WAE+ news and updates about waeplus.co.uk

The sweet smell of success

noreply@blogger.com (WAE+) — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 15:21:00 +0000

With most women spending upwards of £500 a year on hair styling products alone and men buying just as many bodycare items and hair products for themselves as for the ladies in their lives, we’ve expanded our portfolio to include a recently-launched Health and Beauty Department.

Our brand new department offers a range of over 2,500 fragrances, cosmetics, and hair- and bodycare products, all at competitive prices.

Products include everything from classic perfumes such as Chanel and Christian Dior to popular colognes including Diesel, Calvin Klein and Hugo Boss. There is also a kids’ section that has hair detangler kits and gift sets for the whole family.

So, whether you’re after the sweet smell of named brand fragrances at a low price or you need a best priced cosmetics item or hair product, visit our new Health and Beauty Department to see what we have available now: http://www.waeplus.co.uk/categories/4712-Perfume+-+Female.

A successful sales year sees us positioned as Europe’s second fastest growing website

noreply@blogger.com (WAE+) — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 09:04:00 +0000

We may only be coming up to our second birthday but already we have seen fast growth and such a massive jump in visitors to our website that we’ve been named Europe’s second fastest-growing e-tailer.

In its annual report on European online retailers, Internet Retailer positioned us in its top 500 online retailers as the second fastest growing e-tailer, which is a fantastic achievement for any company in its second year of business.

Not only is our latest table positioning a great example of our growth against bigger brands, such as Boo Hoo and Sports Direct who were also positioned in the report, but it is also proof of our continuing success. Our sales have jumped 445 per cent from £1.65 million in 2012 to £9 million this year and the number of monthly visitors to our website has also increased by 750 per cent on last year’s figures.

Internet Retailer’s 2013 Europe 500 report ranks all of the major retail chains that sell online across Europe and each retailer’s individual profile and listing is made up of a series of performance and business measures, including annual sales, monthly website visits and conversion rate. Our ranking came from our in-house e-commerce technology and website platform, which sources best-priced items from a range of suppliers internationally, meaning our customers get what they want and need for even less.

As Internet Retailer’s annual report puts it, our organisational structure has been essential to our growth and, “for a company that started up amid sour economic times, WAE+ has succeeded in keeping its costs low, which have helped it become a favourite with online buyers”.

We offer a data-driven IT system on our website that can help source best-priced items, no matter what you’re looking for, so visit us at www.waeplus.com to see all of the discounts that you can take advantage of.

Free, pilot next day shopping and office supplies delivery service in Birmingham

noreply@blogger.com (WAE+) — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 09:04:00 +0000

As an extension of our brand new B2B account team, we are pleased to introduce our next day delivery service for all Birmingham customers within a 6.5 mile radius of our Witton distribution centre.

Being launched initially as a two month pilot, until we see how it goes and if it’s of use, our next day delivery service is completely free for businesses and consumers in areas such as Sutton Coldfield, Acocks Green, Oldbury and Walsall.

Customers who live or work in one of the pilot areas can take advantage of this new, complimentary service by visiting our website to see if they qualify for free next day delivery then ordering online before 3pm to receive their products the very next day. For the pilot, we have also invested in branded vehicles, so simply look out for a delivery van that has our logo on it.

Our next day delivery pilot is available on our range of 5,000 in-stock items, which ranges from office furniture and equipment to catering supplies and electronics.

With deliveries being made on a daily basis, why not take advantage of this free service yourself? Offering Birmingham buyers even more choice and convenience, at a truly competitive price, we encourage businesses and consumers to try it out soon as we are only running this pilot until the end of July.

Taxing Times

noreply@blogger.com (WAE+) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 06:03:00 +0000

There’s been a fair amount of press recently about big corporates avoiding paying tax to the Inland Revenue. Amazon in particular has come under fire for their procedures in avoiding tax.

To be fair, it has done nothing illegal - its European operations are registered in Luxembourg - but Margaret Hodge, Chairman of the Commons public account committee, has accused its attitude to avoiding tax as immoral.

There have been calls to boycott the giant online retailer in favour of other online or high street stores. In fact if you do some research, we discovered you may even save yourself some money.

We found a number of sites comparing the prices of this Christmas's must have toys and DVD's - and although Amazon is very competitive, it's not always the cheapest option. Our advice - shop around.

Discount Vouchers Deals

noreply@blogger.com (WAE+) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 23:59:00 +0000

Do you check out sites that offer discount vouchers for different brands?

Waeplus already offer great value on a huge range of products. But you may be able to save even more by investigating a few of these sites.

Check out the following – you might find a bargain:

http://www.myvouchercodes.co.uk/wae-plus

http://www.quidco.com/wae-plus/

http://www.vouchercodesuae.com/waeplus.co.uk

http://www.halfdiscount.com/merchant-WAE-Plus-vouchers-deals-6861.html

http://couponfollow.com/site/waeplus.co.uk

WAE+ to launch new toy range at The Gadget Show

noreply@blogger.com (WAE+) — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 11:16:00 +0000

WAEplus has some great news.

We are exhibiting for the first time at Birmingham’s Gadget Show Live at Christmas.

The three day event runs from 30 November under 2 December. But warning – it will be seriously exciting as we are announcing our new range of toys especially in time for Christmas!

And if that’s not enough, one further caution. WAEplus will also be giving one mega prize giveaway and daily prize draws, worth up to £5,000 in total over the three days.

All visitors are eligible to enter and can do so simply by visiting the WAE+ stand H61.

We look forward to seeing you there.

WAE+ Reviews - a warning and some other information sources

noreply@blogger.com (WAE+) — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 20:05:00 +0000

WAE+ Review

If you have come across this page, you have most likely been researching our company WAE+, and as any diligent customer should do - you are looking to find out how this company operates with regard to its orders and customers. You may not have heard about WAE+ before, and therefore may be unsure as to who we are and the views of another customer can be invaluable.

The standard online review sites don't work

The problem is that people aren't motivated to post good experiences - only negative experiences. A company that has a massive PR department, and marketing budget can throw vast sums of money at campaigns so that people know who they are. The net effect of that is that while these companies still get thousands upon thousands of bad reviews - everybody knows or has heard of the company, so feels less like taking these reviews as gospel.

Here at WAE+, we pride ourselves on the fact that we haven't been around too long, but have done a lot in a short space of time. We process many thousands of orders every month - most of which go through without so much as a slight problem - like most companies, these customers are happy with their item and move on. As you might expect, relatively few people actively post reviews for positive experiences or, on the occasions where an issue has been resolved, few if any people post to update their 'warnings' to report a successful resolution.

Owing to this inherent bias - we have invested in review services that provide a more realistic picture of what our customers experience. We use companies such as Feefo and Reevoo who offer a more non-incentive based experience where the customer's review really does matter - of both the service, and the product that they purchased. Reviews of WAE+ on Reevoo can be viewed here. WAE+ Reviews on Feefo can be viewed here.

