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Data released last May from the Office for National Statistics shows the proportion of adults who said they drank alcohol was at the lowest level on record.
The average Millennial consumes just 5 units of alcohol a week – 9 units under the recommended allowance of 14. Once perceived as a rite of passage, excessive alcohol consumption is now considered, much like smoking, as ‘uncool’. The rise of social media has served to cement this with drunken antics now having the potential to go viral in the click of a button.
A focus on health and well-being, and initiatives such as Dry January, have shone a spotlight on drinking habits as people learn more about nutrition and mindfulness where alcohol consumption is concerned.
‘Premiumisation’ – a phrase coined by drinks groups to describe the change in people’s spending habits, also suggests that, as a nation, we’re drinking less alcohol and when we do, we’re seeking out better quality and prepared to pay a higher price for it.
Testament to this fact is the rise in popularity of craft beers and microbreweries, with drinkers developing a true interest in the subject; drinking to enjoy the flavour and nuances of different beers rather than simply chugging whichever is cheapest.
With the health and fitness industry booming, millennials drinking less and those that do adopting more discerning decisions, people are eschewing alcohol for alternatives that reflect their lifestyles; cue Seedlip the world’s first non-alcoholic distilled spirit.
Seedlip has pioneered the birth of a new category and approach to drinking with the creation of considered and complex non-alcoholic drinks. Since launching in late 2015, Seedlip has been championed by some of the most celebrated bartenders and Michelin starred Chefs around the globe and is served in over 16 International cities. Its fans are spearheading a movement called ‘mindful drinking’.
“It shouldn’t matter whether you are drinking or not – you should be able to get a great drink and have a great experience. The American Bar at the world-renowned Savoy Hotel in London features a different Seedlip cocktail on every single page of its menu and many bars and restaurants are following suit.”
Ben Branson, founder of Seedlip
The UK’s first ever Mindful Drinking Festival took place last year, organised by Club Soda a mindful drinking community of more than 10,000 members, the event was attended by more than 2,000 people. Meanwhile hashtags celebrating a sober lifestyle (#soberisthenewblack anyone?) are drowning instagram, with a search for #sober throwing up almost 2 million posts.
Last year Tesco launched a line of sparkling wine with only 0.5 per cent alcohol by volume (ABV) whilst no and low-alcohol wines have significantly outperformed overall wine sales at Waitrose during the past year. Most recently Sainsbury’s launched “nosecco” — a non-alcoholic prosecco.
Against this backdrop, it looks like the mindful drinking movement is here to stay. We’ll drink to that.
Seedlip has just launched the third spirit in its collection, Grove 42.


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Singapore-based e-commerce and ride-sharing company Grab ( GRAB) cut losses by nearly three-quarters in the quarter ending June and forecasts a lower loss for the year as cost-cutting measures paid off.
Points to remember
- Singapore-based e-commerce and ride-sharing company Grab cut losses by nearly three-quarters in the quarter to June.
- The company posted a net loss of $148 million in the second quarter. , down 74% from its year-ago quarter loss.
- Subscriptions to GrabUnlimited, the company's subscription program, were up 25% from the prior quarter and 43% year-on-year.
- Company updated full-year outlook and expects much tighter operating profit . loss of $30-40 million, compared to previous estimates of $195-235 million.
The company, one of the most Asia's biggest tech startups in recent years, posted a net loss of $148 million in the second quarter, 74% lower than its loss in the year-ago quarter. Revenue jumped 77% from a year ago to $567 million as revenue from deliveries more than doubled.
Subscriptions to GrabUnlimited, the program of subscription, increased 25% from the prior quarter and 43% from a year ago. GrabUnlimited subscribers had retention rates on average twice as high as those of non-subscribers and spent almost four times as much on food deliveries.
"More people are using Grab today& #39; today more than ever, as we have reached our highest number of monthly transacting users yet, & #34; said Anthony Tan, co-founder and CEO of Grab.
Delivery revenue more than doubled from the same quarter last year to $292 million, driven by higher gross merchandise value (GMV) and reduced incentives for drivers, who are actions that ride-sharing companies like Uber (UBER), Lyft (LYFT) or Take the Time to accommodate drivers who might prefer different routes or work schedules. Higher incentives tend to increase spending.
The incentive reduction is part of a broader cost reduction initiative that also includes cloud services cost reduction and workforce reduction. In June, the company laid off about 1,000 workers, or about 11% of its workforce, in positions ranging from technology and development to marketing and administration. As a result, variable expenses decreased by 31% compared to a year ago, while staff costs decreased by 6%.
Company updated its outlook for the year and now expects a much lower operating loss of between $30 million and $40 million, compared to previous estimates of $195 million to $235 million.
Grab shares were higher 10% higher at 1:45 p.m. ET Wednesday. They are up 15% so far this year.
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domain: news


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Cigarette tax hike may help budget, hurt stores
Published 9:04 am Wednesday, March 9, 2016
For the second time in a year, the governor of Louisiana is set to pass an additional cigarette tax.
Last year, then-Gov. Bobby Jindal passed a tax hike of 50 cents per pack. Last week the state Senate approved an additional 22-cent tax. Gov. John Bel Edwards said he will approve the tax, and if that happens it will become law April 1. In total, cigarette taxes will now stand at $1.08 per pack.
The new tax is expected to bring in $11 million in extra revenue for this fiscal year at a time when the state desperately needs extra funds to make ends meet. The state is currently facing a $900 million budget shortfall for this fiscal year and another $2 billion shortfall next fiscal year.
Over a whole year, the new cigarette tax is estimated to bring in $46 million.
This hike pushes Louisiana’s cigarette tax higher than Mississippi’s, which stands at 68 cents.
Over the past weekend, the Louisiana House of Representatives also approved modest hikes in alcohol taxes.
Liquor, sparkling wine, and wine with a low alcohol content would see taxes raised by less than 1 cent per fluid once and wine with a high alcohol content could see taxes bumped up by up to 2-cents. Beer taxes would be raised by less than 1 cent per bottle.
If the Senate and the governor approve these taxes, the state can expect to see an additional $4.4 million in revenue by June 30, the close of the fiscal year, and as much as $19 million over a whole fiscal year.
If these taxes pass, they could mean that liquor, wine and beer in Louisiana is slightly more expensive than in Mississippi. For instance, liquor would be about 10 cents more per gallon in this state, while sparking wine and champagne would be about 68 cents more expensive per gallon in Louisiana.
These taxes are in addition to a 1-cent sales tax for goods besides food and medicine.
At last week’s city council meeting, Bogalusa Mayor Wendy Perrette said city sales tax figures were flagging for the past two months, and she hoped an increase in sales taxes won’t drive shoppers over the border into Mississippi. Cities depend heavily on sales tax revenues to meet their annual budgets.
Besides the city, local convenience store owners could feel a pinch, too. Savi Kriti Gray, the owner of the Liberty gas station on Louisiana Highway 10, one of the last gas stations before crossing the bridge into Mississippi, said she is afraid her customer base will drive the extra few miles to save some money.
“I don’t think the customers will like it,” she said of the new tax.
Tami Burnett, a smoker, said she would cross state lines if cigarettes are cheaper somewhere else.
“I have no problem doing that, ‘cause it’s right over the bridge,” she said.
But not everyone will necessarily shop elsewhere. Another customer, Evanda Jefferson, said she only spends $7 a week on cigarettes, so a bit more tax wouldn’t push her to Mississippi. She said so far she’s saving money by staying in state, so she doesn’t know what the tax could do to the balance.
“They’re higher in Mississippi than they are here,” she said, of her preferred Newport brand.
Gray pointed out that if customers want cigarettes and snacks and drinks, they’re likely to buy all those things at once — and that means if people drive to Mississippi for cheaper cigarettes, then her store will lose more than just the cigarette revenue.
“Everyone wants to stop at one place and buy everything at once,” she said.
However, considering Pearl River County is a dry county, citizens will not be able to cross a bridge to buy cheaper liquor.


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Mate 20 Pro launched for a whopping £899.99 asking price but has since plunged in value
Mate 20 Pro launched for a whopping £899.99 asking price but has since plunged in value.
John Lewis is selling the Huawei handset for the incredibly tempting figure of £599 which is incredibly good value for the features on offer.
One of the Mate 20 Pro's standout features is easily its camera system that remains one of the most capable around.
The handset comes with three lenses on its rear that each serve a different purpose.
Mate 20 Pro boasts a 40-megapixel main lens that is accompanied by a 20-megapixel ultra wide-angle module and an 8-megapixel telephoto unit.
Additionally, the device also boasts a vibrant 6.39-inch display and a huge 4,200mAh battery that easily delivers all-day life for users.
While Express.co.uk would typically recommend the Mate 20 Pro to any Android enthusiast, recent events have given us more caution before doing so.
That is because on August 19 Google will impose an Android block on Huawei following the Trump administration's decision to put the firm on a trade blacklist.
The ban was initially put in place on Monday, May 20, but has since been temporarily lifted.
When the Android block is implemented once again, it will effectively prevent the Mate 20 Pro from receiving substantial Android updates, such as Q.
While it is possible the Chinese tech giant could ready some of its devices for the next version of Android Q by August 19, it is worth noting this is not a certainty.
In fact, the Mate 20 Pro was recently removed from Google's Android Developers page that lists the devices taking part in the Q beta, seemingly adding further credence to the idea the flagship will not receive the American tech giant's latest and greatest software.
In layman's terms, those that pick up the Mate 20 Pro will more than likely be forced to use the same Android software they are greeted with out of the box for the entirely of their usage, assuming Google's block goes ahead on the specified date.
This means Mate 20 Pro owners could miss out on the all the major upgrades Android Q is set to debut such as a new method of gesture navigation, a host of new security features and more.
Those that are not fussed about making use of Android Q's most exciting features will surely have no problem with taking advantage of the Mate 20 Pro's lower price tag and vast array of already great functionality.
However, Android enthusiasts that crave the newest technology may not be able to stomach the idea of using the same software for the entirety of their time with the Chinese product.
But now Express.co.uk laid out the possible future for Huawei's device in terms of software, it is ultimately up to users to decide if the Mate 20 Pro is right for them.
This article contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission on any sales of products or services we write about.
This article was written completely independently, see more details here.


