said.
The actions announced on Monday will also make export licenses a requirement for U.S. technology or goods that are destined even for civilian use in China, Russia and Venezuela.
Commerce also issued a proposed rule to look at the possibility of rolling back a policy that granted a license exception to any U.S. company whose goods or technology was licensed for export from an allied country.
Semiconductor industry concerned: “While we understand military-civil fusion trends demand smart and targeted national security responses, we are concerned these broad rules will unnecessarily expand export controls for semiconductors and create further uncertainty for our industry during this time of unprecedented global economic turmoil,” Semiconductor Industry Association President John Neuffer said in a statement.
ADMINISTRATION NARROWING NEW HUAWEI RESTRICTIONS: The Trump administration hasn’t given up on tightening export restrictions for Huawei even after the president criticized earlier plans that could have unintended negative consequences for the current global dominance of the U.S. semiconductor industry.
The administration is weighing a plan that would prohibit foreign chip foundries, such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, from producing semiconductors for Huawei’s in-house chip company HiSilicon, said three people familiar with the proposal. The U.S. figures it has jurisdiction to control production even for foreign-designed and foreign-made chips because TSMC and other foreign manufacturers produce the semiconductors on U.S.-made equipment that is subject to U.S. export controls.
A backstep: The potential rule is a step back from the administration’s previous ideas to close loopholes that allow U.S. semiconductor companies to continue doing limited business with Huawei even though the Chinese company has been blacklisted. U.S. companies made a major push to show that those initial proposals would erode U.S. dominance in the sector by taking away a major source of revenue in the form of Huawei’s purchase of less-sensitive and widely available chips for smartphone production.
COMPANIES KEEP UP PUSH FOR MORE DUTY DEFERRAL: More than 450 businesses and industry groups are urging the Trump administration to defer the collection of all import duty payments and cover all imports in May and June. The groups’ ask builds on the Trump administration’s move earlier this month to grant U.S. importers a three-month postponement on duty collection for some goods imported in March and April.
Delaying all duty payments and covering May and June imports “would immediately free up billions of dollars of working capital for American companies — like those listed below — to pay suppliers, employees, service providers and other critical stakeholders,” the companies wrote in a letter to Trump organized by Americans for Free Trade.
It would also allow companies to “stay open, preserve U.S. jobs and reopen their doors from a position of strength.”
Trump’s current order does not apply to duties Trump has imposed on Chinese, European and other foreign goods under various trade enforcement authorities and also excludes anti-dumping and countervailing duties on products the U.S. has determined are unfairly traded.
U.S. CHAMBER URGES ONE BIG U.S.-KENYA DEAL: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce wants to see a single comprehensive U.S.-Kenya trade deal that eliminates all tariffs on industrial goods and resolves various long-standing issues between the two countries, according to comments submitted to USTR. Today is the deadline for interested parties to submit comments to USTR on the proposed free trade agreement with Kenya.
“Reducing or eliminating trade barriers would boost the long-term economic outlook for the United States and Kenya and benefit firms, workers, farmers, and consumers in both countries. Doing so will further position Kenya as a model for economic reform across Africa,” the Chamber wrote.
Don’t forget Section 232 tariffs: The Chamber also noted that the U.S. should “expeditiously” remove the Trump administration’s tariffs on imported steel and aluminum from Kenya.
Where we’re at: The U.S. and Kenya could formally start talks in mid-June, exactly three months after USTR notified Congress of its plans to negotiate a free trade agreement. USTR pledged in that notification that it would publish its formal negotiating objectives at least 30 days before talks begin.
U.S., BRAZIL BUSINESS GROUPS OUTLINE VISION FOR TALKS: Top U.S. and Brazil business groups, including the U.S. Chamber and Brazilian National Confederation of Industry, are urging the two countries to move ahead with a trade agreement that focuses on modernizing trade and customs, establishing good regulatory practices, creating digital trade rules, and combating corruption.
“The unprecedented coronavirus pandemic and the resulting global economic downturn
reinforce the urgent need for a new trade pact between the two largest economies in the Americas,” they wrote in a letter to U.S. and Brazilian officials.
Tackle tariffs later: The business groups emphasized that the U.S. and Brazil have plenty they can do this year without having to worry about the U.S. Congress or Brazil’s membership in Mercosur, which would complicate efforts to eliminate tariffs and negotiate a full-on free trade deal. The U.S. and Brazil could instead wait until 2021 to focus on rules of origin, market access for goods and services and other more challenging issues.
Similar to U.S., Brazil’s plan: Earlier this month, high-level U.S. and Brazilian officials agreed to speed up trade talks with a goal of landing a deal on “trade rules and transparency, including trade facilitation and good regulatory practices,” by the end of the year.
HOUSE DEMS, LIGHTHIZER TALK USMCA ENFORCEMENT: Democrats on the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee spoke with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on Monday to emphasize that they plan to closely monitor implementation of the USMCA, which will take effect on July 1. Democrats have mostly praised the announcement that the deal will be entering into force this summer, as they welcome new tools to enforce workers’ rights.
“We expect that the high level of engagement that occurred between USTR and House Democrats during the process of negotiating revisions to the USMCA will continue as we move forward with the agreement’s implementation,” Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal said in a statement. “The Ambassador provided assurances that our communications will remain frequent and thorough.”
MATTRESS CASE CAUGHT IN COVID-19 CROSSFIRE: The Justice Department took the rare step of weighing in on a trade case targeting mattress imports from seven countries, warning that even the issuance of preliminary anti-dumping or countervailing duties could raise costs and affect supply of mattresses potentially needed by hospitals in the fight against Covid-19.
“Among other things, it is likely that the demand for mattresses has increased and will continue to increase significantly during the pandemic as communities around the country expand hospital capacity. This demand may outpace domestic supply,” DOJ wrote in a statement of interest sent to the U.S. International Trade Commission last week.
Mattress industry begs to differ: The International Sleep Products Association, which represents companies that are petitioning for the duties as well as importers that would be hurt by them, said the DOJ intervention amounted to a speculative statement based on conjecture. The association highlighted companies’ efforts to ensure there is sufficient supply, noting consumer demand has plummeted due to stay-at-home orders and that idled capacity can be quickly restarted to meet any pandemic-related demand.
“At minimum, with a minimum annual capacity of over 23 million mattresses, North American mattress producers collectively have the ability to make and ship at least 400,000 mattresses per week,” the association wrote in a letter to the ITC.
— Rural telecommunications carriers are resigned to ripping up and replacing Huawei equipment but want clarity on how they will be reimbursed, The South China Morning Post reports.
— The U.S. airline industry may not be close to normal for months or even years without widespread testing or a vaccine for Covid-19, POLITICO Pro reports.
— A trade agreement on medical supplies should happen before the next wave of Covid-19 sweeps the world, according to a new paper from the UK Trade Policy Observatory.
— The European Union and Mexico are expected to announce a revamped trade deal as soon as today, POLITICO Pro reports.
— Apple is delaying mass production of its 2020 iPhones by at least a month, The Wall Street Journal reports.
— South Korea’s trade volume dipped 4.5 percent in the first quarter of 2020 due to coronavirus impacts, Yonhap reports.
— Boeing’s CEO said the first wave of several thousand job cuts will begin in June, The Seattle Times reports.
THAT’S ALL FOR MORNING TRADE! See you again soon! In the meantime, drop the team a line: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] and [email protected]. Follow us@POLITICOPro and @Morning_Trade.

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Hyundai has embarked on the next stage of its evolution with the UK launch of the D-segment i40 Tourer, the first of a wave of new products.
Over the next 18 months there will be 13 new or revised models from the South Korean brand, by which time the ix35 will be the oldest car in a line-up; it was only introduced in April last year.
The i40 Tourer, or wagon or estate, goes into the showrooms early next month and a four-door saloon will follow later in the year. The Tourer is available in three trim levels (Active, Style and Premium) with the choice of three engines, four power outputs and manual or automatic transmission. Hyundai’s Blue Drive technologies – including stop-start – are fitted as standard on all Active derivatives, and on the Style 1.7 CRDi 136PS Blue Drive model to give CO2 emissions of 119 g/km.
In a segment where diesel models represent 77% of total sales, Hyundai is anticipating that the ‘high-power‘ 136PS 1.7-litre diesel will be the most popular engine among both private and fleet buyers. The petrol unit is a new I4 two-litre GDI engine.
Hyundai UK boss Tony Whitehorn described the i40 as a new “brand ambassador” showing that the South Korean company has come of age in terms of style.
He said: “It’s an estate car but it doesn’t look it – the look is dynamic but it is still a very capable load carrier.”
Hyundai is specifically targeting the fleet market with the i40. More than 70% of D segment buyers are fleets and Whitehorn said the automaker has an attractive proposition starting with a lead-in price of just under GBP18,400, 13% benefit in kind [tax liability for company car drivers], low insurance and class leading contract hire rates.
Whitehorn added: “The brand has been evolving over the past few model introductions. The first step change was the i30 which was our first European-designed vehicle, and this was followed by the i10 and i20.
“The next step was the ix35 which brought more style and emotion to Hyundai, now we are into stage three with the launch of the i40 Tourer which will be followed by the saloon and the Veloster later in the year.”
Hyundai previewed its redesigned i30 this week, too.


