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The iPhone has been the king of the market for years, but Apple may have to deal with a new problem.
Shipments of the tech giant's flagship device may have declined year-over-year for the first time in the first quarter of 2016, according to TrendForce estimates. And it's a significant drop.
Apple reportedly shipped 42 million iPhones worldwide in the quarter, down 24% from 55 million units in the year-ago period. We should have an official figure when Apple holds its Q1 2016 earnings conference on Monday.
The estimates indicate that Apple represented 14% of total global smartphone shipments, down from 21% in the previous quarter and 20% YoY. Forecasts predict that Apple will ship 213 million iPhones this year, a 10% drop from 232 million in 2015.
Apple cautioned investors about the decline during its fourth-quarter earnings call thanks to a worldwide deceleration in demand for smartphones in advanced markets such as the U.S. Consumers in these markets already have smartphones in a majority of cases, and these users have been less than pleased with the slower rate of advancements with smartphones in the last few years.
But Apple still has opportunities to right the ship, particularly if it launches an iPhone 7 later this year as many expect. New device launches typically spur consumer interest just before the holidays, the period when device shipments peak. The tech giant reported shipping 73 million units in the three months ended December 2015.
Moreover, iOS App Store downloads and revenue are exploding in China, the largest market in the world for smartphones. This means Apple is gaining more of a presence in China and is incorporating the world's most populous nation into its ecosystem.
Apple included, the global smartphone market is expected to slow considerably over the next few years. Despite a record-setting holiday quarter, 2015 was likely the last year of double-digit growth for smartphone shipments.
Mature markets were at the heart of this year’s deceleration. Adoption has reached new highs in key markets in the United States, Europe, and China. The pool of first-time buyers in these countries is shrinking rapidly, and sales are now primarily coming from phone upgrades.
Meanwhile, emerging markets will continue to see robust shipment growth. India and Indonesia, in particular, will help fuel a large share of the shipments growth within the global smartphone market over the next few years.
Will McKitterick, senior research analyst at BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, has compiled a detailed report on smartphones by country that forecasts the market through 2021 to reflect slower, stabilizing growth in the long term.
Here are some key points from the report:
- The global smartphone market is still growing at a steady pace due to more widespread adoption in emerging markets. We estimate the global market will hit about 2.1 billion units shipped in 2021.
- Shipments growth over the past few years has been driven by the falling price of smartphones, which has made handsets more accessible in emerging markets. The average selling price of a smartphone in India nearly halved between 2010 and 2015.
- With relatively low smartphone penetration, we forecast Indian smartphone shipments to grow rapidly over the next five years. Nevertheless, India has a long way to go before it surpasses China as the world’s leading market for smart handsets. India is estimated to account for roughly 10% of the global smartphone market in 2016, considerably less than China’s 30% share.
- The global platform wars are over, even as smartphone adoption continues to rise across various markets worldwide. Android and iOS are estimated to account for 97.3% of global platform market share in 2015, compared to 96.3% last year.
- Apple closed the year with another strong quarter on the back of its iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus launches. Still, the vendor saw a slight decline in YoY growth of its share of the market in the face of stiff competition from Samsung and Chinese vendors such as Huawei.
In full, the report:
- Forecasts global smartphone shipments through 2021.
- Explores why India is the next high-growth smartphone market.
- Breaks down the global smartphone platform wars.
- Discusses smartphone vendor performance market share.
To get your copy of this invaluable guide, choose one of these options:
- Subscribe to an ALL-ACCESS Membership with BI Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report AND over 100 other expertly researched deep-dive reports, subscriptions to all of our daily newsletters, and much more. >> START A MEMBERSHIP
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The choice is yours. But however you decide to acquire this report, you’ve given yourself a powerful advantage in your understanding of the smartphone market.


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Nokia started sending out press invites for a Symbian meet-up in London on April 12th a while ago now. People are speculating that there may be a big Symbian update coming up.
Nokia is moving to Windows Phone for its mobile devices, while Symbian will still continue to be active. Symbian was once the most used mobile operating system in the world for quite a long time, before Android came along and took its position.
Now, Nokia even contacted Engadget to say that this event is going to be a "media briefing". Probably because they know they need to do something with their operating system that is going down in the market as a platform.
Boy Genius Report predicts that "this could involve some hardware as well".

domain: news


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Singapore/New York/London | Bitcoin pulled back from a new high on Monday and other cryptocurrencies slipped, as investors took profits from a rally that had pushed bitcoin close to $US50,000.
It fell as much as 5.6 per cent to $US45,914 in Asian trading hours after having posted a peak of $US49,714.66 on Sunday, while rival crypto ethereum slid more than 8 per cent.
After long being shunned by traditional financial firms, bitcoin and other virtual currencies appear to be increasingly entering the mainstream as an asset and routine payment vehicle.
BNY Mellon said last week it formed a new unit to help clients hold, transfer and issue digital assets, just days after Elon Musk’s Tesla revealed it had bought $US1.5 billion ($1.9 billion) worth of the cryptocurrency and would soon accept it as a form of payment for its cars.
On Friday, Canada’s Ontario Securities Commission approved the launch of Purpose Bitcoin ETF, Toronto-based asset management company Purpose Investments said in a statement. The OSC confirmed it had cleared the launch of the world’s first bitcoin exchange-traded fund, in a separate statement to Reuters.
“The institutional side and corporate America is showing that this movement is not going away any time soon,” said Edward Moya, senior market strategist at OANDA. “There’s still a raft of big money that’s going to jump onto this bandwagon.”
Mayor Francis Suarez of Miami also said on Friday the Florida city was seeking to embrace bitcoin in its operations, a move that could bring dividends in terms of attracting technology companies.
In January, BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, added bitcoin as an eligible investment to two funds.
Credit card giant Mastercard’s plans to offer support for some cryptocurrencies also boosted bitcoin’s ambitions towards mainstream finance, though many banks remain reluctant to engage with it.
Cryptocurrency miner Riot Blockchain rose 14 per cent on Friday and hit its highest in more than 10 years with a weekly gain of 110 per cent, its biggest weekly gain since 2017. Digital asset tech company Marathon Patent Group showed a weekly gain of more than 70 per cent.
Tesla is facing further questions over its investment in bitcoin after it emerged that a board member has investments in cryptocurrency businesses.
Antonio Gracias, an independent member of Tesla’s board, sits on the four-strong audit committee that signed off Tesla’s groundbreaking $US1.5 billion deal.
Mr Gracias, the founder of investment firm Valor Equity Partners, has also invested in two companies involved with cryptocurrency or blockchain technology and is on their boards.
He is a director at BitGo, a Silicon Valley company that stores bitcoin for businesses, and cryptocurrency contract trading hub ErisX, according to the start-up database PitchBook.
Mr Gracias was previously an investor in another crypto firm, Harbor, which was bought last year by BitGo. Bitcoin’s price rose by 16 per cent after Tesla’s announcement last Monday, and the deal prompted predictions of a wave of new corporate interest in cryptocurrencies.
Tesla has not said if Mr Gracias took part in a vote to approve its investment policy change, but corporate governance experts said the shared roles created a potential conflict of interest that should mean him recusing himself.
Bill Klepper, a professor of management at Columbia Business School, said: “If there’s any direct conflict or appearance of that, you better stay arm’s length away from it. The right thing to have done would be to get the advice of legal counsel. We don’t know if he’s done that or not.
“We have to find out whether or not he is acting in good faith. It’s in the lack of transparency, that you find people begin to question your ethics.”
Charles Elson, a finance professor at the University of Delaware, said: “Good prudence would have suggested a recusal in those circumstances.”
A long-time ally of Tesla boss Elon Musk, Mr Gracias invested in the company in 2005 and has been on its board since 2007 and also sits on the board of Mr Musk’s rocket company SpaceX. He is stepping down from Tesla this year.
Tesla has faced repeated questions over its corporate governance. In 2018, Mr Musk was forced to step aside as chairman as part of a settlement with US regulators, although the requirement expires later this year.
Tesla and Mr Gracias did not respond to requests for comment.
- with The Telegraph, London
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Realme is preparing the announcement of another model of the Realme 8 series, which will open access to 5G networks, which will set it apart from the background of Realme 8 and Realme 8 Pro.
This presentation will take place in Thailand on April 21, as the company announced through its social media page.
The design in the style of other representatives of the series has been confirmed, as well as a quad-camera with a 48-megapixel main sensor. Other official specs of the Realme 8 5G are not yet available.
At the same time, according to available unofficial data, Realme 8 5G will be a rebranding of the Chinese model Realme V13 5G.
If so, then we are waiting for the most budgetary 5G chipset MediaTek Dimensity 700, 90-Hz display with a hole on the left, a 5000 mAh battery, and Realme UI 2.0. We will find out the prices and geography of availability later this month.


