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TORONTO, Oct. 18, 2019 /CNW/ - BPA Worldwide, the parent organization of Canada-based CCAB, and Centro have teamed up to offer a turnkey solution to deploy audience-driven advertising including audience extension and account based marketing (ABM). The new solution leverages Basis by Centro as a technology platform powering digital media activation and is exclusively created for BPA Media Exchange member publishers.
"B2B publishers have a wealth of first-party audience data that differentiates them and elevates their value," said John Hyland, VP of publisher solutions, Centro. "Centro and BPA Media Exchange are working with synergy to give publishers access to powerful technology that automates and scales campaigns on all major digital channels beyond owned-and-operated sites."
Extending the audience beyond owned-and-operated media has been the fastest growing area for B2B digital adverting. Targeting the audience on any digital channel they are using, based on user demographics or company affiliations, requires scale, media planning and expert activation across the web.
Basis provides digital publishers with capabilities to plan, buy, analyze, bill and reconcile media campaigns via a single interface. Basis is the industry's most comprehensive, automated and intelligent digital media platform that consolidates operations across programmatic, direct, search, and social campaigns.
"We created the Media Exchange to balance publishers' operational efficiencies and brand quality," said Scott Roulet, VP, BPA Media Exchange. "The key to performance requires a team of experts and Centro's media team has a proven track record of success and industry knowledge."
About BPA Worldwide. BPA Worldwide is in the business of providing assurance. For 80+ years as a not-for-profit assurance service provider, BPA was originally created by advertisers, advertising agencies and the media industry to audit audience claims used in the buying and selling of advertising. Performing nearly 2,100 annual audits of media channels in more than 20 countries, BPA is a trusted resource for compliance and assurance services.
BPA's services have expanded with the launch of the BPA iCompli brand to assist in the creation of standards and external assurance thereof. We do so for government and industry bodies. BPA iCompli Technology Assurance provides verification that companies are compliant with industry standards in the digital advertising ecosystem.
BPA iCompli Sustainability provides gap analysis, competitor benchmarking and external assurance for companies interested in following GRI, SASB, ASTM and ISO sustainability and corporate social responsibility guidelines and standards.
The latest innovation to move the industry forward is the BPA Media Exchange, an online private marketplace which offers automated media solutions for buyers and sellers of digital advertising.
SOURCE CCAB, BPA Worldwide
For further information: Tim Peel, (416) 487-2418, [email protected]


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Channel partners must evolve their offerings and core business models to help customers move to the cloud, and making a profit requires a major shift in how they develop, market and sell products and services.
That’s according to a new survey of 87 companies around the globe that resell and deploy Google Apps for Work and/or Microsoft Office 365. It was conducted by the Cloud Technology Alliance, comprised of independent software vendors in the cloud office ecosystem.
“There is a difference in the way channel partners sell cloud solutions and services to Microsoft and Google customers, and as the survey demonstrates, a knowledge of these differentiators will help solution providers be successful in the global shift to the cloud office,” said David Politis, alliance member and BetterCloud’s CEO.
Taylor Gould, alliance member and BetterCloud’s vice president of marketing, tells Channel Partners the surprising difference between the two platforms is the increase in choice expected by Microsoft customers.
“Google Apps partners on average work with [fewer] than five vendors and solution providers while Microsoft partners typically work with six to 10 vendors,” he said. “Further, in the Microsoft channel, 77 percent of respondents said they offer multiple vendors’ solutions in each category, while only 54 percent of Google’s channel partners offer alternative solutions.”
Google Apps partners tended to have a higher portion of their staff involved in sales than those that resell Microsoft offerings, according to the survey.
Half of 2014 revenues for Google Apps partners and 39 percent for Microsoft partners came from the sale of recurring cloud services. This demonstrates the “cloud IT shift is well under way and will only accelerate as Microsoft expects recurring cloud revenues to be higher than in 2014,” Gould said.
“Opportunities for the channel come through new and innovative vendors,” he said. “The top two criteria when deciding to work with a vendor are ‘strong market demand for a solution’ and ‘innovative technology.’ As more startups and companies from outside the United States bring their solutions to the market, they will find large and small channel partners eager to learn more.”
According to the survey, the average partner makes most of its profits from “professional services,” followed by “cloud solutions resale” and then “managed services.” Microsoft partners still have profitable hardware and on-premises software resale businesses, but the margins are lower.
Some 77 percent of partners reported that they have formal account management to manage customers after the initial sale. Also, nearly half reported that responding to inbound recruiting campaigns is the least important method when it comes to initiating new vendor relationships.

domain: news


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Verlasso, provider of harmoniously raised fish, continues to expand its market presence through a new partnership with Fortune Fish Company, an Illinois-based fresh and frozen seafood distributor serving the Midwest.
Through this new collaboration, Verlasso salmon will now be available to consumers through retailers and other purveyors in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Missouri. Verlasso salmon also is available at restaurants and retailers through regional distributors and direct-to-retail partnerships in California, Oregon, Las Vegas NV, New York City, and the Mid-Atlantic region.
Since coming to market in 2011, Verlasso has transformed the aquaculture industry through its farming methods and harmoniously raised salmon.
The company’s most significant innovation is its use of 75% fewer feeder fish to raise Omega-3-rich salmon. In traditional farms, salmon receive Omega-3s from fish oil provided by wild caught feeder fish, putting a significant strain on oceans. The average “fish in, fish out” ratio for fish oil and fish meal for salmon growers is about four pounds of feeder fish to produce one pound of salmon. Verlasso has achieved a “fish in, fish out” ratio of 1:1 for fish oil and fish meal – one pound of feeder fish produces one pound of salmon – by replacing the fish oil in the salmon’s diet with Omega-3-producing yeast.


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, November 5th, 2020
PEACOCK PREMIUM TO STREAM WINTER OLYMPIC SPORTS PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING EXCLUSIVE SEASON-LONG COVERAGE OF FIS AUSTRIA ALPINE SKIING
NBC Sports Gold’s “Snow Pass” – Live Coverage of Alpine Skiing, Nordic Combined, Ski Jumping, Cross-Country Skiing, Freestyle Skiing, Biathlon and Snowboarding Events – Moving to Peacock Premium
Extensive Ski and Snowboard Coverage Will Continue to be Presented on NBC, NBCSN, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA and NBC Sports Digital Platforms
NEW YORK – Nov. 5, 2020 – Expanding its sports coverage, today Peacock announced that NBC Sports Gold’s “Snow Pass” will be moving to Peacock Premium this month. Programming will complement the extensive coverage on NBC, NBCSN, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA and NBC Sports’ digital platforms throughout the 2020-21 season.
Programming on Peacock Premium will include live and on-demand domestic and international competitions of seven winter Olympic sports – International Ski Federation (FIS) alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, freestyle skiing, snowboarding, Nordic combined, ski jumping, and biathlon events. The first FIS event of the 2020-21 season that will stream on Peacock Premium will take place on November 20. Peacock Premium also acquired the exclusive rights to all FIS events held in Austria and will stream its first race from the country in Lech/Zuers on November 26. Fans can subscribe to Peacock Premium at http://www.peacocktv.com/sports.
“We are excited to bring fans top-quality coverage of winter Olympic sports by adding ‘Snow Pass’ to our robust sports offerings on Peacock Premium starting with the excitement of Alpine Skiing from Austria,” said Rick Cordella, EVP and Chief Revenue Officer, Peacock.
Extensive winter Olympic sports coverage will still be available across NBC Sports on NBC, NBCSN, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA and NBC Sports’ digital platforms throughout the 2020-21 season. NBC Sports’ TV schedule will be announced soon.
Highlights of Peacock Premium’s live sports offerings include Premier League, a new primetime Sunday NFL Wild Card playoff game, Olympics and Paralympics coverage, U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and Ryder Cup golf, plus the Peacock Originals Lost Speedways, hosted by Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and In Deep with Ryan Lochte.
Viewers can sign up for Peacock Premium at peacocktv.com. Peacock is currently available on the Roku platform; Apple devices including iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD; Google platforms and devices including Android™, Android TV™ devices, Chromecast and Chromecast built-in devices; Microsoft’s Xbox One family of devices, including Xbox One S and Xbox One X; Sony PlayStation4 and PlayStation 4 Pro; and VIZIO SmartCast™ TVs and LG Smart TVs. Comcast’s eligible Xfinity X1 and Flex customers, as well as eligible Cox Contour customers, enjoy Peacock Premium included with their service at no additional cost.


