Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Looking to Cut Costs? Ditch XP for Windows 7

Windows 7 logo

Microsoft this week continued to push for the demise of Windows XP, arguing that it is more expensive for businesses to remain on the aging OS than it is to upgrade to Windows 7.

Pointing to a report it commissioned from IDC, Microsoft's Erwin Visser wrote in a blog post that "staying on Windows XP is an expensive investment when Windows 7 provides dramatic savings."

Specifically, IDC said that base IT and end-user labor costs associated with Windows XP are about five times as much as those for Windows 7. "That's a significant amount of money IT shops could put towards modernizing their departments and adding value to the businesses," Visser said.

Those prices are also still on the rise. "IDC found the longer you wait, the pricier supporting Windows XP gets: IT labor costs go up 25 percent in the fourth year of continuing to run Windows XP past deadline, and user productivity suffers as well, with an increased cost of 23 percent," he said.

Microsoft celebrated the 10-year anniversary of Windows XP last year, and promptly called for its demise. Support for the OS will end on April 8, 2014, so Redmond is making a push for businesses to switch to more modern versions of Windows. "10 years is a long time to have the same old technology," the company said back in October.

Anything before Windows XP Service Pack 3 is already out of support. In an effort to encourage upgrades, Microsoft's own Internet Explorer 9 only runs on Windows 7 or Vista because of graphics acceleration support. Other software, like some of the latest video editors, are starting to have similar requirements.

As of April 2012, 46.08 percent of PCs in the world were running Windows XP, followed by 36.67 percent on Windows 7, according to data from Net Applications. That's only a slight drop from December, when Windows XP closed out 2011 with 46.52 percent of the global OS market, followed by Windows 7 with 36.99 percent.

Microsoft is currently putting the final touches on Windows 8, which is scheduled to be released later this year. For more, check out PCMag's Hands On With Windows 8 Consumer Preview and the slideshow below.

For more from Chloe, follow her on Twitter @ChloeAlbanesius.


For the top stories in tech, follow us on Twitter at @PCMag.

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Classic Cars With Flamethrowers 100% Pure Americana ...

What Tires To Purchase? Find Out The Best Tire For Your Environment

What Tires To Purchase? Find Out The Best Tire For Your Environment

it?s important to understand what?s the right tire for the driving you do. The most common types of tire are the summer tire, winter tire, and an all-season tires. The summer tire is great in hot weather and moderate weather. But summer tires do not work in cold weather. The winter tire has different tread

Where To Find Your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

Where To Find Your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

You should be aware of where your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is located on your vehicle.

Tips On How To Be Smart About Buying A Used Car

Tips On How To Be Smart About Buying A Used Car

There are many questions that need to be asked, and parts of the vehicle that need to be checked out when deciding to purchase a used vehicle. Know the basic facts! THEN bring it in to Paul Campanella?s Auto and Tire Center for a FREE check over to ensure you?re buying a GOOD used car!

Woman Demonstrates Step-By-Step Instructions On How To Change A Flat Tire

Woman Demonstrates Step-By-Step Instructions On How To Change A Flat Tire

Women can change flat tires, too! Know your facts ? you never know when this could happen to you! Check out this video where a woman demonstrates how to change a flat tire, and shows viewers where/what the tools you will need are.

Make Sure You Check Your Gas Cap If Check Engine Light Is On!

Make Sure You Check Your Gas Cap If Check Engine Light Is On!

There are many different reasons why Check Engine lights can come on in your vehicle. One of the main reasons for this light to come on is the gas cap being loose. Be sure to check your gas cap to make sure it is not loose. This could save you a dignostic fee at almost

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Video: Giuliani downplays previous claims on Romney and jobs (cbsnews)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories Stories, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

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Saturday, May 26, 2012

NBA Logoman Shooter Sleeve - Black

AVAILABILITY:
In stock: Leaves warehouse in 1 - 2 full bus. days .

Standard Ground Service Available - (Details)
Note: Shipping restrictions may apply.

Remember, no sales tax except in FL, KY, NY and PA.

Gift Wrap available??(Details)

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Canada's RIM to cut at least 2000 jobs: report

[ [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 2]], 'http://yhoo.it/KeQd0p', '[Slideshow: See photos taken on the way down]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 7]], ' http://yhoo.it/KpUoHO', '[Slideshow: Death-defying daredevils]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['know that we have confidence in', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/LqYjAX ', '[Related: The Secret Service guide to Cartagena]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['We picked up this other dog and', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JUSxvi', '[Related: 8 common dog fears, how to calm them]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 5]], 'http://bit.ly/JnoJYN', '[Related: Did WH share raid details with filmmakers?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 3]], 'http://bit.ly/KoKiqJ', '[Factbox: AQAP, al-Qaeda in Yemen]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have my contacts on or glasses', 3]], 'http://abcn.ws/KTE5AZ', '[Related: Should the murder charge be dropped?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JD7nlD', '[Related: Bristol Palin reality show debuts June 19]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 1]], 'http://bit.ly/JRPFRO', '[Related: McCain adviser who vetted Palin weighs in on VP race]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['A JetBlue flight from New York to Las Vegas', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GV9zpj', '[Related: View photos of the JetBlue plane in Amarillo]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 15]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/white-house-stays-out-of-teen-s-killing-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120411/martinzimmermen.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['Titanic', 7]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/titanic-anniversary/', ' ', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/b/4e/b4e5ad9f00b5dfeeec2226d53e173569.jpeg', '550', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['He was in shock and still strapped to his seat', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/navy-jet-crashes-in-virginia-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120406/jet_ap.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]

