text:
New vegan restaurants set opening dates
Metro Detroit’s latest vegan startup, Unburger Grill, opens today in Dearborn. The restaurant is located at 22018 Michigan Ave. and features a fast-food style menu with options like Sweet BBQ burgers with sweet potato-quinoa patties, tomato-red pepper soup, and raw garden salads. Unburger is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Meanwhile, metro Detroit pop-up Electric Plate is opening a brick-and-mortar vegan corner store with ready made foods in Oak Park. The location is hosting a grand opening on Saturday, August 25.
The Null Taphouse in Dexter, which is attached to Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales’ production facility, has undergone a name change. It’s now called Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales + Kitchen, which honestly makes a whole lot more sense. The full switchover including updated hours and food will be unveiled on Thursday, September 6. Null originally opened in 2016.
Corned beef egg roll drama in Green Acres
Detroit’s original Asian Corned Beef chain is looking to expand to Green Acres, but apparently some community members aren’t on board with the plan. One recent newsletter for the Greenacres-Woodward Civic Association featured a laundry list of concerns about the corned beef egg roll stand including fears the restaurant will bring “litter, noise, and stench” to the surrounding neighborhood. It might also face re-zoning issues.
Judy Blume spotting
Author Judy Blume took a trip through Detroit this week, stopping at Lady of the House for a bite and taking a minute to sign chef Kate Williams’ copy of Are you there God? It’s me, Margaret.
• All AM Intel Coverage [ED]


text:
Losing a set of keys might soon be a thing of the past, as long as phones remain in pockets.
InfiniteKey, a Holland startup and spin off of software company SpinDance, is using micro-location technology to help phones function as a key for locks. InfiniteKey already is working with an undisclosed car manufacturer with hopes to deliver the technology to the market within the next 12 months, said Kevin Virta, the company’s CEO.
Virta said the conversations with automakers has been an uphill battle, as SpinDance went to several companies a few years ago with a prototype and received mixed reviews.
“Now, they’re coming back and looking at it and saying, ‘Now we see what you saw a few years ago,’” Virta said. “Millennials will expect this functionality, because a phone is a very personal device to them and is always with them. It’s an extension of who they are.”
To help specialize in the micro-location technology, SpinDance announced the formation of InfiniteKey in October.
“To fully develop and commercialize micro-location technology requires a great deal of focus and dedicated resources,” SpinDance President Mike Ellis said.
Micro-location is a form of technology developed to be more accurate than global positioning systems and uses sensors to locate items within a room. It currently is largely used in retail marketing to push out product-specific marketing when a customer is in front of a product. The technology also can be used for indoor navigation in settings such as museums.
Most of the current uses, however, have a 3-to-5-foot accuracy range, a tad too large for use as a key and lock, Virta said. InfiniteKey technology is accurate to within a matter of inches, so it can replicate the function of a passive vehicle key, which allows a user to unlock and start a car without taking it out of their pocket.
The passive key technology uses antennas placed around a vehicle to sense the key.
“We started looking at this thinking a phone could be a key for a lot of things, just like it can be a wallet now,” Virta said of software such as Apple Pay and Google Wallet. “Forever, it’s been wallet and keys, that’s what you left the house with. Now, it’s keys, wallet and phone. As we evolve and you’re no longer going to need a wallet, why even bring your keys?”
Along with the changing technology, Virta said younger generations might come to a point in time when cars aren’t under sole ownership and car sharing is more prevalent. To help increase ease of use in car sharing, he said key transfers need to be efficient and seamless, which makes an app approval appropriate, he said.
To make a phone function as a car key, InfiniteKey engineers first had to find a technology ubiquitous to phones, as the company can’t ask phone companies to build in a specific technology. InfiniteKey is using Bluetooth Low Energy technologies, similar to how phones connect to a car’s speakers.
The automakers, or lock manufacturers, must then build in the technology to facilitate the micro-location technology, just as they have with Bluetooth connectivity, which allows phones to connect to the car through several sensors scattered throughout the vehicle.
As in current Bluetooth uses, each key has its own authorization to work as a key and is authorized by a vehicle owner on their phone. Virta said phone approvals can be one-time, time-bound or unlimited. The technology might become especially useful to assure driverless rideshare cars and taxis the correct passenger has entered the vehicle or to function as a lockbox substitute for home showings or Airbnb rentals.
“My wife and I could have keys for the other’s car with no restrictions,” Virta said. “But because of the technology and computer power on the phone, there’s all sorts of ways to grant and restrict access.”
Along with officially working with one manufacturer, Virta said the company is responding to several RFQs for the technology. He also said there are several other companies working on micro-location lock technology, which he views as a good thing.
The car or lock company buys the license to use the product, and the user who purchases the product then has the license to use the product through an app on the phone.
“We want to work with every automaker, but we’re realistic and don’t expect to end up on every vehicle,” he said. “Still, we have a good shot to capture a good market.”

domain: news


text:
GOAT Group valued at $3.7bn after raising $195m in Series F funding round
GOAT Group, the global platform for the "greatest products from the past, present and future", has raised $195m in a Series F funding round leading to a doubling in its value to $3.7bn.
The financing was led by Park West Asset Management, funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., Franklin Templeton, Adage Capital Management and Ulysses Management.
Founded in 2015 as a sneaker marketplace, GOAT has expanded into apparel and accessories from select emerging, contemporary and iconic brands. It boasts 30m members worldwide and 600,000 sellers.
The business has achieved strong growth in the past 12 months with Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) hitting $2bn and year-on-year GMV increase in sneakers is over 100%, while apparel is up 500%.
“GOAT’s growth is accelerating across every channel and category due to the powerful global technology platform we have developed and the premier customer experience we deliver, which resonates with younger consumers around the world,” said Eddy Lu, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at GOAT Group.
“GOAT is creating a leading, highly differentiated luxury and lifestyle brand that is uniquely positioned at the intersection of the primary and resale markets, enabling us to increase our share of a large and expanding total addressable market in our core sneakers business and newer verticals,” Lu added.
The company will use the proceeds from the financing round to help further invest in growth in its sneaker business as well as its rapidly growing apparel and accessories verticals, and to increase its global footprint of 13 facilities with the addition of Chicago, China, Japan and Singapore.
“We are delighted to be investing in GOAT. We are excited by its distinct value proposition to customers,” said Tyras Bookman, Portfolio Manager at Park West Asset Management. “GOAT’s combination of premier e-commerce and brick-and-mortar assets, which include the iconic GOAT and Flight Club brands, enable it to engage its global community in unique ways and capture huge market opportunities across multiple lifestyle categories, while remaining authentic and true to its values.”
“GOAT’s founders and leadership team have a compelling vision, and we believe they have built a strong brand and platform with significant competitive advantages," added Jodi Love, Investment Analyst at T. Rowe Price. "We look forward to working with the company as they continue on their path to durable growth."


text:
KFC España has partnered with Nuvei and Judopay to provide seamless mobile payments for its customers throughout its 150 restaurants in Spain.
The fast-food restaurant chain is now focusing more on enhancing its customers’ digital experience, as a majority of the world economy is going online.
Representing KFC España, Yum! Brands chief commercial officer Pablo Calavia said: “At KFC, we believe that the customer should be at the heart of all our decisions, and payments are a crucial part of the customer experience.
“That’s why we have partnered with Judopay and Nuvei. The innovative technology of these two leading payment providers will help us improve our omnichannel customer experience, supporting our strategy of being the leading quick-service restaurant in digital experience across western Europe.”
Under this partnership, Nuvei has agreed to provide acquiring services for KFC España using its extensive network of acquirers throughout Europe.
In order to incorporate this franchising model, both KFC España and Nuvei have created custom-made documentation, pricing and sub-account management.
The partnership will benefit KFC España by providing optimised transaction approval rates and local processing costs, while its customers will gain the ability to make payments using all payment channels.
Nuvei chair and CEO Philip Fayer said: “We are delighted that our close relationship with Judopay has facilitated KFC España’s expansion into the digital realm.
“We are proud to provide this famous brand with the benefits of our payment technology and network of local acquiring partners. On Nuvei’s part, this proves that our emphasis on flexibility and localised services pays dividends at any scale.”
In May, Yum! Brands, the parent company of KFC, entered into a binding agreement to acquire Dragontail Systems, an Australia-based provider of kitchen order management and delivery technology.


text:
New Billentis Market Report 2016
The 2016 edition of the Billentis E-Invoicing Market Report is now available on the Signature South Consulting website. For our clients and partners of our company, we offer it to them immediately at this link: http://www.southconsulting.com/pages/billentis-report/
Among the prominent sponsors of this report from the Swiss Bruno Kosh are Signature South Consulting and several of our partners such as Basware, Esker and TrustWeaver.
Among some of the most relevant points, it can be summarized that “Latin American continues being the leader,” says Sergio Chaverri, CMO of Gosocket Corp and Signature. With regard to some of the countries of the region, Chile is recognized as the root of the Latin American model and its development. Chile has 200,000 companies registered as e-invoicing users, which represents 77% of total invoicing in the country.
Other markets, like Brazil and Mexico, are early adaptors and have already passed Chile, while there are others that are quickly evolving, like Peru.
On the other hand, with regard to companies of the region, it shows that Gosocket has taken advantage with its network concept that connects thousands of companies that not only conduct hundreds of millions of e-invoicing transactions in 10 countries in Latin America, but also offer financial services under a simple and effective modality.
Regarding Signature South Consulting, it shows that it is the only company capable of providing e-invoicing solutions with real knowledge and expertise in each country where it is present–it is in 10–and has been doing so since the regulations came about in the region in 2003.
Signature South Consulting is not only committed to providing its clients with quality solutions and services, but also with the global development of e-invoicing, sharing its knowledge with different entities and actors throughout the world, the company says.