We admit that we aren't perfect. We admit that there have been problems that have inconvenienced people. But we also guarantee that we are constantly working to improve our services - answering more calls, upgrading our delivery courier to UPS, responding to customer contacts faster and in more detail - and that we will always continue to improve our services.

Still not sure?

If you have any doubts, give us a call during office hours - when one of our trained and helpful UK call-centre staff will be on hand to answer any of your queries, or failing that - send us in a message to our contact system.

We are approved by ISIS (Internet Shopping Is Safe) and IDIS (Internet Delivery is Safe), and use only the highest level of SSL security for our checkout.

Samsung Galaxy Note - Only £375

noreply@blogger.com (WAE+) — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 10:45:00 +0000

Samsung Galaxy Note - Only £375

The Samsung GALAXY Note is an easy-to-use smartphone that has all your entertainment needs covered.

Running Android 2.3, the GALAXY Note brings together the features of a mobile phone and an internet tablet.

With an intuitive userinterface and extensive connectivity, the GALAXY Note gets you online quickly, allowing you to check your emails wherever you happen to be.

The large 5.3-inch touch screen works with advanced pen input technology so you can draw or write notes with improvedaccuracy and ease.

The built-in 8-megapixel camera captures still images and Full HD video on the move, while the integrated multi-format music player keepsyou entertained.

But that's not all! The Samsung GALAXY Note can be personalised to suit your style with a range of apps from the Android Market.

BUY NOW

Hole puncher: so simple yet so useful!

noreply@blogger.com (WAE+) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 07:51:00 +0000

The hole punch, hole puncher, holing pincer, paper puncher or perforator is a simple device that... punches holes in paper so that sheets can be stored together in a binder. It can be found mainly in schools and offices although often it is used as a ticket puncher to prove admission.
The origins of the device are fairly unclear or at least not confirmed. They can be traced back to 1886 when Friedrich Soennecken invented a metal device capable of punching holes in paper. He called it Papierlocher fur Sammelmappen. Fredrich received a patent on his design in Germany on 14th November 1886. The way the device worked was through a long lever used to push a bladed cylinder straight through a number if sheets of paper.

This classic design developed and changed over time when other inventors started to create their own versions of the machine. Benjamin Smith was the first to be granted the US patent. He called his device a conductor's punch. His design used two metal pieces, attached by a spring, with a hole in the bottom one and a sharp cutting implement on the other end. The spring gave the it strength to cut through stacks of paper.

In 1893, another innovation was introduced by Charles Brooks who called his device a ticket punch. The design was similar to Smith's but included a small jar, or a cannister, attached to the bottom part of the punch that held the waste pieces cut from the paper as they were pushed out. It resembled modern version of the hole punch. The machine kept improving over the years and by the end of twentieth century there were also some plastic hole punchers released to the market. The shapes of cutters also changed and it became possible to punch a hole in the shape of a heart or a star.

Since 2000 hole punchers have become more convenient and easy to use without having to apply much force. Pressure plate was developed which enabled the device to punch through an even bigger pile of paper as well as electronic hole punch that did not require manual labour at all. Manual lever spacer was also introduced which allowed users to change the size and spacing of the holes. It is now commonly used by many manufacturers.

Did you know...?

The little piece of paper that's punched out of a hole puncher is called a 'chad'

Aside from the classic one-hole, two-hole, three-hole and four-hole variations, there are also some hole punches designed to make five, six or even up to eight holes simultaneously!

One-hole punch is commonly used when making paper crafts, scrapbooks and confetti (Casey Larrain, the Guinness World Record holder, owns a collection based on 1,700 unique shapes)

Some artists use hole punch as tool in their projects (based on either making holes in a piece of material or using colourful chads to create impressive images)

Also see: I've got a stapler and I'm not afraid to use it!

Hole Punchers | Single Hole Punch | Puch 2-Hole | Punch 4-Hole | Electric Hole Punch | Heavy Duty Hole Punch | Replacement Cutting Dies

Apple reveals how it's planning to use the surplus cash

noreply@blogger.com (WAE+) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:12:00 +0000

Apple decided to use the $97.6bn cash on its balance-sheet to pay dividend, for the first time since 1995, and buy back some of its shares.

The company confirmed it will pay a quarterly dividend of $2.65 per share starting from July which is a dividend yield of 1.7 per cent on the current share price. Apple will buy back up to $10bn of its own shares starting in the company's next financial year.

There have been a many speculations as to how the money will be used. The cash had been held for a long time mainly because of Apple’s near-bankruptcy in the mid-1990s. Also, Steve Jobs was not a supporter of dividends. Another reason for Mr Cook’s cautious approach to paying dividends may be the Microsoft’s experience. The firm suffered a slower growth as soon as it began to return cash to shareholders in 2003. Some therefore view the decision to start paying dividends as a signal that company’s glory days are over. Parting with money is therefore a big step for the company to take.

On the other hand the dividend rewards shareholders and opens ownership of Apple shares to a wider range of funds, as most ‘value-oriented’ funds are not allowed to buy stocks which don't pay dividends.

Apple’s share prices continue to rise thanks to this decision. With the new iPad sales boosting company’s wealth is growing at enormous rate. Three million iPads were sold in the first three days at $400 gross profit per unit making up for the $10 billion return to shareholders.

As Tim Cook ensured in his statement: ‘We have used some of our cash to make great investments in our business through increased research and development, acquisitions, new retail store openings, strategic prepayments and capital expenditures in our supply chain, and building out our infrastructure.’

Apple TV | Apple iPad | Apple Accessories | Apple Covers

The Olympic Torch Relay and its controversial origins

noreply@blogger.com (WAE+) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:00:00 +0000

The Olympic Torch became the main symbol of the Olympic Games. It originated in ancient Greece where it is believed that the flame kept burning throughout the celebration of the Olympic Games. The classic flame commemorates the legend of Prometheus stealing fire from the Greek god Zeus. The Flame was later reintroduced in Amsterdam at the 1928 Olympics and has been a symbol of the modern Olympic Games ever since.

Despite the long history of the Olympic Games and the Olympic Flame, the torch relay is a modern establishment. Shockingly this tradition originated in Germany during the controversial 1936 Berlin Olympics. Hitler was convinced of the connection between ancient Greece and modern Nazi regime and used the relay in his propaganda as an expression of Aryan superiority.
The Olympic Torch is lit several months before the opening ceremony in Greek Olympia, the original site of the Olympic Games. The ceremony is performed by eleven women, representing ancient priestesses, at the site of the Temple of Hera. The torch is ignited by the Sun’s rays concentrated by a parabolic mirror. It is then placed in an urn and transported to the ancient stadium where the first carrier takes over.

There have been many unusual ways in which the torch has been carried. Here are some examples of the remarkable means of transportation:
1948 – The flame transported by boat to cross the English Channel,
2008 - Carried by dragon boats in Hong Kong
1952 – Transported by an airplane to Helsinki
1956 – All carriers travelled on horseback
1976 the flame was transformed into a radio signal which was then transmitted from Athens to Canada and used to trigger laser beam to re-light the flame
2000 – The flame carried by divers near the Great Barrier Reef.
Other extraordinary means of transport included: carried by rowers in Canaberrs, by Native American canoe, a camel and Concorde.