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Alpine Biergarten returns to Buffalo Creek Brewing
Buffalo Creek Brewing in historic downtown Long Grove has once again transformed its picturesque, pine-forest lined grounds into a winter biergarten retreat straight out of Germany. The backyard expanse is outfitted with cozy benches and tables, twinkle lighting, fire pits and holiday décor to set the vibe.
Launching on Black Friday and running throughout the winter season, the Alpine Biergarten also features winter-themed outdoor games, live music and food trucks, outdoor bar and table service, patio and barrel table heat lamps, Christmas trees, winter apparel for sale like snow hats, flannels and fleeces, and over two acres of winter wonderland to explore. Inside the taproom, BCB also leans into the theme with its Alpine Lodge concept - a cozy winter gingerbread-themed lodge atmosphere for those who prefer to stay indoors.
Opening weekend, Nov 24 through 26, will feature: Two new beer releases from brewer Mike Marr on Friday, outdoor music by L&M on Saturday, Kurbside Pizza and Coops Fresh Chicken food trucks on Friday and Saturday, respectively, and holiday carolers embracing the Christmas season.


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[akron, ohio] Sterling Jewelers consolidated its $80 million buying and planning account with Omnicom Group's OMD, New York, which already handled broadcast buying. The assignment had been split with Omnicom sibling agency Stern Advertising, Cleveland, which continues to handle creative, said executives at the agencies. Sterling operates chains Kay Jewelers and Jareds Gallery of Jewelry.
Ford sinks $10 mil into `Bond' film ads
[Dearborn, Mich.] Ford Motor Co. will support its tie-in to MGM's James Bond film "Die Another Day" with an estimated $10 million global TV and print ad push. A U.S. TV spot breaks Oct. 21 showing Ford's limited-edition 007 Thunderbird driven by actress Halle Berry. A global TV spot featuring the Jaguar XKR and driven by actor Rick Yune breaks Nov. 4. Print ads support an online Ford sweepstakes tied to the film, which opens in theaters Nov. 22. WPP Group's J. Walter Thompson USA, Detroit, handles Ford; WPP's Young & Rubicam handles Jaguar.
Celebrity Cruises ads tout `True departure'
[miami] Royal Caribbean Cruises' Celebrity Cruises unit breaks a $38 million national campaign today themed "True departure." Creative offers the promise of celebrity-style pampering, from orchid-scented cabins to turndown service. TV and print ads and a sweepstakes promotion are included. Havas' Arnold Worldwide, Boston, handles.
TV ad-making costs resume upward climb
[new york] Reversing cost declines in 2000, the average cost to produce national TV commercials in 2001 increased 8% for 30-second spots and 5% for commercials regardless of length, the American Association of Advertising Agencies said in its 2001 Television Production Cost Survey. In 2000, Four A's said, the average cost to produce a national spot fell 3% for 30-second spots and 1% for commercials regardless of length. The 2001 average cost: $358,000 for a 30-second spot, $322,000 for national commercials of all lengths.
Novartis in DTC review; Deutsch adds Lamisil
[East Hanover, N.J.] Novartis is reviewing agencies to handle direct-to-consumer and professional advertising for Diovan, a drug for hypertension, executives close to the situation said. Spending was not disclosed. Separately, Novartis shifted its estimated $25 million-plus Lamisil account to Interpublic Group of Cos.' Deutsch, New York, from Alchemy, an offshoot of Interpublic's Lowe, without a review. Lamisil is an anti-fungal drug.
Grey, Lowe, JTW, Y&R in Electrolux review
[stockholm] Swedish appliance marketer AB Electrolux, in a review of its European and North American advertising arrangements, shortlisted four agency networks for its consumer and corporate business. Spending was not disclosed. They are: Interpublic's Lowe & Partners Worldwide, WPP's J. Walter Thompson Co. and Y&R Advertising and Grey Global Group. Grey handles a large portion of the Electrolux account, with Stockholm-based Grey Momentum as its lead agency. AB Electrolux markets Eureka brand appliances in North America.
Campaigns open for new Masterfoods lines
[hackettstown, n.j.] Masterfoods USA today opens campaigns supporting two new product lines Cookies &, along with Sour Starburst. Grey Global Group's Grey Worldwide, New York, handles. For Cookies &, Masterfoods' extension into the cookie aisle, TV features situations where good things get even better. Sour Starbust TV ads feature a boy who gets in trouble when his reaction to the candy is mistaken for a look of disgust when he sees his prom date. Sour Starburst theme line: "Use responsibly." Spending was not disclosed.
Unilever will launch low-fat Klondike bars
[green bay, wis.] Unilever's Good Humor-Breyers Ice Cream unit this month will launch a line of 98% fat-free Klondike ice cream sandwiches, dubbed Slim-A-Bear. Ad and promotional plans were not determined, a spokeswoman said. Good Humor spent $8 million in measured media against Klondike through July of this year, according to Taylor Nelson Sofres' CMR. WPP's Ogilvy & Mather, Chicago, handles.
Six Flags global media account to Initiative
[new york] Theme-park operator Six Flags consolidated its estimated $60 million global media account at incumbent agency Initiative Partners, Los Angeles, a unit of Interpublic's Initiative Media North America, said executives in the review. The assignment includes radio and cable TV buying previously at Six Flags creative shop Ackerman McQueen, Oklahoma City.
FYI . . .
Amazon.com is preparing to return to TV advertising this holiday season after a year's hiatus, executives familiar with the situation said. It will be its first campaign from independent Wieden & Kennedy, Portland, Ore. Amazon.com did not return calls. ... Gruner & Jahr USA human resources department called a meeting for Oct. 17 with staff members of shuttered Rosie magazine. An update on their future, expected last week, did not occur. ... USA Network, joining Viacom's CBS, said it will televise the 2003 Masters golf tournament without advertising. Augusta National Golf Club, which owns the Masters, cancelled 2003 contracts with corporate advertiser/sponsors after women's groups challenging the club's men-only membership policy sought to involve sponsors in the dispute. ... Major League Baseball's Florida Marlins narrowed its creative review to Harris Drury Cohen and Interpublic's Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos, both Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Spending is estimated at $2.5 million. ... The International Advertising Festival in Cannes is seeking a new CEO following the resignation of Franz Prenner after nine months in the job. Festival Chairman and former CEO Roger Hatchuel will be interim CEO. ... The Daily Deal financial newspaper launches a weekly, The Deal, Nov. 4. The daily publication will be cut in size to 12 pages from 24. The weekly product will publish Mondays. Both are hand-delivered. ... Former Knight Ridder Chairman Bernard H. Ridder Jr. died Oct. 10 in San Mateo, Calif., from complications related to a stroke. He was 85.