[ [ [['did not go as far his colleague', 8]], '29438204', '0' ], [ [[' the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 4]], '28924649', '0' ], [ [['because I know God protects me', 14], ['Brian Snow was at a nearby credit union', 5]], '28811216', '0' ], [ [['The state news agency RIA-Novosti quoted Rosaviatsiya', 6]], '28805461', '0' ], [ [['measure all but certain to fail in the face of bipartisan', 4]], '28771014', '0' ], [ [['matter what you do in this case', 5]], '28759848', '0' ], [ [['presume laws are constitutional', 7]], '28747556', '0' ], [ [['has destroyed 15 to 25 houses', 7]], '28744868', '0' ], [ [['short answer is yes', 7]], '28746030', '0' ], [ [['opportunity to tell the real story', 7]], '28731764', '0' ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 7]], '28723797', '0' ], [ [['point of my campaign is that big ideas matter', 9]], '28712293', '0' ], [ [['As the standoff dragged into a second day', 7]], '28687424', '0' ], [ [['French police stepped up the search', 17]], '28667224', '0' ], [ [['Seeking to elevate his candidacy back to a general', 8]], '28660934', '0' ], [ [['The tragic story of Trayvon Martin', 4]], '28647343', '0' ], [ [['Karzai will get a chance soon to express', 8]], '28630306', '0' ], [ [['powerful storms stretching', 8]], '28493546', '0' ], [ [['basic norm that death is private', 6]], '28413590', '0' ], [ [['songwriter also saw a surge in sales for her debut album', 6]], '28413590', '1', 'Watch music videos from Whitney Houston ', 'on Yahoo! Music', 'http://music.yahoo.com' ], [ [['keyword', 99999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ] ]

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Cuttlefish Use Ancient Ink Formula

60-Second Science60-Second Science | Evolution

The melanin in modern-day cuttlefish ink is nearly chemically identical to the pigment found in ancient cephalopods' fossilized ink sacs. Sophie Bushwick reports.

More 60-Second Science

Why do testicles hang the way they do? Is there an adaptive function to the female orgasm? What does it feel like to want to kill yourself? Does ?free will?...

Read More??

Tens of millions of years ago, cephalopods were hiding from their enemies in clouds of ink. And it turns out that cuttlefish today produce ink that?s almost identical.

Researchers found fossils of two giant cephalopods that swam the seas more than 160 million years ago. Each one contained a preserved ink sac. Analysis of the sacs revealed that some melanin pigment?the stuff that makes the ink dark?had survived. Plus, the chemical makeup of the melanin was virtually the same as the pigment found in modern-day cuttlefish ink. The work is in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. [Keely Glass et al, Direct chemical evidence for eumelanin pigment from the Jurassic period]

It?s rare to find preserved soft tissue in the fossil record. In addition, biomolecules often break down, leaving none of the original organic compounds. Melanin, however, has a sturdy structure that resists this fate. And the methods these researchers used to isolate it from the fossils could help other paleontologists better identify preserved organic molecules and their functions.

The finding also demonstrates that when something works, evolution usually leaves it alone. Because if it ain?t broke, don?t fix it.

?Sophie Bushwick

[The above text is a transcript of this podcast]?
?


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Saturday, May 19, 2012

Best Email Direct Marketing For Any Business


Email Marketing is one of the few techniques of Marketing. Marketing is required for making product popular in between of consumer. When a product can be identify by the people they want to go with them. With email, we show all features or services about the products. 90 percent of people in the world have email address and most of them mostly used it. By email you can achieve the customer by giving information about your products online. By it you are able to target customer personally, it is also less expensive technique. It is direct deal with customer. It offers you chance to deal with your customer personally.

For Email Marketing you need good content for attract customer, write on email about the quality of your business products, price or its features. Today it is growing a mostly used technique in marketing field, because:

? ?It is less cheap than other marketing techniques.

? ?It is way to direct deal with customer

? ?Easily know about the customer reviews about the products

? ?It makes a relation between customer and seller.

Email Direct Marketing make able to any service provider or business to target customer direct.

For a good or impressive email have these three points:

? ?Displaying picture in the email will be related to product and beautiful

? ?Content or information provide by you could be impressive and good. It never be wrong, it makes bad effect on the viewers.

? ?It is used for Advertising circulars, catalogs, free-trial CDs, pre-approved credit card applications, and other unsolicited merchandising.

For any business the main task is generating lead for expending business. Lead Management is tool to acquiring new clients for business. It has detail work like branding of products, marketing or advertising of them. It is properly way to acquiring new clients by the company for business.

Lead Management System is work for acquiring new leads, for acquisition, qualification, verification, prospecting, routing and sales closure. This system is working in a best way for any business. It generates lead with an automated process. This system works according to each company; there is various kind of lead demanded by the business.

In Lead Management System, the whole process of acquisition of lead is divided in some steps :

In first step by this system software all the basic or important details was collected and integrate in exiting database of company. After collecting data in database, in second step all leads was categorized by the priority of work. In third step after categorized lead it is taken in process.

Data List Brokers is a list which has all contact or information important for the business. They have a list which provides you data for making new lead. Some of these brokers available on online and provide you data for your business at some charges.

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Rev2 to Showcase RiskView? Integration with ARRIS ServAssure ...

Demonstration on display in ARRIS booth #967; Rev2 will also present an operations cost-savings model for MSOs at ACT Forum

BOSTON, MAY 17, 2012 ? Rev2, a rapidly growing Business Risk Analytics? provider focused on delivering solutions that improve business performance, today announced that it will collaborate with ARRIS Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARRS) to showcase its RiskView? integration with ARRIS?s market-leading, MSO operations solutions at the NCTA (National Cable & Telecommunications Association) Cable Show 2012. The show will be held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center from May 21 through 23.

The integration will be on display in ARRIS Booth #967. The demonstration will feature live RiskView Outage Risk Analytics? in concert with ARRIS ServAssure Advanced? performance management solution and ARRIS WorkAssure? workforce management solution. The combined solutions proactively optimize MSO network operations, reduce cost and complexity and ensure a premium customer experience.