In 2004 the first Global torch relay, which lasted 78 days and covered distance of over 78,000 km, was undertaken. 11,300 runners visited all previous Olympic cities as well as Africa and South America before returning to Athens.

The last bearer of the torch lights the flame at the central Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony, which continues to burn throughout the Olympic Games. It is put out at the closing ceremony.

The last runner is usually a celebrity or an ordinary, not announced till the last minute. It may be however an ordinary person that represents Olympic ideals.
The most amazing ignition of the cauldron took place in Barcelona in 1992 when Antonio Rebollo lit the gas rising from cauldron by shooting a burning arrow.

In Beijing in 2008 Li Ning lit the flame by ‘running on air’ around the stadium supported by wires.
In 1964 Yoshinori Sakai, born in Hiroshima the day the nuclear weapon destroyed the city, opened the Tokyo Games. It constituted a symbol of the rebirth of Japan after the Second World War.
In 1976 at the Montreal Olympics two youngsters: one from French-speaking and one from English-speaking part of the country lit the cauldron symbolising of the unity of Canada.
For the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Cathy Freeman walked across a circular pool of water and lit the flame through the water, surrounding herself within a ring of fire. The final ignition however was delayed by a technical fault. Due to the computer error the Olympic flame was suspended 'mid-air' for several minutes, rather than rising up a water-covered ramp to the top of the stadium. The mistake was quickly discovered and corrected letting the cauldron continue up the ramp.

Some torch relays have been met with protests, mainly because of their origins in Nazi regime. Unsurprisingly there have been uprisings in Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia against the first run however the disruptions were shortly suppressed by the local security forces.

In 1956 a student Barry Larkin protested against the Melbourne Games by carrying a fake flame and passing it to the Mayor of Sydney. The torch was made of a pair of underwear in a plum pudding can set on fire. He did manage to trick the audience and escape unnoticed.

Also there were many critics of the Olympics being held in China that attempted to disrupt the relay. The human rights supporters succeeded in the end by putting out the flame in Paris.

The route for this year’s Olympics had already been revealed.

For those interested, here it is: torch relay street-by-street routes (Source: BBC)

The Raspberry Pi: huge demand and production setbacks

noreply@blogger.com (WAE+) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:27:00 +0000

Raspberry Pi, a £22 device created to help children learn programming, was sold at the rate of 700 per second, 42,000 units per minute, at one point last week. The massive demand for the Raspberry Pi exceeded everyone’s expectations, it was 20 times greater than the company could supply.

Harriet Green, chief executive of Premier Farnell, said last week that the company will increase production of Raspberri Pi ‘as far as it can’ in order to meet demand instead of raising the price. The device itself is not expensive to make despite its ‘beautiful’ design. The cost will therefore remain £22 and the price will still be fixed by the charity that controls the production. The Raspberry Pi foundation has already sold its initial production run, around 10,000 units through two major distributors, Premier Farnell and RS. Their websites struggled to cope with the heavy traffic. The first version of the product, which sold out within minutes of going on sale, will first go to developers who can write supporting code and help develop the device. The initial design is a simple circuit board without the casing, however later models are expected to go on sale with packaging and may increase in price.

Unfortunately the Raspberry Pi foundation has already suffered a manufacturing setback which might cause delays in delivery to end users. There has been a part mix-up as the wrong ethernet jacks were soldered on, without integrated magnetic parts that provide network connection and help filter noise. Before the product can ship they will have to be removed and replaced. Installation of the correct jacks is quite simple, however sourcing the right components may prove challenging. One of the foundation’s representatives said in a statement: ‘We’re having to start again and move through the negotiating/ordering/delivery cycle as fast as we can.’

The simple device has also attracted interest from outside of the UK. A Middle East government, the country has not been revealed, contacted Raspberry Pi regarding its plans to issue one device to every schoolgirl in the country to increase their job prospects. The reason for such widespread interest, particularly from teachers and parents, may be a result of the concern over growing consumerism. Children that do not obtain basic technical knowledge at young age then lose interest and turn into consumers rather than creators and innovators. It is also important to include girls in the project as according to recent study most young women, between 13 and 18 years old, do not express any interest in computer technology or business study.

Online communities that formed around the Raspberry Pi and social media helped to keep the demand and curiosity high. The community that has already grown around the device is interested in developing and writing programs for it. So far the operating system for the product has been downloaded 30,000 times. As the project developed and matured, it exploded in popularity and attracted the interest of many Linux enthusiasts as well as some security researchers. Nadim Kobeissi, a developer of a secure communications program, hopes that the device can be used to bring secure communication to those whose free speech is threatened. Mr Kobeissi developed a secure communications program called Cryptocat which works inside a web browser and enables people to chat online via encrypted instant messaging. He plans to buy the small size computers to work as servers running Cryptocat. Because of their size and low-cost, Raspberry Pi are easy to ship to NGO’s and activists in places where free-speech is not accepted. Stephen Urbach of Telecomix supports the idea claiming that: ‘in the democratic and free countries where I do not trust my government because of data retention as in countries like Syria or the Bahrain where a wrong word can bring you to death, secure communication can save lives.’

Technological giants like Apple, Dell or Lenovo are also encouraged by Raspberry Pi developers to get involved in the development process to help with the innovation. If the powerful microprocessor that can currently be found in smartphones was applied to Raspberry Pi the idea could potentially grow extremely fast. Ms Green therefore welcomes interest and suggestions from other companies: ‘I would really encourage the major companies to have a look at the power of this idea.’

The new Apple iPad has been unveiled!

noreply@blogger.com (WAE+) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 12:36:00 +0000

Apple has unveiled an updated iPad tablet with a high-definition screen and faster communications. These were the two most important expectations set for the device. At an event in San Francisco on Wednesday Tim Cook unveiled the third updated version of the tablet which he referred to as the ‘new iPad’ instead of giving it a specific name. It will become available on March 16 in the US and nine other countries: UK, Canada, Germany, France, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and Japan.The product looks and feels like iPad 2 although slightly heavier and thicker. Rupert Goodwins stated on his technology website: ‘Unless you are a big Apple fan it will look like any other iPad.’ Its starting price is also the same: $399 for the Wi-Fi only models, or $659 for models with Wi-Fi and 4G connectivity. The price of the iPad 2 is dropping to a starting price of $329. Apple tries to appeal to its users by the variety of technological improvements instead of the low price in its attempt to stay ahead of competitors.