text:
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced a $13 million settlement with Dallas-based wire service Moneygram earlier this month, concluding an investigation into fraudulent wire transfers.
The settlement includes 49 states and the District of Columbia with Illinois receiving $375,000 of the $13 million payout. The money will be used to cover costs and fees the state incurred as well as a consumer restitution program. The settlement also provides for stricter employee guidelines and fraud prevention measures.
“This is a civil action, and the goal is to establish procedures to protect consumers who might be a victim of a scam artist," said Madigan spokesperson Annie Thompson. "We know fraudulently induced wire transfers are a serious ongoing threat to vulnerable consumers,”
Scam artists used a wide variety of tactics to get users to wire them funds. Some Moneygram consumers were contacted by a third party promising big winnings from lottery or contest payouts while others were asked to cash counterfeit checks. The scammers also made phone calls and sent emails requesting money for the victim’s family member who was said to be in legal or medical trouble.
“Once the victim sends the money, it is generally extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get the money back from the scam artists," Thompson said. "For that reason, we have focused our efforts on identifying fraudulently induced transfers on the front end, before the money has been picked up."
In an effort to prevent and detect fraudulent wire transfers, Moneygram agreed to implement a number of stricter company policies. Mandatory training will be required for agents; and employees who fail to take measures to reduce fraudulent wire transfers will be suspended or terminated. In addition, more stringent monitoring policies will be put into place.
“Moneygram will be monitoring wire transfers particularly in high-risk corridors, such as Jamaica," Thompson said. "When they do see a potential for fraud-induced transfers, they will block the transfer until they can confirm its authenticity with the consumer."
This process is referred to as the Anti-Fraud Alert System (AFAS) and will continue to be enhanced and strengthened. An online system will be implemented for employees to report noncompliance with these improved anti-fraud guidelines.
Consumers who filed complaints of fraud with Moneygram between July 1, 2008, and Aug. 31, 2009, are eligible for restitution. An administrator will be reviewing the complaints and sending notices.
“Beware of unsolicited requests from strangers asking you to wire money in return for a big payday, which is the hallmark of a scam,” Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said in a press release. “Immediately hang up the phone, throw the letter in the trash or delete the email, and report the contact to my Consumer Fraud Bureau so we can alert others to these scams.”


text:
Once they were five friends looking for a way up in the aerospace rat race. They evolved into colleagues with a patented solution in search of a problem. Now comes the scary part: They are business partners in a field crowded with competitors selling a flywheel technology as old as the potter’s wheel.
The five started a tiny Cerritos company called Vycon Inc., which is marketing a device that could help reduce diesel emissions and fuel consumption at seaports around the world. Another version could serve as a less costly and more reliable source of emergency power.
The 14-employee company is at a crucial stage, said Louis Romo, one of the five, who regularly gathered at a Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles to discuss their dreams. The 4-year-old business has relied on $17.5 million in venture capital and must make the leap to product sales to survive.
“We are trying to run a production-line-level company. It’s pretty exciting,” said Romo, Vycon’s vice president for sales and business development, who met his friends while they worked at AlliedSignal Inc. in Torrance, now part of Honeywell International Inc.
At the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the nation’s largest seaport complex, a Vycon device sits like a large refrigerator on an eight-wheeled behemoth known as a transtainer crane. It is like any of the dozens of workhorse machines that lift, sort and stack cargo containers at the ports. But Vycon executives hope that this crane is running more efficiently than all the others.
It’s there because of an epiphany one of Vycon’s engineers had at an Italian port two years ago, during that stage when Vycon was looking for a business problem that its product could solve. As the engineer watched a crane stacking containers, Romo said, it occurred to him that Vycon’s flywheel device -- which is like a mechanical battery that can store a great deal of energy and then release it in a few seconds -- could help a crane’s engine.
“Once we had a prototype, we went looking for applications. Where do you need that kind of power? We just kind of stumbled on it, really,” Romo said.
With each lift, a port crane’s exhaust pipes spew out a stream of toxins, helping make cargo movement the largest source of air pollution in Southern California. Vycon’s Regen system, a 400-pound vacuum-sealed flywheel spinning on a frictionless electromagnetic field, is designed to reduce pollution from crane engines by doing some of the engine’s work.
The flywheel system collects energy as cargo containers are lowered and then releases it as containers are lifted. That reduces the power the diesel engine has to supply, cutting fuel consumption and the release of pollutants.
Vycon sold its first six units for $150,000 each to the Long Beach Container Terminal in December. One is being used at the ITS Terminal at the same port, and another machine is being tested at Evergreen Marine’s Seaside Transportation Services terminal at the neighboring Port of Los Angeles.
Vycon’s business plan is to market its products at seaports around the world. In February, the company took a step in that direction by selling a unit to the Inchon Container Terminal in South Korea.
Vycon’s other major product serves as a bridge between a regular power supply and an emergency generator for a business computer network. The company wants to sell the device to businesses looking for an alternative to the more traditional lead acid battery systems that serve as uninterrupted power supply sources.
“Each of those markets are global and we are trying to attach our products to them,” said Tony Aoun, Vycon’s chief executive, who joined the company in 2003 to provide practical expertise in running a production-scale company. “We are aiming at playing in the big leagues.”
Romo remembers that he wasn’t aiming so high in 1996, when he met four other new employees at AlliedSignal: Vatche Artinian, Patrick McMullen, Larry Hawkins and Co Huynh. All were in their mid-20s and working in the motor and generator design group.
The five engineers would hang out at Hermosa and Manhattan beach or meet up at El Coyote Mexican Cafe on nights after work. But after a few years at Allied, “we all began to get that five-year itch. We figured it would take as many as 20 years to move up into management there,” Romo recalled.
They agreed after several Saturday morning meetings seven years ago to combine their efforts, first forming a company called Calnetix Inc. to design high-speed motors and generators. Vycon is an offshoot of that first business.
“Working together for us was a natural fit,” Romo said.
Vycon is up against several established competitors in the flywheel field, including Pentadyne Power Corp. of Chatsworth; Active Power Inc. in Austin, Texas; AFS Trinity Power Corp. in Medina, Wash.; Beacon Power Corp. in Wilmington, Mass.; and Hitec Power Protection in the Netherlands.
The company also faces scrutiny from the California Air Resources Board, which will analyze the performance of Vycon’s crane technology, board spokesman Jerry Martin said. Vycon would have to reduce diesel emissions at least 25% to receive a recommendation, he said.
Vycon’s own testing claims major reductions in diesel particulates and nitrogen oxide, as well as a reduction in fuel consumption of 20% to 25%.
Company executives are optimistic that their results will persuade container terminal operators to buy their product.
“We can help make the ports operate more cleanly, and we can become the replacement for the backup office batteries,” Aoun said.
Vycon executives say they are getting positive feedback.
Geoffrey Romano, equipment maintenance manager for Evergreen Marine’s terminal, has requested 11 more flywheel systems, even while testing is still underway on the first unit.
“We believe in its potential,” Romano said of the device.
At Virtua Health, a four-hospital organization in New Jersey, one of Vycon’s systems has taken the place of one of the two lead acid battery strings that serve as backup power for computer networks. The batteries can be expensive, messy, difficult to dispose of and weakened by the regular testing required to make sure the networks are ready to operate in an emergency.
Over the several months that the system has been in use, “it has performed every time as needed,” including during power outages and brownouts, said Chas Thawley, Virtua’s network services manager.
Aoun said that was the kind of news he hoped to spread.
“This is a real solution,” Aoun said, “for international trade and for the digital economy market.”


text:
The record industry is as outdated as shipbuilding. Artists no longer need it to get their music out
The record companies are once again crying over spilt milk. When they experienced a windfall from the compact disc in the Eighties, instead of giving back the love, the industry made the customer feel guilty with its “home taping is killing music” campaign.
Now it is trying to stop illegal downloads by brokering a deal with internet service providers to reduce internet speeds for transgressors. But the £1 billion that the industry estimates it will lose in the next five years due to file sharing is already long gone. The game changed years ago, and a generation has grown up


text:
Popular uprisings in the Mideast and North Africa, and now, Occupy Wall street: all examples of popular unrest powered in part by Twitter and other online social networks. In response, the U.S. government is reported to now be developing guidelines for culling intel from social media, according to a Homeland Security official.
Department of Homeland Security Undersecretary Caryn Wagner said the use of such technology in uprisings that started in December in Tunisia shocked some officials into attention and prompted questions of whether the U.S. needs to do a better job of monitoring domestic social networking activity.
"We're still trying to figure out how you use things like Twitter as a source," she said. "How do you establish trends and how do you then capture that in an intelligence product?"
Wagner said the department is establishing guidelines on gleaning information from sites such as Twitter and Facebook for law enforcement purposes. Wagner says those protocols are being developed under strict laws meant to prevent spying on U.S. citizens and protect privacy, including rules dictating the length of time the information can be stored and differences between domestic and international surveillance.
More at The Associated Press (thanks, @newyorkist via Lucy Kafanov)
You’d be forgiven for thinking the videocassette format long-dead, but it turns out that Betamax is still around. Sony is finally going to withdraw tapes from sale, bringing a 40-year story to an end. The last recorders were sold in 2002. ベータビデオカセットおよびマイクロMVカセットテープ出荷終了のお知らせ [Sony; via The Verge]
A leaked Comcast memo discloses that the company’s consumer data caps have nothing to do with network congestion, contrary to its public claims. The internet service provider has often complained (such as when lobbying against net neutrality) that it must impose limits on service to prevent network congestion. The argument suggests that these measures are […]
LA Makerspace co-founder Tara Tiger Brown shares a project that her kid-friendly maker workshop is trying to make a reality.
These knitted gloves are here to save the day (and your hands) with an ultra-comfy, double-layer that will allow you to stay warm and use your phone. Now you can take photos on the fly, text, Tinder, and more without letting freezing temperatures get in your way. Plus they work with all touchscreens, so no […]
Store more on your Mac with this microSD memory card adapter.
Carrying this EDC card is like slinging around a handheld toolbox wherever you go. Its minimal design is small enough to fit in your wallet’s billfold, and it’s TSA-compliant so you’ll never leave it behind. It’s got hex wrenches, metric and imperial rulers, flathead and Phillip’s screwdrivers, and a bottle opener so that you’re ready […]