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Crowdfunding loses luster as investment strategy for small businesses
When small businesses began to use crowdfunding platforms to kickstart their investments, the approach was hailed as the future of start-ups. But two years later, with a dearth of small investors and strict regulations eating into funds, they are losing their appeal.
| New York
Begun two years ago with some big hopes, the option for small businesses to court investors through crowdfunding hasn't turned into the windfall its supporters predicted.
"A lot of dollars have been raised in crowdfunding, but it has not been the bonanza people have been expecting," says David Lavan, a former Securities and Exchange Commission attorney who's now with Dinsmore & Shohl in Washington, D.C.
Some 438 companies have raised $105 million since May 16, 2016, when the first websites where companies' shares are sold began operating, according to the consulting firm Crowdfund Capital Advisors. There are now 41 sites. On one, Wefunder, businesses have raised $15 million in the past 18 months, but that's about half the amount hoped for.
Another disappointment: About half the investors are customers of the companies and want to support their favorite brewer or app maker or back a movie project – they're not the average small investors crowdfunding was supposed to appeal to.
"There's not a lot of people out there saying, 'Gee, we want to invest in startups,'" says Nick Tommarello, CEO of Wefunder.
Some of what's held crowdfunding back are legal limitations and requirements, designed to protect investors who may be unfamiliar with the risks of committing money to young companies without proven track records.
Companies can raise up to $1 million, and individuals with income or net worth under $100,000 can invest a total of $2,000 in one or more businesses in a 12-month period. Businesses must comply with Securities and Exchange Commission requirements including financial and disclosure documents, although the paperwork is far less than what companies complete when they're going public
Daplie, a maker of computer servers that's based in Provo, Utah, has done two successful crowdfunding campaigns that have helped the company avoid traditional venture capital investors and be more independent, president Brian Bourgerie says.
"If we can crowdfund our way to an IPO [initial public offering] or whatever success, that's the way we'd like to do it," he says.
But people involved in crowdfunding say the regulations prevent it from becoming a windfall for young companies. Businesses still need legal and accounting help to prepare documents and financial statements. The tens of thousands of dollars that may cost can eat into the money they raise, says Ryan Feit, CEO of SeedInvest, another crowdfunding website.
"It's a significant regulatory burden imposed on very small companies," he says.
Preparing for an offering is also a lot of work on top of already running a company, Mr. Bourgerie says.
"You have to come up with a marketing plan, interact with investors and customers, like a mini-business. It's not something anyone should just jump into," he says.
The $1 million limit on money raised also is a potential problem. Some companies can easily reach it. And those that surpass their goals, even if they're below $1 million, are required to turn away investors who try to sign up after that total is met.
When Ron Wilson's athletic wear company, Hylete, aimed to raise $1 million last year, it got $1.3 million in offers for its shares.
"We couldn't take the other $300,000. Our customers were upset," says Wilson, whose company is based in Solana Beach, Calif.
Another issue is an SEC rule that requires companies to register their securities with the government – essentially going public – if they have $25 million or more in assets and more than 2,000 investors or over 500 who are not "accredited" to specific standards of expertise.
That rule, an expensive proposition, is a barrier to companies' growth, Mr. Tommarello says. Bourgerie is also concerned about the rule, though it does give companies that reach the limit two years to get their securities registered.
"We're going to hit it at some point," he says. "Luckily it's not like the day you hit it you have to comply, but's that's something we have to be aware of."
Darian Ibrahim, a law professor with expertise in securities, isn't concerned about the drawbacks and relatively slow start crowdfunding investing has had. He thinks it's been successful for some companies that are just too young to get professional investor money. And he's also not worried that the general public hasn't latched on to the concept.
"I don't buy the premise that this is for everyone," says Mr. Ibrahim, who teaches at the law school of the College of William & Mary. He noted that most people, including professional investors, aren't very good at picking winners among newer companies.
Many small companies bypass crowdfund investing and raise money instead on sites like Indiegogo and GoFundMe that don't require paperwork and that have no limits. But having investors is appealing to Justin Shelby, CEO of Artichoke, which sells an app to help business owners manage their companies. Investors who are excited about the company, including those who are customers, become ambassadors for its brand, he says.
Artichoke's first campaign, which ended Monday, attracted 81 investors and $51,885, nearly half its $107,000 goal; Mr. Shelby was satisfied with the amount raised.
The company is in Baltimore, far from the technology investor hubs of Silicon Valley and New York, but crowdfunding isn't dependent on geography. "Because it potentially deregionalizes access to capital, it could be a game-changer for a lot of companies," Shelby says.
The crowdfunding industry is hoping that Congress and the SEC change some of the rules. Tommarello expects the SEC will review its regulations after several years of assessing their impact. And bills have been proposed in Congress to modify some of the requirements and allow companies to raise more than $1 million, but the legislation hasn't had support in both houses and doesn't look to become law anytime soon.
"It's very challenging to get changes in Washington right now," Mr. Feit says.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.


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Tesla posted its first-quarter results and they are looking great. The EV pioneer beat expectations partly due to sales of bitcoin and regulatory credits. Even still, the company’s stock dipped as much as 3% after hours as investors took in all the numbers.
This is how Tesla did this quarter:
- .Earnings were at 93 cents per share vs. the expected 79 cents per share.
- Revenue is up to $10.39 billion vs. an expected $10.29 billion. That is up 74% compared to the same time last year
Net profits went up to a record $438 million. Tesla saw $518 million in revenue from its sales of regulatory credits. Also, the company recorded a $101 million dollar net positive impact from sales of bitcoin during the quarter.
The Elon Musk-owned electric vehicle company reported selling 184,800 Model 3 and Model Y cars in the first quarter. That figure also beat expectations and set another record for Tesla. Tesla delivered 2,020 older Model S sedans and Model X SUVs from inventory.
Elon said on Monday’s earnings call that the new version of the Model S is going to be delivered to customers starting in May of this year. Model X deliveries are going to start in the third quarter. Musk and CFO Zachary Kirkhorn jointly said that supply chain issues are likely to remain a challenge for Tesla in 2021.
In January 2021, Elon mentioned that the Model S Plaid was currently in production and deliveries will start in February 2021.
Tesla is planning to produce 2,000 Model S and X vehicles per week starting later this year.
Tesla reported on Monday that the company is expecting an over 50% vehicle delivery growth this year. That implies deliveries of at least 750,000 vehicles this year.
Tesla sales grew by more than 100% year over year while service centers only grew 28%. Also, its mobile service fleet only grew by 22%. So, that sort of echo’s the fact that some Tesla customers are facing longer-than-usual wait times for repairs. Service expansion has not been keeping pace with the volume of vehicles sold.
Tesla mentioned that it was able to weather the global chip shortages better than most of the rest of the auto industry due to, in part, by ‘pivoting extremely quickly to new microcontrollers, while simultaneously developing firmware for new chips made by new suppliers.’
The company also reiterated Elon’s continued claim that cameras, rather than lidar and radar, are a better way to do autonomous vehicles.
Our AI-based software architecture has been increasingly reliant on cameras, to the point where radar is becoming unnecessary earlier than expected. As a result, our FSD (Full Self-Driving) team is fully focused on evolving to a vision-based autonomous system and we are nearly ready to switch the US market to Tesla Vision.Tesla
Revenue for Tesla’s energy production and storage business almost doubled compared to the same period last year.
Tesla had recently increased prices for its solar rooftops by 50%/ Also, the company now requires anyone ordering solar photovoltaics to also order the Powerwall, Tesla’s home energy storage system.
Musk said on the call that he is aiming for homes with solar rooftops and batteries from Tesla to work as ‘giant distributed utilities.’ The goal here is to help incumbent electrical utilities to be better able to supply customers with the electricity they need.
Elon said that Tesla’s 4680 cells that it developed independently are not yet reliable enough to be shipped in Tesla vehicles. He said the company would probably ‘achieve volume production’ of these cells in 12 to 18 months.


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Conservatives appear to be fed up with America’s most prominent brands designing corporate marketing campaigns and products for the most progressive consumers.
Bud Light is facing an ongoing boycott from conservative customers for its April 1 advertising campaign with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. The brand’s sales have dropped for six straight weeks since the start of April, including a 25.7% drop in the week ending May 20, according to the New York Post. (RELATED: ‘A Monumental Decline’: Bud Light Sales Reportedly Keep Plunging As Dylan Mulvaney Fallout Continues)
If you’re doing what we’re doing today — drinking ice colds and grilling with your friends and family with an American flag nearby — do us a solid and share a pic of your local beer aisle … pic.twitter.com/9l0jVchfgl
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) May 29, 2023
Two Bud Light marketing executives were placed on leave at the end of April, including marketing Vice President Alissa Heinerscheid, who trashed the brand for being “fratty” and “out of touch” in a resurfaced podcast interview. Anheuser-Busch, the beer’s parent company, distanced itself from Mulvaney in a May earnings call after initially defending the influencer. The boycott has cost Anheuser-Busch an estimated $19 billion in market value with shares down 14%, according to Fox Business.
Mulvaney, a biological male who identifies as a transgender woman, was sent customized beer cans to celebrate “365 days of girlhood” on social media. Conservatives accused Bud Light of disrespecting its customer base by promoting transgender ideology by partnering with Mulvaney, who previously promoted transgender procedures for children in an October 2022 interview with President Joe Biden.
Bud Light is now trying to win back its lost customers with an aggressive marketing push and steep discounts on cases of beer as its competitors reap the benefits of the boycott.
Likewise, Target is facing a boycott from conservative customers for aggressively promoting LGBT ideology with 2,000 pride themed items, including a new collection of transgender inclusive swimwear and LGBT children’s clothing. (RELATED: Bud Light, Target Bleeding Money As Conservatives Boycott. The Dollar Amount Is Staggering)
Target pulled some of its LGBT clothing after customer backlash caused Target to lose $9 billion in market value in one week. The company alleges that employee safety was at risk after multiple instances of customers knocking LGBT items to the floor. In the wake of the boycott, Target CEO Brian Cornell doubled down on the company’s support for the LGBT community after activists were upset with the company for removing certain items.
Target has supported LGBT activist organizations including the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), a group known for supporting efforts by schools to hide a child’s perceived gender transition from their parents.
Bud Light and Target are just the beginning https://t.co/69LhYgrXra
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) May 29, 2023
Before Target and Bud Light were subject to boycotts, Disney began its fight with Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is now running for president. In March 2022, Disney publicly objected to DeSantis’ Parental Rights in Education law preventing K-3 students from being exposed to gender ideology and sexuality subject matters in schools. (RELATED: Corporate Media Is Hiding The Real Reason Disney Canceled Its New Florida Investment)
DeSantis responded to Disney’s public criticism by passing legislation in February to end the company’s special tax and regulatory benefits. Right before the legislation was signed, Disney quietly conducted a legal maneuver designed to undercut the bill and maintain its corporate benefits. Bob Iger, Disney’s current CEO, slammed DeSantis’ law as “anti-business” and “anti-Florida” at the company’s annual shareholder meeting in April.
The Florida governor immediately called for Disney’s legal scheme to be investigated and announced legislation in mid-April to make Disney’s new legal agreements void to ensure its special benefits are revoked. Disney is now suing DeSantis for allegedly launching a targeted campaign against the firm as the feud between the two sides continues. The DeSantis-backed Florida Tourism Oversight Board approved a lawsuit filed by the DeSantis administration in response to the Disney lawsuit.
Disney stock has plummeted by 33% since the feud with DeSantis began, and the company announced plans in February to lay off thousands of employees in order to cut costs. A poll released in May showed Disney was the fifth most polarizing company out of 100 and placed 77th in its reputation score.
The newest brand being scrutinized by conservatives is Kohl’s, with its stock dropping 5% Tuesday because of calls to boycott the brand’s LGBT themed merchandise, The Wall Street Journal reported. Kohl’s pride collection includes merchandise for infants as young as three months old. One of the items is a onesie that displays people holding up an LGBT pride flag updated with the transgender emblem on the side.
Similarly to Target, Kohl’s has made donations to GLSEN and other LGBT activist organizations that promote transgender ideology to children. The hashtag “BoycottKohls” trended on Twitter Monday when conservatives became aware of the retailer’s pride collection ahead of LGBT pride month beginning June 1.