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There were recent RUMBLINGS of Final Fantasy Versus XIII being put on hold. A lot of Final Fantasy fans were very frustrated at the thought of having to wait even longer for the title. The games have been highly anticipated since their announcements at E3 in 2006. They are apart of the Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy XIII compilation. There still have yet to be any gameplay clips to be released for Versus, while there has been for Final Fantasy XIII in a trailer that was RELEASED during it’s first unveiling at E3 in 2006. Well the rumors of Versus being “put on hold” have been DEBUNKED today by Square Enix. Hit the jump for both articles and video.
Article stating that Versus has been put on hold:
Famitsu has conducted an interview with Nomura about the upcoming DKΣ3713 private event, and managed to get a few new details:
– DKΣ3713 is a private show so for the general public that wants to see and play the games, TGS in October will feature more new information.
– The event will be at the same format as previous S-E events, with closed theatre as well as playable booths outside.
– Birth by Sleep will be playable for the first time at the event.
– Despite the news that Square Enix was going to scale back from Mobile development, it appears that Kingdom Hearts: Coded, 3rd Birthday and Agito XIII will still be going ahead.
– Agito XIII seems to be facing serious development issues at the moment. There is a huge worldview and historical timeline.
– The director of Agito XIII is doing the outline of the entire story synopsis himself now, development is still in early stages.
– Versus XIII is on hold until FFXIII is done, because the entire Versus team is helping to finish Final Fantasy XIII at the moment. It is number one priority.
– While the planners and programmers are all working on Final Fantasy XIII, the Versus project is getting the designers to work on a lot of image illustrations and conceptual visuals. The story for Versus is also pretty much complete.
– Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days is being tuned and balanced, but it is not quite as polished as Dissidia yet. They’ll be taking feedback from the playable demo.
– Birth by Sleep is not anywhere close to a final build, but Nomura wants to let people get a chance to try it out first.
– Advent Children Complete might finally be close to getting a release date.
Square Enix debunking the claim:
Square Enix has rubbished suggestions that Final Fantasy Versus XIII is on hold.
“Reports that development for Final Fantasy Versus XIII is on hold are false,” the publisher said in a statement passed on to Eurogamer.
“The truth of the situation is that when free, some staff from the Versus team have been helping with the XIII team on development of Final Fantasy XIII. Development for both titles is continuing as originally scheduled.”
That rather significantly contradicts translations of game director Tetsuya Nomura’s comments in a Famitsu article, where he reportedly used the words “on hold” and said “the entire Versus team is helping to finish Final Fantasy XIII”.
Along with Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy Agito XIII, Versus makes up a three-game “compilation” of titles marking the next, and next-generation, step forward in the famous Square RPG series.
Not much is really known about it other than what’s been seen in trailers, but Nomura has previously evoked Kingdom Hearts when searching for comparisons. Speaking to Eurogamer last May, Nomura said it would “examine the humanity of the characters in this game” and distinguish itself from the FF games’ traditional fantasy worlds.
“In Versus I’m trying to propose new vision of how a Final Fantasy game can be. The game’s going to be more human than the science-fiction caricature we so often see. It will focus around current world events – in that sense it’s darker,” he explained at the time.
It’s also still happily in development, or so Square Enix says, despite the inevitable bias towards getting FF XIII – a banner game for both its publisher and platform holder Sony – out of the door as quickly as possible. Hopefully we’ll hear more about its progress at E3.
Trailer with gameplay footage of FFXIII.
Versus Trailer without gameplay footage.


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Thousands of confiscated items by Singapore Police Force goes to auction very often.
Nikon SLR camera for S$30
Brand New Blackberry Phone forS $50
Diamond Ring for under S$500
Rolex Watch for under $500
These are just some of the thousands of items that go on sale during the recent auction. Businessmen and individual bargain hunters flock the area to get the best deal of their life.
The police force have been doing this for the past 6 years. They put to auction those items confiscated on various cases like smuggling, theft and various cases.
Lost and found items with no claimants are also put on sale.
It is conducted once in every 3 to 4 months and is organized by Knight Frank.


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Jeff Bezos and President Donald Trump are not exactly buddies. Trump has made his dislike of Bezos more than clear on many occasions.
It may be that there is an element of jealousy at play since Bezos is incredibly wealthy. Not only has he a worth 37 times greater than Trump, but he has also been named as the world's second wealthiest man.
CEO and founder of Amazon, Bezos also owns the Washington Post, a paper that is well-known for its aggressive reporting when it comes to Trump's Presidency.
His business model, which has created success for Amazon, has meant cuts in the fortunes of real estate developers like Trump as more people turn away from brick-and-mortar stores in favor of online shopping.
Although many of Trump’s official activities have slowed Bezos down his fortune is still amassing at an incredible rate. Trump took office in 2017 at which point Bezos hit the number two position on The Forbes 400 list.
At this time the richest American was Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft had been sitting in the number one spot since 1994. However, Bezos took the crown from Gates in 2018 becoming not only the richest man in the US but in the world.
Amazon’s fortunes have continued to rise under Trump’s administration and Bezos has since added around $46 billion to his net worth. This is mainly due to increased business in Amazon and the new on-demand cloud computing platform.
In 2020 Bezos is showing a net worth of $115.6bn. His well-publicized divorce from his wife, MacKenzie, left him with $35billion less Amazon shares but he still holds the title of being the biggest winner under Trump’s administration.
Trump took office in 2017 and in that year Amazon Prime hit the 100million members mark. The e-commerce giant saw increases in sales worldwide that brought in around $160.4 billion. Amazon Web Services saw a huge increase of 43% with a revenue of $17.5billion.
Before his divorce, Bezos still owned 16% of Amazon and hit the Forbes 400 List with a net worth of $81.6billion.
In 2018, Amazon's fortunes continued to rise with retail and service sales seeing a 29% increase from 2017 and revenue hitting $207.2 billion. At the same time, AWS saw a massive 47% increase in revenue.
The company's stock rose in response and by October 2018 Bezos showed a personal net worth of more than double the previous year, coming in at $160 billion.
In January of 2019, Bezos and his wife MacKenzie were divorced. The couple had been together for 25 years and shortly after the announcement text messages from Bezos were leaked in the National Enquirer.
In response, Bezos accused National Enquirer’s parent company American Media of blackmail. He also said that the publication of the texts was politically motivated, citing a relationship between David Pecker, the CEO of American Media and Donald Trump.
In July 2019, Bezos parted with 25% of his stock in Amazon, reducing his share to 12%, as a result of his divorce. In the same month, Donald Trump announced that he was considering competing against Amazon in the bid for the Pentagon's $10billion cloud computer, a contract that was subsequently awarded to Microsoft.
Despite all of this Bezos saw an increase in the value of Amazon stock by 20%. The company's filings for the first 9 months of 2019 show an increase in sales worldwide – 18% for retail and services and 27% for web services. That said, there has been some fall-out from the divorce.
This month he was replaced by a friend of Donald Trump at the top of the Forbes List. Frenchman, Bernard Arnault, has been adding to his fortune consistently since Trump took office and is now the richest person in the world.