The main features of the new iPad include HD retina display- an unusually sharp display, support for the 4G connectivity known as LTE (10 times faster than 3G found in the iPad 2) and a faster microprocessor chip with improved graphics performance that helps run realistic-looking videogames. It therefore seems like this new improved tablet is designed more as a tool for the creative class. The device important to Apple’s efforts to increase control over the number of activities consumers are able to do digitally. The new iPad proves that mobile devices such as tablets can in the future replace personal computers performing the same number of operations. Tim Cook talked on Wednesday about the ‘post PC era’; where PC is just a device not the centre of our technological world, and Apple’s dominance of it. He highlighted the company’s capability to create a broad range of digital devices that had become central part of consumers’ lives.

This launch is the first major event for Apple since the death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. Now Apple Executives need to show why all these innovations are worth it. Although the changes are not radical they seem to have met the expectations of technical analysts and Apple followers that have been speculating about the new device for months. Most technical experts are impressed by the improvements and believe the new iPad will sell well. However, others express their disappointment that Apple failed to include haptic touch-feedback technology in the display or access to the iPhone 4S’ voice-controlled Siri ‘intelligent assistant.’ So far there is no explanation as to why the device has not been given a specific name, like expected iPad 3, which may confuse the purchasers. It may be in connection to the trademark dispute raised by Proview but the only reason given was ‘because we don’t want to be predictable’.

Also see: ‘We have something you really have to see. And touch.’ Technological Updates

Since the introduction of the first iPad in 2010, the firm grew rapidly taking over the tablet market. Despite many disputes and lawsuits, Apple continues to dominate the market, having sold over 50 million iPads so far. More than 83 per cent of all U.S. tablet users choose iPad according to eMarketer. The company, however may face a challenge from Microsoft once tablets running Windows 8 system go on sale as the improvements introduced are not considered enough to ensure Apple’s lead in the market.

During the event, Apple also mentioned that a new version of its Apple TV device with higher-resolution video would go on sale March 16. The product enables viewers to get Internet video on traditional TV as well as purchase movies via iTunes across Apple devices. The event was closed by Mr. Cook announcing that there is still more to come this year.

Also see: Apple worth more than most countries in the world! | Apple remains in the centre of patent and trademark disputes | Patent disputes: protecting manufacturers or threatening innovation

Apple TV | Apple iPad | Apple Accessories | Apple Covers

Former Olympus executives charged for their involvement in the accounting scandal

noreply@blogger.com (WAE+) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 16:11:00 +0000

Olympus and three of its former executives; ex-chairman Tsuyoshi Kikukawa, former vice-president Hisashi Mori and former auditor Hideo Yamada, have been charged in connection with the £1bn accounting scandal. Three outside advisers, Akio Nakagawa, Nobumasa Yokoo and Taku Hada, have also been arrested for their alleged involvement in dubious acquisitions. In a recent statement Olympus said: ‘We take these charges very seriously and will continue to strengthen our corporate governance.’

The board initially denied hiding investment losses through complex takeover deals however they later admitted they had been falsifying securities reports for over twenty years. It proves that the firm has been badly managed for years. The scandal was brought to light by former chief executive Michael Woodford who questioned Olympus accounting practices, particularly the payment of $687m to financial advisers during the acquisition of UK medical equipment company Gyrus. He claimed he was later fired for the accusations. Mr Kikukawa resigned shortly after the scandal came to light in October however he was arrested last month, altogether with Mr Mori, Mr Yamada as well as former bankers and financial advisers for the company.

Also see: Olympus loss-hiding scandal

Olympus has been going through a tough time since the cover-up was revealed. The way it handled the crisis is also questionable as despite suing 19 people involved in the wrongdoing, some of those accused continued to work as board members. The company assures that the rest of the management involved will resign by April. In an attempt to recover from the situation Olympus proposed a new board of directors which will be subject to approval at an emergency shareholders' meeting next month.

However, because of the delay in sorting out the management issue, the scandal has already negatively affected the company. It cost Olympus its shares which plunged more than 50 per cent on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The firm also made a 33.09bn yen (£269m) loss over the period. The TSE assured that the charges would not affect the company's current listing status although the firm was fined 10m yen by the exchange. It was decided in January that Olympus could keep its listing but would have to be put on a ‘security on alert’ as a company that needs to improve its internal management.

The firm is under investigation by law enforcement agencies in Japan, Britain and the United States. The Securities Exchange and Surveillance Commission (SESC) pressures the Financial Services Agency to fine Olympus more than 100 million yen ($1.2 million) for false accounting. Olympus itself is suing five of its internal directors, including current President Shuichi Takayama, for mismanagement.

Also see: Olympus and the impact of the accounting scandal

The Windows 8 experience

noreply@blogger.com (WAE+) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 13:10:00 +0000

On Wednesday 29 February, Microsoft introduced the consumer preview version of Windows 8 at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Steven Sinofsky considers it the most important ‘generational change’ since Windows 95 that introduced Start menu and taskbar.

The new version attempts to bridge the gap between desktop, laptop and tablet. The software is available to download, before its public launch in a few months. Since Windows 7 is quite difficult to use on touch-screen devices, the new operating system is designed for the low power chips to be compatible with mobile phones and tablets in an attempt to effectively compete with Apple and Google: ‘We challenged ourselves to bring the best of mobility and the best of PCs, in an experience where you don't have to compromise.’ Steven Sinofsky chose to present its new operating system at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona instead of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas which shows a new direction in Microsoft’s approach to computing.

Windows 8 has two modes: Metro-style, a modern mobile operating system built on a new ‘Windows Runtime’, and the standard Windows desktop, still needed by Microsoft for existing applications such as Office. In the Metro mode apps are installed from an online store, run full screen and are simple to use. Apps can run at the same time, but only two can share the screen, they also remain responsive when performing long operations thanks to the new runtime. Some important changes have been made since the Developer Preview. There are many more apps available which include Mail, Music, SkyDrive, and People. All store apps are free for the time being and will remain free until the commercial launch. The Metro-style Windows 8 performance of is excellent when tapping on-screen controls, using the keyboard or flipping through apps. Microsoft's social media account synchronisation also works great. As soon as you log into Windows Life your contacts from Twitter (or other social networking site) are imported to the People app. Windows 8 will also use the cloud to store users' preferences so that they can automatically load when the user signs in.

Metro apps look quite different from the standard Windows apps that we are used to, with their clear design and bold controls. There are several swipe patterns set up to make the use of the tablet quicker and more convenient. Many familiar smartphone gestures; pinch to zoom out, tap to enlarge and swipe, remain featured. The mouse control has also been improved since the Developer Preview. When you move the pointer to the corner of the screen with your mouse you can perform common actions: access Start menu, Windows charms and switch apps. Finding applications however may prove frustrating at times as many of them are hidden and accessible only from the Start menu. There are two versions of the Internet Explorer included: the Metro-style Windows does pure HTML5 with no add-ins installed and the desktop mode has Adobeflash, Activex etc. Some sites therefore do not work on the Metro version but Microsoft is hoping that most sites will adapt to the changes. Another issue is whether it is possible to create a user interface that works as well with touch as with mouse or a keyboard. So far, it does seem that the Metro side works better with touch, while the desktop side is still difficult to use without peripherals.