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Chris Brown’s clothing line, Black Pyramid are selling T-shirts with the phrase, “This B*tch Lyin’” after the singer was accused of rape in Paris last week. He used that phrase in a now-deleted Instagram post.
The company has released three T-shirt designs that cost $38 each. Two of the shirts have the phrase in all capital letters and comes in black or white, while the third is a photo of the Mona Lisa with the words printed over the painting.
The alleged 23-year-old victim said Brown and two other men raped and sexually assaulted her in his hotel room at the Mandarin Oriental after they met at a club in Paris.
He was released without any charges and has denied the accusations.


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Le Club AccorHotels is about to launch their next global Super Sale that will be available for bookings October 1 – 18, 2019.
Accor Plus members with select credit card can save up to 45% while discount for Le Club AccorHotels members is capped at 30% off of breakfast inclusive rates. The valid stay dates for Asia-Pacific are December 15 – November 14, 2020.
You can access Accor’s page for Super Sale here.
Note that the valid stay dated under this offer are region and country specific. We will know them all once this sale is about to go live on September 30th.
We wanted to give heads up for our readers that have already been in touch with us and asked when is the next global sale. There will be a post up when we know more about this sale and when it has gone live.


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Microsoft has announced the upcoming release of its new command line tool application Windows Terminal. This application for PowerShell and WSL users is currently available for download at GitHub and is also available the Microsoft Store.
More information about Windows Terminal can be found at devblogs.microsoft.com/commandline/windows-terminal-build-2019-faq.
Microsoft announced the September 2018 release of Azure Data Studio, formerly known as SQL Operations Studio (preview version). Azure Data Studio is a new open source desktop environment for SQL Server, Azure SQL Database, and Azure SQL Data Warehouse data that runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Microsoft has made available many free downloadable apps for SQL Server, Azure SQL Database, and Azure SQL Data Warehouse, including:
A list of most of these SQL tools and utilities can be found at the SQL tools overview and command prompt utilities pages.
Kodi is a free open source media player and entertainment center for multiple platforms, including Android, Linux, MacOS X, iOS, Windows, and Xbox One. It is also available as a downloadable app from Google Play and Microsoft Store.
Kodi was originally known as Xbox Media Center (XBMC) and developed by the XBMC Foundation, a non-profit technology consortium. It plays audio, video, and image files, and third-party plugins are available to add additional features. The Kodi Wiki page lists more details about configurations and options for this app.
Fedora is a free open-source set of Linux based operating systems and is sponsored by Red Hat. Versions include:
More information can be found at docs.fedoraproject.org.
On January 10th 2018, Microsoft announced the release of a new product: PowerShell Core 6.0. PowerShell Core is open-source, built on top of .NET Core (CoreCLR) and runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
More information is available here.
Two recently detected security flaws currently named “Meltdown” and “Spectre” are causing Apple, Microsoft, Google, Intel, and others to release security updates to fix any potential problem. The flaws potentially affect all recent computers, smartphones, and tablets that use a CPU performance feature called speculative execution. There is no evidence that the flaws have been exploited at this time. The general recommendation is to download updates for all devices.
Current Apple products may have the security flaws with the exception of the Apple Watch. Apple is continuing to work on updates and released a statement at https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208394.
Microsoft issued guidance for Windows users, SQL Server, Windows Server, and has updated most of its Azure infrastructure and will continue to do so. Security update KB4056890 also updates Internet Explorer and Edge browsers. Microsoft also issued update KB4056892 for various Windows versions but notes that some AMD processor machines to stop working after installing it.
Google recommended that Chrome users should turn on site isolation. Google also responded with these blog posts:
Mozilla is working on updates and a fix is available in Firefox 57.0.4 version.
Amazon has updated its servers already and will continue to do so.
Intel released a statement as well and is releasing updates. It also reported some systems rebooted more frequently after the updates. AMD also released a statement on their CPUs and speculative execution.
Oracle issued updates for MySQL, Java, PeopleSoft and other products that it maintains.
The CERT Vulnerability Notes Database has logged this issue as Vulnerability Note VU#584653.
eWeek reported that Linux 4.15 was released with Meltdown and Spectre patches and that further patches would be made for this issue.
More information can be found at https://spectreattack.com.
SQL Server 2017 is available to run on Linux. This makes SQL Server a viable database competitor to Oracle on Unix-based operating systems. More information about SQL Server on Linux can be found at these links:
Microsoft has announced the Preview release of SQL Operations Studio, a free database development and operations tool for SQL Server and Azure SQL Data Warehouse.
This tool allows users to performing routine database tasks without using SQL Server Management Studio. Command-line tools such as Bash, PowerShell, sqlcmd, bcp, and ssh can be run in the Integrated Terminal window. Customizable dashboards can be created for performance monitoring.
This preview version can be downloaded from https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/sql-operations-studio/download. Versions include Windows, macOS, and Linux.
A document of common questions and answers can be found at https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/sql-operations-studio/faq.
New functionality can be added to SQL Operations Studio using extensions.
Additional information and downloads can be found at GitHub – SQL Operations Studio.


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FCC again looking into Google Voice complaints
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski in a meeting with Times editors Thursday. Credit: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times
Google Voice is again under fire from federal regulators.
The Federal Communications Commission is looking into complaints by AT&T that the Google Voice phone service blocks some calls within the United States to avoid a high connection fee.
The FCC sent an inquiry to Google today seeking information about the software’s functionality, its number of users and which companies with which it has partnered.
Google Voice gives users one number to ring all of their phones and a website to log call history and text messages. The service also provides free calls within the United States.
But AT&T alleges that Google Voice refuses to connect calls to rural communities where local telephone companies charge higher fees. AT&T did not immediately respond to e-mails seeking comment.
This isn’t the first time Google’s foray into telephony has drawn the attention of federal regulators. In July, the FCC began probing a dispute between AT&T, Apple and Google after Apple blocked Google Voice software from its iPhone App Store.
Apple says it has reservations about the application’s interface and is still considering it for approval. AT&T says it was not involved in that decision.
In an interview on Thursday, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said the commission is still keeping an eye on the iPhone dispute.
‘We take Apple at its word,’ Genachowski said. ‘We’ll continue to monitor the specific issue and to monitor the marketplace.’
Does the FCC even have the authority to regulate whether Apple carries Google’s program or whether Google has to connect every call?
In a response to the former, Genachowski said, ‘We’ll tackle the authority issues when we get to that point.’ The mentality is part of, as the new chairman called it, a ‘proactive FCC.’
-- Mark Milian


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That’ll do, Big Huge Games. That’ll do.
Nexon announced today that the studio’s DomiNations, from Big Huge Games, has brought in $100 million in lifetime revenue and has more than 32 million players since the mobile strategy game’s launch in April 2015. The publisher didn’t indicate how many of those folks are active players on iOS and Android, but this is still a success as more than 25 million of those people are in the West.
The publisher also crowed about two of its other, older games: Dungeon Fighter Online and Maple Story. Both have been around for over 10 years, and Nexon claims they’re still growing. The stats are impressive. Before we dive into those games, let’s refresh ourselves on what DomiNations is.
This strategy game comes from Big Huge Games, which counts Brian Reynolds of Civilization II fame as its chief. It debuted mid-2015 with a flurry, bagging 7.2 million downloads in its first 60 days on the market. It’s showed spurts of strong engagement over its lifetime, something that Nexon has accomplished with Dungeon Fighter and Maple Story as well.
Maple Story is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (the same category as World of Warcraft, folks) that launched in 2003 in South Korea, and it’s now in 108 countries as of February, and 177 million people have played it at some point during its 14-year existence. Dungeon Fighter, according to Nexon, doubled its global revenue from 2011 to 2016, and that’s thanks to 600 million players over its lifetime. This multiplayer beat-’em-up has a global version but also runs separate servers in South Korea, China, and Japan.
“Nexon games are well-established with millions of deeply engaged players in Asia,” said Nexon president and CEO Owen Mahoney in a canned statement. “The success of DomiNations in the U.S. and Europe is a proof point in our strategy for growing our business and engaging Western players with high-quality games backed by a steady flow of new content.”


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Bangalore, Dec 16 (UNI) Overall client PC market in India grew by 25.1 per cent during the third quarter of 2007, year on year basis, with unit shipment being 1.8 million, IDC said today.
IDC in a release here said while desktop pcs grew by 10.9 per cent, Notebook pcs registered a 84.2 per cent growth.
In the overall Client PC (Notebooks and Desktops combined) market the rankings remained unchanged. HP retained the top spot with a market share of 21.6 per cent, followed by HCL at 12.3 per cent, and Lenovo at 10.3 per cent, in terms of unit shipments during the third quarter of calendar year 2007.
In terms of desktop PC shipments HP retained its top position with a market share of 15.2 per cent, followed by HCL and Lenovo in second and third spots, respectively.
In terms of notebook PC shipments, HP retained the top spot with a market share of 37.8 per cent during the period under review with Lenova at the second spot and Acer climbing up to take the third spot.
The release said the sale of desktops between January and September this year was 3.6 million units as against 4.42 million units for calendar year 2006. In case of notebooks the sales recorded was 1.21 million during the first nine months of 2007 as against 980,000 for the whole of last year.
Region wise north recorded a 104 per cent growth during the third quarter of calendar 2007 with the region having 31.8 per cent of the total share. East having a 9.9 per cent share of the total sales recorded a 70 per cent growth, while South having 30.2 per cent of the market grew by 80 per cent. Western region having a 28.1 per cent market share grew by 77 per cent.


