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☆ A century after debut, UK music store HMV makes Oxford Street return
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( James Davey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The 363 Oxford Street address hosted the very first HMV store in 1921, opened by composer Edward Elgar, and was central to the development of British popular music and culture. "We feel really good on the future of physical stores for retail," Putman told Reuters in an interview. The store will sell 8,000 different vinyl albums, 12,000 CDs, music merchandise and a wide range of music technology. HMV says its vinyl sales are significantly ahead of UK annual market growth of 18%, and account for half its physical music sales. Councillor Geoff Barraclough of Westminster City Council, which oversees Oxford Street, said the HMV store represented what they wanted to do on Oxford Street: "an experience beyond traditional retail".

Persons: Edward Elgar, Doug Putman, Putman, John Lennon, Cher, Elton John, Michael Jackson, Brian Epstein, Epstein, George Martin, Geoff Barraclough, James Davey, Jan Harvey Organizations: Black, Oxford, HMV, Reuters, Wars, Marvel, Echo, Beatles, Westminster City Council, Oxford Street, Thomson Locations: Britain's, Dublin, Antwerp, Westminster

☆ It's TikTok Shop's first Christmas, and shoppers are torn between hot deals and ethics
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Laya Neelakandan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

TikTok has officially launched its e-commerce service TikTok Shop in the US. The platform introduced TikTok Shop in the U.S. in September as an in-app shopping experience, capitalizing on the #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt trend. Though TikTok Shop previously faced backlash and was forced to shut down in Indonesia, consumers are increasingly trending toward buying off of social media. And 86% of Gen Z shoppers say social media influences their shopping habits, according to an ICSC report. One of those TikTok Shop enthusiasts is 29-year-old Chuck Vaughn, who called the TikTok Shop phenomenon "a gold rush."

Persons: TikTok, Pew Research Center –, Chuck Vaughn, Vaughn, he's, hashtag, Ant Duffin, Duffin Organizations: Nurphoto, Getty, Consumers, Gallup, Pew Research Center, Tennessee, CNBC, Social, U.S . Department of Commerce, Gartner Locations: U.S, Indonesia

[1/2] JioCinema and Pokemon logos are pictured in this illustration taken November 15, 2023. Pokemon has spawned a global multi-billion dollar media franchise spanning trading cards, games, TV shows and movies. In total, JioCinema will add around 3,000 hours of children's content, including movies and shows from Entertainment One, Animaccord, Cartoon Network Studios and DreamWorks, the sources said. Some Pokemon content was earlier on Voot, but the new JioCinema deal is a "much larger partnership", one of the sources said. NBCUniversal told Reuters that "kids and family programming", including DreamWorks content, was part of a multi-year partnership with JioCinema announced in May.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Mukesh Ambani, Mukesh Ambani's, Ambani, Viacom18, NBCUniversal, JioCinema, Aditya Kalra, Munsif, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, Disney, Netflix, Cartoon Network, DreamWorks, Pokemon Company, Walt Disney Co, Nintendo, Media Partners, Entertainment, Cartoon Network Studios, Reuters, Warner Bros Discovery Inc, Hollywood, Thomson Locations: DELHI, India, New Delhi, Bengaluru

☆ Tiffany is coming out with a Pokémon ball. One big question: How much will it cost?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Wealthy Pokémon fans can splurge on a gold Pikachu necklace in an iconic Tiffany blue Poké Ball. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe collection includes an 18-karat yellow gold Pikachu necklace accented with diamonds, and five other Pokémon featured in different jewelry styles. The yellow gold Pikachu necklace is the only piece sold in the Tiffany Blue Poké Ball case. Tiffany & CoIf you want the Tiffany blue Poké Ball, you'll have to shell out for the golden Pikachu rather than the sterling silver options. YouTuber-turned-wrestler Logan Paul may be the ideal customer for Tiffany's Pokémon launch.

Persons: Tiffany, —, millennials, Gen, Daniel Arsham, Pokémon, they've, Arsham, Tiffany's, Logan Paul, Paul Organizations: Service, MediaNews, Orange, Getty, Nike Locations: Japan, Tokyo

Data released on Thursday showing a drop in consumer prices to their lowest since the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the doubts in China's economic rebound after some months of indicators showing growth stabilising. China's big online shopping platforms did not release final sales figures for 2022, when analysts said COVID-19 restrictions inhibited spending and consumer confidence. Some indicators point to a slowdown in Singles Day sales. Data provider Syntun estimated e-commerce platforms sold 311 billion yuan of products from Oct. 31 to Nov. 3, a 7.1% decrease year-on-year. For Tan Jiapeng, a 35-year-old office worker in Beijing, his only Singles Day purchase so far has been a Descente winter jacket, an "essential purchase" for the winter.