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Editors' pick: Originally published April 27.
For a concept as integral to Americans' daily lives as credit, it's astonishing so many myths exist. Perhaps it's the complexity of our credit system or the lack of financial education in our country. Either way, consumers stand to lose a lot of money if they believe the common misconceptions about credit that prevail today.
In order to avoid bad credit, high interest rates and a number of other costly consequences, these are the five credit myths that need to be dispelled once and for all.
1. You only have one credit score
It's commonly believed that every adult has one credit score. FICO is the most common credit scoring model, but the truth is that dozens of models exist, each with its own algorithm and purpose.
Ibrahim Dusi, chief risk officer at financial wellness company Payoff, explained that while most lenders examine at least one of your FICO scores when making a decision, "you actually have at least three different FICO credit scores, including one from each of the major credit bureaus."
To add to the confusion, he said, there may be significant differences in what information each bureau has, resulting in a different score depending on the source.
Those considering a loan or line of credit should first investigate their credit scores from the three major bureaus - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion - to ensure their scores are within a healthy range and fairly consistent. A single score based on missing information or an error could result in a denied application.
2. Payment history is all that matters
Though payment history is the largest determining factor in a FICO credit score, it is only one of five. According to Dusi, it's not uncommon for a consumer to expect that because they've never missed a payment, their score should be near-perfect.
"We frequently hear this when talking with potential Payoff members," he said. "While it is really important to have a great payment history, it doesn't mean that alone is enough to give you an excellent FICO score."
Consumers who are aiming for excellent credit must also consider the other factors that impact their scores, including amounts owed, length of credit history, credit mix, and new credit.
3. Shopping for the best rates will lower your score
When it comes to a significant debt obligation such as a mortgage or car loan, the interest rate on that loan can mean the difference between a good deal and thousands of dollars in unnecessary charges. However, borrowers are often wary of shopping around for the best interest rates due to the fear that multiple credit inquiries will damage their credit.
However, that fear is largely unfounded. "FICO specifically provides an exception for auto loans, student loans and mortgages," said Peter Neeves, Ph.D., a financial expert at CentSai.com. "These are loans which consumers frequently rate shop. FICO recognizes this and does not count each inquiry against your score."
As long as these inquiries are made within a short timeframe, they will be treated as one and not have a cumulative effect on credit.
"It is important to know there are a lot of FICO score models - they produce generally similar but not identical results," Neeves explained. "Newer models will use a 30-day period where inquiries for an auto loan, or mortgage, or student loan are considered as one inquiry ... even with the older models still in use -- most common with auto -- there is still at least 14 days of protection, where all inquiries within a 14-day period are treated as a single inquiry."
It's important to note, however, that this is not the case for credit cards and other revolving lines of credit, for which multiple inquiries within a short period of time can have a damaging impact on credit.
4. You should carry a balance to improve your score
It's true that the U.S. credit system rewards consumers for responsibly taking on debt. Unfortunately, the specific behaviors that result in a positive credit history are often misinterpreted.
Liran Amrany, founder of personal finance application Debitize, said the most common credit myth he's heard when speaking with consumers is that carrying a credit card balance month-over- month helps build credit.
"While you do build credit faster by showing some utilization, the bureaus report your statement balance, not the balance you carry month to month," he said. "Not paying your full balance really just ends up costing you unnecessary interest fees."
5. Checking your own credit will harm your scores
One of the best ways consumers can maintain and protect their credit is by checking their credit reports and scores regularly. Doing so helps catch errors as well as instances of fraud, which if left unresolved, can leave lasting damage.
Unfortunately, again, many people don't bother to monitor their own credit for fear of harming their scores with multiple inquiries.
However, according to Michelle Black, an author and expert at credit education and restoration program HOPE4USA, these "soft" credit pulls are treated differently than inquiries performed by lenders.
"Hard inquiries, the types of credit pulls which occur when you apply for a loan or service, are the only types of inquiries which have the potential to damage your credit scores," she said. "In fact, not only can you check your credit reports often without fear of damaging your credit scores, you should."
Annualcreditreport.com is currently the only source of free credit reports authorized by the federal government. Consumers can request their reports from the three major bureaus once per year.
Additionally, there are several websites that provide free credit scores. However, consumers will have to pay a service in order to see their official FICO scores from the three bureaus. Generally, however, a healthy credit report will translate to a high score and it's not necessary to pay for ongoing credit score monitoring.
The benefits of having a good credit score are numerous, but the path to good credit is one fraught with myths and misconceptions. By becoming educated about how credit works, Americans can avoid mistakes that end up costing them in the long run and preserve their wealth along the way to retirement.
This article is commentary by an independent contributor.


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A star-rating system launched by Dubai on Thursday (November 18) will annually honor restaurants around the globe that apply sustainable practices to produce safe, healthy and high-quality food. This is the first of its kind rating system to evaluate eateries through four main themes. Sheikh Mansoor unveils this initiative at Dubai International Food Safety Conference at Expo.
Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, launched the new initiative at the opening ceremony of the 15th Dubai International Food Safety Conference at Expo 2020 Dubai.
Dubai Star is the first global rating system based on food safety standards. This rating will be based on how well the restaurants comply with the requirements of food safety and sustainability.
It will be provided after a comprehensive assessment by a multidisciplinary and professional team.
During the opening ceremony, Dawood Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality said the new rating system will encourage restaurants “to adopt sustainable approaches and excel in food safety and comply with international standards.”
Khalid Mohammed Sharief Al Awadhi, CEO of Health, Safety and Environment Sector at Dubai Municipality further said Dubai Star is not a mandatory rating system. Al Awadhi also said “But restaurants are welcome to get the rating to show their international level acceptance,” He further said “We will start with UAE restaurants this year and will expand it to international restaurants from next year,”
He further added that the Dubai Star stamp of approval is expected to increase competition among restaurants for the betterment of their food safety standards.
Benefits of ‘Dubai Star’ global rating system
The 15th edition of the annual conference held on Tuesday has brought together locals, regional, and international experts in food safety and discusses various topics under the theme “Creative solutions for sustainable food systems.”


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Prior to this, SafetyCulture’s iAuditor app was available only for iOS and Android.
An Aussie success story, the company has grown from its small operation in Townsville to become a global leader in workplace safety, with local users of its acclaimed iAuditor app including Coca-Cola Amatil, BHP Billiton and Qantas.
But for those wondering, who and what is SafetyCulture?
The company says it "raises the standard in workplace quality and safety, mobile first", and that its iAuditor app "is the world’s most used, most powerful inspection app, with customers ranging from construction to hospitality, retail, manufacturing and more".
What it does is ensure "workers are empowered to take responsibility for their safety, as SafetyCulture iAuditor makes it easy to conduct on-site audits, identify hazards and produce shareable reports that can be analysed to streamline operations, cut overhead costs, save time and protect workers’ health".
With the iAuditor app used more than 50,000 times per day in more than 80 countries and by more than 1 million users monthly, the app’s arrival on the Windows 10 store is clearly significant for the vast number of enterprise customers out there.
That’s because "more than 76% of Microsoft’s enterprise customers are actively piloting Windows 10, and the interface runs on more than 300 million devices worldwide – having already outpaced Windows 8 adoption by 400%.
So, to enable Microsoft enterprise customers to ensure quality and safety in work environments where network connections may be unreliable, the company says "native Windows 10 functionality for the SafetyCulture iAuditor app is critical".
It means that enterprise managers across the globe "can now use SafetyCulture iAuditor as a native Windows 10 app to conduct quality audits, security inspections, employee training programs and asset maintenance tests to raise the bar on workplace quality and safety".
For anyone wondering, according to the SafetyCulture website, this isn’t just Windows 10 computers, but Windows 10 Mobile phones too, as you’ll see here, and as the image I've taken from that page of the site for this story demonstrates.
Chris Bright, ISV lead at Microsoft Australia, said: “Mobile is the perfect vehicle to help companies maintain safe, quality workplaces across the globe.
“In an increasingly connected world, it’s critical for organisations to protect their people and environments, and partnering with SafetyCulture to bring the No. 1 app for conducting safety inspections into the Windows 10 app store makes this goal a reality.”
SafetyCulture emphasises that it "empowers employees to take responsibility for their personal safety while providing rich data analytics that offer managers a window into on-site operations.’
As a result, the company says, "organisations can cut inspection times in half, anticipate and avoid problems, reduce business costs, and ensure a safe and quality workplace for staffers and contractors".
And the effect of expanding iAuditor to Windows 10 has already been strong, with the company stating it has "resulted in hundreds of sign-ups before the app’s release and continues to fuel the company’s steep growth trajectory, as the software has been used to facilitate more than 30 million inspections to date".
Gillian Findlay, chief operating officer at SafetyCulture, said, “Working with Microsoft and its customers brings us one step closer to our core mission – helping build safer workplaces.
“With availability on Windows 10 and automatic syncing with the SafetyCulture platform, the SafetyCulture iAuditor app creates a seamless experience for workers and managers alike to conduct offline inspections and analyse the data to improve operations.”


