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It's official: the Tiv Taam deal is off, and businessman Arcadi Gaydamak is not going to buy controlling interest in the supermarket chain. He is, however, going to buy a 10 percent stake in Enter Holdings, controlled by Amit Berger, for NIS 30 million.
Despite all that was written about the deal, the millions of dollars involved and the dreams - everything went down the drain yesterday when the supermarket chain notified the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange that the deal was off.
Upon returning from a trip to Russia, Gaydamak insisted on cutting the price for controlling interest in the retail chain by $10 million. Controlling shareholder Kobi Tribitch refused and the takeover was called off. Tribitch will receive $2 million of the sums that Gaydamak has already paid.
Sources involved in the deal claimed that the main reason Gaydamak changed his mind about buying the non-kosher chain was that the deal is more complicated than originally thought. In addition, he realized he would not be able to realize his dream of transforming it into a kosher chain that would appeal to everybody.
The technical reason for the deal falling through is that the mediator, Ronny Mana, apparently demanded a $10 million fee, which Gaydamak refused to shoulder.
Tiv Taam said that Gaydamak would be buying into Enter rather than make a $20 million payment that he owed for canceling the deal, according to the original contract.
The stock market responded to the announcement by sending Tiv Taam shares down 11 percent until trading in the stock was halted.
Ten days ago, Tiv Taam announced that Gaydamak would buy 51 percent controlling interest in the firm at a company valuation of NIS 820 million, about 80 percent above its market capitalization on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange at that point.
Gaydamak then set the entire nation abuzz by announcing that the country's leading non-kosher supermarket chain would stop selling pork products. Tiv Taam quickly released an announcement that it would stop selling pork products if its board and management were convinced that it made sense from a business perspective.
The billionaire also said he aimed to double the chain's turnover within two years, during which time he would open another 100 outlets.
Gaydamak had closed the deal to buy Tiv Taam within hours. At the time, he may not have fully grasped the complexity of the group and its operations, which not only markets non-kosher products, but also produces and imports them. Tiv Taam owns 75 percent of the Mizra meat processing company, which owns a non-kosher slaughterhouse for chickens, a fish plant in Jaffa, and a sweeping import business.
Another of Tiv Taam's strongest points is its unique customer experience.
Enter Holdings, which co-owns Tiv Taam, sought to override rumors sweeping the marketplace of trouble between the deal makers, and said just a few days ago that the deal was proceeding well and was close to being closed once all the necessary permits were in place.
Eli Shitzer adds: The Gaydamak Index fell 6.5 percent on yesterday's news, with all of his companies suffering serious losses.
TheMarker launched the Gaydamak Index to track the four companies he bought, or had agreed to buy, over the last month.
Tiv Taam lost 11 percent, Gilon Investments was down 5.7 percent and real estate company Ocif, the largest of the bunch, lost 5.4 percent.
Petro Group, which operates gas stations and convenience stores in the United States, lost 3.6 percent.
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Rune Factory 5 Sprouts Up On Nintendo Switch In 2020
Marvelous has announced that Rune Factory 5 is in development for Nintendo Switch, the next adventure in the role-playing simulation series.
The news was shared in this week’s Nintendo Direct presentation, coming soon after Rune Factory 4 Special was revealed for the portable home console. But, aside from the logo, details about the next game remain light at this point in time.
Rune Factory 5 will release exclusively for Nintendo Switch worldwide in 2020.

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Thanksgiving hosts can buy that extra pumpkin pie for their party this year.
The average cost of Thanksgiving meal will be the lowest it’s been in five years, according the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual price survey. The survey found the average cost of a dinner for 10 people is $49.12, a 75-cent decrease from last year’s average of $49.87.
“The cost of the dinner is the lowest since 2013 and second-lowest since 2011. Even as America’s family farmers and ranchers continue to face economic challenges, they remain committed to providing a safe, abundant and affordable food supply for consumers at Thanksgiving and throughout the year,” said John Newton, AFBF market intelligence director.
The big ticket item – a 16-pound turkey – came in at a total of $22.38 this year. That’s roughly $1.40 per pound, a decrease of 2 cents per pound, or a total of 36 cents per whole turkey, compared to 2016. Foods showing the largest decreases this year, in addition to turkey, included: a gallon of milk, $2.99; a dozen rolls, $2.26; two nine-inch pie shells, $2.45; a 3-pound bag of sweet potatoes, $3.52; and a 1-pound bag of green peas, $1.53.
» HOLIDAY HIRING: 5 things we learned about local hiring this season
Some grocery items have increased including whipping cream, pumpkin pie mix, fresh cranberries and veggies trays.
“Milk production has increased, resulting in continued low retail prices,” Newton said. “In addition, grocers often use milk as a loss leader to entice consumers to shop at their stores. Whole whipping cream is up about 4 percent in price, due to increased consumer demand for full-fat dairy products.”
Ashley Phillips, store manager of the Walmart on Kingsridge Avenue in Miami Twp., said Walmart estimates that customers could get a meal for 10 for about $33. Phillips said the major deals come from the private brands Walmart offers, but stores still carry name-brand food products too. It gives customers more choices, she said.
“It’s pretty incredible,” she said. “We’re excited to show customers that you can get a quality product at a better price.”
Thanksgiving shoppers started coming in last Saturday to purchase meal items for the holiday. On Monday morning, sales were up 50 percent hour-by-hour for the Walmart store on Kingsridge, Phillips said. The remainder of the week will remain busy, as the store continues to prep for Thanksgiving and Black Friday crowds.
Customers will spend their biggest chunk of money on the turkey, but they can still find them for fair prices. Meijer’s frozen turkeys — ranging from 10 to 16 pounds — average about $15.34 each, and natural Honeysuckle White turkeys are on sale for $11.44 at local Walmart stores.
Jerry Post, store director for the Oakwood Dorothy Lane Market, said Tuesday and Wednesday are the busiest days for Thanksgiving shopping for the Oakwood grocer. In the 24 hours before Thanksgiving, at least 185 of the stores 225 employees will work a shift.
Post said Dorothy Lane’s turkeys are more expensive than some of the grocery stores because they are non-GMO and locally raised by Bowman Landes in New Carlisle.
“We’re all about flavor first,” he said. “We really taste homemade.”
Post also said pre-cooked turkeys have been popular so far, and he expects trendy zucchini and squash noodles to fly off the shelves for Thanksgiving dinner.
What else does Dorothy Lane carry that you can get anywhere else? “We have the best egg nog in the country. No one has Yule logs like ours, and we make our stuffing right here.”
For last-minute shopping, retailers like Meijer remain open on Thanksgiving Day. Store officials said the top five items sold at Meijer on Thanksgiving include: cream cheese, cream of mushroom soup, celery, butter and sweet potatoes. The grocery retailer also expects to sell more than 710,000 turkeys this holiday season and more than 1.8 million pounds of potatoes.
Too busy to cook? The Farm bureau said another option for busy families without a lot of time to cook is ready-to-eat Thanksgiving meals for up to 10 people, with all the trimmings, which are available at many supermarkets and take-out restaurants for around $50 to $75.
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For this year's max bill Edition Set, Junghans took inspiration from the Bauhaus artist's variation 5 artwork to create a blacked-out Chronoscope and a Kleine Automatic. The matte black case and the white numerals against the deep black dial translates the black and white lines of the variation 5 graphic into watch form, creating a bold contrast while still keeping with the watch's minimalist aesthetic. Limited to 222 pieces, the set will include both watches as well as additional straps in black calf leather with a quick-release clasp for quick and easy strap changes.
Junghans is releasing the Max Bill Chronoscope in 18-carat white gold
It is the first time the watch will be available in the precious metal.
Junghans marks 2018 with its latest Max Bill annual edition
The minimalist watch gets hit with a dash of green.
Junghans celebrates its collaboration with Max Bill with a new set
The collaboration between the two dates back to 1956.