Persons: Florence Lo, Jason Yu, Kantar, COVID, Bain, Jacob Cooke, Nomura, Tan Jiapeng, Tan, Casey Hall, Sophie Yu, Marius Zaharia Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, HK, PDD Holdings, Company, Technologies, Thomson Locations: Rights BEIJING, China, Beijing

☆ COVID-19 fraudsters bought fancy cars, a Pokemon card - even a private island
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Patrick Parker Walsh is serving five and half years in federal prison for stealing nearly $8 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds that he used, in part, to buy the island. Instead, he's serving five and half years in federal prison for stealing nearly $8 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds that he used, in part, to buy Sweetheart Island. They potentially plundered more than $280 billion in federal COVID-19 aid; another $123 billion was wasted or misspent. They've created special "strike forces " to hunt down COVID-19 aid thieves and vowed not to give up the chase. A few weeks after Oudomsine applied for the pandemic aid, the government rushed him $85,000 to keep his non-existent business afloat.

Persons: Richard Lardner, Patrick Parker Walsh, Julio Aguilar, he's, fraudsters, Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump, James Brady, Trump, Alex Wong, Bob Westbrooks, Westbrooks, They've, Lisa Monaco, General Merrick Garland, Garland, David Weiss, Hunter Biden, Joe Biden, Drew Angerer, Konstantinos Zarkadas, Cartier, Zarkadas, Lee E, Price III, Price, Vinath Oudomsine, Oudomsine, Mickey Mantle, Dudley H, Bowen, Patrick Walsh's, Walsh, Jamie Lovemark, Kevin Lamarque Organizations: Press, AP YANKEETOWN, Associated Press ., James, Getty, YouTube, U.S . Justice, Top Justice Department, U.S, U.S . Department of Justice, Rolex, Houston, Associated Press, National Transportation Safety Board, Bethany Locations: Yankeetown, Fla, Sweetheart, Coast, Florida's, Florida, Associated Press . WASHINGTON, DC, U.S, Washington ,, Las Vegas, Tennessee, Vermont, COVID, Washington , DC, New York, Houston, Georgia, America, Bethany Beach , Delaware

The world's biggest shopping event happens in China each year - and it's called Singles Day. WHEN DID THE IDEA OF SINGLES DAY ORIGINATE? The idea for Singles Day had originated at China's Nanjing University back in 1993 and was originally called "Bachelor's Day." Cyber Monday immediately follows Black Friday, which falls on the day after the U.S. Thanksgiving Day holiday, the busiest shopping day of the year in the United States. "The presale period of Tmall and particularly on -- in general, the Singles Day, confirms a softer trend versus a year ago," said Estee Lauder CEO Fabrizio Freda last week, adding that the company was more optimistic about the next part of the Singles Day events in November.

Persons: it's, Bain, Jacob Cooke, Pinduoduo, Cooke, Estee Lauder, Nike, JD.com, Fabrizio Freda, Nicolas Hieronimus, Hieronimus, Granth, Aditya Soni, Diane Craft Organizations: China's Nanjing University, Adobe Analytics, U.S, Reuters, Technologies, Cyber, HK, PDD Holdings, Adobe, Bain, HOPE, Nike, Procter & Gamble, Apple, L'Oreal, Thomson Locations: China, United States, Beijing, Greater China, Bengaluru

☆ I'm a 24-year-old straight-A student who has been obsessed with buses since childhood. I skipped college to work my dream job.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The straight-A student said it's a misconception that working with buses is a dead-end job. AdvertisementAdvertisementThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Matthew Tay, an operations supervisor in Singapore for Tower Transit, a local bus company. When I was older, I joined a 400-member Facebook group called "Singapore bus enthusiasts." Now I'm the behind-the-scenes guy who keeps things runningAs an operations supervisor, I work in shifts. AdvertisementAdvertisementAs an operations supervisor, I'm comfortable with the salary I make and don't feel like I'm under financial pressure.