text:
SoundExchange has filed its second suit over improper royalty filings since its founding 12 years ago.
The suit, filed in D.C. District Court on April 1, centers around the Austin, Tx.-based Mood Media Corporation, owner of Muzak since 2011, which was an early entrant into the digital streaming market. Because Muzak began offering its streaming service to Dish Network satellite television subscribers before the establishment of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act in 1998 -- which set higher statutory rates on digital streams -- it was allowed to have its pre-existing, lower royalty rate of 8.5 percent of revenue grandfathered in. By comparison, the 2015 rate for new subscription services is 15% of revenue or 1.4 cents per subscriber a month -- whichever is greater.
SoundExchange contends in its suit that Muzak's status as a "pre-existing subscription service" (or PSS, a Congressional term for the three services which weren't made to adhere to the post-DMCA rates) does not extend to the company's expansion from Dish onto other platforms, such as DirecTV's SonicTap offering. SoundExchange alleges that Muzak began improperly filing payments under the 8.5% rate in May of 2014.


text:
Did you see our post on our Facebook yesterday? “Today is the 1st National CSE Awareness Day. For more information visit www.stop-cse.org/national-child-exploitation-awareness-day #HelpingHands #CSEDay15”
Tag Archives | CSE
Many young people will have received the latest gadgets such as tablets, smart phones and games consoles this Christmas. The internet and all it can offer, is a wonderful tool for keeping in touch with friends and family, however parents and carers need to be aware that it is possible for people who are unknown […]
Some people will use false accounts & fake photos to trick victims of online grooming Who are you really talking to?


text:
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The West Virginia Ethics Commission is allowing the Public Employees Insurance Agency to consider using advertising on a health promotion website to defray its costs.
The commission made the ruling Thursday for the website, which is scheduled to be launched in July.
The Charleston Gazette reports the website and accompanying mobile apps will include health and fitness tips, exercise and cooking videos and a personal health tracking system for participants.
PEIA executive director Ted Cheatham says he wants to explore the possibility of selling ads to defray the program's $750,000 cost.
Cheatham says the ads would be related to health and fitness, such as from sporting goods stores and fitness centers.
The commission says the website must have a disclaimer that the ads do not constitute an endorsement by PEIA.
Information from: The Charleston Gazette, http://www.wvgazette.com


text:
The fallout continues in the Chick-fil-A gay marriage saga.
Offended by anti-gay marriage comments from Chick-fil-A president and COO Dan Cathy, The Jim Henson Company is ending its relationship with the chicken chain.
Previously, the Jim Henson Company provided "Jim Henson Creature Puppets" in Chick-fil-A's kids' meals, reports Michael Stone at the Examiner.
Here's the statement the Jim Henson Company released on its Facebook page:
"The Jim Henson Company has celebrated and embraced diversity and inclusiveness for over fifty years and we have notified Chick-Fil-A that we do not wish to partner with them on any future endeavors. Lisa Henson, our CEO is personally a strong supporter of gay marriage and has directed us to donate the payment we received from Chick-Fil-A to GLAAD. (http://www.glaad.org/)"
GLAAD is the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, an organization that promotes the image of LGBT people.
This comes right after the mayor of Boston slammed Chick-fil-A, promising to stop it from entering his city.
UPDATE: Chick-fil-A says that it pulled the toys before Jim Henson Co. made its statement:
"Chick-fil-A made the choice to voluntarily withdraw the Jim Henson Kid's Meal puppets for potential safety concerns for our customers on Thursday, July 19. On July 20, Chick-fil-A was notified of the Jim Henson Company's decision to no longer partner with us on future endeavors."


text:
Winton to Start Japan Fund, Hire H.K. Staff in Asian Expansion
Winton Capital Management Ltd., the U.K. hedge fund with $12 billion in assets, will start a new fund in Japan and hire staff in Hong Kong as it expands when rivals such as Citadel Investment Group LLC retreat from Asia.
The London-based firm is going to advise a new fund sold to Japanese retail investors through Mitsubishi UFJ Securities Co. that will track the performance of its flagship commodity trading adviser fund as it seeks a slice of the nation’s $15 trillion in personal savings.
Read Complete Article
About the HedgeCo News Team
The Hedge Fund News Team stays on top of breaking news in the Hedge Fund industry on an hourly basis.
Signup to HedgeCo.Net to recieve Daily or Weekly news updates from our team.
This entry was posted in Syndicated
and tagged asia
, commodity trading adviser
, hedge fund
, hong kong
, mitsubishi ufj securities
, personal savings
, retail investors
. Bookmark the permalink
One Response to Winton to Start Japan Fund, Hire H.K. Staff in Asian Expansion


text:
Even Dollar Stores Struggling In ‘Obama Depression’
More stores across the U.S. that offer deeply-discounted products are seeing their sales decline after years of growth amid America’s “Great Recession” — and one analyst said on Monday it’s another sign of even deeper downturn.
While the demand at stores like the 99-Cent Store or Dollar Tree is still relatively high, the biggest chains in the nation have fallen short of Wall Street’s expectations for several months, a trend that may prove even more ominous for the economy at large.
“I think what’s going on in those stores is that we are in a depression for 80 percent of Americans,” top retail analyst Howard Davidowitz told KNX 1070.
America’s three largest discount chains — Dollar General Corp., Family Dollar Stores Inc. and Dollar Tree Inc. — all recently missed their quarterly earnings targets.
Davidowitz pointed to the weakness of the dollar and a gloomy consumer outlook as some of the factors behind the stores’ slump.
“In those stores, somebody comes in with $12 to do all their shopping,” said Davidowitz. “The person who used to come in with $12 now comes in with $8.”
“In other words, the economy is continuing to be worse, the Obama depression continues to explode,” he added.
Mark 13:19 For those will be days of tribulation, the kind that hasn’t been from the beginning of the world, which God created, until now and never will be again!


text:
Celebrating 40 years of the GTS
Holden Special Vehicles have launched two new models at this year's Australian International Motor Show, in addition to revealing the ClubSport R8 Tourer and W427 Showcar to a Sydney audience for the very first time.
The release was timed to celebrate 40 years of GTS with a special commemorative model, as well as unveiling a Senator Signature SV08.
The SV08 introduces the new TR6060 manual gearbox, which will become standard across the HSV model line-up later this month.
First appearing on a HK Monaro in 1968, the GTS nameplate has been part of the HSV lexicon since its return to the market in 1992 in the form of the 200kW VP GTS and has since been the hero car-line for the high performance car company.
To commemorate 40 years of GTS, just 100 specially released models will be built, featuring black heritage stripes, tyre pressure monitors and a commemorative '40 years of GTS' logo embedded on the headrest, brake calliper, sill plate and rear panel of the model.
Priced from AU$80,170, the new GTS is available in Sting Red and Heron White only.
Twenty years on from the SV88, Holden Special Vehicles has released a limited run of 50 HSV Senator Signature SV08s. Production is limited to 20 manual and 30 automatic Senator SV08 models priced from AU$82,700.
The luxury SV08 receives exclusive lower paint-outs, sill plates and additional chrome accenting on the side mirrors and door handles. The 20-inch Pentagon wheel is standard on this model.
The manual SV08 receives the new Tremec TR6060 gearbox and colour options are Nitrate (Silver), Sting Red and Voodoo (Blue).


text:
Recently, T-Mobile announced that it will be shutting down the Danger Service and Sidekick devices on May 31st. T-Mobile said that it will help current SideKick customers transition their data from their Sidekick device to another device, computer or account through various tools. T-Moble has made a new version of myT-Moblie available to SideKick users. It allows them to take advantage of data backup, including contacts, photos, calendar items, notes, and more. There is available an application in the Sidekick Catalogue that will let users export their data to a memory card.
CLICK HERE For More About T-Mobile Sidekick
Finally, Sidekick users may also bring their devide to a T-Mobile store, where personal data may be transferred to a new devide. T-Mobile stated that more information will become available soon. T-Mobile discontinued sales of SideKick devices last summer, although it did also announce in January that it was planning to bring “Sidekick 4G” to the market some time this year.


text:
Illegal tobacco use in Australia continues to grow with a new report revealing around one in every seven cigarettes consumed is illegal, exposing the fact that plain tobacco packaging has proved only a burden to retailers, according to the Australian Retailers Association.
And Queensland State Parliament voted last week to prohibit the sale and supply of electronic cigarettes to children, restrict their advertising display from January 1, while e-cigarettes will be banned in enclosed and outdoor smoke-free places, according to The Australian newspaper.
The latest in a series of reports by KPMG LLP in the UK, Illicit Tobacco in Australia, shows that illegal tobacco use in the last 12 months has increased from 13.5% to 14.3% of total consumption.
ARA executive director Russell Zimmerman said the change to plain packaging has been a waste of retailers’ time and resources.
“According to the report, had that tobacco been sold legally, the Australian Government would have received an additional $1.2 billion in tobacco excise,” he said.
“Instead of paying tax to the Australian Government, criminals are profiting from this illegal tobacco trade at the expense of local law-abiding retailers who could keep tobacco out of the hands of minors.
“The ARA has long argued the change to plain packaging was an unnecessary burden for small to medium retailers, and it is now further evident that this initiative has had absolutely no effect.”
The ARA is concerned that illegal tobacco products are now swamping the market.
“The ARA will be making the point to the government that action needs to be taken to address the illegal tobacco trade. The government must consider how ever increasing regulation – whether on cigarette packaging or tax – creates additional incentives for tobacco smugglers,” Mr Zimmerman said.