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Florida-based entrepreneurs at the South by Southwest conference in Austin, Texas, reported they had merchandise and personal items stolen from Tampa-based StartupBus.
Many of the 11 bussers told ABC Action News that they are University of South Florida St. Petersburg students. The bus headed to SXSW as part of a competition to create a fundable business startup within 72 hours, a StartupBus endeavor.
The burglary, however, didn’t happen on the bus. They had already unpacked and upon returning to their rental home found it was “ransacked,” with empty drawers and items strewn about. ABC reports about $30,000 worth of merchandise was stolen, including laptops and “multiple novels worth of code,” quoting Will Mitchell, a StartupBus organizer.
Police have been notified, and a Twitter hashtag has been established for those who want to follow along on social media: #helpflorida. It already attracted Microsoft’s attention - the company donated new laptops, tablets and smartphones.
Pam Huff is Managing Editor of the Tampa Bay Business Journal.


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‘Destiny 2’: Gjallardays Event Coming Soon, Potential Cross-Save Issue Explained
Following last week’s massive “This Week At Bungie” update, “Destiny 2” developer Bungie decided to release this week’s blog update a little earlier than usual, and it is significantly lighter than previous entries, covering only two important points before the much-anticipated 30th-anniversary update goes live.
The Gjallardays event, which celebrates the impending release of the famous rocket launcher Gjallarhorn for “Destiny 2” with 12 days of sales and promos for “Destiny”-related products over at the Bungie Store, is featured in this week’s blog post.
Bungie partners such as Just Geek, Level Up Wear, and Loot Crate are offering discounts on “Destiny 2”-themed things such as soundtracks, ebooks, digital goods, clothing, plushies, ghost replicas, and other tangible items.
A new exotic sparrow will also be available through the Bungie Rewards program. Players who claim this sparrow will be able to purchase a Techeun-style sweatshirt.
Meanwhile, gamers that complete the Master Cartographer accomplishment in the game will be able to acquire a coin set.
Aside from the Gjallardays festivities, Bungie made an important announcement about the 30th Anniversary Pack and its incompatibility with cross-saves. According to Bungie Support, the pack will be classified DLC rather than Seasonal Content, which means that the contents of the 30th Anniversary Pack will only be available on whatever platform players choose to purchase it on.
If you buy the pack on Steam, you won’t be able to access any of the content, including the new Dungeon and its many goodies, if you buy it on PlayStation or Xbox. The bundle should only be purchased on the console of the buyer’s choice.
The team is also attempting to resolve some of the difficulties that are currently hurting “Destiny 2.” Bungie confirmed a spike in Rutabaga and Potato faults for PC users, as well as a slew of other bugs that could be impacting the overall gameplay experience.
On December 7, the “Destiny 2” 30th Anniversary Pack will be published alongside the major December update, which will include a slew of new exotic weapons, perks, and class abilities. The Gjallarhorn will be included in the pack, as well as a new dungeon, a new six-player activity, and certain weapons from the first “Destiny” game.


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Cadbury is owned by Mondelez International, formerly Kraft Foods Australia, which also owns Toblerone, Vegemite, Ritz biscuits, and The Natural Confectionery Co.
News Limited reports 15g Freddo frogs will now be trimmed to 12g. A Mondelez International spokesperson told News Limited it was changing the size of the Freddo frogs because of manufacturing cost increases.
In February, Cadbury confirmed it was reducing the size of its popular 210g/220g family blocks of chocolate by about 10 per cent, with the confectionery company also blaming rising manufacturing costs as the reason for the reduction.
Its classical Dairy Milk family blocks as well as Black Forest, Hazelnut, and Snack blocks were also trimmed from 200g from 210g.
“Confectionery companies around the world are feeling the squeeze of increasing costs,” the company stated in February.
“We’ve reached a point where we can no longer absorb these increasing costs into the price of our chocolate blocks. So we had to make a tough decision: increase the recommended price of Cadbury family blocks, or decrease the size? We chose to keep Cadbury chocolate affordable for families across Australia and reduce our family blocks by one row.”


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In an interview with Business Insider, LiquidMetal inventor Atakan Peker has stated that he thinks Apple will use the technology for a ‘breakthrough product’, in other words, more than likely not the iPhone 5. While Peker does not have any specific inside information, he is probably as good as anyone in terms of predicting when Liquidmetal will come into play, also stating that it was ‘unlikely’ that Liquidmetal would be used in MacBooks.
Peker also confirmed that Apple did already produce a Liquidmetal product – the SIM card ejector pin – something which he ‘figured out after buying his iPhone 3G’. Discussing the general use of Liquidmetal in mobile gadgets:
I expect Liquidmetal application in two ways: First evolutionary substitution of current materials and secondly, and more importantly, in a breakthrough product made only possible by Liquidmetal technology. Apple’s exclusively licensing a new material technology (specifically for casing and enclosures) is a first in the industry.
This is very exciting. Therefore, I expect Apple to use this technology in a breakthrough product. Such product will likely bring an innovative user interface and industrial design together, and will also be very difficult to copy or duplicate with other material technologies.
So while, according to this interview, Apple might not pull the trigger on Liquidmetal just yet, it is something very possible for the future, and has already been experimented with numerous times by tech companies. However, Apple does have exclusive rights to it in tech products, so Samsung and co will have to come up with something else if they want to compete with it.
Of course, Peker also noted that Apple is unlikely to use LiquidMetal in major products for a few more years:
This is a technology that has yet to be matured and perfected both in manufacturing process and application development. I should note that this is a completely new and different metal technology. Therefore, there is no suitable manufacturing infrastructure yet to take full advantage of this alloy technology.
For example, I estimate that Apple will likely spend on the order of $300 million to $500 million — and three to five years — to mature the technology before it can used in large scale.
Even so, it’s an exciting new material, and I’ll be excited to see it being used extensively in Apple products once the time is right.


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let's make a deal
Posted by Dale Buss on July 9, 2012 05:08 PM
Apparently tired of just prodding its unresponsive soup business into a turnaround, Campbell Soup made a big diversification move Monday by agreeing to acquire Bolthouse Farms for $1.55 billion. Bolthouse began in 1915 as a big carrot farm run by William Bolthouse near Bakersfield, Calif., and has scored a number of successes over the last few years in the better-for-you food, beverage and snack space — not to mention trying to put baby carrots top of mind.
By purchasing the Bolthouse brand from a private equity firm, Madison Dearborn Partners, Campbell gains a premium beverage business to complement its growing portfolio of V8 beverages as well as a fresh-carrot business that Campbell believes could be a healthy-snacking opportunity.
In addition to its implications for Campbell, the move also represents a further homogenization of America's biggest consumer-packaged-goods conglomerates, making Campbell look a little more like Kraft, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola as they all diversify strategically into more better-for-you categories.Continue reading...
Posted by Sheila Shayon on May 23, 2011 12:00 PM
PepsiCo has fired another green shot over the bow in the ongoing cola wars with competitor Coca-Cola. The company is releasing five varieties of recyclable and compostable cups in the US, following up on its March announcement of the world's first plant-based bottle.
Coca-Cola, meanwhile, is promoting its PlantBottle eco-friendly packaging, while its recent introduction of recyclable display racks.Continue reading...
Posted by Abe Sauer on March 3, 2011 10:00 AM
It's a well-known saying that when you're given lemons, make lemonade. A less well-known saying: when you're given a celebrity train wreck, make viral marketing.
That's the thinking of L.A. Beverage Group, in a million dollar offer for the recently disgraced and never hotter or more in demand Carlos Irwin Estevez, better known to America as "Charlie Sheen."
But Sheen's recordbreaking arrival on Twitter suggests the actor has other endorsement ideas in mind.Continue reading...
social media watch
Posted by Shirley Brady on March 1, 2011 07:15 PM
Watching Charlie Sheen join Twitter today — at the rate of 500 followers added per second, by one estimate — has been a fascinating demonstration of personal branding in the age of social media.
His first tweet included two made-up hashtags (#winning and #chooseyourvice), a twitpic showing two beverage brands to make a visual pun.
Girlfriend/porn star Bree Olson holds a Naked Juice while Sheen holds a childlike innocent drink (chocolate milk) from a family-run California dairy that's so teeny it doesn't appear to have a website: Broguiere's Farm Fresh Dairy, whose beverages are beloved by gourmands and earned Sheen praise from those in the know.
His first bio description, "Unemployed Winner," riffs on his "Winning" mantra about his self-described rockstar lifestyle and choices. The first batch of people that he's following includes Howard Stern and CNN's Piers Morgan, both of whom interviewed him this week; live-in "goddess" Olson; and actress Alyssa Milano.
As he prepares to respond on Twitter tonight to a 20/20 special on ABC, round one goes to ... @charliesheen.
Posted by Shirley Brady on March 1, 2011 06:00 PM
Charlie Sheen attracts 500 new followers per second as he gets ready to bring the crazy to Twitter. Update: he tweeted! And uploaded a twitpic in his first tweet, no less. No word on how Naked Juice and Broguiere's Farm Fresh Dairy chocolate milk feel about being Sheen's "choose your vice" stand-ins.
In other celebranding news:
Bono swoops in to address Spider-Man on Broadway woes.
Bristol Palin is writing a book.
Christina Hendricks pitches Vivienne Westwood.
Emma Watson used as lure for Facebook "clickjacking" scam.Continue reading...