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"If the top 100 global start-ups make a foray into Korea, 70% of them will not be able to do business as they will violate regulations."
Kim Bong-jin, CEO of Woowa Brothers and Sisters, a representative start-up in Korea that runs “The Nation of Delivery Food,” criticized regulations preventing Korean start-ups from growing. Kim also expressed concern that the Korean digital economy could become a colony of overseas services due to reverse discriminatory regulations.
"In July, we analyzed business models of the top 100 global start-up companies," said CEO Kim in a keynote speech in the Korea Start-Up Forum in honor of the forum’s first anniversary on September 26. “If they do business in Korea, 40 percent will be illegal and 30 percent partially illegal."
"Uber and Didi Chuxing will not be allowed in violation of the Transportation Business Act and the Korean Lodging Act will disable Air B&B from doing business in Korea,” CEO Kim said. “Under these circumstances, such foreign start-up cannot do business in Korea and Korean start-ups are pursuing innovation.”
Actually, Korean regulations considered Uber illegal in March 2015. On the other hand, Didi Chuxing, a Chinese version of Uber is growing rapidly, causing a sensation in the Chinese call tax industry. Didi Chuxing is expanding to the Southeast Asia market among others.
CEO Kim reproved Korean regulations through a case he himself experienced. "I recently booked accommodation at Air B&B, but I heard that Yanolja Application could not offer a reservation service for the facility," CEO Kim said. “I asked Lee Su-jin, CEO of Yanolja why. CEO Lee said that Korean regulations did not allow Yanolja to offer such a service." It is a good example that shows that foreign companies such as Air B&B are encroaching on the Korean market while regulations are hindering Korean companies.
"Now we are not competing on a level playing ground," CEO Kim said. "Overseas companies are bent on innovating products, but many Korean companies are busy dealing with legal regulations."
CEO Kim did not forget to mention the problem of reverse discrimination against Korean companies compared with foreign companies. "It is not Naver but YouTube or Facebook that our company pays much money to for the advertisement of The Nation of Delivery Food," CEO Kim said. "But Korean taxmen do not know how much they make in Korea. They are not paying taxes in Korea, either."


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Carnival adds third year-round ship to Galveston
Carnival Cruise Lines will add a third year-round ship to Galveston when Carnival Freedom launches seven-day cruises in February 2015.
This will be the first time the Miami-based cruise line has deployed three year-round ships in Texas. The repositioning represents a 38 percent capacity increase for the line in Galveston, carrying more than 600,000 guests a year from that port.
Prior to arriving at the port, Carnival Freedom will undergo a previously announced makeover that will add several new Fun Ship 2.0 enhancements.
Carnival Freedom will join Carnival Magic, which offers seven-day Caribbean cruises, and Carnival Triumph, which sails four- and five-day departures to Mexico.
"Galveston is already one of our most popular embarkation ports and with Carnival Freedom we’re not only dramatically expanding capacity in the market but also providing consumers with yet another exciting opportunity to experience our spectacular Fun Ship 2.0 innovations on a Texas-based ship,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival president and CEO, in a news release.
RELATED CONTENT: Princess Cruises trim Japan deployment in 2015
Carnival Freedom will kick off its new schedule from Galveston with a six-day Caribbean voyage to Costa Maya, Mexico; Belize; and Cozumel, Mexico departing Feb. 15.
Following the six-day voyage, the ship will launch year-round departures from Galveston on Feb. 21, encompassing three different itinerary choices that visit ports throughout Mexico, the Caribbean, Bahamas and Florida.
Carnival Freedom’s week-long itineraries from Galveston include:
• Western Caribbean voyages departing Saturdays to Cozumel; Belize; and Mahogany Bay, Roatan.
• Western Caribbean voyages departing Saturdays with stops at Montego Bay, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel.
• Eastern Caribbean sailings departing Saturdays visiting Key West; and Freeport and Nassau, The Bahamas.
Shaun Bevan is the digital producer for the South Florida Business Journal. Stay on top of the latest business news with our free daily newsletter. Click here to subscribe.
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The spate of gas explosions in retail gas shops located in our neighborhoods is fast becoming a menace in our country. Going through most neighborhoods in the country, retail gas business outlets are fast-rising with less consideration for their safety.
It has indeed become common to see cooking gas retail shops littered everywhere in Lagos and Ogun States and indeed most part of the country. Indeed the gas retail business has become a veritable means of self-employment as some people go into it as a means of economic survival without taking time to know much about the rudiments and safety tips associated with it are.
Much as consumers will readily appreciate a gas retail outlet nearby for easy accessibility of the product, safety or precautionary measures should be the most important consideration. The proliferation of these gas retail outlets is fast becoming a time bomb in our neighborhoods because most of them do not abide by safety precautions.
For example, filling gas should be done in a ventilated area and not in an enclosed area. This is one of the safety tips that are sometimes not followed, as the gas becomes weak in a ventilated area as against getting concentrated in an enclosed area. This, therefore, reduces the tendency for any accident.
Also, most retail dealers do not know that they ought to chain their gas cylinders in a safe and ventilated area instead of locking them up in a shop. Safety precautions at home should be that burners are adequately serviced, while the condition of the cylinder should be monitored to ensure it doesn’t leak, amidst other safety tips and regulations.
The Government through its regulatory agencies should ensure that safety tips are maintained by retailers always and are not compromised. The Gas retailers should be well trained and their licenses should be reviewed periodically, while they also ensure regular visitations to their business premises to ascertain the level of compliance to safety regulations.
The government should also make sure that gas retailers undergo routine training from time to time to know the latest development of safety tips. Those who violate safety regulations should be sanctioned and their license is withdrawn.
The Standard Organisation of Nigeria should ensure that the quality of cylinders sold to the public is of optimum quality and should, therefore, comb cylinders retail shops for fake and substandard cylinders.
In all, the Government should encourage small retail gas business owners within small neighborhoods to pull resources together and establish a standard and well-managed retail outlet in a safe corner of the neighborhood to discourage unnecessary proliferation.


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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah public officials and tourism leaders will recognize Utah’s $7.5 billion tourism economy Wednesday at the 9th annual Tourism Day on Capitol Hill.
“Tourism pays significant dividends for Utah and is vital to our state’s economy,” Gov. Gary R. Herbert said. “We are blessed with an abundance of recreational opportunities in Utah. The passion and dedication of those that work in our tourism industry is a big part of what makes ‘Life Elevated’ in Utah.”
Tourism representatives from 17 of Utah’s 29 counties will also be available, and will have booths displaying information about their tourism opportunities.
“We love tourists. They come to enjoy our spectacular landscapes, and they spend lots of money. Then they take their children home to be educated in other states,” said Vicki Varela, managing director of the Utah Office of Tourism. “We have an ambitious agenda to expand on the $1 billion in taxes that tourism contributes to our schools, roads and other quality of life investments.”
About the Utah Office of Tourism
The Utah Office of Tourism, an agency within the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, promotes out-of-state visitation to Utah through integrated communications, marketing and travel trade initiatives. Tourism in Utah is a $7.5 billion industry, last year generating $1 billion in state and local tax revenue. The Utah tourism industry employs an estimated 132,681 Utahns.
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Email: [email protected]


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Internet gambling group 888 hedges its bets on new tie-up
Internet gambling group 888 said it was aware of merger interest from rivals, in the wake of last week’s tie-up between Partygaming and Bwin.
But chief executive Gigi Levy insisted ‘99pc of people at the company’ were pursuing organic growth – while still weighing up consolidation ideas.
With the Partygaming merger due to create the world’s largest listed online gaming company, the pressure on smaller rivals to consolidate has been cranked up.
888 has reported second-quarter profits flat on last year at £38million
Talk of a tie-up came as 888 reported second-quarter profit flat on last year at £38m, with the £60m acquisition of Wink Bingo offsetting weakness in poker.
The group’s poker division saw profits fall 36pc on last year to £5m, while casino games were 9pc lower than the previous quarter at £7m.
But the Wink deal saw operating income in its bingo division (which recruited a cross-dressing Vic Reeves to front its 888 Ladies advertising campaign, pictured) surge from £1.9m to £8m over the quarter.
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Friday, August 23, 2013
Woman Arrested for Allegedly Buying Baby for N1.2m
Investigations reveal that she paid the money into a matron's account but she refuted the allegations, claiming that the money she paid into the account of the matron was for delivery and herbs she gave to her to aid delivery. “She (matron) said my breast would start producing milk in three weeks but for now the baby is taking baby food,” Atemkeng said.
Concerning the case, investigations are still on-going ...


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iOS 9.1 Beta 2 Allows Enabling of Rogers and Fido Wi-Fi Calling
Rogers and Fido customers (that are also developers of course) on iOS 9.1 beta were unable to activate Wi-Fi Calling when the carrier launched support for the feature with the launch of iOS 9.0.
Some had to downgrade to iOS 9.0 to try the new feature, but with today’s release of iOS 9.1 beta 2, developers can now activate Wi-Fi Calling:
Wi-Fi Calling allows those in areas of poor cellular connectivity to still make and receive calls and text messages when connected to Wi-Fi networks.
Bell will launch Wi-Fi Calling support this Friday, but only for iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus users (Rogers supports iPhone 5c models or newer). TELUS has said it will not support the feature “at this time.”


