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News reader company Flipboard buys rival Zite from CNN
(Reuters) - News reader company Flipboard said on Wednesday it has bought rival app Zite from CNN and struck a content partnership with the cable news network.
The deal is valued at $60 million, according to the CNN Money website. A CNN spokesman called the valuation "inaccurate" but declined to give details.
Time Warner Inc's (TWX.N) CNN bought Zite, a news reader application that aggregates content for tablets like Apple Inc's (AAPL.O) iPad in 2011, for around $20 million, according to reports at the time.
Flipboard co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Mike McCue said during a conference call with reporters that Zite's technology and recommendation engine, which helps readers discover content, were what drew Flipboard to the deal.
"We are going to integrate that technology into Flipboard," McCue said, adding that Zite will no longer be a stand-alone product.
As part of the deal, Flipboard will incorporate CNN content into its news reader and team up with the network to sell advertising.
The Flipboard app enables people to create and curate their own digital magazines or follow other people's magazines by areas of interest, incorporating a wide range of content, including Twitter and Facebook posts as well as traditional news articles.
Flipboard is free. The Palo Alto, California-based company makes money mainly from selling advertising.
It is one of the more popular news readers with more than 100 million users. Flipboard, however, faces competition from mobile news readers such as Circa and most recently Facebook Inc (FB.O), which launched its own magazine-like app called Paper.
(Reporting by Jennifer Saba in New York; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
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Here’s How to Get Tacos for Only $1.25 at Augusta’s El Agave
Augusta's renowned El Agave faced a setback this week due to issues with their sprinkler system, prompting a temporary closure.
However, true to its legendary status in Central Maine, the restaurant swiftly rebounded and resumed operations with gusto!
Not only has El Agave announced that their doors are reopened, but they're also dishing out an incredible taco deal that's too good to not take advantage of.
Right now for a limited time, El Agave is offering bean, chicken, or beef tacos for just $1.25 each. It's a steal!
I love El Agave's enchiladas and carne asada. They are mouthwatering!
As you step into the restaurant, you immediately become embraced by such a welcoming atmosphere that just draws you in. But it's not just the ambiance that makes El Agave shine; it's the food that steals the show.
The menu offers an array of dishes crafted with such care and using fresh, high-quality ingredients. From sizzling fajitas and savory enchiladas to crispy tacos and hearty burritos, there's something to please every person's likes.
To view their menu, head on over to their website.
20 New England Restaurants That Deserve to Be on Food Network
Gallery Credit: Megan

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The dance app TikTok has reached 2 billion downloads globally. The milestone was announced this weekend by an internet monitoring agency.
In a very short time, TikTok has spread like wildfire and gained a loyal following from dance and music enthusiasts.
TikTok is a social media platform that allows users to produce and share very short creative videos of 15 to 60 seconds.
TikTok started in China in 2016. It was called Douyin, which is still the Chinese name of the app.
The app was started by a company called Bytedance. This was founded in 2012 in China and is now the world’s most valuable startup with a valuation of over $75 billion.
Compared to other social platforms, TikTok has the youngest user base. Almost 70 percent of TikTok users are between 16 to 24 years old, which means that only 30 percent are 25+ years old.
Tiktok has an age rating of 13 years.


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Ballantine Communications Inc. this week is releasing the debut issue of Dorado, a Southwest-lifestyle magazine that is focusing initially on Texas distribution.
With a circulation of 50,000 copies, Dorado will hit mailboxes in upscale ZIP codes in the Austin, Dallas and Houston areas this week, along with distribution to Barnes & Noble and grocery chains Whole Foods and Sprouts. The magazine is also available in airports serving the three Texas cities.
BCI, parent company of The Durango Herald, has pursued additional revenue streams outside its traditional businesses under chief executive Doug Bennett. Dorado aims to interest Texas residents who have an affinity for traveling in the Southwest.
“We want to be all about what’s going on in the Southwest from an aspirational standpoint,” Bennett said.
The May/June issue has features on contemporary Navajo textiles, kayaking and climbing at Watson Lake in northern Arizona and home design in Telluride. The glossy, full-color magazine runs 80 pages.
“If you’re sitting in your office in Dallas, Texas, it makes it feel like you’re almost there,” Bennett said.
An annual subscription for six issues is $17.99. Single copies are $5.99. Dorado’s website – doradomagazine.com – is responsive to mobile devices. New content is added daily.
“It’s a full-blown package,” Bennett said. “It’s not just a print product; it’s not just a digital product.”
The magazine – whose tagline is “Refined living, Big adventures” – is a mix of luxury and outdoorsy lifestyles. The front cover shows a hiker descending into Arches National Park, while the rear cover is a full-page ad for a Santa Fe jeweler.
“Our guess was people who like high-level living in the Southwest also like all the outdoor activities,” said Chad Rose, publisher and senior vice president.
Bennett said he admires magazines such as Garden & Gun and Texas Monthly.
Not all types of print publications are in decline, said Rose: “Magazines that are about people’s passions and something they’re extremely interested in are doing very well. So are regional magazines, and we think we have both.”
Dorado will not immediately be available in Durango. It’s not intended as a local guide, Bennett said. Expect to read a lot about Southwest locales such as Moab, Utah; Sedona and Flagstaff, Arizona; and Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico.
“It’s about our region,” Bennett said. “It’s not about Durango, it’s not about the Four Corners. It’s about the whole Southwest region.”
Editor-in-chief Jeff Ficker in based in Phoenix. The magazine is printed by Quad/Graphics in Milwaukee.
Bennett hopes to expand distribution to California and the Midwest.
The first six issues will arrive in certain Texas mailboxes unsolicited. After a year, residents must subscribe to continue receiving Dorado.
“I’ve been really, really pleased with the excitement when people see it,” Bennett said. “They say, ‘Wow, this is a high-quality magazine and website.’”


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Fans of HBO’s hit Silicon Valley know of the New Internet as an idea that the Pied Piper team was developing as a way to take control away from centralized servers and put the power back in the hands of consumers and developers looking to create new value. What’s cool is that the “New Internet” is not a fictional idea, but a new reality being created by companies like Blockstack, a firm that consulted to the writers of the show.
This Tuesday, October 16 at 6pm, Blockstack Head of Growth Patrick Stanley will speak on the benefits and business models enabled via decentralized apps, also known as DApps. The title of the talk is: Business Models on the Decentralized #Internet Frontier. Please register here for what we expect to be an important discussion on blockchain, security, and the business opportunity in DApps.
WHIPGroup previously filed a Motion to Dismiss a patent infringement suit filed against its client TomTom in the Western District of Texas. Rather than opposing WHIPGroup’s motion to dismiss, Plaintiff MDSP Technologies LLC voluntarily dismissed [Read More…]
WHIPgroup succeeded in having anticipation and indefiniteness rejections overturned by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). The claimed invention relates to a sequencing station that manages both sequencing and restacking tasks. The Examiner had [Read More…]
WHIPGroup filed a Motion to Dismiss for improper venue in the Western District of Texas on behalf of its client TomTom North America, Inc. Plaintiff MDSP Technologies LLC alleges that TomTom North America, Inc. infringes [Read More…]


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Sonic at the Olympic Games on Mobile to Offer One-Time Payment for Contentby Tristan Oliver July 15, 2019
An interview published by Famitsu with Sonic at the Olympic Games director Eigo Kasahara reveals the mobile component of Sonic’s return to the Olympiad will come at a price–a one-time price.
As translated by Sonic JP News, the mobile game will follow a model different from past Sonic games on phones and more similar to Super Mario Run, where one area will be part of the initial free download, and the rest of the game can be unlocked with a flat, upfront fee. Says Kasahara:
The first area will be available for free. If players are interested in the rest of the game, they can buy the whole game with one-time purchase.
We don’t know what that price is yet, but according to Kasaharda, 15 games with extra courses, as well as additional mini-games will be part of the Mario-less mobile edition. Core characters such as Tails and Knuckles will also be playable. You can read the interview translated in English here.


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Ping! Zine Web Hosting Magazine has been publishing articles for the web hosting industry since 2002 and is now focused exclusively on web hosting, cloud, data center, AI, big data, cybersecurity, and more.
By Quincy Solano, Marketing Manager, Superb Internet Corp. Cloud hosting company, Superb Internet Corporation, was founded 22 years ago by current President and CEO, Haralds Jass, when he was just 16 years old. More than two decades in business have given Jass a powerful firsthand perspective on the Internet as… Read more
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Mark Gaydos, Chief Marketing Officer, Nlyte Software General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is Europe’s new data protection law that standardizes data protection across all 28 EU countries and imposes strict new rules on controlling and processing personally identifiable information (PII). The new mandate replaces the 1995 EU Data Protection Directive,… Read more
By Jason Tan, CEO, Sift Science Online businesses everywhere are going to be dealing with the effects of data breaches in the post-Equifax breach era. It’s a tough truth to swallow, but these large-scale data breaches have become a fact of life – and it’s not just the breached business… Read more
Mark Gaydos, Chief Marketing Officer, Nlyte Software In 2017, data center failures around the world became big news. The British Airways outage in May, which caused the cancellation of over 400 flights and stranded 75,000 passengers, cost the company an estimated $112 million in refunds and compensation. This doesn’t take… Read more
David Thomas, CEO of Evident ID After a busy year of increasing data breaches and threats to personal data across the globe, a major data privacy protection reform effort from the European Union is barreling down the pipeline. It’s an important step forward for consumers’ rights and safety; however, companies… Read more


