DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ I tried 20 of Trader Joe's popular breakfast foods, and I'd buy most of them again
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Savanna Swain-Wilson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +27 min

AdvertisementI tried 20 breakfast foods from Trader Joe's, from Greek yogurt to pancakes. I tried some of Trader Joe's most popular breakfast foods as part of an ongoing series to review the chain's best items. VERDICT: Because of its convenience, Trader Joe's brioche French toast is worth trying at least once. AdvertisementVERDICT: Though I prefer a more traditional sandwich with actual bread, I'd be willing to buy Trader Joe's eggwich again. I didn't like Trader Joe's chicken-sausage breakfast bowl at allTrader Joe's chicken-sausage breakfast bowl wasn't my favorite.

Persons: Joe's, Wilson, you'll, I'm, I've, I'd, could've, wasn't ravenous, Wilson I've, Savanna, —, Joe's eggwich Organizations: Wilson Locations: Savanna, scone

The best Walmart Black Friday deals are often available the week of Thanksgiving, but some enticing savings opportunities are available now. We've rounded up some of the best deals currently available at Walmart across home, kitchen, tech, and more. Make sure to check out our guide to the best early Black Friday deals. Best early Walmart Black Friday home and kitchen dealsThe best early Black Friday home and kitchen deals at Walmart feature products from Ninja, Dyson, Keurig, and more. View at WalmartBest early Walmart Black Friday tech dealsWalmart's best early Black Friday tech deals include everything from TVs to headphones to smartwatches to gaming consoles.

Persons: We're, Apple AirPods, Dyson, Keurig, it's Organizations: Business, Walmart, Dyson, LG, Best, Walmart Best, Apple, Samsung, iPad, Walmart Samsung Galaxy Watch, Galaxy, Walmart Apple

Full coverage car insurance provides liability insurance and coverage for your car (collision and comprehensive). Best Cheap Full Coverage Car Insurance for Discounts: Farmers Auto InsuranceWhile other providers list less than 12 car insurance discounts, Farmers has over 23. Tips for Finding the Cheapest Full Coverage InsuranceFull coverage car insurance is more expensive than the minimum coverage. Cheap Full Coverage Car Insurance Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat does full coverage car insurance consist of? The standard full coverage car insurance consists of liability insurance, collision insurance, and comprehensive insurance.

Persons: we've, Chubb, GEICO, It's, Read, USAA, you'll, JD Power Organizations: Farm Auto Insurance, State, Farm, State Farm, Farmers Auto Insurance, Farmers, Insurance, Owners, Auto, Drivers, Luxury Vehicles, Chubb, People, Poor, GEICO, Customer Service, Erie Auto Insurance, North Central, District of Columbia, Military, Auto Insurance Military, National Guard Reserve, . Insurance, Toyota, JD, Better Business Bureau, Consumer Affairs Locations: Rhode Island and Massachusetts, New York, California, Erie, North, Chevron

☆ Coca-Cola causes controversy with AI-made ad
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Bruna Horvath | Bruna Horvath Is An Intern On Nbc News' Tech Team. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Forbes reported that the video was created by three AI studios — Secret Level, Silverside AI and Wild Card — using four different generative AI models. In a statement, a Coca-Cola spokesperson said, "The Coca-Cola Company has celebrated a long history of capturing the magic of the holidays in content, film, events and retail activations for decades around the globe. Coca-Cola will always remain dedicated to creating the highest level of work at the intersection of human creativity and technology." This isn’t the first time that Coca-Cola has used AI technology in its marketing strategies and programs. Tim DeStefano, a research professor at Georgetown University McDonough School of Business, told NBC News that using AI technology means a significant drop in the price of creating commercials.

Persons: Chris Barber, Alex Hirsch, ”, it’s, OpenAI, Neeraj Arora, ” Arora, Coke, Tim DeStefano, ” DeStefano Organizations: Forbes, Disney, Cola Company, University of Wisconsin, Georgetown University McDonough School of Business, NBC News Locations: Madison

☆ How to optimize your holiday travel budget on 'Travel Tuesday'
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | Ana Teresa Solá Is A Personal Finance Reporter For Cnbc. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

If you still haven’t booked your holiday travel plans, take note: Prices tend to rise the closer you get to the days you’re looking to travel. To afford holiday trips, about 50% of respondents are cutting back on other expenses while 49% are picking up discounts and deals, according to the 2024 Holiday Travel Outlook by Hopper, a travel site. Some last-minute holiday travelers are leaning into so-called “Travel Tuesday” — or the Tuesday after Cyber Monday and Black Friday — which falls on Dec. 3 this year. As you shop, make sure to read the fine print in case discounts only apply for certain routes and days, Dengler explained. “I really encourage travelers to do that exploration now so that on Travel Deal Tuesday, they can be ready to actually book,” she said.

