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|By Business Wire||
|February 12, 2014 09:01 PM EST||
The Storage Products Business Unit of Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc., a committed technology leader, announces the next generation of high-capacity 3.5-inch form factor enterprise hard disk drive (HDD) – the MG04 series. Engineered for midline and nearline business critical workloads, the MG04 series is the industry’s first enterprise capacity category models supporting industry standard 4K Advanced Format sector technologies as well as persistent write cache technology, which improves both performance and reliability. The series is engineered for the high-capacity demands of mid-tier servers and cloud application workloads and for capacity-optimized data center storage systems that benefit from high capacity per spindle.
With a 6Gb/s2 interface model, the SAS MG04SCA and SATA MG04ACA series are available in the industry standard 3.5-inch form factor and are available in capacities of up to 5TB3. Spinning at 7,200 rotations per minute (RPM), the MG04 series delivers high application performance, while the high capacity per spindle saves rack space and reduces the footprint and operational burden of business critical servers and storage systems. The series also provides, as an option, persistent write cache technologies that help protect against data-loss in the event of sudden power loss, while also helping to improve performance and data reliability. Models supporting sanitize instant erase (SIE) option are available.
“With the MG04 series enterprise capacity disk drives, our customers will benefit from the increased storage capacity and performance made possible by the latest industry-standard long sector technologies,” said Scott Wright, product marketing manager at Toshiba Storage Products Business Unit. “We understand the importance of peace of mind when it comes to data integrity, and persistent cache technology included in this series not only helps protect against data-loss but also helps to improve performance and data reliability.”
Customer samples of the MG04 series will begin shipping in February 2014. For more information on Toshiba’s line of industry-leading SSDs, HDDs and SSHDs, visit www.toshibastorage.com. To connect with Toshiba Storage, visit the corporate blog at http://storage.toshiba.com/corporateblog/ and follow @ToshibaStorage on Twitter.
The Toshiba MG04 enterprise class HDD series delivers massive 5TB capacity using industry standard 4K sector length technologies, models supporting either Advanced Format 512e emulation of legacy sector lengths, and the latest industry standard 4K native sector length technologies for optimum performance.
- Up to 5TB capacity 7,200 RPM performance
- SAS or SATA interface
- Toshiba’s persistent write cache technology for optimum performance and data reliability (option)
- Business critical performance, workload rating and data reliability
Additional information on the Toshiba MG04 Enterprise Class Hard Disk Drive series can be found by visiting www.storage.toshiba.com/enterprise
About Toshiba Storage Products
Toshiba Corporation and its affiliates offer one-of-a-kind global storage solutions, offering hard disk drives (HDDs), solid state drives (SSDs) and NAND flash memories — technologies that drive a wide range of consumer electronics, computer and automotive applications, as well as enterprise solutions for the global marketplace. Toshiba is a leader in the development, design and manufacture of mobile, consumer and enterprise hard disk drives and solid state drives. In North America, the Storage Products Business Unit of Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc., markets high-quality storage peripherals to original equipment manufacturers, original design manufacturers, value-added resellers, value-added dealers, systems integrators and distributors worldwide. Inherent in the Toshiba storage family are the high-quality engineering and manufacturing capabilities that have established Toshiba products as innovation leaders worldwide. For more information, visit www.toshibastorage.com.
About Toshiba Corp. and Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (TAEC)
Through proven commitment, lasting relationships and advanced, reliable electronic components, Toshiba enables its customers to create market-leading designs. Toshiba is the heartbeat within product breakthroughs from OEMs, ODMs, CMs, VARs, distributors and fabless chip companies worldwide. A committed electronic components leader, Toshiba designs and manufactures high-quality flash memory-based storage solutions, solid state drives (SSDs), hard disk drives (HDDs), discrete devices, advanced materials, medical tubes, custom SoCs/ASICs, imaging products, microcontrollers and wireless components that make possible today’s leading smartphones, tablets, MP3 players, cameras, medical devices, automotive electronics, enterprise solutions and more.
Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. is an independent operating company owned by Toshiba America, Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation, Japan’s largest semiconductor manufacturer and the world’s fifth largest semiconductor manufacturer (Gartner, 2012 Worldwide Semiconductor Revenue, April, 2013). Toshiba Corporation was founded in 1875 and today has over 554 subsidiaries and affiliates, with 210,000 employees worldwide. Visit Toshiba's web site at www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm.
© 2014 Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. All rights reserved. All product, service and company names are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. Information in this press release, including product pricing, availability and specifications, content of services and contact information, is current and believed to be accurate on the date of the announcement, but is subject to change without prior notice. Technical and application information contained here is subject to the most recent applicable Toshiba product specifications.
1 Persistent write cache technology is only available as an option.
2 Read and write speed may vary depending on the host device, read and write conditions, and file size.
3 Definition of capacity: Toshiba defines a megabyte (MB) as 1,000,000 bytes, a gigabyte (GB) as 1,000,000,000 bytes and a terabyte (TB) as 1,000,000,000,000 bytes. A computer operating system, however, reports storage capacity using powers of 2 for the definition of 1GB = 230 = 1,073,741,824 bytes and therefore shows less storage capacity. Available storage capacity (including examples of various media files) will vary based on file size, formatting, settings, software and operating system, such as Microsoft Operating System and/or pre-installed software applications, or media content. Actual formatted capacity may vary.
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Nestle Sustainability Report: Direct GHGs Fell 7.7 Percent, Per Production, in 2011
Nestle’s greenhouse gas emissions fell by 3.8 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent in 2011, while its production volume increased by 3.4 percent, according to the company’s 2011 corporate sustainability report.
Per metric ton of product, Nestlé reduced its direct greenhouse emissions from 91 kg of CO2e in 2010 to 84 kg of CO2e in 2011, a drop of 7.7 percent. Since 2001, the company has experienced a 0.8 million ton (17.4 percent) reduction in CO2e, or a 52 percent reduction per ton of production, during a period when production volume increased by 73 percent.
The report does not supply absolute figures for the total amount of CO2 equivalent Nestlé was responsible for in 2011 or any other year.
The company’s indirect greenhouse gas emissions from purchased energy increased by 2.8 percent year-on-year in 2011 to 3.2 million metric tons, equal to a 0.5 percent reduction per metric ton of product compared to 2010, the report says.
Nestlé has a short term goal of reducing is greenhouse emissions by 5 percent by 2015, but does not provide a baseline year against which the reductions will be measured.
One of the ways the company has tried to cut its carbon emissions is through the use of natural refrigerants in manufacturing and point of sale units. The company has now phased out more than 90 percent of refrigerants with what it calls “high global warming and ozone depleting potential” in its industrial operations, and has shifted its focus to smaller refrigeration systems, such as ice cream freezers in stores.
In Switzerland all new Nestlé ice cream freezers now use hydrocarbon refrigerants and have fans that improve energy efficiency by 80 percent. The company is planning roll-outs of these types of freezers in Australia, Spain, Malaysia, Chile and the United States. Nestlé expects the freezers to cut its greenhouse emissions by 10,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent over their 10-year life span.
In 2011, the company’s on-site energy consumption was 90 million GJ, which equates to 2 GJ per metric ton of product – a two percent reduction compared to 2010. Since 2001, Nestlé has maintained its energy consumption while increasing its production volume by 73 percent. It attributes the improvement to energy reduction initiatives at a factory level, changes in its product mix and changes resulting from acquisitions and divestments.
Nestlé’s Energy Target Setting Initiative completed 16 projects in 2011, during which it identified more than 379 projects that totaled an investment of CHF86 million ($93 million). These projects resulted in an annual energy savings of about 8 million GJ and a reduction of around 191,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent.
Renewable energy accounted for 12 percent of Nestlé’s energy consumption in 2011. Some 3.5 percentage points of this figure come from reusing spent coffee ground to create fuel, 2.8 percentage points come from wood burning and an estimated 5.3 percentage points comes from the purchase of electrical energy from external renewable sources.
From 2012, following a power purchase agreement with CISA-Gamesa, 85 percent of the total electricity consumed by Nestlé factories in Mexico will be supplied by wind power. The food company estimates that the project will reduce air emissions, including those from greenhouse gas, by more than 120,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent annually.
The company’s stated aim is to be the most efficient water user among food manufacturers. It has a short-term goal to reduce its water consumption and water discharges on a comparable basis by 10 percent, by 2015. The report does not clearly state a baseline against which this will be measured.
Last year, Nestlé withdrew 143 million cubic meters of water, or 3.17 cubic meters per metric ton of product. This is a 4 percent reduction in withdrawal per metric ton product from 2010. Since 2001 the company’s water withdrawals have fallen by 28 percent, the report says.
At the Nestlé Waters San Pellegrino plant in Italy, the company has developed a “cascade” system that enables water to be used twice for washing and rinsing bottles, while still maintaining hygiene levels. The plant saves 119,000 cubic meters per year through its water-saving processes.
Nestlé was one of 185 companies, including Shell, Unilever and Alcoa, that in October called on the government to take action to keep the global rise in temperatures below two degrees Celsius.
The companies called for governments to agree a “robust, equitable and effective agreement” at the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting in Durban, South Africa last December, saying that without such a deal, business won’t have enough certainty to invest to its full potential.
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One-third of consumers in the UK surveyed by ICM Research claim that they would definitely or probably use their mobile as a wallet to make payments for everyday items. But that figure rises to 51% of respondents if their concerns about security could be allayed, implying that security fears are holding back further use of mobile wallets. As it turns out, consumers are willing to try an array of methods to increase their confidence in the security of mobile payments.
Those security measures include: a bank/mobile provider guaranteeing any financial losses (56%); entering a PIN with every transaction (43%) or after a number of transactions (37%); being able to shut the mobile down remotely (40%); setting a daily spending cap (34%); and facial (33%) or voice (24%) recognition on the mobile device.
Interestingly, though, allaying security concerns isn’t the only potential driver of increased adoption. The study also found that 51% of respondents would use a mobile wallet if they were to get a discount for doing so, suggesting that for some consumers, value trumps security.
The ICM study comes on the heels of survey results from Chetan Sharma, in which mobile industry experts tabbed mobile payments as the top breakthrough category in mobile this year.
- According to the ICM study, smartphone owners are more likely than the average respondent to be open to using their mobile as a wallet (46% vs. 34%).
- Among smartphone owners, 18-24-year-olds (55%) and 25-34-year-olds (49%) are more likely than the average to be interested in using a mobile wallet.
- While 80% of consumers surveyed were aware of contactless payments, only 8% had made such a transaction.
About the Data: The ICM Research is based on a representative online survey of 2,015 consumers run between November 30 and December 2, 2012.
The Chetan Sharma study interviewed 200 executives, developers and insiders from leading mobile companies and startups from across the value chain and from around the world.