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LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The western sporting goods chain Sport Chalet Inc. reported a loss for its fiscal fourth-quarter on Monday, citing warm winter weather as a drag on sales.
The sporting goods retailer posted a loss of $3.8 million, or 27 cents per share, for the quarter that ended April 1. That's compared with net income of $300,000, or 2 cents per share, a year earlier.
Sport Chalet's revenue fell 16.6 percent to $81.9 million from $98.2 million in last year's fourth quarter, which was a week longer. Excluding that extra week, revenue fell 7.5 percent.
The company, based in Los Angeles, operates 54 stores in California, Nevada and Utah.
Its quarterly sales from stores open at least a year fell 5.3 percent from a year earlier. This comparison is considered a key measure of a retailer's financial performance because it excludes the impact of stores that recently opened or closed.
Sport Chalet said the unseasonably warm and dry winter weather during its third quarter affected its fourth quarter, because it limited the snowpack at resorts most frequented by its customers. The company's sales of winter-related merchandise fell 32 percent for the quarter.
For the full year, Sport Chalet posted a loss of $5.1 million, or 36 cents per share. That's compared with a loss of $3 million, or 21 cents per share, in fiscal 2011.
Its revenue fell 3.5 percent to $349.9 million. In fiscal 2011, which included that extra week, the company had more stores and its sales were more robust.
CEO Craig Levra said the economic challenges of recent years have tested the company, but he is optimistic about its prospects and plans to open a new store in Los Angeles in fiscal 2014 that will be its first new store since 2008.
"We believe the consistent improvements we have made to our business over the past few years have positioned us to return to profitability for fiscal 2013," Levra said.
Shares of the company's class A common shares fell 6 cents, or 4.4 percent, to $1.32 in after-hours trading. They ended regular trading at $1.38, up 8 cents, or 6.2 percent.


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Atlanta, GA—Aaron’s Company (NYSE: AAN), which sells furniture, appliances, and electronics on a rent-to-own basis, has shared in the pandemic-driven growth that triggered a boost in residential furniture sales.
A sizable business—$1.8 billion in revenue, almost half of that in furniture—it has a large North American footprint with 1,300 company-owned and franchise stores, Aaron’s manufactures its own Woodhaven brand upholstered and solid wood furniture at 11 U.S.-based captive plants in five states, employing 400 and overseen since 2019 by Tommy Harper, VP Manufacturing.
Frame components are made with genuine hardwoods and engineered wood panels using 1 ½” glue coated heavy duty staples in frame construction which bonds the staples and wood together for permanent joints. Interlocking joints strengthen key stress areas. An integrated seating system uses heavy gauge tempered sinuous wire along with insulating deck pads.
The company spun off its Progressive leasing business and made Woodhaven and the furniture stores a separate company last year. About 48 percent of Aaron’s revenue is from furniture sales and rental, the rest is appliances and electronics.
The furniture maker and retailer reached a milestone in its nationwide rollout of Aaron’s GenNext retail store design when the 100th location opened in Largo, FL. GenNext stores feature larger, brighter, easier-to-navigate main showrooms stocked only with new furniture, appliances, and electronics. After testing and opening 47 GenNext stores through the end of 2020, Aaron’s rapidly expanded the innovative concept in 2021, more than doubling the total number of locations. GenNext locations nationwide are collectively experiencing more than a 20 percent increase in sales over the traditional Aaron’s stores.
“As we bring our GenNext stores to communities all across the country, we continue to receive positive feedback from our customers,” says Douglas Lindsay, CEO of The Aaron’s Company. “We set out to transform the rent-to-own industry, and reaching this pivotal milestone is proof we are making significant progress in our mission to fundamentally change the customer experience in this category.”
Be part of North America’s largest woodworking show and conference.
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August 6–9, 2024
8:30 AM–5:00 PM
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Atlanta, GA 30313


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“Every year, everyone gets a brand new bunch of toys and wants to come in and use them.”
With the holidays now behind us, federal IT shops may have been overwhelmed this week with the new device deluge – federal employees bringing their new tech gadgets gifts into work and in many cases onto government agency networks.
IBM’s recently released Digital Analytics Benchmark showed that mobile traffic accounted for nearly 17 percent of all online sales during the 2013 holiday season, an increase of more than 46 percent over the same period last year. The Consumer Electronics Association also predicted tablets to top gift wish lists for adults.
“Every year, everyone gets a brand new bunch of toys and wants to come in and use them,” said Faisal Iqbal, systems engineering director for public sector at Citrix. “There’s definitely a great amount of risk there. It’s not that folks don’t have these tablets and phones on a normal basis, but with the overload we often see during this time, IT departments must have a plan to ensure they aren’t exposing their networks.”
Some agencies are looking to enable these devices more in a “bring your own network” scenario, where the device is not necessarily connected to a government wireless network but is rather 3G- or 4G-enabled and can access network resources in the same way as remote telework users, Iqbal said.
Other agencies are looking at mobile device management to control mobile devices, allowing government data on the device to easily be wiped if the device is lost or stolen. The virtual desktop – where a desktop is delivered on demand as a service – also fits with the “bring your own device” model, Iqbal said.
“As these devices are entering the workplace, it’s important to understand that they are different than laptops and should be treated differently, especially when it comes to personal data and government data,” Iqbal said.
It’s critical to help employees understand what’s acceptable and what’s not when it comes to bringing their new holiday gadgets into the office, and that may take more than just handing out a manual, Iqbal said. Telework agreements, for example, should outline how employees can use personal mobile devices, while agency IT shops should take the serial numbers on those devices to ensure they have a complete inventory of devices that are allowed to access agency resources, he said.
Some agencies perform demonstrations during an employee’s lunch hour to show how to register mobile devices and teach what employees can and cannot do using their mobile device, Iqbal said. “That gives people more training in an informal setting where they’re more comfortable, rather than handing them a 50-page manual and expecting them to read it,” he said.
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Heating in Vaping Devices Causes Lung Injury
Some smokers think that switching from regular smoking to vaping --a market to reach a value of almost $30 billion at a CAGR of more than 20 percent through 2022-- will let them enjoy their bad-smelling habit without the health risks and deathly consequences of smoking ciggies.
As it turns out, there is no way out. Both smoking and vaping are addictive and have the potential to kill you. They affect your overall health and the health of those inhaling the second-hand, or third-hand smoking coming from the toxic particles your smoking leaves floating in the air.
Another recent report noted that the global market for e-cigarettes is projected to increase more than triple in size since 2020, reaching $59.3 billion by 2027.
Since its appearance on the market, the increase in e-cigarette use, particularly among young people, is a highly dangerous trend with really serious health risks. Market research group Euromonitor estimates that the number of adults who vape will reach 55 million by 2021.
The United States, The United Kingdom, and France are the three biggest markets. Vapers in the three countries spent more than $10 billion (almost £8 billion, or €8,500 billion) on smokeless tobacco and vaping products in 2018, according to Euromonitor International.
Vaping shops have become more common in The U.K., with 69 new stores opening on High Streets in the first half of 2019 alone, according to a study conducted by PwC.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has cited several health concerns associated with vaping, including:
The long-term effects are unknown
Nicotine in the liquid that is vaporized in an e-cigarette is addictive
Users replacing the liquid in refillable e-cigarettes might spill the product on their skin, possibly leading to nicotine poisoning
Some sweeter flavours of e-cigarettes are irritants, potentially causing inflammation of the airways
According to a JAMA study, about 28 percent of high-schoolers and 11 percent of middle-schoolers now use e-cigarettes. The study was conducted by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For most of the kids, controversy-prone JUUL was the e-cigarette brand of choice.
Because this is an addictive drug, the side effects caused due to use of e-cigarettes is acting as a restraint on the e-cigarette (vaping) market. The side effects of using e-cigarettes include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, itchiness, dry eyes, cough, and nosebleeds. Some of the side effects are caused due to the body's resistance to accept vapor, and may take a few days to disappear.
In a move trying to remain in business, Altria—owner of tobacco giant Philip Morris USA—bought a 35 percent stake in JUUL in late 2018. For some, the move was a clear indication that e-cigarettes are less about quitting smoking and more about hooking a new generation of consumers on nicotine products whilst putting their health at risk.
Now, new research reveals that effectively, vaping causes lung injury.
Vaping causes lung injury
Early results of a recent experimental vaping study have shown significant lung injury from E-cigarette (eC) devices with nickel-chromium alloy heating elements. The findings were consistent, with or without the use of nicotine, vitamin E oil, or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which have previously been thought to contribute to the life-threatening respiratory problem.
The early results, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association by researchers from the University of California, Irvine (UCI) School of Medicine and the Huntington Medical Research Institutes (HMRI), were observed during a larger study designed to explore the effect of e-cigarette and other vaping product use on the cardiovascular system. The study was funded in part by the National Institute of Health.
The researchers observed eC, or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) immediately after switching from a vaping device with a stainless steel heating element, to one that used nickel-chromium alloy (NC).
"The results were so impactful, we felt it imperative to release the initial findings early so that electronic cigarette users could be cautioned sooner, especially considering e-cigarette users are at increased risk of Covid-19," said senior author of the study Robert A. Kloner, MD, Ph.D, Chief Science Officer and Scientific Director of Cardiovascular Research for HMRI, and Professor of Medicine at USC.
Robert A. Kloner, MD, Ph.D has run nationally and internationally known cardiovascular research programs for over 40 years, training dozens of medical scientists and collaborating with scores of physician-scientists, numerous research institutions, and medical industries worldwide.
The switch in devices occurred in September 2019, when the eC device the team was using went off market, and a substitute device was offered as an alternative. The new device was physically compatible with the original exposure system, but the heating element changed from stainless steel (SS) to a nickel-chromium alloy (NC).
"Within an hour of beginning an experiment, we observed evidence of severe respiratory distress, including labored breathing, wheezing and panting," said Michael Kleinman, Ph.D, Professor of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at UCI School of Medicine and member of the UCI Center for Occupational and Environmental Health. "After analyzing lung tissue from subjects in the study, we found them to be severely compromised and observed other serious changes such as lung lesions, red blood cell congestion, obliteration of alveolar spaces, and pneumonitis in some cases," Kleinman said.
In addition to Michael Kleinman and Robert Kloner, several researchers participated in the study, including HMRI researchers Jianru Shi, Wangde Dai, Juan Carreno, Jesus Chavez, and Lifu Zhao; and UCI researchers Rebecca Johnson Arechavala, David Herman, Irene Hasen, and Amanda Ting.
In addition to lung injury, inhale apple flavor, exhale toxins and . . . perhaps a virus?
The current research aimed to study the impacts of breathing in e-cigarette vapors on heart function in a well- established pre-clinical experimental model. Over the course of nearly a year, none of the subjects exposed to vapors from the stainless steel devices, both with and without additives, contracted respiratory distress and only one showed a less than 10 percent area of inflammation in the lungs.
Once the new eC device was introduced, affected subjects showed severe respiratory distress, with labored breathing, wheezing and panting. The lung injury occurred without nicotine, THC, or Vitamin E additives; and may also have been related to higher wattage of power settings on the e-cigarette devices.
These preliminary studies will be followed up with additional future studies to systematically try to determine the cause of the lung problem.
"While further research is needed, these results indicate that specific devices and power settings may play a key role in the development of EVALI as much as the additives do," said Robert A. Kloner. "The harms associated with e-cigarettes and vaping simply cannot be overstated."
According to the study, vaping has been proven to cause increased blood pressure, endothelial dysfunction, and the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke. Heating elements in commercially available eC are usually made of stainless steel, nickel-chromium or nichrome, Kanthal nickel, or titanium.
A new medical condition, which was dubbed e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) was recognized in The United States in June 2019, and peaked in September 2019. In March 2020, there were about 2,800 U.S. cases of EVALI and 68 deaths reported.
Patients were typically found to be young males and users of e-cigarettes or vaping products, whose CT scans revealed lung inflammation and injury.
It is important to mention that EVALI can mimic many of the features of Covid-19 pneumonia, and must be taken seriously. In addition, other studies have suggested that smoking, vaping, and second-hand smoke may increase Covid-19 risk.
Known as ART, the amphibious robot could help with monitoring challenging terrestrial-aquatic ecosystems.