It seems that most innovations were made to the Metro platform and therefore desktop Windows 8 users may feel disappointed by the new operating system. Some consider its features, designed mainly for the Metro-style software, awkward to use. However, a few changes to improve Windows’ overall performance have also been made, such as fast boot and smart networking that switches automatically to cheaper connections.

There are a lot of expectations set for Windows 8. Windows 7 sold 525m licenses however its popularity was only on PCs. The new software has a huge potential for success, its design is more elegant than Android and despite a few minor issues it works fine and is very convenient to use. The one obvious advantage of is the possibility to access all desktop applications at any point on your tablet.This radical move however may run a risk of alienating ordinary Windows users. Furthermore, Microsoft cannot disregard its rivals. Windows 8 may find it difficult to get acceptance facing tough competition from Apple and Google.

Also see: Patent disputes: protecting manufacturers or threatening innovation?

Raspberry Pi expected to revive British IT education

noreply@blogger.com (WAE+) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:39:00 +0000

Raspberry Pi, a credit card sized, low cost computer, created by volunteers from technical industry, has gone on sale this week. The machine is designed to help teach children to code. Enthusiasts believe this cutting edge technology will help to enhance programming skills in the UK. The demand for the device is already sky-high as some suppliers saw their websites crash under the heavy traffic. A test version of the Pi has already attracted bids of more than £3,000 in a fund-raising auction on eBay last week.

The machine runs on Linux, an open-source operating system, and is relatively easy to interface to other devices. It can be connected to a typical computer monitor with additional ports to attach a keyboard, mouse as well as an ethernet for high-speed internet connectivity. The Pi's inventors have drawn inspiration from the BBC Micro, a project produced by Acorn that was adopted by British schools. BBC Basic, the programming language on the devices, served as an introduction to programming.

The model that is currently available costs £22, however a cheaper version priced £16 will go on sale later this year. The Raspberry Pi Foundation claims it has already produced thousands of the machines, using a manufacturer in China but the volumes are likely to increase soon. The Foundation originally planned to open production in the UK however it was not possible to do so at the convenient price. The company has already set up deals with two distributors that agreed to handle orders and deal with manufacturers. Thanks to this success the foundation can now focus more on teaching the programme instead of concentrating on sales.

The timing to launch the product could not be better and the hopes for product’s success are running high. The Department of Education is currently looking to focus more on specific skills, like fundamental programming, when teaching computer science at school. Therefore, bear-bone machines like Pi are thought to encourage children to code and play an important role in future IT education. Ian Livingstone, co-author of the Next Gen report, suggests there is a need for an examination of how computer science taught in UK schools could better meet needs of visual effects industries. The report also stresses a general need for teachers's professional training in computer science. Despite the Raspberry Pi being simple enough to be used by non-specialists, in order to get the most out of the experience some level of IT expertise may be required.

The supporters of this initiative believe that the community that has emerged around the Pi will help with its innovation, improvements and creation of additional software. Further development will be possible because of the experience shared between owners the devices.

For the interested here are the specifications of Raspberry Pi:

Cost: Model A $25 (£16) and Model B $35 (£22)

Weight: 45g

Dimensions: 86mm x 54mm x 17mm

Power: 5v micro USB

Processor: ARM 11, 700MHz

Memory: Model A, 128MB and Model B 256MB

Connectivity: 10/100 wired Ethernet on model B

Operating system: RISC OS, Linux. Debian, Fedora and ArchLinux will be supported from the start.

Source: Raspberry Pi

Apple worth more than most countries in the world!

noreply@blogger.com (WAE+) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:56:00 +0000

Apple, world’s most valuable company, announced its market value closing at $542.44 on Wednesday. There are only six other US businesses that have ever passed the $500bn (£314bn) threshold: Exxon, Microsoft, Cisco Systems, Intel and General Electric. However, none of them are near it now, therefore Apple is currently the only firm priced that highly. Furthermore, there are only twenty countries in the world that reached the $500bn gross domestic product mark.

The company’s sales and profits are growing at enormous rates as the popularity of its iPads and iPhones increases. It is expected to make a profit of $40bn in 2012 with its iPad3 launching next week. Its shares are already up 32 per cent this year. Apple has also approximately $100bn of cash on its balance sheet. Investors are hoping that the firm may use some of the reserve to pay out a dividend. Tim Cook assured shareholders that the board is thinking ‘very deeply’ about ways to use the cash.

This remarkable turnaround, for a company that used to be worth only $3.19, took place under Steve Jobs, the revival started with computers, then iPods, iPhones and iPads. Despite all patent and trademark disputes future remains optimistic for Apple, fuelled by the supposed launch of a new iPad next Wednesday. The new iPad is expected to secure Apple’s domination on tablet market and ensure further profit increase.

Apple TV | Apple iPad | Apple Accessories | Apple Covers

'We have something you really have to see. And touch.' Technological Updates

noreply@blogger.com (WAE+) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 16:21:00 +0000

There have been some exciting news in the world of technology, new products have just been launched (or are about to).
The first product worth mentioning is the PlayStation Vita, a portable gaming console launched by Sony. Main features of the Vita’s features include: touchscreen, similar to those in smartphones, touch-sensitive panels on the back to increase gaming control, front and rear camera, access to the internet, as well as social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. The most basic model of the device sells at £219 and Sony hopes it will appeal to the gamers that would like to enjoy their favourite games from bigger consoles on smaller portable devices.

The new model comes at the time of financial struggle for the Japanese company which has recently reported losses of $2bn due to flooding of some of its warehouses. Despite that Sony has already spent $50m on the promotional activity for its new device. It seems somewhat extensive for a gaming console which cannot be used to make calls, send messages, record videos and play songs. However, as the company CEO Jack Tretton explained that the Vita brings social gaming to a whole new level and was created mainly for true enthusiasts looking for a better gaming experience.

Another creation that deserves the attention is iPad3 which will soon be launched by Apple, or that is what is expected. The company has sent out invitations to an event that will take place on 7th March in San Francisco however the purpose of the event has not been specified. The invitation read: ‘We have something you really have to see. And touch...’ Some shops, have already started discounting the iPad 2 model to make space for the new upgraded version and reports suggest that the new version of the iPad is already being shipped to the US. It was reported that Apple shares soared to $530 for the first time in the company's history after the invitations were issued.

This launch is considered the most significant event since the death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs last year. It is claimed that the new model will have a quad-core processor, 4G and Long Term Evolution technology. A Retina Display is also widely hoped for, however the same expectations were set for iPad2. Judging by the success of Apple’s previous launches: the first iPad, that sold three million in 80 days after its release in 2010 and almost 15 million that year, as well as iPad2, which was bought by one million people in 28 days after launching, iPad3 can count on widespread interest.