text:
Japanese sports brand Mizuno and Collezione Automobili Lamborghini announced a new partnership at the Geneva Motor Show 2015 and presented a new co-branded running shoe, Wave Tenjin. The five-year partnership between Mizuno and Lamborghini will cover sports apparel as well as footwear.
From Autumn 2015, the range of Mizuno footwear and clothing sporting the Automobili Lamborghini shield will be on sale through Mizuno retailers, selected shops and Lamborghini dealers around the world.
Present in Geneva, Takeshi Shichijo, Director of Mizuno Corporation, declares: “Signing this collaboration agreement is a genuine honor for Mizuno. The Lamborghini marque is renowned worldwide and is in perfect harmony with Mizuno’s commitment to technology, innovation and quality. This is the perfect platform through which to introduce Mizuno to enthusiasts of the Lamborghini brand.”
Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini commentes: “Lamborghini is known worldwide for its most sought-after super sports cars. Enthusiasts now have the opportunity to celebrate their passion for Lamborghini through this shoe and the upcoming products created with Mizuno.”


text:
Thailand’s Private Sector is preparing to host the APEC Business Advisory Council in 2022 (ABAC 2022) under the concept of “Embrace, Engage, and Enable”, by using the symbol of a “Dok Loi Pattern”. Its intertwined lines convey the important synergies for dealing with a changing world and bringing the 21 economies together to tackle challenges and help each other.
Mr. Supant Mongkolsuthree, chairman of The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) and chairman of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) has revealed that ABAC is responsible for providing advice to economic zone leaders on the implementation of liberalisation and facilitation of trade and investment. It consists of 63 members appointed by the leaders of each economic zone, 3 members per economic zone from the 21 economies and Thailand has the three core private organisations of the Thai business sector, namely The Federation of Thai Industries, The Thai Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade of Thailand , and the Thai Bankers’ Association. The Chair of ABAC comes from the economy that is hosting APEC and therefore changes annually, Thailand has been commissioned to host in 2022. The logo will use a symbol called a “Dok Loi Pattern” which is based on a Thai art style that refers to the period of blooming, the different small lines are being stitched together to form a shape of a “Dok Loi” pattern. There are 21 components matching the number of member economies, reflecting the important synergies for dealing with the waves of change and moving forward to the new equilibrium in the world.
ABAC 2022 has set the main theme of the events as “Embrace, Engage, and Enable”, which means the following. Embrace; represents the openness to new opportunities. Open and connect to a network of economic alliances after the global economic recession. Engage; means to unite creative forces, work together to create a new economic direction for the future, and Enable; expand the constraints of economic capacity. Anything can be possible, anytime and anywhere.
Additionally, to prepare for ABAC 2022 and in cooperation with the government, the ABAC 2022 Working Groups have been appointed and there are 4 sub-working groups, namely 1) the ABAC Executive Director Support 2022 Committee. 2) the ABAC4 2022 Event Organising Committee. 3) the APEC CEO Summit 2022 Event Organising Committee. 4) the ABAC 2022 Sponsorship Committee. The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking, (JSCCIB) is made up of The Federation of Thai Industries, The Thai Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade of Thailand, and the Thai Bankers’ Association.
Mr. Areepong Bhoocha-oom, ABAC Executive Director 2022 and ABAC Executive Director Support 2022 Chair, said that the ABAC Executive Director Support 2022 Committee is a working group that supports, promotes, and drives various important proposals and works closely with the ABAC’s 5 Working Groups, where representatives are from the 21 APEC economies. And the committee has responsibility for the summary of issues in the draft proposals to APEC Leaders and APEC Ministers.
Mr. Vathit Chokwatana, Vice Chairman of The Federation of Thai Industries and the Event ABAC4 Chair, said that there will be four meetings of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) in 2022, and Thailand will host the fourth meeting at the end of October to early November in Bangkok. The committee must prepare to welcome representatives from the 21 APEC economies as the ABAC host, including facilitating all matters throughout the meeting.
Mr. Poj Aramwattananont, ABAC Thailand Member and APEC CEO Summit 2022 Chair, said that the APEC CEO Summit will be held in late October to early November. This is another highlight of Thailand’s hosting of APEC because many leaders will be invited to attend the event. All leaders will demonstrate a vision that can lead the 21 APEC economies through the global economic crises the world is facing, the CEOs of leading global companies will also attend the event. This is a great opportunity for Thailand.
Mr. Kobsak Duangdee, ABAC Thailand member, added that the APEC Digital Trade Symposium; Advancing Digital Trade Transformation and Connectivity in APEC is the first event to take place with Thailand as the host, with strong cooperation and support from the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Asia Pacific Financial Forum (APFF) under ABAC participation in the event and agenda. Senior executives and experts from important organisations around the world will be invited to address the symposium during the event.


text:
This June, Sephora Canada revealed its first-ever National Indigenous History Month Campaign, to amplify the voices of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, while paying homage to their knowledge, wisdom, diverse strengths, and teachings. The next evolution of Sephora Canada’s We Belong to Something Beautiful brand platform, the campaign is rooted in celebrating diversity and highlighting local Canadian collaborators’ authentic untold stories.
The campaign launch video features a wide array of Indigenous talent, including two new collaborators: Montreal-based proud Inuk throat singer, Shina Novalinga, and Winnipeg-based Nehinaw content creator and changemaker, Michelle Chubb. These new Indigenous collaborators’ voices are featured in two additional videos dedicated to their stories. All campaign video content will be showcased across Sephora Canada’s digital platforms with images of Novalinga and Chubb also appearing across the retailer’s full fleet of over 80 stores.
“Sephora Canada is committed to using our platform to amplify the voices of Indigenous Peoples across Canada,” says Deborah Neff, SVP Marketing, Sephora Canada. “Through this campaign, we want to showcase the stories of these Indigenous collaborators to let all Indigenous communities across the nation know that they are beautiful and belong in our Sephora Canada stores, in our offices, and in the beauty community.”
To authentically represent Indigenous Peoples, Sephora Canada leaned on the support of Indigenous partners, not just in front of the camera, but behind the scenes as well. From wardrobe and styling to the campaign videographer and campaign photographer, Sephora Canada exclusively partnered with Indigenous talent for the production of this campaign. Anishinaabekwe Artist, Activist and previous Sephora Canada collaborator, Sarain Fox, not only narrates the campaign launch video but also stepped into a new integral role as Campaign Advisor, consulting the retailer throughout the creative process.
“Sephora Canada stepped aside to let Indigenous people lead the development of this campaign. They allowed us to tell our own stories and gave us a platform and the support to do it our way,” says Sarain Fox. “We had a strong circle of Indigenous creative energy throughout this process and the Sephora Canada team formed a larger circle around us, reinforcing that we belong”.
To ensure the development and end result of the campaign remained true to the Indigenous experience, an Internal Advisory Circle of Indigenous Sephora Canada Beauty Advisors supported the campaign, with an Indigenous Beauty Advisor working as makeup artist for the shoots. Before starting work on the campaign, Sephora Canada also engaged prior Beauty Insider Charity Rewards partner, Indspire, to provide a Truth and Reconciliation Workshop for all Sephora Canada employees working on the campaign, members of Sephora Canada’s executive team, and the leaders of its recently established Diversity and Inclusion Council.
“Through our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, Sephora Canada is committed to creating meaningful impact amongst our clients, communities, and employees,” says Debbie McDowell, Director of Communications & Social Impact, Sephora Canada. “We have a responsibility to elevate diverse voices and stories in recognition of National Indigenous History Month; with the determination to drive change and contribute long-term beyond this month.”
In line with this goal, Sephora Canada is matching donations up to $25,000 for its June Charity Rewards partner, 2-Spirited People of 1st Nations. To support employees, Sephora Canada created an Indigenous Learning and Land Acknowledgement Guide for its Head Office and Store Leadership teams, while providing additional educational tools and resources to foster learning and cultural competency for store employees.
Sephora Canada is also proud to announce that local Indigenous beauty brand, Cheekbone Beauty, will be launching on Sephora.ca in the next year. This announcement comes shortly after the retailer made a new Canadian commitment to the Fifteen Percent Pledge to dedicate 25 per cent of its brand offering to BIPOC-owned brands by 2026.
Canadians are invited to follow @SephoraCanada to see additional Indigenous stories unfold throughout the month of June. Further details about Sephora Canada’s ongoing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion journey are available at Sephora.ca/diversity-and-inclusion.