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NZX-listed wool carpet manufacturer Bremworth has appointed Nicola Simpson as Chief Operating Officer (COO), as the company continues to focus on its growth programme across its domestic and international markets.
Nicola Simpson will join the company on 19 February.
In her role as COO, Nicola will have overall responsibility for all aspects of supply, planning, manufacturing, health and safety, people and sustainability to create alignment and focus and ensure our growth targets are achieved.
Nicola has previously held the position of Chief Operating Officer at Icebreaker Merino Clothing leading people and culture, sustainability, supply chain and manufacturing. In this role, she led the re-engineering of Icebreaker’s global supply chain while also establishing the world’s first 10-year merino grower contracts. She also spent a year leading the Merino European commercial business based out of Munich.
Nicola’s more recent roles included Chief People Officer at TVNZ and GM, Group People & Performance at Fletcher Building.
Greg Smith, CEO of Bremworth, says the appointment of a COO comes at a very significant time for the company, with Nicola’s depth of experience as COO and her broad exposure to a diverse range of businesses in New Zealand and abroad going to support our growth commitment and the execution of strategy.
For further information, please contact:
+64 21 711622


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At the end of last week, British indie game developers Nice Touch Games announced a Kickstarter campaign to bring their new military action title KILLSTORM to PC/Mac and mobile gaming devices.
Inspired by the isometric helicopter shooters of the 1990’s (think Desert Strike, Jungle Strike and Urban Strike) the retro action of KILLSTORM sees players take the seat of a lethally-armed, highly agile attack helicopter to strike against enemies in a re-imagining of a 16-bit classic. Missions will be many and varied with time of day changes and multiple environments allowing for desert, forest and ocean strike targets.
Nice Touch Games was started in 2011 by veteran AAA developers, Richard Bunn and David Green, who have worked on titles like Black, Burnout and 8 Days at some of the biggest companies in the industry including EA, Criterion and Sony Computer Entertainment.
The team chose Kickstarter because they want to build and engage a community of fans that will help shape KILLSTORM. Knowing how passionate many gamers are about retro titles, opening up the development process is an important factor in creating a high caliber video game that people want to play.
The Kickstarter campaign began on March 28th and will run for 30 days with the hopes of hitting a £10,000 goal. Reward tiers include a download of the game, early Beta access and exclusive Kickstarter backer-only content.
If you want to sample what KILLSTORM has to offer, you can even play a demo of the game on the Kickstarter page. You can also see what the gaming community are saying about the game on Steam Greenlight: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=244064924


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French telecoms distributor Groupe Avenir Telecom has launched Avenir Accessories in the UK in a bid to grab greater share of the UK’s mobile accessories market.
The move will result in Avenir Telecom UK’s accessories division, which experienced ‘phenomenal growth’ last year, setting itself up as a separate subsidiary. Accessories now account for approximately one in five of Avenir’s total sales.
The new company will be headed up by Avenir Telecom UK MD Andy Tow.
Speaking to Mobile, Tow said the move aims to capitalise on the rapid growth of its accessories business by giving it greater focus.
Tow added: ‘We launched the new business over the Christmas period. We have reached the stage where our accessories business is big enough to be a separate business in its own right. The division has experienced phenomenal growth and we are confident we will deliver even more growth this year, so we want to give it greater focus.’
Tow declined to reveal last year’s turnover for Avenir Telecom’s accessories business but said it was in line with the wider group’s turnover. He said: ‘To give you an idea, the accessories business for Europe will deliver a projected €100m turnover this year. Group turnover last year was €540m.’
Tow said the creation of Avenir Accessories will not create any disruption at Avenir Telecom UK, since the accessories business already has a dedicated sales and marketing team and is focused on different markets. ‘The accessories business is almost exclusively focused on the consumer market while Avenir Telecom is very much focused on the mobile and IT sectors and on the b2b market,’ he said.
The new company will start out with 12 dedicated staff but Tow said he wanted to add to the team during 2012. New products scheduled for release in 2012 include a range of mobile phone cases sporting the ‘Mini Cooper’ brand, which will arrive in March. The launch is aiming to capitalise on major UK events including the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations and the London 2012 Olympics.
Tow said: ‘We expect that line to do extremely well in 2012 with these events taking place. It is an iconic brand which is seen as very, very British.’
The company also recently clinched a deal with WESC to begin distributing its headphones from March this year. Tow said the launch will be backed by WESC’s UK marketing plans. He said: ‘This is an über cool brand and WESC is investing a lot of PR as it launches into the UK market.’
Avenir Accessories will also begin distributing the Olloclip, a 3-in-1 fish-eye, wide-angle and micro clip-on lens for the iPhone 4 and 4S. Other products set for launch include licensed items such as Manga-branded phone cases and Rebecca Bonbon – a sister product to Avenir’s Hello Kitty range of phone cases.
Tow said Avenir’s top selling accessory is currently the BeeWi helicopter, which operates through a Bluetooth connection on Android smartphones and iOS devices. The helicopter has been shortlisted in the Bluetooth awards at CES in Las Vegas this year.
Meanwhile, Avenir Accessories is planning to launch a new division concentrating on accessories for the cable market in 2012.
‘Paris in the Springtime’
Avenir Telecom has launched a new incentive scheme for dealers with Orange, T-Mobile and Nokia to mark the launch of the manufacturer’s flagship Lumia 800 device.
The incentive, dubbed ‘Paris in the Springtime’, offers dealers the chance to win French-themed prizes in return for points for making new Orange and T-Mobile business voice connections and selling Nokia handsets. Extra points will be given for each new Nokia Lumia 800 phone sold.
Avenir MD Andy Tow said: ‘This is the first incentive that Avenir Telecom has run jointly with Orange, T-Mobile and Nokia and we anticipate that it will provide our dealers with a great motivational start to 2012.’


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Some newspapers hate Google, so trust the Economist to be contrary and hire its executive chairman.
The Economist Group said that Eric Schmidt (pictured) had joined its board for a three-year term.
Schmidt is, of course, only the latest internet evangelist to get his hands grubby with news. Amazon’s Jeff Bezos paid $250m to buy the Washington Post, while eBay’s founder Pierre Omidyar is investing a similar amount in an investigative outlet to be fronted by Glenn Greenwald. Read more
The PlayStation 4 is a key element of Sony’s attempt at a turnaround under Sir Howard Stringer’s successor Kaz Hirai, and the first reviews are now in on the new console, which goes on sale in the US on Friday. Read more
Industry watchers scrutinise Apple announcements as hard as a customer might look at its high-resolution Retina displays, trying to see the individual pixels that are supposed to be indistinguishable to the human eye.
Thus, this morning’s announcement – that the iPad mini with its own new Retina display is now on sale – will be subject to the usual intense analysis. Read more
OMG! TXTING REVS TO FALL BY $23BN IN NXT 5YRS! Read more
There was plenty of self-congratulation going on between Twitter and its advisers on Thursday. They had just avoided a repeat of the messy Facebook IPO: Twitter is officially the new darling of Wall Street.
But did they err in the other direction instead and massively under-price the offering? Read more
Who says the PC is dead? Lenovo’s notebook sales rose 8 per cent year-on-year in the three months to September, a period when global industry shipments fell by 12 per cent.
Fiscal second quarter results on Thursday showed clearly that the Chinese company is not just the world’s biggest PC maker, it is also the only one that has its act together: Acer this week lost its second chief executive in three years, HP still has at least three years to go in its turnaround plan, and Dell has retreated from the public markets to nurse its wounds. Read more
Activision Blizzard’s $1bn number for sales of its latest Call of Duty game sounds impressive – at double the $500m in first-day sales it announced last year – but these figures have a hard-to-grasp ghost-like quality to them. Read more
A customer celebrates buying two new iPhone 5s at the Wangfujing flagship store in Beijing
When Xiaomi, a popular Chinese smartphone maker, overtook Apple’s market share in China the second quarter, the shift prompted a double take by consumers and investors who had never heard of the small but growing brand.
The ascent was short-lived. Apple’s two new iPhones have proved popular in China, enabling the US company to shoulder past Xiaomi in the market share rankings for the three months ended in September.
But Apple and everyone else are still miles behind the clear market leader — Samsung, which now has a fifth of China’s smartphone market, up from 14 per cent in the third quarter of last year. Read more
For the first time in eight years, almost the entire top management team at Samsung Electronics will present themselves on Wednesday before an audience of about 350 analysts and investors at Seoul’s Shilla Hotel.
The full-day event will feature addresses from eight executives, who will also take questions. Chairman Lee Kun-hee and his son, vice-chairman Jae-yong, will not be on stage – but this represents a rare opportunity for the audience to press senior figures about Samsung’s long-term strategy, writes Simon Mundy.
So what are the key questions surrounding the future of the world’s biggest technology company by sales? Read more
Rihanna gives away a personalised HTC phone on stage
How badly is smartphone maker HTC doing?
By many measures, very badly. October sales are down 13 per cent year on year. Revenue next quarter could be as low as NT$40bn, a third less than the same quarter last year and lower than analysts’ expectations. And after reporting its first ever quarterly operating loss as a company in the third quarter, it shows no sign of returning to profit in the fourth.
But one measure in particular, released today with its full third quarter results, shows the Taiwanese company’s travails — its accounts payable. That measures how long it is taking the company to pay its bills to its suppliers, who make the parts of its phones. Read more
Helpouts is just the kind of big, ambitious project Google should be working on. A marketplace for people to sell – or just donate – their knowledge and expertise through live video sessions, it’s an all-embracing platform covering everything from the simplest how-to advice to full, personalised masterclasses.
So why does it feel like a re-run of Knol, the crowd-sourced Google knowledge base that was closed in 2012 after a four-year run? Read more
Until Twitter revealed its list of principal shareholders in its initial public offering filing, few knew who actually owned the company.
But now a new book published on Tuesday reveals how three co-founders split the stock and why Evan Williams may be the only one to become a billionaire from the offering.
Google is constantly on the receiving end of patent lawsuits: its last annual report listed challenges to 13 of its services, including Android, YouTube and Chrome.
But when a claim comes along that’s aimed squarely at AdWords, the money-minting machine on which its entire fortune rests, it has a way of grabbing the attention – particularly when the case is launched by a consortium of tech companies that include Microsoft and Apple. Read more
The inventor of the 3D printed gun has trained his sights on Bitcoin, fronting a campaign to keep the virtual currency anonymous and beyond the reach of the authorities, writes Jane Wild.
Cody Wilson’s move hits back at efforts by the Bitcoin trade body, businesses and investors who have been working with officials mainly in the US to press for acceptance of virtual currencies and hasten their integration into mainstream financial systems. Read more
Facebook thoroughly beat expectations on the back of a rise in mobile user numbers as mobile advertising now contributes almost half of ad revenue. But the social network still failed to impress investors when it told them usage was declining among younger teens and warned the switch from adverts on the right rail to the newsfeed would slow in coming months. Facebook reported earnings of $0.25, far exceeding forecasts of around $0.19.
Here is how it happened: from the share price soaring in after hours trading to a new all-time high when traders saw the initial figures, to it falling back down rapidly during the earnings call. Tim Bradshaw and Hannah Kuchler brought you the live reaction and the all details from the call.
Say you’re a fairly aggressive taxi app company with a reputation for hiking prices at peak times and raising hundreds of millions of dollars to crush your competitors. What’s the one thing with enough internet love to offset your karma? That’s right: kittens.
And so it came to pass that Uber, “everyone’s private driver”, for one day only delivered kittens and cupcakes. And the internet said it was good. Even for $20 for 15 minutes of “snuggles”. Read more