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Students have been showing up at school drunk — and they haven’t even needed someone over 21 to buy alcohol for them.
Officials at Grady High School in Atlanta have issued a warning to schools all over the U.S. after they discovered a number of their students have been getting wasted on bourbon vanilla extract, according to abc7.
They say students have been buying the baking ingredient from a nearby Trader Joe’s, then mixing it in with Starbucks coffee so they can catch a buzz on their way to school.
In one case, a student had to be hospitalized after getting drunk, school officials say.
A four-ounce bottle of the extract sells for around $9 in the store and $16.61 online at Amazon, reports the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
A commenter in the Atlanta paper said: “This is not an indictment of Trader Joe’s at all, but parents please be aware that this product contains 35% alcohol and we have discovered that some students have consumed this intoxicant. Another thing to keep an eye out for.”


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SHAH ALAM: Nasim Sdn Bhd is providing a record 298 fleet cars consisting of the Peugeot 408 and 508 saloons, and Traveller multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) to Kuala Lumpur 2017 (29th Southeast Asian Games and the 9th Asean Para Games).
Peugeot is the official car Platinum sponsor for Kuala Lumpur 2017.
Nasim, a member of Naza Corp Holdings and official distributor of Peugeot vehicles in Malaysia, marked the sponsorship with a fleet handover ceremony at the Peugeot showroom in Glenmarie, Shah Alam.
"We hope that these 298 cars would deliver prestige, quality and a spectacular passenger experience for all at Kuala Lumpur 2017," said Naza Corp Holdings group executive chairman SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin.
"Naza's theme of Driving Champions (#DrivingChampions) signifies our proud efforts to be part of the nation's history and ambition to be champions of Kuala Lumpur 2017."
Also present was Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who said, "We are proud to have Naza and Peugeot as a Platinum sponsor of Kuala Lumpur 2017."
Peugeot also launched the pledge car - the 208 - which will be used as the vehicle to unify the nation in support of our Malaysian athletes at Kuala Lumpur 2017.
Khairy had the honour of placing his signature first on the pledge car, followed by SM Nasarudin, Datuk Wira SM Faisal SM Nasimuddin who is also Naza Corp Holdings group executive chairman, and SM Faliq SM Nasimuddin who is deputy executive chairman of Naza TTDI Group.
"The Naza and Peugeot Pledge car are a call to the nation to come forward and BangkitBersama to show their support by signing messages of support to our athletes as a collective nation. This car will be touring the country and will be parked at specific locations nationwide to gather the support of Malaysians," said Naza Corp Holdings group chief operating officer (automotive group) Datuk Samson Anand George.
Naza and Peugeot are also offering 100 free tickets for 50 lucky winners to watch the opening ceremony of Kuala Lumpur 2017 at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium on August 19.
In order to be in contention for the free tickets, all fans need to do is take a picture with the pledge car with a message or caption and include #PeugeotMalaysia, #DrivingChampions and #NazaCorp when they post on social media.
The Southeast Asian Games will take place from August 19 to 30, followed by the Asean Para Games from September 17 to 23.


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Chinese automaker Dongfeng Motor has just unveiled its premium electric off-road brand called M Hero. At the launch event in Wuhan, the company also unveiled two electric concept vehicles, the M-Terrain and M-Terrain S.
The M in the name is the initial of its Chinese brand name (Mengshi) and also stands for the brand’s military vehicle DNA, as well as Man, Marvelous and Mission, according to the official press release.
Moving on, the H stands for High-tech, E for Electrical, R for Reform and O for Off-road, Dongfeng said. The hard-core logo for the M Hero brand looks like a stylized letter M, and according to the company, is inspired by the helmet armor of ancient warriors.
Both concept vehicles, the M-Terrain and M-Terrain S, are based on the M Tech intelligent off-road architecture. It is China’s first integrated technology solution for luxury electric off-roading, Dongfeng said, adding that it comprises three hard-core technology clusters:
- The skateboard off-road platform MORA, which is China’s first electric off-road skateboard platform.
- The MEGA-POWER, which uses a four-motor front and rear drive, is China’s first power platform with more than 1,000 horsepower. It features the world’s first two-speed transmission with integrated differential lock, wheel-side torque of over 16,000Nm, and accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in 4.2 seconds.
- M-ATS, an all-terrain intelligent solution, can intelligently select the most ideal off-road mode according to different environments and can realize “Crab Walk Mode”.
Dongfeng’s M Hero M-Terrain SUVs during the event
Dongfeng hasn’t released any official specs for the M-Terrain series SUVs, however according to Chinese media it will comprise of EV and EREV versions. The first one features a power output of 800 kW (1,070 hp), a 140-kWh battery, and a 500-km drive range with 0-100km/h acceleration of less than 5 seconds. The EREV version will have 600 kW (816 hp) of power and have a 65.88-kWh battery good for 800 km of range (with range extender on). The M-Terrain electric SUVs will also be equipped with an intelligent drone system, intelligent security system, and L3 driving assistance system, according to Dongfeng.
Dongfeng is not the only car brand from China that has plans to launch an electric off-road model. Geely is also working on Radar electric brand with the first electric pickup RD6 is already making waves on the internet. BYD also has plans to launch a high-end off-road brand this year. Dongfeng says the first product under the M Hero brand will enter the market in 2023.
A computer animation professional with over 23 years of industry experience having served in leading organizations, TV channels & production facilities in Pakistan. An avid car enthusiast and petrolhead with an affection to deliver quality content to help shape opinions. Formerly written for PakWheels as well as major publications including Dawn. Founder of CarSpiritPK.com


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13 pups used for puppy farming seized in raid at Scottish port
The Scottish SPCA has seized 13 puppies from an illegal dealer at Port Cairnryan.
The society’s special investigations unit caught individuals travelling from Ireland illegally transporting 13 puppies of different breeds only a few weeks old.
The puppies are now receiving 24 hour care from the SSPCA, though two of the puppies required emergency vet care, and one tragically, had to be put down due to respiratory issues.
Mike Flynn, chief superintendent for the SSPCA said: “The lockdown initially led to a dramatic decrease in activity in the puppy trade.
“However, we have been keeping a close eye on things and we are concerned traders and dealers are becoming more active again, even more so now lockdown restrictions have eased slightly in Scotland.
“We cannot stress this enough: the supply for badly-bred puppies will only disappear if public demand stops.
“Every year, thousands of pups are dying alone and in pain, at just days or weeks old, to fuel the trade.
“We will continue to fight the puppy trade every step of the way, but we need each and every person to do their bit to help us stop it.
“Many responsible breeders put a hold on breeding during the pandemic, but we are aware of some breeders ramping up prices due to lack of supply.
“This could drive people to buy a puppy without doing their homework on where they are getting it from.
“There are thousands of adverts on websites like Gumtree for puppies, but there is no guarantee you are buying from a responsible breeder when you shop online.
“Many dealers will use false names and phone numbers to sell a dog, making it impossible for a buyer to get a hold of them when the pup falls ill.”
For anyone looking for information on how to purchase a puppy safely, click here.
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A number of exciting features are on their way to Australian waters onboard four brand new small ships from the French Ponant fleet. One of these four vessels will head directly for Australia upon its launch, debuting in the Kimberley region in mid-2018.
Archive for the ‘Interview / Video / TV’ Category
New Video Series From Carnival Featuring Country Music Superstar Carrie Underwood Highlights Military Families Of HonorTuesday, April 5th, 2016
Carnival Cruise Line released the first in a new video series featuring heartwarming meet-and-greet opportunities between country superstar Carrie Underwood and U.S. military families recognized through the Honor.
TV duo Ant and Dec are hosting a special episode of ITV’s Saturday Night Takeaway live from the top deck of P&O Cruises Britannia in Barcelona this Saturday, marking the start of an important two weeks for P&O Cruises. (cruiseindustrynews.com)
World’s Largest Ship Comes to Life in 3D: Royal Caribbean Creates a Virtual Tour for Harmony of the SeasWednesday, March 30th, 2016
Royal Caribbean is using virtual reality as a tool to showcase their newest ship, Harmony of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship while under construction at the STX shipyard.
Kyriakos Anastassiadis, CEO of Celestyal Cruises, told Cruise Industry News that the company will order new ships during an interview in Ft. Lauderdale.
Exclusive SCG 2016 report – President of Costa Cruises discusses the challenging South American market with Cruise Business ReviewWednesday, March 16th, 2016
As the South America cruise business softens, Costa Cruises has been forced to reduce capacity in the region. CBR spoke exclusively with Neil Palomba, President of Costa Crociere S.p.A., about prospects and challenges of this once promising market.
The Britannia will be mixed with ten amateur celebrity chefs and Marco Pierre White to serve up Battlechefs, a new cookery contest set at sea, starting on UKTV’s W on Monday April 4, 2016 at 8pm. (cruiseindustrynews.com)
Set to air for the first time in the U.K. this Thursday, March 3 at 8:30 p.m. GMT, the show will focus on the life of passengers and crew as they sail through Russia and Northern Europe onboard the 3,560-passenger Regal Princess. (cruisecritic.com)
Princess Cruises is continuing its voyage through the world of whisky, extending its onboard experience of the premium spirit in dedicated bars and menus across the fleet and releasing a new video featuring fine Australian whisky. (more…)
Cruise Critic caught up with Holland America president Orlando Ashford in Sydney, where he talked about taking his first cruise, the launch of Koningsdam, and the new live music venues rolling out across the fleet.
Carnival Corporation & plc today announced a new virtual reality (VR) cruise simulation that will be available at 133 AT&T stores in 37 states around the United States from February 19 through March 11.
New videos have been developed by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) to brief travellers en route to Antarctica. They reinforce actions visitors need to take to ensure their visit is safe and environmentally sensitive. (more…)
Royal Caribbean International and the Nine Network have announced a television special hosted by well-known Australian television talent Natalie Gruzlewski, filmed onboard Australia’s largest and most feature packed ship Explorer of the Seas. (australia.etbtravelnews.com)
Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas is currently under construction at Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. Watch to see how the construction process is coming along on the third Quantum class ship.
ESPN outlines Caribbean cruise lines programming – lineup includes NFL Playoffs, EURO 2016 and Rio 2016Tuesday, January 19th, 2016
Beginning now through August of 2016, ESPN will provide extensive, live coverage on all major Caribbean cruise lines of the most anticipated sports events of the next year. (cruisebusiness.com)
Holland America Line debuted the third in a series of “Countdown to Koningsdam” videos that details the ship’s The World Stage main theater. (more…)
Live sport, news, current affairs, drama and lifestyle programs will now be broadcast on Princess Cruises’ Australia-based ships. (cruisecritic.com)
Plunging into Adventure on the Tallest Slide at Sea: Royal Caribbean Reveals 10 story Ultimate AbyssWednesday, December 16th, 2015
Take the plunge, if you dare! At 10 stories high, Harmony of the Seas’ Ultimate Abyss is not only the tallest slide at sea but an epic adventure, not for the feint of heart.
PortholeTV Debuts “Porthole Cruise Views” Segment, Introducing Carnival Corporation Brands to New CruisersMonday, December 14th, 2015
Porthole Cruise Magazine, the nation’s leading cruise travel magazine, has announced that its emerging video division, PortholeTV, has debuted its premiere cruise segment, “Porthole Cruise Views,” a new platform to relay various cruise content from what’s happening in the cruise industry to special-edition cruise line coverage. (more…)
Top TV duo Ant and Dec will host a special episode of ITV’s award-winning Saturday Night Takeaway live from the top deck of Britannia in Barcelona on Saturday, April 2,2016, P&O Cruises announced today. (more…)
In anticipation of the launch of ms Koningsdam in April 2016, Holland America Line is debuting a series of short videos called “Countdown to Koningsdam” that will provide construction updates as the ship nears completion. (more…)
Princess Cruises has created a new video series with renowned award-winning chef and restaurateur Curtis Stone, sharing his vision behind SHARE, the recently announced, all-new specialty restaurant that encourages connecting with others over a deliciously prepared meal. (more…)
Royal Caribbean International has announced the launch of “Come Seek Live,” a series of live streaming videos offered through the Periscope social media app. (travelagentcentral.com)