Persons: Hopper, —, ’ ”, Sally French, ”, Phil Dengler, Hayley Berg, Dengler, NerdWallet’s, “ They’re, you’ll, ” Dengler, you’re, Berg, “ Organizations: McKinsey and Company, Travel, Travel Deal, Black

☆ Tencent challenges Amazon and Microsoft's cloud dominance by tapping into its WeChat ecosystem
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

SINGAPORE — Chinese tech giant Tencent is increasingly leveraging its WeChat super-app ecosystem to set itself apart from dominant global cloud service players, Tencent Cloud CEO Dowson Tong said. Super app platforms are often developed using cloud infrastructure to provide scalability, reliability, and efficient resource management. For example, Cambodia's Canadia Bank partnered with Tencent Cloud to launch a new mobile banking app in 2023. For instance, Amazon specializes in e-commerce, cloud services, and streaming, but does not have a single app integrating these services. Similarly, Microsoft offers enterprise solutions such as Office 365 and gaming, but lacks a comprehensive consumer-facing super app.

Persons: Dowson Tong, Tong Organizations: Tencent, CNBC, Singapore Fintech, Microsoft, Web Services, Google, Synergy Research, Cambodia's Canadia Bank, Amazon Locations: WeChat, China, SINGAPORE, Singapore

☆ I tried 4 brands of premade mashed potatoes from the store, and there are only 2 I'd actually serve
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Paige Bennett | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

AdvertisementI tried premade mashed potatoes from four brands to see which provided the best taste and value. Kroger and Bob Evans were probably the best of the bunch, but the latter was a little better. When it comes to mashed potatoes, I prefer taking a little extra time to make them from scratch. AdvertisementI'm most familiar with Bob Evans and the Kroger-brand mashed potatoes since I normally shop at Ralph's, a Kroger-owned grocery chain. I decided to try all four to determine which brand makes the best premade mashed potatoes.

Persons: Bob Evans, Lamb Weston Organizations: Kroger Locations: Ralph's

To get the best flight prices, consider flying mid-week or traveling to and from another airport. Then we switched to a VPN, using five of the most popular services, and repeated the searches while appearing to be in a different country. Original flight price, Chicago to Seattle: $361Surfshark VPN price: $361Original flight price, Nashville to New York: $99Surfshark VPN price: $99Learn more at the Surfshark website. Original flight price, Chicago to Seattle: $361Cyberghost VPN price: $361Original flight price, Nashville to New York: $99Cyberghost VPN price: $99Learn more at the Cyberghost website. VPNs: When they're usefulWhile a VPN can't reliably help you book cheaper flights, having one can protect your digital privacy and security, especially when you travel.

Persons: —, NordVPN NordVPN, Surfshark, Cyberghost Cyberghost Organizations: Service, Northern, Google, PIA Locations: United States, Chicago, Seattle, Nashville, New York City, China, New York, Africa, U.S, JFK, LaGuardia, Newark

☆ I moved from the US to Canada for my husband. But living here is what helped me afford my second child.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Sarah Dimuro | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AdvertisementI moved from the US to Canada for my husband's job and family. If we had stayed in the US, we could have never afforded the surrogacy for our second child. Much like my first date with my now husband, I immediately connected with our potential surrogate upon our first meeting. I met her husband and their three amazing kids, and by the following day, we were discussing the next steps. But living in Canada gave me the chance to grow our family, something we could've never afforded had we stayed in the US.

Persons: Little, Jane Magazine ., I'd, Sarah DiMuro, We've Organizations: Jane Magazine, Netflix Locations: Canada, New York City, Toronto, Quebec

This is the best Away Black Friday sale we've ever seen from the brand. Below, we've highlighted some of the best Away Black Friday deals on our favorite products. We particularly like the brand's Bigger Carry-On Flex and Aliminum Carry-On; we named both top picks in our guide to the best carry-on bags. Away's Carry-On and Bigger Carry-On bags used to have the option to add an ejectable battery for charging items on the go. Check out our roundup of all of the best Black Friday deals.