Persons: acceptances, Matthew Tay, —, I've, Singapore Management University —, It's, Tay, Transit Matthew Tay, I'm Organizations: Service, Tower Transit, Facebook, National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Management University, Transit Locations: Singapore, Hougang, Tuas, Tower Transit Singapore, there's

April-September profit at Nintendo Co., which didn’t break down quarterly results, totaled nearly 271.3 billion yen ($1.8 billion), up from 230 billion yen a year earlier. Sales surged 21% to 796 billion yen ($5.3 billion). Ahead of the holidays, Nintendo is planning to release the “Super Mario RPG” game software and Pokemon games. Nintendo, based in Kyoto, started selling “Super Mario Bros. Wonder” last month, as the first totally new Super Mario series game played in side-scrolling mode in more than a decade. Nintendo raised its full fiscal year profit forecast to 420 billion yen ($2.8 billion) from the 340 billion yen ($2.3 billion) estimate it gave in May.

Persons: Mario, “ Mario, Zelda, ”, it’s, ___ Yuri Kageyama Organizations: TOKYO, — Nintendo, Nintendo Co, Nintendo, Mario Bros, “ Mario Kart, U.S Locations: ”, Kyoto

☆ Neopets is under new management and planning a comeback in a vastly different era of gaming
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

Since buying Neopets, Law said his team is in the process of restoring those minigames and modernizing them to enhance the experience. Competing in the current metaWhile Law is optimistic, he is aware that Neopets was born in a different era of video gaming. For Neopets, Law said the merch business would include both physical, like plushies and clothing, and digital, such as in-game purchases. In 2024, Law's team is planning to launch World of Neopets, a 3D simulator game that will utilize the existing Neopets world, but in a modern gaming environment. Does this mean that new Neopets games will replace the 24-year old Neopets.com?

Persons: Dominic Law, Neopets, Neopets …, Jakub Porzycki, NetDragon Websoft, Law, we've, John Legend, Kass Basher, Mickey Mouse Organizations: Neopets, Koelnmesse, CNBC, Gamescom, Law, Getty, Nurphoto, Adobe, Activision, Monopoly Locations: Asia, Singapore, asia, Canada, Hong Kong, Gamescom Asia, that's, Krakow, Poland, Neopets, U.S

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. (AP) — A GameStop clerk who police say fatally shot a fleeing shoplifter has been charged with manslaughter. Guerrero pulled a handgun from his waistband and fired one shot, hitting the man in the side, police said. The shoplifter dropped the cards and ran outside to a waiting pickup truck, where a woman called police. Police said store security cameras show the shoplifter never threatened Guerrero nor displayed any weapons. GameStop did not immediately respond to a phone call and email seeking comment Wednesday.

Persons: shoplifter, Derrick Guerrero, Violet “, Guerrero Organizations: GameStop, Police Locations: PEMBROKE PINES, Fla, Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Florida, Broward

☆ Pokémon teams up with Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Pokémon is partnering with the Vincent van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam as part of a new collaboration to teach youngsters about the work of one of the Netherlands’ most famous artists. A number of Pokémon-themed exhibits will run at the Van Gogh Museum from Thursday as part of the museum’s 50th anniversary celebrations, according to a press release published Wednesday. Courtesy Van Gogh Museum“This collaboration will allow the next generation to get to know Vincent van Gogh’s art and life story in a refreshing way. The Van Gogh Museum and The Pokémon Company have drawn on many years of educational expertise to create a special experience for children, their supervisors, and we hope many others at the Van Gogh Museum,” said Emilie Gordenker, general director of the Van Gogh Museum, in the release. Courtesy Van Gogh MuseumThe collaboration will run until January 7 and a regular ticket to the museum is required for entry.