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McDonald’s Australia has released the first app which allows you to track your order whilst it is being prepared, to show people where their food has come from.
The TrackMyMacca’s app has been created by creative agency DDB Australia, using technology to access the supply chain using augmented reality to deliver information about the food in a “fun” way.
Chief marketing officer Mark Lollback said: “As a business we’re incredibly proud that over 90 per cent of our food and packaging needs are met right here in Australia.
"This innovative app from the DDB Group is another way for us to share this with our customers, putting them in the driving seat and allowing them to see for themselves where our food comes from and what happens on its way to their plate.
“The TrackMyMacca’s app is a world first for McDonald’s and we’re really happy to have partnered with the DDB Group to deliver this our customers around the country.
“Using GPS technology partnered with augmented reality, any Australian with an iPhone, iPad or iTouch can now use the app and track where different ingredients of the specific meal they are having has come from.”
The app went live this week, and will work on certain menu items, with more details on a website www.trackmymaccas.com.
DDB Australia creative director Nick Pringle said: “It’s always exciting to work on innovative projects for brands, and working on something that has the scale and reach of McDonald’s makes it even better.
“When a project involves changing more than 150 million pieces of packaging, you know it’s going to have an impact.”
The app is available for iPad, iPhone and iTouch from the Apple app store.


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LONDON, March 17 (Reuters) - Vacuum cleaner maker Dyson said it was recalling up to 1 million fan heaters because of a fire risk, delivering a blow to the British company known for technological innovation.
The company launched its ‘Air Multiplier’ fans, which do not have the blades visible in conventional devices, in 2009. A heater version of the fan followed in 2011. Only the heater versions are affected, the company said.
Dyson chief executive Max Conze said on Monday: ”We have sold a million heaters around the world; we have seen a small number short-circuit, which in four cases resulted in contained burning.
“Although there have been no instances of personal injury or damage to property, it’s four too many. So we are working with the relevant regulatory bodies and preparing for a voluntary recall.”
The company said customers should visit the website www.dysonrecall.com for instructions.
Dyson was founded by James Dyson, who developed a vacuum cleaner based on cyclone technology that did away with the bags that collected dirt in conventional machines.
The company, based in Malmesbury, southern England, holds over 3,000 patents for over 500 inventions, and it devices are sold in more 65 countries. (Reporting by Paul Sandle; editing by Sarah Young)


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Serac revealed its new Combox H2F, a combination blow molding, filling and capping solution for the dairy market, at the International Dairy Show in November.
We visit ice cream maker Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream in Brooklyn, N.Y.; Plus, an interview with the COO of Land O'Lakes
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This undated photo shows Michele Geraci, undersecretary of state for the Italian Ministry of Economic Development. (PHOTO / CHINA DAILY)
Italy wants to jointly explore third-party markets with China to benefit many nations through greater development of Belt and Road cooperation, according to a senior Italian official in charge of international trade and foreign investment.
Geraci called the China-Italy partnership in Africa "a good example of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative"
Michele Geraci, undersecretary of state for the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, said the memorandum of understanding the two countries signed in September for third-country cooperation is very important as it helps set up the framework for how Italian and Chinese companies can work together in regions such as Africa.
Geraci, an economist, said in an email interview that Italy can work with China to improve African economies because the two countries have complementary skills.
"We are in the process of selecting specific joint venture projects between Italian and Chinese companies," he said. "I believe this is a win-win solution for all parties involved, including African people themselves, because large outbound migrant flows risk depleting the African continent of its intellectual capital, something that would be very difficult, if not impossible, to reverse."
Geraci called the China-Italy partnership in Africa "a good example of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative" and added that the two countries are also looking forward to cooperating on harbors.
"We are analyzing how to include Italian ports as the western terminal of the new Silk Road for international shipments. Our northern ports are right in the middle of Europe, and our southern ports … are essential for the development of Mediterranean and African economies," he said.
Geraci said he hopes bilateral relations will be boosted by the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the nations' diplomatic ties next year.
China is the largest trading partner of Italy in Asia. Bilateral trade volume reached $49.6 billion in 2017, an increase of 15.1 percent year-on-year.
Geraci said agricultural machinery and food are two areas where he sees the strongest potential for trade cooperation between the two countries, and other traditional sectors like fashion and heavy machinery will continue to play a strong role in Italy's exports to China.
As a European Union member, Italy upholds the multilateral international trading system, he said. Geraci stressed the need to reform the World Trade Organization to improve its efficiency.
"The main problem that the world faces today is that the West sees China as a world economic power, which is true if we look at aggregate figures of GDP. However, China, while being an important, key player in the world economy, is comprised of people whose income per capita is very low by European standards," he said.
The West and China need to fully understand each others' domestic and international roles to avoid the misunderstandings of the past, he added. "We are indeed eager to make sure that the international trade system works smoothly and that the rules ensure a level playing field that takes into account each country's different social and economic stage of development and contingent challenges."
Geraci said it is difficult to balance short-term tactical measures with long-term growth. He called for dialogue among different nations to enhance mutual understanding.
Geraci said he considers high-level government exchanges of great importance in bilateral ties, adding that his country wants such intergovernmental interactions to benefit the business communities of the two countries.
"At the end of the day, we in the Italian government are judged by our people on economic performance, and it is the companies that run the economy," he added.
He also highlighted the importance of people-to-people exchanges and expressed the hope that more Italian students would come to China. He said they help enhance mutual understanding of the two peoples and become the best ambassadors for China's social and economic success around the world.
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Meet the Bakers Who Sell ‘B-Holes’ in Dupont, Petworth
Two local bakers spend their weekends on a street corner offering their “b-holes” to anyone who wants them.
The bakers — Grant Sarvis and his girlfriend and business partner, Julia Greenberger — are the owners of a pop-up bagel shop called “B-Holes” that sets up outside of Prego Again (1617 17th St. NW) Prequel (918 F St NW) and the Petworth Market on Saturdays and Sundays.
But what’s a b-hole? Sarvis explained it’s basically the bagel equivalent of a doughnut hole, a culinary creation that came to him while he was tending bar at Ted’s Bulletin.
“There was a little sign that advertised the doughnut holes. It said ‘d-holes’,” said Sarvis, “So I started joking around with a co worker and said, ‘you’re not a d hole, you’re a b hole.’ Then I thought that would be a great name for a bagel business.”
So Sarvis whipped up some recipes up with Greenberger, and together, they launched the pop-up shop about three months ago.
But what about the name? Doesn’t it conjure… unpleasant imagery? Well yeah, Sarvis said. But that’s part of the fun.
“We’ve gotten 99 percent amazing responses about the name,” Sarvis said. “We’ve even gotten tons of pictures with families captioned ‘look at my kids eating a B-Hole.'”
It might also help that Sarvis and Greenberger’s “b-holes” are delicious, or at least that’s when they’ve been told. The pop-up’s menu currently includes Misses Lavender, a sweet bagel filled with honey butter and lavender, covered with a lemon sauce; Barlic Gacon, which is filled with cream cheese, roasted garlic, bacon and topped off with minced garlic; and the wildly popular Original, filled with chives, onion, garlic, cream cheese and sprinkled in everything seasoning.
And there are some new B-Hole flavors in the works, added Sarvis.
“We’re working on one called the Fee Fi Fo Fig. It’ll have strawberry fig cream cheese with maple glaze on top,” said Sarvis.
Sarvis noted that although goal for B-Holes right now is to “give people the best bagel experience in D.C.,” he wouldn’t rule out opening a brick-and-mortar shop one day.
“We want you to enjoy it with a smile on a face laughing about the name with your friends,” he said. “The name is bold but we’re selling you something that will make you happy.”