Persons: you'll, let's, they've Organizations: Business, TSA

☆ China's KFC and Pizza Hut CEO said she spends hours watching her customers eat
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

AdvertisementChina's KFC and Pizza Hut CEO said that she sits and watches her customers eat. Joey Wat, the head of KFC and Pizza Hut in China, has an unusual approach to designing new products: She sits in restaurants for hours, watching her customers eat. Wat is the CEO of Yum China, the company that owns KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and other fast-food brands in the country. According to Yum China, KFC is China's most popular fast-food chain, with over 11,000 outlets in the country. Representatives of Yum China didn't respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Persons: Jason Buechel, LVMH's Bernard Arnault, Joey Wat, Wat, Fortune, Sam Walton, Laxman Narasimhan, foodie, Buechel, Bernard Arnault, Celine, Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Alexandre Arnault Organizations: Pizza, KFC, Yum, Taco Bell, Global, New York City, Walmart, Starbucks, Foods, Tiffany, Bloomberg, Business Locations: China, Yum China, New York, Austin

☆ I moved to a remote island with only 236 inhabitants. I love raising my kids here.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Erin Liam | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

AdvertisementKelly Green, 34, went to visit her parents in Tristan Da Cunha and fell in love. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kelly Green, the head of tourism at Tristan Da Cunha. But I misunderstood, as Edinburgh of the Seven Seas is a settlement in Tristan Da Cunha, one of the world's most isolated settlements with only around 236 inhabitants. I wanted to live in Tristan Da Cunha. Just because I decided to live on Tristan Da Cunha doesn't mean they have to live here forever.

Persons: Kelly Green, Tristan Da Cunha, Green, Shane, I've, Kelly Green Tristan Da Cunha, There's, they're Organizations: British Overseas, Cape Town, Gatwick Airport, England Locations: British, British Overseas Territory, England, Antigua, Bangladesh, Mozambique, Kenya, easyJet, Edinburgh, Scotland, Cape, South Africa

What was supposed to be a simple birthday treat devolved into the latest flashpoint after “The View” co-host Whoopi Goldberg implied that a New York bakery refused to take her order because of her liberal politics. But the distinctive polka-dotted packaging on the cakes left local viewers little doubt about which business she was talking about: Holtermann’s Bakery in Staten Island. Goldberg and Holtermann’s Bakery did not immediately respond to NBC News’ requests for comment. But Holtermann, who joined Fossella at Friday’s news conference, said that the bakery has received “overwhelming” support in the wake of the incident. Your love and loyalty keep us going!”Whoopi Goldberg attends the Tribeca Film Festival, in N.Y., on April 19, 2013.

Persons: Whoopi Goldberg, Goldberg, charlotte russe, ”, ” Goldberg, Kamala Harris, “, I’m, Jill Holtermann, Vito Fossella, Holtermann’s, Holtermann, Fossella, we’ve, Larry Busacca, Rachel Zegler, Donald Trump, Zegler, Snow, “ Trump, Trump, Megyn Kelly, ” Zegler, ” “ Organizations: charlotte, New, Democratic, Staten, NBC, Tribeca Film, Trump voters, Disney Locations: New York, New York City, Staten Island, Staten Island’s, Staten, N.Y

☆ Are Black Friday deals worth waiting for? Here’s what to expect this year
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-17 | by ( Jessica Dickler | Jessica Dickler Is A Personal Finance Writer For Cnbc. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

“Some Black Friday deals are misleading as retailers may inflate original prices to make a deal look like a better value,” said consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch. This year, in particular, some of the deals are already as good as they are going to get. Retailers plan to deliver your holiday deals a little slower this year. Travelers can check out Travel Tuesday deals from 2023 to get an idea of what to expect this year. If an item costs less at another store or popular site, often the retailer will match the price, Woroch said.

Persons: ”, Andrea Woroch, Adam Davis, Patrick Kelleher, Lauren Beitelspacher, ” Beitelspacher, “ we’ve, ” Davis, Lululemon, “, Woroch, ” Woroch Organizations: National, Wells, Wells Fargo Retail Finance, “, Consumers, DHL Supply, North, CNBC, Retailers, Babson College, Nike, ’, Day, Labor, Walmart, Target, Black Locations: Wells Fargo, North America

☆ Small businesses are hurting at the worst possible time
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-17 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

That’s because small businesses typically having tighter profit margins compared to behemoths like Walmart and Amazon, so they feel the sting of rising costs more acutely. The Small Business Index shows that 8 in 10 small retail businesses rely on holiday sales to meet their annual profit goals. If only it were that simple for small businesses. John Waldmann, chief executive of Homebase, a payroll software provider for more than 100,000 small businesses, said Enjou Chocolat’s dilemma is something he hears all the time. “Small businesses are really reticent to increase prices, so when they do, it’s because they have to,” Waldmann said.