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By S. Nicholas
Japan’s Ministry of Finance released the country’s Merchandise Trade Balance figures for March, which indicate a fall in exports by 2.2 percent compared to a year earlier. This was the first annual decline in 16 months, after an earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis damaged factory output and crippled supply chains.
The decline in exports was worse than the expected 1.5 percent annual decline and followed a 9.0 percent rise in the year to February. Data showed that automobile exports in particular were affected, underlining the extent of the damage wrought by the disaster on March 11.
Meanwhile, imports rose 11.9 percent in the year to March, more than a 6.0 percent rise that was forecast, compared with a revised 10.0 percent increase in February. The trade balance was a surplus of 196.5 billion yen (USD2.38 billion). That compared with the median forecast for a surplus of 493.6 billion yen.
Economists predict Japanese exports are likely to decline in the near future which could push the country’s trade balance into a deficit as companies struggle to cope with a shortage of electricity and parts needed to manufacture their goods.
The cost of material damage alone from last month’s quake and tsunami has been estimated at USD300 billion, making it the world’s most costly natural disaster. About 14,000 people have been confirmed dead and tens of thousands made homeless.
After the release of the news, USDJPY jumped by 14 pips, peaking at 82.86. EURJPY rose almost 20 pips to hit a high of 119.05.


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I can hardly believe my eyes, but the WSJ and Reuters are reporting that JetBlue is offering Wi-Fi on it's flights December 11th, 2007. But wait a minute. The service will be able to "support the entire plane" but don't expect YouTube out yet. The biggest catch is that only Yahoo Mail and IM on lappies, and Wi-Fi enabled RIM phones like th 8820 and 8320 will be capable of using the link.
That's on one flight, "JetBlue Flight 641, will depart from New York's Kennedy Airport at 8 a.m. Tuesday, bound for San Francisco." And after that, she will be a needle in a haystack, impossible to find as it travels from port to port to port. At least it is a step in the right direction. [WSJ]


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We’ve been covering The Industry a lot lately, but that’s only really because they’re up to a lot of awesome stuff. And their fundraising model involves getting Würstkuche’s downtown location to donate at least 10% of income from 6 til 10 pm this Sunday, March 22. Plus artistic director Yuval Sharon and co. will be there, presumably drinking beer and eating sausage and fries.
I’m gonna come out and say it: Würstkuche’s truffle fries are the best fries in LA.
In addition, they’ve just released a trailer for the opera, which premieres in fall. Check it out.
Here’s a picture of the aforementioned truffle fries.


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Japanese researchers have developed a new type of lithium-ion conductor that could help prevent the kind of lithium-ion battery fires that grounded the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft last year.
The UBR-1 is a 4-foot tall, one-armed robot that could make warehouses and factories more efficient by performing tasks normally done by human workers.
Anticipating a storage crunch spurred by big data, IBM and Fujifilm are advancing the state of art in magnetic tape with a prototype capable of storing 85.9 billion bits of data per square inch.
What would "Alice in Wonderland" sound like if it were set to music? And what if the composer were a computer?
You might think twice about buying produce from Japan's Fukushima, where a tsunami-hit nuclear power plant spewed radiation.
What do you get when you combine an Oculus Rift virtual reality headset, a Kinect motion tracking sensor, multiple computers and a video game from the 1980s? PaperDude VR, a project presented at the Computer Human Interaction conference in Toronto th...
Microsoft's research division has developed a keyboard that can interpret basic hand gestures, potentially bridging a gap between touch devices and more traditional input methods.
Using a home inkjet printer, special ink and photo paper, scientists from Microsoft Research have created what they hope will be the future for fabricating basic electronics. Presented at CHI 2014 in Toronto, the project uses "circuit stickers" which...
This week on World Tech Update we take you inside the New York Auto Show, where BMW introduced its X5 eDrive concept car.
Planet Labs, a satellite imaging startup formed by ex-NASA engineers, has applied for permission to more than double the number of satellites it has in orbit.
A Space X Falcon rocket lifted off Friday afternoon for the International Space Station (ISS) from the Cape Canaveral Air Station in Florida.
This week on World Tech Update, Google confirmed its acquisition of drone maker Titan Aerospace, a move poised to advance delivery of the company's data services and mapping applications.
Just down the street from a cluster of venture capital firms on Silicon Valley's Sand Hill Road is the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, a sprawling, 426-acre site where researchers are pushing the boundaries in physics, chemistry and materials s...
Lego-like parts that will form the building blocks for Google's Project Ara will be produced on 3D printers and ship in time for the customizable smartphone's release early next year.
Users of satellite navigation systems around the world were experiencing problems this week after Russia's Glonass satellite positioning system was hit by a major disruption.
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Data in the News – February 2020
As of January 31st the United Kingdom left the European Union. A questions on the lips of many is “what is the impact of Brexit on GDPR”?
Nothing changes overnight. The UK is now in a transition period and has until 31 December 2020 to negotiate its future relationship with the EU. During the transition period, EU laws, including the EU GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) will continue to apply in the UK.
What happens after the transition period is clearly explained by IT Governance;
“The EU GDPR will no longer apply directly in the UK … However, UK organisations must still comply with its requirements after this point. This is because the DPA 2018 enacts the EU GDPR’s requirements in UK law. The UK government has issued a statutory instrument – the Data Protection, Privacy and Electronic Communications (Amendments etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. This amends the DPA 2018 and merges it with the requirements of the EU GDPR to form a data protection regime that will work in a UK context after Brexit. This new regime will be known as ‘the UK GDPR’.”
There is very little material difference between the EU GDPR and the proposed UK GDPR. So, organisations that process personal data should continue to comply with the requirements of the EU GDPR.
In spite of the legal stance laid out above, UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has said the UK will seek to diverge from EU data protection rules and establish their own ‘sovereign’ controls in the field. His comments came despite the EU affirming that the UK should “fully respect EU data protection rules.”
In a written statement to the House of Commons published on 3rdFebruary, the Prime Minister said that the United Kingdom will “develop separate and independent policies” in a range of fields, including data protection, adding that the government would seek to maintain high standards in so doing.
Moreover, speaking to reporters on Monday, Johnson said that the UK has no need to bind itself to an agreement with the EU. “We will restore full sovereign controls over our borders, immigration, competition, subsidy rules, procurement, data protection,” he said.
EU Startups reports that UK startup Mine, the first company to ever give people back ownership of their personal data online, has launched in the UK after raising a €2.7 million seed round backed by Battery Ventures and Saban Ventures. The tech startup empowers users to discover what the internet knows about them, as well as giving users a choice where their data should or shouldn’t be.
Founded in 2019, Mine’s mission is to build a new global privacy standard by helping people worldwide to make more informed choices about their personal data while enjoying the wonderful internet. The AI-based platform enables every digital user to discover, understand and effectively manage what the internet knows about them: their digital footprint, which has been left from signing up to online services and downloading apps, to making online purchases.
Mine then gives users ownership over their data by leveraging global privacy regulations, specifically the GDPR “right to be forgotten” clause, which allows users to request that online services delete their data. For an everyday person, there is no simple way to enforce the “right to be forgotten” which is one of the key reasons why Mine was built. If a user wants a digital service to forget them, Mine sends a reclaim request to each company on the users’ behalf, asking them to delete all records of the person’s data from their systems.
Organisers of the RideLondon cycling event are "urgently looking into" a data breach involving potential participants' personal details.
It is unclear how many applicants have been affected by the issue which saw entrants receive other people's ballot results. The events, due to be held in August, is open to 80,000 applications and last year 28,032 riders completed it.
Prudential RideLondon has apologised for the error, which has seen envelopes addressed to competitors containing letters which contained someone else's full name, address and date of birth.


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China’s largest retailer Alibaba Group Holding has joined SoftBank to invest 15 billion India rupee (US$222 million) in Indian e-commerce platform Paytm Mall, as part of the 30 billion India rupee funding commitment initially announced in April, according to Indian local media reports.
The deal values Paytm Mall, owned by Paytm E-Commerce Private Ltd, between US$1.6 billion to US$2 billion, two people familiar with the matter told Indian local media.
In a regulatory filing accessed by Indian media, Paytm Mall raised the fund from Alibaba.com Singapore Ecommerce Private Ltd. and two entities of SoftBank, Softbank U.K. arm and SB Investment Holdings (UK) Ltd. SoftBank invested 13.4 billion India rupee (US$198 million) while Alibaba contributed 1.67 billion India rupee (US$24.68 million) in Paytm Mall.
SoftBank looks to take up a 21% stake in the company, while Alibaba will hold 46% in the company after the completion of the investment.
The investment saw SoftBank’s managing partner Kabir Misra joining Paytm Mall’s board, while Michael Evans, president of Alibaba, stepped down from its board.
In the year ended 31 March, 2017, Paytm Mall reported 136.3 million Indian rupee (US$2 million) loss on total sales of 73.5 million Indian rupee (US$1.1 million) .
Alibaba has been expanding its investments in Southeast Asia to create a new growth engine. In January, Alibaba was reportedly near investing US$100 million in Indian logistics company XpressBees in exchange for a significant minority stake. One month later, Alibaba invested US$200 million in Indian food delivery firm Zomato Media Private Ltd.