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The American Herbal Products Association is urging members and stakeholders to contact lawmakers to oppose the mandatory product listing language that has been attached to a ‘must pass’ fee reauthorization bill.
A Mediterranean diet supplemented with almonds (MDSA) can help mitigate obesity-related white adipose tissue (WAT) dysfunction and reduce risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease, according to new research.
Proposals to overhaul the UK Cannabidiol (CBD) approval system has led to tension among some members of the Secretariat Advisory Board (SAB) of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) that liaises with government to inform industry policies.
Short-term consumption of blueberries can improve health outcomes in adults at high-risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) but results on healthy individuals are ambiguous and require further investigation to establish long-term outcomes.
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) has shown to inhibit the COVID-19 virus in both in-silico and in-vitro settings, and positive findings from a clinical trial are expected to be published in Q3, says functional ingredient firm Gencor.
New Zealand is pumping in cash to boost its cherry-growing industry by funding research to assess the nutritional value of the stone fruit that has been purported to reduce inflammation, regulate blood pressure and improve sleep among many.
With more than one billion women expected to have entered menopause worldwide by 2025, Bonafide is highlighting the need to increase education on preparing, managing, and addressing solutions for menopause symptoms.
Between worker shortages, plant shutdowns, trucking issues, backups at the ports, supply chains are pinched and prices are growing. Every industry is feeling the inflation burn – and the health and wellness sector is no exception. According to SPINS,...
Health and wellness company Onnit has added a new study to its growing portfolio of clinical trials to validate the benefits of the “total human optimization” brand’s range of multi-ingredient supplements.
The dietary supplements industry has reacted to a recent report from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force that dismissed the potential benefits of multivitamins for the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Last week’s meeting of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Science Board did little to assuage a frustrated CBD industry that continues to call for regulation of the cannabinoid as a dietary supplement.
With consumers increasingly demanding scientifically-validated nutra products and ingredients, one of the key scientists in Australia’s national research agency has revealed the three factors that are crucial for a high-quality trial.
Vitamin D levels marginally increased in people who received low dose vitamin D3 alone or combined with calcium, compared to a decline seen in those who received calcium supplement alone or a placebo, according to a new RCT from the UAE.
Supplement companies must enact policies to fight and prevent modern slavery across their supply chains, ensure clear accountability and governance structures, and coordinate efforts to increase education on modern slavery among staff and suppliers.
Hologram Sciences has launched Phenology, its new women’s health brand offering a one-stop destination for menopause solutions that it hopes will redefine the experience with a holistic approach addressing health and beauty solutions.


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Wisconsin continues winning streak at ACS competition
DENVER, CO - A semi-hard washed rind cheese made from the milk of Jersey cows was named 'Best of Show' at the American Cheese Society's 2017 Judging and Competition.
‘Tarentaise Reserve’ from Spring Brook Farm Cheese/Farms for City Kids Foundation in Vermont was the top cheese among 2,024 entries in the competition which featured entries from the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Colombia. This is an increase of 181 entries over last year's competition.
The results were announced at the 34th Annual ACS Conference: ‘Cheese with Altitude’ in Denver.
The runner-up finish for Best of Show was awarded to ‘St. Malachi’, an Apine-style cow's milk cheese with a firm washed rind created by The Farm at Doe Run in Pennsylvania, followed by ‘Harbison’ spreadable bloomy-rind cheese wrapped in spruce bark crafted by Cellars at Jasper Hill in Vermont.
According to contest results, this year's competition exceeded last year's event in several categories including an increase in the number of total entries with 2,024 entries of cheeses and cultured dairy products from 281 companies, a 10 percent increase over last year.
The number of cheese companies competing in the professionally judged event have also increased with 36 representing the U.S., four Canadian provinces, Mexico, and Colombia. The U.S. garnered 385 first place ratings followed by 22 from Canada and three from Mexico.
Wisconsin earned one-third of all first place entries with cheesemakers, butter and yogurt makers taking home 34 blue ribbons (runner-up California had 15 top finishes), 35 second and 49 third place ribbons. America's Dairyland earned an impressive 29 percent (119 ribbons) of the 410 ribbons awarded by the ACS.
“Artisan cheese is clearly on a growth curve in both quality and diversity. We are thrilled by the record number of entries in this year’s ACS competition. It is a testament to the creativity and vitality of artisan cheesemakers,” Nora Weiser, ACS executive director told PR Web.
Wisconsin cheesemakers, butter and yogurt makers, claimed 29 percent of all awards, including 34 first place ribbons, 35 second place and 49 third place. Out of 108 cheese awards, 56 went to certified Wisconsin Master Cheesemakers.
According to the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Wisconsin cheese and dairy companies swept nine categories:
• Fresh Unripened Cheeses, Cheese Curds – all milks
• American Originals, Brick Cheese – made from cow’s milk
• American Originals, Brick Muenster – made from cow’s milk
• Italian Type Cheeses, Grating Types – all milks
• Flavored Cheeses, Feta with Flavor Added – all milks
• Flavored Cheeses, Rubbed Rind Cheese – all milks
• Smoked Cheeses, Open Category – made from cow’s milk
• Cultured Milk and Cream Products – all milks
• Cheese Spreads, Open Category Cold Pack Style – all milks
Among Wisconsin cheesemakers, Maple Leaf Cheesemakers earned four blue ribbons and nine overall. Earning three first place finishes was Cedar Grove Cheese and The Artisan Cheese Exchange (five ribbons overall).
Klondike Cheese was among cheese plants earning two first place finishes. However, the Monroe-based plant took home the most ribbons of Wisconsin cheesemakers, earning 14.
Other cheese plants earning at least two top finishes include: Arena Cheese, Bel Gioioso Cheese, Edelwiess Cheese, Emmi Roth USA, Lactalis American Group, Widmer's Cheese Cellar, Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese, CROPP Cooperative/Organic Valley, Merieke Gouda, Mt. Sterling Cheese, Schuman Cheese, V&V Supreme Foods and Yodelay Yogurt.
“We are proud of the talent, passion and dedication that earned our Wisconsin cheesemakers another strong showing at this year’s competition. Wisconsin is honored to be among the many other incredible cheese and dairy products represented from across America.” said Suzanne Fanning, Vice President of National Product Communications at the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board in a news release.


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A no-deal Brexit will have a “severe” impact on the automotive sector, raising prices for customers and disrupting the industry’s just-in-time operating model, EU automotive organisations warned this week. In an unprecedented joint statement, 23 automotive associations from across the EU warned of the “devastating” impact a no-deal Brexit will have on the sector. It said: “The UK’s departure from the EU without a deal would trigger a seismic shift in trading conditions, with billions of euros of tariffs threatening […]
A customs software provider for freight forwarders has told the government there is “a totally unacceptable level of risk” in mandating its Customs Declaration Service (CDS) for shipments to and out of Northern Ireland.
The government has today (7 October) set out further details around the creation of a number of Freeports across the UK to create jobs, drive investment and regenerate communities.
Hauliers are warning that large retailers could cut back on shipping to Ireland if checks created by Brexit cause delays.


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Redondo Beach, CA (PRWEB) February 21, 2009
DS Direct Response, a new marketing agency, opened its doors today to serve the specialized needs of companies that sell natural health products.
Natural health is big business. In 2008, American spent $3.8 billion every year on vitamins, natural foods, information products, and alternative medical therapies.
The alternative health boom has created a hypercompetitive marketplace. Marketers of supplements and other health products must compete against many thousands of products. Health marketers also face the challenges of complying with advertising regulations administered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
To help solve these challenges, a group of leading alternative health marketers have combined forces to form DS Direct Response, a new online direct response agency. The agency is based in the Los Angeles area and serves clients across the U.S. and Canada.
DS Direct Response helps clients create integrated direct response marketing programs, primarily through the Internet and direct mail. "Our goal is to help our clients integrate their direct mail and online marketing programs. We help them find synergies get better results for their budgets," said Debbie Stanley, president of DS Direct Communications.
The agency has launched a new website: http://www.DSDirectResponse.com. Interested health marketers may also request a special report, entitled, "Nine Secrets for Boosting Your Sales and Profits Despite the Recession" free.
To request the report, visit: http://www.DSDirectResponse.com or send an e-mail to: dstanley at dsdirectresponse dot com. Or write to: DS Direct Response, 1840 S. Elena Avenue, Suite 210, Redondo Beach, CA 90277. Or call, 310-540-4313.