Market Leadership

A rapid growth in subscribers, services, and traffic is challenging MSOs to profitably and responsively manage their increasingly complex DOCSIS networks. ARRIS ServAssure Advanced (SAA) is a best-in-class solution for collecting, correlating, and intelligently analyzing cable network telemetry and performance data to improve operator accuracy and efficiency in managing the service delivery infrastructure.

With ARRIS WorkAssure, operators efficiently streamline field service operations through workflow improvements that increase productivity, reduce errors and rework, and improve reliability and quality. Leveraging SAA data, WorkAssure enables operators to markedly improve customer service and event resolution with real-time interconnection of subscriber health checks, field service, dispatching, inventory, and support staff.

By integrating with the ARRIS solutions, RiskView enables an unprecedented level of operator analytics while providing additional metrics such as Call Center Logs, Truck Rolls, Maintenance Work Orders, etc. As an example, ServAssure makes detailed hourly measurements of the number of CPE in trouble on every upstream and downstream port and then feeds these values into RiskView for problem correlation, risk scoring, and prioritization. Likewise, WorkAssure feeds RiskView with detailed records of all Service Truck Rolls, from origination of work through final disposition, including disconnects and referrals to HFC Maintenance.

?We are excited to demonstrate the integration with the Rev2 RiskView solution which has proven its bottom-line value at many leading MSOs,? said Bryant Isaacs, President, Media & Communications Systems at ARRIS. ?With the scope of advanced analytics that RiskView provides, cable operators can gain greater insight into their service delivery infrastructures, providing valuable Spend versus Risk analyses.?

?ARRIS ServAssure and WorkAssure are complementary platforms to RiskView because they help MSOs further improve their operational efficiency and their customers? experience,? said Robert Cruickshank, CEO and CTO of Rev2. ?By correlating a wide array of service delivery infrastructure data sources, RiskView can help ServAssure-based businesses isolate problems even faster, helping them to identify risks that can degrade the customer experience and undermine performance.?

ACT Forum Presentation

Additionally, Rev2 has been invited to present at The Cable Show?s Academic and Cable Telecommunications Forum (ACT Forum) 2012. CEO Robert Cruickshank will present a case study entitled ?Improving the Customer Experience by Improving Repair and Service Operations.? The poster presentation will highlight how analytics of voluminous amounts of existing risk data can help MSOs overcome the challenge of systematically correlating all meaningful HFC plant operations data.

The case study includes an MSO Cost-Savings Model that applies the risk analytics results to the operation of an MSO. The case study investigates the impact on operating costs as well as on the customer experience. Operating metrics include Reduced Truck Rolls, Reduced Call Volume, Reduced Bounced Tickets & No Trouble Found, and Leveraging the Reputational Cost to Increase Customer Goodwill. The official poster presentation hours are 5-6pm on Sunday May 20. The poster will be available during show hours on Sunday and Monday.

About Rev2

Rev2 is a rapidly growing Business Risk Analytics? provider focused on delivering solutions that improve business performance. Our patent-pending RiskView? Risk Concentration Analysis? framework offers the ability to identify, compare and quantify vulnerabilities across the entire enterprise before they impact business performance. RiskView identifies the materiality of risks according to their potential impact on business performance, helping our customers to prioritize and schedule business process improvement, problem resolution, and overall spending. RiskView outcomes typically include: Reduced organizational risk profile; Reduced OpEx; Improved customer experience; and competitive advantage.

Contact us today for a Proof of Concept tailored to your business: 400 Columbus Ave., Suite 240E, Valhalla, N.Y. 10595, 914.614.8600. http://rev2.com, infoatrev2dotcom??(infoatrev2dotcom)??.

About ARRIS

ARRIS is a global communications technology company specializing in the design, engineering and supply of communications and IP technologies that support broadband services for residential and business customers around the world. The company supplies broadband operators with the tools and platforms they need to deliver and monitor advanced video, data and voice subscriber services, including whole home video across multiple screens, ultra high-speed data, personalized advertising and carrier-grade telephony. Headquartered near Atlanta, in Suwanee, Georgia, USA, ARRIS has R&D centers in Beaverton, OR; Chicago, IL; Cork, Ireland; Kirkland, WA; Redwood City, CA; Shenzhen, China; State College, PA; Tel Aviv, Israel; Wallingford, CT and Waltham, MA, and operates support and sales offices throughout the world. Information about ARRIS products and services can be found at www.arrisi.com.

###

Copyright ?2012 Rev2. All rights reserved. The RiskView? solution is a registered trademark of Rev2. The Rev2 Business Risk Analytics? logo design and the Risk Concentration Analysis? (RCA) methodology are trademarks of Rev2. All other trademarks in this document are the properties of their respective owners.

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Tracks Releases Most Ambitious Update Yet: Custom Camera, New Filters, And Real-Time Video

photo2How timely. After launching a year ago at Disrupt NYC 2011, Tracks is today releasing one of its biggest updates to date. The service is much like Color, but without the creepy factor as any and all members of a specific photo-sharing group must be invited. I like to think of it as the place where Color and Google+ Circles intersect, but I far prefer Tracks than either of the former. Thus far Tracks has offered iOS, web- and real-world versions of your tracks (the collection of photos shared with a specific social network, which can be both geo-temporal or last forever). Today, however, the service gets much more beefy, with the ability to shoot and send real-time video and the addition of new filters, Instagram-style. There are now ten filter options on the app, and they'll all work on both photos and videos. But that's not all.

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Friday, May 18, 2012

Myanmar hopes for U.S. sanctions move to boost economy

NAYPYITAW, Myanmar (Reuters) - A further lifting of U.S. sanctions on Myanmar, which could come during a visit by officials to Washington this week, would be crucial to opening its long-isolated economy, a senior Myanmar government official said.

Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin meets U.S. officials on Thursday, stoking expectation the United States might announce a further lifting or suspension of sanctions, including investment restrictions, on the country that is also known as Burma.

It is the first official visit by a Myanmar minister to the United States in decades.

