Things To Do In SW Florida

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE, AP Technology Writer

Google on Wednesday unveiled a new line-up of Pixel smartphones injected with another dose of artificial intelligence that’s designed to do everything from fetch vital information stored on the devices to help improve photos as they’re being taken.

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The AI expansion on the four Pixel 10 models amplifies Google’s efforts to broaden the use of a technology that is already starting to reshape society. At the same time, Google is taking a swipe at Apple’s Achilles’ heel on the iPhone.

Apple so far has only been able to introduce a few basic AI features on the iPhone while failing to deliver on last year’s promise to deliver a more conversational and versatile version of its often-blundering virtual assistant Siri. read more

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Target is counting on a company veteran to revive its magic as it struggles to compete with rivals like Walmart.

The Minneapolis-based retailer said Wednesday that Chief Operating Officer Michael Fiddelke, who has been with Target for 20 years, will become CEO Feb. 1.

He succeeds Brian Cornell, who helped reenergize the company when he took the helm in 2014 but has struggled to turn around weak sales in a more competitive retail landscape since the COVID pandemic.

Fiddelke has overhauled Target’s supply network and expanded the company’s stores and digital services while cutting costs. In May, the company announced that he would lead a new office focused on faster decision-making to help accelerate sales growth.

Fiddelke is taking over at time when Target’s sales are in a funk, its stores are messy and understocked, and it’s losing market share to rivals.

He said he’s stepping into the role with three urgent priorities: reclaiming the company’s merchandising authority; improving the shopping experience by making sure shelves are consistently stocked and stores are clean; and investing in technology at the company’s stores and in its supply network. read more

TALLAHASSEE — U.S. travelers continue to bolster Florida’s tourism industry, while the state hopes to make up for a decline in Canadian visitors by drawing people from other countries.

Visit Florida on Tuesday estimated 34.435 million people traveled to Florida from April 1 through June 30, up from 34.279 million people during the same period last year. The estimate for this year would be a second-quarter record, according to the state tourism-marketing agency.

U.S. travelers made up 31.499 million of this year’s total, or 91.5 percent, up slightly from 31.419 million during the second quarter of 2024. Visit Florida estimated 2.295 million overseas travelers during the quarter this year, an 11.4 percent jump from the same period in 2024. But the estimated 640,000 Canadian visitors to Florida during the quarter marked a 20 percent drop from 2024.

“I know the nation is seeing some Canadian visitors not traveling at the moment, but Florida actually is seeing an increase in visitors from other places, including Brazil, which I think it’s part of that overseas visitation increase, and it’s something that we’re really monitoring and looking to see if we can shift some efforts there to continue that good trend,” Visit Florida President and CEO Bryan Griffin told members of the agency’s Executive Committee on Monday. read more

Norwegian Cruise Line President David Herrera has left the company, with the head of its parent company taking over for now.

Harry Sommer, the current president and CEO of Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, which oversees NCL as well as Oceania and Regent Seven Seas, will assume day-to-day responsibilities for the company’s marquee cruise line effective immediately, according to a statement from the company.

“Aligned with our continued strategic evolution and focus on our charting the course strategy and 2026 targets, NCL is entering a transformative chapter in its nearly 60-year history that will elevate the guest experience even further,” Sommer said in an emailed statement. “Marked by seven next-generation ships on order, major enhancements underway at Great Stirrup Cay, the greatest private island in the Caribbean, and an expanded Caribbean presence, the brand is well-positioned for meaningful growth.”

Sommer had previously served as NCL president after taking over for Andy Stuart in late 2019. He then took over the parent company when Frank J. Del Rio retired in 2023. read more

High-end credit cards are nothing new. American Express has been catering to a discerning crowd since the 1960s, while airlines began partnering with Visa and Mastercard in the 1980s to launch airline credit cards for loyal travelers.

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  Target picks an insider to lead the struggling company when CEO Brian Cornell steps down next year

• 
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• 
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• 
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Cards with triple-digit annual fees are becoming more common, with even several “midmarket” cards upping fees to around $150. But that’s pocket change compared to premium card annual fees of $500 or more.

High annual fees get a mixed reaction from consumers. A NerdWallet survey, conducted online by The Harris Poll, found that 57% of Americans say no annual fee would be important to them if they were applying for a new credit card. read more