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Hays Travel is to give all its 555 new branches £500 each to kickstart fundraising efforts in their local communities.
This forms part of an investment of more than £360,000 in Hays Travel’s local community partnership scheme.
The independent retailer, which bought the leases for Thomas Cook’s retail estate of 555 shops after the company failed in September, already gives its existing Hays branches £500 each to spend on fundraising in the local community.
The scheme has been running since the first Hays Travel shop opened in Seaham nearly 40 years ago.
Each branch gets a budget of £500 a year to invest in organising and running fundraising activities. The aim is for each shop to significantly increase that amount to donate to a charity, school, individual or important cause in the local community.
Staff are encouraged to be creative and are given control over which causes the money goes to, to ensure it is put to the best use for each area.
Toni Gibson, sales support manager at Hays Travel, who oversees the Hays Travel Foundation, announced the expansion of the local partnership scheme to the new 555 shops at this year’s branch managers conference in Turkey.
She said: “The decision to expand the funding is fantastic and the difference it will make to local charities and communities will be truly amazing. It is incredible we can give this opportunity to all the new branches that have recently joined us and the reaction we have had from them has been overwhelming – they cannot wait to get stuck in and raise money for local causes in their communities.”
This year Hays shop staff raised £57,564 for different causes. This was matched by an additional £36, 215 from the Hays Travel Foundation, bringing the total to £93,779.
Earlier this year eight Hays Travel branches in the south west of England teamed up with the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Department in a cycling challenge which raised £9,700 for a trip to Walt Disney World in Florida for six-year-old Amelie, who was in a car accident that led to the death of her father.
The Hays Travel Foundation, set up in 2015, gives money directly from Hays Travel to help young people achieve their potential through better access to health, education, the arts and sport. This year it has donated £306,592 to charity. It also matches funds raised and donated in the local community partnership scheme to registered charities.
Pictured at the conference: Irene Hays (left) presents the Local Community Partnership award to Karyn Hughes (centre) of Hays Travel, West Kirby branch receives the Local Community Partnership award for her shop’s fundraising efforts in the North West of England from Irene Hays (left) and foundation trustee Mike Dillon.


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Apple Informs Iranian Developers that they can't distribute their apps on the App Store due to U.S. Sanctions
Apple is moving aggressively to shut down Iranian apps. On Thursday, Apple removed Snapp, a ride-hailing app similar to Uber that is popular in Iran, from its app stores. That followed the removal in recent weeks of apps for food delivery, shopping and other services.
The New York Times reports that "In a message to Iranian developers whose apps were affected by the ban, Apple said, "Under the U.S. sanctions regulations, the App Store cannot host, distribute or do business with apps or developers connected to certain U.S. embargoed countries."
Iran's new telecommunications minister, Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi, complained on Twitter about Apple's decision to remove the apps and said he was planning to pursue the issue."
Even though Apple is not formally represented in Iran due to the American trade restrictions, the Iranian telecommunications minister said that Apple holds about 11% of the countries smartphones."
Considering that North Korea is constantly threatening South Korea with war and supplying Iran with Nuclear technologies, it's disturbing that not only do they not join the U.S. in sanctioning Iran, they allow Samsung to aggressively open more stores in Iran. Samsung's largest sales center opened in central Tehran in February.
About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or negative behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus.


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Fashion, particularly as it is performed during the biannual mania called New York Fashion Week, is all about spectacle. The clothes that go down the runway are overwrought, over-embellished versions of the garments that will eventually end up in high-end boutiques and are mere inspiration for the trends that will trickle down to more mainstream designers and manufacturers.
But even amid the steady stream of larger-than-life designs this past week, there were some looks that managed to stand out as truly bizarre. These are the looks that will be debated on fashion blogs, pointed to as evidence of outré genius, and regarded as totally opaque by 99 percent of America. As New York Fashion Week draws to a close, here’s a guide to creating a totally outrageous look on a runway already overflowing with out-there couture.


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Red Box, Britain's fastest-growing vape brand, has teamed up with vape enthusiasts Mick Fox and Jim Barton, who are running the high street store.
Store manager Mick (44), a wheelchair user from Grantham, Lincolnshire, and assistant manager Jim (35), from Sleaford, both served at different times in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Anglican Regiment and became good friends subsequently through army connections and their mutual love of vaping.
Mick was keen to take control of his own career path and so began seeking business opportunities in the vape industry. While attending a vape exhibition in Birmingham last October, the pair discovered Red Box Vape, which was planning major expansion through a combination of franchises, acquisitions and joint ventures.
Once the deal and store location was agreed earlier this year, Mick was keen to ensure the business was accessible to everyone, as well as adapting it for his own needs as a wheelchair user.
Mick said: "Working with Red Box Vape was an easy decision; the team have worked with us throughout the process, included us in all of the planning and have valued our input.
"Red Box Vape shares our vision for high quality and standards. And we know our customers will love the products as much as we do."
He added that the store adaptations were particularly special in a town like Oakham, as access for wheelchair users could sometimes be a problem due to an abundance of older buildings, some of which were listed.
Jim said: "The people at Red Box Vape were keen to remove any barriers faced due to disability. They worked with us to ensure that we were not only in keeping with the brand look and feel, but that we all worked together to ensure that everyone, as far as possible, was able to access and enjoy our store and products."
The Oakham venture is part of a plan to open at least 100 Red Box Vape stores by the end of 2020. It follows the announcement last week that the company had acquired 11 Barracuda Vape stores in Wales, Bristol and Scotland.
Mark Shaw, managing director of Red Box Vape, said: "When we started conversations with Mick and Jim it was clear from the outset that they shared the same core values as Red Box Vape - which is to offer the highest quality and best value products in a welcoming environment while making it accessible to all."
"We're delighted to be the brand that is setting the benchmark for accessibility in our industry."
Negotiations are currently underway with three other UK vape businesses to acquire another 30 stores between the Midlands and Scotland by the end of this year.
Red Box Vape opened its first flagship store in Nottingham last July.


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What you need to know
- Samsung has started pushing its January 2024 security update to the Galaxy S23, S22, and S21 in Europe.
- The patch features nearly 75 vulnerability fixes with the majority labeled as "High" priority.
- Samsung acknowledged its lack of burn-in screen protection measures but it's unclear if such an update to bring it made it into the January patch.
Samsung is starting to roll out its new year security update a little late to a few of its flagship phones.
According to SamMobile, the January 2024 security patch is arriving for the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S22, and Galaxy S21 series in Europe. Owners of the latest flagship series will find firmware version S91xBXXS3BWL3 when updating at an approximate 400MB download size. Those with a Galaxy S22 should see S90xBXXS7DWL3 while the S21 finds G99xBXXS9FWL9.
It's worth noting that the update doesn't appear to have arrived for any FE devices, so far.
Samsung goes over a few fixes itself, however, the update packs nearly 75 fixes, according to the changelog. The majority of the fixes rank "High" on the Korean OEM's priority scale, as well. The company has included a fix involving its "Notification service," which could've allowed an attacker to access a user's information. This fix pertains to devices utilizing Android 11 up to Android 14.
A "High" level fix arrives for Galaxy device's Bluetooth pairing process. Samsung explains the fix should solve a vulnerability where an attacker could've paired a device without user interaction.
Additionally, the January security update may have returned Samsung's burn-in screen protection measures. The company formally acknowledged the issue, stating it should arrive in January during its "next update version." Unfortunately, it's unclear if the protection made its way in with this patch. Burn-in protection slightly shifts the pixels on your display to help preserve your OLED screen.
The update is currently making its rounds to the following Galaxy devices, as well:
Since the update was first spotted in Europe, the Galaxy S23 series and others should begin picking it up in the U.S. soon. Your Galaxy device should automatically begin downloading, but if it doesn't, you can manually check it by heading into your Settings > Software update.
Meanwhile, we're awaiting the official launch of the Galaxy S24 series on January 17 at 1 pm ET at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. Samsung confirmed as much at the beginning of January as it also teased new things to come. Aside from the S24, S24 Plus, and S24 Ultra, Samsung is preparing to showcase "Galaxy AI."
Presumably using an AI model named "Gauss," Samsung's take on artificial intelligence will combine on-device services with cloud-based AI support. One of the first features it teased was called "AI Live Translate Call," which should help users see real-time translations in audio and text formats.
Samsung's Galaxy S23 Ultra brought more to the table with its 200MP primary lens and an estimated two-day battery life. Internally, the device features a Galaxy-specific Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC that pushes its speed and performance capabilities a little further. And with its One UI software, Android looks like stars glittering in the sky.
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Nickolas is always excited about tech and getting his hands on it. Writing for him can vary from delivering the latest tech story to scribbling in his journal. When Nickolas isn't hitting a story, he's often grinding away at a game or chilling with a book in his hand.


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Optus is rallying demand for LG’s G3 flagship by offering the first 100 customers who pre-order the smartphone a $399 G-Pad tablet for free.
LG’s flagship G3 is enroute for a local launch in the coming weeks, but telco Optus will be first to open preorders for the smartphone. Preorders commence from today (21 July) until its local launch on the 4 August.
The first 100 customers to place a preorder will receive the 8.9in G Pad free, along with a wireless charging dock, valued at $399 and $69 respectively.
Optus has priced the G3 at $5 per month on its $60 My Plan over 24 months. Alternatively the smartphone can be purchased for $696 outright on an Optus SIM-only plan.
LG’s G3 is the first smartphone in Australia to have a 1440p resolution screen and rear camera that uses a laser to autofocus. The 8.9in LG G Pad is a low-end tablet with a 1280x800 resolution screen and modest specifications to match.