"The sanctions are a big problem," Tint Thwin, deputy director general in Myanmar's Commerce Ministry, told Reuters. "If they are lifted there would be an immediate impact."

"The U.S. government sanctions bar bank transactions in U.S. dollars. That is a major problem for us. If they lift the sanctions, we can easily transfer money, so our private sector can grow, invest and do business and immediately increase our prospects."

The comments illustrate a paradox following the most sweeping reforms in the former British colony since a 1962 coup, when it was known as Burma. Many multinational companies are clamoring to invest following its rapprochement with the United States and Europe, but U.S. sanctions remain big barriers.

Washington's sanctions are the tightest imposed on the former junta by Western powers, banning new investment in the country and imports as well as restricting financial transactions and freezing the assets of financial institutions and top government officials.

Since the measures are covered by five federal laws and four presidential executive orders, removing them is complicated.

However, some have been softened.

"LEVERAGE"

In February, Washington announced a waiver of restrictions so that it could support assessment missions and technical assistance by international financial institutions such as the World Bank. In April, the Treasury authorized financial transactions for a range of non-profit projects.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on April 4 the United States was beginning the process of a targeted easing of its ban on the export of U.S. financial services and investment "as part of a broader effort to help accelerate economic modernization". She gave no time frame.

Patrick Murphy, the State Department's deputy special representative for Myanmar, also said on May 11 that Washington was looking at easing more sanctions and that it was likely to appoint a U.S. ambassador in coming weeks. The restoration of full diplomatic links was announced in January.

U.S. Republican Senator John McCain, who has visited Myanmar twice in the past year, said earlier this week that most U.S. sanctions on Myanmar should be suspended.

But he said it was critical to ensure U.S. investment benefited the private sector and the country's people rather than doing the opposite of entrenching a new oligarchy, which could set back Myanmar's development for decades.

"For this reason, I am not convinced that American companies should be permitted to do business at this time with state-owned firms in Burma that are still dominated by the military," he said in a speech to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "They should align themselves with Aung San Suu Kyi and the Burmese people."

The case for easing sanctions was bolstered by by-elections in April that were deemed free and fair. Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel laureate who led the fight for democracy for more than two decades, was among those elected to parliament.

Suu Kyi told an American audience on Tuesday she was "not against" the suspension of sanctions and preferred that to the outright removal of the punitive measures at this point.

Suspending sanctions was a way of sending a strong message of support for reforms while retaining leverage, she told a Washington meeting via a video link.

(Editing by Alan Raybould and Robert Birsel)

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China Distance Education Holdings Limited Reports Second ...

BEIJING,?May 17, 2012?/PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ ? China Distance Education Holdings Limited (NYSE: DL) (?CDEL?, or the ?Company?), a leading provider of online education in?Chinafocusing on professional education, reported today its unaudited financial results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2012 ended?March 31, 2012.

Second Quarter Fiscal 2012 Business and Financial Highlights:

  • Total course enrollments from continuing operations was 293,000, an increase of 27.7% from the second quarter of fiscal 2011.
  • Net revenues from continuing operations increased 36.7% over the second quarter of fiscal 2011 to?US$12.3 million.
  • Gross profit from continuing operations increased 49.3% from the second quarter of fiscal 2011 to?US$7.02 million.
  • Non-GAAP(1) gross profit from continuing operations increased 39.9% over the second quarter of fiscal 2011 to?US$7.03 million.
  • Gross profit margin from continuing operations was 56.9%, compared to 52.1% in the second quarter of fiscal 2011. Non-GAAP?gross profit margin from continuing operations was 57.0%, compared to 55.7% in the same period last year.
  • Operating income from continuing operations was?US$3.2 million, compared to?US$0.3 million?in the second quarter of fiscal 2011. Non-GAAP operating income from continuing operations was?US$3.3 million, compared to?US$1.2 million?in the second quarter of fiscal 2011.
  • Net income was?US$2.8 million, compared to?US$0.5 million?in the second quarter of fiscal 2011.
  • Non-GAAP(1) net income was?US$2.9 million, compared to?US$1.4 million?in the second quarter of fiscal 2011.
  • Basic net income per American Depositary Share (?ADS?) was?US$0.083, compared to basic net income per ADS of?US$0.013?for the second quarter of fiscal 2011. Diluted net income per ADS was?US$0.082, compared to diluted net income per ADS of?US$0.013?for the second quarter of fiscal 2011. Each ADS represents four ordinary shares.
  • Basic non-GAAP(1) net income per ADS was?US$0.086, compared to basic non-GAAP(1) net income per ADS of?US$0.040?for the second quarter of fiscal 2011.?Diluted non-GAAP(1) net income per ADS wasUS$0.085, compared to diluted non-GAAP(1) net income per ADS of?US$0.040?for the second quarter of fiscal 2011.
  • Deferred revenue and refundable fees balance was?US$15.8 million, a 3.6% increase from the balance ofUS$15.2 million?for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 and a 19.5% increase from the second quarter of fiscal 2011.

Commenting on the results, Mr.?Zhengdong Zhu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer said, ?We are very pleased to report another quarter of healthy top- and bottom-line growth, building on the momentum we have gained in recent quarters. Supported by steady enrollment growth across our core online education courses and increasing pricing power, revenue for the quarter again exceeded guidance. Our results demonstrate the robust underlying demand for high quality online training and educational services and the growing strength of our brand power inChina?s education market. We are also pleased to see that our recent initiatives, including our newly launched high definition courseware and mobile learning platform, are helping to drive incremental enrollment growth across our course offerings, while also supporting growth in average student payments. These new services highlight our innovative and student-focused approach which we believe will help to further strengthen our industry leading position for years to come.