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What if picking up your CSA farm share meant stopping by a retail location on
your own schedule instead of meeting a truc in a parking lot during a 3-hour pick-up window?
That’s the idea behind a new experiment in “CSA retail” launched today by Clover Food Lab
(www.cloverfoodlab.com), a chain of fast-food restaurants and food trucks in Boston and
Cambridge founded by MIT alum Ayr Muir.
In community-supported agriculture (CSA), customers subscribe to a farm and pay a sum of money
(usually $500-$600) in the winter; farmers use the cash to plan, buy seeds, hire employees, and
grow food. As the harvest comes in from June to October, farmers divide up the produce weekly
among their shareholders.
“The problem with CSAs in urban areas is that they’re sort of hard to find out about and
inconvenient to pick up,” Clover president Ayr Muir says. CSA members in the Boston area often
need to drive to the farms or pick up their shares from the back of a delivery truck in parking lots or
behind grocery stores during very limited time windows (for example, Wednesdays from 4-6pm).
Muir wants to use Clover to spotlight CSAs front and center. He believes that if successful this pilot
program could pave the way for CSAs to enter the mainstream. Clover believes the market for CSA
membership could number in the tens of thousands in the Boston area providing vital support to
This February, Clover HUB, the 7,000-square-foot facility at 1075 Cambridge Street, will be
transformed into a pop-up CSA sign-up space. Customers can read information about five different
CSAs and sign up for whichever farm appeals to them the most or fits into their schedule best. The
pilot program will include Marshall Farm, The Food Project, Lindentree Farm, Drumlin Farm, and
Red Fire Farm, each dropping off on a different day of the week.
Once the growing season starts in June, shareholders will return to Clover HUB on a specific day
each week to pick up their box of vegetables.
Clover will host a public CSA Night at Clover HUB, 1075 Cambridge Street, from 7pm-9pm on
Friday, February 24. At the event, which is open to the public, customers can talk to the CSA
farmers, sign up for any remaining shares, and tour the area of Clover HUB where CSAs will be
picked up come harvest time.
Muir sees several benefits to customers who sign up. Customers will be able to stop by during
normal store hours, so they won’t lose out on their share because traffic or bad weather made
them a few minutes late to a pickup. Muir believes farmers will benefit from the increased visibility
and ease of drop-off. An indoor pickup area means that farmers will not have to wait around after
they drop off the shares. Clover will offer the service free to farms.
Clover expects customers to consider a variety of factors when picking their farm. Some customers
might pick a CSA with a Monday drop-off to have food for the week, or Fridays to have food for the
weekend. Others might select a CSA because they’ve seen the farm at a neighborhood farmers’
market (Drumlin Farm), because it is certified organic (Lindentree Farm, Red Fire Farm),
empowers local teens (The Food Project), or provides little gifts throughout the season (Marshall
Shares are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Some farms have many shares available;
others have sliding scales for payment from low-income customers; and one, Lindentree Farm, is
launching its first-ever Boston drop-off, creating 10 special shares just for Clover customers.
The CSA program fits into Clover’s long-term goals: to improve customers’ health over time; bring
money to local farmers, and make fresh food accessible to many people. On a busy day, Clover
serves nearly 20,000 people at two restaurants and four food trucks parked at MIT, Longwood
Medical Area, Boston University, and South Station. “If this experiment works, in a few years, we
could introduce CSAs to thousands of new customers and funnel hundreds of thousands of dollars
to local farmers,” Muir says. “The hardest part for us is going to be waiting for the crops to grow.”
Friday, February 24, 7pm-9pm
Clover HUB (1075 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA)
Open to the public
Schedule and Location of Clover CSA Pickups (June—October)
Clover HUB (1075 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA)
Monday: Marshall’s Farm (Gloucester, Mass)
Tuesday: The Food Project (Lincoln, Mass)
Wednesday: Lindentree Farm (Lincoln, Mass)
Thursday: Drumlin Farm (Lincoln, Mass)
Friday: Red Fire Farm (Granby, Mass)


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By now, you probably have your Black Friday/Cyber Monday plan down to a science: rigorously test your website months before those peak shopping days; regroup with IT team to assess the health of your website; and determine places where bottlenecks could occur. But have you even given a second thought to Green Monday?
Here are three things you need to know about Green Monday—the second Monday in December—to prepare for next year:
- Your Competitors Are Prepared: There’s no breathing easy following Black Friday and Cyber Monday as more and more consumers are taking advantage of this mega retail day, Green Monday. Accordingly, many companies offered similar deals on Green Monday this year as they did on Cyber Monday. Amazon, for example, offered 20 percent off a selection of Kindle e-readers and Kindle Fire tablets, while Walmart offered low prices on a selection of electronics and toys, including Zoomer the robotic dog, a BouncePro 14-foot trampoline, and KidKraft Mejestic Mansion. Everyone from the biggest named companies to the smallest of online retailers are getting more competitive in December.
- Sales Are Up: This year, Green Monday reached $1.4 billion in online spending, up 10 percent a year ago and representing the third-heaviest online spending day of the holiday season-to-date, according to data aggregated by comScore. Moreover, sales between Thanksgiving and Christmas were up as a whole indicating that the trend of shopping after Thanksgiving will only continue.
- Your Website is Still at Risk: While e-commerce companies used to take comfort in knowing that their peak days were Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas Eve, today’s online shopping platforms have to ensure the uptime of their website throughout the year but especially when they know traffic will spike. There is a lot of money for these companies to leave on the table if their websites fail and therefore it’s imperative to keep a steady eye on uptime and availability during Green Monday.
Now is the perfect time to gear your e-retail platform up for the impending 2014 holiday season.


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Giromax has released a new line of trading cards in Spain featuring the new app, “Angry Birds Go!” under license from Rovio Entertainment.
The trading card game follows the rules of “rock, paper, scissors” with Angry Birds characters. The line includes 180 collectible trading cards, including special gold, silver and holographic versions.
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The dual-screen form factor introduced by LG Electronics is gaining ground while major global smartphone makers are jockeying for position in the emerging folding phone market. Microsoft has announced it would launch a dual-screen product next year, and a similar product is garnering attention at an overseas crowdfunding site.
A dual-screen device called “castAway” has recently appeared at “Indiegogo,” a crowdfunding site, according to industry watchers on Nov. 25. The funding deadline is about one month away but the item has been very popular. It has surpassed 400 percent of the original target amount.
CastAway allows users to freely attach an additional screen to their smartphones like the LG V50S ThinQ. Unlike the first and second generations of LG's dual screens which each run only on the V50 ThinQ and V50S ThinQ, castAway can be attached to most smartphones. Users can also search and work on their documents independently, even if they set the main unit and its second display apart.
It is priced at US$200 and is available in three model sizes -- 5.8-inch, 6.3-inch or 6.9-inch. For example, users of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus with a 6.8-inch display can buy a 6.9-inch castaway and put the two together.
Microsoft also announced its entry into the dual-screen phone market. In October, it took the wraps off the Surface Duo with two 5.6-inch displays which can be folded or unfolded 360 degrees. The Surface Duo will be available in the market next year.
Dual-screen products are coming out one after another because there is demand for them which is separate from the demand for foldable phones, market analysts say. Compared to a foldable phone priced at 2 million won to 3 million won, dual screen phones are technologically easier to implement and have lower price tags. Thus, dual screen phones can meet demand for practical budget foldable phones.
LG Electronics is also expanding its dual-screen phone market by releasing the V50S ThinQ (G8X ThinQ in overseas markets) with a dual screen. Following its launch in North America earlier this month, the company also held a launch event in Brazil. LG Electronics’ strategy is to increase its dual-screen phone market share by launching sequentially in Latin American countries such as Peru, Panama, Mexico and Argentina.


