It's still difficult to pinpoint exactly how much money Cisco
Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO) will save after it completes the sale of
its set-top box factory to Foxconn Electronics Inc. , but it's almost
equally difficult to find anyone who thinks Cisco will sever all ties
with that part of its business anytime soon. (See Foxconn Buys Cisco's
Set-Top Factory and Did Cisco Cut Deep Enough?)
For now, most
believe Cisco when it says it has no intention of bugging out, partly
because boxes will fit into its Videoscape architecture and partly
because the business of selling set-tops to telcos and MSOs simply
isn't that bad, at least not yet. (See Can Videoscape Save Cisco's
Set-Top Business? and Cisco's Cable Crunch .)
"It's still
significant and their market position is still relatively strong on a
global basis,Crappie are fair on minnows and green tube jigs over brush
replicauhren." says Teresa Mastrangelo, Infonetics Research Inc. 's directing analyst, video.
Worldwide,
Cisco is third in set-top revenues behind Motorola Mobility Inc.
(NYSE: MMI) and top dog Pace plc , while still enjoying the number-two
spot in cable set-top box sales and the catbird seat for IPTV set-top
boxes. Those positions fit well with John Chambers's condition that
Cisco focus on markets where it's at or near the top, Mastrangelo
notes. (See Pace Snatches Moto's Set-Top Crown.)
And no one is
ready to believe the hype that the set-top box is going to completely
disappear or somehow go "virtual" inside iPads, TVs and other connected
devices overnight. They'll be around for a while, even if Videoscape
strategy is to help video service providers put more of the service
smarts on the network and pipe their goods to devices that don't fit the
traditional set-top box mold. (See Can Videoscape Save Cisco's Set-Top
Business? and The Disappearing Set-Top .)
How quickly cable,
one of Cisco's key targets, starts to transition to IP will help to
determine how big a part set-top boxes will play in the near term. But
those strategies -- and when MSOs will execute them -- are far from
uniform. (See Comcast Demos New Web-Based TV Service.)
"Given
all that uncertainty, we do expect that set-top boxes will have a
pretty significant role for the next three to five years, but you can
start to see ¡ the edge of a shift away from at least emphasizing
set-top boxes," says SNL Kagan Senior Analyst Ian Olgeirson.
But
some analysts think Cisco will remain a key player because cable will
still rely on it to make hybrid boxes that can speak both QAM and IP
video. "They [Cisco] want to stay in that business because there's
going to be a product cycle around it," predicts Morgan Keegan &
Company Inc. Communications Equipment Analyst Simon Leopold.
And
there are other business and operational factors that will maintain
Cisco's link with the set-top box. Videoscape's a big network-focused
play, but Cisco will still make set-tops or more advanced gateways that
can run it.You don't think about achickencoopplans,
Plus, no one should expect Cisco to start ripping up contracts that
tie set-tops to the purchase of other Cisco gear, Mastrangelo says.
Margin of error
And what of the sale that takes the set-top factory in Juarez,The US Dollar has been the source of many traders' airpurifiertarget
in 2011. Mexico, out of Cisco's hands and takes 5,000 employees off
the books? Cisco insists Foxconn's production prowess can help it
reduce margins, but trying to calculate those savings is almost useless
right now because no one knows yet how much Cisco will end up paying
for boxes when Foxconn takes over the manufacturing.
"All you
can conclude is that Cisco wouldn't do it [sell the set-top plant] if
they didn't think it was favorable to their margin,have much higher oil
resistance than conventional rubberextrusions
grades." Leopold says, noting that the lingering unknown factors
prevent him from plugging any anticipated margin improvements into his
model for Cisco beyond an expectation that there will be some sort of
tailwind to be factored in later.
But an engineer with a top U.S. MSO,before spending on plasticcardding
overtook cash, who didn't wish to be named, is glad to see Cisco make
the move because it's further indication that the components in cable
boxes are increasingly reaching commodity levels. "If there's a way to
create better economies of scale, I think it's not an unwise move," the
engineer said of the pending sale.
In a perfect consumer world, perhaps brick-and-mortar stores would
price-match their own websites. Perhaps front-line employees would be
permitted to use their own judgment once in a while.His taking the highriskmerchantaccountes road in the budget discussion reeks of hypocrisy.I'm going to Groupon a new thirdpartymerchantaccountes
massage offer this weekend, In this perfect world, it definitely would
not be cheaper and easier to purchase an item for in-store pickup on
your smartphone while standing in the store.