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Semiconductors enter the 3nm era
In 2020, Samsung announced that it has completed the development of 3nm technology. With the successful tapeout of 3nm, it also means that the time for final mass production will be getting closer and closer.
FinFET architecture has been the mainstream of reports over the past few years, not only by Intel, since Intel first adopted it at the 22nm node. semiconductor giants including TSMC have adopted this architecture.
As the semiconductor process moves from 5nm to more advanced processes, the FinFET structure has been difficult to meet the current driving and electrostatic control capabilities required by transistors. It is generally believed that the GAA architecture will become the mainstream of advanced processes in the future.
Samsung announces successful 3nm tapeout
The progress of Samsung’s 3nm process tapeout is to cooperate with Synopsys to accelerate the provision of a highly optimized reference method for the production process of the GAA architecture.
Because Samsung’s 3nm process based on GAA technology is different from TSMC’s 3nm process of FinFET architecture, Samsung needs new design and certification tools, so it uses Synopsys’ Fusion Design Platform.
This process is expected to make Samsung’s 3nm GAA structure process technology available for high-performance computing (HPC), 5G, mobile and high-end artificial intelligence (AI) application chip production.
The GAA transistor structure represents a critical inflection point for process technology advancement and is critical to sustaining the strategies needed for the next wave of hyperscale innovation.
Synopsys and Samsung’s strategic partnership supports the delivery of best-in-class technologies and solutions, ensuring the continuation of trends and opportunities for the semiconductor industry.
Samsung believes that the use of nanowire channel design is not only complicated, but also the cost may outweigh the benefits. Therefore, Samsung designed a new form of GAA-MBCFET (Multi-Bridge-Channel FET, multi-bridge-channel field effect transistor), using multi-layer stacked nanosheets to replace the nanowires in GAAFET.
This nanosheet design has been extensively studied by research institute IMEC as a follow-up to the FinFET architecture, and developed by IBM in collaboration with Samsung and GlobalFoundries.
According to Samsung, compared to the 5nm manufacturing process, the 3nm GAA technology improves logic area efficiency by more than 35%, reduces power consumption by 50%, and improves performance by about 30%.
Samsung announced the PDK physical design kit standard for the 3nmGAA process as early as 2019. This time, the 3nm chip tape-out was completed in cooperation with Synopsys. The two parties jointly verified the design and production process of the process, which is a milestone for the 3nmGAA process.
Samsung’s action caught TSMC off guard
TSMC will not be able to enter the 3nm mass production stage until the second half of next year, and the tape-out time is expected to wait until next year. However, Samsung also took the lead in realizing the 3nm tape-out work.
According to the news from Samsung, the 3nm process chip adopts the GAA architecture, and its performance is better than that of TSMC’s FinFET architecture.
This shows that on the same process, Samsung’s 3nm chip performance is even better than TSMC. After the tape-out is completed, Samsung is also approaching the mass production of 3nm chips.
It is estimated that TSMC also did not expect this. Originally, TSMC took the lead every time. As a result, Samsung suddenly emerged, bringing news of the success of 3nm tape-out.
Samsung helped Qualcomm manufacture the Snapdragon 888, a chip widely used in the high-end mobile phone market. The better the chips are sold, the greater the profit for Samsung’s foundry.
If the follow-up 3nm customer is still Qualcomm, Qualcomm’s position in the mobile phone market will definitely bring Samsung a huge market share. At that time, TSMC will have a certain pressure.
TSMC has said that its 3nm chip process has achieved technological breakthroughs and is expected to achieve mass production by the end of next year, and will give priority to customers such as Apple.
TSMC has more than half of the world’s chip production capacity, and it has promised to build 6 new chip factories in the United States in one breath, showing its confidence and strength.
Now it seems that TSMC’s statement seems outdated and premature. Samsung’s news about 3nm chips may ruin TSMC’s plans.
There has been a lot of bad news from TSMC recently. First, its sub-factories were unable to OEM due to certain problems, which caused TSMC to lose a lot of orders. Second, the United States suddenly pulled TSMC into the blacklist, which caught TSMC by surprise.
Being blacklisted by the United States is not the most deadly, after all, TSMC has withdrawn its factory in the United States; but if Samsung’s 3nm tape-out is successful, it will enter the mass production stage, which means that Samsung may overtake here and become the first energy A foundry that produces 3nm chips.
Samsung increases investment and competes with TSMC for advanced manufacturing process
In the field of global chip foundry processing, most of the global chip foundry orders are divided by the two of them, and the rest of the chip foundries can only compete for the remaining orders from the two of them. These two are also known as the global semiconductor foundry double male.
For a long time, TSMC and Samsung have competed with each other in terms of advanced chip process technology, and they are in a situation where you are catching up. Generally speaking, almost TSMC has the upper hand, followed by Samsung, and the gap is not very obvious.
In late May of this year, TSMC revealed that its 3nm chip process technology research and development progress is rapid, and it is expected that trial production will be possible in the second half of this year, and by the end of next year, large-scale mass production can be achieved.
In the performance test, the GAA architecture transistor has better performance, which is better than the FINFET architecture adopted by TSMC’s 3nm process. Even if both parties have mastered the 3nm process chip manufacturing, Samsung’s 3nm chips are better than TSMC’s 3nm chips. It is understood that Samsung’s 3nm chips The performance of the chip is 30% higher than that of the 5nm chip, and the power consumption is reduced by 50%.
Samsung’s overtake of TSMC this time is not accidental, but inevitable. Samsung has disclosed before that South Korea will invest 171 trillion won in the non-memory chip field, which is equivalent to RMB 979 billion at the exchange rate. Achieve the goal of becoming a chip power by 2030.
Can Samsung’s 10-Year Goals Be Achieved?
Samsung is already accelerating its pace. Although TSMC has a leading edge in production capacity and market share, Samsung has not given up catching up. The goal is to surpass TSMC to become the world’s largest chip maker within the next decade.
In this regard, Samsung also increased its investment before 2030 to 151.4 billion US dollars, and increased investment in the non-memory chip field. Compete directly with TSMC and surpass TSMC in one fell swoop.
Judging from the current development trend of Samsung, it has already threatened the status of TSMC in a certain technical field. If Samsung can greatly increase its production capacity and stabilize the yield, it may shorten the distance from TSMC’s market share.
If Samsung can achieve mass production of 3nm chips by the end of the year, it will not be good news for TSMC. We can only rely on TSMC’s 3nm chips to be mass-produced faster than Samsung, which can also grab market share, otherwise it may be the world’s first The location of the big chip foundry is going to Samsung.
Samsung’s decision to use this technology this time is making a big gamble. If the gamble is lost, then Samsung is likely to bring TSMC to become the world’s largest chip foundry.
But if the bet is lost, then Samsung’s goal of surpassing TSMC may be further away.
Now that Samsung has achieved the tape-out of this 3-nanometer chip, to a large extent, it means that Samsung has completed its dream of overtaking in a corner. Of course, this is only limited to 3-nanometer chips.
As for what kind of actions TSMC will make next, we will wait and see.
Part of the data reference: Xinzhixun: “Leading TSMC, Samsung’s 3nm GAA process successfully taped out! What is GAA?”, Artificial Intelligence Scientist: “Heavy! Samsung announces 3nm successful tapeout!”


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The proposed shop would boast an in-store bakery, longer-style tills with dual packing facilities, baby changing facilities, customer toilets and parking for cars and bicycles.
The 2,844m2 budget supermarket will form part of a new mixed developmental that includes 30 apartments.
In April 2016, Lidl first revealed it wanted to open a new store in Epsom and held a public consultation day last October. This was followed by an exhibition in January before the company submitted the application to Epsom and Ewell Borough Council.
Lidl UK’s regional head of property, Chris Young-Wootton, said: "We have received an incredible amount of support from the local community and are delighted to announce that we have submitted a planning application with Epsom and Ewell Borough Council.
"If granted this would mark a multi-million pound investment in the area, and the creation of new jobs when the store opens.
"We would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for their support and feedback so far and look forward to receiving the decision in due course."
The company hopes that a decision will be made on the application towards the end of summer.
The council has yet to set a date at which its planning committee would discuss the plans.
Keep up to date with the latest news from around the county via the free Get Surrey app.
You can set up your app to see all the latest news and events from your area, plus receive push notifications for breaking news.


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Sunday, April 20, 2014
An afternoon of outlet shopping and browsing L.L. Bean can work up an appetite. A new seafood-centric restaurant opening on Lower Main Street aims to be there when the hunger hits.
Freeport Seafood Co. Restaurant and Pub is slated to open in Freeport on Monday, June 25, just down the road from L.L. Bean. Chef Emmy Anderson (formerly of Cape Arundel Inn and most recently, Seasons Grille) has prepared a menu that includes some of our favorite seafood standbys (like crumb-coated haddock and whole-belly clams and scallops) and more creatively prepared dishes (such as a unique daily spin on the po' boy). The menu also includes six signature lobster dishes, including Company Lobster Pot Pie and Lobster Mac n' Cheese. Other dishes include a creative spin on the po' boy and classics like crumb-coated haddock and whole-belly clams and scallops.
The restaurant has a full dining room and covered outdoor deck for enjoying the weather and the shopper-watching. And let's not forget the pub menu and cocktails, as well as a beer list that includes some locals.
Located at 175 Lower Main St., Freeport, Freeport Seafood Co. will be open daily at 11:30 a.m. For reservations: 207-865-9105.Tweet
Meredith Goad has harvested oysters on the Chesapeake Bay, eaten reindeer in Finland and sipped hot chai in the Himalayas. She writes the weekly Soup to Nuts column and enjoys a good cocktail.