?While overall market conditions and student demand remain healthy, some major Accounting Professional Qualification Examination, or ?APQE?, originally scheduled for May have been delayed to October. At the same time we are still awaiting the release of the official policy on this year?s CPA exams, including the exam dates, registration timeline and text books. The release of this information is already more than six weeks behind the usual schedule. Consequently, we anticipate a shift in the timing of enrollments and revenue recognition for APQE and CPA exams. Specifically, a significant portion of APQE revenue that we had expected to record in the third fiscal quarter will shift into next fiscal year, and post-exam APQE enrollment will also be delayed until next fiscal year. The delayed release of CPA exam policy for this year may also affect both the timing and the amount of revenue we may earn in the remainder of this fiscal year. While the delayed timing of these exams will impact our results, we believe that these regulatory changes are a one-time event and such changes will only affect the timing of the revenue contribution related to these exams.

?We believe that the continuing strength of our other accounting and non-accounting courses will help to partially offset the near-term impact from these delays. The continued diversification of our business in recent years and the growing momentum of our recent initiatives have helped us to develop a more robust platform with multiple sustainable revenue streams. As a result, we still expect to achieve our revenue guidance for the full year of 20-30% revenue increase year-over-year.?

Ms.?Ping Wei, Chief Financial Officer of CDEL, commented, ?Our performance in the second quarter has again demonstrated the scalability of our business model as we registered another quarter of strong top- and bottom-line growth. Both our gross and net margin continue to expand at a healthy pace while cash flow has also continued to increase, registering a?US$4.8 millionincrease in the second quarter.

?The delayed timing of the AQPE exams and the delayed release of CPA exam policy will result in about 15-20% of third-quarter revenue being delayed to later quarters. On a fiscal year basis, APQE alone will result in the delayed recognition of at least?US$1.8 million?in revenue into fiscal 2013. As most of our costs and expenses are fixed, the impact to our bottom line for the next quarter and for fiscal year 2012 will be even more significant.

?Nonetheless, as most of our other education verticals are growing at a particularly high rate, and as we continue to tightly control our costs and expenses, we remain confident that despite these unexpected delays, we will still maintain net profit growth in-line with our revenue growth in fiscal year 2012.?

Fiscal?Second Quarter 2012 Unaudited Financial Results

?

Net?Revenues. Total net revenues from continuing operations for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 were?US$12.3 million, representing a year-over-year increase of 36.7% from?US$9.0 millionin the second quarter of fiscal 2011.

Online education services net revenues for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 were?US$9.2 million, an increase of 36.4% from the second quarter of fiscal 2011. The increase was a result of increased revenue in all major test preparation courses. Such increase was partially offset by decreased revenue from accounting continuing education courses primarily as it is low enrollment season for continuing education courses.

Net revenues from books and reference materials for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 wereUS$1.3 million?after reallocating the delivery of online course services deliverable of?US$0.2 million?as online education services net revenues, almost unchanged from the second quarter of fiscal 2011.

Net revenues from others increased by 86.6% year-over-year to?US$1.9 million?for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 from?US$1.0 million?in the same period last year. The increase was a result of increased revenue in courseware production services, offline business start-up training courses provided by Zhengbao Yucai and other offline supplementary training courses. Such increase was partially offset by decreased revenue from magazine content production services.

Cost of Sales. Cost of sales from continuing operations for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 was?US$5.32 million, representing a 23.0% increase over the second quarter of fiscal 2011. Non-GAAP(1) cost of sales from continuing operations for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 wasUS$5.31 million, an increase of 32.7% over the same period last year. The increase in cost of sales was primarily due to the increased salaries and related expenses, and lecturer fees. Such increase was partially offset by decreased cost of books and reference materials.

Gross Profit and Gross Margin.?Gross profit from continuing operations for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 was?US$7.02 million, representing a 49.3% increase from?US$4.7 million?in the same period last year. Non-GAAP(1) gross profit from continuing operations was?US$7.03 million, an increase of 39.9% year-over-year. Gross profit margin from continuing operations for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 was 56.9%, compared to 52.1% in the second quarter of fiscal 2011. Non-GAAP(1) gross profit margin from continuing operations for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 expanded to 57.0%, compared to 55.7% in the same period last year as we continue to leverage on our highly scalable online revenue model.

Operating Expenses.?Total operating expenses from continuing operations for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 were?US$3.8 million, a decrease of 13.3% year-over-year. Non-GAAP(1) operating expenses from continuing operations were?US$3.7 million, representing a year-over-year decrease of 2.2%.

Selling expenses from continuing operations amounted to?US$1.72 million?for the second quarter of fiscal 2012, representing a 11.9% decrease year-over-year. Non-GAAP(1) selling expenses from continuing operations were?US$1.71 million, a 7.2% decrease from the same period last year primarily as a result of decreased advertising and promotional activities and commissions to our agents as we continue to refine the collaboration model with our online distribution partners. Such decrease was partially offset by increased salaries and related expenses.

General and administrative expenses from continuing operations were?US$2.1 million?in the second quarter of fiscal 2012, representing a 14.4% decrease year-over-year. Non-GAAP(1) general and administrative expenses from continuing operations were?US$2.0 million, an increase of 2.5% year-over-year primarily due to increased salaries and related expenses. Such increase was partially offset by decreased professional fees.

Income Tax?Expenses. Income tax expenses for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 were?US$0.7 million, compared with?US$0.1 million?in the same period last year.

Net Income?from continuing operations?attributable to China Distance Education Holdings Limited.?Net income from continuing operations was?US$2.8 million?for the second quarter of fiscal 2012, compared to net income from continuing operations of?US$0.5 million?in the same period last year. Non-GAAP(1) net income from continuing operations for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 was?US$2.9 million, compared to non-GAAP(1) net income from continuing operations of?US$1.4 million?in the same period last year.

Net Income (Loss) from discontinued operations attributable to China Distance Education Holdings Limited.?Net income from discontinued operations was?US$0.02 million?for the second quarter of fiscal 2012, compared to net loss from discontinued operations of?US$0.01 million?in the same period last year.