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In the light of this sudden ban of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes, Snapdeal users can now pay on delivery via FreeCharge or else avail 10% instant discount on card transactions.
To give consumers a breather from ban on Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes, Snapdeal today announced a new service - Wallet on Delivery (WoD), a first of a kind service which will allow users to pay on delivery using their FreeCharge wallet. The Wallet on Delivery will be available beginning 10th November 2016 and in a progressive roll-out, and will cover Snapdeal and FreeCharge users across the country over the next few weeks.
This service kills two birds with one stone. First, it removes the need to carry and handle cash and second it allows users to pay only when their package has been delivered after the e-commerce giant disabled Cash on Delivery options on various orders. This service comes in just at the right time when the nation is dealing with the consequence of the sudden change in financial system. Also, Thanks to partnership between Snapdeal and Freecharge which made this service possible in no time and which will eventually help people make COD payments on purchases of goods ans services by FreeCharge wallet.
For those who are not aware, FreeCharge is one of the most used e-wallets for payments for utilities, cab rides, metro, phone recharge, electricity and gas bills, petrol, DTH etc. Not only this, offline merchants like Bookmyshow, Swiggy, Zomato, Shoppers Stop, McDonald's, Cafe Coffee Day also accept payments by FreeCharge.
On the other hand, if you are not in any mood to use FreeCharge for payments and are OK paying via Debit/Credit card then you are in luck as well. Snapdeal is now offering 10% instant discount on card transactions. Note, the offer is valid only for today i.e. 10th November and you have to pay by either Debit or Credit card. There is no minimum limit of the transaction but the maximum discount one can avail is restricted to Rs 500. Snapdeal has also displayed the entire process to avail the instant discount.
The new update will significantly improve the data speed, call quality and more on Airtel networks.
The chipset combines a 2.3 GHz quad-core and 1.6 GHz quad-core which is coupled with Mali-T880 graphics.
The smartphone is listed with full specifications, alongside product images.
It seems that LG has already learned from Samsung's mistake and is all set to make its next flagship device a lot safer
Vdeo 3 comes bundled with Jio sim which will enable users to avail free data and voice calling till 31st March.
The video doesn't reveal the back or sides of the device so we are not sure about the camera setup the device will be boasting at the back.
The listing reveals that the smartphone features a 5.5-inch Full HD display.
It is rumoured to be backed up by a 3,000mAh battery with Qualcomm Quick Charge fast charging support.
Before this, Google Pixel devices were only available via Flipkart and some select offline stores.
After issues related to LTE connectivity and the camera, a lot of users were recently experiencing some weird distortion in the audio output.


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UPDATE 7/22/13 10:15 a.m.: Donavah Kight is to receive a refund for the items he did not receive according to Roy Hester, who handled the closing of both Circle K stores in Jacksonville, Fla.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Circle K furniture property is quiet, the gates are locked, the Westside store is now out of business.
Donavah Kight saw that Circle K furniture was going out of business and decided to take advantage of the sale. He made two purchases, now he wants them to keep one of the items.
"I don't want it now," he said. "Not after the way they did me I don't want it."
Kight purchased a recliner sofa and a recliner chair; he was able to pick them up before the business closed.
Kight who was bidder 632 also purchased a queen size bed, dresser and a night stand, paid $1100 for those items according to his receipt but has yet to see them.
"That same night I went to get it all but they couldn't find that portion they couldn't find this ticket," he said.
Kight said he was promised a refund, but has yet to see the money or the refund and now the business is closed.
"I'm thinking they're going to write a check," said Kight. "But they did nothing."
At the business, which is on Jones Road, there is no information to reach anyone. The sales receipt said the going out of business sale was conducted by Furniture Auctions of America.
"I want my money," said Kight, "They have the furniture and my money and no one is telling me anything."
We've made several attempts to reach furniture auctions of America and couldn't not.
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which issues going out of business sale permits is looking into the case.
First for you:
Always ask to the business to show you its 'going out of sale' permit.
Find out if the items are being sold by an auctioneer or the business owner.
Ask if there is a policy that defines your rights if there's a problem.
Keep in mind that in most cases all sales are final and there are no refunds.
First Coast News


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Popular tech personality Evan Blass leaks new Nokia Captain America smartphone days before the announcement
Realme Philippines is proud to announce that realme is Ph’s top 4 smartphone brand in Q4 of 2019.
Huawei and Globe Telecom make history by joining forces to launch the all new Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G which was launched yesterday at BGC!
Vivo is giving away some of the best Valentine’s gifts to make V-day celebrations even more memorable and romantic for loving couples. With the Love Connects promo, those who buy participating Vivo smartphone models...
Next generation Nokia 2.3 announces latest model which brings powerful AI technology to every use. Available on Shopee, Lazada and Argomall.


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It’s one of the largest gem-quality diamonds ever recovered.
Gem Diamonds Ltd. announced that a 910-carat diamond known as the "Lesotho Legend" has sold for $40 million.
It achieved the price on tender in Antwerp on March 12, according to a press release. The company describes it as "the fifth largest gem quality diamond ever recovered."
The identity of the buyer was not disclosed.
The D coloor Type IIa diamond was recovered from the Letšeng mine in January.
"We are delighted with the outcome of the sale of this iconic diamond, which demonstrates the exceptional quality of The Lesotho Legend itself, as well as reaffirming the unique quality of the Letšeng diamond production,“ said Clifford Elphick, CEO of Gem Diamonds.
Gem Diamonds owns 70 percent of the Letšeng mine in Lesotho and 100 percent of the Ghaghoo mine in Botswana.
The "Lesotho Legend" diamond sold for $40 million.
JEWELER SUCCESS STORIES
“Halfway Through the Sale, We Already Did a Year’s Worth of Volume”
Torin Bales says he was “blown away” by Wilkerson’s results after the company ran his retirement sale. “When you hire a consultant, you have to let them take control,” says the Texas retailer. After all, if you’re like most jewelers, you only retire once. Get the maximum return on your life’s investment. Turn to Wilkerson & Associates and let your new life begin!


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What can be found in Ireland’s Facebook data leak? How badly are Irish users affected? I examine what privacy lessons can be learned (the hard way) from this event.
We take a look a the NSA’s recently released document that covers tangible risks posed by the mobile technology, from smartphones and IoT devices to wearable gadgets and privacy breaching apps.
Even military hackers make OPSEC mistakes. I bring back the APT1 story in order to outline some bad OPSEC examples that you should avoid if conducting online investigations.
Tricky Thursday focuses on keyloggers. Keyloggers come in two types – hardware and software. Essentially, both types are digital surveillance tools that capture and record anything that you type on your computer’s keyboard. Check out my methods of detecting and defending against keyloggers.
A quick glimpse at various types of concealed cameras used for breaching privacy and illegal covert recording. Disturbing as it was, some of these were trending during the recent Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.
Osint Me interviews Stella, an online safety professional focused on the human aspect of digital privacy. She was a victim of stalking, both in the cyberspace and in real life.


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Share Factory Studio users have reason to rejoice as a brand-new update to the PlayStation 5’s internal video editing software has been released, bringing with it more ways for aspiring video editors to make their gameplay shine starting today.
The lays out all of the new features coming to Share Factory Studio through this new update, including a highly-requested increase in both the amount of clips allowed per project and the number of transitions between them. Both clips and transitions have increased by 50 on the main editing track, to 100 and 99 respectively.
“We have been blown away by the creativity and how players were using the app ever since,” Stuart Platt, Senior Producer of Sony Interactive Entertainment, said in the blog post. “Since then, we’ve listened to the PlayStation community’s feedback and incorporated ongoing improvements and enhancements to SHAREfactory over the years to make the editing experience a smooth one for gamers.”
The update also allows Share Factory Studio to use HDR screenshots for the first time, while also adding indicators on the editing tracks for HD, 4K, and HDR clips to let the user know what format each clip is using. Videos can also now be created with up to 4K resolution at 60 FPS and HDR enabled. Music track counts have also been increased to 24, up from 12 in the previous version. Likewise, the number of transitions allowed in Track 2 has also increased from 10 to 20.
Share Factory Studio was included on the PlayStation 5’s hard drive at launch as a free service when the console launched back in November. This marks the first time the service has been updated in the console’s five months on the market.