text:
South Australian multimedia vendor, Ziova, has selected Lako Pacific to distribute its networked media players.
The deal will see Lako position the hardware, which wirelessly streams digital content from a PC to a home entertainment centre, at mainstream retailers. Ziova general manager, Greg Birch, said the decision to go with Lako was based on the distributor's experience with similar devices. Despite the deal, it will continue distributing media players from Davico and Pinnacle.
"Lako Pacific already knows this kind of technology," Birch said. "I went and met with them and I really liked their style and the way they've approached this category. They've been an early adopter in the field."
Lako product manager, Murray Roberts, said working with Davico and Pinnacle had been a help and was confident the three product lines wouldn't cancel each other out.
"All the products have their differences," he said. "The Ziova range is wireless and has HDMI connections, plus one unit has a built-in DVD. The Ziova range also looks different - they look more conventional, like a DVD player."
The Victorian distributor will initially kick-off with two network media players at $499 and $599, the latter having a built-in DVD player. Birch claimed the time for networked media players had arrived.
"I'm very excited right now because there have been some pitfalls in the past with these products, but broadband is a lot cheaper now," he said. "People also have more PCs in the home and they want to share resources like photos or music. It's not just geeks who want to do this anymore - it's mums and dads."


text:
By sheer coincidence, last Wednesday’s post, “Staying in Touch Internationally, on the Cheap,” came just as a flurry of Skype-related developments were about to hit the news cycle. On Sunday, a Times article by Brad Stone, outlined the Internet-telephone giant’s aggressive move from computers toward mobile devices. Soon, the article said, users of everything from the Blackberry to Google’s Android-based phones will be able to use Skype software and make calls at Skype’s reduced rates.
For users of Apple’s iPhone, “soon” is actually now. As of this morning, Skype for iPhone is available as a free download at the iTunes App Store. Most of Skype’s original functionality — voice calls plus instant messaging — is there, but Voice Over Internet Protocol, or VOIP, calls can only be made via Wi-Fi; Apple unfortunately prohibits them from its partners’ cellular data networks.
Other than that, my first impression is that Skype for iPhone is a worthy application. Sound quality is good (or at least as good as it ever is with an iPhone), and there are some smart touches. When dialing a number via SkypeOut (the service that lets you call real-world cellphones and landlines), a button lets you instantly access your full address book, not just your Skype contacts. And if, when you do call a Skype contact, the call forwards on to another number, Skype for iPhone tells you what’s going on — a feature that’s not actually in Skype’s latest software for OSX.
Will I switch over from Fring, the Skype-gateway software I wrote about last week? I’m not sure. Skype for iPhone seems a little poky (as does much iPhone software), and it has one annoying quirk: When dialing out manually, you can’t easily correct a mistyped number. That is, if you input the area code 312 instead of 212, you have to delete the whole thing in order to fix it. A minor nuisance, but a nuisance just the same.
Besides, I’ve also grown fond of the way Fring consolidates my Skype, AIM, Google Talk and Twitter contact lists into a single space. But I’ll keep testing the new software — as well as Truphone, which many readers suggested and also has an iTunes app — and report back soon.


text:
Darjeeling has 87 tea gardens which collectively produce 8-8.5 million kg of teas every year. At the last auctions, Darjeeling teas fetched a price of Rs 319.28 per kg compared with Rs 487.30 per kg a year ago, traders said.
The weather condition is likely to hit the June crop too. SS Bagaria, a Darjeeling tea planter, said, “June crop may be lower by 10-15 per cent because of weather conditions.” Adding to the woes of Darjeeling tea planters is the entry of a variety of teas from Nepal which are not just substantially cheaper but also difficult for consumers to differentiate from Darjeeling teas.
“The quality of first flush tea has suffered because of weather conditions. We are hoping for the weather to improve so that second flush teas fetch a little better price,” said Binod Mohan, chairman of Darjeeling Tea Association. He, however, said that the price rise that they are expecting from second flush teas will not be able to meet the spiralling cost of production.
The DTA chairman is worried about the entry of Nepal teas in the domestic market. Nepalese teas have found shelf space in most retail outlets across the country and are being sold as Darjeeling teas.
According to trade sources, Nepalese tea sellers appoint a dealer or agent with a local GST number. These agents sell the teas and are paid 5 per cent GST. The sources said Nepalese tea sellers are ready to shell out the extra cash as they get better prices for their teas in India.
Nepalese teas started entering India in good volumes after the strike call by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in June 2017, which halted plantation operations in the hills for about four months. That political unrest opened doors for Nepalese teas in the Indian market and now the industry alleges that Nepalese teas are finding their way into global markets which used to buy only Darjeeling teas. As per industry estimates, 2-2.5 million kg of Nepalese teas have entered India till now.
- Front Page
- Pure Politics
- Brands & Companies
- ET Markets
- Indian Bonds Most Attractive in APAC
The Indian benchmark bond is the highest-yielding sovereign security in the Asia-Pacific region, barring that of Pakistan, enticing investors to invest in local debt paper.Local Banks not Keen on Plan to Align Payment Messaging System with Russia
Russian financial institutions want to align their country’s payment messaging system with the Indian messaging platform, but the Indian bankers and authorities are reluctant to pursue the idea.Tata Trusts Taking Legal Opinion on Trust Deed Changes
The Tata Trusts are consulting legal experts to examine the possibility of including a clause in the trust deeds to the effect that the same person cannot head them as well as holding company Tata Sons, while honouring the wills of the founders, top executives close to the development told ET.
Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.


text:
Release Reminder: Nike KD 12 ‘Don C’
KD and Don C. One grew up in DC, the other from Chi-town. Basketball molded KD, while the city of Chicago had an impact on Don. Growing up, KD took the train to DC to watch the best players play on the court, while Don C took inspiration from the game and how it impacted music and fashion. The KD12 ‘Don C’ brings those worlds together, taking train tracks to symbolize the train KD took and the baby blue and red colors are a nod to the Chicago flag. You’ll also see KD’s 7 on the heel, a number we’ve yet to see on him on court.
The Nike KD12 ‘Don C’ is set to drop at Titan and Nike.com/ph today, February 15. The shoe retails for Php 7,645. Nike Park should also have the pair in-stores at select locations.


text:
How the ‘Most Interesting Man’ keeps Facebook fans engaged
Beer brand Dos Equis’ character has been going strong since 2006. It’s using Facebook to ‘expand his legend’ with contests and fan participation.
Only the Most Interesting Man in the World could nab nearly 25,000 Facebook “likes” with a photo of some fireworks at the Statue of Liberty and one sentence: “A cocked eyebrow is all the Declaration of Independence he needs.” That July 4 post on beer brand Dos Equis’ Facebook page also garnered about 750 comments, most of which had nothing to do with Independence Day. The majority were about the Man himself. Some chimed in with their own bits of lore (“Fi read more...
To continue reading this article, you must be a member of Ragan Select.


text:
Of Moose and Artificial Intelligence
A recent run of wacky accidents by Cruise robotaxis isn’t doing much for the artificial-intelligence revolution.
I know nothing more about artificial intelligence (AI) than what I read and what learned people tell me. I know it’s supposed to bring new sophistication to all manner of processes and technologies, including automated driving. So, when a driverless robotaxi operated by GM’s Cruise plowed into a road section of freshly poured cement in San Francisco, it raised a lot more questions about the beleaguered Cruise. My mind wandered to AI, which many AV compute “stacks” are touted to leverage in abundance. Driving into wet cement isn’t intelligent.
Did somebody need to train the vehicle’s AV stack specifically to recognize wet cement? If that’s how it works, I’d prefer not to bet my life on whether some fairly oddball happenstance – is the term ‘edge case’ not cool anymore? – had been accounted for in that particular version of the AD system’s algorithm running that particular day.
The premise of whether AVs can be made sufficiently intelligent and able to account for any situation caused me to recall a wet-cement analogue from a quarter century ago. In 1997, Mercedes-Benz had just launched the A-Class, the company’s first run at the compact-car segment. It was an almost unthinkable stretch for the brand and a key challenge was convincing consumers that the tiny A-Class had the same level of safety as any larger Mercedes-Benz. But in an obscure-to-non-Scandinavians crash-avoidance maneuver called the “moose test” conducted by a Swedish auto magazine, the A-Class flipped. The failure made global headlines.
Mercedes-Benz acted swiftly to correct the A-Class’ stability, chiefly with the addition of the then gee-whiz technology of electronic stability control, or ESP. The controversy – and dent to the brand’s image – subsided. But I remembered an interview two decades later that Juergen Hubbert, the executive who ran Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz business during the moose-test crisis, gave to Europe’s Automobilwoche and which appeared in Automotive News Europe.
The reporter asked Hubbert if the engineers developing this crucial model were familiar with the moose test. “We really did every test you can imagine,” he responded. Except they didn’t. They hadn’t figured on a moose.
Back to the current day, it’s easy to pick on the misadventures of driverless taxis, but irrespective of the general safety implications of these failures, I’m struggling to understand why AI isn’t improving simpler aspects of ACES (automated, connected, electrified, shared) vehicle development. One example: I’ve long bored friends and colleagues with my ongoing war against what I see as the non-‘naturalistic’ and juvenile fashion in which almost all adaptive cruise-control systems execute certain common high-speed maneuvers. Yes, I include current ‘hands-off’ systems, too.
How about voice recognition in today’s supposedly high-function cabin user-experience (UX) environments? This technology, which has been commonplace for over a decade (Ford’s first Sync debuted in 2007!), is about the same hit-or-miss proposition it was in its early days. One writer’s recent review of a 2023 model said giving voice commands via the vehicle’s infotainment UX was essentially “useless.” Many of the cloud-based voice-response collaborations such as Amazon’s Alexa don’t seem to be substantively improving anything, either. Shouldn’t fixing voice-recognition’s comparatively modest problems be child’s play for AI?
Artificial intelligence seems destined to be useful for optimizing productivity in chaotic systems with lots of variables and patterns to be ordered and analyzed. It’s said to already be transformative in some manufacturing and research-and-development environments. I don’t doubt AI is going to have its triumphs. But wet cement and the Moose test make me think there always will be situations that go beyond what programmers can conceive.