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Dec 22, 2016 10:53 AM EST
Asus Zenfone AR- Google Tango Smartphone Invades CES In 2017; Release Date On Q2, Standalone VR Headset in Q3
Following the footstep of Lenovo's Phab 2 Pro, Asus CEO Jerry Shen announced that the company is working on its second Google Tango smartphone. The latest device Asus Zenfone AR under Google Project Tango is one of the many smartphones being predicted to wow spectators during in the Consumer Electronics Show next year.
When devices have the Tango technology it will have environment-scanning augmented reality (AR), enabling unique use-cases in motion tracking and special depth sensing cameras. According to GSMarena, a Tango device can recognize and map physical spaces, as well as track objects and project virtual effects in real-world setting.
In the same report Shen confirmed that Asus Zenfone AR will come with advanced performance and functionality at a competitive price. He added that fans will be in for another standalone VR headset in the 3rd quarter next year with built-in cameras, sensors, and controllers.
Due to a reported lower than expected shipments from its past devices, Shen teased that the new model will feature an improved camera, Gadgets 360 reported. Forecast circulating about Asus Zenfone AR's release is in the second quarter of 2017.
It can be noted that Asus Zenfone AR's predecessor Lenovo Phab 2 Pro, was the world's first Tango smartphone, commercially produced from Google's Project Tango team that works on machine vision in mobile devices. Looking into Lenovo Phab 2 Pro features, positive reviews pinned it as a gadget that is promising due to being the first phone to ship with Google's new environment-scanning augmented reality (AR) set up.
With that being said, it just proves that the upcoming Asus Zenfone AR is something of value and something to brag about as it features a 6.4-inch QHD IPS display with four cameras bearing 8-megapixel front camera, 16-megapixel rear RGB camera, a depth-sensing infrared camera with an imager and emitter, and a motion tracking camera.
Asus Zenfone AR is truly depicting the true essence of cutting-edge technology and promising for many more to come.
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New research has found that when considering sustainable products and services, Brits are most concerned with getting better control of their energy consumption (49%) and saving money (42%). Indeed, more than half of Brits (51%) would choose an electric car over petrol or diesel if they could save money or make money in the long-term.
However, the research – commissioned by OVO Energy, the UK’s largest independent energy supplier – suggests an overwhelming knowledge gap is stopping us from using the very technology that would achieve these aims in the long-term.
Based on the number of Nissan LEAF electric cars on UK roads at present, new vehicle-to-grid chargers could enable the cars’ owners to contribute more than 114 MW to the National Grid at any time; enough to power more than 300,000 homes.Home batteries also allow consumers to lower their energy bills by storing abundant electricity when it’s cheaper, and using it around the home when national demand spikes and energy is most expensive.
“From home batteries to vehicle-to-grid chargers, at OVO Energy we are working hard to join the dots for customers and show that there are practical, cost-effective ways to go green for the long-term.”
Short-term cost implications of renewable energy products and sources also proved a concern for shrewd Brits. Although almost half of UK (47%) adults that own or intend to purchase a car in the next 12 months would be put off from buying an electric car because of cost, 57 per cent would be more inclined to purchase an electric car if they received financial support from the government.
However, awareness of the Government Plug-In Car Grant – which can help people save up to £4,500 on a selection of environmentally friendly electric and plug-in hybrid cars – is shockingly low, with 79 per cent of people unaware of its existence.


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Full-service digital marketing and PR agency Adcreators has officially opened its fourth Australian office in Melbourne’s CBD.
Having launched five years ago, Adcreators already has studios offshore which service international clients in their time zones, along with a full-scale photographic studio, two Sydney offices and one in Brisbane.
The agency’s managing director, Rony Chiha, said: “Adcreators has been expanding at an enormous rate in the last 12 months as a result of the acquisition of fantastic new accounts, growing our team of experts across all areas of our business, and now our entry into Melbourne’s CBD.
“It’s an exciting time to be part of this changing landscape.”
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Don’t treat regional media as a charity, but a real growth opportunity: That’s the message from Boomtown’s final masterclass of 2023, attended by almost 100 media industry representatives from across the nation. The masterclass was part of a series of educational sessions, delivered by Boomtown, the media collective championing advertising in regional Australia. The sessions […]
Yahoo Advertising has launched Yahoo Blueprint, a central AI suite that powers performance-based solutions within the Yahoo DSP. Fuelled by over 335 million logged in Yahoo users globally, Yahoo Blueprint enhances decisioning, makes AI more accessible, and serves as a results-driven guide throughout the campaign lifecycle to deliver better outcomes for advertisers. This new AI […]
Publicis Sapient, a digital business transformation company, today announced the launch of a new joint venture with Tquila called PS Hummingbird. Lead image: Nigel Vaz CEO of Publicis Sapient The partnership with Tquila, with whom Publicis Sapient has collaborated on several other ventures, will extend Publicis Sapient’s generative AI offerings powered by Microsoft Azure, Microsoft […]
Social Indigenous Enterprise We Are Warriors (WAW), supported by creative innovation studio R/GA Australia, has been selected to produce the City of Sydney’s New Year’s Eve Calling Country live performance as part of the 9pm firework show. Lead image L-R: WAW co-founders Ben Miles & Nooky. The performance will feature a special Welcome to Country […]


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India's main opposition BJP party as well as the Congress Party's coalition ally, the Trinamool Congress, have also voiced opposition. India's Hindustan Times newspaper calculated that 28 of the 53 cities where retailers could set up under the new rules are in states controlled by political parties opposed to the regulations.
Some say the wave of opposition won't scuttle the changes, which foreign retailers have been pushing for a decade.
"There are enough states which would be positively inclined," said Saloni Nangia, head of retail and consumer products at Technopak Advisors, a New Delhi based consulting company. "Retailers will take some time before they start implementing. By then things would settle down."
Other analysts say global economic uncertainty may prove a stronger immediate disincentive.
Tamil Nadu's chief minister J. Jayalalithaa in a letter Sunday to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said she wouldn't let retailers into her state, describing the central government's move as a "wrong decision, taken under pressure from a few retail giants starved for capital infusion for their future survival," according to the Press Trust of India.
Mayawati, the fiery leader of Uttar Pradesh, said foreign investment in retail would make her state "bankrupt." She is locked in a battle with the Congress Party over upcoming state elections.
The chief minister of Kerala, which is controlled by the Congress Party, also came out against the changes.
Narendra Modi, the chief minister of Gujarat, has been silent on the issue. Though he is renowned for being business friendly and actively seeking foreign investment, a major constituency of his BJP party are the small traders and mom and pop shops that many fear will be put out of business if companies such as are allowed greater access.
The government tried to design the new retail policy so that the price of entry into India's 1.2 billion-strong consumer market would be improving the nation's food distribution and bolstering local businesses.
Under the new regulations, retailers must put at least half their investment into back-end infrastructure such as refrigerated storage, with 30 percent of procurement from small companies, and they can only open outlets in cities with a population of more than 1 million.
Technopak says the new rules could attract $5 billion in investment over the next five years.
The work facing new arrivals is formidable. Besides navigating political uncertainty, they must develop supply chains from scratch, improve supplier efficiency, set up logistics in a nation which needs better roads, train an uncomprehending work force and find appropriate, affordable retail locations in urban centers.
Wal-Mart, Tesco, Carrefour and Germany's Metro may have an advantage over other foreign retailers if they decide to expand their India operations as they already have wholesale businesses in the country.
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MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A group funded by labor unions has announced it is buying $1 million worth of advertising across the state time in support of Democratic recall candidate Kathleen Falk.
Wisconsin for Falk announced the ad buy on Thursday. The group is funded by the Wisconsin Education Association Council, the statewide teachers union, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
The group says the ad buy includes cable, broadcast and online advertising beginning Friday and running through Monday, the day before the primary. Targeted television markets include La Crosse, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Wausau and Madison.
The ad focuses on Republican Gov. Scott Walker and none of Falk's Democratic challengers, who are not named.
The primary is May 8 and the general election is June 5.
- Walker hopes federal government shutdown can be avoided
- Baldwin encourages Perdue to visit Wisconsin dairy farmers
- Bills to fight homelessness in Wisconsin up for vote
- Proposal would allow homemade baked goods sales in Wisconsin
- Wisconsin dairy farms face closure due to Canadian policies
- Walker says he has 'no interest' in higher vehicle fees
- Local students compete in dairy cook off
- Cub scouts donate bird nest boxes to La Crosse marsh
- La Crosse Police policies to be assessed in accreditation process
- Excessive use of technology among youth raising concerns


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On July 12th, Brave Girls announced the release of their first official merchandise since their debut. Their official merchandise includes a wireless charger, bottle opener, beer and soju glasses, key chains, acrylic stands, photocards, photocard binder, air freshener, cleaning cloth, and grip toks.
As Brave Girls have become increasingly popular thanks to the re-run of "Rollin'," many fans were excited to finally have an official merchandise from the group.( Collapse )Source: kpopstarzYou all know I love BG but this was too funny (?) not to post. Just look at those items! That's a new low. I hope they get a refund.


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Spring cleaning has long since passed, and the summer grime is settling in. Warm air brings moisture, higher mold levels, and more bugs trying to bust in. As much as you would probably prefer to chill by a pool, there may be key spots in your home you’re missing during your regular cleaning sessions. Let them go untouched for too long and you might find yourself with unexpected spores and growths.
Only 10 percent of Americans regularly sanitize their refrigerator drawers, according to a 1,500-person survey by Local Gardener. This is a problem, says Jasmine Davenport-Murray, a former health inspector and current owner of ARF Food Safety Consulting Group. “Anything that is going to come in contact with food needs to be cleaned and sanitized,” she explains. This is especially important given that drawers can collect almost anything that leaks inside your fridge. It’s not just old produce juice you need to worry about—the drawer could be collecting liquid from a leaky package of chicken a few shelves up.
Davenport-Murray recommends using a DIY cleaning solution of roughly one capful of bleach in a gallon of water to sanitize the fridge, and other frequently touched kitchen surfaces like dishwasher handles and countertops while you’re at it. “Washing removes the dirt and the residue, but the sanitizing reduces the bacteria or the pathogens to a safe level,” she explains.
The inside of a washing machine is typically reserved for clothes, but in 2012, bacteria in a German hospital’s washing machine infected 13 newborns and one child. To prevent this kind of bacteria build-up in your home, expert advice ranges from cleaning your machine once a month to every six months. Whether you use vinegar and baking soda or a chemical cleaning solution, it’s important to clean the gaskets, agitator, door, and any tight spaces inside the machine that could be a bacterial haven. The warm water that sanitizes your clothes is a prime location for colonies of bacteria, making it crucial that you wipe down your machine.
Your cell phone
By now, you should know your cell phone is a dirty place. Experts recommend daily wipe-downs, and the internet abounds with lists of suggested products. But you should take extra care if you use your phone in the kitchen. One Environmental Protection Agency study found that while half of Americans use a phone or tablet while cooking, only one-third of those wash their hands with soap after touching the device. With 3,000 Americans dying from foodborne illness each year, and 350,000 more hospitalized, Davenport-Murray sees a lack of personal hygiene as a public safety concern.
“Since COVID hit, people want to focus on hand-washing and sanitation. What about all the rest of the viruses we could have been preventing: hepatitis A, E. coli?” she says. Phones can carry fecal matter, infectious microorganisms, and countless types of everyday grime, so cross-contamination in the kitchen is a real risk. Sanitizing both your phone and your hands can help with kitchen safety. The fastest way for each is wiping down your phone screen with alcohol wipes and washing your hands with warm water for 20 to 30 seconds.
The area around your windows
A quick window wipedown will eliminate fingerprints and smudges. But are you ignoring your window frame? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that leaky windows are a prime spot for mold growth, and it’s common to see built-up dirt on a windowsill. While keeping an eye out for leaks, simply use your favorite cleaner and a rag to wipe down the areas around your windows. This should help prevent mold growth. If mold is already present, the EPA recommends using simple soap and water to scrub mold off of hard surfaces. While you work, protect yourself from spores with gloves, goggles, and even an N95 respirator if you have one. When you’re done, don’t forget to dry the area completely, or all that hard work might be for nothing.