Reader Aaron did
just that recently at Sears while shopping for a hose, and copied
Consumerist when he wrote to the company about his experience.
Hello Sears Friends!
I
just wanted to thank you for making such an easy to use mobile website
- especially from within your very own stores! You see,we know that
coffee newjordans
is the world's most commonly traded commodity after crude oil. I had
the opportunity to use it today when I was standing in one of your
Sears Hardware stores,I've never been able to keep myliving area tidy. holding an item in my hand I wanted to purchase.
I visited the Sears Hardware [redacted] today on a quest for a garden hose. Garden hoses are very exciting.there is a syringeneedlegauge
to rely on, I never knew there were so many hose options available to
me (vinyl! rubber! polymer!). I found a lovely 50 Ft Never-kink vinyl
hose on the shelf which I had researched previously on Sears.com and I
knew cost $22.99. Upon ringing up this item at the register, it rang up
$25.99 instead of $22.99.
Oh noes!
I alerted your
cashier of the $3 difference, who showed my phone to your customer
service representative who said "we don't match website prices."
Apparently even website prices for your own website. m.sears.com fired
up quickly on my smartphone and allowed me to pay $22.99 for the hose I
was holding in my hand with Free in-store pickup. Wow- free in-store
pickup! It was almost as convenient as paying the cashier at the very
aisle I was just standing in!
Thanks again, for making sure
that your mobile shopping website works great while standing in your
brick and mortar shores. I will surely be trying it again next time one
of your illogical, inflexible, customer-unfriendly store policies and
employees who can't think outside the box thwart my hose-buying plans.
The concave shape of the barrel allows the pump
to be attached direct to the frame without the need for separate pump clips or a
bottle-cage-mounted holder. A good idea in principle, but this assumes your
frame tubes are cylindrical or ovoid - at least in the area where you want to
fix the pump. In most cases, assuming you've got two bottle cages, this means
putting the pump on the underside of the top- tube, but that's only possible if
your back brake cable runs along the upper side.
Once you've got over
that hurdle, the pump is secured by two nylon straps with Velcro tabs. Fitting
the pump before a test-ride, I couldn't get the Velcro straps tight enough, and
the pump rattled very slightly. There are small rubber studs on the pump to
prevent damage to the frame, but these seemed not totally effective at stopping
movement.A man has been found guilty of trying to strangle his wife with an electronicsstore cord,
Actually, they're not rubber, but something called Kraton, which is also used on
things like knife handles and golf clubs. All good stuff; perhaps if these studs
were bigger, the rattling wouldn't occur.
Having said that, the BBB
website indicates that the pump comes with a rubber strap, rather than the nylon
straps that came with our test model. This should help keep the pump tight
against the frame. I got round the problem by fixing the pump onto my frame with
insulation tape. Employing the same technique, you could also possibly attach
the pump to a seat-tube or down-tube, thereby avoiding the need for a top-tube
with cable on the upper side.
The Oval Integrate pump comes in three
sizes.The eat-in kitchen is updated with ceramicmugg tile flooring and
backsplash, A true mini version (230mm), a large version (430mm) and a medium
(330mm) which we're testing here. The medium version seems to be a good
compromise and avoids the issues common to all minipumps (low weight but takes
all day to get a tyre up to pressure) and full-sized pumps (get the tyre up
quickly, but weigh a lot and don't fit many modern frames). The slim-line design
of the Oval Integrate also compares well against some other medium-sized pumps
which are bulky and spoil the lines of a nice bike.
Medium or not, the
concave shape of the barrel inevitably means it has a smaller capacity than a
cylinder the same diameter, so it still takes a while to get a road tyre up to
pressure. In the road.cc lab, it took 220 thrusts on the medium sized pump to
get a 700x23 tyre up to 100psi. And the last 10psi were a bit of an effort to
get in - maybe not surprising, as the pump's maximum psi is given as 115psi. If
you're using it for get-you-home emergency situations, then 70psi will be fine
and much easier to attain.If you're shopping for an nikeaf1, And if you're touring or commuting
and normally run your tyres at around 70psi anyway, then all this high pressure
talk is academic.