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Sriracha lovers, you may have limited time with your favorite hot sauce
IRWINDALE, Calif. (CNN) – A hot sauce factory has 90 days to stop the smell before city officials make changes.
According to CNN, the attorney for a company that produces one of America’s most popular hot sauces told HLN that complaints bout an odor coming from the company’s factory amount to a lot of fuss over a very minor issue.
“Of the 61 complaints lodged by the city’s residents, over 40 of them came from the same four people,” said John Tate, who represents Huy Fong Foods, the maker of Sriracha.
The issue has led to threats of a shutdown for the factory in Irwindale, California.
They city has now moved toward declaring the factory a public nuisance.
The Irwindale City Council voted 4-0 to have staff prepare a resolution that would give Huy Fong Foods 90 days to make changes to stop the spicy odor problem.
The city attorney said the council will consider the public nuisance resolution during its April 23 meeting.
The vote came despite Tate’s proposal to submit an action plan within 10 days to have the smell fixed by June 1.
If Huy Fong makes good on its promise, the city will not enforce its determination.
In a statement, Huy Fong Foods said it was disappointed with the City Council action. “We, with the help of AQMD(South Coast Air Quality Management District) will work towards a resolution, but at the end, we believe the city will do what they wish to do regardless.”
Residents first reported a burning sensation in their eyes and throats, as well as problems with headaches and watering eyes in October.
As a result, Huy Fong suspended operations in November on the order of a Los Angles County judge.


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The report highlights the far-reaching effects of Big Tech’s policies on mobile tap-to-pay features, revealing how Apple and Google’s regulations are reshaping the landscape of mobile payments.
09/13/2023 12:15 P.M.
2 minute read
In a report published last week, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explores the regulations surrounding mobile payments, particularly the “tap-to-pay” feature found on smartphones and smartwatches.
One of the key takeaways from the report is the explosive growth of tap-to-pay usage in the U.S. The adoption of this payment method has surged in recent years, with estimated transactions reaching nearly $300 billion across platforms like Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay. Analysts predict that digital wallet tap-to-pay transactions could witness a growth of 150% by 2028. Of the 130 million iPhone users in the U.S., a significant portion have embraced Apple Pay, with 55.8 million making in-store payments using the service in April 2023 alone.
While Apple strictly prohibits third-party payment apps from accessing the near field communication (NFC) technology necessary for tap-to-pay transactions, Google’s Android system currently allows such access. This inconsistency in policies raises questions about the potential impact on the future of mobile payments.
The bureau suggests that restrictive tap-to-pay practices could limit consumer choice and stifle innovation in the payment industry. Apple’s NFC policy, for instance, prevents the direct integration of tap-to-pay functionality into existing banking and payment apps like PayPal, Venmo and Cash App. This limitation may hinder the development of a more open banking ecosystem that empowers consumers and fosters competition.
“Regulations imposed by Big Tech firms have a big impact on whether consumers and businesses can make payments using third-party apps,” said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. “We are carefully evaluating Big Tech’s role in our banking and payments system.”
The CFPB is focusing its broader efforts on monitoring the shift toward open banking in the U.S., including the rise of multi-service super apps. Additionally, the bureau is undertaking a rulemaking initiative to clarify consumers’ personal financial data rights, potentially accelerating the transition to open banking. As the retail payments landscape evolves rapidly, the CFPB aims to evaluate how regulatory changes can either support or disrupt this transition.


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Someone at Samsung and/or AT&T must be just giving this stuff away, and whoever you are, we thank you. After leaks of the official Android 4.0 ROM for both the Galaxy S II and the Galaxy S II Skyrocket, the same update for the plus-sized Galaxy Note has also appeared. You can download it now [...]
Samsung Electronics is tipped to be pushing up the launch of a new smartphone model to help the electronics giant turn around its sagging sales. The tip comes from a person who claims to be familiar with Samsung's plans, but didn't want to be identified.
Samsung is always working on the next big thing when it comes to smartphones. The Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge are old news on the market and prices are already coming down in an effort to move more devices. Samsung has never been exactly watertight when it comes to details leaking about future products. A recent leak has dropped a few hints about the Galaxy S7 smartphone.
Pitting the Galaxy Note 5 against its most recent predecessor, the Galaxy Note 4, we see a device that gets a rather interesting kick in the specs. While the device's basic premise doesn't change - it's still a big phone with a Samsung-made unique stylus inside - the design gets a reboot. Taking after its closest cousin, the Galaxy S6, the detailing on this smartphone becomes refined.
A couple of weeks ago, Google started offering Free App of the Week . The point of this promo is to get more people to download apps directly from the Google Play Store instead of going to Amazon Appstore or the Samsung Galaxy Store. Unfortunately, it's not easy to locate the free app offer on the Play Store so we'll just share it with you.
While Google's Nexus devices have already been confirmed to be some of the first phones to get patched for the recent Android vulnerability Stagefright, other major devices, especially Samsung 's flagships, are still at risk.
This isn't the first time Uber vehicles have ever delivered ice cream. It is the first time Uber Denver specifically planned out an elaborate way to bring the entire city their fix on a 90-degree day in both Colorado Springs and Fort Collins. While you'd expect that having ice cream hand-delivered to wherever you happen to be in a city wouldn't be cheap, this delivery comes at a mint.
If you know Samsung from their history, you would be forgiven for thinking that the budget offerings of the Korean smartphone giant will probably never get a taste of Android Lollipop. But Samsung has been surprising us this year, trying to bring back excitement to the brand and doing stuff very un-Samsung-like. First, they updated the budget Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 to Lollipop .
After months of rumors, leaks, sightings, and early previews, the Samsung Galaxy J5 and Galaxy J7 are now official. The two mid-range Android phones have earlier passed by TENAA and some close up images were shown off a few days ago. We knew that the new Galaxy phones are arriving very soon and Samsung China has just listed the two on its website.
We weren't expecting Android 5.0 Lollipop for the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active but I guess since the Galaxy S4 model has gotten a taste of its sweetness, it's rugged sibling should be getting it too. AT&T has started to release the Lollipop software update for the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active (SGH-I537) yesterday, April 21. As with most Android 5.
If a certain Russian blogger is to be believed, Android powerhouse Samsung will be teaming up with struggling Blackberry and they will be producing an Android smartphone that will have BB services (which some people are still dependent on/loyal to).
The Moto G has just only been released a couple of weeks back , and already we have a CyanogenMod 12.1 port for it floating around via the XDA forums. This is not an official CM12.1 port, of course, but so far all the feedback points to everything working on the new Motorola’s new budget offering, the 3rd generation Moto G.
This week is bringing events from a few big companies, but Samsung is not one of them. Instead, the Korean company will be having its next event in mid-August, but before that it has started teasing what we can expect.
Samsung has let the world know today that it will be hosting a major event on August 13 at the Lincoln Center in New York City dubbed “Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2015”, and looks to be the launch pad for two of its new devices – the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus, both which have had numerous leaks in the past Outing the next member of the Galaxy Note phablet line in August is a ne
The first question you should be asking yourself - after you've decided on a Samsung Galaxy S6 - is whether or not you want to go with the Edge. Your choice will influence the rest of your life in the smartphone environment. While the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge have a LOT of the same elements, they present ever-so-slightly different aims for Samsung in the smartphone universe.
The battery life is nearly the same on both the iPhone 6 and Galaxy S6, but the iPhone's is slightly better. My colleague Steve Kovach wrote that both phones lasted for about full workday after normal to heavy usage, and I've experienced the same.The long-standing competition between Apple and Samsung has never been as close as it is today.
We have a few tweaks and tricks for Samsung devices featured today, all care of our friends over at the XDA developers’ forum . As quintessential fans of the Android platform, we usually promote ways for people to bring the performance of their Android devices to a higher level. That said, these tweaks usually require root access, and will void any kind of warranty.