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According to co-founder Peter Gray, Australian buy now pays later (BNPL) firm Zip wants to enable cryptocurrency trading for its customers.
Gray highlighted how cryptocurrency trading using Zip digital wallets had been one of the most requested new product features from users. However, he did not go into further details about how the trading would work.
Cryptocurrency trading aspirations
Zip said it would likely launch the new service in Australia and the United States in the year. With sales in the U.S. driving fourth-quarter growth in 2020, it’s soon set to become Zip’s biggest market by volume.
BNPL companies enable retailers to offer their customers more flexible payment options, similar to layaway. Zip is eager to close ranks with bigger rivals Afterpay and Klarna, as they expand into more countries and plot new offerings. Earlier this month, Afterpay said it would launch a banking app in October.
The BNPL sector has been increasingly attracting higher-profile names like PayPal and reportedly Apple. The influx of big-name platforms demonstrates the popularity the sector accrued over the pandemic. “We know our younger generation of customers seek additional products and services that are relevant to them,” Gray said.
Gray said that Zip would soon offer a broader range of products such as budgeting tools for its users. These will likely be launched in Australia first, due to the maturity of the market there. For instance, around 30% of adults have a BNPL account.
Zip also announced that its U.S. unit, Quadpay, would be rebranded and consolidated under the single Zip brand name. The company’s bid to purchase Quadpay in the U.S. last year was only the beginning of Zip’s global expansion. This momentum is still picking up pace with deals for firms in Europe and the Middle East.
Despite doubling its fourth-quarter volume and revenue, shares of Zip fell 7% after missing some analysts’ expectations. Group transaction volumes reached A$1.76 billion ($1.29 billion) in Q2. However, this was shy of UBS and RBC Capital Markets estimates, even as U.S. volumes quadrupled.
All the information contained on our website is published in good faith and for general information purposes only. Any action the reader takes upon the information found on our website is strictly at their own risk.


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One of the best ways to support me and my Ovarian Cancer journey is to support those organizations that work on the disease’s platforms of awareness, funding, and legislation. An easy way for fashionistas to get in the fight is to support Super Saturday! And this year, it’s happening in Vegas, Baby!
Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF) will bring their popular Super Saturday shopping event to The Venetian, The Palazzo and Grand Canal Shoppes Las Vegas. The annual event, which New York Newsday called the ‘hottest summer event in the Hamptons,’ will launch in Vegas Sept. 18- 20, 2015.
The exclusive Las Vegas weekend will boast an assortment of special retail incentives and activities from a variety of the 160-plus luxury brands and dining establishments. The three-day extravaganza will showcase signature shopping experiences and packages including one-on-one styling appointments guided by A-list celebrities, an insider’s guide to fall fashion showcasing the best of the best in the industry, VIP cocktail receptions, lipstick readings, star-studded culinary delights, and much more.
“We are thrilled to bring OCRF’s Super Saturday to the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian and Palazzo Las Vegas. Their support of OCRF’s research programs will further propel us in our fight to find a cure for ovarian cancer,” says Audra Moran, President & CEO, Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.
“Vegas is the ultimate fashion destination. It’s the only place in the world where you can shop every top designer and brand in one central location,” says Janet LaFevre, Senior Marketing Manager Grand Canal Shoppes and Fashion Show. “Being able to bring Super Saturday to Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian and The Palazzo gives our guests a chance to enjoy incredible shopping, dining, and entertainment all while contributing to a significant cause. We are elated to announce this partnership and first-ever Vegas location.”
OCRF’s Super Saturday is a designer shopping extravaganza held annually in the Hamptons, Los Angeles, and now Las Vegas. In 2014, more than 2,000 people attended Super Saturday events in LA and New York. Special guests included celebrities, influencers, designers, media, supporters and their families, and fashion lovers. The Hamptons event has been hosted by Kelly Ripa and Donna Karan while the LA event was hosted by Rachel Zoe, Rodger Berman, Molly Sims and Scott Stuber.
Past Super Saturday participants have included Versace, Rolls-Royce, Valentino, Diane von Furstenberg, Tesla, Theory, Alice + Olivia, Helmut Lang, Ralph Lauren, rag & bone, Vince, and Kate Spade.
Ovarian Cancer Research Fund is the largest and oldest U.S. charity funding research on ovarian cancer. All of the proceeds from Super Saturday sales go toward funding OCRF’s programs, including vital ovarian cancer research by the nation’s top scientists as they seek to end this terrible disease.


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Southwest Florida has a new player in the solar energy industry. Florida Solar East LLC Solar Panel Design Specialists (FSDG) offers solar energy consulting, design, and sales serving Florida alternative energy seekers. FSDG will be serving as a sales agency for Fafco Solar, a solar contractor that has been serving Southwest Florida for over 40 years. The consulting firm will provide services related to the sale, installation, and post-sale support of solar energy systems including solar electricity (photovoltaic), solar pool heating, and solar water heating systems.
The Florida Solar East LLC Solar Panel Design Specialists is owned by Jason Szumlanski and Dominick Zito, who have each been employed by Fafco Solar for over five years. Szumlanski and Zito have pooled resources and knowledge to open Florida Solar East LLC Solar Panel Design Specialists with the aim of providing expert education, technical services, and sales support to end consumers. Szumlanski, formerly VP/GM at Fafco Solar, is the Principal Solar Designer, providing technical sales and installation support. Zito, formerly Sales Manager at Fafco Solar, is the Principal Solar Consultant, focusing on education, solution identification, and sales.
“We are excited to start providing expert-level services to consumers seeking solar energy solutions for their homes and businesses,” said Szumlanski. “Solar energy is practical and cost effective in Florida, and we want to help educate consumers and deliver results based on their goals, which typically include financial, environmental, and quality of life priorities.”
Zito added, “The demand for solar energy products in Florida is unquestionable. Solar energy provides an exciting alternative to traditional electricity, pool heating, and water heating sources, and there is no market with more opportunity for growth than Florida.”
The firm will be opening it’s doors on January 1, 2015 in a location yet to be determined, and will primarily serve customers at their homes and businesses by appointment. Florida Solar East LLC Solar Panel Design Specialists will employ unparalleled professional staff and technology tools to deliver outstanding services with local expertise among the players in the industry.


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Elon Musk’s Tesla has stunned pundits by selling 241,300 electric cars in the US — a total of 102,000 more vehicles than the same quarter last year.
It’s the most Tesla has ever sold in a quarter. The company sold 367,500 in all of 2019.
Despite the wider trend of declining sales brought on by the global chip shortage, Tesla managed to deliver more vehicles once again despite the fact that major automakers saw huge drops this past quarter.
General Motors, the largest automaker in the US, said Friday morning that it only sold 446,997 vehicles in the third quarter — a 33 percent drop from the same period last year.
Tesla has avoided similar problems in part because it has been sourcing different semiconductors and rewriting software on the fly to make those chips work in place of the ones not currently available.
“Our delivery count should be viewed as slightly conservative, as we only count a car as delivered if it is transferred to the customer and all paperwork is correct. Final numbers could vary by up to 0.5 percent or more,” the company said in a statement.
Strong Tesla car sales in China
Beyond that, the company continues to see strong sales in China, where it started making and selling vehicles in early 2020. The Model Y SUV has also become a popular option in the United States, and Tesla just started selling them in Europe, too.
Tesla’s web site still lists its headquarters as being in Palo Alto, Calif., but Elon Musk moved to Texas last year and the company is building a new factory in the Austin area.
Elon Musk’s electric vehicle maker now produces cars at its Shanghai plant, and U.S. factory in Fremont, California, while continuing to produce batteries domestically with Panasonic at their sprawling facility outside of Reno, Nevada.
During the period ending September 30, 2021, Tesla began to ship some lithium iron phosphate batteries from China to be used in Model 3 vehicles made for customers in the U.S.
Tesla also temporarily suspended some operations at its vehicle assembly plant in Shanghai, where it makes cars for customers in China and Europe. The halts were attributed to a global semiconductor shortage, which has posed a challenge to Tesla all year, and plagued the entire auto industry.
Tesla is also planning to host its annual shareholder meeting at its plant, now under construction, near Austin on October 7. Musk previously threatened to move Tesla’s headquarters out of California in the spring of 2020 when the state’s Covid-related health orders required Tesla’s Fremont factory to temporarily suspend operations for a few weeks.
At the time, California Gov. Gavin Newsom told CNBC he was “not worried about Elon leaving any time soon,” and voiced support for Tesla.
Electric car sales in Norway nearly 80 percent up
Reuters reports, that demand for Tesla Inc’s mid-sized models helped push up electric car sales in Norway to nearly 80 percent of total car sales last month, data showed on Friday.
The country has been a global leader in switching to electric vehicles and seeks to become the first to end the sale of petrol and diesel engines by 2025.
Battery electric vehicles made up 77.5 percent of all new cars in September, the Norwegian Road Federation (OFV) said, up from 61.5 percent a year ago.
Tesla Model Y, a compact sports utility vehicle, was the top selling vehicle with 19.8 percent of the car market followed by the company’s Model 3 sedan with 12.3 percent.
Tesla branching out into Greece
The promising new development comes following the Greek government’s announcement that a new series of measures will be implemented to further enhance the use of electric vehicles. Protocols for this incentive include subsidies for the purchase of electric vehicles, including cars and bicycles.
Tesla’s renewed involvement with Greece is a continuation of other encouraging developments over the last several years, with the company forging ties with the country as early as 2018, with a research hub based in Democritus developed during that time.