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How Many Rocket Scientists Does It Take To Design A Comfortable Stiletto Heel?
At least one
As SpaceX’s former director of recruiting, Dolly Singh had a problem: “My high heels f***ing sucked.” She would walk up to 4 miles a day in the unforgiving shoes, and couldn’t find a fashionable alternative. “There’s been no innovation within the high-heel market in almost a century,” says Singh.
She founded Thesis Couture—staffing it with a rocket scientist, an astronaut, and a mechanical engineer—and set out to design a stiletto that was not only comfortable, but would also better absorb shock, offer extra arch support, and distribute body weight more evenly across the foot.
“In a standard pair of heels, 80 percent of your weight is on the balls of your feet. Our goal is to shift that to 50 percent,” Singh says. Thesis Couture will release 1,500 pairs of the limited-edition stiletto, which retails for $925, this year.
This article was originally published in the July/August 2016 issue of Popular Science, under the title “Rocket Science Meets Runway.”


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The World Wide Web has officially been around for a quarter of a century.
British physicist Tim Berners-Lee proposed the idea for an infrastructure called the World Wide Web on March 12, 1989. The original idea was to create a way for universities and researchers to share data and ideas with each other over the Internet.
Berners-Lee developed the idea over the following year at the CERN physics laboratory in Geneva and launched the first website on Dec. 20, 1990. The site gave an outline of Berners-Lee’s World Wide Web project and showed how to create other Web pages.
In 1993, CERN announced that WWW would always be available for free to all people, and 25 years later there are billions of active websites.
To commemorate the day, Berners-Lee wrote about the project on the official Google blog.
“Now about 40 percent of us are connected and creating online,” Berners-Lee said. “The Web has generated trillions of dollars of economic value, transformed education and healthcare and activated many new movements for democracy around the world.”
Berners-Lee also looked to the future of the Web, at getting the rest of the world connected, at creating standards for openness, and at developing a system to hold those who violate Internet privacy accountable. He called for each country to develop a “digital bill of rights” to ensure a free and open Web in the future.
You can learn more about Berners-Lee's project at webat25.org.


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June 18, 2018, Mahwah, NJ – Today, Bogen Communications, Inc., announced the addition of a new Regional Sales Manager (RSM), Jason Fares, to the company’s factory-direct sales team.
Fares will serve Bogen’s commercial audio, professional audio, paging/intercom, and education systems integrators and distributors in the states of Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Nebraska, as well as the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Missouri-based Fares comes to Bogen with over 20 years of experience in the electronics industry including stints with Sound United (Denon, Marantz, Polk Audio) and Bose.
“Strengthening the sales staff comes at the perfect time as we are on the cusp of introducing the state-of-the-art C4000 IP-based paging and audio distribution system that we showed at InfoComm 2018,” said Bisanti. “We will be able to ramp up our training and business partner communications to support the new product and lead our dealers into the future of IP communications.
“I’m excited to bring Jason onto the team,” continued Bisanti. "Our business partners in the Upper Plains area will enjoy the outstanding service they deserve. Jason’s grasp of complex technologies and exceptional training skills are well suited to helping our business partners increase their sales.”
For more than 85 years, Bogen Communications, Inc., has been a leading provider of commercial amplifiers, speakers, and intercom systems for music, paging, and educational applications. For more information, contact Bogen Communications, Inc., 1200 MacArthur Blvd., Suite 304, Mahwah, NJ 07430-2331; 201-934-8500, fax: 201-934-9832, e-mail: email@example.com, websites: www.bogenedu.com(education systems) and www.bogen.com(commercial audio and paging systems).


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Stocks Post Tepid Gains on Heels of Slowing Chinese Production
NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- Major U.S. stock averages exhibited a lack of conviction Monday, rising slightly amid discouraging economic data from China, the world's second-largest economy.
At last check, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.25% to 14,433.06 with 23 stocks advancing and 7 declining.
Dick's Sporting Goods (DKS) shares were plunging 9.8% to $45.64 after the Coraopolis, Penn.-based company forecast same-store sales to increase 2% to 3% in 2013, a slower growth rate than the 4.3% increase last year. Dick's reported fourth-quarter earnings of $1.03 a share on revenue of $1.8 billion, short of the average analyst estimate of earnings of $1.06 a share on sales of $1.86 billion.
AT&T(T) shares were dropping 0.44% to $36.52 after Reuters, citing the Times of India newspaper, said the U.S. telecom is interested in buying a 25% stake in India's Reliance Jio Infocomm , a telecommunications venture controlled by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, for $3.5 billion.
Sectors were mixed in the broader market. Technology, conglomerates, and consumer non-cyclical shares were edging lower while consumer cyclical, financial and capital goods sectors were ticking higher.
Data from China, published Saturday, continued to indicate a lackluster start to 2013. Reports showed that while inflation increased more than expected, both industrial production and retail sales were less than expected. China was also experiencing slower credit growth.
"A slew of China's economic data were released over the weekend and the economic outlooks painted by the economic data were less than satisfactory," noted Sim Han Qiang, investment analyst at Phillip Futures.
"Thus far, Chinese government has been proactive in dealing with property inflation but the desired results have not been forthcoming," the analyst added.
There were no major U.S. economic releases scheduled for Monday.
Volume on the New York Stock Exchange totaled a mere 1.76 billion shares and 1.01 billion shares on the Nasdaq.
The Dow on Friday smashed through 14,400 for the first time before pulling back by the close to post its fourth consecutive record closing session. The Dow and the S&P 500 booked six-day winning streaks on Friday.
Major U.S. stock averages ended higher Friday after a robust February employment report showed a decline in the unemployment rate to near pre-recession levels.
U.S. retail sales for February will be published Wednesday, potentially offering insight into consumption trends and how the sequester's economic impact on consumers.
Gold for April delivery was rising $1.50 to $1,578.40 an ounce at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, while April crude oil futures were down 42 cents to $91.53 a barrel.


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Analysts: 2017 to bring higher gas prices
San Antonio expected to peak in May as high as $2.70
SAN ANTONIO – A gallon of unleaded gas already costs 40 cents more than this time last year. Now the analysts at GasBuddy.com said consumers can expect that upward trend to continue in 2017, resulting in the highest pump prices consumers have paid in three years.
"It impacts me a lot," driver Gregory Holmes said. "It means I'll need to only go places I really need to go."
GasBuddy issued its annual fuel outlook, anticipating notably higher prices that average 36 cents a gallon higher than last year. The list of reasons includes the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries cutting production, higher crude, currency fluctuations, weather and a new administration.
Currently, San Antonio's average is $2.10 a gallon. But come February, when refineries begin to switch to mandatory, cleaner-burning warm weather blends, prices will begin their annual climb.
GasBuddy anticipates that San Antonio will see its peak prices of the year in May, with prices as high as $2.70 a gallon.
"Two-seventy is high," driver Hope Johnson said. "But I still have to do what I have to do. I have people who depend on me."
The year 2016 was a particularly tame year for gas prices. Most of the year, San Antonio drivers paid less than $2 a gallon.
Copyright 2017 by KSAT - All rights reserved.


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According to KS Gopalakrishnan, chief financial officer of the company, We are seriously working on bring out health insurance product in the market. The company has already started talks with TPAs (third party administrators) to have a possible arrangement for handling the claims of the customers.
We will forge alliance with a suitable TPA while we launch the product or handle the claims part ourselves say for one year or so (depending on the number of policies) and then later on take the assistance of TPAs.
The company is hopeful of entering the segment by the end of the current fiscal or early next fiscal. Besides health insurance, Aegon also wants to add annuity product to its bouquet of products by early next fiscal year.
Aegon Religare has introduced a unit linked insurance plan (Ulip) Aegon Religare Invest Maximiser plan with the highest (IRR) internal rate of return currently available in the country.
The plan offers the lowest premium allocation charge in the industry. The charges are at 5% for the first year and 2% from the second to fourth year. There are no charges from the fifth year of the policy. It offers a life cover of upto five times the annualised premium.
According to Rajiv Jamkhedkar, chief executive officer of the company, under the new product Aegon has already collected premium of about Rs 1 crore over the past 4-5 days.