text:
News.com: "AMD is preparing to launch its next desktop Athlon processor, a 1.5GHz chip, in late September,
The new desktop processor will be AMD's fastest chip. But despite performance boosts, the
1.5GHz Athlon will still be a clock speed underdog compared with rival Intel's Pentium 4
processor line, set to hit 2GHz later this month.
As a result, AMD faces a huge marketing challenge: shifting the terms of its ongoing speed battle
with Intel from pure clock speed to pure performance."


text:
According to podiatrists, with people spending more time at home during the pandemic, there has been a rise in foot trauma.
“We are seeing an increase in patients coming in with injuries sustained while walking or running around the house,” said Dr Scott M. Spitzer of the American College of Podiatric Surgeons. “In some cases, these minor injuries can be treated at home, but patients may require surgery in other cases.”
Common injuries include stress fractures, tendonitis, and plantar fasciitis. Podiatrists recommend wearing supportive shoes and taking breaks often to avoid these injuries. If you need to consult a podiatrist for a foot injury, you can contact Inertia Health Group podiatrist Adelaide.
“It’s important to remember that you’re still exposing your feet to potential hazards even though you’re home,” said Dr Spitzer. “Be sure to take the time to care for your feet, and if you do experience any pain or discomfort, be sure to see a podiatrist.”
When people stopped wearing shoes as often and began spending more time walking around barefoot at home, they sustained injuries, said Dr Scott M. Spitzer of the American College of Podiatric Surgeons.
Inactivity causes foot problems, such as plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, and stress fractures, to worsen. “We see an increase in patients coming in with injuries sustained while walking or running around the house,” said Spitzer.
He recommends people wear supportive shoes and take breaks often to avoid these injuries. “It’s important to remember that you’re still exposing your feet to potential hazards even though you’re home,” said Spitzer.
If people experience any pain or discomfort in their feet, they should see a podiatrist. People are starting to go out now that lockdown restrictions are beginning to ease in some places. But Spitzer said it’s important for people to take precautions when they go out, such as wearing supportive shoes and avoiding walking or running on hard surfaces.
He also recommended people warm up their muscles before engaging in any physical activity to prevent injuries. “Walking is a great way to get exercise, but it’s important to do it safely,” said Spitzer. “By taking the time to warm up your muscles and wearing the proper footwear, you can avoid many common injuries.”
When you walk, start slowly and gradually increase your speed. If you experience any pain, stop and rest. Consider wearing comfortable, supportive shoes. Outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, and running, are also great ways to get exercise, but it’s imperative to be aware of your surroundings and take precautions to avoid injuries.
“There are a lot of hazards when you’re out on the trail,” said Spitzer. “Be sure to watch your step, wear proper footwear, and stay hydrated.”
Wearing the proper footwear is also essential when working out at the gym. “Many people mistake wearing shoes that are too loose or too tight,” said Spitzer. “This can lead to blisters, bunions, and other problems.”
When choosing a shoe, be sure to pick one that fits properly and provides support for your feet. And make sure to replace your shoes every few months to ensure they continue to provide proper support.
While foot trauma may be on the rise during the pandemic, there are steps you can take to avoid injuries. Be sure to wear supportive shoes, take breaks often, and warm up your muscles before engaging in any physical activity.
When you do experience any pain or discomfort, see a podiatrist. You can contact a podiatrist at Inertia Health Group podiatrist Adelaide.
Stop and rest when you experience any pain or discomfort while on the trail. And if the pain persists, be sure to see a doctor or podiatrist. If you sustained an injury, see a podiatrist as soon as possible. The sooner you seek treatment, the sooner you can get back to your normal activities.


text:
Welcome, Sign In
CVS to Stop Selling Tobacco Products
Description:CVS recently announced plans to rid cigarettes and all other tobacco products from their shelves. The company says that the decision wasn’t about profits but instead it centers on their customers' general well being.
cvs cigarette sales
cvs no cigarettes


text:
Sky Media has launched ‘SME100’ – an advertising support scheme for small businesses. The £1 million fund will provide 100 businesses with television advertising campaigns via AdSmart to support them during these difficult times brought about by coronavirus (COVID-19).
Sky Media wants to reward businesses that are demonstrating true resolve and ingenuity, in particular those firms that need support during this time and would benefit from accessing the power of TV advertising at a moment when TV consumption has increased significantly.
SME100 is open to companies with fewer than 50 employees that have been running for at least one year in the UK. The business must be a new to TV advertiser (or not on TV within the last 12 months). Businesses can nominate themselves or be put forward by their own customers.
Though the programme, Sky Media will gift a campaign value of £10,000 per business, comprised of TV advertising that uses geo-demographic targeting across 100+ AdSmart enabled channels. The maximum length of the TV advert is 30 seconds and the campaign duration will be one month.
Applications are now open via an online application form. The one-month campaigns must be completed on or before 31 July 2020.
More information and the simple form to complete is available here: https://www.adsmartfromsky.co.uk/sme100/


text:
Air China's latest order comes as the Chinese and US governments continue a year-long trade dispute which has disrupted global supply chains and rattled financial markets.
Air China Ltd, China's flagship carrier, will buy 20 A350-900 jets from Airbus SE, both companies said, bolstering the European planemaker's order book for wide-body jets against Boeing Co amid Sino-US trade tensions.
Air China on July 11 said the order is w
It’s time to compare and apply for the best loan offers at Afinoz. We are a leading online financial marketplace for Personal Loans
, Business Loan
& Car Loan
and Investment Products. Our system intelligence and the automated system offers the best options to you for the real-time tracking of your loan application in an easy manner. Stay tuned to latest updates in the industry at Afinoz.com


text:
Smartphones used for food shopping by 43 percent of US owners
Friday 22 July 2011
Nearly half of American smartphone owners have used their device to assist in some part of the food shopping process and one third use their mobile devices in the supermarket according to a study released July 19 by Deloitte.
The report released July 19 by Deloitte, titled 2011 Consumer Food and Product Insights Survey Part Two, polled a "nationally representative" sample of 2,000 American consumers and has an error margin of +/- five percentage points.
The survey found that the proliferation of smartphones has led to the devices being used in all aspects of food shopping. Of all smartphone users, 34 percent used the device in store to research food product information, and 43 percent used their smartphone to manage a food shopping list while not in a store.
Smartphone ownership in the United States is now estimated to be around 35 percent according to a Pew Research Center study released on July 11; according to market insights company Evolution this is a similar figure to the UK where smartphone ownership is estimated to be around 33 percent.
The similar figures of smartphone ownership in the UK also reflect a similar trend in grocery shopping; according to the Evolution survey, conducted throughout 2010, almost a third of UK smartphone owners used the device to research information about grocery products while shopping.
Deloitte - http://www.deloitte.com
World's most lethal spider found under a bunch of bananas
Rumours that the star wants to move on to pastures new
Comedian says he 'never laughed as hard as I have writing with Rik'
Life & Style blogs
Soylent: Could a slug of nutritionally engineered sludge ever replace the leisurely meal?
Cara Delevingne photographed naked by Mario Testino for Allure magazine
Dear young men: The old stereotypes of what it is to be a 'man' are a load of rubbish
What lies beneath La Perla's 60 years of luxury lingerie?
Japan approves construction of maglev bullet train that will travel 178 miles in 40 minutes
Cameron is warned 'no possibility' of UK reducing immigration and that bid to bring in quota on migrant workers would be illegal
Sorry Judy Finnigan – Ched Evans is no less sickening than an alleyway rapist
Residents should throw a street party and mix with immigrant neighbours, councils told
Workers 'could be forced to pay £5 a week' to get benefits
Russell Brand threatened with arrest after filming outside Fox News headquarters
Amal Alamuddin calls for the return of the Elgin Marbles from Britain: 'Injustice has persisted for too long'
- 1 Jack the Ripper: Scientists who claims to have identified notorious killer has 'made serious DNA error'
- 2 Ebola outbreak: What is bushmeat – and is it to blame for the disease that has killed thousands?
- 3 Star Wars memorabilia called a 'bit of plastic' by Antiques Roadshow's Fiona Bruce valued at £50,000
- 4 Meet Thea, Norway's 12-year-old child bride
- 5 Russell Brand might seem like a sexy revolutionary worth getting behind, but he will only fail his fans
£22000 Per Annum: Clearwater People Solutions Ltd: Our client based in Thame i...
£25000 Per Annum: Clearwater People Solutions Ltd: Our client based in Chelmsf...
£110 - £130 per day + Competitive rates of pay: Randstad Education Reading: Pr...
£45 - £70 per day: Randstad Education Plymouth: TEACHING ASSISTANTS REQUIRED F...