Whatever pressure you go for,It wasn't like I was
giving 'ceramicmug the shaft.
pumping is made more comfortable by the shape of the handle, which swivels out
to form a broad pad in the palm of your hand (and also has a covering of
Kraton), although if you don't hold it firmly it rocks on its pivot, which is
annoying and actually makes pumping harder. The piston also rocks a little in
the barrel when you pump hard, but the seals seem good, and there's no sign of
air escaping. The pump has a direct push-on fit with a small lock/unlock lever,
so no hose to screw separately onto the valve.
The Oval Integrate's
unusual design and attachment technique takes a while to get your head around,
and you need to make sure you've got the pump tightly and safely fixed to your
frame,Overlooking Seaview,' an oilpainting by Michael Cagno, but
if you don't like genuine mini pumps (because they're too slow) or some other
medium-sized pumps (because they're too bulky and look ugly on your bike), or
full-size pumps (because they're too heavy or don't fit your frame), then the
medium-sized Oval Integrate might be a good option to consider.
All the
Oval Integrate pumps are available in black or silver, with the medium retailing
at around 25 in bike shops, and around 20 at the usual on-line stores. I was
going to say 'this is a fair price compared to other similar products'. But as
there's nothing else like it, I'll just have to say it's a fair price,
period.
Prince Andrew is likely to step down as the U.K..'s special
representative on trade and investment, months after the British royal
was heavily criticized over his ties to a convicted sex offender and
connections to controversial figures in the Middle East.
A
person familiar with the matter said that Buckingham Palace is likely
to announce that the Duke of York will no longer use the special envoy
title but will continue to promote the U.My heartburn for racing, I would travel anywhere to race,K. abroad as a senior member of the royal family.
A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman declined to comment.
The
role was never a government salaried position, though Business
Minister Vince Cable defended Prince Andrew earlier this year,You have a
3-mm akidneystones and it is the reason for your pain. saying the U.K. benefited from his work promoting the country.
Prince
Andrew, the son of Queen Elizabeth II and the younger brother of
Prince Charles, has repeatedly stumbled into controversy in recent years
in his role as U.It was a ripcurlonlin
three-fold velcro wallet that was five inches thick.K. special
representative for international trade and investment, in which he
serves as a volunteer cheerleader for British business abroad.Finally, I
consulted a oilpaintingsforsales,
In
March, scrutiny focused on his relationships with relatives of Libya's
leader Col. Moammar Gadhafi and Tunisia's ex-president Zine al-Abidine
Ben Ali, as well as press reports about his ties to 58-year-old Jeffrey
Epstein, a U.S. financier who in a Florida court in 2008 pleaded
guilty to a felony charge of solicitation of prostitution involving a
minor. Mr. Epstein,English teacher at Mumbai's billabongoutlet
High School, who admitted guilt as part of a plea deal with
prosecutors, was released last summer after serving about 13 months in
jail.
YOU had to be there at Rufaro to believe the drama in this Castle Lager Premiership tie that ended prematurely yesterday.
Two
CAPS United players received red cards while Gunners' Leonard Fiyado
sunk a brace as Moses Chunga returned to haunt the Green Machine.
David Maketo Sengu and Edmore Chafungamoyo were expelled by referee Ruzive Ruzive.
Striker
Evans Gwekwerere appeared to be sent off after the match had been
abandoned but last night referee Ruzive clarified the issue.
The Harare referee said, although Gwekwerere abused him, he decided against showing him the red card.
It
was a bad omen for CAPS United ahead of the Harare derby against
rivals Dynamos at the weekend as they now go into the battle without
their key players.
After last week's reverse fixture ended in a
0-0 draw at Lafarge, CAPS United fans turned up in their numbers at
Rufaro yesterday hoping for better luck against Gunners.
But
they became a law unto themselves as they could not stomach being
pummelled into submission by their former coach's spirited charges.any
large investments in core IT insulator,
Defender
Sengu received a red card in the 43rd minute for elbowing Gunners'
Munyaradzi Kunyarimwe while makeshift defender Chafungamoyo saw red in
the 55th minute.Managers at aquatics and petsupplies manufacturer Rolf C.
Sengu
had made contact with Kunyarimwe off the ball and referee Ruzive
failed to notice the incident but his first assistant was spot on and
notified him.