Persons: Pokémon, Vincent van Gogh, Vincent van Gogh’s, Van, ”, Emilie Gordenker, Van Gogh's, Theo, Vincent, ‘, Mathieu Galante, Galante, Pikachu Organizations: CNN, Van, Van Gogh Museum, Pokémon Company Locations: Amsterdam, Netherlands, Van Gogh, Gogh, Japan

☆ Bedford High School: Petition demands expulsion for students accused of sharing and 'grading' photos of female classmates
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Amy Simonson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Some 9th and 10th grade Bedford High School students, in Bedford, New Hampshire, mostly boys, took pictures of 11th and 12th-grade girls’ buttocks and breasts without their consent, “grading them and sharing those with others,” according to letters sent to parents Thursday and Friday by High School Principal Robert Jozokos. A Change.org petition, created Thursday by a 12th grade female who attends Bedford High School, said the students “deserve to be expelled” and not suspended. When asked what consequences the students face, Bedford School District Superintendent Michael Fournier said in an email to CNN, “Once the investigation is complete, the high school administration determines next steps. “The Bedford School District stands with all victims of harassment of any kind. We have engaged with community resources to assist both students and families as they need,” Fournier said in a District letter sent to parents Friday.

Persons: Robert Jozokos, ”, Bedford, Michael Fournier, “, Jozokos, ” Fournier Organizations: CNN, Bedford High School, High School, Bedford School District, School, Bedford School Locations: Bedford , New Hampshire, Bedford, ”, Portsmouth

☆ Capcom shares lunge 6% on 'Monster Hunter' mobile launch
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Sam Nussey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Japanese video game company Capcom (9697.T) enjoyed a 6% jump in its stock price on Monday as gamers flocked to the mobile instalment of its long-running "Monster Hunter" franchise, developed with "Pokemon Go" maker Niantic. "Monster Hunter Now", which combines monster fighting action with the location-based gameplay of "Pokemon Go", has been downloaded 5 million times since its Sept. 14 launch, Niantic said last week. The strong start is a boost for Capcom, whose shares have gained a third this year supported by the strength of franchises such as "Resident Evil". In Japan, where the "Monster Hunter" franchise has a loyal following, the new game is the top grossing app on Apple's iOS, showed data from Sensor Tower, ahead of local favourites such as horse racing idol game "Uma Musume Pretty Darby" and manga app Piccoma. "Monster Hunter Now" has received praise for translating the storied series for a mobile audience.

Persons: Hunter, Niantic, Darby, Serkan Toto, Sam Nussey, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Capcom, Kantan Games, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Japan

☆ The ‘Mandela Effect’: How a psychological phenomenon took over the internet
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Jacopo Prisco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

But you might also be experiencing the so-called Mandela Effect. Ken Drinkwater, a fellow researcher at Manchester Metropolitan, added that the effect might be connected to a condition called false memory syndrome. Jon Elswick/AP; Scott Olson/Getty ImagesSome common examples of the Mandela Effect have perhaps logical explanations, such as Mr. “Advocates of the Mandela Effect think it’s a genuine effect. These people had this false memory right after learning about the characters!

Persons: Ash, Fiona Broome, Nelson Mandela, Mandela, Broome, “ Luke, ”, Wilma Bainbridge, hadn’t, Deepasri Prasad, Bainbridge, Prasad, Stan, Jan Berenstain, ” Bainbridge, Neil Dagnall, Dagnall, “, ” Dagnall, Roediger, McDermott, Ken Drinkwater, they’ve, Drinkwater, they’d, you’ve, Jon Elswick, Scott Olson, David Adkins, Sinbad, Dennis Van Tine, Shaquille O’Neal, Clara Nellist, Lionel Flusin, hasn’t, ” Drinkwater, University of Chicago’s Bainbridge Organizations: CNN, “, Bears, University of Chicago’s, Science, UChicago, Dartmouth College, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester Metropolitan, Monopoly, Fox Television Network, European Organization for Nuclear Research, CERN, Collider Locations: South Africa, “, Hanover , New Hampshire, United Kingdom, New York City, Switzerland —, Geneva

☆ Hugh Hefner's son says he's made $33,000 since joining OnlyFans – because he's a 'nepo baby'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Hugh Hefner's son has earned more than $33,000 since joining OnlyFans as a creator in March. He admits he's a nepo baby and wouldn't have the same opportunities if it wasn't for his famous dad. The term nepo baby — short for nepotism baby — became popular after New York magazine examined the world of Hollywood nepotism. Hefner readily admits he's a nepo baby: "If I wasn't Hugh Hefner's son I wouldn't have seen the same opportunities I have been given. "I don't have an allegiance towards OnlyFans or Playboy, but OnlyFans has helped me grow a lot," he said.