In other news Samsung received two out of four most significant GSMA awards at Mobile World Congress. Samsung was announced the Device Manufacturer of the Year and its Galaxy S II was crowned the Best Smartphone, defeating Apple’s iPhone4 which was granted the award last year. Samsung was praised for ‘outperforming rivals in a tough market’ and its overall progress. The company seems to have dominated the smartphone market as its Galaxy S III, to be launched later this year, is supposed to raise the bar for Android devices.

Apple received the Best Mobile Tablet award for its iPad2, a product that ‘has defined the market and dominated sales.’ With iPad3, expected to come out in March, Apple became a major competitor in the tablet market. However, its dominant position may be threatened by some recent innovations: a string of tablets created by Google's Android operating system as well as new category of tablet devices powered by Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system. Microsoft will run through the details of Windows 8 on Wednesday at an event in Barcelona. It takes Microsoft one step closer to its goal: the ultimate integration of the PC, tablet, and smartphone experience, which Apple is also aiming to achieve with its iOS and OS X platforms.

It is comforting to see that new launches still take place despite patent and trademark battles that major technological players have been involved in recently. It confirms that innovation remains a central focus for manufacturers and not all efforts are concentrated on lawsuits and disputes.

Samsung | Sony | Apple | Microsoft

Apple remains in the centre of patent and trademark disputes

noreply@blogger.com (WAE+) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 12:27:00 +0000

It has not been the best start to the year for Apple so far. Lengthy patent abuse and trademark battles prove both frustrating and costly. One of the most important and problematic lawsuits that the firm is currently dealing with is the trademark dispute raised by company called Proview.

Also see: Apple could face a ban on iPad sales in China

According to the Chinese company Apple used ‘deception’ when acquiring its rights to the iPad name in 2009. The firm claims it sold the trademark to a UK-registered ‘special purpose’ firm called IP Application Development Ltd (IPADL) as it was an abbreviation of the company name. In court filings Proview accused Apple and IPADL of fraudulent activity.

The company believes that in 2009 Apple’s lawyers created IPADL firm solely to obtain the iPad trademark rights without disclosing its link to Apple. Furthermore, one of IPADL’s representatives communicating with Proview via e-mail, Graham Robinson, is believed to have used a fake name, introducing himself as Jonathan Hargreaves. Mr Robinson currently works for a UK company specialising in intellectual property issues but it declined to issue any comments.

According to the case filings IPADL misrepresented why they needed the trademark assuring Proview that it will not use the trademark to compete with the Chinese firm. It is now seeking up to ¥10bn (£1bn) in compensation as well as requests to void the 2009 deal in which it sold the rights to the trademark for $55,000. A month after the trademark deal Apple launched the iPad. Apple in turn accused Proview of failing to honour the agreement in China. Hong Kong court has ruled in favour of Apple in this matter. The Shanghai district court also rejected Proview's demands for Apple to stop selling the iPad.

Proview, which has filed for bankruptcy, is still counting on making a comeback after solving all problems with their competitors. It mainly relies on the outcome of the ongoing dispute with Apple. Despite the unfavourable rulings in Hong Kong and Shanghai the case is still to be heard in the higher court in Guangdong, southern Chinese province.

Proview has not always been that unlucky. It was once a major international player and significant manufacturer. The Chinese company benefited from the first wave of technological innovation providing computers and screens to many companies across China and the world. However, Apple was more successful in embracing the second wave when mobile consumer devices became a necessity.

The dispute between Apple, the technological giant, and Proview, a company on the verge of collapsing, shows how unstable and uncertain technological industry is. Trademark battles can make or break a business.

Also see: Patent disputes: protecting manufacturers or threatening innovation? | Apple forced to disable push email service in Germany | | Samsung and the patent abuse

Apple TV | Apple iPad | Apple Accessories | Apple Covers

Apple forced to disable push email service in Germany

noreply@blogger.com (WAE+) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 11:41:00 +0000

Apple has been forced to disable iCloud and MobileMe push capabilities on mobile devices for its users in Germany.
Push email automatically send messages to users’ devices as soon as they are delivered, without having to load the mail program first. Receiving e-mail using other settings, opening the Mail app, to obtain them is still possible.
A court in Germany ruled that Apple's push technology infringed Motorola Mobility’s patent. Motorola claims that its patent, which dates back to the times of the pager, covers Apple's implementation of ‘push’ systems. Apple is appealing against the decision as it believes its own patent is valid.

This infringement only affects push service on mobile devices, other services remain unaffected.

While the company appeals against the court ruling iCloud users can find suggestions for temporary solutions they can follow on Apple’s German website, in the support section.
Apple and Motorola Mobility have been involved in a number of patent battles in for weeks. In December Apple was forced to remove some of its iPad and iPhone models from its online store in Germany after Motorola raised a patent dispute against it. The court case was related to the use of 3G and UMTS systems. However Apple complained about the decision claiming the injunction was abusing the Frand patents, essential patents that should be available to any company willing to license them. Microsoft also filed a similar complaint against Motorola.

Earlier this month Apple won a dispute with Motorola over ‘slide to unlock’ feature on smart phones. Motorola ensures it will not affect current users and confirms that has a new design in place.

Also see: Patent dsputes: protecting manufacturers or threatening innovation? | Apple could face a ban on iPad sales in China | Samsung and the patent abuse

Samsung | Motorola | Apple | Microsoft

The long history of a pen

noreply@blogger.com (WAE+) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:26:00 +0000

The word pen comes from the Latin word penna which means feather. It is a device used to apply ink to a surface, for writing or drawing. Historically, reed pens, quill pens, and dip pens were used with various nibs to be dipped in the ink.

The ballpoint pen is the most common, convenient and inexpensive type of pen. Recently, it has replaced the fountain pen as the most popular tool for everyday use. Fountain pen contains a reservoir that can be refillable or disposable, this disposable type being an ink cartridge. Another popular type of pen is a marker, felt-tip pen, which has a porous tip of fibrous material. The smallest, finest-tipped markers are mainly used for writing on paper and larger ones for marking or writing on other surfaces such as whiteboards and chalkboards. Markers with wide tips and bright but transparent ink, called highlighters, are used to mark existing text. A rollerball pen is similar to ballpoint pen as it dispenses a water-based liquid or gel ink through a ball tip. Gel inks’ purpose is to combine the smooth effect of the fountain pen and convenience of the ballpoint one.

The first people that we know about to use pen-like devise cut from reed or rushes were the Sumerians that inhabited Mesopotamia some 3500 years ago. This system of writing with several thousand characters was primarily used for recording commercial transactions. The Egyptians also developed their system of Hieroglyphics by initially using reeds and clay tablets but they later improved their technique by developing papyrus scrolls. Similarly, the Chinese used brushes made from animal hair dipped in inks. The Chinese also invented process of making paper but kept it secret until the 8th Century when the knowledge was acquired by the Arabs.

Around the 7^th century the reed pen was replaced by quills. Some of the Dead Sea Scrolls were written with the quill pens or bird feathers. Quill pens continued to be applied after the fall of the Roman Empire up until the 18th century, and were used to write and sign the Constitution of the United States in 1787.