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Toyota Motor Corp. (7203.T: Quote, Profile, Research) and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. (6752.T: Quote, Profile, Research) have bolstered their cross-shareholding relationship in conjunction with their collaboration in the battery business, the Nikkei business daily said on Tuesday.
Toyota, Japan's biggest automaker, took a 0.84 percent stake in consumer electronics maker Matsushita for 40 billion yen ($320 million) in the year ended in March, the paper said.
Matsushita, which had a 0.57 percent stake in Toyota in the year ended in March 2006, has raised that holding by investing tens of billions of yen, it said, without specifying the size of the new stake.
The two firms together own Panasonic EV Energy Co., a maker of batteries for Toyota's hybrid vehicles.
All Rights Reserved. Do not reproduce, copy and use the editorial content without permission. Contact us: email@example.com.
Anytime and anywhere to know the dynamics of China's auto industry


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UPDATE (31/08/20): Mulan will be available to all Disney+ subscribers free of charge in December.
After several delays with no signs of the COVID-19 landscape improving anytime soon, Disney has opted to release its live-action adaptation of Mulan on Disney Plus for an additional US$29.99 (and a rough price point equivalent in countries outside of the US).
“We thought it was important to find alternative ways to bring [Mulan] in a timely manner,” says Bob Chapek, Disney CEO.
In countries where Disney Plus is not currently available, the plan is to go ahead with a conventional theatrical release on the very same date. Other upcoming Disney-owned releases such as Black Widow and The New Mutants, however, will only be hitting theatres. At this point in time, anyways.
Depending on the success of Mulan‘s hybrid delivery, we may see a more widespread adoption of new releases being available to stream at a premium. Earlier this year, Universal Studios carried out something similar with The Invisible Man, The Hunt, Emma., and more.
Though like we said before, don’t hold your breath for larger-scale films like Tenet – which AT&T CEO John Stankey has put his foot down and stated will not be streamed before a theatrical release – nor Top Gun: Maverick and No Time To Die to follow suit.
Mulan will premiere via Disney+ on September 4th. Hit the link to get started today – and experience a whole range of exciting content.


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2016 Honda Civic
Date Posted: November 6, 2015
By Zack Spencer
Find out all about the latest Civic
Motormouth chats with Dave Gardner from Honda Canada about the all-new 2016 Honda Civic, Canada's best selling car. Also included are some comments on the Honda HR-V, the Honda Pilot and the vibration issue with the CR-V.


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Coimbatore, July 3
A technical seminar on enhancing cotton with the use of `Lenzing' fibres will be held here tomorrow. The seminar is being jointly organised by the city-based Lakshmi Mills Company Ltd and the European man-made fibre company Lenzing AG, Austria. The seminar will throw light on newer developments involving application of `tencel' fibre, one of the man-made fibres being marketed globally by the Lenzing AG. The R&D team from Lenzing, Austria will appraise the aesthetics and performance characters of the cellulosic fibre brand including its high tenacity, which will enhance the overall quality of the yarn produced by blending it with the cotton, according to a communication from Lakshmi Mills Company.


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Electronic cigarettes have gained a fair amount of attention over the last few years through many contributing factors. But while it may not be uncommon to see someone with an eCig today, ten years ago they would’ve looked quite strange! Some of the statistics on vaping and the eCig culture a astounding to look at, considering this phenomenon is only in its first few years. Take a look at some of the numbers regarding the growth of eCig culture!
Earlier in 2011 British newspaper, The Telegraph, published some interesting facts regarding the growth of electronic cigarettes over the past few years. Here’s what they found:
Nearly one-third (31%) of those who tried e-cigarettes reported that they quit smoking cigarettes within six months of use. As a quitting mechanism, electronic cigarettes have fared better than other methods like nicotine gums and nicotine patches, which had a success rate below 20%.
More than 57% of survey respondents choose electronic cigarettes because they were more affordable compared to regular cigarettes. On top of helping curb their craving for regular cigarettes, electronic cigarettes have made it convenient for smokers to puff in places where traditional cigarettes are prohibited.
Since 2006, there has been rapid growth of people who own and use electronic cigarettes. In the United States in 2011, the number of people who own an eCigarette is somewhere around the 2 million mark. This is astounding considering that number means an annual growth of over 330,000 new eCig users each year!
So why do people adopt electronic cigarettes? For a variety of reasons it seems! Some of the most common look like this:
- They’re trying to stop smoking. Often times people use electronic cigarettes and eLiquid to start stepping down their nicotine levels.
- They’re a hobbyist. As with any gadget, eCigs can be modified and tweak to fit the user!
- They’re health conscious. Though there’s no proof that eCigs are a healthier alternative to smoking, but many people have bought into the idea that eCigs are safer.
- They want to save money. The proof is in the numbers: eLiquid is a whole lot cheaper than a pack of cigarettes!
As eCigarettes and eLiquid continue to rise in popularity, it’s likely that we’ll see more and more attention focused on them in the coming years. If you’re already an eCig owner, you can proudly say that you’ve been with the trend since the beginning and seen it all. If you’re new to eCigarettes, jump on the fan bus and enjoy the ride because it looks like this lifestyle isn’t going anywhere but up!