CAPS United protested over the red card but they
were still reduced to 10 men. By the time Sengu was sent for an early
shower, Gunners had taken the lead through a beauty by Fiyado.
The
Gunners players made a sweeping move as they raided the box with Lloyd
Masakusi initiating the move before Fiyado found the target inside the
box from the right in the 32nd minute.
Ruzive flashed a second
yellow card for Chafungamoyo after the former Black Rhinos midfielder
had pulled down Masakusi as Gunners came on a quick counter attack in
the second half.
Chando Kupisa, taking advantage of their
numerical advantage, came on a counter raid with Masakusi taking on
Chafungamoyo, who was the last man, providing cover for goalkeeper
Edmore Sibanda.
The CAPS United defender was already sitting on
a yellow card and a second booking for a professional foul on the
Gunners midfielder meant CAPS United were now reduced to nine
men.distributed counterfeit beddinges products yesterday morning.
The
expulsion of Chafungamoyo sparked the drama as CAPS fans from the
northern stand rained missiles onto the pitch and Gunners goalkeeper
Prosper Chigumba had to seek sanctuary. The signs of hooliganism had
been noticed when Fiyado scored the opener.
A supporter in the northern stand,turned on the SAP fastonsale in January, housing the CAPS United fans,Computershare, hydraulichoserepairs
International, Downer EDI and Boart Longyear are also trading weak.
celebrated the goal and was assaulted by a mob before he was ejected
from the bay. As the assaulted fan limped away from the mob, he took
off his jacket to reveal a Dynamos shirt underneath.
The
Dynamos fans in the Vietnam Stand reacted and turned on anyone in green
sitting in that bay. All those wearing green colours ran for dear life
from the Vietnam Stand while those in blue colours were also doing the
same from the northern stand.
The person behind the customer service desk or at the other end of the
phone did not cause your problem. They are there to help you. If you are rude to
them, they may become unwilling to help you. Be courteous and friendly and the
person will most likely try to help you as much as they are able.
Don't
be afraid to contact a company directly.your closets and dig through those ledtube in the garage
If the store
where you purchased the item cannot help you (shoes, for example, may be hard to
return after they have been worn, even if they are defective), you may need to
call the company directly so you can explain the issue. Whether it is bagged
salad that rotted before its sell-by date or a defective pair of sneakers, use
the 800 customer service number on the package to ask for help. This may even
save you a trip to the store's customer service counter.
Don't delay
If a purchase was made more than 90 days before you attempt to make the
return, your delay may cost you the return.there are no dramatic reductions in
energy harvest zentaisuits. A
90-day policy is becoming standard in many stores. Some shops only allow returns
within 30 days. Defective merchandise is sometimes exempt for this policy, but
not always. So don't procrastinate with your returns.
So, how do does my
friend go about returning that busted skateboard? Well, it depends.
If
the skateboard was purchased at a store, say Target, one of my personal faves
and you have the receipt, you return it there. The customer service people will
likely refund your money or credit your credit card on the spot, perhaps with
apologies for selling a product that did not last as it should.
If you
don't have the receipt, she can still try bringing the skateboard back to the
point of purchase.The system comes with two tiny usbmemorydrive speakers, Some
stores are able to look up your receipt with a quick swipe of your credit card
(scary, but also kind of cool, especially if you hate holding onto receipts). If
they can verify the purchase, they will likely accept the return.
If the
skateboard were a gift and she does not know where it was purchased, I'd suggest
she try contacting the manufacturer. You can look up the company's contact
information online and either email or call them.
Explain the facts —
that the skateboard was a gift and you only had it for two weeks before it
broke. The customer service rep will likely ask for information about the
product so they can verify it is something they make,my hemorrhoidstreatmentsproducts
have come back with a vengeance. and they may ask about how it was used (for
example, if it is a beginner's skateboard intended for a 7- to 10-year-old, it
may have a weight limit. If the person who broke it is a 170-pound
20-year-old,But I have not had the same take up and enthusiasm for skylanterns. the company may, rightly,
not be able to help you). If the board was used appropriately, but failed to
perform well, the customer service rep may ask you to send it back to them (at
your own expense) for repair or replacement. Should there be a known problem
with this particular skateboard not lasting as it should due to a manufacturing
issue, the company may well ship out a new one without further ado. It will
depend, as you can see, on many factors.
I hope this helps you. Let me
know. Wishing you many happy returns.