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Sales from new beer dedicated to Kevin Beattie to go towards statue appeal
- Credit: Archant
Cash from sales of a new beer dedicated to Ipswich Town great Kevin Beattie will be donated to the campaign for a statue of the Blues legend.
Town fan Josh Bartlett, who started beer company Away Days last year, has launched The Beat – a 4% pale ale – in honour of the former Blues defender and England international.
Beattie, who made more than 220 appearances for the Blues during the golden era of Sir Bobby Robson, died suddenly in September last year aged 64.
A proportion of money from sales of every pint or bottle sold will go towards the ‘The Beat Goes On’ campaign – led by the EADT, Ipswich Star, BBC Radio Suffolk and TWTD website, to fundraise for a Portman Road statue of Beattie.
Mr Bartlett, 32, who is now based in Newark, having previously lived in Martlesham, Needham Market and Capel, launched Away Days in 2018, which works with supporters to create football-themed beers.
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The company already boasts Boncho – a 4.2% dark ale – named after the Blues’ Bulgarian cult hero Boncho Genchev (opting for that spelling) and Hoppy Robson – a 4.5% amber ale – dedicated to Sir Bobby.
Mr Bartlett said: “We’re the only beer company that actively work with football fans to create beers for them, and help them celebrate the beautiful game with beautiful beer.
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“With every sale of our Ipswich Town-related beers, whether that be Boncho, Hoppy Robson or The Beat, we will be donating towards the Kevin Beattie statue.
“It’s an honour to be a part of it, raising money for the statue.”
MORE: ‘The Beat Goes On’ – Campaign launched for statue of Town legend Kevin BeattieMr Bartlett said Town fans encouraged him to make a beer for Beattie.
“He was from the truly great generation for the club and I think everyone felt connected to him in the community.
“Speaking to fans prior to making the beer I said ‘what do you think about having a Kevin Beattie beer?’ and near enough all of them said ‘it’s a must’.”
A core of pubs in the area including The Steamboat Tavern, The Dove Street Inn and Greshams in Ipswich, the Brantham Bull, and the Gladstone Arms in Stowmarket have been selling the beer.
This newspaper’s campaign, in conjunction with BBC Radio Suffolk and TWTD, was launched on December 18 last year on what would have been Beattie’s 65th birthday.
The current target is £110,000 and more than £20,000 has already been raised.
People can make a donation online via the Go Fund Me page or send a cheque made payable to ‘The Beat Goes On’ to Kevin Beattie Statue Appeal, EADT, Portman House, 120 Princes Street, Ipswich, IP1 1RS.
There are also collection buckets at reception at the EADT’s offices and at BBC Radio Suffolk and in the FanZone on matchdays.
For more information on The Beat Goes On campaign, people can visit www.thebeatgoeson.website


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GM’s bid to replace CFO being complicated by salary restrictions
It was reported last month that General Motors CFO Ray Young is expected to leave the company in the coming weeks. While GM hasn’t confirmed anything yet, Reuters reports that sources told the publication that GM directors in September backed a plan for CFO Ray Young to leave the company.
However, The Wall Street Journal said that a bid to find a replacement for Young is being complicated by pay restrictions imposed on companies that received a large sum of U.S. government bailouts.
According to insiders, GM executives met with U.S. Treasury pay czar Kenneth Fienberg who said that the automaker would be able to offer a significant amount of stock and no more than $1 million in annual salary.
Spokesman Tom Wilkinson declined to comment but said that the automaker is “consistently said that one challenge to filling any position from outside might be the pay restrictions.”
– By: Omar Rana