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According to a new report on global food production, logistics and consumption published by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IME) in the UK, a combination of too strict expiry dates, agricultural practices, demands for perfect looking fruit and vegetables and special offers which encourage over-buying mean that up to half the world’s food production is being thrown out instead of being eaten.
A United Nations study 'World Population to 2300'
predicts there could be around three billion more people to feed by the end of this century causing increased pressure on the resources required for food production including land, water and energy. The IME
, an august body established in 1847, and counting some of the world’s greatest engineers in its history books, is calling for urgent action to reduce food waste.
In a hard hitting report entitled 'Global Food, Waste Not Want Not'
, the IME highlights that between 30% and 50% of world food production, estimated at between 1.2 and 2 billion tonnes of food, will end up in the trashcan rather than on a plate at a time when an estimated 1 billion of the world’s population don’t even have the safety-net of the minimum recommended daily nutritional requirements.
According to the IME report, this colossal waste of food has a major impact on the environment:
• Land, often rainforest or ancient woodland, is cleared to give way to agricultural production
• Large amounts of energy inputs are required by farm animals in relation to their feedstuffs whilst fertilisers and chemicals are used in fruit, vegetable and cereal production
That food production is at greater levels than is truly required particularly puts additional demands on water resources, according to the IME report:
• About 550 billion cubic metres of water is wasted globally, growing crops that never reach the consumer
• It takes between 20 and 50 times the amount of water to produce 1 kilogram of meat compared with 1 kilogram of vegetables
• Demand for water to produce food could reach between 10 and 13 trillion cubic metres a year by 2050, some 2.5 to 3.5 times greater than current total human use of fresh water today with the potential to lead to more acute water shortages around the planet
Between developing countries and developed nations, the problem of food waste manifests itself differently. In less well developed nations in areas like sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia, both the consumer and the producer can hardly be blamed. Inefficient harvesting in those places, inadequate local transportation, poor storage facilities and less than ideal infrastructure all contribute to food produce often going to waste.
Amongst major economies, such as the UK, efficient production, transport and storage mean that a far greater proportion of food produced reaches shops and supermarkets. The problem of wasted food in richer nations relates primarily to modern consumerism. Often this means that vast amounts of food are ditched either by the retailer or by customer behaviour. The report highlights a number of factors contributing to wasted food in rich countries:
• Entire crops of perfectly edible fruit and vegetables are often rejected by major supermarkets as they have been deemed to be lacking in their physical characteristics such as size and shape. The IME estimates that up to 30% of vegetable crops in the UK are never harvested
as their appearance is somehow deficient. Such practices are estimated to waste 1.6 million tonnes of food annually
• BOGOF offers in large grocery chains — buy one get one free — encourage shoppers to buy more than they actually need or are likely to consume. This may be fine with canned foods with a very long shelf life but many bogofs are applied to perishable foodstuffs with a knock-on effect on domestic waste. The Global Food report estimates that between 30% and 50% of food bought in developed countries never gets near a dinner table and is simply binned.
Dr Tim Fox, Head of Energy and Environment at the IME comments,
“The amount of food wasted and lost around the world is staggering. This is food that could be used to feed the world’s growing population – as well as those in hunger today. It is also an unnecessary waste of the land, water and energy resources that were used in the production, processing and distribution of this food.
“The reasons for this situation range from poor engineering and agricultural practices, inadequate transport and storage infrastructure through to supermarkets demanding cosmetically perfect foodstuffs and encouraging consumers to overbuy through buy-one-get-one free offers.
“As water, land and energy resources come under increasing pressure from competing human demands, engineers have a crucial role to play in preventing food loss and waste by developing more efficient ways of growing, transporting and storing foods.
“But in order for this to happen Governments, development agencies and organisations like the UN must work together to help change people’s mindsets on waste and discourage wasteful practices by farmers, food producers, supermarkets and consumers.”
Not surprisingly, the ‘Global Food; Waste Not, Want Not’ report sees engineering at the core of the challenges facing humanity and has a series of recommendations including:
1. Education and know-how
: The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation
(FAO) should work with the international engineering community to ensure governments in developed nations put in place programmes to transfer engineering knowledge, design know-how, and suitable technology to developing countries. The aims would be to improve produce handling in the harvest and subsequent crop storage and transport.
2. Emerging economies
: Governments of rapidly developing countries like China and India should incorporate waste minimisation programmes looking particularly at transport infrastructure and storage facilities currently in planning or under construction.
3. Developed economies
: Governments should devise and implement policies that change consumer expectations and discourage retailers from embarking on wasteful practices such as rejecting food due to its cosmetic appearance or encouraging excessive consumer buying.
For the full Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ report, see ‘Global Food; Waste Not, Want Not.’


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Last year, Google released the Pixel C tablet with their own hardware. Since then rumour mills have been rife with stories about Google's plans to release their own phone. All the speculation received a big boost recently when The Telegraph reported that Google was in talks with carriers about smartphone distribution under its own brand.
So far, the proprietor of the Android operating system has been working with smartphone manufacturers to produce Nexus phones which run on the stock Android operating system and come with tightly integrated Google services.
But now, Google wants more control over the process of making and designing smartphones. One major reason is the fragmentation of the Android versions. Most phones in the Android ecosystem are running very old versions of the operating system because manufacturers haven't bothered to work on software updates for those phones.
Rival Apple's approach underscores this. Apple has a greater control over the software updates of iPhone and iPad because of its control over their manufacturing and design.
However, Google has to rely on OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) to provide Android updates to their various phones. Google releases the Android update code and then the OEM decides which phones the update will be rolled out for. Since Android manufacturers produce many phones in a single year, a lot of phones are left on previous Android versions. Therefore, Google wants an ecosystem where it has more control over updates.
Google have dropped many hints that it is working on making its own phone this year. It hired Motorola's former president Rick Osterloh to head a new hardware division. While in Motorola, Osterloh had briefly worked with Google, before Google sold Motorola to Lenovo in 2014.
Last month, Google CEO Sunder Pichai said that the company is investing more effort into producing smartphones. However, it will also continue to support the Nexus program.
The online search giant has already started producing hardware, either with the partners or by themselves. Chromecast, Nexus phones, Nexus tablets, Nexus TV box, OnHub router are a few examples. By the end of the year, Google will also launch a smart speaker under the Google Home brand. How smartphone manufacturers respond to Google's decision to make its own phones, despite Google's claim to continue to support them, remains to be seen.
Contact HuffPost India


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from: Toward a Semantic Web
“At this point, nearly every Web designer that learns about microformats starts using them,” Tantek Çelik, chief technologist at Technorati and co-founder of Microformats.org, told InternetNews.com. “Because microformats require only some HTML authoring ability, millions of Web authors and designers are able to use them immediately. This is a much lower barrier to entry than many previous Web technologies, such as XML and RSS, which require the skills of a programmer.” -Tantek Çelik
September 21, 2007
Microformats: Toward a Semantic Web
By Sean Michael Kerner
Found on Twitter Microformat’s Twitter Account.
Meanwhile, I have enabled ‘Operator’ a Firefox Plugin created by Mike Kaply, and now, just the last few minutes I am surfing the web with it enabled, wow ! Kinda like the scene from John Carpenter’s 1988 movie They Live ! , Roddy Piper, putting the sunglasses on and seeing a new world, only this one is positive.
Really hooked now !


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NEW YORK (AP) — Fitch Ratings downgraded its ratings on ConAgra Foods and two other rating agencies are reviewing their assessment of ConAgra and Ralcorp, following the food company's announcement Tuesday that it plans to buy private-label food producer Ralcorp for $5 billion.
ConAgra Foods Inc., whose brands include Banquet and Chef Boyardee, will pay $90 per share to Ralcorp Holdings Inc. stockholders. The companies value the transaction at about $6.8 billion, when debt is included. The acquisition is expected to close by the end of March, provided it gets approval from Ralcorp shareholders.
Fitch said Tuesday that it has downgraded its long-term issuer default, senior unsecured notes and bank credit facility ratings on ConAgra one notch to "BBB-" from "BBB" on concerns about its debt position. The rating change keeps it in investment-grade territory. It also affirmed the same ratings for Ralcorp at "BBB-".
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services on Tuesday placed ConAgra's investment-grade "BBB" long-term corporate credit ratings, along with other ratings, on review for possible downgrade.
S&P also put Ralcorp's "BBB-" issue-level rating on review for possible downgrade. A downgrade would move the company's rating out of investment-grade status and into junk-grade territory. It affirmed Ralcorp's "BBB-" corporate credit rating but said the outlook on that rating is negative.
Continue reading this story on the...


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Restaurant R’evolution is kicking off this football season by introducing fans to a refreshing new cocktail befitting the occasion.
Meet the “Saint”, an inspired blend of Belvedere vodka delicately balanced with lemongrass syrup, fresh lemon juice and Crème de Violet that is shaken not stirred over ice. The mixture is strained and poured into a chilled martini glass, finished with a few dashes of peach bitters and topped off with a lemon twist. Voila, spirit by the glass!
Restaurant R’evolution’s beverage director, Molly Wismeier, acknowledges that creating the “Saint” was truly a team effort. “This season’s cocktail is super refreshing and fun to drink but it’s a serious beverage that the connoisseur can appreciate,” explains Wismeier.
It’s a tradition at Restaurant R’evolution to unveil a new cocktail at the start of each football season to honor our New Orleans Saints with a toast to their success. Whether you’re cheering the team on at the game or joining friends at your favorite bar, a toast with the “Saint” at Restaurant R’evolution is a winner and promises to please.