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The search engine giant, Google, is hosting an event on the 29th of this month, and the whole world is waiting to see what will be announced at the event. We know that there will be a Nexus device along with the next generation Android, which is expected to be Android 4.2 (and for those who have been waiting eagerly to know the alternate name of the version, its Key Lime Pie, the next alphabet after ICS).
But we do not actually know what all will be announced at the event, yet. Today, The Next Web has published a write up in which it refers a source with knowledge, which has given some insight into what will be unveiled at the 29th October event. And if you want to know, read on.
To begin with, Google will introduce Android 4.2, also known as Key Lime Pie. And along with a new version of the operating system, you can always expect a new Nexus device. And that is where the LG manufactured Nexus device comes in. That will probably the most rumoured LG Nexus 4. Also, there is a rumor that says Google will release a 32 GB version of the Nexus 7, which will for sure make a lot of Nexus 7 users happy. And these tablets will also offer HSPA+.
The source has also indicated that Samsung will be releasing a 10 inch tablet, which is codenamed Manta, and this is expected to be Nexus 10. But the most attractive of all the announcements will be the LG Nexus 4, which is expected to come out with a quad core 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Pro processor and a 4.7 inch display. The smart phone is going to offer a lot of space for processes with 2 GB of RAM, and 16 GB of internal storage. And of course, this smart phone will be running the new Key Lime Pie.
Source: Daily Mobile


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The BBC’s Julia Caesar explores working from home on BLT, business, lifestyle and technology.
Being a working parent can be really hard work, yet with all this technology that surrounds us, it’s now easier than ever to run a successful business from home and in fact a growing number of women are doing just that.
Female entrepreneurs account for £4.4 billion of sales a year in the UK alone, that’s according to LSE and – In the US, Female start-ups account for $3 trillion worth of business
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text: LATEST: Robert De Niro is not looking to sell his stake in celebrity sushi chain Nobu, restaurant bosses have confirmed. The actor teamed up with famed chef NOBUYUKI MATSUHISA to open sixteen locations of the posh eatery in cities such as South Beach, Florida, Malibu, California, Tokyo, Japan and Las Vegas, Nevada, and the company is now seeking to expand even further. However, Matsuhisa denies The Deer Hunter star is tempted to cash out his share of the business while profits are soaring, insisting, "Bob is one of us and will remain one of us." Managing Partner RICHIE NOTAR adds, "It's just rumours that have got out of hand - we were looking to fortify the company with capital and it was suggested we sell the brand but we decided not to take that advice. "The trouble is, someone reported it as fact and everybody picked up on it. Bob is one of us and we are not selling." Nobu chiefs confirmed De Niro would be on hand to open a Hong Kong branch of the restaurant in November (06).


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BEIJING — To better understand and predict China, we need to pay attention to six major factors shaping the country: urbanization, Chinese consumers, manufacturing scale, money, brainpower and the Internet, according to two Peking University professors.Speaking to a group of journalists in Beijing on Friday, Jeffrey Towson and Jonathan Woetzel, professors at Peking University's Guanghua School of Management, said moving from farm to factory will triple the average income for the urban Chinese. Over the next decade, China plans to move 250 million rural dwellers to the city. Woetzel said Chinese migration will drive 70 percent of urban population growth by 2025. By this time, there will be over a billion urban Chinese.China's urbanization plan will also help spur domestic consumption.RELATED STORY: Chinese Exports, Imports Drop >>"U.S. consumers are 68 or 69 percent of the US's GDP. In China, it's 20 or 30 percent. If the U.S. consumer drove the last century's economy globally, Chinese consumers will drive it the next 20 to 50 years. It's the biggest economic force that we know of," said Towson, who along with Woetzel, wrote the "The One Hour China Book." In the the next 10 to 15 years, 50 percent of the world's middle class will be Asian, particularly Chinese, he said.China is unlike any emerging market, said Towson, who was nicknamed by Time magazine as the "Arabian Warren Buffet" when he was head of direct investments Middle East, North Africa and Asia for Prince Al Waleed of Saudi Arabia."In 1980, India and China's GDP per capita were about the same. You look at China's GDP growth from 2011 to today, just the growth, it's bigger than the entire Indian economy," Towson said."Most emerging economies are non-functional bureaucracies … they can't make a decision, they don't do anything," he said, explaining that China has its set of problems such as bad debt, but decisions are being made and the infrastructure is being built. As some of China's manufacturers fight to survive, Towson said now is time to "get smart" and upgrade."[Manufacturers] have the hardware, now they need the software," he said."Chinese manufacturers have two main problems — they're export driven and that's been slowing. Two, their input costs are going up, their labor costs is going up, especially because a lot of these factories are based on the East coast," Towson said, warning that the era of cheap growth is over and now manufacturers are facing profitless growth with rising inputs and slowing revenue.As a solution, Towson said there needs to be a shift in productivity, moving away from labor intensity to increasing brainpower.Every year, China pumps out 7 million new college graduates, according to Woetzel."You got to have smarter workers, it's not about the cheapest anymore. You got to have machines, robots, management expertise," Towson said, explaining that companies are getting creative, moving their factories inland and opening R&D centers."Cheap labor got the ball rolling for China 10 to 15 years ago, but now it's about scale and brainpower, not cost," Towson said. "It's like what Warren Buffet calls 'survival of the fattest,' when you get to a certain scale, your fixed cost is a percentage of your overall cost — you can outspend everybody."
La Double J made a name for itself with its vintage-inspired prints, but for resort, designer JJ Martin has ventured into new territory: enter rich jewel toned solids and decadent embellishment, in the form of appliqués, crystals and sequins. #wwdfashion #resort19 #ladoublej
This Just In: J. Crew Group has named Johanna Uurasjarvi as its chief design officer.
Uurasjarvi succeeds Somsack Sikhounmuong, who left the company last September. Tap the link in bio for the full report. #wwdnews
“She came into my hotel room and she was like, ‘I have Chanel and Christian Dior.’ She was like, ‘Chanel likes you.’ And I was like, ‘I’m going to start crying,’” breakout star Maddie Hasson tells WWD of her styling sessions Molly Dickson. “I really like classic, elegant things. I love the way Anna Wintour dresses.” Read more about Hasson’s role in @impulseseries on wwd.com. (📸: @jgreenery ) #wwdeye
@virgilabloh revealed he's working with Australian stylist and
Vogue Australia fashion director @christinecentenera for his debut @louisvuitton men's collection, which will be presented in Paris on June 21. Centenera met Abloh while both working with Kanye West, where she consulted on his all his runway collections since his debut spring 2012 women's wear show. Read the full story on WWD.com. #wwdfashion #wwdnews (📷: @asussmanphoto)
"In order for Shudu to wear garments, she needs to be able to put them on, just like you would in the real world. You have to digitize the outfits," said Cameron-James Wilson on dressing 3-D model @shudu.gram for her WWD photoshoot with @itsclo3d. #wwdfashion (📸: @cjw.photo)
“Shudu is a digital supermodel, a very glamour and amazing woman. But she’s 3-D,” says Cameron-James Wilson, a fashion photographer and the creature of @shudu.gram. Here, Shudu wears @cushnieetochs for her debut fashion editorial. #wwdfashion (📷: @cjw.photo)
“It is the fierce female performances that came before me that made be able to clearly identify for myself what it was that I wanted to do, what kind of artist I wanted to be, what kind of films I wanted to make,” said @brielarson at the Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards. See more pictures from the event on WWD.com. #wwdeye (📷: Matt Baron)


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By Myra P. Saefong, MarketWatch
Lean hog futures rallied Thursday, with a jump in U.S. pork exports to China contributing to a more than 60% year-to-date climb in prices, which are near their highest levels since 2014.
U.S. Department of Agriculture export sales numbers for hogs released early Thursday were “massive,” said John Payne, senior broker at Daniels Trading in Chicago. The USDA pegged net U.S. pork sales at 90,700 metric tons for the March 29 to April 4 period, with China buying 77,700 metric tons.
“This [is] the largest number we have seen in a long while, almost four [times] larger than where they opened the week prior,” he said in emailed comments. “News out of China continues to be supportive for pork prices as it was reported last night through CPI numbers that prices are higher by 5% in the last month.”
Demand from China is surging as African swine fever, a contagious disease that is nearly 100% fatal for domestic and wild pigs, has decimated that country’s hog herds.
In Thursday dealings, lean hogs for June delivery , the most-active contract, rose 2.2 cents, or 2.3%, to 98.68 cents a pound in Chicago after trading as high as 99.45 cents. A settlement above the 98.975-cent settlement from April 5 would be the highest since Sept. 18, 2014, based on the most-active contracts, according to Dow Jones Market Data. Prices have climbed by more than 11% month to date and soared by more than 60% for the year so far.
“Lean hog prices have been very volatile over the last month or so as [African Swine Fever] decimates hog herds in China and other Asian nations,” Will Rhind, chief executive officer of ETF issuer GraniteShares, told MarketWatch. “The lean hogs futures contract has been limit up or down seven times since March 15, with five of those seven times limit up.”
“China is the largest global consumer of pork, producing and consuming about half of all pork in the world,” he said. “As a result of the swine fever epidemic, it has culled a very large number of hogs, depleting its supply and necessitating imports. Lean hog prices have reacted accordingly.”
Rhind said he believes the latest weekly pork purchase by China is a record. The purchase comes despite China’s hefty tariffs on imports of the commodity from the U.S.
So far this year, the U.S. has shipped 46,400 metric tons of pork to China versus 15,600 this time last year, said Ned Schmidt, editor of the Agri-Food Value View, an investment newsletter for agriculturally produced commercial food. China has orders for another for another 96,500 metric tons versus 4,900 last year, he added.
“What is important is the hog population cannot expand immediately to meet that demand,” he said. It “takes 114 days, or almost four months, for sow to give birth to a piglet—and then the piglet has to be fattened.”
With African Swine Fever in China “a major problem, Chinese demand is pushing U.S. prices up,” he said. “From 52-week lows, both pork and hogs have doubled in price.”
“With no cure available for ASF, Chinese demand for U.S. pork could be huge,” Schmidt said. And “to raise a hog one has to be fed grains. So, demand for grains is going to expand.”