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Don’t wait until you need social media — it’s time to face Facebook
Plenty of businesses still aren’t using social media — I just can’t figure out why.
I suspect it’s because times are so darn good. When business is flourishing, many employers tend to focus on just keeping up — not branching out. Unfortunately, we’ve seen time and time again what happens when businesses wait until tough times have hit to innovate — desperation doesn’t always bring out the best in us.
Not to mention, resources are more scarce during a downturn, and innovation takes talent and time. You want smart, happy people dreaming up the next big thing for your business — not panicked, exhausted folk who can barely keep up and are worried about their future.
This is a situation of don’t look before you tweet. Dive in now.
Fortunately, using social media doesn’t take a lot of time or money. And it may connect with an audience your current efforts aren’t reaching. This is a platform with little overhead, and, while the return on that small investment may be equally small now, it’s one that likely will surge in the near future.
Remember when websites were still relatively new? The Internet was just beginning to reach a mass market, and some early adopters took the risk of hiring niche talent to create a newfangled site that would tap that burgeoning audience of consumers. They were on the cutting edge and began collecting online sales before their competitors realized the opportunity in front of them.
Your competitors are figuring out social media right now. They are building brand awareness, customer loyalty, new avenues of customer service and recruiting talent across several platforms, including LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
Candace Beeke leads the newsroom and oversees the editorial products of the Houston Business Journal, including the weekly paper, the website and award and educational events. Follow Candace on Twitter for more.
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Plymouth-based Horizon Global Corp. is exploring a sale after a monthslong financial decline capped by a $22 million net income loss in the second quarter.
The trailer equipment manufacturer has been slammed by supply chain constraints, and its stock has lost more than 80 percent of its value since the beginning of the year.
The company's board of directors authorized a review of strategic alternatives that "could involve a sale of a portion or the entirety of the business," the company announced Tuesday morning.
Horizon board Chair John Kennedy told Crain's that the company hired an investment banker after multiple parties expressed interest in buying the company.
"We're not not looking necessarily at a sale of the business, but we've had inquiries from others, which of course in order to do what's in the best interest of the shareholders, we're evaluating those overtures," Kennedy said.
There is no timeline for a potential sale or strategic review process, according to the company.
"Our objective is to maximize shareholder value," Kennedy said in a news release. "We have received inbound interest in the Company and, given this level of interest, the Board has made the decision to review strategic alternatives. We believe there is significant value tied to our best-in-class products, iconic brands and deep customer relationships."
Meanwhile, Horizon is attempting to stabilize operations and stem losses related to depressed demand.
Net sales fell about 20 percent to $181.2 million in the second quarter, while gross profit plummeted nearly 60 percent to $20.7 million. Its $22 million net loss follows a $1.3 million net gain at the same time last year.
"Seasonal demand fell significantly below our expectations as many of our larger customers deployed their own elevated inventories to service the market," Horizon President and CEO Terry Gohl said Tuesday on a call with investors. "This led to lower than expected in-bound orders and reduced volumes in our higher margin sales channels, which resulted in lower net sales and an unfavorable volume mix."
The company has struggled since its formation from a spin-off of TriMas in 2015. After accumulating a net loss of $200 million in 2018, it appeared to be on the brink of failure before its stock value started a modest climb under Gohl, who was hired in 2019.
Horizon Global (NYSE: HZN) rode the pandemic-era wave of economic growth to a peak of about $11 per share in early 2021 before it tanked. Horizon shares were trading at $1.46 as of early afternoon Wednesday.
News of the potential sale didn't exactly ignite interest. The earnings call closed with no questions from investors.
"Despite the negative impact of uncontrollable outside factors on our performance, we remain focused on improving our commercial position and aggressively controlling costs," Gohl said.


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The UK peer to peer lender has closed £60 million of fresh equity financing from undisclosed investors. The company is intent on gaining a banking license and launching a new retail bank. The company says it has nearly 500k customers and has lent more than £3.5bn in capital.
“Our money management app will offer our customers a more personalised approach to managing their money,” adds the spokesperson. Cue Jaidev Janardana, Zopa CEO (pictured above): “This new funding takes us a step closer to realising our vision of being the best place for money in the U.K. Having served half a million customers to date, Zopa is set to redefine the finance industry once again through our next generation bank to meet a broader set of U.K. customers’ financial needs.”


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- Apr 12, 2001
Apple's upcoming 12.9-inch iPad Pro may be in short supply when it launches due to production issues of the mini-LED display being used in the device, reports Bloomberg.
Apple suppliers are experiencing poor manufacturing yields of the display, and at least one mini-LED maker has had to pause production as a result of these issues.
Though there are troubles with mini-LED display manufacturing, Apple is still intending to introduce new 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models as early as this month, and as prior rumors have suggested, the mini-LED display will be exclusive to the larger 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
Mini-LED technology will offer multiple benefits, such as a better contrast ratio and improved brightness.
Bloomberg in March said that the refreshed iPad Pro models would come as early as April, but there is still no narrower timeline available. It is not clear if the new tablets will be introduced via press release or if Apple has some kind of event in the works, as the iPad mini is also expected to see a refresh.
Along with a mini-LED display, the new iPad Pro models are expected to feature an A14X chip with M1-like performance and Thunderbolt connectivity.
Article Link: Upcoming 12.9-Inch iPad Pro Supplies Could Be Limited Due to Mini-LED Production Issues


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Restaurant industry veteran Kim Boerema was appointed president of cafe operations for Hard Rock Cafe.
Five foodservice equipment manufacturers were among the 206 organizations and businesses honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with its 2021 Energy Star Awards.
The National Restaurant Association and SmartBrief introduced the 20 recipients of the inaugural Innovation Awards for Foodservice. The honorees represent innovative new or updated products and services that exemplify adaptability and resilience in three categories: sustainability, technology, and safety and health. This year’s winners include innovations developed by foodservice operators, equipment and supplies manufacturers and others.
Robert Nelson will become CEO for the National Association of College & University Food Services, effective April 12.
Bloomin’ Brands promoted Lissette Gonzalez to senior vice president, supply chain. Gonzalez joined the Florida-based multiconcept operator in 2014 and was promoted to vice president of global procurement in 2019.
As part of its annual recognition efforts, Nissco Restaurant Dealer Group presented Denver Cutlery with the organization’s Dealer of the Year Award. The dealer-based foodservice equipment and supplies buying group recognized the performance of a variety of manufacturers and dealers.
Chris Karssiens was appointed interim president of Hoshizaki America. He replaces James McDowell, who left the company for personal reasons, per a release announcing the transition.
Former Cheesecake Factory executive Michael Moore was named chief operations officer for Parched Hospitality Group, a New York City-based multiconcept operator.
Kitchens To Go, a division of GRS Holding LLC, was acquired by Mobile Modular Management Corporation.


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BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese automakers Dongfeng Motor Group Co Ltd and National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), which bought bankrupt carmaker Saab in 2012, signed an agreement Monday to jointly develop green cars, the state-owned Xinhua news agency reported.
The agreement will help Dongfeng sell its own brand cars through the NEVS dealer network in Europe and the United States, and also meet European legal and technical requirements, Xinhua reported.
The report did not give financial terms of the deal.
The deal is another step forward for NEVS after financial problems led it to stop production of Saab cars in Sweden last year and defense contractor Saab AB, from which Saab Automobile was created in 1990, disputed its use of the brand name.
The agreement will also allow NEVS' planned factory in Tianjin to draw on the massive supplier network of Dongfeng, China's second largest automaker.
NEVS announced in June that it broke ground on a factory with a potential capacity of 200,000 cars as well as a research and development center, with two Chinese partners pledging to invest 1.2 billion yuan ($187.68 million).
It said the project would focus specifically on "new energy vehicles", a Chinese term for electric and highly electrified vehicles.
($1 = 6.3937 Chinese yuan renminbi)
(Reporting by Jake Spring; Editing by Anupama Dwivedi)


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It might not be the facile question of the day but it deserves a place as a front-runner for the title.
It came from RNZ’s Guyon Espiner when interviewing Sam McIvor,chief executive of Beef and Lamb NZ.
The interview (HERE, duration 4′ :37″0) was a reasonable followup to an idea which won headlines and air time for James Shaw, Minister for Climate Change.
New Zealanders should eat one less meat meal a week, he suggested.
He observed that 95 per cent of New Zealanders consume meat, and this takes a toll on water, energy and land resources.
His proposal is not official government policy but it’s part of The Greens’ leader’s plan to achieve a carbon-neutral economy by 2050.
McIvor told Espiner the Minister’s remarks needed considering in the context of everything else he said in a weekend TV interview about the drive to carbon neutrality.
Beef + Lamb NZ agrees with this objective. It recently released its environment strategy aimed at reaching carbon neutrality for the industry by 2050.
It contains measures for cleaning up waterways, enhancing biodiversity, having healthy productive soils – and so on.
The industry is taking a holistic approach to the environment.
Espiner then said:
“Okay. But it is true, isn’t it, that one of the things you can do about climate change is to eat less meat?”
McIvor got no further than saying “when you look at the international studies” before being put straight.
Espiner: “No, I’m actually just looking at the Ministry for the Environment – its official website says under the headline ‘what can you do about climate change’ – this is the MfE – this isn’t some crazy group of people…”
If this is what Espiner wanted McIvor to address, he should have said so when he asked his question.
And because he wasn’t prepared to hear about the international studies which McIvor was about to cite, it is outrageous for him to drag “some crazy group of people” into listeners’ considerations.
But no, Espiner was bursting to cite the over-riding authority of the Ministry for the Environment and its advice on what you can do about cliimate change.
“And the fifth thing it lists on its website is eat less meat.
“It says red meat production produces significantly more greenhouse gas emissions than the production of chicken meat, fruit, vegetables and cereals.
“So … meat is an issue here.”
In other words, we should not disagree with advice on the MfE website – until, perhaps the Government’s Chief Scientist clarifies matters with a bit of myth-busting in five or so years?
McIvor addressed the question by saying the key thing is to look at the background to the various environmental studies and analysis
In international meat industry analysis, New Zealand is an outlier – we produce beef and lamb on country that can’t be used for any other food production.
The industry in NZ has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent since 1990 and is on target to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025.
Ah, but Espiner was wanting us to focus on the Environment Ministry website’s suggestion we try having a meatless day once a week.
“What do you reckon – is this a fair call?”
People are already eating less meat in developed countries, McIvor pointed out in reply.
But when they do eat it, he said, they want premium products, and that is where New Zealand’s meat industry aims to position itself.
We can only feed 40 million people in the world, McIvor went on.
The clear implication is that if Kiwis give up some of their meat each week, a bit more will be available for customers in other countries – good for our balance of payments if not the environment.
But Espiner wasn’t ready to give up and asked:
“Do you back the one meat day free a week?”
This was like asking Donald Trump if he would consider accommodating a few Muslim refugees in the White House.
McIvor: “I don’t back a one meat day free a week necessarily. What I want people to do is enjoy meat – enjoy New Zealand meat – which is the best in the world and enjoy that within the context of a full diet.”
Espiner: “You are batting for your side.”
McIvor: “I absolutely am, Guyon.
Espiner: “Ha, ha. Good on you.”
A quick check with a different website would have shown Espiner that Beef + Lamb New Zealand Ltd is the farmer-owned, industry organisation representing New Zealand’s sheep and beef farmers.
We invest farmer levies in programmes that grow the sheep and beef industry and provide sustainable returns now and for future generations.
Shrinking the industry and discouraging meat eating is not part of McIvor’s brief.