Persons: Hugh Hefner's, Marston Hefner, Hugh Hefner, —, he's, Hefner, I wouldn't, Dan Tuffs, OnlyFans, Daren Organizations: OnlyFans, Service, New York, Playboy Locations: Wall, Silicon, Los Angeles

☆ A fire department clerk in Buffalo reportedly was paid more than $500K over 7 years – even though she didn't show up for work and actually had a second job
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Sarah Jackson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Buffalo fire department clerk was reportedly paid more than half a million dollars despite not working. Jill Repman collected checks for 7.5 years while on administrative leave after being accused of tampering with payroll, Investigative Post reports. She was working another job while she remained on the city's payroll, per Investigative Post. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe City of Buffalo has paid Repman $572,067 since 2016, the Investigative Post reported, citing state payroll records compiled by government watchdog The Empire Center. The matter of so-called "fake work," referring to employees being paid to do little or no work, has also made headlines this year, primarily in the tech sector.

Persons: Jill Repman, Jill Parisi, Repman, Jill, —, Keith Rabois, Thomas Siebel, Rabois, Britney Levy Organizations: Service, Security, Empire Center . Buffalo City Hall Locations: Buffalo, Wall, Silicon, Buffalo's City, New York

☆ How to teach kids to befriend a child with a disability
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( Jaclyn Greenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Trae has a genetic disorder and physical differences, and he doesn’t always approach other kids, his mother, Jackie Bruns, told me. “It can be hard for kids with a disability to approach other kids. Kids may share interesting and fun facts about their disability, said Michelle Hu, who grew up wearing hearing aids and now works as a pediatric audiologist. And explaining that some people may have different social cues or ways of engaging can help them connect with students. “Teach your kids to look around the room or playground for kids who are not engaged and invite them to join,” Hootman said.

Persons: Trae Bruns, Trae, Jackie Bruns, ”, Bruns, ” Dr, Caroline Mendel, “, ” Mendel, it’s, ” Bruns, Michelle Hu, aren't, ” Hu, doesn’t, Hu, Gawain Hootman, isn’t, Ramsey Hootman, ” Hootman, Jaclyn Greenberg Organizations: CNN, Pew Research, Child Mind, SDI, The New York Times, Wired Locations: Troy , Illinois, United States, New York City, Bay, California

LOS ANGELES, July 25(Reuters) - Fans who play Pokemon late into the night have a new incentive to get to bed in the form of a sleep app that rewards them with the franchise's signature monsters. Pokemon Co, Niantic and Nintendo (7974.T), the companies behind the wildly popular Pokemon Go augmented reality mobile game, released Pokemon Sleep this month. The app monitors sleep through the user's phone, placed on the bed. Originating in Japan in the 1990s, Pokemon, named for "pocket monsters," spawned a global multi-billion dollar media franchise spanning trading cards, games, TV shows and movies. “Pokémon Sleep provides another opportunity for anyone with a smart device to interact with Pokémon and provides an opportunity to look forward to waking up in the morning and also to get lots of sleep,” said Yuri Horie, product marketing manager at The Pokémon Co.

Persons: ”, Yuri Horie, Danielle Broadway, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Nintendo, Thomson Locations: ANGELES, Japan

☆ 87% of classic video games are 'critically endangered.' As a millennial, I'm worried it means a huge chunk of my childhood will disappear.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Almost 90% of classic video games are critically endangered, according to a new study. My first video game console was the Game Boy, a portal to many hours of adventure and excitement. The study was conducted by checking the availability of 1,500 randomly selected video games released before 2010 across every type of console and PC. The study's author says the availability of these classic video games is even worse than the survival rate of silent-era films. The next discussion over video games' copyright law is slated for 2024, and the clock is ticking.

Persons: I'm, — Organizations: Software Preservation Network, Federal Trade Commission

☆ One family may have to travel 185 miles to Chicago to get gender-affirming care after Indiana banned treatment for trans minors
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-15 | by ( Arleigh Rodgers | Michael Goldberg | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

An expert said trans kids need what all young people need: "to feel included and part of a family." The following afternoon, Flower and Jennilyn Nichols would see a doctor at the University of Chicago to learn whether they could keep Flower, 11, on puberty blockers. At least 20 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for trans minors, though several are embroiled in legal challenges. Flower Nichols hugs her mom, Jennilyn Nichols, as they watch the Pride Parade, Saturday, June 10, 2023, in Indianapolis. Flower Nichols, middle, watches the Pride Parade with her parents Kris and Jennilyn Nichols, Saturday, June 10, 2023, in Indianapolis.