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A digest of important news from sources selected by our local editors. Delivered weekday mornings.
REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.) has promoted Brian Unmacht to the newly created position of chief operating officer. Unmacht is now in charge of the outdoor apparel and equipment company’s retail, e-commerce, merchandising, private brands, information technology and supply chain operations.
As the Puget Sound Business Journal reports, Unmacht previously was executive vice president in charge of sales, service, store development and logistics at the retail cooperative.


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How cryptocurrency markets are affecting the GPU industry
As you may know, buying a GPU these days is nearly impossible. That’s because prices have skyrocketed, in some cases, even doubled, and stocks running out the second they are shelved. It can even be considered ill advised and a big hassle to be in the market for a graphics card. Moreover, the cryptocurrency mining frenzy seems to be the main culprit. Due to the establishment of mining mega-farms for “crypto-coins” in countries like Russia, China, Iceland, and so on, the local and international markets have been shook.
Take for example, NVidia’s flagship graphics card; the GTX 1080ti. This is the most powerful graphics card available on the market today (save for the Titan V, which is on a whole other level). It is revered by both PC gaming enthusiasts and miners alike, due to its 11GB of VRAM and overclockable chip. As this card has a good price to performance ratio and the highest hash rate, meaning it’s powerful enough to mine on and earn a buck, it is sought after the most. The original price for this GPU was $700-$800, not counting the special editions. This price made the card feasible to purchase, as flagship GPUs usually last 3-4 years, without breaking a sweat.
After the mining craze shot up, this very card is being sold for nearly $1500. That’s twice the amount it originally cost and as if the cost wasn’t enough, nearly every major PC parts store runs out the second they restock. Some retailers have even taken measures to curb this by limiting the amount of graphics cards sold to one person, and by monitoring transactions that appear suspicious. It seems as if retailers are starting to understand the plight of gamers.
Another field that has been impacted by the GPU shortage is space exploration. Yes, space exploration. Aaron Parsons, an astronomer at UC Berkeley who mainly works with radio telescopes, is hoping to upgrade his gear. Radio telescopes work by combining hundreds of radio antennas that are designed to pick up even the smallest signals coming from outer space. The data received by these antennas needs to be processed by supercomputers in order to create a virtual map of the sky that helps locate stars and other celestial bodies. This data has to be processed in real time, so the computer needs to be packing some serious heat. The supercomputer takes the assistance of GPUs to perform its calculations.
Since GPUs have the raw processing power needed, they are often used for high intensity applications like these. Aaron says the GPUs he requires have doubled up in price, from $500 to $1000 each. The overall cost for the upgrades will be $32,000, money that could be used to paying new student researchers. The price hike could spell trouble, as it may force Aaron to “downscale” and build a smaller telescope. This would not have the clarity or the resolution of a large telescope and may even result in fundamental questions about the universe to be left unanswered.
The GPU market does appear to be stabilizing by the day. It seems as if the “GPU hungry” beast has now moved on to using ASICS. An ASIC is an “application-specific integrated circuit”. It is far more profitable and reasonable to be mining using ASICs as these devices have far more power than conventional GPUs. ASICs are made up of an array of plates, each holding a single chip that is designed to do one thing only, mine. Not only are they easier to set up, but they also have a smaller footprint, making clever use of space with their cuboidal design.
As of now, the largest company that makes ASICs is Bitmain. Bitmain specializes in manufacturing Bitcoin mining gear and ASIC chips. Their miners are known for their high efficiency and ROI. Bitmain is also home to Antpool, which is one of the largest Bitcoin mining pools in the world. Other companies have also taken ventures and are now making ASICs, with their numbers increasing rapidly.
Sure enough, this shift may mark the end of the GPU shortage. It is only a matter of time before the next generation of GPUs comes rolling out and hopefully, the “freshmen” would be spared.


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Hospitality Partner CLARKS SHIRAZ, AGRA
Rupak Gupta, Joint Managing Director, UP Hotels, welcomed India Travel Awards and India MiCE Awards to the city of Taj Mahal. “The property is more relevant for the tourism industry, as Clarks Shiraz, Agra is actually the first big hotel that came up catering to tourism and a lot of industry stalwarts have been here for training and working. Most of the big travel agents have started selling Agra packages with this property only,” he said.
The award was given to Clarks Shiraz, Agra and, received by Rupak Gupta, Joint Managing Director, UP Hotels and Debasish Bhowmik, Senior Vice President


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Amazon.com will hire 3 000 people in customer service in South Africa this year, the e-retailing and cloud computing giant said on Thursday.
The “virtual” roles, which will see the new employees working from home rather than a central office location, will range from customer service associates to technical experts who will provide 24/7 support to Amazon customers in North America and Europe.
The addition of 3 000 permanent and seasonal full-time positions will bring the total permanent workforce in South Africa to 7 000, the company said in a statement.
“The new jobs reflect our continued commitment to South Africa’s economic development, and I am proud to have South Africa be a growing part of our ability to deliver a great experience to Amazon customers around the world and provide employees with the opportunity to work safely from home,” said Andrew Raichlin, director of Amazon customer service in South Africa.
Candidates interested in applying must meet the following requirements: completed matric/grade 12/NQF level-4 qualification or higher, have an excellent command of English and be a South African citizen.
The technical positions will support customer inquiries on devices, digital and Alexa. These roles will require candidates to translate technical information and provide instructions to help Amazon customers troubleshoot issues.
“Since these will be virtual roles, applicants will also need a private, quiet workspace and an existing and dedicated Internet connection, according to Amazon specifications.”
“We welcome the decision by Amazon to locate more of its global services in South Africa,” said trade, industry & competition minister Ebrahim Patel in the statement.
“The economy will increasingly shift to more productive services and digital technologies, which can provide significant opportunities for young people. The Covid-19 pandemic is accelerating the digital transition of work, and this decision by Amazon to locate these jobs in South Africa shows our ability to offer a good value proposition,” the minister added.
The investment in customer service jobs comes as Amazon ramps up its investments in South Africa, especially in the cloud computing arena. The company’s Amazon Web Services (AWS) unit, the world’s largest hyperscale cloud provider, recently opened in first data centre region in Africa, in Cape Town.
AWS first established a presence in Cape Town, setting up a development centre in 2004. In 2010, Amazon customer service opened operations in Cape Town. — © 2020 NewsCentral Media


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Our look at the pandemic effect takes us into an entertainment district that has seen many ups and downs over the past year.
It’s an area you’ve likely been in: Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale.
“Nobody really knew, I mean, we were all hopeful, people were scared, business owners were scared, they didn’t know what to do, they didn’t know what to do,” says Jodi Tanner, vice president of die Las Olas Association.
The area is Fort Lauderdale’s premier dining, shopping, and activity destination. Tanner is best at telling you that on any given day of the week you would see locals and tourists walking the sidewalk.
When the country closed last March, the boulevard was far from busy.
“It’s been a tough time to be honest,” says Alex Variu, Gran Forno manager.
Gran Forno kept its shop front open during the pandemic, removed seating during start-up, and tried to accommodate all other requests.
“It was tough, the shop was open, we tried to keep it open because the chain stores didn’t have any bread and we tried to help everyone as much as possible,” says Variu.
Marc Leach, pharmacist and owner of The Chemist, can relate to it being a Las Olas staple for 16 years.
“I came in every day during the pandemic and I’d say I’m just one of the happiest guys,” says Leach.
Lucky because they survived the pandemic roller coaster. Some of their neighbors weren’t so lucky.
“It’s tough, it’s not just them, there are a lot of restaurants that are closed and also a lot of businesses, not just restaurants,” says Variu.
Las Olas lost some favorite spots like Timpano Chophouse and Moda Mario, as well as some new editions like Etaru and Talento. They closed the store during the pandemic.
However, when some doors were closed, new stores opened. Las Olas as we once knew it has changed and now there is a rebirth of livelihoods.
“In a really bad situation, people get a little reinvigorated to get out of there, make dreams come true and open the store, open the restaurant,” says Tanner.
Vinos, a small business right on Las Olas, expanded its business and moved across the street. Quiet Waters is a new surf shop. A new jewelry store just opened last month.
There’s Eddie Vs Harborwood at the Hyatt Centric, Hemp Café, and Salt 7th Cuba Libre, a 9,000-square-foot modern Cuban restaurant and pub. will open this month.
“Yeti is doing fantastic and they started in the worst time ever,” says Tanner.
There are more new spots on the way. Las Olas is just one of the many entertainment spots that have changed a lot over the past year. Finally, a year later, companies started talking to NBC 6 about seeing the silver lining and getting back to pre-pandemic levels.


