iOS 8.0.2 Covering the Flaws..!!!
Latest Update: iOS 8.0.2
Niche Market Products & Example
Niche Market
Products
1. Ulysse Nardin
According
to the CEO of Ulysse Nardin – a Swiss brand that exports wristwatches to countries in all the continents
of the world – the company is going to expand its presence in Pakistan because
its timepieces have consistently sold in good quantities over the last six
years.
2.
Lehman's
Lehman's ships old-fashioned, non-electric merchandise all
over the world through their website. their diverse customer base includes
missionaries and doctors working in developing countries; homesteaders and
environmentalists living in remote areas; people with unreliable electricity
living on islands and mountains; second home owners, hunters, and fishers.
3.
Ties
It focuses exclusively on men's neckties and related
products. Fashion retailer Kathy Marrou founded the company alone during the
early years of online retailing, replacing her general clothing retail
operation with one focused only on ties. As of 2011, Ties.com claims to offer
the most comprehensive selection of neckwear anywhere in the world.
4.
Lefty’s
Lefties in San Francisco sells products specifically
designed so that left-handed people won’t feel … left out. Whether you’re
looking for sewing sets or pink guitars, you’ll find a left-centric version at
Lefties.
5.
Fred
They specialize in producing a range of novelty items for
use around the house while entertaining. According to them “We’ve got a big
brick factory that’s powered by childhood memories, a strong dislike for gift
certificates at special events, and an endless urge to find new ways to make
milk come out of your nose.”
6. Zumiez
Zumiez is a niche retailer that sells products related to
surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding. It targets a primarily young group of
consumers. Zumiez sells its products online through its own website and
third-party online sellers, as well at retail locations throughout the United
States. Zumiez stores carry some products not made by Zumiez but within the
niche scope of boarding and surfing.
7. Star Plus
STAR India launched a 24-hour yoga channel only for the
people who are more concerned with their health.
8.
Surf Excel
HUL launched Surf Excel and clearly targeted it at the
premium end of the detergent market. “Our target audience is the premium
segment today and I am very focused on that segment alone,” avers Arun Iyer,
CD, Lowe Lintas
9. Ary
ARY Qtv is a Pakistani television channel with a Sunni Islam
religious focus, producing programs mainly focusing on the Ahle Sunnat Wa
Jama'at school of thought in Ummah
10.
Porsche concentrates on the sports car
Volta battery production process
INTRODUCTION
Volta Batteries is a world leader in battery manufacturing, with numerous factories and units around the world. They have all types of Motorcycle Batteries ranging from 04 Amp to 10 Amp & Automotive Batteries ranging from 32 Amp to 240 Amp. They take pride in being the only local manufacturer for all types of Maintenance Free Batteries, ranging from 32 Amp to 200 Amp. They are the only local manufacturer of Tubular Batteries ranging from 12 volts 80 Amp to 160 Amp, specialized battery for Solar Panels and Stand By Power.
We have state of the art manufacturing unit to produce quality products with more than 1000 employees. Our head office is in Islamabad and is supported by 7 regional offices across the country, enabling us to cater to the needs of our valued customer s effectively.
PRODUCT LINE
1. Dry Charge Batteries
2. Motorcycle batteries
3. VRLA Batteries
4. Tubular Batteries
RAW MATERIAL
In an alkaline battery, the cylinder that contains the cells is made of nickel-plated steel. It is lined with a separator that divides the cathode from the anode and is made of either layered paper or a porous synthetic material. The canister is sealed at one end with an asphalt or epoxy sealant that underlies a steel plate, and at the other with a brass nail driven through the cylinder. This nail is welded to a metal end cap and passed through an exterior plastic seal. Inside the cylinder, the cathode consists of a mixture of manganese dioxide, graphite, and a potassium hydroxide solution; the anode comprises zinc powder and a potassium hydroxide electrolyte.
THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS
➢ THE CATHODE
1 In an alkaline battery, the cathode actually doubles as part of the container. Huge loads of the constituent ingredients—manganese dioxide, carbon black (graphite), and an electrolyte (potassium hydroxide in solution)—are
Mixing the constituent ingredients is the first step in battery manufacture. After granulation, the mixture is then pressed or compacted into preforms—hollow cylinders. The principle involved in compaction is simple: a steel punch descends into a cavity and compacts the mixture. As it retracts, a punch from below rises to eject the compacted preform delivered by trucks and mixed in very large batches at the production site. The mixture is then granulated and pressed or compacted into hollow cylinders called preforms. Depending on the size of the battery being made, several preforms may be stacked one on top of another in a battery. Alternatively, the series of preforms can be replaced by an extruded ring of the same material.