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On Chinese New Year's eve, where many were returning from overseas to spend the eve with their families, Tiger Beer took a step further to charter a fleet of 100 taxi rides from Singapore Changi Airport (Terminal 2) between 3.30 to 5.30pm, to bring them home to celebrate and reunite with their loved ones this festive season.
About 100 of these taxis, fully wrapped in the Tiger Beer advertisement, have been chartered by Asia Pacific Breweries (APB) Singapore to provide these free rides as part of its “This Chinese New Year, Make Reunion Count” advertising campaign that agencies Starcom Media Worldwide and BBDO Singapore have arranged with Moove Media.
Apart from these free taxi trips, another 20 Moove Ignite double deck buses, decked in Chinese New Year red motifs. These buses come with electroluminescent (EL) panels on the sides of the buses, which light up to ensure greater visibility. The same campaign advertisements are also carried on an escalator and a concept wall at the North East Line’s Chinatown Station.
Jayne Kwek, CEO of Moove Media, said: “Out-Of-Home advertising offers advertisers the flexibility that is not always available on traditional media. We are more than happy to support APB’s ‘Make Reunion Count’ campaign with 200 fully-wrapped taxis and Moove Ignite buses.”
Head of Marketing, Asia Pacific Breweries (Singapore), Venus Teoh said: “It is great to see Moove Media going the extra mile to make our campaign more impactful.”
The media agency is Starcom Media Worldwide and creative agency is BBDO Singapore.


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Tech stocks were flat Friday afternoon after earnings announcements from IT vendors this week and a government economic report offered glimpses of good news, but not enough to dispel the pall that hangs over the technology market.
SAP has laid out a set of pricing and policies for tying together its array of cloud-based and on-premises applications, providing some options at no charge, but others that will cost customers additional money.
SAP now says it will proceed with two major user conferences set for Madrid next month, after saying earlier this week that it was weighing its options following concerns over labor strikes planned for the same time as the shows.
A home improvement retail chain can use an app running on an iPad to help design a customer's home, check inventory for the products, give a cost estimate to the customer, and take orders.
SAP is aware of widespread user discontent over the complexity involved with licensing rules and pricing for its software, and is working to remedy the situation, co-CEO Jim Hagemann Snabe said in an interview Wednesday.
Labor strikes planned for November in Portugal, Spain and Greece may force the delay or cancellation of SAP's Sapphire Now and Tech Ed conferences in Madrid.
SAP reported Wednesday double-digit revenue growth in the third quarter, benefiting from a strong performance in the Americas and double-digit growth in the Asia-Pacific and Japan region, and high demand for its new technologies like HANA across all ...
SAP is working on a number of potential next-generation BI (business intelligence) technologies meant to exploit the company's HANA in-memory database, including a new version of the popular Explorer visualization tool, according to an internal docum...
Several years ago, SAP introduced enhancement packs, which were supposed to provide a much easier and less painful way to upgrade its ERP (enterprise resource planning) software. Executives extolled how customers could add new functionality without c...
Oracle's US$1.5 billion purchase of cloud software vendor RightNow Technologies took another step forward on Thursday as a vast majority of RightNow shareholders approved the deal.
SAP and Google executives on Tuesday provided a preview of the companies' plans to tie their respective cloud-based business applications together, but a number of details have yet to be finalized.
Salesforce.com announced Thursday it will acquire cloud-based performance management vendor Rypple in a bid to enter the human resources software market.
SAP executives provided new details about the company's plan to make the HANA in-memory database the focus of a sweeping reinvention of its software architecture during an event in Boston on Tuesday.
In 2011, the increasingly mobile and socially networked world of technology became more intertwined than ever with politics and the law. Patent wars shaped competition in tablets and smartphones, hacktivists attacked a widening array of political and...
SAP has abruptly put the brakes on a planned upgrade to its massive community network portal, which was set to be rolled out this month, due to a number of lingering, "critical" bugs.
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Walgreens District Manager Dr. Ryan Walker (center) recently presented a $10,000 check to the Southwestern Oklahoma State University College of Pharmacy in Weatherford for scholarships. The money is part of a yearly contribution that Walgreens makes for SWOSU pharmacy students.
Southwestern Oklahoma State University, "01-09-2013 Walgreens Donation $10,000 to SWOSU College of Pharmacy" (2013). THE BARK ARCHIVE 2013. 11.


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Yasso, a premium frozen Greek yogurt brand with headquarters in the US, has been acquired by Unilever, according to the company’s announcement.
Yasso, a major player in the US market for high-quality, indulgent frozen snacks with few calories, was founded in Boston in 2009.
Yasso’s products meet the rising demand for convenient, calorie-efficient, and scrumptious frozen snacks in North America; every item in the company’s current line has less than 150 calories per serving.
The acquisition, according to Unilever, is in line with its premiumization strategy and adds Talenti to its portfolio of premium brands, which also includes Ben & Jerry’s, Magnum, and Magnum.
“[Yasso] has built a strong customer appeal in the fast-growing, premium ‘Better For You’ segment,” said Matt Close, president of ice cream at Unilever. This acquisition marks a significant development in the direction of high-growth markets for our North American ice cream portfolio. I am confident that we can expand this quickly expanding company to even greater heights with the full backing of Unilever behind Yasso.
“With Unilever, we have selected the best partner in the world, who believes in Yasso’s vision and purpose of spreading joy to consumers everywhere,” said Amanda Klane and Drew Harrington, co-founders of Yasso.
Yasso’s CEO, Craig Shiesley, continued, “We are thrilled to join Unilever and join the illustrious family of ice cream and novelty brands. I’m pleased with the expansion of our business, and we look forward to working with Unilever to take our fantastic brand’s reach across the globe.
Subject to regulatory approvals and other closing requirements, the transaction is anticipated to close in third quarter 2023. The deal’s financial details weren’t made public.


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After the successful launch of a Hello Kitty beauty and accessories line earlier this year, Sephora and Sanrio have teamed up once again for another exclusive, limited edition cosmetic collection featuring everyone's favorite mouthless feline.
The Hello Kitty Graffiti Collection, including items such as Rollergirl (Roll-on Fragrance), and a tagged out make-up bag is available now online, and scheduled to hit stores on July 28th.
In other news, despite recent rumors suggesting otherwise, Hello Kitty's quest for total world domination continues with several high-profile collaborations in a diverse array of industries.
For example, if you're looking for a way to beat the extreme heat, you can visit your local Yogurtland to check out their new Sanrio partnership that includes Hello Kitty and friends themed cups, spoons, merch, and more. (LAist hit up one of the shops earlier this week, and got some super cute pics.) I was bummed because I didn't think there were any Yogurtland's in my hood, but in researching this post I found out there's one 25 minutes away from me, so I'll definitely be heading there soon to check this out ..stay tuned!
Image Chris C. Anderson / The Huffington Post
And finally, The Huffington Post is reporting that travelers at Taoyuan Airport in Taipei can spend their layovers in style at the Hello Kitty gate waiting lounge. Pink chairs with Hello Kitty's face on them, a gift shop, and a playroom all ensure that you'll never be bored in a plain old airline terminal ever again!