Net Income.?Net income was?US$2.8 million?for the second quarter of fiscal 2012, compared to net income of?US$0.4 million?in the same period last year. Non-GAAP(1) net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 was?US$2.9 million, compared to non-GAAP net income of?US$1.4 million?in the same period last year.

?

Operating Cash Flow.?Net operating cash inflow for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 wasUS$4.8 million, compared to a net operating cash inflow of?US$2.7 million?in the same period last year. The increase was primarily the result of increased profit generated in the quarter, decrease in accounts receivable and deferred cost, increase in income tax payable, and higher deferred revenue and refundable fees balance resulted primarily from increased payments by our students to obtain our courses. Such increase was partially offset by increase in prepayment and other current assets, and inventories.

?

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Term Deposits and Restricted Cash. Cash and cash equivalents, term deposits and restricted cash as of?March 31, 2012?increased to?US$54.5 million?from?US$49.7 million?as of?December 31, 2011?primarily due to?US$4.8 million?of operating cash flow generated from operations in the quarter, partially offset by?US$0.5 million?of capital expenditures.

Third Quarter Fiscal 2012 Guidance????? The Company expects to generate total net revenues from continuing operations for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 in the range of?US$12.3 million to US$13.3 million, as compared to net revenues from continuing operations of?US$12.1 million?in the third quarter of fiscal 2011, representing a 2% to 10% year-over-year increase. This represents our current and preliminary view, which is subject to change.

(1) For more information about the non-GAAP financial measures contained in this press release, please see ?Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures? below

Conference Call

China Distance Education Holdings Limited senior management will host a conference call at8:00 am?(Eastern) /?5:00 am?(Pacific) /?8:00 pm?(Beijing/Hong Kong) on?May 17, 2012?to discuss its second fiscal quarter 2012 financial results and recent business activity. The conference call may be accessed by calling +1 866 519 4004 (US), 800 930 346 (Hong Kong), 800 819 0121 (China Land-line), 400 620 8038 (China Mobile), or 0 808 234 6646 (UK). The pass code is CDEL.

A telephone replay will be available shortly after the call until?May 24, 2012?at +1 866 214 5335 (US), 800 901 596 (Hong Kong), 10 800 714 0386 (China North), 10 800 140 0386 (China South), or 0 800 731 7846 (UK). The Pass code is 76311305.

A live webcast of the conference call and replay will be available on the investor relations page of China Distance Education Holdings Limited?s website at:

http://ir.cdeledu.com/versions/Financials_en/EarningsAnnouncements_en.html

About China Distance Education Holdings Limited

China Distance Education Holdings Limited is a leading provider of online education in?Chinafocusing on professional education. The courses offered by the Company through its websites are designed to help professionals and other course participants obtain and maintain the skills, licenses and certifications necessary to pursue careers in?China?in the areas of accounting, law, healthcare, construction engineering, and other industries. The Company also offers online test preparation courses to self-taught learners pursuing higher education diplomas or degrees and to secondary school and college students preparing for various academic and entrance exams. In addition, the Company offers online foreign language courses and offline business start-up training courses. For further information please visit?http://ir.cdeledu.com.

?

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the ?safe harbor? provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as ?will,? ?may,? ?should,? ?potential,? ?continue,? ?expect,? ?anticipate,? ?future,? ?intend,? ?plan,? ?believe,? ?is/are likely to,? ?estimate? and similar statements. Among other things, the outlook for the third quarter of the fiscal year 2012 and the quotations from management in this announcement, the impact on us of the delayed timing of the APQE and CPA exams, as well as the Company?s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the SEC in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company?s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: our goals and growth strategies; our future prospects and market acceptance of our online and offline courses and other products and services; our future business development and results of operations; projected revenues, profits, earnings and other estimated financial information; projected enrollment numbers; our plans to expand and enhance our online and offline courses and other products and services; competition in the education and test preparation markets; and Chinese laws, regulations and policies, including those applicable to the Internet and Internet content providers, the education and telecommunications industries, mergers and acquisitions, taxation and foreign exchange.

Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company?s annual report on Form 20-F and other documents filed with the SEC. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release.

Statement Regarding Unaudited Financial Information

The unaudited financial information set forth above is preliminary and subject to adjustments. Adjustments to the financial statements may be identified when audit work is performed for the year-end audit, which could result in significant differences from this preliminary unaudited financial information.

?

?

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement the Company?s consolidated financial results presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, the Company uses the following measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures: non-GAAP net income, operating income, gross profit, cost of sales, selling expenses, general and administrative expenses, net income margin, operating margin, gross profit margin and basic and diluted earnings per ADS and per share. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned ?Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures to comparable GAAP measures? set forth at the end of this release.

The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its performance and liquidity by excluding share-based compensation expenses that may not be indicative of its operating performance from a cash perspective. The Company believes that both management and investors benefit from these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing its performance and when planning and forecasting future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management?s internal comparisons to the Company?s historical performance and liquidity. The Company computes its non-GAAP financial measures using the same consistent method from quarter to quarter. The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors in allowing for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision making. A limitation of excluding share-based compensation expenses from the above-mentioned line items and presenting these non-GAAP measures is that such charges may continue to be for the foreseeable future a significant recurring expense in our business. Management compensates for this limitation by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from each non-GAAP measure. The accompanying table at the end of this release provides more detail on the reconciliations between GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to non-GAAP financial measures.

?

?

?

Contacts:

China Distance Education Holdings Limited

Lingling Kong, IR manager

Tel: +86-10-8231-9999 ext1805

Email:?IR@cdeledu.com

?

?

Investor Relations (HK):

Mahmoud Siddig, Managing Director

Taylor Rafferty

Tel: +852 3196 3712

Email:?cdel@taylor-rafferty.com

?

Financial Tables Follow

?