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Music Gear News
Sheffield singer has chart success after X Factor
But this year it seems that one contestant has already been doing well in the charts, despite only appearing in the initial audition round of the ITV1 programme so far.
Playing her acoustic guitar, Sheffielder Lucy Spraggan was shown singing her own song, Last Night (Beer Fear), on the most recent edition of the programme, and getting through her initial audition in the process.
Now the song has apparently become the United Kingdom's second most bought track for the week thus far, or so reported the Official Charts Company yesterday.
In fact it was at number 70 in the singles chart as of last Sunday, the day after Lucy first popped up on The X Factor.
But Sunday also saw Lucy inform her Facebook fans: "Oh dear :( the album is coming offline guys, in preparation for some things coming up... Not my call to make, get it while you can!"
It now appears that the record, on which Last Night (Beer Fear) was a track according to The Official Charts Company, is no longer available on iTunes.
Published by AW. Posted on 29 Aug 2012 16:20 to category : Music News
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Korg launch the DS-DAC headphone amps with a portable USB version and stylish high-end model.
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Novation are celebrating their heritage by releasing a free 800MB sample pack a competition to win your choice of Novation synth. The closing date has now been extended.
We're pleased to announce that we now stock Dean Markley strings at Gear4music!


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Last month, a letter issued by the RCEP’s trade negotiating committee had also softened its stand on market access demands for foreign products in India.
As of now, the external affairs ministry remains solidly against India entering the proposed RCEP.
It argues that China plans to use the bloc as a platform to counter the government’s efforts in building domestic manufacturing capabilities.
It has also pointed to the aggressive geopolitical stance adopted by Beijing over the past few months. The neighbouring country has increasingly been cornered by nations for hiding the extent of the Covid-19 pandemic in its early days.
However, officials in the commerce department say they are evaluating all possible outcomes and will study proposals sent by the RCEP.
A senior commerce department official said the government is open to hearing out new proposals by the RCEP bloc. A decision to join it will be based on the realities of global trade and the need to find suitable export destinations for India’s goods.
But he added that major concerns still remain unaddressed. “Of the 70-odd issues that had held up the deal, around 50 were India’s concerns. Prime among them was a push by us to institute a proposed import cap on China and a mechanism to raise tariffs on Chinese imports if it crossed a certain threshold. This has continued to be furiously refused by Beijing,” he said.
The proposed RCEP is a free-trade agreement (FTA) between the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) economies and six others (New Zealand, Australia, China, India, Japan, and South Korea) with which the grouping currently has FTAs. It has been touted as the biggest trading bloc on earth.
After Prime Minister Narendra Modi opted out of the RCEP at the Leader’s Summit in Bangkok in November 2019, the Centre clarified it was open to being part of the grouping in the future if it got favourable offers. The other RCEP nations had also left the door open for India — the largest untapped consumer and industrial market — in the bloc.
India’s hope of greater trade in services, which would have allowed cross-border movement of Indian information technology, medical workers and teachers, was also impeded by opposition from the Asean bloc and developed economies such as Australia.
Since then, the government has upped the ante against the previous United Progressive Alliance regime, bashing it for compromising India’s trade interests. The government had also remained cautious on not to repeat a deal similar to India’s FTA with the Asean bloc.
India’s revenue foregone due to Delhi’s first major multilateral deal has more than doubled to nearly Rs 26,000 crore in 2018-19.
Being the basic framework of the RCEP deal, the FTA with the 10-nation grouping came into effect in 2010. Exports to the 10 economies stood at $37.4 billion in 2018-19, up by 9 per cent from the previous year. On the other hand, imports were higher at $59.31 billion, up by 25 per cent from the previous year’s $47.13 billion.
According to a study by the NITI Aayog, the utilisation rate of regional trade agreements (RTAs) by Indian exporters remains critically low at between 5 per cent and 25 per cent.


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Siili Solutions acquires a majority stake in Supercharge, Woodio and a University of Helsinki-coordinated project secure financing, Aalto University fashion students win recognition during Copenhagen Fashion Week, Brazil and Finland plan 5G collaboration, and our Five From Finland series looks at innovations from Finnish female scientists. Click on the headlines for more in-depth information about each piece of news.
Finnish company Siili Solutions has been given the green light to acquire a majority stake in Hungary’s Supercharge to form an international digital innovation, experience and technology powerhouse. Siili will acquire 55 per cent in the fast-growing digital services provider with offices in Budapest, London and Amsterdam. To be completed by the end of February, the transaction will accelerate Silli’s digital experience strategy with Fastcharge’s significant innovation, concept and mobile application expertise. Image: Siili Solutions
Finnish eco-design and material technology company Woodio has been selected for the European Innovation Council’s (EIC) Accelerator programme. Woodio will receive 2.5 million euros in funding with an option for a further five million in equity financing. The programme is highly competitive, with only one per cent of the applicants awarded funding. Woodio’s material innovation is a composite made of wood chips and resins, which can be moulded into end products such as wash basins, bath tubs, toilets and panels. Image: Woodio
DECIDER project secures EUR 15 million in EU funding
The DECIDER project coordinated by the University of Helsinki has received 15 million euros in funding from the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme. The goal of the five-year research project is to improve the diagnostics and treatment of ovarian cancer with advanced technology. Its partners represent 14 organisations from seven European countries. The research will use patient data to develop diagnostics tools that are able to give earlier and better predictions for patients whose cancer is not responding to current treatments, as well as find effective and more personalised treatments. All the patients participating in the research project are treated in Finland. Image: Pixabay
Aalto University fashion design student Idaliina Friman has won the Designers’ Nest competition for young fashion designers in Copenhagen. The jury was impressed by her “visually striking silhouettes, accomplished tailoring, an elegant grasp of historic references and use of recycled materials”. Aalto students Ines Kalliala, Elina Äärelä and Arttu Åfeldt also reached the final. Part of Copenhagen Fashion Week, the competition is an important springboard for young and promising Nordic designers. Friman, Äärelä and Kalliala’s works will also be included in the upcoming Future Nordic Fashion exhibition in Stockholm, Sweden. Image: Aalto University / Arttu Åfeldt
Finnish public organisation Business Finland and Brazil’s Ministry of Communications have signed a memorandum of understanding for collaboration on digital development and 5G in Brazil. The South American country’s communication minister, Fabio Faria, is currently on a global trip to learn more about the 5G technologies available in various countries, ahead of the world’s largest auction for 5G frequencies planned in Brazil in the spring. The agreement establishes a broad base for collaboration to provide Brazil with the best Finnish digital practices and solutions. Image: Business Finland
With the International Day of Women and Girls in Science being celebrated on 11 February, our weekly Five From Finland series set out to explore some innovative developments where female scientists from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland have played a key role. The featured innovations are plastic alternatives, a food vending machine of the future, a waste processing solution, sustainable cosmetics and a treatment method for excessive sweating. Read our article on the inspiring ladies by clicking the headline. Image: VTT


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Ridesharing company Uber just recently announced a rebranding that moved away from its geometric icon in favor of a more simplistic, text-based icon. The company, whose logo sparked some controversy/confusion before when moving away from its play on the U-shape, is reverting back to a sleeker, cleaner look that uses the brand’s name more to its advantage.
The rebranding is in an effort to revert back to taking advantage of the ‘U’ and being able to connect Uber’s different branches together (i.e. Uber Eats). An interesting choice that shows when some brands are big and notable enough, logos can be forgone where the brand’s name speaks for itself.


