Tuesday 22 October 2013

iPad Air

Apple has unveiled a slimmed-down version of its iPad tablet but will charge customers up to £739 to get their hands on one. The 5th generation iPad Air is 20% thinner and only weighs 470g and will be available from November 1st.  This news came on the same day as Nokia released their first ever tablet the Lumia 2520. 

Chocolate That Doesn't Melt

The maker of Cadbury chocolate is close to introducing heat-resistant bars it can sell at market stalls in Africa and some of the world's hottest places. They have been working on the product for the past ten years and now are close to creating a bar which can withstand 40 degrees and not turn to liquid.

Monday 21 October 2013

Chocolate Prices Rise

The cost of cocoa beans has soared since the start of the year, signalling a rise in the price of chocolate for consumers. More chocolate is being bought, which is though to be due to an easing in the economic crisis, despite the price of raw materials rising by more than 20%.

3D Asda

Asda, Britain's number two retailer, is offering customers a chance to be scanned and made into a detailed miniature figurine, using a 3D printer. All for just £40! Want one?

Sunday 20 October 2013

More To Come From Apple

Apple has scheduled its highly anticipated keynote for the iPad line on 22nd October. With news about the iPad 5 and iPad Mini 2 set to be released on the same day Nokia holds its innovation reinvented showcase and Microsoft Surface 2 goes on sale in the US. What will Apple have in store now?

Gourmet Popcorn

Posh popcorn makers Joe and Seph's have turned the simple snack into a best selling gourmet feast. Gin & tonic, Madras curry and lemon poppyseed are among more than 25 exotic flavours which make the traditional flavours seem old hat. The two year old business which started in a kitchen is now going from strength to strength with orders from Selfridges, Harvey Nichols & Waitsrose.

Slimline Coke

Coke are aiming to tackle the decline of impulse purchases of soft drinks with a new slimline 250ml Coke can. Over the past three years the sales of soft drinks on-the-go have fallen 6.7% prompting the new slimline version of coke to be released at a price of around 49p. Will this small can have mass appeal?

Friday 18 October 2013

Gummy Bear Boss Dies

The boss of German gummi bear maker Haribo has died aged 90. Hans Riegel, the son of the sweet maker's founder died of heart failure in Bonn. Mr Riegel inherited the firm from his father in 1946 and built it up into a firm that now employs 6,000 people.

Wet N Wild Goes Bust

When it opened in 1993 Wet N Wild at Royal Quays was the UK's largest indoor water park but now in its 20th year a note on its website read that the business 'Wet N Wild Enterprises Ltd entered administration October 14th 2013". Despite being profitable over the summer it struggled with cash flow problems over the winter months.

Restroom Restaurant

A rather unusual dining-trend popular in Asia is making its way over to the US - but it may not be for everyone. A toilet-themed restaurant is about to open with lavatory seats in place of dining chairs and meals served in urinals.

Windows 8 Update Confusion

Mircrosoft has released Windows 8.1, an update to its latest operating system which confused some users when it was launched last year. It ditched the familiar looking desktop for a new tiled layout which is optimised to work with touchscreen devices, such as Surface tablets but many users have found it difficult to navigate.

Tuesday 15 October 2013

Angry Birds: The Movie

An upcoming 3D animated film based on Rovio's bestselling app Angry Birds is to be directed by Fergal Reilly of Spider-Man 2 and Clay Kaytis of Tangled fame. The success of the Angry Birds franchise has benefited the company's bottom line. In 2012, it more than doubled its revenue to £129.09 million with a quarter of a billion people playing the games every month.

Dinorama App

A fantastic free App for entrepreneurs out there who want a hands on virtual reality approach to running their own business. This game teaches some great skills about time and money management along with the element of fun of running your own dinosaur park. What else could you ask for?

Tablet Wars

Argos has launched its first own-brand android tablet computer in time for Christmas. The 7in MyTablet will retail for £100 and run on Google's Android Jelly Bean OS. This launch follows Tesco Hudl which launched last week at £119. Argos are hoping to hit the 'tweenie' market of 8 to 13 years old and pricing it so everyone in the family can have one. Will this be a success? 