China Distance Education Holdings Limited
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands of US Dollars, except number of shares and per share data)
September?30, 2011 March 31, 2012
(Derived from audited) (Unaudited)
Assets:
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents 49,738 46,459
Term deposit 7,839 7,940
Restricted cash 2,676 90
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of US$3,190
and US$3,250 as of September 30, 2011 and March 31, 2012, respectively
4,661 3,435
Inventories 363 692
Prepayment and other current assets 2,861 3,878
Deferred tax assets, current portion 1,556 1,555
Deferred cost 1,868 1,533
Current assets of discontinued operations 2,306 1,649
Total current assets 73,868 67,231
Non-current assets:
Property, plant and equipment, net 8,586 8,791
Goodwill 7,403 7,496
Other intangible assets, net 2,382 1,993
Deposit for purchase of non-current assets 242 217
Long term loan to employees - 3,918
Deferred tax assets, non-current portion 668 611
Other non-current assets 729 968
Total non-current assets 20,010 23,994
Total assets 93,878 91,225
Liabilities and equity:
Current liabilities:
Accrued expenses and other liabilities (including accrued expenses
and other liabilities of the consolidated VIE without recourse to China
Distance Education Holdings Limited of US$5,738 and US$6,877 as of
September 30, 2011 and March 31, 2012, respectively)
6,514 7,625
Dividend payable (including dividend payable of the consolidated VIE without
recourse to China Distance Education Holdings Limited of nil and nil as of
September 30, 2011 and March 31, 2012, respectively)
- 348
Income tax payable (including income tax payable of the consolidated VIE
without recourse to China Distance Education Holdings Limited of US$2,170
and US$2,314 as of September 30, 2011 and March 31, 2012, respectively)
2,329 2,212
Deferred revenue (including deferred revenue of the consolidated VIE without
recourse to China Distance Education Holdings Limited of US$7,848 and
US$13,553 as of September 30, 2011 and March 31, 2012, respectively)
7,861 13,555
Refundable fees (including refundable fees of the consolidated VIE without
recourse to China Distance Education Holdings Limited of US$2,580 and
US$2,222 as of September 30, 2011 and March 31, 2012, respectively)
2,580 2,222
Current liabilities of discontinued operations (including current liabilities of
discontinued operations of the consolidated VIE without recourse to China
Distance Education Holdings Limited of US$1,860 and US$945 as of September
30, 2011 and March 31, 2012, respectively)
1,860 945
Total current liabilities 21,144 26,907
Total liabilities 21,144 26,907
?

Equity:

Ordinary shares (par value of US$0.0001 per share at September 30, 2011 and
March 31, 2012, respectively; Authorized ? 480,000,000 shares at September 30,
2011 and March 31, 2012; Issued and outstanding ? 127,800,673 and 135,557,585
shares at September 30, 2011 and March 31, 2012, respectively)
13 14
Additional paid-in capital 78,804 66,669
Accumulated other comprehensive income 4,221 4,770
Cumulative deficits (10,304) (7,135)
Total?China Distance Education Holdings Limited?shareholders? equity 72,734 64,318
Total equity 72,734 64,318
Total liabilities and equity 93,878 91,225

?

China Distance Education Holdings Limited
Unaudited?Consolidated Statements Of?Operations
(in thousands of US dollars, except number of shares, per share and per ADS data)
Three Months Ended?March?31,
2011 2012
Sales, net of business tax, value-added tax and related surcharges:
Online education services 6,747 9,202
Books and reference materials 1,285 1,280
Others 993 1,853
Total net revenues 9,025 12,335
Cost of sales
Cost of services (3,586) (4,683)
Cost of tangible goods sold (739) (637)
Total cost of sales (4,325) (5,320)
Gross profit 4,700 7,015
Operating expenses
Selling expenses (1,948) (1,717)
General and administrative expenses (2,422) (2,073)
Total operating expenses (4,370) (3,790)
Other operating income 2 -
Operating?income 332 3,225
Interest income 198 229
Exchange loss (26) (16)
Income?before income taxes 504 3,438
Less: Income tax expense (101) (658)
Net income from continuing operations 403 2,780
Net loss of continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interest 58 -
Net?income from continuing operations?attributable to?China Distance Education
Holdings Limited
461 2,780
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to China Distance Education Holdings
Limited, net of tax
(12) 21
Net?income?attributable to?China Distance Education Holdings Limited 449 2,801
?

Net income (loss)?per share:

Net income (loss)?attributable to?China Distance Education Holdings Limited?shareholders
Basic from continuing operations 0.003 0.021
Basic from discontinued operations (0.000) 0.000
Basic 0.003 0.021
Diluted from continuing operations 0.003 0.021
Diluted from discontinued operations (0.000) 0.000
Diluted 0.003 0.021
?

Net income (loss)?per ADS:

Net income (loss)?attributable to?China Distance Education Holdings Limited?shareholders
Basic from continuing operations 0.013 0.082
Basic from discontinued operations (0.000) 0.001
Basic 0.013 0.083
Diluted from continuing operations 0.013 0.082
Diluted from discontinued operations (0.000) 0.000
Diluted 0.013 0.082
Weighted average shares used in calculating net?income?(loss)?per share:
Basic 136,461,653 135,562,521
Diluted 136,555,042 136,024,388

?