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Japan's economy grew 0.5 percent in the third quarter from the previous one, slowing from a 0.9 percent expansion in the April-June period amid weakness in exports and as consumer spending eased, data on Thursday showed.
On an annualized basis, Japan's economy grew 1.9 percent, just above expectations for a rise of 1.7 percent.
(Read more: Japan set for third-quarter blip but won't last long)
Japan has pumped money into its economy this year and embarked on aggressive monetary stimulus to end deflation and revive the growth prospects for the world's third largest economy.
(Read More: Will 2% inflation be enough for Japan?)
Martin Lakos, division director at Macquarie Private Wealth, pointed out that although the Q3 number was a decline on the previous quarter, it still beat expectations.
"You've got this Japanese GDP data coming through, and I know it's only one quarter but it's beat expectations. Maybe this tenacious move by Abe and the Bank of Japan is starting to gain some traction," he said.
Takuji Okubo, principal, chief economist at Japan Macro Advisors told CNBC Asia's "Squawk Box that sluggish growth in the global economy was likely to continue to take its toll on Japan in the coming quarters.
"The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has been downgrading the global growth for the past one-and-a-half years. So it will be difficult even with a weak yen for Japan to increase their volumes [of exports]," he said.
(Read More: Is the euro zone at risk of Japan style deflation?)


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McKinney-based Bernard's Gourmet Foods has been named a finalist as part of H-E-B’s fifth annual Quest for Texas Best, a statewide search for new products to add to the San Antonio-based grocer’s shelves.
Out of nearly 700 entries, 25 entrepreneurs made it to the final round, which involves presenting their creations to a panel of judges, who will assess quality, marketability and product readiness.
Four winners will be announced Aug. 10 at the Central Texas Food Bank in South Austin. The first-place winner will receive $25,000 and a product order from H-E-B; three more runners-up will also receive cash prizes.
Bernard's Gourmet Foods began in 2016 and makes a variety of all-natural gourmet roasted salsas, including Tomato y Chipotle and Mango Pineapple y Habanero. Bernard's salsas can be found at farmers markets, the McKinney Wine Merchant, Essentialz Market & Cafe and Loco Cowpoke Salsa Shop.
“Each year keeps us on our toes with innovative products, and this year is no exception,” said James Harris, H-E-B’s director of Diversity and Inclusion and Supplier Diversity, in a July 23 news release. “We are proud to continue a program that gives small-business owners the opportunity to share their pride and joy with H-E-B shoppers across the state.”
Seven Austin artisans have also been named finalists, including Barbecue Wife, 38 Pecans and Mmmpanadas.
McKinney's Bernard's Gourmet Foods named finalist in H-E-B’s Quest for Texas Best
Bernard's Gourmet Foods is one of 25 businesses that made it to the final round of H-E-B's Quest for Texas Best.


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Tesla CEO Elon Musk could be getting some good news on the regulatory front, following weeks for bad headlines for him and his EV company.
Earlier this month, the European Union officially announced a probe into China-manufactured electric cars, alleging that the vehicles had received unfair state subsidies. European officials and carmakers are worried that Chinese manufacturers are ready to drown the market in cheap EVs, unfairly muscling out local carmakers as they try to catch up. Tesla, despite being a U.S. carmaker, manufactures half of its cars in its massive Shanghai factory, many of which are bound for Europe, potentially putting the company at risk of getting swept up in the probe.
Yet Musk may be escaping Europe’s regulatory scrutiny, at least for now. The U.S. carmaker is not being investigated by regulators over market-distorting subsidies, reports the South China Morning Post. The EU is instead reportedly focusing on three Chinese manufacturers, namely BYD, SAIC Motor and Geely.
Tesla has enough problems to worry about.
The EV maker reported weaker-than-expected third quarter earnings on Oct. 18, including a 44% year-on-year decline in net income to $1.85 billion. Tesla also reported its lowest quarterly earnings per share in two years. Musk, during the earnings call, warned that the company might not be able to sell its hotly-anticipated, yet long-delayed, Cybertruck at a price affordable to most consumers.
The company also confirmed earlier this week that it was facing several probes from the U.S. Department of Justice, focusing on the advertised range of its vehicles and the possible misuse of personal benefits for Musk.
Tesla faces fierce competition in China, the world’s largest EV market. Last month, Tesla sales sunk by almost 11% year-on-year, despite the company embarking on a year-long price war with rivals like BYD and Nio.
The company is now stuck trying to balance its profit margins with price cuts. On Friday, Tesla said it would increase the Chinese price of its Model-Y SUV by around $2000.
“This is an effort to raise average selling price on the premium niche offering,” Bill Russo, an EV analyst based in Shanghai, says. Consumers of Tesla’s premium models may be less price conscious, he suggests.
Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
China’s EV subsidies
The EU’s investigation, officially launched on Oct 4., is trying to ascertain if electric automakers in China are receiving unfair subsidies. In an interview with the Financial Times in late September, EU Commissioner for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis said there was “sufficient prima facie evidence” to justify the probe, and warned that it may not be limited to just Chinese manufacturers. The European Commission’s president Ursula von der Leyen has also complained that Chinese state subsidies are keeping prices artificially low.
Tesla has a huge operation in China. Production at its Gigafactory in Shanghai surpassed the company’s plant in Fremont, California in 2021. Tesla produced its 2 millionth EV in Shanghai last month, despite only starting operations in late-2019.
Tesla accounted for 39% of all EV exports from China in the first six months of this year, according to data compiled by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. China has now overtaken Germany and Japan to become the world’s largest auto exporter.
Beijing helps boost domestic EV production through policies like production subsidies, cheap land and loans, and grants. Subsidies for electric and hybrid vehicles amounted to $57 billion between 2016 and 2022, according to one estimate from consulting firm AlixPartners.


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The existence of Duke Nukem 3D: World Tour is leaked through the release of several screenshots, confirming speculation that another Duke Nukem 3D release is on the way.
Gearbox Software is now the ‘full and rightful owner of the Duke Nukem franchise’ after a lawsuit against 3D Realms and Intercepter Entertainment is settled.
Even with an impressive fall release, Warner Bros. Interactive has announced that they will be ‘restructuring’ their Seattle-based offices – meaning a hefty set of layoffs.
Despite mostly negative reviews, Duke Nukem Forever became the second biggest selling game in June. Read on for what other games were big hits last month.
After 14 years and 2 development houses, Duke Nukem Forever has finally been released, but has the long wait been worth it?
Gearbox Software CEO, Randy Pitchford discusses the gargantuan effort it took to get ‘Duke Nukem Forever’ ready for the masses – with the developers logging over 6,00 man months in work.
The Duke Nukem Forever ‘Come Get Some’ trailer shows that explosions, vehicles, guns, urinating, women and hand-to-hand combat has never looked so cool in a video game.
‘Duke Nukem Forever’ keeps the promotion train rolling along with this latest trailer showcasing the women in the game. Check out the ‘Babes’ trailer yourself.
In preparation for the release of ‘Duke Nukem Forever,’ a new behind the scenes video has been released that highlights the 2D side-scrolling roots of ‘Duke Nukem.’
Gearbox Software has finally announced Duke Nukem Forever for release in 2011 on all major platforms. This time, if you don’t believe us, we’ve got proof.


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One of the biggest stories of 2017
has been the rise of cryptocurrencies, such as bitcoin
and Ethereum, and the technologies backing them up, including blockchain, a digital ledger system. As society gets more comfortable with blockchain, it appears poised to up-end various industries, including cannabis.
India Globalization Capital
(IGC) has announced that it will utilize blockchain, as well as its team of technology and healthcare experts for product identification assurance in the cannabis industry. By doing this, it hopes to solve issues such as improper product labeling, where the product is coming from and other issues that may impede sales.
“We understand the unique challenges facing the cannabis industry and believe that our team has the expertise to be the first to create meaningful solutions to address these issues using distributed ledgers inherent in blockchain technology,” IGC CEO Ram Mukunda said in a statement
Mukunda added that the NYSE-listed company would it would use blockchain for the rollout of one of its medical-trial ready products, Hyalolex, which is “aimed at reducing the buildup of beta-amyloid in Alzheimer’s disease,” according to the company.
According to a 2016 Fortune article
, blockchain appears poised to disrupt many industries, making transactions simpler and more cost-effective. It’s described as “a way to structure data” and allows “competitors to share a digital ledger across a network of computers without the need for a central authority.”
Citing data from a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, IGC claims nearly 70% of all cannabidiol products sold on the internet have problems with their labels. Some are over-labeled, while others are under-labeled, creating confusion.
IGC aims to provide blockchain-enabled solutions for both dispensaries and consumers, looking at both the consumer and enterprise portions of the market, something that has been an issue as legal cannabis consumption has increased.
IGC is the latest public company to catch the attention of bitcoin and blockchain-enthusiasts. After making the announcement yesterday, the Maryland-based company saw its stock jump more than 100%, giving it a market cap of just over $35 million.
In recent days, companies from all industries
have attached themselves to the cryptocurrency craze in hopes of garnering investor attention to themselves.
Importance of Hyalolex
Used for patients with Alzheimer’s, Hyalolex is IGC’s leading product and it aims to use a two-part strategy to commercialize it.
Starting next year, the company hopes Hyalolex will move through FDA registered pre-clinical and clinical trials. In addition to these trials, IGC said it expects to license its formulation technology to licensed cannabis dispensaries around the country, including dispensaries in Washington D.C. and Maryland, with more states to come.
Alzheimer’s disease affects millions of people every year and has shown no sign of slowing down. According to data compiled
by the Texas Department of State Health Services, more than 5.5 million Americans had Alzheimer’s disease in 2016, including 200,000 under the age of 65.
In 2016, Alzheimer’s and other dementia diseases are expected to cost
the U.S. $259 billion in related costs, potentially rising to as much as $1.1 trillion by 2050.
In addition to Hyalolex, IGC has three other products ready for medical-trial: Natrinol, a natural substitute for Marinol used to relieve nausea, vomiting and appetite stimulation in patients who have AIDS and cancer; Caesafin, used to help alleviate seizures in dogs and cats; and Serosapse, used to help patients with Parkinson’s disease.