text:
NEW DELHI: Gear up for a mobile ad blitz now. According to analyst firm Gartner, global mobile advertising spending is forecast to reach $18 billion in 2014, up from the estimated $13.1 billion in 2013. The market is expected to grow to $41.9 billion by 2017. Gartner said in a statement that that display formats will make up most of the revenue, but video will show the highest growth. However in countries like India, where most devices are sub-Rs 5,000 with screen sizes below three inches the market will be challenging, though attractive as mobile internet is just about taking off in India. North America is where most of growth will come from, due to the sheer scale of its advertising budgets and their shift to mobile.
Overall, in initial years growth of mobile ads will be slow. "Over the next few years, growth in mobile advertising spending will slow due to ad space inventory supply growing faster than demand, as the number of mobile websites and applications increases faster than brands request ad space on mobile device screens," said Stephanie Baghdassarian, research director at Gartner. "However, from 2015 to 2017, growth will be fueled by improved market conditions, such as provider consolidation, measurement standardization and new targeting technologies, along with a sustained interest in the mobile medium from advertisers."
With regard to the different ad formats used in the mobile sector, mobile display ad formats are collectively the single biggest category of ads, and will remain so throughout the forecast period, although this category will shift to mobile Web display after several years of higher growth in in-app display. Uptake of the audio/video format by the end of the forecast period is higher because the tablet form factor will drive video, and the tablet market continues to grow.
In addition, search/map ad types will benefit from increased use of location data gathered from users, either through them opting into being located automatically through their devices or because they proactively check in the places they visit using apps such as Foursquare and Pinterest. As a result, local advertisers will be more interested in the mobile channel as a means of pushing ads. The split between in-app and Web display is taking longer to shift in favor of the latter, as the use of HTML5 tools in mobile website development is taking longer to impact the market.
Western Europe's market for mobile advertising will remain similar to North America's, albeit at a slightly lower scale, for the duration of the forecast period. “The mobile channel will become more and more integrated into 360-degree advertising campaigns, eating up budget historically allocated to print and radio advertising,” said Ms. Baghdassarian.
Asia/Pacific and Japan is the most mature region for mobile advertising, and therefore growth will slow between 2012 and 2017, averaging 30% a year. Historically, the unusually high adoption of handsets for digital content consumption in Japan and South Korea has given the Asia/Pacific region an early lead in mobile advertising. Looking forward, Gartner expects the high-growth economies of China and India to contribute increasingly to mobile advertising growth as their expanding middle classes present attractive markets for global and local brands. In the emerging markets of Latin America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa, mobile advertising growth will largely track the technology adoption and stabilization of emerging economies, but will mostly be driven by large markets such as Russia, Brazil and Mexico. From 2015, growth rates in this region will exceed the worldwide average.
This year’s Amazon event will be devoid of the usual Bollywood dancing and the endless supply of Indian street foods, foot massages and costume parties. Instead, hundreds of employees will plan and coordinate the sale from home, their only respite virtual mood-boosters like standup comedy and selfie competitions.


text:
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Sweden’s AB Volvo is joining forces with Nvidia to develop artificial intelligence used in self-driving trucks, in a boost for the U.S. chipmaker that was ditched by Tesla last year.
FILE PHOTO: A Volvo logo is pictured on the stand during the 87th International Motor Show at Palexpo in Geneva, Switzerland, March 7, 2017. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
The agreement announced on Tuesday by Nvidia and Volvo, the world’s second-biggest truckmaker after Daimler, is a long-term partnership spanning several years. Work will begin immediately in Santa Clara, California and Gothenburg, Sweden.
Volvo, which demonstrated its first cabin-less autonomous truck Vera last year, said the partnership would develop a flexible, scalable self-driving system, which is planned to be used first in pilot schemes before commercial deployment.
“The resulting system is designed to safely handle fully autonomous driving on public roads and highways,” Volvo said in a statement.
Nvidia, known for its powerful gaming graphics chips, has been aggressively expanding into the automotive sphere, where trucks – with their regular routes that are easier to automate than cars navigating traffic – may lead the way in self-driving.
Nvidia dominates the fast-growing AI chip market alongside Intel.
Tesla, Ford, Daimler and several startups are racing each other toward autonomy, using closed-area pilots such as warehouse-to-warehouse delivery or mining-site operations to speed up testing and commercialization.
Volvo’s first commercial autonomous technology will move into real operation from pilot mode in winter this year.
Seven Volvo FH16 trucks will transport limestone for Norway’s Broennoey Kalk AS from a mine to a nearby port, Volvo Trucks’ autonomous solutions director Sasko Cuklev said on Tuesday.
“This coming winter, Volvo Trucks autonomous mining solution will be in operation and we will get paid per transported ton,” Cuklev said at the company’s annual general meeting in Gothenburg.
He said the seven trucks, together with a site management system, truck services and support, workshop set-up and insurance would be wrapped together to make Volvo’s first commercial autonomous transport package.
Morgan Stanley analysts said last month that Nvidia-backed startup TuSimple had secured 12 customers that were generating revenue. TuSimple last month said it had begun testing for the U.S. Postal Service.
Nvidia, which has previously announced technology partnerships with automakers including Volkswagen, Mercedez-Benz and Toyota, said it was thrilled to team up with Volvo.
“The latest breakthroughs in AI and robotics bring a new level of intelligence and automation to address the transportation challenges we face,” said Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang.
Volvo said last week its Vera self-driving truck would begin transporting goods from a logistics center to a port terminal in Gothenburg in collaboration with logistics firm DFDS, in a first step toward operations on public roads here
Nvidia’s so-called Drive Constellation chips often power the machine learning used to refine self-driving car software algorithms inside data centers, and the company has also been working to build its Drive chips into cars.
Automotive chips accounted for $641 million of Nvidia’s $11.7 billion in revenue in its most recent fiscal year.
Tesla was previously a major customer for Nvidia’s automotive chips but last year CEO Elon Musk said the electric-car pioneer was developing its own chip.
AB Volvo’s and Nvidia’s collaboration will be built on Nvidia’s full software package for sensor processing, perception, map localization and path planning.
Additional reporting by Esha Vaish; Writing by Georgina Prodhan; Editing by Keith Weir and Jan Harvey


text:
London streetwear brand Born Ready have announced that they will be opening a pop-up shop in Camden for the Christmas period.
Based in the well known Camden Stables, the store will be open for the duration of next week (1st – 7th December) between 11am and 7pm, selling the full range from the UK streetwear brand. For those less familiar with the brand, you can see their latest collection here, and be sure to head over to the Born Ready website to find out more.
Born Ready Xmas pop-up shop
89 The Stables


text:
Google’s Stadia Gaming Service is Shutting Down
Google announced on Thursday it will be shutting down Stadia, its cloud gaming service, in January 2023. The announcement took many in the gaming community by surprise, but it wasn’t an unexpected one.
“While Stadia’s approach to streaming games for consumers was built on a strong technology foundation, it hasn’t gained the traction with users that we expected so we’ve made the difficult decision to begin winding down our Stadia streaming service,” said Phil Harrison, Vice President and General Manager, Stadia, in a blog post.
Google will be refunding all Stadia hardware purchases made on the Google Store, along with all game and add-on content purchases through the Stadia store. Stadia’s games library and play access will be available until January 18, 2023, when things will shut down.
“We expect to have the majority of refunds completed by mid-January, 2023. We have more details for players on this process on our Help Center,” said Harrison.
“For the Stadia team, building and supporting Stadia from the ground up has been fueled by the same passion for games that our players have,” said Harrison. “Many of the Stadia team members will be carrying this work forward in other parts of the company. We’re so grateful for the groundbreaking work of the team and we look forward to continuing to have an impact across gaming and other industries using the foundational Stadia streaming technology,” he concluded.
Last February, Google shut down its internal studio that made games for Stadia, instead focusing on business partnerships. That move hinted the service wasn’t as popular as it intended to be.
Stadia Pro costs $11.99 CAD per month and offers access to games on multiple devices, with all that is required is the company’s gaming controller. The service launched in Canada back in 2019.


text:
A leading expert in smart ticketing is dismissing reports over the Christmas period that suggested train travel will become ticketless in the next few years.
The Daily Telegraph article said: “Paper train tickets could become extinct under plans to allow passengers to tap in and out of stations with their bank cards, The Telegraph has learnt. As soon as next year, rail users will be able “buy” journeys online – using a computer or mobile phone – and travel carrying just the credit or debit card with which they paid.”
It went on: “Banks, train groups and representatives from the Department for Transport have held meetings to discuss how quickly the technology could be introduced across the country, it can be disclosed. Under the plans, customers will be able to “store” their tickets on so-called contactless credit or debit cards. Ticket barriers will be upgraded so they are similar to those on the London Underground, where tube passengers can tap their cards to pay.”
However a source known to Smart Highways, who asked not to be named, has rubbished the claims. The source, who is an experienced consultant on contactless ticketing systems, told us: “I have no earthly idea what the source is, but it is totally at odds with my understanding of the position of the rail industry. The project that planned to bring smart ticketing to the South East, called SEFT, has been curtailed and will deliver ITSO smart cards to Abellio Greater Anglia and C2C; far short of its original scope. Meanwhile the DfT section responsible for Smart Ticketing implementation has been disbanded.
“The government has decided that smart ticketing should be left to the Train Operating Companies, which means interoperability with TfL (an absolutely key part of any smart ticketing system) cannot now be mandated by any public body.
“I will be astonished if Card As Authority to Travel is delivered before 2025”.