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India’s RuPay Launched in Nepal. During his 3-days official visit to India, Nepali Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his counterpart, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi jointly launched India’s popular online payment system in Nepal.
RuPay is the product of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). Launched widely in 2014, the online payment system aims to make India a part of a global payments market.
RuPay’s launch in Nepal is one milestone for the system that seeks to widen its services beyond the borders.
Likewise, India’s Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said that the launch of RuPay in Nepal is a “significant move”. This will contribute to “enhancing the financial linkage” between the two close neighbors.
RuPay is launched by NPCI and regulated by the Reserve Bank of India. Indian consumers can use RuPay at ATMs, and POS machines. People can also use it to pay for online shopping.
RuPay launches in Nepal, what to expect?
In the growing environment of cross-border payment systems between the two countries, RuPay will add another dimension. Once in operation, Nepali banks can also integrate RuPay into their systems. Nepali was also the first country to bring India’s Unified Payment Interface (UPI) system to Nepal.
Nepali banks and financial institutions (B/FIs) can implement RuPay like Visa and Mastercard. Besides, We will be able to use RuPay for transactions.
India’s prominent banks have issued RuPay debit cards. Further, bank accounts opened as part of PM Modi’s Jan-Dhan initiative have all got a RuPay debit card to promote financial inclusivity.
India issues RuPay cards with two different transaction thresholds. This one has a limit of INR.10,000 and the other INR.50,000. To encourage the use of this digital payment, the 5 transactions every month incurs no charge on the users.
RuPay for online shopping
RuPay was launched in India to compete with international payment cards such as Visa and Mastercard. It has seen incremental growth after Indian PM Narendra Modi’s Jan-Dhan Plan allowed cost-free RuPay debit card issuance. Like popular foreign cards, RuPay is accepted at any ATMs in India and people can easily use it to pay for online shopping.
The good thing is, that users of RuPay cardholders do not need to visit their banks to activate the service. They can register and activate the service while making their first payment online.
Once it enters Nepal, we can expect similar benefits. ATMs and eCommerce sites can add another payment mode in RuPay for Nepali consumers. For Cross-Border payments, RuPay will be another ensemble to Nepal’s growing reliance on digital payment systems.
What do you think of the RuPay launch in Nepal? Will it be another option for your payment mode? Do leave your remark in the comments below.
- Redmi 13C with 90Hz Display & 50MP Triple Camera Launched
- Ncell Lists “Facts” Regarding The Axiata-Spectrlite UK Deal
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Leaks, rumors, images, specs, and all we know so far
- Daraz Shopping Milestone: 4.70 Lakh Customers Served In A Single Day During 11.11 Sale, 75% Enjoyed Free Delivery
- Spectrlite UK Buys Axiata’s Ncell Shares for $50 Million
- Mero Job App Revamped: Your Next Job Is Just a Few Taps Away
- Axiata to exit from Ncell, puts 80% shares up for sale


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NPD released its estimates of US console sales for December last night. While neither the tracking firm nor Nintendo released specific sales figures for the Wii U in that period, the information we do have indicates the Wii U’s sales in its second holiday season (e.g., November and December) were at or below those for its first holiday season.
NPD didn’t offer specifics, but it did note that December was the Wii U’s “highest month for unit sales thus far,” meaning it surpassed the 460,000 mark the system achieved last December. However, the Wii U also finished behind the Xbox One, PS4, and Xbox 360 for the month, meaning it sold fewer than the Xbox 360’s reported 640,000 December sales.
Putting that range together with the previously reported November data and sales data from last year, we can figure the Wii U selling anywhere from 3,000 to 210,000 fewer units in its second holiday season in the US, compared to its first, as shown in the chart above. Historically, that puts its year-to-year performance somewhere between that of the original Xbox and Gamecube, both of which languished behind the market-dominating PlayStation 2 in their console generation.
via Ars Technica http://ift.tt/1cASgat


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A story on National Public Radio’s “All things considered” broadcast on Tuesday addressed the European Union’s ban on beef from hormone-treated cattle. In an interview with a French beef producer, the story focuses on traceability, suggesting that European consumers demand full traceability of beef back to an individual animal at an individual farm. It also states that Europeans believe the use of hormones results in beef that is unhealthy and possibly dangerous. Hear the broadcast, and read a summary article.
Following the media’s typical approach to this issue, the reporter simply buys into the European bias and parrots misconceptions about
One more thing. If you want a glimpse into gullibility of the public on this issue, read the comments following the article. — John Maday, managing editor


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A California entrepreneur sued Uber Technologies Inc., its founders and several investors in San Francisco Superior Court Thursday, claiming they stole his idea and plans for a cellphone-based ride service.
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg offered users a glimpse into his life and a chance to ask him anything with a question & answer session on the social networking site Tuesday.
Frances Cairns is founder and CEO of San Francisco-based CampusQuad Inc., described as a “digital billboard” and used by leading universities such as Stanford, Duke and Georgetown.
Tim Bucher, founder and CEO of Lyve Minds, Inc. previously served in executive position with Apple, Microsoft and Dell
The founder of internet radio giant Pandora and his plans to build what could be the largest private residence in rural West Marin County has some nearby residents banding together in opposition.
The “X-Men: Days of Future Past” star is the latest actor being considered to play the Apple co-founder…
Racing a plastic tricycle down SF’s crookedest street scheduled for Easter Sunday…
After embodying Steve Jobs in his new movie, Ashton Kutcher came to admire how the Apple Computer founder was able to balance his public and personal lives…
John McAfee wants people to know that he has nothing to do with the software company that bears his name. And he’s doing it with a bizarre video full of profanity, drugs, guns and scantily-clad women.
The burglar who broke into Steve Jobs’ house made off with the Apple Inc. co-founder’s wallet with a dollar inside and his driver’s license in addition to Apple gadgets and jewelry, according to a police report released Tuesday.


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Women in Fish and Chips Keeps Shops Connected and Inspired During Lockdown
Article Date: 2021-01-25
Women in Fish and Chips hosted a successful Zoom webinar conference on January 18th, 2020, to help shops to connect and share ideas during the lockdown.
The JJ Foodservice-backed initiative hosted seven inspiring speakers under the theme ‘Innovating to Thrive,’ covering menu ideas, eating in trends and lockdown success stories.
More than 50 shops attended from across the UK, together with industry bodies Seafish and the Marine Stewardship Council.
“Lockdown can be isolating – not just for people working from home but for businesses too,” said Chief Product Officer at JJ, Sezer Ozkul.
“We were delighted to host some of the UK’s best shops to share ideas.”
Social Media Tips and Local Partnerships
Director of Hooked-on-the-Heath in Cheshire, Tori Howard, ran a popular session on how to use Tik Tok, one of the fastest-growing social media platforms.
“Since the lockdowns, people are experimenting with making their own videos, so we decided to give it a try. We ended up going viral with more than 300K views,” she said.
Meanwhile, Vicky Webster, Owner of Captain Cod in Chislehurst achieved a years’ worth of sales in three months by partnering with a local pizzeria to expand her online menu.
“I was determined not to be beaten by the pandemic,” she said.
The fish and chip sector has outperformed the total eating out market during the pandemic, according to Suzi Pegg-Darlison, Market Insight Analyst at Seafish.
Shops have seen a 27% decline in sales versus 49% in pubs and 33% in casual dining.
“Concepts like meal deals and food subscriptions could help shops grab an even larger share on the market in future,” she said.
50% of shops that attended the webinar said they saw an increase in sales during pandemic, according to a live poll.
All sessions are available to watch via JJ’s YouTube channel watch them here