The preforms are next inserted into a nickel-plated steel can; the combination of the preforms and the steel can make up the cathode of the battery. In a large operation, the cans are made at the battery factory using standard cutting and forming techniques. An indentation is made near the top of the can, and an asphalt or epoxy sealant is placed above the indentation to protect against leakage.
➢ THE SEPARATOR
A paper separator soaked in the electrolyte solution is then inserted inside the can against the preforms; the separator is made from several pieces of paper laid at crossgrains to each other (like plywood). Looking down at an open can, one would see what looks like a paper cup inserted into the can. The separator keeps the cathode material from coming into contact with the anode material. As an alternative, a manufacturer might use a porous synthetic fiber for the same purpose.
➢ THE ANODE
The anode goes into the battery can next. It is a gel composed primarily of zinc powder, along with other materials including a potassium hydroxide electrolyte. This gel has the consistency of a very thick paste. Rather than a solution, it is chemically a suspension, in which particles do not settle (though an appropriate filter could separate them). The gel does not fill the can to the top so as to allow space for the chemical reactions that will occur once the battery is put into use.
➢ THE SEAL
Though the battery is able to produce electricity at this point, an open cell is not practical and would exhaust its potential rapidly. The battery needs to be sealed with three connected components. The first, a brass "nail" or long spike, is inserted into the middle of the can, through the gel material and serves as a "current collector." The second is a plastic seal and the third a metal end cap. The nail, which extends about two-thirds.
The container of a typical alkaline battery, consisting of preform inserted into a steel can, also doubles as the cathode. The anode in the middle is a gel composed primarily of zinc powder. The separator between the anode and cathode is either paper or synthetic fiber that has been soaked in an electrolyte solution. In the finished battery, a plastic seal, a steel nail, and a metal top and bottom have been added. The nail is welded to the metal bottom and extends about two-thirds of the way into the can, through the anode of the way into the can, is welded to the metal end cap and then passed through the plastic seal.This seal is significantly thinner in some places than in others, so that if too much gas builds up in the can, the seal will rupture rather than the entire battery. Some battery designs make use of a wax-filled hole in the plastic; excess gas pushes through the wax rather than rupturing the battery. The seal assembly meets the indentation made in the can at the beginning of the process and is crimped in place. Theopposite end of the can (the positive end of the battery) is then closed with a steel plate that is either welded in place or glued with an epoxy-type cement.
➢ THE LABEL
Before the battery leaves the factory, a label is added identifying the type of battery, its size, and other information. The label is often paper that is simply glued to the battery. One large manufacturer has its label design printed on plastic shrink wrap: a loose fitting piece of heat-sensitive plastic is wrapped around the battery can and then exposed to a blast of heat that makes the plastic shrink down to fit tightly around the can.
Third party keyboard for iPhone...!!!!
With 3rd party keyboard you can begin from writing, to swiping, to drawing, and you can do everything in style with a million subjects and distinctive looks. To provide for you a thought of what's out there, here is an example of third party keyboard.
Swift-key Keyboard:
Swiftkey is a standout amongst the most well known option keyboards accessible on Android. Presently that Apple has at last permitted 3rd party keyboard in ios 8, you can now utilize it on your iphone or ipad too.
Benifits of Using Swiftkey:
- The Biggest benefit is that it is freely available.
- It has quite beautiful themes.
- Its Text Prediction is quite Excellent.
Drawbacks of Using Swiftkey:
- The one and biggest drawback is Privacy Issue.
- As it is new on ios so it only supports a few languages.
You Should Try it for Once. :-)
What is DROPBOX?
Dropbox is a personal cloud storage service (sometimes referred to as an online backup service) that is frequently used for file sharing and collaboration. The Dropbox application is available for Windows, Macintosh and Linux desktop operating systems. There are also apps for iPhone, iPad, Android, and BlackBerry devices.
The service provides 2 gigabytes (GB) of storage for free and up to 100 GB on various for-fee plans. Another option, Dropbox for Teams, provides 350 GB storage. The user data is stored on Amazon’s Simple Storage Service (S3) and protected with Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Advanced Encryption System (AES) 256-bit encryption.
After installation of the associated application, a Dropbox folder appears with the user’s other folders. Users can save files to the folder, add new folders, and drag and drop files among folders just as if they were all local. Files in the Dropbox folder can be accessed from anywhere with an Internet connection – the user just has to log in to his account to upload, download and share files.
To share a file, the user can generate a URL for it from the Dropbox website and send it out so that others can view it. Folders can be shared by sending an invitation from the Dropbox website. Recipients that don’t have Dropbox accounts will have to sign up to access the folder. Once a folder is shared, it will appear in the folder system for everyone who has access to it and all members will be able to make changes to files. All versions of files are saved.