text:
Pressured by Regulators, Ant Financial Delays IPO Again
The Chinese FinTech unicorn, valued at $150 billion, has pushed back its IPO for a second time, following increased government regulations on private financial firms.
Chinese FinTech unicorn Ant Financial has again pushed back its initial public offering plans after Beijing recently imposed new regulations on private financial institutions.
In a June fundraising, the valuation of the firm spun off from Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (NYSE: BABA) topped $150 billion after Ant closed a $14-billion funding from global investors. The unicorn's IPO, possibly split between Hong Kong and mainland China, was expected to follow.
In a recent turnaround, however, Ant has delayed its IPO to next year, as reported by Financial Times, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The firm has been best known for Alipay, an online payments app that has been dominant in China, leading so far in a fierce competition against a financial service of another conglomerate, Tencent Holdings Ltd.
Ant's becoming a crucial part of China's massive and vulnerable financial system has concerned regulators who want to make sure that the growing private financial firms do not pose systemic problems to the Chinese economy.
The People's Bank of China has singled out Ant as the only online finance firm for a trial program to test stricter regulations on financial holding conglomerates, according to a Reuters report.
Pressured by the central bank, Ant Financial's subsidiary Sesame Credit stopped issuing individual credit ratings. At the same time, Alipay had to comply with the bank's recent decision to raise the reserve funds ratio of third-party payment firms to 50 percent, with the expectation that the ratio could be raised to 100 percent. In addition, Ant's micro-lending business suffered under new regulations on key funding sources like asset-backed securitization, leading it to look for loan-issuing partnerships with traditional banks.
Early in June, the unicorn was shifting its core services from finance to technology to offset increasing regulatory pressure. If the company's transition goes as planned, by 2023, tech services would make up 65 percent of Ant's revenue compared with 34 percent in 2017.
Among the investors in Ant's June fundraising were Singapore-based sovereign funds GIC Pte Ltd. and Temasek Holdings (Private) Ltd., Malaysian sovereign fund Khazanah Nasional Berhad, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, and U.S. private equity firms Warburg Pincus LLC, Silver Lake, and General Atlantic. More than $10 billion was generated from the U.S.
Alibaba holds a 33 percent equity stake in Ant Financial. Ant's earnings for the first quarter showed a net loss, which Alibaba, in a May statement, attributed to aggressive investment in its business, specifically, in marketing and promotion for user acquisition. Alibaba said that Alipay, together with its financial partners, has served 870 million users globally during the fiscal year ended March 31.
(Reuters contributed to this article)


text:
Lansdowne has appetite for bite at undervalued Tesco
LANSDOWNE PARTNERS, one of Britain’s largest and most successful hedge funds, has bought more than 1% of Tesco, the supermarket giant.
The bet is thought to represent more than 10% of Lansdowne’s UK fund. It is said to have told Tesco that its share price, 317½p on Friday, giving it a market capitalisation of £24 billion, undervalues its business prospects. The stake-building has been secret, but company sources confirmed the investment. The hedge fund could not be reached for comment.
Tesco is expected to reveal a record £2 billion annual profit on April 12, confirming it as the UK’s top supermarket group with a market share of 29%. But its shares are still rated lower than J Sainsbury and Wm Morrison, its troubled rivals. Tesco shares trade on a price earnings multiple of 15.2, compared with Sainsbury, on a multiple of 27.1 and Wm Morrison on a multiple of 15.4.


text:
Iconic automaker Holden has been axed in Australia, three years after the end of local manufacturing and the lowest in monthly sales since it was established in 1948.
Parent company General Motors has also pulled out of right-hand-drive production globally. Operations will cease at the end of 2020.
The closure of the brand, which was reportedly only made in Detroit in the past 48 hours according to a high-level inside source, will also see the loss of approximately 600 to 800 jobs. All will be awarded redundancies, according to Car Advice.
General Motors had every intention of reviving the brand following the end of local manufacturing, said this same source.
Thailand, Australia and New Zealand were the last remaining countries in which General Motors produced right-hand-drive cars. For such small markets, however, GM had less opportunity to recoup their investment because the cost to design, engineer and develop both left and right-hand drive vehicles is the same.
It is now being said that General Motors is considering a new sub-brand called General Motors Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) to sell a handful of converted US models like the Chevrolet Camaro and the upcoming Chevrolet Corvette, in Australia.
An official media statement from Holden is incoming.


text:
For the latest on the Government's plans to tackle Dementia nationally click here
More top news
A businessman and his family have told ITV Calendar about their terrifying ordeal
The Jack’s discount store in Chatteris is the first of a new chain launched by Tesco.
Eight in 10 products at Jack’s will be grown, reared or made in the UK.


text:
Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) achieved its highest sales ever at 51,875 units in 2013, which is 48 percent higher compared to 2012, the company announced. With the impressive sales volume, Nissan maintained its No. 2 position in the non-national segment.
According to ETCM, the resonant sales number were led by the strong demand for the Almera, which was launched in October 2012. The model accounted for 57 percent of the total sales, or 29,647 units, in the country last year. ETCM has sold more than 35,000 units of the Almera since it was first introduced.
The launch of the Serena S-Hybrid and the 100 percent electric Leaf has broadened Nissan’s portfolio to a wider range of vehicles that include internal combustion engine powered vehicles to hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), right up to electric vehicles (EVs) covering sedans, MPVs, 4X4, SUVs and commercial vehicles.
Dato’ David Chen, Executive Director of ETCM said “Although we have reached this significant milestone of more than 50,000 units of Nissan vehicles in Malaysia, ETCM is committed to continue to make Customer Satisfaction its No.1 priority. We at ETCM will strive to continue to earn the successes for the upcoming years with our 2014 plan.”
ETCM NISSAN LEAPS TO THE HIGHEST IN 2013
KUALA LUMPUR, 24 JANUARY 2014 – Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn. Bhd. (ETCM) today announced its sales as the highest ever at 51,875 units in 2013, which is 48% higher compared to 2012. With this impressive sales volume, Nissan maintained its No.2 position in the nonnational segment.
Dato’ David Chen, Executive Director of ETCM said, “2013 was a momentous year filled with challenges for ETCM as we continue our growth journey. This is the second year that Nissan has gained the No.2 position in the non-national segment. We are pleased to know that Nissan is a well-accepted brand for its credibility and reliability in Malaysia. We would also like to take this opportunity to convey our sincere gratitude to all our loyal and supportive customers who helped in this achievement.”
The vibrant sales of ETCM were led by the strong demand for the Nissan ALMERA. It accounted for 57% of the total Nissan sales, or 29,647 units, in Malaysia last year. Since its first launch in 2012, ETCM sold more than 35,000 units of Nissan ALMERA.
The Nissan ALMERA offers a total package of practicality, safety, performance and style, with an affordable price starting from RM 66,800.
2013 was a significant year for ETCM with the launch of the first hybrid MPV – the Nissan Serena S-Hybrid – and the 100% Electric Nissan LEAF added to its many milestones. With the launch of the Nissan Serena S-Hybrid and Nissan LEAF, the Nissan portfolio has broadened to a wider range of vehicles from Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) powered vehicles, Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs), right up to Electric Vehicles (EVs), covering sedans, MPVs, 4×4 pick-ups, SUVs, and commercial vehicles.
“Although we have reached this significant milestone of more than 50,000 units of Nissan vehicles in Malaysia, ETCM is committed to continue to make Customer Satisfaction its No.1 priority. We at ETCM will strive to continue to earn the successes for the upcoming years with our 2014 plan.” Dato’ Chen added.
More information for customers can be obtained through ETCM’s Customer Service Hotline at Toll FREE 1800-88-8368 or at www.nissan.com.my. Test drives can be arranged at Nissan showrooms nationwide.


text:
The wait is officially over – Native Instruments has just announced that the entire new generation of six Traktor products is now available in stores worldwide, we can exclusively reveal. Plus, read on for a brand new promo video.
Straight from the company itself: “Berlin, March 30th, 2011 – Native Instruments today announced that the Traktor 2 generation is now available in stores worldwide. The new Traktor generation establishes the next level of versatility and ease-of-use with its Traktor Pro 2 software and Traktor Scratch Pro 2 digital vinyl system as well as its two-deck Duo versions.
“With a wide range of new software features, including ‘TruWave’ waveform displays, ‘SoftSync’ track synchronisation, powerful sample decks and more, the Traktor 2 generation gives DJs even more creative possibilities.
The press release goes on: “With the new Traktor Audio 6 and Traktor Audio 10, the second generation of Native Instruments’ acclaimed DJ interface range offers expanded connectivity and additional features for club use – both as the hardware centerpieces of the new Traktor Scratch generation and as highly versatile audio interfaces for any DJ or music production software.”
“For the Traktor Kontrol S4 system, the new Traktor Pro 2 software replaces the originally included Traktor Pro S4 version. All Kontrol S4 owners will receive a download upgrade free of charge.”
Here at Digital DJ Tips we’ve been playing with the software for the last few days and have a full review coming up soon. Update: Traktor Pro 2 review here.
Is this the news you’ve been waiting for? Are you an S4 owner looking forward to getting your upgrade? Let us know your early exepriecnes with the new version once you’ve got your hands on your copy…


text:
BEIJING: Starbucks, the coffee house giant, believes China will become its second largest market by 2014, and is enhancing its store network, product range and talent management to aid this process.
The company currently boasts over 700 branches throughout mainland China, and has set the target of running at least 1,500 stores in more than 70 cities across the rapidly-growing Asian nation by 2015.
Moreover, the Seattle-based corporation also predicted China will attain the status as its second-biggest market, behind the US, in just two years' time.
"China is a focal point of our global expansion efforts," Belinda Wong, the president of Starbucks China, said.
In further demonstration of this, the organisation plans to boost its headcount from 12,000 to 30,000 in the coming three years, alongside implementing a range of other schemes.
To take one example, Starbucks intends to occupy some outlets offering almost 3,800 square feet in floor space, and catering to groups of friends, students, business contacts, and so on.
Such a move reflects the fact the smaller kiosk-style sites that have proved popular in the US do not fully meet the requirements of the Chinese market.
As part of a wider localisation drive, the company hopes to develop more flavours specifically for buyers in the world's most populous nation, where it already sells lines like red bean frappuccinos.
It also offers Thai-style prawn and Hainan chicken and rice wraps, products created by its domestic R&D centre to suit Chinese palates. "We don't do one size fits all," Wong told the Wall Street Journal,
To bolster its talent management credentials, the firm has launched the Starbucks China University, providing training in retail and leadership skills, as well as promoting expertise in coffee.
"Our partners are at the heart and soul of our signature Starbucks experience, and also the cornerstone of Starbucks success," said Wong. "These investments are critical as we work to achieve our ambitious goals and future aspirations in China."
Data sourced from Wall Street Journal; additional content by Warc staff