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28 February 2020 | News
Dr V G Somani, Drugs Controller General (India) releases IPA guidelines on Market Complaints
Sudarshan Jain, Secretary-General, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance, Dr VG Somani, Drugs Controller General of India, Satish Reddy, President, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance
Patient Centricity and Integrated Quality Management is the theme for this year’s India Pharmaceutical Forum, organized by the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) in Mumbai. Now in its 5th edition, the event brought together manufacturers, regulators, academia and other relevant stakeholders together facilitate discussions resulting in meaningful and actionable outcomes. Dr VG Somani, Drugs Controller General of India delivered the Keynote Address and released the IPA guidelines on Market Complaints.
Dr VG Somani, Drugs Controller General of India said, “We are working to simplify regulatory framework in pharma sector in India as we believe the pharma industry should focus on simplicity to achieve efficient compliance. The key for regulation lies not in what is written, but how it is implemented. Patient centricity is vital to Indian Pharmaceutical industry and regulations should be able to enhance it than restrain.”
“Indian Pharmaceutical Forum (IPF) is a pioneering initiative of IPA that lays a strong foundation for quality culture and capability building. Quality is fundamental to our industry and would help to take India to next level. This Forum is a unique platform which brings together all stakeholders comprising of Indian and global regulators, government policymakers, industry, academia to move forward the quality agenda.
This year’s theme Patient Centricity and Integrated Quality Management will be pivotal for our journey on quality,” said Mr. Sudarshan Jain, Secretary-General, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance
The 2020 Forum focused on patient-centric approach to the manufacturing of quality medicines. With ten sessions spread over two days, the conference focused on some of the pressing issues in pharmaceutical industry such as Quality, Capability Building, Affordability and Patient-Centric Approach among other topics. With international and Indian stakeholders coming together to discuss pertinent issues related to quality management systems and thereof, the Forum brought together the relevant stakeholders in the Pharmaceutical industry to map a way forward for the Indian pharmaceutical industry.
“Indian pharma has made considerable progress in our quality journey. Forums such as the IPF play a significant role in achieving the vision of the industry - to be the global benchmark in quality. Several eminent speakers participated in this edition of the IPF and made it an enriching experience,” said Mr. Satish Reddy, President, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance.
The CEO Panel on Patient Centricity and Integrated Quality Management by the CEO’s of Lupin, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Cadila Healthcare, and Cipla will reflect thoughts on the Indian pharmaceutical industry current standing and the path ahead.


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Record snowfall has been great for skiers this season!! This same excitement has not been shared by retailers.
According to a report released today, the snowstorm that swept through the Northeast kept shoppers home on Sunday and Monday and delayed about $1 billion in post-holiday spending. Still, retailers will probably reclaim much of that amount.
ShopperTrak, which estimates foot traffic and retail sales, said in a report on Wednesday that consumers around the country spent about $10 billion on retail goods on Sunday and Monday but that another $1 billion was lost because of the snowstorm that struck much of the East Coast.
In regions other than the East Coast, visits to retailers continued to rise. In the Midwest, South and West regions, foot traffic to retailers rose 38.6 percent on Sunday compared with Sunday a year ago, which was on Dec. 27. In the Northeast, foot traffic declined 6.1 percent.


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The severe gamers in the self-driving-vehicle video game are beginning to emerge.
Over the previous couple of years, Alphabet’s Waymo, GM’s Cruise, Argo AI (moneyed by Ford and VW), Intel’s Mobileye, and Tesla have actually all pressed forward in the autonomous-mobility service.
We’re well previous science jobs at this moment, as billions in financial investment dollars have actually streamed into these business.
With terrific financing comes the duty to put extremely capable executive groups in charge. Here are the leaders who are guiding the self-driving market into the future.


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Agencies line up for beer promotion task
Global Brewers Initiative, the consortium of alcohol manufacturers seeking to boost beer sales, is looking for an agency to handle its UK advertising account.
Let There Be Beer: Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R created launch ad
Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R created Global Brewers Initiative’s launch ad, "let there be beer", in 2013. The agency is repitching against McCann Birmingham, Now and SapientNitro.
The Advertising Standards Authority censured "let there be beer" in December 2013 after a complaint from the Youth Alcohol Advertising Council. One week earlier, a content-led TV campaign that starred Tim Lovejoy and was brokered by Mindshare escaped a ban after complaints that it could be mistaken for programming.
Global Brewers Initiative did not respond in time to comment.
This article was first published on campaignlive.co.uk
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Media Creations, Russell Fisher along with MindSlap Medias, Steve Airola recently completed producing a Doritos ad contest commercial titled “The Interview”. A funny spot featuring actors Steve Airola and Breana Wells with a small part from Russell Fisher. This was the kick-off of a new joint effort by both companies to bring their talents to the table and offer production of web and television commercials.
They are currently in pre-production on a new ad campaign for BOSS Business Systems, Inc. called “Hate Your Copier?”. Stay tuned for some funny ads to come from this campaign. Word on the street is that the copiers don’t make out so well! See “The Interview” below.


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As brand names go, the word "Galaxy" has a lot going for it. You think of stars, you think space, you think big. Particularly for something like an app store--where points of competitive differentiation revolve around the choices available--Galaxy conveys the right kind of message. However, Samsung needs to do more than simply act like a smart marketer.
Though it was widely cited as a mere renaming, Samsung actually described its Galaxy Apps store as a new launch on its official blog. "An improvement upon its predecessor, Samsung Apps, the new app store features apps that will allow greater customization of mobile devices and will also function as a platform to offer various promotions and discounts," the company said, promising "hundreds of exclusive apps" on the Galaxy App Store.
It's impossible not to think about Samsung's app store changes in light of its recent second-quarter results, which showed both disappointing sales of its tablets and what the company described as a slowdown in the smartphone sector. This was the firm's second straight decline in both revenue and profit, despite high-profile launches like the Galaxy S5 earlier this year.
In the near term, of course, the Galaxy Apps store won't do a lot to change that situation, though it does make sense in light of Samsung's mobile strategy over the last year. This includes Samsung's first developer conference in 2013, the launch of several different SDKs and other initiatives designed to attract more developers to its devices. The company said Galaxy Apps will essentially reward developers for using SDKs such as Multi Windows and S Pen by creating sections like For Galaxy. Beyond that, however, categories like Best Picks and Top Apps don't sound radically different than what consumers would find on Google Play, or, for that matter, Apple's App Store.
What Galaxy Apps will really do is test whether Samsung smartphone customers identify more with Samsung in particular or Android in general. If Galaxy Apps offers a highly curated selection that truly makes using a Galaxy S5 better than browsing through Google Play, for example, it could deepen relationships with the brand. However, in a press release with its earnings, Samsung said sales "were sluggish due to a longer replacement cycle than that of smartphones, which is usually between two to three years." If that's true, the wares in Galaxy Apps will have to nudge people to upgrade more quickly to enjoy the best the apps have to offer, which is a delicate thing to do even when sales are going well.
If Samsung tries to make Galaxy Apps more than a showpiece for its own apps, meanwhile, developers will need to feel there is a benefit to them that's greater than promoting their apps or mobile games more widely within Google Play. What can Samsung offer in terms of engagement and retention, for instance, or in boosting revenue (where Google Play typically trails Apple's App Store)? Samsung may be trying to create its own galaxy, but success will mean figuring out a way to treat every app developer inside it like a star.--Shane


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NEW BREMEN — Learning to adapt and roll with change has been a mantra for many businesses since the pandemic began last year.
Jason Monfort, owner of several McDonald’s in the area, said the biggest challenges he has faced is learning to not be as proactive as he has in the past.
“As a leader in business, you’re always trying to plan and be proactive but it feels like things now are so reactionary, and there’s so much change all the time, it’s very difficult to continue to move, weave and change all the different times,” Monfort told members of the New Bremen New Knoxville Rotary Club Tuesday during their weekly meeting. “For me personally, I think that’s been one of the harder pieces within all of this. Now, it seems like the whole world is sped up even more than it was before and now the planning and all those types of things are monthly and quarterly now, versus a couple times a year and annually.”
Monfort called the first six months following the orders mandated by the Ohio Department of Health “brutal,” saying that it wasn’t until around September when things started to turn around.
“They were really tough. Trying to understand what the aftermath of that was going to be,” he said. “It’s been a weird adjustment, just changing and evolving. Whether it’s the government giving demands down or McDonald’s giving demands down.”
He said staffing has been a struggle as well, adding that it’s forcing businesses to get innovative with its operations.
“We’re going to start hearing the word “artificial intelligence” a lot more. Those types of things are going to become a lot more mainstream than we want them to be,” he said.