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The unemployment rate is forecast to reach 16 percent, the highest rate since the Great Depression, and economists estimate that 21 million jobs were lost last month.
Nearly 3.2 million laid-off workers applied for unemployment benefits last week as the business shutdowns caused by the coronavirus pandemic deepened the worst US economic catastrophe in decades.
Roughly 33.5 million people have now filed for jobless aid in the seven weeks since the coronavirus began forcing millions of companies to close their doors and slash their workforces. That is the equivalent of one in five Americans who had been employed back in February when the unemployment rate had reached a 50-year low of just 3.5 percent.
The Labor Department’s report on Thursday suggests that layoffs, while still breathtakingly high, are steadily declining after sharp spikes in late March and early April. Initial claims for unemployment aid have now fallen for five straight weeks, from a peak of nearly 6.9 million during the week that ended March 28.
Applications for jobless aid rose in just six states last week, including Maine, New Jersey, and Oklahoma, and declined in the 44 others.
The report showed that 22.7 million people are now receiving unemployment aid – a rough measure of job losses since the shutdowns began. That figure lags a week behind the figures for first-time unemployment applications. And not everyone who applies for jobless aid is approved. The number of laid–off workers receiving aid is now equal to 15.5 percent of the workforce that is eligible for unemployment benefits.
Those figures are a rough proxy for the job losses and for the unemployment rate that will be released on Friday, which will likely be the worst since modern record–keeping began after World War II. The unemployment rate is forecast to reach 16 percent, the highest rate since the Great Depression, and economists estimate that 21 million jobs were lost last month. If so, it would mean that nearly all the job growth in the 11 years since the Great Recession ended has vanished in a single month.
Even those stunning figures won’t fully capture the magnitude of the damage the coronavirus has inflicted on the job market. Many people who are still employed have had their hours reduced. Others have suffered pay cuts. Some who lost jobs in April and didn’t look for a new one in light of their bleak prospects won’t even be counted as unemployed. A broader measure is that the proportion of adults with jobs could hit a record low.
The official figures for jobless claims may also be undercounting layoffs. Surveys by academic economists and think tanks suggest that as many as 12 million workers who were laid off by mid-April did not file for unemployment benefits by then, either because they couldn’t navigate their state’s overwhelmed systems or they felt too discouraged to try.
As the economy slides further into what looks like a severe recession, economists are projecting that the gross domestic product – the broadest gauge of economic growth – is contracting in the current April to June quarter by a shocking 40 percent annual rate. As it does, more layoffs appear to be spreading beyond frontline industries like restaurants, hotels and retail stores.
GE Aviation, for example, has said it is cutting up to 13,000 jobs. Uber will shed 3,700 positions. MGM Resorts International has announced that the furloughs of more than 60,000 employees could turn into layoffs.
But the job cuts have hammered workers at restaurants, hotels and retail firms particularly hard. According to the payroll processor ADP, about half the total jobs in the hotel and restaurant industry – 8.6 million – disappeared in April, based on data from its corporate clients. A category that includes retail and shipping shed 3.4 million workers.
As businesses across the country have shut down and laid off tens of millions, the economy has sunk into a near–paralysis. Even as some businesses are beginning to reopen in certain states, factories, hotels, restaurants, resorts, sporting venues, movie theaters and many small businesses are still largely shuttered. Home sales are falling. Consumer confidence and spending are sinking.
The difference between the 30 million-plus unemployment claims that have been filed in the past several weeks and the expected April job loss of slightly more than 20 million reflects differences in how the figures are compiled.
The government calculates job losses by surveying businesses and households. It’s a net figure that also counts the hiring that some companies, like Amazon and many grocery stores, have done. By contrast, the total jobless claims are a cumulative figure; they include applications for unemployment aid that began in mid–March.
In addition, the government conducts its surveys for the monthly jobs reports in the middle of each month. So layoffs from the final two weeks of April won’t show up in Friday’s jobs report. They will instead be included in the May jobs report to be released in early June.
After problems with state computer systems had slowed the distribution of federal benefits for many laid–off workers, all 50 states are now paying the $600 extra weekly benefit that the federal government included in a relief package enacted in late March. That represents a significant help to millions of laid-off workers, many of whom still remain anxious and uncertain.


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Though there were some concerns about tech company earnings this week as Microsoft, SAP and other bellwethers reported results, the IT sector has helped drive markets to a solid start for the second quarter.
Problems with an SAP software implementation in Australia dragged down technology distributor Ingram Micro's first-quarter profits, the company said this week.
High Tech Computer (HTC) reported another massive revenue increase in the first quarter due to brisk sales of smartphones, with more growth expected in the current quarter as its Flyer tablet PC and two handset models with dedicated Facebook buttons ...
Sprint added 1.1 million new wireless subscribers last quarter but the company still lost $439 million over the same period.
Research In Motion warned that its first-quarter smartphone shipments are likely to be lower than expected, cutting its earnings forecast for the quarter.
Motorola Mobility shipped 250,000 Xoom tablets in the first month the device was available, the company said on Thursday as part of its first-quarter earnings report.
Microsoft enjoyed strong income and revenue growth for its third fiscal quarter despite sluggish PC sales, with Xbox and Office doing well, the company reported Thursday.
Acer, the world's second largest PC maker, saw its revenue slump in the first quarter following a management shakeup and what it described as a seasonal lull in demand. The Taiwanese manufacturer is now counting on tablets to boost overall sales.
SAP saw revenue rise by 21 percent in the quarter ended March 31, with double-digit growth in all regions driven by increased software business from partners and the channel.
China's largest search engine, Baidu, reported strong revenue and profit growth in the first quarter, driven by "solid traffic growth" and measures to generate more revenue from the company's sites.
Wipro, India's third largest outsourcer, said on Wednesday that its IT services business had grown by 20 percent to US$1.4 billion for the quarter ended March 31, reflecting strong demand from outside the country for offshore services.
A Who's Who of IT bellwethers including Apple, IBM, Intel and Qualcomm issued strong financial reports this week, the height of earnings season, reinforcing forecasts for a strong year for the tech sector.
AMD posted gains in both revenue and profit in the first quarter, citing lower prices but higher unit sales of microprocessors compared with a year earlier.
Verizon Communication reported revenue of US$27 billion for the first quarter of 2011, up 0.3 percent from a year earlier, with the company pointing to growth in mobile customers as a cause for optimism.
Nokia reported an increase in sales for the first quarter, but profit declined and the company expects a challenging second quarter as it bears the full brunt of component shortages resulting from the earthquake in Japan.
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The British brand, owned by Tata Motors, sold 70,582 vehicles in the US last year, a 37 percent increase over its 2014 tally, while Jaguar was 8 percent down.
With 70,582 units sold in 2015, Land Rover marked the biggest percentage gain among carmakers in the US, with 37 points rise from a year ago. As for last month, its sales reached 8,441 units, a 47 percent increase from 5,754 units in December 2014, while Jaguar sales were 1,197 units, down 29 percent from 1,683 units a year ago. Jaguar Land Rover North America December US sales for both brands hit 9,638 vehicles, a 30 percent boost from 7,437 units in December 2014. For the full year figures, JLR’s sales were up 26 percent with 85,048 cars sold compared to 67,238 sold in 2014. “2015 was a landmark year for Jaguar Land Rover in the United States as our product innovations continue to spur consumer demand, especially for luxury sports cars and SUVs,” said Joe Eberhardt, President and CEO, Jaguar Land Rover, North America. Land Rover’s solid results are certainly due to the ongoing SUV euphoria, the annual figures being led by the brand volume leader Range Rover Sport with 21,459 sales up 20 percent from 17,897 units in 2014.
Land Rover’s 2015 model year line-up features five models: The 240-hp turbocharged 2.0-litre Land Rover Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque; the LR4 powered by a 340-hp supercharged 3.0-litre V6 engine; the Range Rover Sport and Range Rover, available with either a 340-hp supercharged 3.0-litre V6 or 510-hp supercharged 5.0-litre V8 powertrain. For 2016, two special editions will be added to the RRS line up, the Range Rover Sport HST, available in either a 3.0-litre Supercharged V6 380-hp engine or a 5.0-litre Supercharged V8 510-hp with added SVR aero package and the 550-hp Range Rover Sport SVR.
As for Jaguar, December sales hit 1,197 vehicles, down 29 percent from 1,683 units in December 2014, while for the full year 2015, the brand dropped 8 percent, “because it run down on recently introduced new and refreshed models.” This year, Jaguar will introduce two new models – the Jaguar XE sports sedan and F-PACE SUV.