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General Mills Unlocks Mobile Rewards with Back-To-School Campaign
Fooddive.com says that General Mills started a mobile-based campaign that offers students and schools a chance to win rewards during back-to-school season. The marketer of brands such as Cheerios, Yoplait and Nature Valley launched the "Unlock Brighter Futures" effort as part of its Box Tops for Education initiative to raise money for schools.
With more people shopping for groceries online since the onset of the pandemic, the campaign includes a new integration with retailers that offer delivery or curbside pickup. The change in shopping behavior has pushed consumer goods companies like General Mills to seek a greater share of people's online shopping baskets and replenish them automatically.
You Can Now Shop for Abercrombie & Fitch at Zappos
Footwearnews.com reports that Abercrombie & Fitch has teamed up with Zappos. Beginning this week, the e-tailer will be Abercrombie’s exclusive U.S. e-commerce partner.
Customers will now be able to shop denim and tops on Zappos.com. In addition, Abercrombie & Fitch is launching its first-ever footwear collection in collaboration with Zappos. The exclusive capsule was designed with Zappos as a consultant and features eight styles, including an ankle boot, stovepipe boot, court sneaker and strappy heel.
7-Eleven Teams with Minibar to Deliver Even More Booze to Your Door
Fastcompany.com reports that Food and grocery delivery services boomed during the pandemic as our purchase habits and expectations changed, and 7-Eleven has been getting in on the home delivery trend, too. Now the convenience store chain is launching a pilot program in select states that will see beer, wine, and even Slurpees delivered to your door within 30 to 60 minutes.
The company has announced a collaboration with Minibar Delivery, an independent marketplace for alcohol delivery, that will see select stores in Florida, Texas, and Virginia offer beer and wine delivery direct to customers’ homes. In addition to alcoholic beverages, the new pilot program will also allow 7-Eleven customers to order snack hits such as Slurpees, Big Bite Hot Dogs, chips, and pizza.
Moe’s Launches Line of Ready-to-Heat Burrito Bowls at Kroger
Moe’s Southwest Grill is releasing frozen, ready-to-heat burrito bowls that’ll be available at 1,950-plus Kroger locations nationwide.
Inspired by the bold flavors Moe’s Southwest Grill has to offer, four enticing varieties of bowls will be available for just $5.49 or $6.49 for people to enjoy quickly and easily at home or work.
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Apple has brought in one of its most highly regarded former executives to head up its secret automobile project, The Wall Street Journal reports. Bob Mansfield, who joined Apple in 1999 and was a top executive under Steve Jobs, lead the development of some of Apple’s biggest products, including the MacBook Air, iMac and iPad. After announcing his retirement in 2012 only to reverse course and stay with Apple working “on future products” just 2 months later, Mansfield moved from his post heading the company’s hardware engineering teams to lead a new group that later produced the Apple Watch. Mansfield made another public exit from Apple’s executive team in 2013, but earlier this month employees at the company began noticing all of the senior managers on the Project Titan car project were now listed as reporting to Mansfield. Neither Apple nor Mansfield responded to requests for comment about the move.
Following through on its pledge from earlier this year, Ford has announced its entire 2017 line of cars, SUVs, light trucks and electric vehicles will offer Apple CarPlay, with future, over-the-air updates via Wi-Fi to keep it up-to-date with the latest technology. CarPlay will work with Ford’s in-house SYNC 3 connectivity platform, making it “smartphone-ready” and providing access to Siri voice controls, Apple Maps, Apple Music, Phone, Messages and third-party apps like Spotify and Pandora. “Ford is not taking the traditional approach of introducing Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto on a few piecemeal models or as an expensive option on luxury vehicles only,” said Jeffrey Hannah, Director of North America for global automotive technology research firm SBD. “The guesswork for consumers is over – if you buy any 2017 Ford vehicle with SYNC 3, you drive off the lot with both of these innovative technologies ready to go.”
Just to clarify, this refers to the retail release, not the launch event. To be even more specific, it should happen on Friday, Sept. 16th. — Evan Blass (@evleaks) July 23, 2016
Well-known leaker Evan Blass has sent out a series of tweets claiming the new iPhone will be released on Sept. 16, which would be slightly earlier than recent history. Apple released the iPhone 6s/6s Plus on Sept. 25 of last year — also a Friday, which is typical.
Meanwhile, German site Apfelpage has its own big prediction about the new iPhone, with its sources inside a Chinese manufacturer claiming the new device will be named the “iPhone 6 SE.” The source said packaging has already entered production under that name, but also claimed they had only seen information related to the 4.7-inch phone, shedding no light on how the company would handle naming its new 5.5-inch device, which at least some sources have claimed would be dubbed the “iPhone Pro.”
Two photos allegedly leaked by workers in the Chinese supply chain purport to show a new 12.9” ‘iPad Pro 2,’ Apple Insider reports. An anonymous source said the photos came from an Apple supplier currently working on an iPad Pro model scheduled to enter production in late September — but as noted, the images don’t provide much to verify their authenticity. While the pictures show devices bearing a previously unseen model number that is consistent with Apple’s numbering convention, the device identifier could have been forged. And even if they are legitimate, the display shows the device to have only 12GB of storage, which seems to hint at it being a prototype rather than a finished product, if anything. Improvements like a faster processor, better camera, and the addition of the True Tone display technology seen in the 9.7” iPad Pro would all seemingly make their way into a new 12.9” iPad Pro, but there’s been no word on a potential launch timeline at this point, as the rumor mill has been relatively quiet on the iPad front this summer.
Today in iLounge Deals, you can pick up the Titan MFi-Certified Lightning Cable for only $22.49 — that’s 24% off the regular price. Wrapped in two layers of flexible, high-strength steel and backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty, this Lightning cable can withstand all types of outside elements from electricity spikes to happy puppies looking for a chew toy. In addition to the toughness of the cable itself, the connectors are in a sealed one-piece housing fused directly over the cable, ensuring that the ends won’t fall apart or break either.
While Netatmo is probably still best known for its Urban Weather Station system for monitoring temperature, rainfall, and wind, the company has also been actively working on expanding its Netatmo Welcome smart home camera that it introduced last year, adding improved facial recognition along with enhancements such as FTP and Dropbox storage for users who would prefer to save videos to their own server or the cloud. Now, in addition to software enhancements, Netatmo is building Welcome into a home security hub with its new Netatmo Tags ($99), a set of durable door and window security sensors that tie into the Welcome system.
Apple is planning to jump on board the fashion trends for the 2016 Olympic Games with a lineup of special edition Apple Watch bands representing the flags of fourteen of the major countries who will be participating in the Games. A new report in GQ reveals that the new limited-edition nylon bands will be sold exclusively at the Apple Store, VillageMall in Barra da Tijuca for $49 beginning in early August, and will include bands for the U.S.A., Great Britain, Canada, Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, and The Netherlands.
A new research note from Deutsche Bank (via Business Insider) reports that the next-generation iPhone will include a “Lightning-to-audio dongle” in the package rather than a set of Lightning-equipped EarPods. Although the research note confirms several other recent rumors about the upcoming iPhone, including the elimination of the 3.5mm audio jack in favor of a Lightning connection, it cites supply chain sources claiming that Lightning headphones will not be included in the package; however it’s unclear whether this means Apple will simply continue to include the 3.5mm EarPods of prior versions, or eliminate the headphones from the packaging entirely.
Today in iLounge Deals, we’re offering Screens 3 for Mac for only $12.99 — that’s 56% off the regular price. This user-friendly remote access tool lets you access your Mac from anywhere you have an Internet connection using any other Mac, Windows, or Linux PC or even your iPhone or iPad using the companion iOS app (sold separately). You can even set up actions to automatically trigger each time you disconnect from your Mac, configure secure connections via SSH tunnelling, transfer content between local and remote clipboards, and more.
If you’ve got a new MacBook but often find yourself needing a bit more expansion between work, school, or home, Kensington’s new SD1500 USB-C Mobile Dock ($90) may be just what you need. Featuring not only USB port expansion for your mouse, keyboard, or portable storage device, the SD1500 gives you a gigabit Ethernet port for connecting to a wired network, and an HD VGA and HDMI port for displaying video on a 4K/1080p monitor or projector.


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The Xbox One has now sold over two million units in its first 18 days of launch, Microsoft has announced today on Xbox Wire. The figure is sold through to consumers worldwide, which crunches down to a record-setting pace of over 111,111 units sold per day. Additional stats include 39 million Xbox One achievements unlocked with a total of 595 million total Gamerscore points points rewarded since its launch on November 22.
“We continue to be humbled and overwhelmed by the positive response from our fans," Yusuf Mehdi said, corporate VP of strategy and marketing for Xbox. "We are thrilled to see sales of Xbox One on a record-setting pace, with over 2 million Xbox One consoles in homes around the world. Demand is exceeding supply in our 13 launch markets and Xbox One is sold out at most retailers. We’re also particularly excited to see consumers engaging in a wide range of games and entertainment experiences on the platform, with more than 1 million paid [digital games and video] transactions on Xbox Live to date."
Last week, Sony announced that it had sold through 2.1 million units worldwide as of December 1. It sounds like this generation is off to a great start.
Source: Xbox Wire