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Fermentation specialist The Better Meat Co. announces it has entered a joint development agreement with Greenleaf Foods, SPC, a subsidiary of Canadian meat giant Maple Leaf Foods. According to Better Meat, the agreement will focus largely on product development.
Through the partnership, both companies will work together to explore the next generation of alt protein using Better Meat’s novel Rhiza mycoprotein ingredient.
“The Better Meat Co. opens up new opportunities for us to innovate with other potential protein sources”
Produced via fermentation, Rhiza mycoprotein is a sustainable, whole-food ingredient derived from the Neorospora crassa fungus, a species long used in parts of Asia to ferment soybeans for tempeh. According to Better Meat, Rhiza has a naturally meaty texture, with more protein than eggs and more iron than beef.
When used as an ingredient for plant-based meats, Rhiza can help to enhance texture, increase yields, and improve nutritional benefits.
Better Meat notes it is the only company working with Neorospora crassa mycelium for food, and the ingredient has the potential to make any manufactured product completely unique.
Re-investing in alt protein
Greenleaf’s partnership comes several months after parent company Maple Leaf Foods notably scaled back its investment in plant-based protein. In August, Maple Leaf announced it would reduce its plant-based Greenleaf division by 25% following a slowdown in sales.
Better Meat CEO Paul Shapiro said Greenleaf’s new partnership demonstrates the company is truly committed to advancing the field of alternative protein, reports Food Dive.
A growing portfolio
“We are looking forward to working with The Better Meat Co. as we continue exploring alternative protein ingredients to allow us to further diversify our portfolio of delicious, sustainably produced plant-based food,” said Jitendra Sagili, Chief R&D and Food Technology Officer at Greenleaf Foods.
He added, “Our current portfolio of over 50 plant-based items, which includes plant-based sausage, chicken, hot dogs, tempeh and cheese, primarily leverages soy and pea protein ingredients. Working with The Better Meat Co. opens up new opportunities for us to innovate with other potential protein sources.”
“A stellar partner”
Better Meat, which has raised $9.6M in funding, received its fourth patent for Rhiza mycoprotein in November. The company reveals that demand for Rhiza currently exceeds supply, and it is working on expanding its fermentation and manufacturing capabilities.
“Rhiza mycoprotein is a versatile ingredient for use both as a meat enhancer and meat replacer,” states Better Meat Co. Executive Vice President of Operations, Doni Curkendall. “Greenleaf Foods’ expertise in all things protein makes them a stellar partner to showcase this powerful ingredient that will help build an even more sustainable protein industry.”


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Stephen McPartland, Member of Parliament for Stevenage, has joined the board of Furniture Village as a non-executive director.
Stephen has been a consistent supporter of the work of The Furniture Ombudsman (headquartered within his Stevenage constituency), becoming chair of its board of directors in 2014. He also sits on a number of All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) – including acting as chairman of the Furniture Industry APPG – and, in this capacity, he will be officially opening the January Furniture Show at the NEC, Birmingham on Tuesday 13th January.
The Liverpool-born MP first met Furniture Village co-founder and CEO Peter Harrison at the House Of Commons in 2012, when the MP was a guest speaker at a lunch organised by City Of London Livery Company, The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers.
Peter Harrison comments: “We are delighted to welcome Stephen McPartland to our board, and look forward to benefitting from his insight and experience.
"Stephen is committed to maintaining the health and the high standards of our industry, being considered by many as its fiercest champion. At a time when Furniture Village has just experienced a record first full week of sale, Stephen’s support is a real endorsement of our business practices, and he brings a unique set of skills which will help ensure the company’s continued growth.”


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Is Copilot the best AI companion out there? Help us find out by answering a couple of quick questions!
We recently reported that NuAns is coming back with a new smartphone that’s “redesigned from zero”. As some of you predicted two weeks ago, NuAns’ upcoming smartphone actually runs Android instead of Windows 10 Mobile. This isn’t really surprising to see, considering the fact that NuAns recently expressed their disappointment with Windows 10 Mobile.
NuAns’ upcoming device is the NuAns Neo Reloaded and it isn’t anything substantially different from most other Android smartphones in the market. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- 5.2-inch Full-HD display
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 Octa Core processor (clocked at 2.02GHz)
- 3GB RAM
- 3450mAh battery
- Costs ¥49,800 (around $440)
Similar to the original NuAns Neo, the Reloaded comes with customizable back covers, which is what makes the device slightly different from the Android devices that are available right now. But to be brutally honest, NuAns’ latest smartphone likely won’t do too well in a market that’s really competitive nowadays thanks to companies like OnePlus, Huawei and Xiaomi. The OnePlus 3T, for comparison, costs around $440 too — but this device offers much better hardware than the NuAns Neo Reloaded.
NuAns choosing to go with Android instead of Windows 10 Mobile makes a lot of sense since the company’s first device didn’t succeed at all — but with the arguably poor specs of the Neo Reloaded, NuAns’ customizability offerings likely won’t be too attractive to most consumers in Japan.


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The athleisure trend is not just in fashion with today’s retail shoppers. It is a big hit on Wall Street too.
Athletic gear sold by companies like Nike have been a top performing segment in the broader retail and apparel categories, as Americans increasingly wear their running gear, yoga pants, and basketball shoes not just to-and-from the gym, but also around town. New fabrics and colorful prints and patterns have helped generate a whole new trendy term — “athleisure” — that describes athletic clothing that is also seen as trendy and fashionable.
Both Nike and retailer Finish Line reported stronger-than-expected sales and profits for their latest quarters, as they each benefit from the trend. Nike’s shares hit an all-time high on Friday as investors praised the company’s results.
Nike reported a 5% increase in revenue for the quarter ended May 31, but revenue increased a more impressive 13% excluding the stronger dollar. Notably, Nike’s sales grew 14% in North America and 17% in Western Europe. Analysts speculated that the company is continuing to take market share away from its top rival Adidas, which has been struggling to defend its turf in the German company’s Western Europe home market as well as in the critically important U.S. market.
“We believe Nike is continuing to take share from Adidas,” said Sterne Agee analyst Sam Poser. Adidas’s woes were chronicled in a recent Fortune magazine story.
Many athletic-gear makers saw their shares rise due to the strong activewear trend, which hasn’t shown any signs of weakness and in fact continues to accelerate. More retailers, including H&M and Urban Outfitters, have also expanded their sportswear assortments to tap into the trend, although pure-play apparel makers such as Nike, Under Armour, and Lululemon appear to have a greater advantage to boost sales because of the trend.
Analysts were encouraged that the good times for athletic gear will continue throughout the year. Nike said futures orders, which are a strong indicator of upcoming demand for its gear, were 13% higher than the same period a year ago.
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KMC Telecom has thrown its support behind Sen. Fritz Hollings' opening statement made at the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearings on proposed broadband legislation H.R. 1542.
The bill is known as the Tauzin-Dingell bill and the Internet Freedom and Broadband Deployment Act. It would change key tenets of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
KMC, a provider of fiber-based products based in Bedminster, NJ, is urging consumers across the U.S. to oppose the Tauzin-Dingell bill introduced by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Billy Tauzin and Rep. John Dingell. The bill retracts the key local telecommunications market opening requirements contained in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which paved the way for greater competition in local markets.
In his statements, Hollings dubbed the bill "The Local Competition Destruction Act."
"H.R. 1542 has been titled by its supporters as The Internet Freedom And Broadband Deployment Act," Hollings said. "But in fact, it has been mistitled. More accurately, this bill should be titled The Local Competition Destruction Act, because, make no mistake about it, this legislation would break faith with the market opening provisions of the 1996 Telecommunications Act and return consumers to the mercy of the Bell monopolies."
"Sen. Hollings has long been a champion of competition in the telecommunications industry, and he recognizes this legislation for what it is, an attempt by the Bells to exploit legitimate concerns about broadband to further their own interests in leveraging their dominate position in local telephone service into the new broadband market," says KMC Telecom President Roscoe C. Young II. "As Sen. Hollings correctly points out, the problem with broadband is not on the supply side, as the Bells would have you believe. Rather it is on the demand side, and Congress is already looking at several proposals to address this issue."
"What Tauzin-Dingell does is de-regulate the retail price of broadband services before there is effective competition," states Tricia Breckenridge, executive vice president of Industry Affairs at KMC Telecom. "And it kills off competitors by denying us access to the broadband connections to reach our customers. The result for consumers will be fewer Internet access options and higher prices."