Persons: Flower Nichols, Jennilyn Nichols, Eric Holcomb, Darron Cummings Jennilyn Nichols, Nichols, Parker, Kris, Darron Cummings, Robert Marx, Marx, Krisztina Inskeep, Inskeep, Indiana University's Riley, Flower, Jennilyn, —, Teresa Crawford, She's, ___ Arleigh Rodgers, Michael Goldberg, Rodgers, Goldberg Organizations: Indiana, Service, University of Chicago, Republican Gov, AP, of Science, Industry, Republican, San José State University, Indiana University's Riley Children's Hospital, Hoosier, Red, Indiana Statehouse, Scout, Chicago's Museum of Science and, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: Indianapolis, Chicago, Wall, Silicon, Indiana, Indiana , Mississippi, babysit, brightened, Chicago's, Jackson

☆ Meta's new Threads app gained an 'unprecedented' 150 million downloads in under two weeks. Now it has to keep users happy.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Kali Hays | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

With 150 million downloads, Threads set a new record for app growth far surpassing Pokémon Go. Threads has kept about 100 million active users a week, according to a data research firm. Instagram Threads continued to set a growth record into its second week, surpassing 150 million downloads of the app. 100 million active users a week is about one-fifth of the user base of Twitter, Data.ai added. When Zuckerberg posted on Sunday about hitting 100 million sign-ups, that meant Threads had seen an average of 20 million sign-ups each day.

Persons: Pokémon, Randy Nelson, Nelson, Data.ai, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Chris Cox, I've, Zuckerberg, Cox, Andrew Bosworth, Naomi Gleit, Charles Organizations: Twitter, Meta, Elon, CNBC Locations: Niantic, India, Brazil, US, Mexico, Japan

☆ Truth Behind Tech Industry's Fake Work Problem: Bad Managers, Bosses
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Hugh Langley | Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +19 min

The tech employees spoke with us on the condition of anonymity to avoid professional reprisal. There's only one real culprit for the culture of "fake work," he said. The latest version of fake work emerged as part of the tech industry's pandemic-driven boom and bust. "I think COVID was an accelerator for fake work because a lot of these tech companies hired. As for Graham, he's since moved to another tech company, where he said he felt his contributions were more valued.

Persons: Graham, wouldn't, Keith Rabois, Rabois, Brit Levy, Scott Latham, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Brent Peterson, Gaylan Nielson, Rich Moran, " Moran, Melina Mara, he'd, Moran, Anna Tavis, Stewart Butterfield, Bloomberg's, LINDSEY WASSON, it's, Salesforce, What's, Mark Zuckerberg, Sundar Pichai, Zuckerberg, Brad Glasser, Meta, Greg Selker, Stanton Chase, Jessica Kennedy, Kennedy, NYU's Tavis, Hugh Langley, Grace Kay Organizations: Amazon, Alexa, Big Tech, Google, University of Massachusetts, Washington, Getty, Meta, Microsoft, overhiring, New York University's School, Professional Studies, Slack, Command, Bloomberg, Vanderbilt University, Companies Locations: New, Salesforce, he's

☆ Pokemon Go maker Niantic is laying off 230 employees
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Catherine Thorbecke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Niantic, the creator of hit mobile game Pokemon Go, announced it is laying off 230 employees and reorganizing its business as it grapples with new macroeconomic uncertainty. In a letter to staff announcing the job cuts, Niantic CEO John Hanke said the company is taking other significant actions as well: shuttering its Los Angeles studio, sunsetting its NBA All-World game and halting production on Marvel: World of Heroes. The privately held company’s breakout hit, Pokemon Go, was among the first mobile games to embrace augmented reality when it launched in 2016. “In the wake of the revenue surge we saw during Covid, we grew our headcount and related expenses in order to pursue growth more aggressively, expanding existing game teams, our AR platform work, new game projects and roles that support our products and our employees,” Hanke wrote. Eventually, however, “our revenue returned to pre-Covid levels and new projects in games and platform have not delivered revenues commensurate with those investments,” he added.

Persons: New York CNN — Niantic, John Hanke, sunsetting, Hanke, ” Hanke, “ Organizations: New, New York CNN, NBA, Marvel, Layoffs.fyi Locations: New York, Los Angeles

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