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Shimla, Oct 17 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh's centuries-old Lavi fair, synonymous with trade in traditional items like woollens and dry fruits, will start Nov 11 in Rampur town, an official said.
Saturday, October 17, 2009 11:14:36 AM
Mumbai, Oct 16 (IANS) Cement major Ultratech Friday said its profit after tax had gone up 53 percent to Rs.251 crore for the quarter ended Sep 30, while net sales grew by 10 percent to Rs.1,541 crore.
Friday, October 16, 2009 3:21:06 PM
Mumbai, Oct 16 (IANS) Sensuality and desire were Manav Gangwani's theme while Suneet Varma's clothes were a tribute to French fashion during 1890-1914. Both designers offered a visual treat as they unveiled their new collections at the HDIL India Couture Week here.
Friday, October 16, 2009 2:09:27 PM
New Delhi, Oct 16 (IANS) Delhi's first industrial policy since 1982 has been drawn up, and it will be IT driven, it was announced Friday.
Friday, October 16, 2009 1:42:28 PM
Mumbai, Oct 16 (IANS) A key Indian equities index extended its gains around Friday noon and was ruling 0.75 percent higher than its previous closing figure.
Friday, October 16, 2009 1:03:09 PM
Patna, Oct 16 (IANS) A large swathe of Bihar's population may be living below the poverty line, but for a small section, the festive season is an opportunity to display wealth.
Friday, October 16, 2009 12:57:32 PM
Mumbai, Oct 16 (IANS) A key index of the Indian equities markets started trade on a volatile note Friday, and was ruling 0.15 percent higher than its previous close, about half an hour into trade.
Friday, October 16, 2009 10:31:08 AM
New Delhi, Oct 16 (IANS) Audiences, change your mindset. Producers, invest more. The Rs.17.4-billion Indian animation industry, with its world class technical knowhow, can offer a lot if given a chance, says director Pankaj Sharma whose 'Bal Ganesh 2' is releasing soon.
Friday, October 16, 2009 9:26:29 AM
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 16 (IANS) K.K. Subramanion, veteran economist and honorary fellow at the Centre for Development Studies (CDS), died Friday morning at a private hospital here. He was 75, a CDS spokesperson said.
Friday, October 16, 2009 9:12:29 AM
Ghaziabad, Oct 15 (IANS) An ATM user in Ghaziabad was Thursday stunned to see a balance of Rs.48.7 crores (Rs.487 million) in his savings bank account.
Thursday, October 15, 2009 11:55:57 PM
News Business Articles Index


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Biologics provision may be dropped from USMCA
Mexico is considering a U.S. proposal to leave biologics protections out of the new trade deal between the two countries and Canada, Bloomberg reports.
Why it matters: The change could help the trade agreement get across the finish line by garnering Democratic support, but it'd be a big loss for the pharmaceutical industry.
Details: The original trade pact, which was a renegotiation of NAFTA, would have given biologics 10 years of market exclusivity in each of the three countries — an extension of their monopoly period under current Mexican and Canadian law.
- Including pharmaceutical industry protections in trade deals has been a Republican priority for years.


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It is time to buy the Nintendo shares now that they are surging and its newest console, the Switch, is projected to yield higher earnings than the Wii.
The company has received a reiterated buy rating from Jefferies. Analyst Atul Goyal told clients that the Switch is positioned to drive software sales and profits similar to the success of Nintendo’s Wii console, as reported by CNBC.
So far this year, Nintendo’s U.S. shares climbed 50 percent and rallied about 112 percent in the past 12 months while its Japanese shares rose over 300 percent. Goyal increased the price target for the company’s shares to ¥57,500 from ¥39,200 and predicted annual operating profit to increase to ¥189 billion in fiscal 2018. In fiscal 2019, it could reach as much as ¥423 billion.
“Nintendo is also actively targeting and courting its core-gamers with a very powerful game line-up in the year 1 of Switch’s launch. We believe this is the most powerful and attractive line-up of any Nintendo game console ever,” Goyal added.
Aside from Nintendo Switch, smartphone games are also expected to contribute to the company’s performance results. Goyal said, “This time, IP monetization on mobile should provide structural growth backdrop. It has been <6 months since the first Nintendo mobile game.”
The Switch console was launched last March and about 906,000 units have been sold since. While Switch games are also available on other hardware, fans still want to play them on Switch, even those titles that are yet to be announced, according to Polygon.
Third parties are also supporting Switch, with several games already in the lineup ahead of E3. These include independent games “Shovel Knight” and “TumbleSeed,” “Wonder Boy,” “Snake Pass,” “Minecraft,” “Just Dance,” “Skylanders,” “FIFA” and “Skyrim.” Fans are anticipating Ubisoft to unveil “Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle.”
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Roberts has his hands full at Amcor
Chris Roberts hasn't spent much time recently at his Mosman waterfront home, with its well-stocked cellar, indulging his passion for wine and modern history.
Instead, the 59 year-old former wine industry executive-cum-investment banker-turned executive chairman is ensconced in Amcor's head offices in the Melbourne suburb of Abbotsford.
He's been juggling an attempt to ensure Amcor's business isn't affected by the departure of its chief executive Russell Jones six days ago and co-ordinating its response to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's investigation after its admission of price-fixing.
He's also assisting law firm Allens Arthur Robinson in an investigation he ordered into the company's problems.
Mr Roberts is prohibited from speaking to the Herald because of supression orders made by the Melbourne division of the Federal Court. But this could change on Wednesday afternoon, when the parties are due back in court to argue whether documents involving the departure of five of its most highly-regarded executives in its cardboard box division should be kept out of the public eye.
As it stands, the only documents so far released are Amcor's statement of claim, in which it alleges that the five executives, Albert Mihelic, Trevor Barnes, Roger Bayley, Ian Sangster and their former boss, the long-time carboard box executive Jim Hodgson, took information including the so-labelled "Holy Grail" of customer lists from Amcor, and some court transcripts.
Mr Roberts is planning meetings with some shareholders.
Steve Jenkins, general manager, marketing, of Health Super told the Herald: "It's early days at the moment. We are watching the situation very carefully, we have a meeting with the chairman [this] week.
"We are terribly concerned about corporate governance. We have a socially responsible investment option and Amcor is part of that because of its recycling," he said.
Mr Jenkins said Mr Roberts had acted "very swiftly, it surprised us".
"We have always had an admirable view of management," he said. "Hopefully the share price won't be affected too much by this."


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Cafe chain ditches 'Friends' sofas
The chain, which today reported pre-tax losses of
£9.8 million, is turning its back on the fad for sofas - associated with the Central Park coffee bar featured in the hit US sitcom - because it was not encouraging customers to spend enough money.
Chairman Bobby Hashemi said today: "We felt it wasn't a profitable proposition for us for guests to be sitting there for an hour nursing one cup of coffee."
The group has seen its profitability hit by tough competition from a rash of rival chains, especially in London, and is taking drastic action including more than halving its number of branches and moving away from straight coffee to a New York deli format.
Trials of the new look at two branches in London, offering fresh sandwiches and hot food counters as well as coffee, proved to be 20% more profitable than the traditional format.
The company is now hoping to move its slimmed down network towards a new "Republic Deli" brand once it has raised enough cash for the project.
Mr Hashemi said: "In bars that are being refurbished as delis we will look to remove most of the sofas and replace them with set design to meet with a quick eat, drink and meet requirement."
The company has ditched its least profitable branches, slashing its estate of coffee bars from 107 to just 72, ultimately aiming for a final slimmed-down figure of just 50.
The group published results for the year to March 30 today - just in time to beat a stock exchange deadline for releasing the figures because it wanted to see how successful the new concept would be.
Write-downs and restructuring costs helped widen pre-tax losses to £9.8 million from £7.5 million a year earlier.
And since the end of the period being reported, sales in the 50 branches it is planning to hold on to have been flat on a like-for-like basis.
But behind the figure lay disguised a contrasting picture - with declining sales in London, where it has been under most pressure, offset by growth outside the capital.
Shares in the company were unchanged at 2.35p today.
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So.. how does this topic make you feel when first reading it? Interesting I bet. But before making any judgements, check out their trailer above. Keep in mind, this is their 3rd Final Fantasy fighting game installment known as “Dissidia”, so this isn’t anything new for them. Did I mention that this includes 3v3 fighting?
Dissidia was made to represent the Final Fantasy series 20th Anniversary campaign. The Dissidia franchise has been described as a “dramatic progressive action” genre as characters from the Final Fantasy series battle it out in 3D environments. The saga began back in 2009 exclusively for PSP. Because of its great feedback and well-rounded rating, it would eventually lead into its 2012 sequel (which is actually a prequel and a remake all-in-one), “Dissidia 012”. If you would like an idea of what this new dissidia might play like overall, check out this video:
As far as we know now, Square Enix announced that this new Dissidia game will be released in Japanese Arcades. Square Enix announced the game at the Japanese Amusement Expo, which focuses on all things arcade. They’ve even launched a website for the game, though it doesn’t have much information right now. Square Enix didn’t announce any plans to bring the game to consoles for now.
What this means for us: we’re basically on the side lines for now. There isn’t much to go by so we can’t tell if they will or won’t be bringing this outside of Japan. Frankly, I wouldn’t be too surprised if they kept it exclusively for Japan. But that doesn’t mean we can’t hope.
Stay tuned for more.


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Aug 20, 2021
Your card has declined at the checkout and the line of people is rapidly building up behind you. What do you do next!?!
What we've been playing:
Bayonetta 2, Rimworld, King Of Retail
Aug 5, 2021
2021 isn't another gas leak year. Join Michael, Keely and Sarah to
discuss games new and old, as well as gaming news from the
What we've been playing: Apex Legends, Red Dead Redemption 2, Catherine News: Activision Blizzard is...


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Sure, the horsepower figures for virtually every vehicle have gone through the roof of late. But make no mistake: a MINI with 300 horsepower is a big deal. And that’s exactly what the 2020 MINI John Cooper Works GP will deliver.
So if you’ve been looking for a hot hatch, but weren’t moved by the Honda Civic Type R or the Ford Focus RS, this petite, powerful little Brit could be exactly what you’ve been looking for.
Aside from the power figure, and the fact that it’ll come from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four cylinder, MINI didn’t confirm much about the GP. But as the teaser photos suggest, there will be plenty of aggressive exterior touches, and the rear seat will likely be sacrificed for weight savings. And that’s OK will us.
At this point, the only thing we don’t like about the 2020 MINI John Cooper Works GP is how limited production will be. According to the company, only 3,000 of these pocket rockets will be produced.
Of course, if you want to score your very own example of the most powerful MINI ever available from the factory, head over to your local AutoNation MINI dealer pronto. Because these cars will be spoken for before they even hit the showroom.
We’ll have more info after the car makes its official debut the New York Auto Show in April, so stay tuned!