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SINGAPORE'S High Court on Monday adjourned for a week the hearing of an injunction filed by a noteholder against the proposed US$113 million sale of the entire fleet of insolvent shipping trust Rickmers Maritime.
The injunction has been filed by a single noteholder. Being...


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Awhile back, there were two reports on the recent sales success of BYD's plug-in vehicles in China:
Finally, A Use For This Cutaway BYD Qin We Spotted Auto China 2014 In Beijing This Week!
These reports led us to access the situation in China.
It wasn't long ago when BYD was granted permission to sell its plug-in vehicles in Beijing and Shanghai. Since then, the automaker has reported phenomenal plug-in vehicle sales.
Prior to being allowed to sell in those two key cities, BYD reported lackluster plug in sales. Now, it seems, BYD is knocking the lesser players out, as it records record EV sales.
What's really going on in China these days? Well, it's a transformation at both the local and national level.
China's government has made it clear that it targets 500,000 plug in vehicles on its roads by 2015 and 5 million by 2020, but local laws have made it next to impossible for some automakers to sell EVs.
For example, Beijing just recently deemed the BYD e6 a roadworthy vehicle that could be sold in the city. Then there's Shanghai, where technicalities limit EV subsidies only to vehicles produced within city limits. Meanwhile, the city of Tianjin has no system in place to issue license plates for electric vehicle.
The "Next" Big Thing For China - The DENZA EV With "Up To" 300 km (186 miles) Of Range
On the flip side is the city of Shenzhen, home to BYD. Shenzhen has in place EV subsidies that only apply to vehicles with an electric range of 186 miles or more. Only the BYD e6 qualifies for this subsidy, meaning the competition is at an immediate disadvantage if it tries to sell there.
Until recently, it had been next to impossible for BYD to sell its capable plug in vehicles. Now, changes have been made and more changes are in the processing stage. This has opened the door for BYD (and others, including SAIC and JAC) to actually sell plug-in vehicles where the demand is: in China's major cities. Furthermore, it seems that most of the larger cities are now realizing it's time to open their doors to all EV manufacturers, not just locals.
Reuters does a tremendous job explaining the various local subsidies, most of which seem ridiculous:
Shanghai, before last month, only subsidized NEVs satisfying criteria such as the ability to reach 50 km/hour in 6 seconds, met only by models from Shanghai-based SAIC and Shanghai Zhongke Lifan Electric Vehicle Co Ltd.
In Beijing, the inability to obtain license plates for e-cars prior to February meant the BAIC E150 of local maker BAIC Motor Corp Ltd came up against limited competition on its official release this month.
However, in September the central government said non-local cars should make up at least 30 percent of a city's NEV sales.
In Tianjin, the authorities only opened the market to green cars in January after BYD agreed to build an electric bus factory in the city.
How crazy is all of that?
Fortunately, change is underway, which leads us to believe that finally the electric vehicle sales floodgates are opening in China. Once the tide rushes in, there's no stopping the flood waters. Look for China to soon lead the world in plug-in vehicle sales. As I stated, change is underway. The US will not be able to maintain its #1 EV sales spot for long. China is finally joining the EV bandwagon!!!


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The companies announced the partnership earlier this week calling the production of the cars a big part of its commitment to "expanding access to sustainable transportation."
"Over a decade into our journey building the World's Most Experienced Driver, we've partnered with some of the world's leading automakers to deploy our fully autonomous technology as we help people and things get where they're going," the company said in a statement.
The ride-hailing cars would be designed and developed by Zeekr, Geely's electric mobility brand, at a facility in Sweden using "a new proprietary and open-source mobility architecture."
"We are committed to expanding access to sustainable transportation, and deploying these fully autonomous, electric ride-hailing vehicles in the US is an important step as we electrify our Waymo One fleet," the firm noted.
Currently, the companies have not announced when these vehicles would debut on the streets. However, a blog post on Waymo's website said the cars would be introduced within its Waymo One fleet "in the years to come." Also Read:
British bus maker Optare will deliver its final batches of diesel buses over the next 6-8 weeks, bringing down curtains on a 115-year journey in different forms. This development can be seen as a significant example of the transition of the automotive industry towards electrification.
Apart from Guleria, Pradeep Pandey senior vice-president (customer service), HMSI has put in his papers. In February this year Shekhar MC, formerly general manager (finished vehicles logistics), too exited the company and joined Ola Electric Mobility.