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Microsoft moving Office online in duel with Google
Microsoft on Monday said that the 2010 version of its popular Office software will feature online collaboration as the technology giant duels "in the cloud" with Internet titan Google.
Microsoft made the announcement at the opening of a Worldwide Partner Conference in New Orleans.
Next-generation Office, Visio, Project, and SharePoint Server programs to be released in the first half of next year are being given to tens of thousands of people selected to test the nearly completed software.
A key upgrade to widely-used Office is that online hosting will make it possible for users to access projects from any Internet-linked computers and to collaborate online in real time.
Office Web applications will be lightweight, browser versions of Word, PowerPoint, Excel and OneNote that provide access to documents from anywhere, according to Microsoft.
There will be online "co-authoring" capabilities in Word, PowerPoint and OneNote.
Microsoft's current version, Office 2007, allows online collaboration, but not in the real-time manner promised by its successor.
"We wanted to make sure when we brought applications to the Web we did it in a way that we can really delight customers and not sacrifice quality," Office group product manager Chris Bryant told AFP.
"We're really raising the bar; the level of expectation for what Web-based applications can do and how they work into real complements for the apps you use on the desktop, using personal computers."
The move comes as Google strives to lure computer users to text, spreadsheet, and other applications hosted online and offered as low-cost or free services.
The California firm's Google Apps are part of a growing online trend of offering software as services on the Internet, or "in the cloud," as opposed to people needing to buy, install and maintain programs on their own machines.
"The fact that Microsoft is developing it at all is a response to Google," said analyst Matt Rosoff of Directions On Microsoft, a private firm that tracks the Redmond, Washington-based technology firm.
"This is a move that they probably wouldn't have made if they didn't have to, but there is enough competition bubbling up that they thought they needed a response."
Office 2010 will also dramatically enhance video and picture capabilities in PowerPoint presentations, according to Bryant.
Office Web applications will be available through Windows Live; on-premises for Office annuity customers; and by paid subscription at Microsoft Online Services.
There are to be five versions of Office 2010, with prices yet to be disclosed.
Microsoft has thus far responded to the cloud computing trend with a "software plus services" approach that augments applications installed on personal machines with services hosted online.
People will be able to use Office 2010 purely as a service hosted online, but functionality will be less than when pairing it with Office applications installed on personal computers.
"If people were given full Office features online, why would they buy it?" Rosoff asked rhetorically.
"That is what has taken Microsoft so long to get there."
Microsoft has an edge with large corporations, where Office is widespread and often multi-year technology contracts are in place, according to Rosoff.
"Google has a better chance of getting traction with small businesses and consumers where Microsoft isn't so entrenched," Rosoff said.
The war between Microsoft and Google has been escalating, with Google last week announcing plans to create an open-source "Chrome OS" computer operating system tailored for netbooks.
Chrome OS will be a direct challenge to Windows operating systems at the heart of Microsoft's global software empire.
(c) 2009 AFP


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Arthur M. Cohen & Associates LLC Sells 140 Shares of McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD)
Arthur M. Cohen & Associates LLC cut its position in shares of McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) by 4.6% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,906 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after selling 140 shares during the period. Arthur M. Cohen & Associates LLC’s holdings in McDonald’s Corporation were worth $387,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vigilant Capital Management LLC increased its stake in McDonald’s Corporation by 9.4% in the first quarter. Vigilant Capital Management LLC now owns 977 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $127,000 after buying an additional 84 shares during the last quarter. Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in McDonald’s Corporation during the fourth quarter worth approximately $131,000. Signature Estate & Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in McDonald’s Corporation during the first quarter worth approximately $146,000. Hudock Capital Group LLC increased its stake in McDonald’s Corporation by 5.9% in the first quarter. Hudock Capital Group LLC now owns 1,493 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $193,000 after buying an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capital Investment Advisory Services LLC acquired a new stake in McDonald’s Corporation during the first quarter worth approximately $201,000. Institutional investors own 67.52% of the company’s stock.
Shares of McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE MCD) opened at 153.82 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $125.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.18 and a beta of 0.70. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $154.15 and a 200-day moving average of $139.07. McDonald’s Corporation has a one year low of $110.33 and a one year high of $159.98.
McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The fast-food giant reported $1.70 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.62 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $6.05 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.96 billion. McDonald’s Corporation had a net margin of 21.00% and a negative return on equity of 266.50%. The business’s quarterly revenue was down 3.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.45 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts anticipate that McDonald’s Corporation will post $6.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 18th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 1st will be paid a $0.94 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, August 30th. This represents a $3.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.44%. McDonald’s Corporation’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 61.54%.
TRADEMARK VIOLATION WARNING: This piece was published by Daily Political and is the property of of Daily Political. If you are reading this piece on another website, it was stolen and reposted in violation of U.S. & international copyright & trademark legislation. The legal version of this piece can be viewed at https://www.dailypolitical.com/2017/08/07/arthur-m-cohen-associates-llc-sells-140-shares-of-mcdonalds-corporation-nysemcd.html.
A number of analysts have commented on MCD shares. Nomura increased their price objective on shares of McDonald’s Corporation from $136.00 to $146.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Vetr upgraded shares of McDonald’s Corporation from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $145.38 price objective for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Deutsche Bank AG reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $155.00 price objective on shares of McDonald’s Corporation in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Instinet reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $146.00 price objective (up previously from $136.00) on shares of McDonald’s Corporation in a report on Saturday, April 22nd. Finally, Cleveland Research upgraded shares of McDonald’s Corporation from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 11th. Thirteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-two have issued a buy rating to the stock. The stock currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $162.16.
In other McDonald’s Corporation news, insider Douglas M. Goare sold 17,286 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $158.50, for a total transaction of $2,739,831.00. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Jerome N. Krulewitch sold 11,755 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $158.38, for a total transaction of $1,861,756.90. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 11,755 shares in the company, valued at $1,861,756.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 54,363 shares of company stock valued at $8,615,125 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.24% of the company’s stock.
McDonald’s Corporation Company Profile
McDonald’s Corporation (McDonald’s) operates and franchises McDonald’s restaurants. The Company’s restaurants serve a locally relevant menu of food and drinks sold at various price points in over 100 countries. The Company’s segments include U.S., International Lead Markets, High Growth Markets, and Foundational Markets and Corporate.
Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MCD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD).
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Lead Editor: Susan Rush
Few industries are changing as fast as the world of media -- so don't get left behind. SmartBrief keeps you in-the-know with daily updates on marketing, mobile, social media, digital content, Web development and more.
- Advertising Age (free access for SmartBrief readers)
Dannon later this week will debut an "integrated global communication campaign" for its Activia yogurt that features pop star Shakira and will appear in more than 50 countries. "This new campaign demo Read More
World Wide Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee says he hopes to see developers favor Web applications as their functionality improves to match that of native applications. Native apps don't interact as well Read More
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For those craving more news and information on the rapidly evolving world of robotics, big data and the “industrial internet,” Business Insider and General Electric now have you covered. The two companies have launched Digital Industry Insider, a new section on BusinessInsider.com focused on covering the health, energy and transportation industries.
Digital Industry Insider‘s aim is to spotlight industrial businesses, but in the BI mold: Using a combination of original reports, video and even listicles and aggregated pieces to demonstrate these companies are being transformed by new and emerging technologies. For instance, at launch, visitors can read an article on how big data and the industrial internet can help Southwest Airlines cut fuel costs, or a video on the two coolest robots at a Tesla factory.
“We’re a digital-industrial company — one that’s as focused on big iron as it is on big data,” said Linda Boff, GE’s CMO. “And as we think about our future as well as that of the industry, part of what we want to do is help define it by bringing forth stories about industry.”
Business Insider has assembled a five-person team from its branded content division to create content for Digital Industry Insider. At the same time, a group within GE will oversee the vertical from the brand’s end, though the number of people GE actually has on the project at any given time will fluctuate depending on the week.
But while Digital Industry Insider’s goal is to spotlight the industry, it’s still an effort underwritten by GE, which means the brand will have final say over the content. The Digital Industry Insider team will be following guidelines created by GE, which also will dictate which events are covered, the companies said.
But while GE is funding the project, it’s not requiring that its brand and products get all of the attention, said Boff. “The industrial internet will be bigger than the consumer internet,” said Boff. “We know we have an important role to play in that but we know it’s bigger than just GE.”
GE is no stranger to experimenting with different types of advertising. In years past, the brand has launched a policy news hub pulling in content from the likes of Vox and CNN. It has even created a TV show.
In partnering with BI for Digital Industry Insider, GE seems to be latching onto a new trend. Thrillist’s new cocktails site Supercall is an advertiser-driven publication created by a publisher’s branded content arm, for example In this case, Supercall is considered an independent editorial site that’s created by Thrillist’s branded content arm, and which also will run advertisers’ branded content. Along with Supercall, Time Inc. similarly launched The Drive, an auto enthusiast publication, from a unit called The Foundry, which is charged with launching new editorial verticals and content marketing for brands.
Digital Industry Insider will primarily focus on covering major industry events starting with this week’s Farnborough International Airshow. This means on-the-ground reporting of the latest news and trends at these events, as well as features on the latest industry leaders and product innovations. In-between these major events, the section will be populated with daily content, including relevant older editorial posts from other Business Insider verticals.
Going in the other direction, Digital Industry Insider posts will be distributed on Tech Insider, labeled as sponsored content, as well as the publication’s U.K. and German websites. Distribution will also include social pages for those properties as well as relevant GE accounts.
While Digital Industry Insider is meant to be a resource and cheerleader for the growth of the industrial internet, it’s ultimately a project paid for by GE, which currently plans to fund the vertical through the end of the year.
“A metric that we will pay a great deal of attention to is whether the engagements — whether that’s views, shares or what have you — actually turn into leads,” said Boff. Posts will be tagged and tracked to see whether the effort is leading to new customers. “At the end of the day, we want to drive awareness of what we’re doing, but we also want to drive sales,” said Boff.
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Liverpool Echo By Joshua Taylor
These pictures show for the first time what Liverpool’s new £500,000 Sunday market is expected to look like.
Property firm Nextdom has asked Liverpool council for permission to build the Pall Mall Market in the city centre.
As previously reported, the site will be big enough for 270 stalls and the plans are supported by many traders who used to sell goods at the Stanley Dock Heritage Market, which closed in 2011.
Aug 17, 2018 0Street Feast food market concept gains added scale with new opening
Aug 15, 2018 0London’s New Covent Garden Market (NCGM) is pushing on with its bold venture to turn the historic wholesale market into the capital’s dominant food hub, as well as an incubator for up-and-coming food makers, creators and thinkers from the UK and beyond.