Saturday 12 October 2013

Bendy Smartphone

Korean researchers are close to developing a flexible battery that could be the step towards creating the first flexible smartphone. Samsung have begun to use this technology & have released a prototype flexible phone called Youm. Is this the future of smart phones?

Imagine A World Without Shops or Factories

When you are in the middle of a torrent of change, innovation eclipsing innovation, it can be hard to know what is passing and what will last. The BBC's Peter Day believes that, here in 2013, we are in the middle of a revolution so great it could turn our old familiar world upside down.

Brand It Like Beckham

Power couple David & Victoria Beckham have increased their combined business revenue to almost £100,000 a day as documents lodged with Companies house show that Beckham Ventures Ltd, increased its turnover to £15.4m in 2012.

Tuesday 8 October 2013

A Coin Fit For A Prince

Commemorative coins marking the christening of Prince George will be priced at between £13 and £50,000, the Royal Mint has announced. Twenty-two of the most expensive coins will be struck containing a kilogramme of fine gold each. A rage of coins at different prices is being struck.

How Much For An iPhone 5C?

Apple's multi-coloured iPhones retail for over £500 on contract, but they cost a lot less to make thanks in part to the plastic shell. How much do you think it costs? To find out follow the clip to a video. 

5 Min Chips

McCain is promising to revolutionize the way chips are eaten with a thin-cut French fry which will take only five minutes to cook from frozen compared to the standard 14-20 minutes. They are rolling out to all major supermarkets for £2.50 a pack. Would you pay a premium for such a time saving on your chips?

Sunday 6 October 2013

Fewer Children With Mobiles?

It has been reported by Ofcom the number of children owning a mobile phone has fallen for the first ever time. In 2012, 49% of children between 5 and 15 owned a mobile, however this year the figure has fallen to 43%. Tablet computers, such as iPads, have instead become a substitute with 26% of children between the ages of 12 and 15 owning one which is an increase of 7%. Statistics also suggest that 28% of young children between the ages of three and four own use a tablet computer at home.
Article written by Victoria Clayton

Burger Off!

A long-running feud has pitted protesters from a small town of 2,000 people in the shadows of Australia's rainforest against one of the world's most recognisable brands.  Tranquil Tecoma, 20 miles east of central Melbourne, has become a battleground between McDonald's and the "community" over the construction of a 24-hour drive-through restaurant. Great stakeholder conflict example.

Cupets Craze

Toy supplier Flair is hoping to create a new playground craze in the shape of Cupets. The cube shaped pets are collectable pocket money (£6.99) figures that can be used with a smart phone device such as a phone and tablet. Is this the modern day tamagotchi? Will it be a success?

HTC One is Number One

The HTC One smartphone has edged out Apple & Samsung to win the coveted T3 magazine gadget of the year award. The Taiwanese-made model also won the T3 design award chipping away at the dominance held by the technology giants. What may happen to the market share of HTC this year?

Wednesday 2 October 2013

Tesco Profits Drop

Tesco has reported a 23.5% drop in group pre-tax profits to £1.39bn in the six months to Aug 24 amid difficult times in Europe and Asia. This has prompted Tesco to push forward with the re-vamp of their hypermarket stores. Sainsbury's continued to pile on the pressure with like-for-like sales up 2%. The UK market has witnessed a surge in competition with the likes of Aldi, Lidl and Waitrose challenging the major players. Consider the competition/market share issues for Tesco.

Tuesday 1 October 2013

Man Flu? What Man Flu?

Pharmaceutical company ManFlu have released an energy tablet to get poorly fellas off the sofa. Will this packaging and design be appealing to the males whom are feeling under the weather?

Apple Bobbing At The Top

Apple has ousted Coca-Cola as the world's leading global brand - with Google claiming second spot. After 13 years as the undisputed number one, the fizzy drinks firm has been relegated to third place in this year's Interbrand list.

Poundland Growing

Discount retailer Poundland is planning to expand as its sales continue to grow. The firm, which already has 458 stores in the UK and Ireland, plans to open 1000 stores in the UK "over time". The decision comes after the chain saw a 15% rise in total sales to £880m in the year to the end of March.