Dropbox has usually been considered a consumer market service. However, it is increasingly being used within the enterprise and as such is an example of the IT consumerization trend.
The service is named for the repositories used by banks, post offices, video stores and libraries to allow people to drop items off securely.
To sign-up for dropbox click here
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Release Bringing One Last Surprise
It appears that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 release date in the United States is not over and that it will be bringing a bit of a surprise along with it as a Verizon Galaxy Note 3 Developer Edition release is apparently coming soon, according to Samsung.
Yesterday, after a lengthy pre-order, Verizon finally released the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear to its millions of customers around the United States. The device, which arrived early for those that pre-ordered, joins a number of top flight smartphones and replaces the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 as the company’s high-end Galaxy Note option.
The device has a lot of perks but like all Verizon smartphones, the device is locked down keeping those who love to customize and tinker with their smartphone at bay. However, it looks like relief might be coming soon as a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Developer Edition for Verizon has been spotted lurking on Samsung’s website with a ‘Coming Soon’ moniker attached to it.
The page advertises a device with model number SM-N900V, the same model number as the Verizon Galaxy Note 3. However, the device is listed as a Developer Edition which means that it will come with an unlocked bootloader, something that allows those to take total control over their device. Primary, it will allow users to install custom ROMs. Verizon devices are typically locked down and the Galaxy Note 3 is no different, so, this Developer Edition will provide many with relief when it arrives.
Samsung’s site doesn’t list a price for the Developer Edition but we imagine that it will boast the same $650 unlocked price tag that Verizon commands. Samsung hasn’t shown a willingness to offer any discounts to buyers in the past so there is no reason to believe that it will with the Galaxy Note 3. It’s also not clear when the device will make an appearance. The words ‘Coming Soon’ don’t always means soon. Often, it can take several weeks before Developer Editions hit shelves.
PTCL bids for rival Warid Telecom
DUBAI: Pakistan Telecommunication Co (PTCL), a unit of UAE's Etisalat, has submitted a takeover bid for rival mobile operator Warid Telecom, according to a filing with the Karachi stock exchange.
PTCL made the offer to acquire 100 per cent of Warid on Sept. 30 and it is valid for 30 days, the statement said, without giving the price offered or PTCL's plans for the company.
Reuters reported in June that Warid had been put on the block in a sale likely to fetch up to $1 billion.
The sector has been ripe for consolidation as a troubled economy and stiff competition force profit margins lower.
Buying Warid would make PTCL's Pakistani mobile business ufone the country's second-biggest mobile operator by subscribers, although it is unlikely to be the only bidder.
In September, China Mobile's Zong said it was looking seriously at acquiring Warid, the fifth-biggest Pakistani mobile company. Warid was not immediately available for comment.
Vimpelcom's Mobilink was market leader with 36.7 million subscribers at the end of May, followed by Norwegian company Telenor's 31.7 million, according to the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA), the industry regulator.
China Mobile's Zong had 20.2 million, ufone 23.9 million and Warid 12.5 million. PTCL's statement warned the bid for Warid was subject to regulatory approvals and could be complicated by a long-running dispute between Etisalat and Pakistan's government.
Etisalat owned 90 per cent of a consortium that paid $2.6 billion for a 26 per cent stake in PTCL - Pakistan's former monopoly landline operator - in 2006, giving the United Arab Emirates firm a 23 per cent holding.
But Etisalat still owes $800 million on the deal, which included transferring ownership of about 3,000 real estate properties to PTCL from the government.
Some of those properties remain in state hands and negotiations between the parties are thought to be ongoing.
Warid's subscriber base has fallen by nearly a third from a 2008-9 peak of 17.9 million, while Zong is the fastest-growing operator, nearly doubling its customer base since 2010-11.
Pakistan is seen as an attractive market in the long term - only 70 per cent of its 179 million people have a mobile subscription, while the country has yet to issue 3G licences.
An auction of the licences has been delayed since at least April 2012, but once awarded, 3G is expected to release pent-up demand for mobile data, boosting operators' revenue.
“Buying Warid can be a good idea for China Mobile, especially when new customer acquisitions have become harder,” China Mobile said in September.
“In the absence of organic growth, the only way to leapfrog established operators in terms of subscriber numbers is to make acquisitions.”
Fall of the rupee - by :- ISHRAT HUSAIN
WHY is the Pakistani currency depreciating so rapidly vis-à-vis foreign currencies? How can this trend be arrested? What is the future outlook for Pakistan’s currency? These questions must be addressed in a dispassionate manner.