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Dorset Food and Drink is coming to Nothe Fort!
With events off the menu for 2020, Dorset Food & Drink will continue to support and promote their fabulous local Dorset food and drink producers by looking at different ways to engage with the community.
They have been exploring new partnership opportunities and venues to give their members a slice of DF&D action and came up with the idea of small ‘pop up’ producer markets.
DF&D Coordinator Caroline Richards said: “We are thrilled to have been invited to ‘pop-up’ at the Nothe Fort and work with the team and volunteers to bring a taste of the ‘Dorset Larder’ to visitors and holidaymakers”.
The market will be at Nothe Fort on the last sunday of the month from July to September.


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NW briefs: Upturn Enterprise & Partner Network; Carr Moss Kennels & Cattery; The Manchester College; Marketing Liverpool; Football For Change
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A programme aimed at young, female, BAME entrepreneurs in Oldham has been launched by Upturn Enterprise & Partner Network, and backed by NatWest through grant funding, to support the local economy.
The new scheme aims to help entrepreneurs who may have limited knowledge and experience in developing a successful business to connect with the wider Oldham business ecosystem and build their businesses, many of which were created over the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kashif Ashraf, chair and joint leader Asian Business Leaders, said: “We know there is the Northern Powerhouse which is aiming to help businesses across the region connect and thrive, but we believe we can create a strong local network by enabling some of these new businesses in Oldham to succeed and thrive. A successful business community will lead to a successful community which is a benefit for all. We aim to build on knowledge from local partners like the council and NatWest to help these new entrepreneurs. It’s through these connections that businesses can succeed.”
Cllr Arooj Shah, Oldham Council leader and cabinet member for economic and social reform, said: “I welcome this new programme, which will help so many under-represented people to reach their potential.
“We recently launched a women’s taskforce in Oldham to tackle disadvantages and promote greater equality. It’s great that Upturn Enterprise Ltd & Partner Network, backed by Nat West, share our vision for a fairer society and I look forward to working in partnership to help more young, female, BAME entrepreneurs be empowered to set up thriving businesses.”
Heather Waters, regional ecosystem manager at NatWest, said: “We are delighted to work with Upturn Enterprises on this new programme aimed specifically at female-led entrepreneurs. We believe enterprise is central to helping communities to thrive. In Oldham we see different organisations coming together and working together to the benefit of the wider community, and Upturn Enterprises’ programme will, no doubt, continue in this tradition.”
An established Halsall-based kennel and cattery is set for expansion after being acquired by new owners, thanks to a six-figure funding package from Lloyds Bank.
Carr Moss Kennels & Cattery opened more than 40 years ago and offers overnight accommodation and care for cats and dogs for short and long term stays. When the previous owner retired, the business was put up for sale leading Peter and Andrea Rouch to make an offer. Combining a love of animals and more than two decades of experience running their own IT consultancy, the business approached Lloyds Bank, securing a six-figure funding package.
The support allowed the couple to purchase the company which included 35 dog kennels, eight cat pens, an office, and a house where they now live. There is also 1/3 acre of unused land on site that the firm plans to develop over the next two years to extend the kennels and build a second outdoor run for dogs. The business also hopes to hire an additional part time member of staff next year once travel restrictions have fully eased and demand rises.
Peter Rouch said: “Taking over a business that’s already well known in the North West can be daunting, but when we saw it was for sale, my wife and I jumped at the opportunity. Thanks to the support from Lloyds Bank, we’ve managed to keep the IT consultancy going and buy the new business. It’s been a big change from our usual day-to-day work but we’re off to a great start. During lockdown, many people got pets of their own, and now that travel restrictions are lifting, we’re seeing a big increase in demand for our services.”
Craig Chernouski, specialist business centre manager at Lloyds Bank, said: “Carr Moss Kennels & Cattery is a prime example of a business transferring its skills from one sector to another to capitalise on new growth opportunities. Peter and Andrea have put their heart and soul into what is already a successful business, and we look forward to seeing what the future brings for the business.”
The Manchester College has announced a new industry partnership with aesthetics clinic SCI-U, creating a new Industry Excellence Academy for Hair and Beauty. SCI-U will co-develop and co-deliver the college’s Beauty Therapy course, the first course to be offered as part of the brand new Industry Excellence Academy for Hair & Beauty.
As an industry partner, Wilmslow-based SCI-U will also offer students work placement of at least 15 days and exclusive opportunities within the beauty sector. In addition, it will also deliver industry masterclasses at the college’s on-campus, professional-standard Studios of Hairdressing, Beauty & Make-up, and sit on the college’s Industry Advisory Board. The partnership was officially launched with an event at the college’s Harpurhey campus on Monday where students met with SCI-U’s staff and were treated to a live industry demonstration, giving them a taste of the beauty therapy techniques that they’ll be learning and then providing for paying customers.
Lisa O’Loughlin, principal of The Manchester College, said: “As we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and work to fill skills gaps locally, regionally and nationally, our industry partners are more important than ever. Our partnership with SCI-U will provide students with invaluable learning opportunities in the beauty sector, providing them with the skills and experience they’ll need to become the next generation of industry excellence in the sector at the end of their course.”
As part of the college’s Industry Excellence Academy offer, students on the Beauty Therapy course will receive employability sessions with a named Employability Tutor and be allocated a dedicated Employability and Partnership Coordinator to help prepare them and equip them with the skills they will need when they enter the world of work.
Founder of SCI-U, Mozhgan Taheri, said: “At SCI-U we are passionate about providing young people with the opportunities they need to thrive in the beauty sector, and The Manchester College shares our belief in offering relevant, career-based courses, not just the traditional, university-based routes to employment. Having met the students, it’s clear that they possess the talent and desire to succeed. We are really looking forward to shaping the future of the industry by providing them with the appropriate skills and experience they need to forge their careers and help provide the sector with the boost it needs post-pandemic.”
Marketing Liverpool has launched the city’s Christmas 2021 marketing campaign, entitled ‘Liverpool. Feels Like Christmas’, which celebrates the magic and togetherness of visiting Liverpool with family and friends at this special time of the year.
Activated on TV, video on demand, outdoor and newspaper advertising across the North West, it has been created in-house by Marketing Liverpool, Liverpool’s destination marketing organisation on behalf of the Liverpool Visitor Economy Network (LVEN). LVEN includes many of the city’s biggest attractions including ACC Liverpool, Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool BID, Liverpool One and National Museums Liverpool.
The marketing campaign has been supported with £90,000 of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. Cllr Harry Doyle, Liverpool City Council cabinet member for culture and visitor economy, said: “Christmas is even more special this year. We can enjoy a real Liverpool Christmas with our family and friends. The marketing campaign is vital in welcoming visitors from across the city region, North West and UK.”
Donna Howitt, place strategy director for retail centre Liverpool One, said: “It’s wonderful that we can celebrate Christmas in the traditional way this year, coming together with family and friends, and Liverpool has so much on offer for everyone. The visitor economy has come together to collectively bring together an unrivalled festive offer where visitors will leave with the fondest memories from a city that offers the warmest welcome in the country.”
Liverpool BID chief executive, Bill Addy, said: “Liverpool buzzes at Christmas and it’s because the stage is always set for the festive season. At Liverpool BID it’s something we look forward to planning through the year. We put on a good show, not just for those coming to visit, but for those living and working in the city every day.”
Two prominent Merseyside business figures have spoken about their pride after helping to raise more than £250,000 for disadvantaged young people. Everkool boss Craig Greenwood and John Morley, the founder of Legacie Developments, were both sponsors of the glittering Football For Change gala dinner which took place in Liverpool last Saturday.
Stars including Sir Rod Stewart, M People’s Heather Small and pop singer Pixie Lott were among the performers on the night, while Liverpool FC legend Jamie Carragher and Everton striker and England international Dominic Calvert-Lewin took part in a football related q&a hosted by the comedian Russell Howard. The event included an auction with lots donated by celebrity names including Dua Lipa, Daniel Craig and Robbie Williams.
Football For Change was launched by Carragher, Liverpool player Trent Alexander-Arnold and Wolverhampton Wanderers captain Conor Coady last year to support NEET young people, facing social and economic disadvantages, into further education and employment. The initiative has the backing of Ian Donaldson, CEO of the Manchester-based Swinton Insurance group, as well as businesses from across the North West. Other businesses to support the gala included Sedulo, Dental Cafe, MJ Quinn, Wild Thang and DAM Health.
Everkool founder, Craig Greenwood, said: “The ambitions set out by Football For Change to help young people growing up in tough circumstances align with my values and my own personal experiences. This initiative is about raising aspirations by funding opportunities in education and training to help young people build better futures.”
John Morley, whose company Legacie Developments, sponsored the fundraiser, said: “All of the businesses involved feel a real sense of pride in what we achieved on Saturday. This money is going to help change lives in the city region by giving school leavers facing social and economic challenges the hope of a better future.”


