WASHINGTON: Microsoft plans to release a new version of its portable Zune music player later this year featuring a touch screen, Web browser, Wi-Fi connectivity and high-definition radio receiver. 28 May 2009
Heavy building materials supplier Buildworks on Wednesday, 27 May 2009, has reported that headline earnings per share for the six months ended February had declined from 5.65 cents to 3.47 cents. 28 May 2009
Super Group, the supply chain and fleet management group, on Thursday advised shareholders that it is in discussions with interested parties relating to the potential disposal of its retail division, specifically the AutoZone and Mica businesses. 28 May 2009
SA's two largest retailers have said they had nothing to hide about their relationships with suppliers and would welcome an investigation by the Competition Commission, as suggested this week by the National Agriculture Marketing Council (NAMC). 28 May 2009
SA's largest clothing retailer Edcon, delisted since April 2007, said yesterday, 27 May 2009, it spent R571m in the year to March 2009, mostly on new stores, refurbishments and a new point-of-sale system. 28 May 2009
EA is prepping to release the third installment of 'The Sims', a series of games in which the all-seeing player controls the lives and interactions of virtual people. 'The Sims 3' will give players more control over things like characters' personality traits, EA says. Perhaps taking a cue from the backlash over the tight digital rights restrictions contained in 'Spore', The Sims 3 will have no DRM. 28 May 2009
The Consumer Price Index used to measure inflation, dropped to 8.4% in April, reported Statistics South Africa (Stats SA). 27 May 2009
Mass retailer Massmart may be blocked in its bid to buy Finro Cash & Carry to grow subsidiary Masscash as the deal would limit competition in the food sector in Port Elizabeth, especially affecting low-income earners. 27 May 2009
Sandton City Shopping Centre is undergoing a major refurbishment and expansion, with funding of R1,77bn approved for the first phase. 27 May 2009
It took Cape Town city authorities and the police two and a half years to shut down an illegal tavern on the Cape Flats following complaints from irate neighbours. 27 May 2009
Retail group Mr Price on Wednesday, 27 May 2009, reported diluted headline earnings per share of 244.6 cents for the year ended March 2009 from 210.8 cents a year ago - a rise of 16%. 27 May 2009
The 8th annual Pest Biz Convention is set to take place for the first time ever in the Western Cape at the Lord Charles Hotel in Somerset West from 13 - 14 August 2009. This year's Pest Biz Convention is built on the formula of previous years' events and will aim to equip the pest control industry with up to date information, global trends and cutting edge technology for the 21st Century. 27 May 2009
Toyota SA fared exceptionally well in the 2009 Synovate Quality Awards for Sales and Service Satisfaction in the automotive industry, scooping a gold award in all four categories - one of only three manufacturers to achieve this feat. 27 May 2009
RFID (radio frequency identification) has been on a bit of a roller coaster ride. It started with a bang a few years ago, when Wal-Mart and the Department of Defense issued their edicts that all suppliers would need to get on the RFID bandwagon within a set time frame. Well, that deadline has come and gone, and uptake has fallen well short of the mark. 27 May 2009
As one of the biggest retailers of pre-paid cellular products in South Africa, PEP is launching its own first PEPcell Starter Pack, powered by MTN. 27 May 2009
South Africans can take comfort in the fact that despite the current recession, the economy is forecast to improve in the second half of the year. 27 May 2009
Ticket sales for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup are fast approaching the 400,000 mark, with just three weeks before kickoff. 27 May 2009
South Africa's Gross Domestic Product in the first quarter of 2009 contracted by an annualised 6.4%, Statistics South Africa announced on Tuesday. 26 May 2009
The implementation of the National Credit Act (NCA) two years ago and the current economic downturn have together resulted in a lack of liquidity in the financial markets, with most banks limiting revolving credit, overdrafts and access bonds. Under these constraints, many former bank clients have turned to micro-lenders for their various financial needs, the most common one being emergency expenses. 26 May 2009