China Distance Education Holdings Limited
Unaudited Reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to comparable GAAP measures from continuing operations
(In thousands of US Dollars, except number of shares, per share and per ADS data)
Three Months Ended March 31,
2011 2012
Cost of sales 4,325 5,320
Share-based compensation expense in cost of sales 325 13
Non-GAAP cost of sales 4,000 5,307
Selling expenses 1,948 1,717
Share-based compensation expense in selling expenses 108 10
Non-GAAP selling expenses 1,840 1,707
General and administrative expenses 2,422 2,073
Share-based compensation expense in general and administrative expenses 479 81
Non-GAAP general and administrative expenses 1,943 1,992
Gross profit 4,700 7,015
Share-based compensation expenses 325 13
Non-GAAP gross profit 5,025 7,028
Gross profit margin 52.1% 56.9%
Non-GAAP gross profit margin 55.7% 57.0%
Operating income 332 3,225
Share-based compensation expenses 912 104
Non-GAAP operating income 1,244 3,329
Operating margin 3.7%. 26.1%
Non-GAAP operating margin 13.8% 27.0%
Net income attributable to China Distance Education Holdings Limited 461 2,780
Share-based compensation expenses 912 104
Non-GAAP net income attributable to China Distance Education Holdings Limited 1,373 2,884
Net income margin attributable to China Distance Education Holdings Limited 5.1% 22.5%
Non-GAAP net income margin attributable to China Distance Education Holdings Limited 15.2% 23.4%
Net income per share????basic 0.003 0.021
Net income per share????diluted 0.003 0.021
Non-GAAP net income per share????basic 0.010 0.021
Non-GAAP net income per share????diluted 0.010 0.021
Net income per ADS attributable to China Distance Education Holdings Limited shareholders????basic (note 1) 0.013 0.082
Net income per ADS attributable to China Distance Education Holdings Limited shareholders????diluted (note 1) 0.013 0.082
Non-GAAP net income per ADS attributable to China Distance Education Holdings Limited shareholders????basic (note 1) 0.040 0.085
Non-GAAP net income per ADS attributable to China Distance Education Holdings Limited shareholders????diluted (note 1) 0.040 0.085
Weighted average shares used in calculating basic net income per share 136,461,653 135,562,521
Weighted average shares used in calculating diluted net income per share 136,555,042 136,024,388
Weighted average shares used in calculating basic non-GAAP net income per share 136,461,653 135,562,521
Weighted average shares used in calculating diluted non-GAAP net income per share 136,555,042 136,024,388
Note 1: Each ADS represents four ordinary shares

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Thursday, May 17, 2012

AJEnglish: Op-ed: An ugly demographic battle is the foundation of the "#Jewish and democratic" state of #Israel, says @benabyad http://t.co/jedJgCBM

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Op-ed: An ugly demographic battle is the foundation of the "#Jewish and democratic" state of #Israel, says @benabyad aje.me/L81J1x AJEnglish

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Hulk Hogan's ex smashes engagement to fiance

By Us Weekly

Call off the cougar wedding. Linda Hogan and Charley Hill have called off their engagement and have broken up, she announced on Facebook Tuesday.

Hulk Hogan's 52-year-old ex-wife raised eyebrows when she and Hill, 23, an old pal of her son Nick, stepped out together as a couple four years ago.

PHOTOS: Couples with huge age differences

But the May-December is over, she told fans.

"Ok... My status has changed. I am now single," Hogan wrote. "After the great therapy we had together and time to think and concentrate on who we are and who we want to be, Charley and I decided that we should each travel through life in different directions."

PHOTOS: Hollywood's broken engagements

Indeed, after slamming rumors of a wedding aboard a yacht, the unlikely duo talked through their problems on VH1's "Couples Therapy."

"Thank you all for always being so supportive of our relationship and choices," she added to fans. "I hope that you all understand and are not be too terribly disappointed. Love you!"

PHOTOS: Biggest family feuds in Hollywood

Linda and Hulk Hogan, 58 (real name: Terry Bollea) share kids Brooke, 24, and Nick, 22 and divorced in late 2007 after 24 years of marriage.

Hulk married Jennifer McDaniel in December 2010.

Related content:

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Low-Calorie Slurpee Will Freeze Your Brain This Summer

The nation?s largest convenience chain, 7-Eleven, has announced a new low-calorie line of Slurpees for this summer in hopes of freezing your brain while keeping extra calories out of your system, called Slurpee Lite.

Bruce Horovitz for USA Today reports that Slurpee Lite will target females in their 20s with this tagline: ?All flavor. No sugar.? The chain has sold saccharin-based Slurpees regionally, but the 45-year-old treat is now rolling out with Splenda as a sweetener, following a nationwide trend of treats and foods hinting at a slimmer profile.

Companies have been marketing everything from ?Spam Lite? to ?skinny cocktails? aimed at calorie-conscious consumers. ?You have to wonder what would happen to the obesity epidemic if light products tasted better,? Lynn Dornblaser, new products guru at research firm Mintel, tells Horovitz.

7-Eleven?s 8-ounce Slurpee Lite Fanta Sugar-Free Mango has 20 calories, which is much less than the 66 calories in an 8-ounce Fanta Wild Cherry Slurpee drink, the best-selling conventional Slurpee.

?We talked to a group who said they would drink Slurpees more often if we take out the sugar and reduce the calories,? says Laura Gordon, vice president of brand innovation. To get folks familiar with the line, 7-Eleven will offer free 7.11-ounce Slurpees on ?SlurpFree Day? May 23.

Lite Mango (and other flavors) will be available, but not two sugar-free flavors due this summer: strawberry banana and cherry limeade.

?Now it?s just a different kind of junk food,? says Neal Barnard, nutritionist and adjunct associate professor of medicine at George Washington University. ?This should not be mistaken as any kind of corporate responsibility. They?re just trying to sell you the same stuff in a different package.?

One overriding problem with most light foods and drinks is the perception that they taste awful. Still, 80 percent of US consumers say they?re interested in low-calorie, low-fat or low-sugar foods. Forty-three percent however, say the biggest challenge to dieting is the taste of diet foods, reports Mintel.

7-Eleven insists it?s nailed low-cal taste. But Barnard warns, ?Slurpee had zero nutritional value then, and it has zero nutritional value now.?

?7-Eleven carries lots of fresh foods, beverages and snack items for people looking for better-for-you options,? said Patsy Ross, 7-Eleven?s registered dietitian.

?Our stores have something for everyone whether they?re counting calories, fat or sugar grams. Slurpee Lite offers a beverage alternative to consumers concerned about sugar intake and calorie consumption, whether for dieting reasons or a medical necessity, such as diabetes,? Ross said.

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