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Archive for January, 2011
Schar USA, a division of Italy-based Dr. Schär Srl, Europe’s leading producer of gluten-free products, “broke ground” on its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Logan Township, New Jersey last week. That is to say, they put blueprints for new facility in a time capsule to be built into the building. I don’t blame them. Right now, the best use for a shovel would be to clear snow.
- Commissioner of China’s State Intellectual Property Office Tian Lipu says “China Is Serious About Intellectual Property,” despite negative stories in the media to the contrary. Intellectual property (IP) laws are a relatively new concept to the Chinese. Pre-1980, little to no knowledge of intellectual property rights even existed. Since then, formal IP laws and protective measures have been gradually introduced. As a result, IP infringement in China continues to effect western countries and multinational corporations more each year. Within the last decade, the Chinese government has begun to curtail the problem and acknowledge U.S. concerns. The problem which originated between the two superpowers has now undeniably become a global issue seeking reform.
- This month, the Chinese Minister for Commerce Chem Deming invited foreign executives from companies such as Microsoft, Motorola and Nokia to attend an intellectual property forum to address and discuss the contentious IP issues. Slight improvements have been acknowledged by foreign experts stimulated by China’s acceptance of its continued IP abuse and the damaging effects this abuse has caused to its reputation abroad. Moreover, Chinese companies have begun lobbying the government to increase IP protection following the backlash to their own businesses.
- Over the last three months, 4,000 people have been arrested in violation of intellectual property rights in China, as part of a six-month campaign implemented by the Chinese government to crackdown on copyright infringement, piracy and counterfeit goods. Notably, the number and financial cost of IP infringement cases has tripled in the last year. The International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA) estimated U.S. trade losses to be up to $3.5 billion a year. China accounts for 80% of counterfeit merchandise collected at U.S. borders.
- Even Chinese government agencies have been criticized for downloading illegal software updates for programs they purchased illegally. The discrepancy between Chinese hardware and software sales is indicative of the ongoing illegality. Protectionist barriers created by the government have also prompted tension with the West. Beijing has gone as far as to implement a trade barrier formally known as “indigenous innovation” which effectively insists that products sold in China must be conceived and designed there.
- Recent trade discussions held in Washington D.C. between U.S. lawmakers and the Chinese President Hu Jintao included discussion of U.S. concerns for China to restrain North Korea’s aggressive policies, which are mounting pressure on economic trade. Future development between the U.S. and China is largely dependant on the two collaborating and adhering to IP laws. Furthermore, the European Union (particularly Germany) and Japan have voiced concern about IP infringement and trade, urging China to strengthen enforcement and boost protective measures.
Compiled and summarized by Muireann O’Keeffe.
- The Chinese President Hu Jintao met with the U.S. President Barack Obama and U.S. business executives this week to discuss trade between the countries among other things. Meanwhile, YUM! Brands, Inc. (Louisville, Kentucky) has already set a high benchmark for U.S. businesses expanding in China with tremendous growth and success. YUM! Brands, owner of KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell, has experienced unprecedented growth in China, boasting figures 20 percent (%) higher than previous years. The glocalization concept, thinking globally and acting locally, has been crucial in its global strategy. The corporation has adapted its worldwide chains to meet the preferences and tastes of local customers. By focusing on customer needs, YUM! has avoided barriers faced by its competitors politically, culturally and geographically.
- Tension is high among employers in New Jersey as they await the seminal decision of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in Newark, New Jersey, this week. The case in question, White v. Starbucks may have widespread effects for employers under the New Jersey, Conscientious Employer Protection Act (CEPA / The Whistleblowers Act). Previously, the case was dismissed on the grounds the plaintiff’s claim was within her sphere of work and therefore not protected under CEPA. As feared, the upcoming decision could open the floodgates for civil action arising out of trivial employee complaints brought under the CEPA.
- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (Bentonville, Arkansas) recent take-over of Mass-Mart Holdings, Ltd. (Johannesburg, S. Africa) has spurred tension among local unions, who are hugely influential in the country. The take-over has erupted S. Africa’s labor federation, COSATU, which is currently threatening a boycott against the American corporation. To keep the parties at peace, Wal-Mart has indicated it will make an effort to keep the S. African management in their existing positions.
- The National Retail Federation and audit firm at KMPG, LLP (headquartered in Amstelveen, Netherlands) has announced retail store owners are confident this year will see an improvement in business growth. With retailers looking to expand and improve in 2011, the widespread lackluster growth of the past two years may finally see an end. Focus areas include; mobile e-commerce, consumer research gathering data, customer service and cost contamination. In addition, the use of the Twitter network for advertising has substantially increased.
- One of the world’s largest music companies Warner Music Group (New York) has hired Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (New York) to oversee the buyout of the group, looking to media companies and financial investors. However, it has been rumored the Music Group may end up only selling part of the company at this particular time. Simultaneously, a separate division of Sachs is responsible for Warner’s potential buyout of music company Electric & Musical Industries, Ltd (EMI Group) (London).
- Lastly, the nouveaux riches in India are lavishly enjoying their new found wealth. In 2009, it was reported individuals falling into the upper class bracket had increased twofold. Interestingly, this boom is in large part due to the growing demand in the alcohol market. India is one of the world’s fastest growing markets for spirits, and remains Asia’s largest producer of alcohol.
Compiled and summarized by Muireann O’Keeffe.