Economic theory has many explanations for relative currency movements. The simplest one is that if country X records the inflation rate at 10pc per annum while country Y’s is only 2pc, the bilateral exchange rate of country X should result in depreciation of 8pc vis-à-vis country Y.
Hardly any country has economic ties with only one country. Therefore, a trade-weighted exchange rate is used where weights correspond to the relative share in trade with each country in a given basket. The US dollar dominates the multilateral basket as oil payments and other trades and services are settled in US dollars. Given that the latter is the dominant currency, the relative inflation differential between the US and Pakistan becomes a significant determinant of exchange rate movements.
Trade is not the only component of foreign exchange transactions. Workers’ remittances now equal more than 50pc of merchandise exports. Current account balances should be examined for explaining currency movement. A surplus current account implies Pakistan has become a net exporter of capital to the rest of the world.
It can either use this surplus to invest in foreign portfolios or allow its companies to invest directly in other countries. For a poor country the best bet is to add this surplus to the country’s foreign exchange reserves. The current account is, however, only one part of balance of payments, the other is the capital and financial account.
When foreigners bring in their net investment — foreign direct investment or portfolio — or the country borrows in foreign exchange these accounts become positive. The current account surplus along with this positive balance in the capital account means that the country has more foreign exchange than required.
The exchange rate then starts appreciating and we get fewer rupees for each dollar. An appreciating exchange rate makes our exports non-competitive and imports cheaper.
Thus in the next round our current account balance will turn into a deficit to be financed by capital inflows. The exchange rate will start moving towards its previous level. But if the current account remains in deficit and capital balances are negative (FDI and portfolio inflows in Pakistan have fallen from 3pc of GDP to negative during the last five years) then the demand for foreign exchange exceeds the supply.
This excess demand can only be met by drawing down foreign reserves. In 2012/13 the reserves declined by 44pc largely due to repayment to creditors. The rupee has depreciated 17pc since then despite the State Bank losing about $3.5 billion of reserves defending the currency. We faced a similar situation in 2008.
Foreign exchange reserves are a barometer of the country’s external payment capacity. Adequate reserves give a sense of confidence to those engaged in the business of import and export.
Once the reserves start moving downwards, the exporters (suppliers of foreign exchange to the inter-bank market) withhold their earnings (they are obliged to surrender the foreign exchange within 90 days) from the market expecting they will get a higher rate in the next few months thus causing a shortage of dollars in the market. The importers (those who demand foreign exchange from the same market) rush to book their orders to hedge against future depreciation.
The speculators also jump in. This increases the overall demand for dollars in the inter-bank market. As the exchange rate on any particular date is determined by the supply and demand of foreign currency available in the market the excess demand, relative to the short supply, results in depreciation.
This creeping depreciation alerts others and even housewives begin to convert their savings from rupees into dollars. The self-fulfilling prophecy is realised, and reinforces negative market sentiment, and the rupee-dollar parity keeps going down. Additional rupee liquidity in the banking system pumped by the State Bank to finance fiscal borrowing helps the holders of foreign currency as they can now retain their positions in the inter-bank market. In case the State Bank chooses to intervene in the market either by making outright payments for some lumpy imports or purchasing dollars in the forward market it has to run down its reserves. Unless these reserves are recouped their declining level will lead to the same consequences as in the case of the inter-bank transactions.
How can this trend be arrested? In the short run, the market sentiment needs to be reversed by a substantial infusion of foreign exchange or the expectation of such infusion. The present government that enjoys favourable market sentiment has tried to break this vicious cycle by negotiating an Extended Fund Facility with the IMF to essentially pay off future instalments of the IMF loan.
It’s also negotiating some quick loans worth $6bn with the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and the Islamic Development Bank. If the government fulfils its obligations for tranche releases and the programme is kept on track, it is possible that the reserves may be replenished to safe limits. Market players will thus be assured that they can sell or buy foreign exchange at a stable rate. Precautionary excess demand and speculative activity will thus gradually be reduced and the inter-bank market would be at or near the equilibrium point and the pace of depreciation will assume normalcy.
So the future outlook for Pakistani currency will squarely depend on the policy performance of the economic managers — how well and swiftly they can restore market confidence through timely measures. If the fiscal deficit is not reduced and continues to be monetised by high-powered money, the reserves remain precarious, supply shortages continue and inflationary pressures persist. This will put pressure on the exchange rate which will move along a downward adjustment path.
Should the government seriously implement the reforms it has committed itself to, the outlook may improve. Any semblance of drift, indecision, backtracking or political expediency during the implementation stage may once again derail the economy from the prescribed path.
The writer is a former governor of the State Bank of Pakistan.
Dawn news