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Google and Levi’s showed off last week a new joint project: a $350 smart jean jacket. While this jacket literally puts tech on your sleeve, it does it in a subtle way that doesn’t require putting another screen on your body. In doing so, it offers a glimpse of what smart fabrics can do and of the evolution of the wearables market — one in which consumers won’t have to wear a clunky accessory that screams high tech.
The smart Commuter jacket, which was introduced at SXSW in Austin, is aimed at those who bike to work. It has technology woven into its fibers and allows users to take phone calls, get directions and check the time by tapping and swiping their sleeves. That delivers information to them through their headphones so they can keep their eyes on the road without having to fiddle with a screen.
Its smart fibers are washable; they’re powered by a sort of smart cufflink that you’ll have to remove when you wash the jacket. The cufflink has a two-day battery life.
While the idea of a smart jean jacket may not appeal to everyone (especially on a hot summer day), the existence of such a jacket is telling about where the market may be going.
“I think that the commuter jacket from Levi’s is really perfect because it’s focused on a single consumer audience. It has the cyclist in mind and is targeting what their needs are,” said Sidney Morgan-Petro, retail editor at trend forecasting firm WGSN.
She said that what makes the Commuter jacket different from other wearables — and even other smart clothing — is that it’s not necessarily marketing the tech as its main feature, but rather using it to solve problems that everyday people have.
Many smartwatches and even other smart clothing can feel like solutions in search of a problem to solve. The Commuter jacket, she said, stands out as a type of wearable for a more everyday consumer who may not be that interested in the tech but likes the practical features that come with a stylish jacket.


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According to PricewaterhouseCoopers’ latest research, a third of consumers aged 18 to 45 are prepared to buy fake luxury clothes and accessories. The results of the survey of over two thousand adults highlight the ongoing risk of counterfeiting to luxury brands, particularly in light of the tightening economic environment which may tempt shoppers to buy fake products in the run up to Christmas.
Only half of consumers surveyed think that it is unacceptable to buy fake luxury clothes and accessories, typified for the purpose of the research as brands such as Burberry, Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Mulberry and Jimmy Choo.
Curiously, ABC1 respondents, who are deemed more affluent and skilled than C2DE consumers, were slightly more likely to buy fake goods. Younger consumers were less concerned with authenticity, with more than a third of 25 to 34 year olds prepared to buy fake goods compared to only twenty per cent of those aged over fifty five.
The research also shows that younger consumers are motivated by the brand image associated with luxury goods - almost a quarter said it was their reason for owning them, whereas thirty per cent of older consumers opted for 'quality and feel compared to high street items' as a reason.
Consumer demand for luxury items has manifested itself by:
• High street shops and supermarkets chains bringing items which emulate designer goods into their stores in record time.
• Well-known designers developing diffusion lines for their stores, so they have one foot in couture and one on the high street.
• Celebrities designing ranges to sell on the high street.
• Mix and match style - cheaper clothes being blended with one designer piece.
• A new breed of consumer magazines showing us where we can buy affordable versions of designer goods on the high street.
• The stretching of luxury brands into more mainstream items such as mobile phones, sunglasses and fragrance, for example. This has widened the market and made luxury items affordable and accessible to virtually all consumers.
Mark Hudson, UK retail and consumer leader, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, commented: “Ostensible wealth worn, literally, on the sleeve, is back in vogue, but consumer buying behaviour is both an opportunity and a threat to the luxury goods industry. Designer brands are perpetually paraded in our popular culture and this has created demand, particularly for accessories, as they are the one of the cheapest ways to emulate the luxury brand experience.
“At the same time, given the increasing squeeze on consumer expenditure from rising interest rates, grocery costs and utility bills, we may start to see a growing appetite for fake, unlicensed luxury items.
“Some high street stores have reproduced designs which are similar to those of designer brands, but for a fraction of the price, arguably sending a signal to the consumer that replicating luxury items is acceptable.”


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Conservative MEPs, including Consumer Spokesman and Internal Market Coordinator Daniel Dalton, have launched a campaign "The Digital Single Market - What's In It For Britain" to promote the UK's digital economy. The digital and tech sectors already support almost one and a half million jobs in the UK, and the e-commerce market in the UK is valued at over €100bn, the largest in the EU.
Our five priorities for British businesses and consumers in the DSM include:
·Greater choice and confidence for consumers buying products online
·Making it easier for small businesses to operate online and sell across borders
·Ensuring the internet is safe and secure, especially for children
·Supporting our digital entrepreneurs and boosting the use of big data
·Allowing consumers to travel with the digital content they have bought
Over the coming months, Conservative MEPs will lead a series of hearings and events with key players in the digital single market, starting with a hearing on the 1st July, when Daniel Dalton is chairing a debate on new business models with Uber’s European Head of Public Policy.
Ahead of the campaign launch and hearing, Daniel commented:
"Already the UK's digital economy is worth over 100 billion pounds every year, and we are one of the most digitally successful countries in the world. We must harness this potential, not stifle it.
"We must embrace new digital business models, and encourage the rest of Europe to follow our lead, otherwise we risk being left behind in the global digital revolution”.
"I and my Conservative colleagues will be working hard to make sure the Digital Single Market works for Britain."
For more details visit the Campaign Page: http://www.danieldaltonmep.co.uk/campaigns/leading-support-single-market


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Facebook recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. Can you believe that Facebook has been around for a whole decade? If you have been on Facebook from the very beginning, you have likely accumulated quite a lot of “friends," resulting in a massive News Feed full of updates from people you may or may not want to keep in touch with anymore. Thankfully, Facebook offers ways to simplify and filter the News Feed to control which content appears and which stays hidden. Check out these four steps you can take toward de-cluttering your Facebook News Feed.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is an ongoing process. Keeping up with the ever-changing landscape of search engines requires consistent attention. Those who think they can "set it and forget it" are missing out. Many significant updates related to SEO have been released over the past few months, and these updates should not be ignored. Learn more about SEO today!
At Global Reach, we are dedicated to providing high-quality web applications that keep up with the latest trends in web technology. One of our products that received special attention recently is PropertyFusion, our real estate management solution. We’ve streamlined the layout of the entire application and revamped it so that the most used actions are easier to carry out. The new and improved PropertyFusion allows agents to spend more time selling properties and less time managing listings. Learn more about all of the many improvements we’ve made to PropertyFusion.


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In just 90 days, Fortnite players have spent $100m in the smash hit game worldwide, and on Apple’s iOS platform alone. This has seen the game take the second spot in the top grossing mobile action game chart, according to Sensor Tower’s data.
In the same amount of time, Tencent’s Honor of Kings earned $33m, while NetEase’s Knives Out took $23m. Fortnite hasn’t managed to take the top spot away from Clash Royale, which eclipsed its total by racking up $154m in revenue.
Fortnite’s race to $100m compared to the competition
Looking at Fortnite’s success from a different perspective, Sensor Tower examined the amount of time it took these top four grossing games to reach the $100m mark. Clash Royale rocketed to $100m in just 51 days, but Knives Out took 173 days, and Honor of Kings 179 days.
Sensor Tower writes:
“We see Fortnite growing its momentum on mobile, and there are no indications of it slowing there—or anywhere else—as it continues its reign as the world’s most popular game.”


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Black Lion is pleased to announce the sale of the fifth and final parcel of its Vista Terrace Marketplace investment to Crow Holdings, a privately-owned real estate investment management and development firm based in Dallas, Texas. Vista Terrace Marketplace is a successful retail center in the dynamic community of Vista, California, with tenants that include successful national brands such as Jersey Mike’s, Pacific Dental, Sports Clips and Discovery Preschool. The $13.3 million sale of the remaining 2 acres with 28,440 square feet of retail space brings the total sellout of the shopping center to approximately $40 million and was the culmination of Black Lion’s renovation and impressive lease-up of the property in recent years.
“The success of our Vista Terrace Marketplace investment is emblematic of our broader strategy,” commented Robert Rivani, president of Black Lion. “We modernized the property through renovations and other improvements that added value and attracted internet-resistant tenants on NNN leases. The continued success of this shopping center will generate meaningful NOI for the new owners for the duration of their ownership.”
Black Lion Investment Group’s purchase of Vista Terrace Marketplace in 2017 and subsequent renovation in 2019 was representative of the company’s enthusiasm for investing in dynamic, growing markets such as Vista. Proceeds from the sale will be applied to Black Lion’s strategic focus on investing in luxury retail, dining and nightlife properties in South Florida. Gleb Lvovich, Managing Director of Capital Markets and Daniel Tyner, Director of Capital Markets, both with JLL’s Orange County office, facilitated the transaction.


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Canadian pension fund Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) has agreed to purchase a significant minority stake in QIMA, a Hong Kong-based supply chain compliance solutions provider.
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- Intellident Offers RFID Consulting
The UK systems integrator has launched an advisory service for companies considering switching from conventional auto-ID systems to RFID.
- Axcess Back from the Brink
The company has secured new funding and has introduced a new product, an RFID container seal.
- Savi Wins $90M RFID Contract
The US military has awarded a three-year contract to extend its Total Asset Visibility network.
- RFID Benefits Span Supply Chain
New business cases published by the Auto-ID Center suggest that RFID will have widespread benefits.
- Yellow Corp Takes RFID on the Road
The company is demonstrating RFID technology at its conference this week, and it may launch a pilot.
- Manhattan Associates Gets RFID
The Atlanta software company will enhance its supply chain execution product to accept RFID data.
- War Game Exposes Cargo Threat
RFID could help prevent the massive economic disruption that would be caused by a dirty bomb hidden in a shipping container.
- Track Vehicles by Cell or Satellite
RJI's new vehicle-tracking unit switches to satellite communications in areas with no cellular coverage.
- SAMSys Awarded RFID Patent
The RFID reader maker has developed an approach to identifying items, even when every tag can't be read.
- The Prospects for 2003
Many companies will begin RFID pilots in 2003, says AMR's Peter Abell, but getting tags could be a problem.
- Vendors Team to Optimize DCs
WhereNet and Elogex want to help companies to get the right truck to the right dock door at the right time.
- US Tests Cargo Security System
Six-month pilot by the departments of defense and transportation will use e-seals and satellite communications.
- Low-Cost Satellite Tracking Offered
AeroAstro, a micro-satellite supplier, has launched a new device for tracking goods in transit that costs just $349.
- Partners To offer Air Cargo Tracking
Envirotainer and Savi Technology will develop a real-time asset tracking and security system for the air cargo industry.
- Nokia Tests Cell Phone Tracking
The Finnish phone maker will embed chips in individual cell phones and track them from manufacturing to retail locations.