- Reacting to the current growth in the securities market, the Chinese government is imposing restrictions to ensure reporters and editors have worked a specific number of years before entering the field. Latest figures indicate that China boasts the largest I.P.O market in the world, with Shanghai and Shenzhen grossing $72 billion in 2010 alone. The General Administration of Press and Publication has setout the guidelines for the new restrictions, which will go in effect on Feb 1, 2011. The principal concern is protecting the interests of stakeholders, including investors and the public.
- A significant reform to The United Kingdom’s (UK) libel laws is planned in the coming months. Over the past few years, the British freedom of expression laws, have fallen under severe scrutiny and will likely be replaced following the announcement of a draft proposal bill. The contentious laws have incited many foreigners to take advantage of the stringent U.K. system. As a result, the United States (U.S.) has ruled foreign libel laws unenforceable in U.S. courts. The proposed bill will impose statutory defenses for speaking out in the public interest and pinpoints the defenses, qualified privilege and fair comment, as other key areas for reform. Nonetheless, critics of the overhaul remain concerned for those with legitimate reputations to protect in British courts.
- In trademark news, Cuba has brought an unusual infringement case against a Michigan cigar lounge in Federal District Court in Detroit. Cuba is relying on the likelihood of confusion between the Michigan lounge “La Case De La Habana” and their famous internationally known store “La Casa del Habano.” Notwithstanding the fifty year trade embargo to U.S. shores, international agreements permit government owned businesses in Cuba to register trademarks in the U.S. However, with Cuba having no current use of the mark in the U.S., it is anticipated that this issue will be fundamental in the dispute between the parties.
- The United States Trade Representatives (USTR) has voiced its concerns following China’s continued reluctance to eliminate restraints on the export of rare earth materials. Evidently, the lack of cooperation has spurred anxiety between its trading partners. For the most part, the problems have been pinpointed to China’s persistence to protect its domestic market and government owned enterprises. Furthermore, the U.S. has indicated it will pursue further action in the form of World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute settlement, if the countries cannot collaborate.
- A modern and realistic take on the future of the entertainment industry can be found here: Digital Explosion Changes Landscape for Entertainment Lawyers.
Compiled and summarized by Muireann O’Keeffe.
On January 14th, 2011, the White House announced that President Obama has ordered significant changes to policies regarding Cuba and has directed Secretaries of State, Treasury and Homeland Security to take certain steps towards changing regulations and policies governing:
- purposeful travel;
- non-family remittances; and
- U.S. airports supporting licensed charter flights to and from Cuba.
What Every Foreign Manufacturer Doing Business in the U.S. & NJ Should Know, Part I: New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act
“Together with the District of Columbia, every state now has codified some form of consumer protection.”1 New Jersey and California have some of the toughest consumer protection laws. As an example, we will focus on the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act, N.J.S.A. 56:8-1 et seq. (the “CFA”).
The CFA is a powerful tool that consumers can use against sellers of consumer products. Consumers can recover for reasonably ascertainable economic losses that result from 1) a seller’s misrepresentations in an affirmative statement, 2) a seller’s intentional omissions of material fact, or 3) a seller’s violation of applicable regulations. In addition to the broad powers that the CFA gives to the Attorney General to penalize such conduct, consumers can recover treble damages and attorney’s fees in a direct civil lawsuit. These heavy damages and the way in which some New Jersey trial courts apply the CFA, combine to make treading in New Jersey somewhat tricky.
- Finance officials in India are currently examining whether Kraft Foods (United States) avoided tax obligations during its takeover of Cadbury (United Kingdom) for $19 billion last year. The world’s largest food and confectionary corporation allegedly evaded taxes related to the sale of shares, which reportedly had an extensive affect on the Indian economy. Last year, a public interest lawsuit was filed in Delhi under income tax laws, which treat brands, goodwill, market share and franchise as capital assets and are therefore, taxable. In addition, Vodafone (United Kingdom) is appealing a two billion dollar judgment from an Indian court that alleged the British company’s multibillion dollar takeover of India’s largest cellphone company evaded capital gain taxes
- The New Year certainly appears positive for Facebook (headquartered in Palo Alto, California), as Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (New York) and Digital Sky Technologies (Russia) invested $450 million and $50 million respectively in the social network. The substantial investment will allow the social network to increase its employee base, enhance services and improve worldwide competitiveness. Moreover, the new deal caused the company’s valuation to soar to $50 billion.
- Following four years of negotiations, the European Union and India are one step closer to signing an extensive free trade deal. Principally, the deal looks to simplify the flow of commerce and reduce taxes on products by up to 90 percent (%). India is now seen as a leader in the emerging markets arena, in addition to boasting high annual growth rates. Notably, last year, $52 billion was recorded in trade and investment between the EU and India.
- Another bleak result was reported for the European Union (EU) in the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market, as it measured a mere 29 percent on the global mergers scale. Indicative of the current state of the European Union and weakening EU currency, it has been over a decade since the EU represented such a small portion of M&A worldwide market. Interestingly, Britain, who is not a party to the EU’s single currency arrangement, contributed to one quarter of the EU’s total M&A figure alone.
- In an effort to improve traffic congestion in Beijing, China, the government has implemented a new quota system restricting the number of licenses to be issued each year. Since 1986, Shanghai has capped the number of automobiles on its roads by restricting the number of new car licenses. Automobile stocks fell in Hong Kong as tax subsidies on small cars were increased and rural subsidies were eliminated. In 2009, the Chinese auto market exceeded the United States (U.S.) market, however, it is predicted the current measures may see China fall behind again.
- Lastly, an interesting article, Private Equity Looks Abroad, But May Be Blind to the Risks, comparing the risks facing private equity firms in the United States and abroad, highlighting key differences in profits, taxes, regulations, laws, restrictions on ownership and currency.
Compiled and summarized by Muireann O’Keeffe.