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The Latest Industry News for the Exciting World of Production.
By: Step and Repeat LA | April 12, 2019
After fourteen years, Retail Leisure International (RLI), in association with Chalhoub Group, hosted the prestigious Global RLI Awards in the US for the first time, having taken place in London and Dubai over the last thirteen years. This year the illustrious and renowned event was held in the home of "Retailtainment" in Los Angeles where this Hollywood Red Carpet Event took place at Universal Studios Hollywood™ on April 3rd.
The retail and leisure industry is exciting, dynamic, and innovative and these awards pay tribute to the companies that continue to push the boundaries, who are not afraid of the challenges that they are presented with and who refuse to settle for anything but the very best. Once again, it was a spectacular evening, recognizing and celebrating the most visionary and innovative retail and leisure concepts from around the globe.
Step and Repeat LA created an impressive 8' x 14' media wall for the prestigious Global RLI Awards. It was the perfect backdrop against the blue LA sky.
Step and Repeat LA offers media walls, custom 3-D lettering to go on hedge walls, and many other services and products including 12 carpet colors, gold, silver, or retractable belt stanchions, studio-quality lighting, life-size cut-outs and much more. They also will deliver, set up and take down media walls, backdrops, and red-carpet displays in the Los Angeles area.
Contact: Ben Toth


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Ever fancied a McDonald's in bed? This dream now looks set to become a reality.
The fast food restaurant has announced plans to expand its delivery service to the UK so diners can order from their phones.
McDonald's said its aim is to become the leading delivery service in the world, where people can track their food right up to their door.
McDonald's said: "Because of our extraordinary footprint, McDonald's is uniquely positioned to become the global leader in delivery.
"One of the most significant disruptions in the restaurant business today is the rapid increase in delivery.
"Through technology, delivery has changed the way customers order, pay, track and receive food and provide feedback."
The company pinpointed its delivery success in China to fuel suggestions it was looking to replicate the service worldwide.
Would you order a McDonald's delivery to your door?
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In a statement, the multi-billion pound company wrote: "McDonald's is already one of the largest providers of delivered food in the world, with annual Systemwide delivery sales of nearly $1billion across various markets including China, South Korea and Singapore.
"China has tripled its delivery business since its launch in 2008.
"In 2016 alone, China's delivery business grew 30 per cent."
McDonald's said it wanted to capitalise on emerging technology as it battles against disappointing sales figures.
The company has had 500 million fewer transactions since 2012.
The announcement came five months after Walton became one of the first 400 McDonald's restaurants in the UK to offer table service.
Franchisee Danny O'Sullivan said: "This is kicking the McDonald’s brand into the next century. It’s a digital revolution. It also allows us to take the stress out of it for the customer and our people.”


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Ahead of ICE Totally Gaming 2018, the iGaming Times magazine interviewed Rafayel Badalyan, product owner of BetConstruct’s Virtual Reality Casino. Sharing the company insights, we discussed how augmented reality is penetrating the gaming industry.
As the FIFA World Cup is approaching, BetConstruct is starting a new promotion offering its full package of products and services with a setup fee of 19,900 Euros for the Classic and SpringBuilder versions. Part of the setup fee will be 5,000 FastTokens that operators can use to reward their players through bonuses.
Ahead of ICE Totally Gaming 2018 BetConstruct added Virtual Football Penalty Kicks to the list of offerings included in the Virtual Sports Software.
At this year’s ICE SoftConstruct is showcasing Fast Shift, a cross-product and cross-platform payment gateway with over 300 payment options.
BetConstruct’s latest addition, Casino Tournaments Management System allows B2C providers to create and publish online casino tournaments within minutes.


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Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) said Wednesday that the head of its global research arm has resigned, at a time when CEO Meg Whitman has said she wants HP Labs to work more closely with the company’s business units.
Prith Banerjee, a longtime academic who founded two tech startups early in his career, will join Swiss tech company ABB as chief technology officer.
The 51-year-old Banerjee was hired to run HP Labs by former CEO Mark Hurd. In his five-year tenure, Banerjee reorganized the sprawling labs organization and eliminated some projects, while focusing on a smaller number of so-called “big bet” research efforts that the company said were tied to major business goals.
During that time, HP Labs announced several breakthroughs including a new approach to electronic data storage, nanotechnology sensors and flexible electronic displays.
Over the same period, however, Hurd cut the Palo Alto tech company’s overall budget for research and development, fueling criticism that HP was falling behind competitors such as Apple (AAPL) in creating new products. In a recent interview, Banerjee defended Hurd’s commitment to innovation while praising Whitman for increasing the company’s support for research.
Whitman also reorganized the company’s management, after she became CEO last fall, so that Banerjee reported directly to her. She said publicly that she felt the labs organization had become too isolated from HP’s business divisions and that she wanted to speed the transfer of new technology from the labs into commercial products.
Banerjee is an electrical engineer and longtime academic; he ran the engineering program at the University of Illinois, Chicago, before joining HP. He also started two small companies of his own.
HP said longtime lab official Chandrakant Patel will be interim labs director until a permanent replacement is named. Patel is a mechanical engineer described in his official biography as “a pioneer in microprocessor and system thermo-mechanical architectures,” who has obtained more than 115 patents. He has run HP Labs’ sustainable ecosystems research group, working on lowering energy consumption and the costs of operation for data centers.
As interim director, Patel will oversee a staff of several hundred researchers at seven locations, including Palo Alto and cities in India, China, Singapore, Israel, the United Kingdom and Russia.
Contact Brandon Bailey at 408-920-5022.