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The current iPad 10.2 that’s simply known as the iPad colloquially, was released in September 2019. But now the latest iPad rumors has it that a successor might be launched in the second half of 2020.
In a story on MacRumors today, it is reported that the so far reliable leaker Lovetodream on Twitter, tweeted today that the 2020 iPad will feature an Apple A12 chip.
This would be an upgrade from the current A10 chip.
in my dream iPad 2020 A12
— 有没有搞措 (@L0vetodream) May 15, 2020
The current iPad was upgraded from a 9.7-inch tablet to a 10.2-inch tablet, even though it kept a lot of the same components. But as the Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo was quoted saying yesterday, a 10.8-inch iPad is expected in the second half of 2020, while a possible iPad mini successor in the 8.5-inch to 9-inch range is expected in the first half of 2021.
The size of the iPad mini has always been 7.9 inches, but it still has room to grow its display size without increasing its outer dimensions. Though at 9 inches, it would have to grow even its exterior.
A new iPad has a lot of room for improvements, as I would expect Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, higher resolution camera(s), and probably smaller bezels among the first prioritized main changes.
An iPad 10.8 is also likely to maintain its digitizer support and feature a trackpad on the optional Apple keyboard. Because as it stands now, the software is ahead of the hardware on the iPad 10.2 not matter how good value it is for the money.
– Tom Bowen


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During today's Computex keynote, Microsoft Windows chief Tami Reller just announced that new x86 Windows 8 tablets will ship with Office in the box. The executive didn't detail the software offering, beyond mentioning that Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote will all be included. Windows RT devices, for their part, will now also include pre-installed Outlook, beginning with the Windows 8.1 update, which is due to arrive as a preview version later this month.
Update: Microsoft just put up a blog post saying that these free Office applications will come with "small screen tablets" -- in other words, not necessarily all Windows 8 tablets. Tami Reller didn't specify screen sizes during her presentation, and we don't know if small necessarily means the Iconia W3 degree of small (i.e. eight inches), but we're seeking clarification.
Update #2: We tracked down a rep at Computex who said that the bundled software will only come with Windows 8 tablets under 10 inches, which will evidently rule out a lot of devices.


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Ofgem has proposed measures to ban unfair price differences among utility operators following a probe into the sector. It has also concluded however that there is no evidence of a cartel within the industry.
The regulator published its findings today (October 6) after launching an
investigation in February this year.
Ofgem says some utility companies’ practices are failing households and has proposed ways to ban unfair price differences, such as the differences between direct debit rates and prepayment meters.
During the seven-month probe, the regulator says it was “particularly concerned to see behaviour by supply companies that was hitting the 4.3 million consumers without gas supply”.
Ofgem says however at the same time, competition is generating “a wide range of tariffs and products” and it has found no evidence of a cartel. It adds: “There is a strong consumer awareness – and satisfaction with switching.”
The regulator has proposed measures to ban unfair price differences, tougher rules on doorstep selling and more transparency in energy suppliers’ financial reporting. It has also put new requirements on suppliers to provide information to help consumers get the best deal.
The report marks the start of a consultation on Ofgem’s findings and proposals that will close on December 1. If the industry fails to deliver, it can be referred to the Competition Commission.


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Recently we talked about Google+ potentially becoming a Facebook alternative, now there is a new player in the field; Pinterest – pinning your interests.
Pinterest is a virtual bulletin board that allows users to share or “pin” images. Their mission statement is to “connect everyone in the world through the things they find interesting.” The images are placed on themed boards that users can customise, they can then be “repinned” by other users to share.
A beta was run in 2009 for Pinterest and 3 years later it has quickly become a successful social media portal for traffic, already overtaking Google+. Businesses can drive traffic towards their product or website and allow customers to share pins.
One of the major differences between Facebook and Pinterest is the copyright. As one photographer discovered, Facebook could get in trouble for copyright violations so why not Pinterest? Users are asked to pin images from their original source and to give credit when pinning the image. If a user is sued for pinning an image illegally, the user must pay for his or her lawyer, as well as the lawyer for Pinterest.
Co-Founder, Ben Silbermann contacted the photographer after her post went viral in order to remedy the potential legal issues. While some changes have been made, Silbermann has told users that they are still in the process of coming up with a fair solution.
Despite the controversy over the copyright issue, businesses are still using Pinterest to create interest among their potential customers. Peugeot used Pinterest to launch a puzzle competition where users had to re-pin images of the cars to solve puzzles. Viewers must find and re-pin the images that are ‘missing’ from their Pinterest board.
While social networking websites do gather a fair amount of referral traffic, search engines are still the biggest driver in that department. The benefits of using a social media site allow businesses to interact with their customers and personalise the experience.


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An Oliver Wyman research shows that 50 percent of the Chinese luxury accessories and fashion shoppers just entered the market in the past 12 months, and they are expected to drive more than 80 percent of market growth this year.
Among these new customers, 40 percent are below 25 years old, showing very different preferences and behaviours than the rest of the luxury shoppers.
The consultancy estimates there are approximately 5.4 million luxury accessories and fashion shoppers in China today. Of them, 1.5 million spend RMB 40,000 (US$6,257) or more a year, contributing 81 percent of the total spending in 2021.
With the new consumers as the key driver, luxury accessories and fashion spending in China is expected to increase 40 percent in 2021 to approximately RMB 266 billion (US$41.6 billion), according to Oliver Wyman.
“Unable to travel overseas and having money to spend, many Chinese are attracted to the idea of starting their luxury journey this year. These new customers have become the driving force of China’s luxury goods market growth in 2021,” said Imke Wouters, a Retail and Consumer Goods Partner at Oliver Wyman.
Among these new luxury shoppers, 40 percent are Gen Z (below 25 years old), and they appear very different from the other luxury shoppers. For example, Gen Z shoppers more often buy luxury items to reward themselves. They care about being unique, have a relatively higher interest in trendy seasonal items and niche brands (including Chinese niche brands), and are a lot more open to buying second-hand and vintage luxury products.
Moreover, today’s Gen Z consumers’ first luxury items are more likely to be ready-to-wear instead of a handbag or small leather goods (which were the preferred purchases of their predecessors), according to the research.
“We are not talking about a costly tweed jacket or evening gown. Instead, the younger generation would prefer a signature luxury T-shirt or other apparel items priced below RMB 10,000 (US$1,565),” explained Katie Sham, an Oliver Wyman Principal of Retail and Consumer Goods.
“They are confident with the idea of mixing and matching the luxury items with other clothing to create their unique look,” continued Sham.
Even though today’s luxury shoppers, especially Gen Z, are always online, the survey shows that offline stores continue to be important, also for Gen Z, with the luxury brand sales assistants playing a critical role. Relationship with brand sales assistants is the benefit most desired by Chinese luxury shoppers. Three out of four luxury shoppers maintain regular contacts with their sales assistants, and 60 percent of them talk to their sales assistants at least once every two weeks, either through WeChat text, voice messages, or phone calls.
“Sales assistants have become the new best friends of Chinese luxury consumers; they’re part of their everyday social life,” said Sham. As a result, 70 percent of the respondents said they had already decided on purchasing with their sales assistant before going to the store.
“Brands have to double down on recruiting and retaining sales talents, and also should think about how much autonomy they want to give to their sales assistants versus maintaining control,” added Sham.
SEE ALSO : 6 emerging trends in luxury travel in China
Oliver Wyman, a management consulting company, surveyed 3,000 Chinese luxury shoppers who spent at least RMB 40,000 (US$6,257) in the past 12 months in October 2021, supplemented by one-on-one interviews with top luxury shoppers who spent more than RMB 200,000 (US$31,284) a year. Interviews were also conducted with sales assistants from various luxury brands across different cities. The surveyed luxury goods included leather goods, ready-to-wear, accessories and fine jewellery.


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More than 100 Xerox(s xrx) engineers and contractors will help 3D Systems increase its research and development spending by 75 to 100 percent over the next few years after the 27-year-old 3D printing company bought a portion of Xerox’s Wilsonville, Oregon-based group for $32.5 million. The two companies announced today that the cash transaction will be complete by the end of the year.
The Wilsonville group is home to Xerox’s product design, engineering and chemistry teams. The employees acquired by 3D Systems will focus on product design and material science. They come packaged with their associated labs and select patents. Xerox also plans to continue its own research into 3D printing.
Xerox and 3D Systems have been partners for 15 years, during which they collaborated on products like 3D System’s line of ProJet professional 3D printers. Like 2D printers, 3D printers require “inks,” though they may come in liquid, powder or spooled forms, plus specialized print heads — both areas where 107-year-old Xerox can lend 3D Systems a great deal of expertise.
3D Systems is most famous for sterolithography, a style of 3D printing where a pool of liquid resin is cured by a UV light layer by layer, creating a 3D object. Since its founder Chuck Hull designed and patented the first stereolithography printer in the 1980s, 3D Systems has also expanded into selective laser sintering (a laser seals together powdered particles) and fused deposition modeling (melted plastic is extruded layer by layer). It has also expanded into producing consumer-level 3D printers.
3D Systems has been very aggressive in its acquisitions over the last few years, likely to compete with professional 3D printer rival Stratasys and the growing tide of affordable personal printers.
“The stronger our marketplace leadership, the more powerful our economic model becomes,” 3D Systems President and CEO Avi Reichental said in a release. “Simply put, a solidified position translates directly to higher revenue, higher profitability and greater earnings power over time and we are willing to sacrifice short term earnings to get there faster.”