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ARM predicts 1 billion "entry level" mobile devices by 2018, $20 smartphones coming soon
The new smartphone race is no longer a race to the top. The high-end markets are quickly growing saturated with Samsung and Apple devices, but there is still a race to be had in the low-end market. We've seen a number of new devices like the Moto G and Nokia X that are trying to offer users good performance at a low price, but ARM also has its sights set on the ultra-low cost market.
The idea seems to be that there are quite a lot of people out there who may want smartphones, but can't even afford the price tag around $100 to $200 offered by the Nokia X or Moto G. ARM still has those users in mind. At ARM's second Tech Day, it has laid out a few interesting predictions for the smartphone market, both in the short and long term. ARM's short-term prediction isn't really much of a prediction as it is an extrapolation of what has already been happening. Mozilla showed off $25 Firefox OS smartphones at Mobile World Congress back in February, and ARM is now going way out on that limb to claim that there will be $20 smartphones on the way "in the next few months". Of course, a device at that price you'll only be getting an Android device with a single-core Cortex A5 based SoC. ARM doesn't expect prices to drop below $20, because no matter the cost of the components, manufacturers still have costs to build the devices.
Looking at the long-term, ARM is once again not going too crazy with its prediction, but it does serve to show the direction the market is moving. ARM is expecting the biggest growth over the next four years to be in the "entry level" (sub-$150 devices), and the "mid-range" ($150-400). In 2015, ARM is predicting about 1.75 billion total mobile devices shipped, up from about 1.3 billion in 2013. By 2018, ARM is predicting total mobile shipments of almost 2.5 billion devices, with almost half of that total being "entry level" devices alone.
What ARM doesn't predict is what an "entry level" device might look like in four years. About four years ago, the Huawei Ascend was the $150 smartphone of choice, and it offered a 3.5-inch 320x480 display, a 528MHz single-core CPU, 256MB of RAM, 512MB of storage, and a 3.2MP camera. Right now, devices in that range offer at least a dual-core CPU (or quad if it's a MediaTek), between 512MB and 1GB of RAM, 4GB of storage, around a 5-inch display that is getting closer to the 720p level, and dual cameras. What's your guess for what an entry level device will look like in 2018?