The earliest historical record of a reservoir fountain pen dates back to the 10th century Egypt. Ma'ād al-Mu'izz, the caliph of Egypt at the time demanded a pen which would not stain his clothes and hands however it is still unclear how the pen worked. A more modern version of the reservoir pen was developed in 1636 by Daniel Schwenter. He invented a pen made from two quills: one served as a reservoir for ink inside the other. A metal pen point was patented in 1803 but it was not commercially exploited until 1822 when John Mitchell started to mass produce pens with metal nibs. Improvements in design meant that by 1831, the steel nib had become a serious competitor to the quill. There were many innovations of the classic fountain pen but it was not until the 1850s that steel pens gained widespread popularity.

Over the years the fountain pen has continued to develop through improved filling systems, materials and nibs however it also faced competition from more recent innovations like ball-point pen which was patented in 1888 by The patent was granted to John J Loud. In 1938, a Hungarian newspaper editor, László Bíró, and his brother George began to work on designing a new type of pen with a tiny ball in its tip that could turn in a socket. As the pen moved along the paper, the ball rotated, picking up ink from the cartridge and leaving it on the paper. Bíró was issued a British patent in 1938 and later formed Bíró Pens in Argentina. By 1943 the first commercial models were available. Shortly after the invention of ballpoint pens felt tip pens and rollerballs were introduced. The first felt tip pen was invented in 1960s in Japan by Yukio Horie. Over the years marker pens and highlighters became very popular. Rollerball pens were first patented in the early 1970s and technological advances achieved during the late 1980s and early 1990s have improved the roller ball's overall performance.

Although the digital world has overtaken the handwriting craft in business and general communications, writing has remained a means of expressing ones individuality. Pens still offer intellectuals an opportunity to express themselves in a more meaningful and personal way.

Did you know... ?

A Bic Biro Chandelier was crafted by Spanish design company enPieza 'as a tribute to a classic plastic design.' This limited-edition chandelier is made from 347 polystyrene Bic Cristal pens and 347 paperclipson and is a testament to clever recycling.

More than two billion pens are manufactured in the United States annually.

The most expensive pen in the world is made from white gold, adorned with rubies, sapphires, or emeralds and accented by diamonds. It costs $ 730,000. Each pen has 840 diamonds and more than 20 carats of stones placed at the Van Cleef & Arpels patented ‘Mystery Setting’.

Most ball-point pens will draw a line 4,000 to 7,500 feet long.

The biggest collection of ball-point pens is held by Angelika Unverhau from Dinslaken. She has collected more than 220,000 pens from 146 countries. She founded a club for ball-point pen collectors who meet twice a year to trade pens.

During the heat of the space race in the 1960's, NASA decided it needed a ball point pen to write in the zero gravity confines of its space capsules. After considerable research and development, the Astronaut Pen was developed at a cost of $1 million U.S. The pen worked and also enjoyed some modest success as a novelty item back here on earth. The Soviet Union, faced with the same problem, used a pencil.

Apple and worker abuse allegations

noreply@blogger.com (WAE+) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:43:00 +0000

Apple contractor Foxconn raised wages by 25 per cent in response to recent allegations of worker abuse in their factory in China. Apple is now facing a ‘Nike moment’ when it was revealed that Nike used cheap labour in its factories in the Far East in 1990s. Nike received a lot of negative publicity for it although it was not the worst case at that time. The same is now happening to Apple.

Foxconn makes iPads and iPhones under contract to Apple in giant factories that employ and house over a million Chinese workers. They are run with very strict, almost military, discipline demanding employees to work six or seven days a week for up to 14 hours a day for very low wages. Workers also assemble Xbox 360 video game consoles for Microsoft, and computers for Dell and Hewlett-Packard. However Apple, as the main user of Foxconn’s facilities remains primary focus of negative media coverage. Other companies, like Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft and Dell, have not yet commented on their assembly activities.

The claims of bad working conditions date back to 2010, when thirteen workers at a factory run by Foxconn committed suicide. Last year another scandal was revealed when four people were killed in a fire in one of the factories in southwest China. Another Apple supplier has reported several workers being injured after using a toxic chemical to clean iPhone screens at a factory in Jiangsu.

Following these incidents and spate of suicides caused by distress and long working hours the salaries were increased by 25 per cent. This has been the second rise, which more than doubled basic salaries, since working conditions in the factory came under intense control from the Fair Labour Association. Apple's chief executive, Tim Cook, said last week that the company took working conditions very seriously and it was committed to creating fair and safe work environment. After the pay rises Foxconn’s staff now receive 1,800-2,500 yuan a month which is between £180 and £250. Foxconn claims it is now co-operating with the FLA inspectors to improve working environment in the factories. Workers welcomed the pay rises. Many agreed that if it was not for the deaths that forced the company to rethink how it treated its workers, the changes would not have been made.

Despite the scandal Apple’s popularity and sales seem to be unaffected. Problem of cheap labour and poor working conditions however will not change immediately. Consumers need to be prepared to bear some of the cost, instead of looking for the lowest possible prices.

Apple TV | Apple iPad | Apple Accessories | Apple Covers

Pancake Day Traditions

noreply@blogger.com (WAE+) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:43:00 +0000

Shrove Tuesday, popularly known as Pancake Day, over the years became one of Britain’s most celebrated traditions. Originally it was the day when everyone was expected to confess their sins and be ‘shriven’ ready for the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday. During the period of Lent the devout were expected to practice abstinence, including not eating meat, dairy or eggs. Therefore housewives would cook all dairy products on Tuesday, using up rich foods such as eggs, milk and sugar, before the fasting season of Lent. The idea of eating pancakes on the day before Ash Wednesday is over 1,000 years old. Pancakes in Britain are traditionally served with lemon and sugar, but equally delicious with golden syrup, jam, fruit or ice-cream.

Pancake-racing is one of the more unlikely events on the British sporting calendar and takes place in many towns and villages each Shrove Tuesday. The main objective of the race is obviously to get to the finishing line first. There are, however some obstacles as you race carrying a frying pan with a (cooked) pancake in it whilst flipping the pancake a number of times. The skill therefore lies not so much in the running of the race itself but in flipping and catching the pancake, which must be intact when crossing the finishing line.

Below you can find more interesting facts about the Pancake Day traditions:

1. The first recorded pancake race took place in Olney, Buckinghamshire, England in 1445 and it’s now a tradition that continues all over England. It is said that a housewife of Olney was so busy making pancakes that she forgot the time. When she heard the church bells ringing for mass she ran out of her house, still carrying her pan and pancake.

2. The first pancake recipe appeared in an English cookbook in the 15th century.

3. The largest number of pancakes tossed in the shortest amount of time is 349 tosses in two minutes, which was achieved by Dean Gould at Felixstowe, Suffolk in 1995.

4. The longest race in the quickest time was held in Melbourne, Australia. Jan Stickland covered 384m in 59.5 seconds on 19 February

5. The largest pancake ever made and flipped measured 15.01m wide, 2.5cm deep and weighed 3 tonnes. It was made in Rochdale, Greater Manchester during August 1994.1985.