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Xbox Live's first free-to-play game, the multiplayer battle title Happy Wars, is coming to PC through Steam in 2014. The news comes by way of a newly launched website for the game, which also lets you sign up for a beta that's set to begin April 30 and run through May 13.
Happy Wars launched in October 2012 and has seen more than 6 million players on Xbox 360 to date. The game supports up to 30 players (15 vs. 15), who must attack their opponents' castle while simultaneously defending their own.
On Xbox 360, Happy Wars requires an Xbox Live Gold ($60/year) membership, so it's not exactly free. The game also offers various in-game microtransactions, but these are of course optional. Happy Wars is developed Japanese studio Toylogic.
For more on Happy Wars, be sure to read GameSpot's review.
|Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @EddieMakuch|
|Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email firstname.lastname@example.org|


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(MasterCard news release) MasterCard on Tuesday announced PayPass Wallet Services a new global offering for banks, merchants and partners that will make it faster and easier for their customers to make purchases in stores or online by allowing them to securely pay with a simple click of the mouse, touch of the tablet screen or tap of the smartphone.
According to the MasterCard news release:
“Consumers are looking to pay for goods when, how and where they choose. Merchants want flexibility to easily accept digital payments so they can convert more browsers to buyers both online and in store,” said Ed McLaughlin, chief emerging payments officer, MasterCard. “We realize that when it comes to payments, no single wallet will rule them all. PayPass Wallet Services simplifies the shopping experience while providing flexibility and choice to merchants, banks and consumers.”
Read the entire news release from MasterCard HERE.


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Wyeth’s 2Q sales rise, but income sees decline
MADISON, N.J. Wyeth announced that its net income declined by 6 percent to $1.12 billion from $1.20 billion for its second quarter compared to the same period last year, according to published reports. Wyeth’s second-quarter sales rose 5 percent to $5.9 billion, with virtually all of the gain coming from the weak dollar.
Wyeth’s biggest product, the antidepressant Effexor, had sales of $1.02 billion, up 5 percent. The Prevnar pneumococcal vaccine posted sales growth of 9 percent to $691 million. Sales of the anti-inflammatory medication Enbrel outside the U.S. and Canada rose 36 percent to $692 million. Wyeth has exclusive rights to the drug outside the U.S. and Canada, while Amgen comarkets the drug with Wyeth in the U.S. and Canada. Wyeth reported revenue from these countries of $284 million, up 6 percent.
The recent launch of competing generic versions of the heartburn drug Protonix drove Wyeth’s sales for the product down 59 percent to $228 million. This includes both Wyeth’s branded version and an authorized generic version it launched when competitors began selling generics.
Much of the investor interest in Wyeth lately, however, is centered on a drug not yet on the market. Wyeth is developing an Alzheimer’s drug with Elan called bapineuzumab. The companies recently reported encouraging results from a mid-stage study of the drug, and are conducting larger, late-stage studies to support the potential filing for regulatory approval, which is a few years away. Analysts think the drug could be a major blockbuster.
But Wyeth executives indicated their focus wouldn’t be solely on prescription drugs. The company plans to build up its non-pharmaceutical business, which includes consumer health care, (which had sales of $665 million), nutritional and animal-health products, (which saw sales increase by 12 percent to $313 million). Chief executive officer Bernard Poussot said Wyeth would make small- to mid-sized acquisitions in these areas.
Expert panel recommends lifestyle changes for pre-diabetics
NEW YORK A panel of experts from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists has recommended two approaches for treating patients with pre-diabetes.
In a statement released Wednesday morning, the panel recommended significant management of lifestyle to prevent the onset of diabetes. It also recommended preventing cardiovascular complications from developing.
Pre-diabetes is a condition in which patients have high levels of glucose or low tolerance to sugar, but don’t have high enough levels to be diabetic. The condition puts patients at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Pre-diabetes affects 56 million Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
SF pharmacy tobacco ban up for vote
SAN FRANCISCO A San Francisco Board of Supervisors committee sent a proposed amendment to the city’s health code that would ban tobacco sales at pharmacies to the full board Thursday for a vote.
After the City Operations and Neighborhood Services Committee heard testimony from city government officials, industry representatives, anti-tobacco activists and pharmacy workers, Supervisor Carmen Chu, who chairs the committee, allowed it to go forward.
Proponents of the amendment say that pharmacies send a mixed message by selling cigarettes and medicines. Opponents call the proposed ban unfair because it exempts supermarkets and big-box stores that operate pharmacies.
The Board of Supervisors, the legislative body for the consolidated city and county of San Francisco, will vote on the amendment Tuesday.


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Lobbying by fund managers and advertising agencies has forced Viacom
Outdoor, the company responsible for London Underground poster ads, into
introducing a new policy banning similar ads being placed next to each
The new system of “category alternation” means companies in all sectors,
not just financial services, will never again face the problem of ads
placed alongside competitors, making it hard for the public to
differentiate between firms.
The issue of advertising clutter was brought to Viacom's attention after
this year's Isa season by Ptarmigan Media, which buys ad space for leading
fund managers, including Gartmore and Jupiter.
Dramatic increases in advertising spend caused specific problems on the
Underground because of the limited number of poster sites.
Ptarmigan has reacted with caution, saying it has been looking at
alternative forms of advertising for the next Isa season but it will listen
to what Viacom has to say.
Ptarmigan managing director David Wiggin says: “We told them they would
need to put their house in order but we will give them a chance and will
not rule out Underground advertising completely. Our planning is underway
for the first quarter of next year. Looking at the stockmarket and general
market conditions, I would think that people will be cutting back from last
Gartmore head of product marketing David Piper says: “We welcome the fact
it is taking action but we have to look at the small print and discuss
whether this will affect rates for premium positions as it may drive prices
Viacom spokeswoman Jo Tomlin says: “The new system should hopefully
resolve this issue.”


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ICFA announces award finalists
Cinde W Ingram -- Casual Living, 7/1/2012 2:00:00 AM
The International Casual Furnishings Association has announced the finalists for the 2012 Apollo Awards. The program recognizes retail excellence in the sales and marketing of outdoor furnishings.
Finalists must demonstrate outstanding accomplishments and commitment to customer service. The ICFA membership will vote via an online ballot for a winner in each category later this summer. Finalists will be honored and the winners announced at a gala awards banquet Sept. 22 during the International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market in Chicago.
Finalists in the 2012 competition include:
SINGLE STORE CATEGORY
■ Authenteak, Atlanta
■ Daylight Home and Gardens, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
■ Kolo Collection, Atlanta
■ Outdoor Elegance, La Verne, Calif.
■ Sunshine Furniture, Vero Beach, Fla.
■ ABSCO Fireplace & Patio, Birmingham, Ala.
■ Fishels, Portland, Ore.
■ Greenhouse Mall, Austin, Texas
■ Patios Plus, Rancho Mirage, Calif.
■ Yard Art Patio & Fireplace, Irving, Texas
We would love your feedback!


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Harley Davidson has unveiled a new line of motorcycles for 2014. The bikes are developed under the name “Project Rushmore” and have liquid cooled engines and touch screen electronics similar to luxury automobiles.
The manufacturers have already shipped 25,000 of the new bikes to dealers. Eight models were rooted and enhanced under this project making it the largest new model launch in Harley’s history.
The bikes will be unveiled on Labor’s Day when Harley-Davidson will celebrate its 110th anniversary in Milwaukee. The new product development initiative was announced four years ago and the Rushmore bikes are the first to come under this initiative.
The bikes under Rushmore mission are: the Road King, Street Glide, Street Glide Special, Electra Glide Ultra Classic, Ultra Limited, Tri Glide Ultra, CVO Ultra Limited and CVO Road King.
In addition to liquid cooled engine the bikes will include integrated front and rear anti-lock brakes, integrated audio, communications, navigation and vehicle information in a single electronic touch screen.
According to Harley, the new bikes are priced comparable with 2013 models such as $26939 is kept as the base price for Ultra limited with two tone paint.
The project Rushmore targeted the core riders in the highly profitable touring segment. The company says that as a result of the product improvements the new bikes pass faster, stop quicker and can see farther at night. Another new feature that the new bikes include is the redesigned Batwing fairing.
Bill Davidson, the great grandson of Harley Davidson, guarantees that the customers will definitely say wow once they throw their legs over these bikes.