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A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd has announced plans to build a brand new purpose-built warehouse in Bedford as it looks to target growth across its retail, wholesale and foodservice divisions.
The company has signed a pre-let agreement on a 20-year lease for a 164,850 sq ft multi-temperature distribution facility, and is due to take occupancy in 2021, subject to receiving planning permission.
The business currently operates distribution centres in the West Midlands, West Yorkshire, East Sussex and South Wales, with the facility anticipated to provide employment for more than 200 people in the Bedford area.
Joint managing director Geoff Hallam commented: “This is an exciting development for A.F. Blakemore and reflects confidence in the company’s ability to grow in the markets in which it operates. The move will strengthen our reputation as a national food distributor, enable us to continue to improve our service to customers and ensure the long-term sustainability of the business.
“A.F. Blakemore has a firm commitment to responsible business practice, and positive engagement with colleagues, customers, the environment and the local community will be a clear focus for the business as we look to establish the new site,” he added.
For more on distribution click here.


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First rumors have come out this week. Apparently the new smartphone will already arrive June 2013, just 9 months after the release of the iPhone 5. Also it is expected to come with NFC connectivity and a “super HD” camera. Also analysts are speculating that the iPhone 5S will actually come in 6-8 colors, which would be a first for the phone, which until now only came in two colors.
Only time will tell which one of the rumors becomes reality and we will of course keep you posted.
- Source: Cult of Mac


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The situation is becoming more delicate for Apple as the battery scandal takes a new turn, with two Apple Store in Europe being evacuated after faulty batteries burst in flames, two days in a row.
First it was the Zurich Apple Store, on Tuesday. A battery from an “unnamed” device, which everybody thinks was an iPhone, caught up in flames while handled by an employee of the store, and 50 people inside the store had to be evacuated. Fortunately the damages were minor. The employee handling the battery suffered only some minor burns on his hand and nothing more. Still a firetruck, a police car were dispatched at the side. 7 people needed medical care, but none were transported to the hospital.
On Wednesday, a similar incident happened in Spain, in the Apple Store from Valencia. The battery inside an iPhone brought in for repairs exploded. Firefighters and police were called a the store but fortunately their intervention wasn’t really necessary, as Apple workers managed to air out the store by opening windows and smothering the battery with sand. It seems that all Apple Store employees get the same training.
While those incidents prove that the Apple Stores workers have the necessary skills to deal with such incidents, but it’s a worrying trend for Apple. And it comes in a pretty delicate context. Apple admitted that it was throttling the old iPhone models with aging batteries. They even apologized for keeping it a secret from the clients.
To make things better for the fans, Apple decided to discount the replacement costs for batteries from $79 to $29. So many iPhone users are coming in store to take advantage of the discounts. Hopefully, something like this will not happen again. But still, there were two similar incidents happened two days in a row.
Is there more behind Apple decision to throttle old iPhones with aging batteries than just preventing accidental shutdowns? The lack o transparency from Apple before everything went out in public is sure making us wonder.


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Simon Hackett-backed aviation app developer AvSoft releases a version of AvPlan for Android
Monday, October 13, 2014/
Aviation software developer AvSoft has released a version of its electronic flight bag (EFB) app for devices running Android 4.1 and above.
Founded in 2011 by Melbourne-based pilot and software developer Bevan Anderson, and initially developed for iPhone and iPad, AvPlan EFB is an app designed to help pilots prepare aircraft flight plans.
In November last year, Australian internet investor and NBN Co director Simon Hackett invested in a 40% stake in the company, allowing it to expand into the US market.
The AvPlan EFB for iOS includes the ability to share flight plans using cloud computing services, automatically download current weather forecasts and calculate the most time or fuel-efficient flight altitudes. It also provides a moving map for in-flight use.
The new Android version, dubbed AvPlan Lite 1.0, is an entry-level version of the app available as a free one-month trial from the Google Play store, with a full subscription costing $69 per year in Australia.
The news comes just days after Hackett invested $1.5 million to purchase a quarter of South Australian graphite miner Oakdale Resources’ initial public offering.
Feel the churn: How to bounce back after losing staff and clients Sue Parker DARE Group founder
Own it: The 10 things you need to do to manage your personal brand Lisa Stephenson Who Am I Projects founder
How to call your team into action with a winning presentation Emma Bannister Presentation Studio founder
The link between diet and mental health — and how to eat your way to wellbeing Kate Save Be Fit Food co-founder
From interactive videos to AI: The five marketing trends that will dominate 2019 Warwick Boulter Collaboro co-founder
Australia is leading the legaltech revolution, but what does this mean for lawyers, firms and clients? Jodie Baker Xakia founder
Why a video news release needs to be part of your PR strategy Leisa Goddard Adoni Media managing director
Want to catch more customers? Here's how to create a super sales funnel Jovana Vujnic Bumper Leads founder


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Here's how many extra pints Irish people bought during the heatwave
We'll drink to that.
Summertime in Ireland often sees a surge in figures of drinks sales. Throw in a heatwave and a World Cup – and publicans are laughing all the way to the bank.
The latest grocery market share figures have been published online by Kantar Worldpanel, an international company dealing in consumer knowledge and insights based on continuous consumer panels.
A report which was published this week for the twelve weeks ending 15 July, show sales soaring by 3.1% in the midst of the recent summer heatwave.
Bottled water and lager both came out on top – claiming a sales growth of 27.3% and 11.6% respectively.
Copious amounts of sun cream and burgers were also recorded, but the most astounding growth seen is definitely that of alcohol beverages – with an extra seven million more pints than expected purchased. That's an 11.6% increase over a period of a few weeks.
We're nothing if not predictable.
“A number of things may have influenced the surge of bottled water sales in Ireland," Douglas Faughnan, consumer insight director at Kantar Worldpanel, commented on the growth.
"In particular the recent weather, speculation surrounding water shortages and this month’s hosepipe ban. Irish shoppers bought bottled water on 1.8 million more occasions in the latest 12 weeks compared to the same period last year, helping sales grow by over a quarter.
"Furthermore, a Europe-wide shortage of CO2 may have stifled sales of carbonated water, which grew at a third of the rate of still water, with retailers and manufacturers shifting their focus to stills where necessary.”
Faughnan went on to explain that lager was the real winner overall.
“Despite Ireland’s association with stout, it is lager that is actually leading the way – 42.4% of households bought lager at least once in the past 12 weeks, as shoppers took advantage of the sun and the football.”
A number of supermarkets across the country benefitted financially from the heatwave and World Cup combo, with overall sales up across the board.
The study also found that in-store marketing activity played an important role in driving spend from existing customers, with recent successful campaigns in-store resulting in shoppers putting an average of 4.7% more items in their baskets on each trip.
The report can be found in full here.