Persons: Washington CNN — Enjou, Mark Chinsky, “, ‘ that’s, you’ve, ” Chinsky, that, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, we’re, ”, Thomas Barkin, “ Price, Joe Raedle, John Waldmann, Enjou, ” Waldmann, “ They’re, Scott Olson, there’s, Sarah Jordan, ” There’s, Bill Dunkelberg Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, National Federation of Independent Business, Walmart, ” Richmond Fed, Target, “, Board, Wrigley Field Locations: Morristown , New Jersey, America, Miami, Chicago

☆ AP photographer captures moment bomb hits apartment building in Lebanon
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-17 | by ( Catherine Nicholls | Story Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Beirut AP —As a bomb descended on a multi-story apartment building in Beirut’s Tayouneh area Friday, hundreds of onlookers gathered in the street at a traffic roundabout several hundred meters (yards) away. The Israeli army said the building contained facilities belonging to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. A bomb dropped from an Israeli jet prepares to hit a building in Tayouneh, Beirut, Lebanon, on November 15, 2024. Hassan Ammar/APThick smoke and flames erupt from the building after it is struck. The Israeli military has maintained that it takes measures to reduce civilian casualties by issuing warnings before many of its strikes in Lebanon.

Persons: Hassan Ammar, Ammar, “, ”, Richard Weir, Weir, Bilal Hussein Organizations: Beirut AP, Associated Press, Hezbollah, Human Rights Watch, Health Ministry Locations: Beirut, Beirut’s Tayouneh, Lebanese, Tayouneh, Lebanon, Horsh Beirut, Israel

☆ 15 Thanksgiving sides you can make in a slow cooker
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-16 | by ( Erin Mcdowell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

AdvertisementA slow cooker or Crock-Pot can be an essential tool for making your Thanksgiving dinner. From stuffing to cranberry sauce, slow cookers can help you make classic Thanksgiving side dishes. Everyone knows that when it comes to Thanksgiving food, the sides are arguably the standouts. Slow cookers can help you make several easy Thanksgiving side dishes, from stuffing to cranberry sauce and delicious dips. Here are 15 Thanksgiving sides you can make in a slow cooker.

Persons: LendingTree Locations: Turkey

☆ Luxury brands forgot about Gen Z. They can't afford to make that mistake again.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-16 | by ( Maria Noyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

But now it appears that some luxury brands have forgotten that aim. Dukas/Getty ImagesRay of Buttermilk said that some luxury brands have been hesitant to explore collaborations as a means of engaging Gen Z consumers because they fear losing their luxury allure. The future is vintageLuxury players might be kicking themselves for alienating Gen Z consumers, but Gen Zers never forgot about luxury. But secondhand's success isn't bad news for primary luxury brands, Escribano said. Bar certain luxury products like Hermès Birkins handbags, secondhand luxury is by and large cheaper and retains a level of exclusivity, she said.

Persons: Bain, Louis Vuitton, Z, Gen Z, There's, Claudia D'Arpizio, Blanca Zugaza Escribano, Gen, D'Arpizio, LVMH, Prada, Sabrina Carpenter, Marleen Moise, Getty, Jamie Ray, Escribano, Gen Z's, Thomaï, They've, Gen Zers, Z's Organizations: Louis, Prada, Bain & Company, Industry, Bain, Business, NYU's Stern School, Gen Locations: Hermès

☆ A man who's been to nearly 20,000 Starbucks locations describes how the chain could get its 'third-place' status back
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-16 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

AdvertisementOne Starbucks customer has been working on visiting every Starbucks store since 1997. Later this month, a man named Winter plans to set foot in his 20,000th Starbucks store. AdvertisementAt the time, new Starbucks stores were popping up around the US, and Winter said he visited stores around Dallas as they opened. He logs each store visit in a Microsoft Access Database and on his website. Related storiesNot all Starbucks stores that Winter visits are as welcoming as that Houston location where he played chess with friends back in 1995.

Persons: Winter, I'm, Brian Niccol, Howard Schultz, he's, He's, Niccol, baristas Organizations: Starbucks, Business, Microsoft, Niccol Locations: Houston, Plano , Texas, Italy, Arkansas , Oklahoma, West Texas, China, Dallas, Japan, South Africa

☆ Behind The Onion's bid for Alex Jones's Infowars — which is now on hold as a judge reviews it
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-16 | by ( Geoff Weiss | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AdvertisementThe Onion's bid for Infowars came together with help from Sandy Hook families. On the surface, The Onion's announcement that it had purchased Alex Jones's Infowars at auction on Thursday may have sounded like a bizarre joke. But behind the scenes, the bid came together through strategic coordination — with the support of Sandy Hook families and a nonprofit that is backed by Michael Bloomberg. "The sale is currently underway, pending standard processes," Collins told Variety Friday in a statement. Advertisement"They've long loved The Onion," Collins told Yahoo, nodding to a headline the outlet publishes verbatim every time there's a mass shooting.