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Supermarkets are continuing to slash the price of alcohol despite accusations that bargain booze deals are helping to fuel Britain’s binge drinking crisis.
According to The Daily Telegraph, latest statistics show that in December 25 per cent of all beer sold online at Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Ocado was discounted.
That is a seven per cent increase on the same period last year, despite calls from experts and politicians to curb the sale of cheap alcohol.
Chief medical officers have called for a statutory minimum price per unit of alcohol, warning that cheap prices are linked to drink-related health problems.
Last month the Government pledged to tackle irresponsible drink promotions in pubs and bars.
The Conservatives said they would ban the selling of booze below cost price in supermarkets if they won the forthcoming general election.
Don Shenker, Chief Executive of Alcohol Concern, told the Telegraph: “Supermarkets pretend to champion the consumer and yet their alcohol price discounting has led to a direct rise in alcohol related health harms and costs to the NHS and police.
“When will the supermarkets realise their use of alcohol as a loss leader is ruining the health of this country and leading to more crime and disorder?”
And Dr Chris Record, a liver disease consultant based in Newcastle, said: “The problem is that alcohol prices have been falling and is now much more affordable than it was a couple of decades ago.
“And if you reduce the price of alcohol suddenly, consumption goes up.”
But retailers denied that cheap booze was a problem. They blamed binge drinking on culture rather than price.
Richard Dodd, of the British Retail Consortium, said: “Retailers are simply competing to offer customers value. They shouldn’t be criticised for doing that.
“Irresponsible drinking is not about price. It’s about culture. We already have some of the highest alcohol taxes in Europe.
“Banning discounts or forcing up prices won’t make a difference. Changing attitudes will and that’s what retailers are engaged in.”
This week it was announced that 24-hour alcohol licensing laws will be cut, but only by three hours.
Council authorities will be able to limit late opening of pubs and clubs across an entire area, but only between the hours of 3am to 6am.


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The power of collective purchasing comes to NZ and brings big savings. Tomorrow Aucklanders will be given a rare opportunity to buy movie tickets at the same price they were more than 25 years ago.
To mark the launch of www.GrabOne.co.nz the daily deal website, the initial offer is a $4 ticket to any Auckland Event Cinemas movie with no conditions attached.
GrabOne is a deal-a-day website offering services such as entertainment, beauty therapy, restaurants, bars, and experiences at hugely reduced discounts of up to 90%, through the power of collective purchasing.
Each deal will be made available to the public for 24 hours and in order for the deal to activate at the discounted price a minimum number of people must confirm their willingness to buy. Once the deal has activated the transaction is processed and a downloadable coupon is emailed to the member.
Shane Bradley founder of GrabOne and mastermind of other sites such as Finda.co.nz and Sella.co.nz says that GrabOne is the perfect combination for both the bargain hunting consumer and participating business.
“GrabOne is a simple way to get huge discounts in your city whether it is a meal or a movie, a bungy jump or a spa treatment. It will give everyone the opportunity to try different activities that price may have deterred them from in the past.
“Not only is the site a perfect platform for businesses to drive trade and build their customer base but it will increase awareness of their product and brand. We already have the first six weeks of daily bargains lined up from businesses who are eager to be onboard,” says Bradley.
The team at GrabOne has built a substantial database who will receive daily alerts of the current offer. The site is based on users interacting through social media such as Facebook, Twitter and email to promote the deals to their friends, family and work colleagues.
“Because there are so many GrabOne members (‘Grabbies’ as they have been affectionately coined) communicating and encouraging each other to buy, the company offering the deal gets a viral advertising campaign of their own.”
The concept originated from an American site Groupon which launched in 2008 and to date has saved its members over $291 million and is just about to make its 7 millionth trade. Groupon launched in Chicago and is now in over 90 cities across the globe, the waitlist for businesses wanting to offer a deal is over four months.
Shane is positive that his Kiwi version GrabOne will create some of the great stories that have been seen in America.
“A New York Bagel store served over ten thousand people in a day and in Chicago the Art Institute Museum grew its 130-year-old membership by 4,913 new members in just a single day. 95 per cent of businesses surveyed who have experienced trading wanted to be featured again.”
GrabOne launches in Auckland on the 8th July and will be rolled out to other main centres and regional areas across the country with Wellington and Christchurch already in the pipeline to go live within two months.
To experience GrabOne, watch the video and the trading unfold visit www.grabone.co.nz


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IT giant IBM has announced its intention to buy US retail analytics software provider DemandTec for $440 million.
DemandTec is a cloud-based analytics provider, which helps retailers examine their customers’ buying habits in order to set prices and organise promotions.
IBM general manager Craig Hayman said that the acquisition would extend its focus on commerce, bringing “science to the art of pricing and promotion. The combination of DemandTec and IBM will help marketing and sales executives in retail and other industries drive more revenue and increase profitability.”
Like many software-as-a-service providers, DemandTec has struggled to turn a profit. In fact, it has made a loss in every single financial quarter since its initial public offering in 2007.
The company’s share price hit a peak of around $20 shortly after the IPO, but in August it was as low as $5. The price IBM has agreed to pay represents a 57% premium over its market capitalisation before the deal was announced.
The deal is the latest in a long run of acquisitions by IBM in the analytics space. Earlier this year, it bought risk analytics software company Algorithmics for $387 million, and paid an undisclosed amount for i2, a UK company whose technology helps helps businesses and public authorities detect crime and fraud.


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A Closer Look at Fendi's Accessory Collaboration With Chaos
A luxury take on technology-inspired accessories.
During fashion week, Fendi revealed a collaboration with accessories label Chaos which featured luxury items such as AirPod cases, lighter necklaces and more. Now, we’re taking a closer look at the collection and all its pieces.
The collaboration was born out of a mutual love for vintage cigarette cases and evening clutches, with a partnership that was established by Karl Lagerfeld and is continued by Silvia Venturini Fendi. This time around, the collection is a luxury take on technology accessories, utilizing both metals and leather to transform everyday pieces into jewel-like items. The lookbook captures items like eye-catching bags with keychain-inspired attachments, sporting Fendi’s signature “FF” monogram logo throughout.
Take a look at the items in the gallery above, and stay tuned as the collab is set to release at the end of October.


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The Outdoor Advertising Convention (OAC) 2005 kicked off in Mumbai yesterday. It proved to be a good platform to discuss issues pertaining to outdoor as an advertising medium. Harish Bijoor, CEO, Harish Bijoor Consults, said that the advertising industry has evolved, progressing from mainly using indoor advertising to shifting its attention to outdoor as a medium.
Speaking about the Middle East market, Mohammed Al Noori, Head of Advertising Section, Dubai Municipality, said that the market invests heavily in infrastructure, trade, retail, service sectors, real estate, tourism, leisure and sports. Noori added that traffic and other limitations compelled Dubai Municipality to innovate. “The share of outdoor in total advertising is to the tune of 10-12 per cent. Outdoor is most effective as a medium in Dubai as population is highly mobile, during day as well as wee hours of night.”
Giving his views on whether television is competing with or complementing outdoor medium, Tarun Katial, Business Head, Sony Entertainment Television, said that television offers a captive audience. Quoting the example of Jassi’s success, Katial said that the whole concept was to build Jassi but not to show her. In this process, big outdoor medium helped. Even Indian Idol used hoardings to convey its message – Sab Kuch Bhula De. Amul’s topical advertisements on hoardings was also discussed by Katial. In Katial’s view, outdoor works as the biggest supportive medium for television.
Pratap Bose, President, Ogilvy Actiaion, conveyed that being innovative really helps make an impact. Explaining that consumer interpretation of outdoor campaigns is at three levels – rational, emotional and cultural, Bose took the audience through some spectacular creative works, which had succeeded in connecting with the consumer. Bose said, “The 3 killer Bs must be always be taken care of – brevity, branding and borders.”
Roda Mehta, Chairperson, Technical Committee, MRUC, stressed on the need in the industry to share and increase knowledge through open interactive sessions.
Mehta said, “The television industry grew after the peoplemeter system was introduced but since the cinema fraternity chose to withhold information or share it, it went out of business.”
Divulging details on the Indian Outdoor Survey, Ashok Das, Managing Director, Hansa Research, said that it will cover 11 cities as a beginning and a software would also be worked on. The system would have six modules. In the first module, all the sites of the 11 cities would be covered, followed by a module handling physical count of traffic, which in turn would be followed by other relevant modules.
“Owing to oncoming monsoon season, which would observe unusual traffic flow, a decision to measure traffic after the rains has been taken. 17 parameters for each site would be recorded. The parameters would deal with all relevant factors like lit or unlit status, profile of people travelling etc. According to the current proposal, transient modes of advertising would not be covered,” Das said.
Rehan Merchant, Executive Director, Emirates Neon Group, discussed at length about ‘The concessionare’s role in developing the Outdoor Advertising market – The Middle East Experience’
Merchant stressed on the point that it is necessary to avoid too much of a clutter and to use innovation while trying to deliver results for the client. “Immense care should be observed to see that the billboards or hoardings don’t fall due to sudden rain or natural outbursts. Adding digital element to outdoors would work very well too,” asserted Merchant.
Bijoor moderated the short session that followed, which had specialist agencies on one panel and media owners on the second panel. The first panel comprised J C Giri, Arminio Ribiero, Ratnakar Rai and Soumitra Bhattacharyya whereas the second panel had Adille Sumariwala, Sunil Maheshwari, RajnishRawat and Venkatraman Movva.
Bijoor began the session by giving some statistical data, “India’s contribution is just $3.5 billion out of total worldwide advertising of $360 billion. Outdoor constitutes only 7 per cent of India’s total advertising.”
Each panel’s members were asked to point out good points as well as bad points of the other, without keeping in mind the need to be ‘politically correct’.
The media owners were accused of not being able to unite into a single representative body. Misuse of authority, excess of clutter and lack of investment in the right direction were the added allegations.
There was the other part of the story as well. The specialist agencies were advised to develop their own talent house rather than indulging in poaching. Late payment and inadequate payment were added woes of the media owners.
As suggestions to better the functioning of the outdoor industry, the need to increase manpower was discussed. It was also agreed that there should be unity among all facets of the outdoor industry to address issues and solve them.
Bijoor pointed out that in Japan only 11 per cent of household income is spent on groceries, whereas the comparative figure for India is 54 per cent. This also explains why FMCS stay back from advertising through outdoor.
Bijoor concluded by saying, “IOS 2005 is just a fundamental step towards organising the Outdoor industry. It’s just like peeling the first layer of he onion. Efforts have to continue and come from all sides to build outdoor substantially. Sufficient number backing and a reliable method have to evolve to convince advertisers of outdoor’s ability to deliver results. Only then will Indian advertising in the world pie grow.”