6. It is customary in France to touch the handle of the frying pan and make a wish while the pancake is turned, holding a coin in one hand.

7. In Newfoundland, Canada on Pancake Day people place items in the pancake batter before it is cooked to tell the future of their family members. If a boy receives item for a trade, it means he will enter the trade but if a girls receives item from a trade, it means she will marry a person from the trade.

8. Maple Syrup was originally a sweet drink, discovered by the Algonquin Indians who collected sap from Canadian sugar maple trees and then boiled to produce the delicious beverage.

9. The first ready-mix food which was sold commercially was Aunt Jemima pancake flour. It was invented in 1889 in St. Joseph, Missouri. It was not very popular at the beginning.

10. Pancake Tuesday is known as Carnivale in Italy which comes from the Latin for ‘goodbye to the flesh’.

Don't be afraid to be greedy and treat yourself! That's what Pancake Day is for!
Pancake Mix | Maple Syrup |Coffee | Tea | Sugar

British Economy

noreply@blogger.com (WAE+) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:45:00 +0000

Despite the Bank of England’s assurances that the UK is unlikely to enter recession this year, country’s economic situation remains unstable and the risk of economic decline is still real. In order to boost the economy the government now decided to focus primarily on export, especially to fast growing markets like China and the rest of Asia. This strategy seems likely to bring results as Britain’s trade deficit is already decreasing from 4% of GDP in 2007 to around 1% of GDP by early 2011.

The country became too dependent on rich-world markets and although the share of exports going to Europe has fallen in the last decade, the continent still accounts for half of British exports. The Economist Intelligence Unit, however forecasts that the euro-zone economy will shrink by 1.2 per cent in 2012. America still absorbs more British exports than any other single country and although its economy still looks relatively stable, a better long-term direction for Britain would be focusing on emerging economies like Asia and Latin America.

British firms however have been quite slow to build trade links in unfamiliar markets, like China, India and Brazil. Furthermore, the products that are especially attractive to these fast growing economies, like natural-resource or capital goods: machine tools, are not UK’s main strengths. The recent success of Britain’s car industry suggests there is still hope. Although domestic car sales fell by 4.2 per cent in the year to November, exports to China increased 23 per cent, and sales to India were up by 67 per cent.

Sales in other retail areas also rose significantly, however some economists warn that the latest figures hide deeper problems. Despite the unexpected increase in UK retail sales some high street stores were forced to close down. Retail sales went up by 0.9 per cent in January compared to the previous month, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics. That came as a surprise as the sales volume was expected to decline in January.

Shoppers benefited from generous discounts and promotions as retailers tried to attract customers. This boost in sales helped counter retail inflation by dragging it down to its lowest level for more than two years. However, the Office for National Statistics report does not represent growth in spending as such, but people getting more for their money. With growing unemployment, tightening credit conditions and minimal real incomes, the conditions for consumers are still tough.

According to PwC Local Data Company Britain's chain retailers closed on average 14 stores a day across the UK in 2011. Big retailers like bookshops, electrical stores or home furnishings fell in numbers but charity shops and pound stores expanded and proved to be much more successful. Internet outlets and supermarkets were also amongst the biggest drivers of the increase in sales volumes. The figures from the ONS showed that internet sales now account for about 12 per cent of total sales, up from 9 per cent in January last year.

The problem for electrical stores and bookshops are not only online competitors but their large property portfolios. Too many locations do not necessarily generate higher sales. Many retail space landlords struggle to keep their tenants despite having lowered the rent. Matthew Hopkinson, director of the Local Data Company, expressed his concern with the fall in retail outlets: ‘In the past the closures were offset by openings but 2011 has shown a true decline in multiple retail and leisure outlets across Great Britain.’

Patent disputes: protecting manufacturers or threatening innovation?

noreply@blogger.com (WAE+) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:19:00 +0000

Patent disputes are becoming increasingly common, particularly now that smartphone and tablet market grows. Large technology companies like Apple, Motorola and Samsung fight for market share trying to find elements of their products and pieces of intellectual property that make them unique. These ‘patent wars’ are defining future innovations and design of smartphones as well as tablets.

Frand-patent disputes

Steve Jobs last year claimed Apple wanted to destroy Android for infringing its patents and called for more clarity over how patents should be handled. The company complained that the rules protecting intellectual property are neither transparent nor consistent. Both Samsung and Motorola sued Apple over Frand principles, which were put in place to ensure that technologies crucial to the industry are distributed under fair and non-discriminatory terms. Apple committed itself to these rules in 2007. Last year it also sued its rivals for alleged infringements on its non-Frand patents.

In the letter sent to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute Apple requested ‘appropriate royalty rate’ and ‘common royalty base’ as well as no injunction policy under which patent holders cannot block sale of rivals’ products on the basis of Frand-patent dispute. The letter followed Frand-type patent dispute with Samsung as well as Motorola. Samsung attempted to sue Apple last year, but a Dutch court refused the claim as being too expensive. The European Commission is still investigating whether Samsung failed to license key technologies to its rivals and used its rights to ‘distort competition in European mobile device markets’.

Also see: Samsung and the patent abuse

Disputes with Motorola

Last week’s dispute with Motorola forced Apple to temporarily remove several of its devices, mainly iPads and IPhones, from its German online store. Its main focus was on GPRS data transmission standard used by GSM cellular networks- an innovation considered crucial to the industry. The ban was therefore suspended after Apple made a new licence payment offer. Another court dispute with Motorola centred around Apple’s iCloud and MobileMe. Motorola claimed that Apple infringed its patent on two-way communications between pagers and other devices. Apple however appealed against the decision considering the patent to be invalid.

Its latest lawsuit against Motorola focused on ‘slide-to-unlock’ feature on smartphones. The patent was granted to Apple in March 2010 and the company won the dispute. This marks company’s first patent victory over Motorola and is considered a very important win in the battle between Apple and Android. The defeated firm however believes the decision will have no impact on supply or future sales and plans to appeal against the judgement.

Motorola Mobility is currently in the process of being acquired by Google. Most of its handsets run on Android - Google's mobile operating system, which is Apple's closest rival in the mobile market. Although the judgement relates only to activity in the German market, the decision could potentially help Apple with other patent disputes. Microsoft and Cisco back Apple in the matter. Microsoft has also forced some Android handset makers to pay it for the use of some of its patents following the letter Apple wrote.

Most manufacturers are in favour of Frand-type agreements, particularly when they are on the receiving end of a lawsuit, however the principle cannot compromise rights of patent holders. On the other hand there is a worry that patent wars may hinder innovation. They are especially discouraging for small businesses that can not afford to get involved in lengthy legal battles. If large technology companies keep focusing all their resources on legal proceedings and smaller players are discouraged from launching new products, further development may be much slower in the future.

Samsung | Motorola | Apple | Microsoft