Persons: Infowars, Sandy Hook, Ben Collins, Alex Jones's Infowars, Michael Bloomberg, Collins, Alex Jones, Jones — who'd, Christopher Lopez, weren't, Lopez, Variety, John Feinblatt, who've, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Elon Musk's X, Jones Organizations: Yahoo, NBC, First United, Companies, Southern, of Texas's, Bloomberg News, Safety, ABC News, Bloomberg, Business, Variety, Free Speech Systems Locations: Texas

☆ Are Black Friday deals worth waiting for? Here's what to expect this year
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-16 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A customer visits Macy's Herald Square store in New York City during early morning Black Friday sales, Nov. 24, 2023. Consumers are increasingly concerned that their online orders may not arrive in time for the holiday — and rightfully so. What discounts to expect on Black Friday"You are easily going to see 20% to 30% off," Davis said — but "not necessarily storewide." What not to buy on Black FridayTypically, Black Friday is a great time to find rock-bottom prices on fall clothing — including flannels, denim, coats and accessories — as well as televisions and consumer electronics. Travelers can check out Travel Tuesday deals from 2023 to get an idea of what to expect this year.

Persons: Kena Betancur, Patrick Kelleher, Lauren Beitelspacher, Beitelspacher, we've, Davis, Lululemon, Woroch Organizations: Macy's Herald, Consumers, DHL Supply, North, CNBC, Babson College, Nike, Day, Labor Locations: New York City, North America

There's a vintage accent chair for over $950 off, and one of Jenni Kayne's coveted cardigans for over $100 off. View at Jenni KayneJenni Kayne Black Friday FAQsWhen does the sale start and end? Jenni Kayne's Black Friday sale starts on November 16, nearly two weeks ahead of the official start of Black Friday and Cyber Weekend. During Jenni Kayne's Black Friday sale event, members get 30% off sitewide, while non-members get 25% off sitewide. Check out our roundup of all of the best Black Friday deals.

Persons: Jenni Kayne, we're, Jenni Kayne's, you've, Jenni, Jenni Kayne Jenni Kayne, Jenni Kayne Jenni, French terry Organizations: Business Locations: California, West, Peru, French

☆ I'm a private chef who loves shopping at Trader Joe's. Here are 10 items I always buy when creating meals for my clients.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-16 | by ( Allison Wellman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

AdvertisementI'm a private chef, and Trader Joe's is my go-to store for buying unique yet versatile ingredients. To avoid waste, I prioritize buying items that can be used in several dishes. Some of my favorites items include Trader Joe's orzo and Green Goddess seasoning blend. As a private chef, I prepare a variety of meals each week for my clients. This allows me to make the most of my clients' grocery budgets and avoid food waste.

Persons: Joe's

Popular YouTube personality and "Chicken Shop Date" host Amelia Dimoldenberg invited Elmo for a playdate to talk dating, astrology, five-year plans and more. Dimoldenberg wanted to know why Elmo thought she was still single. You’re kind, you’re funny, you’re smart, you’re beautiful, you know? Elmo asked Dimoldenberg. "Yeah, Rocco’s just right in front of you, Elmo," Dimoldenberg said, pointing to the rock, who had just appeared on the table before them.

Persons: Elmo, Amelia Dimoldenberg, he's, Dimoldenberg, Andrew Garfield, We’ve, Rocco, Elmo sighed Organizations: YouTube

Below, I rounded up the best early Black Friday deals of 2024 from some of our favorite retailers, like Amazon, Target, Walmart, Home Depot and REI. SKIP AHEAD Best early Black Friday deals | More early Black Friday sales | How I picked the best early Black Friday deals | Why trust NBC Select? Best early Black Friday deals of 2024To find the best early Black Friday deals, I combed through dozens of discounts across retailers. Best early Black Friday salesHere are the best early Black Friday sales to know about. How I found the best early Black Friday dealsAll of my recommendations above are based on NBC Select’s previous coverage and reporting.

Persons: I’ve, I’ll, Siri, It’s, TikTok Organizations: Black, NBC, Target, Walmart, Home, Alexa, Garmin, Amazon, beechwood, Wellness, Facebook, Twitter Locations: REI, Samsonite, grippy

Search resuls for: "Shop"

25 mentions found