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Site Selection May 2013: Central Mexico – Mexican Manufacturing’s Secret Is Out
This article in Site Selection by Doug Donahue looks at the cost savings manufacturers are realizing by transitioning operations to the interior of Mexico
Mexico as a nearshoring manufacturing destination is hot. Coverage in mainstream media attests to that. Mexico exports more manufactured products than the rest of Latin America combined, according to Financial Times. Trade between the US and Mexico is now well over $1 billion per day, and Mexico is the third-largest trading partner of the US.
What is less known in the popular press is that central Mexico,though not the leading region in terms of production volume, is the gem of Mexican nearshoring, with a bright future ahead. This has been the real news in Mexican manufacturing, and something that companies large and small from many industries — automotive, aerospace, electronics, medical devices — have known now for a while. They have been expanding into Mexico’s interior to leverage the region’s greater cost savings, a less-competitive labor environment and lower turnover compared to border areas.
Cities in this central Bajio region — like Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Leon, Queretaro, San Luis Potosi and Zacatecas — are now home to an array of companies including Volkswagen, GM, Bombardier, Flextronics, 3M, ThyssenKrupp, Datwyler, Triumph Group and many more. As a result, a multitude of suppliers have also made, or plan to make, the transition to central Mexico, meaning a significant percentage of Mexico’s production is clustered in the area. This is because suppliers want to be in the area to leverage affordable production and because OEMs are demanding a presence here from suppliers who want to quote on projects.
Our company, the Entrada Group, which helps companies of all sizes establish and run their own cost-effective operations in central Mexico, has similarly expanded in the Bajio region, on top of our existing park in Fresnillo, Zacatecas. Encouraged by the promising signs of investment and commitment in Bajio, we committed to a greater presence in Bajio, so we can better serve the needs of the OEMs and suppliers of all sizes who are themselves joining the rush into central Mexico.
Operating Costs in Mexico’s Interior Up to 40% Lower
Central Mexico helps companies attack their three greatest costs: labor, overhead and supply. For starters, labor in central Mexico costs roughly half what it does in border states. In our manufacturing facility in Fresnillo, Zacatecas, for example, entry-level, fully-fringed direct labor costs can be as low as $1.40 per hour. This is lower than in some regions of China, let alone the border regions of Mexico.
In addition, the center of Mexico is at higher elevation, keeping HVAC expenses lower, and further minimizing operating costs. For example, as we have seen in our facility in Fresnillo, well-managed companies of all sizes can achieve total Mexican operating costs as low as $4.50-$7 per hour. Manufacturing locations near the border simply cannot compete with that.
Finally, the competition for talent is less in central Mexico. Indeed it’s the same heavy demand for both direct and indirect labor near the border that pushed costs higher in those areas. But in central Mexico, not only is competition less, turnover is lower too. This helps manufacturers maintain high efficiency and productivity,
all at a lower cost.
Central Mexico — It’s About More than Just Location
Establishing and running operations successfully in central Mexico is not as simple as site selection, even for companies that already have a presence in the country. And companies entering for the first time will have to choose where to locate their facility, set up as a legal entity in the country, secure permits and leases, and more — all of which requires huge amounts of know-how, management attention, time and risk. And that is just for the startup phase.
Furthermore, the site still has to be managed on a day-to-day basis. This entails hiring staff, learning about and complying with ever-changing Mexican employment laws, dealing with unions, managing payroll and taxes, ensuring compliance with environmental health and safety legislation, maintenance, security, accounting, gaining customs permits, logistics and warehousing. The list seems endless.
Rather than going it alone, and exposing their company to tremendous risk, many manufacturers are doing what Entrada Group’s clients have done for the past decade-plus — handing the administrative and support responsibilities over to an experienced partner. We have a track record of helping manufacturers establish their own operations in Mexico to leverage cost efficiencies quickly. Our start-up process allows companies to be up and running in as little as 90 days. Best of all, our clients maintain full control over production and quality, while leveraging the low operating costs in central Mexico, the region that is fast becoming the smartest in North America for manufacturing.
Download the pdf of the full article


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The "Big Three" public cloud providers continued to grow at a frantic pace at the end of 2020, as revealed by quarterly earnings reported by Amazon, Microsoft and Google.
Microsoft was the first to report, revealing on Jan. 26 that its second-quarter fiscal 2021 revenue for its commercial cloud activities came in at $16.7 billion, for a 34% year-over-year gain. Google's parent company Alphabet reported its fourth-quarter fiscal 2020 earnings on Feb. 2, with cloud revenue of $3.8 billion, growing from $2.6 billion in the third quarter. Rounding out the Big Three public cloud providers, Amazon Web Services (AWS) also reported its fourth-quarter fiscal 2020 results on Feb. 2 with cloud revenue of $12.7 billion, up by 28% year-over-year.
Leadership Shift at AWS
Alongside Amazon's earnings, the cloud giant announced that AWS CEO Andy Jassy is moving up the corporate ladder to become the CEO for all of Amazon, succeeding founder Jeff Bezos. Amazon has not yet named who will fill Jassy's role at AWS.
"We will be working on backfilling the AWS role, and we will talk more about that in the future," Brian Olsavsky, senior vice president and chief financial officer at Amazon, said during his company's earning call.
The fourth quarter of 2020 was a period of tremendous activity at AWS overall, with the public cloud giant announcing more than 180 new services and features at its three-week-long re:Invent virtual conference. Among the new services are hybrid cloud computing options as well as a new chaos engineering service to help improve resilience.
Google Cloud Struggling With Profitability
While Google is growing revenue for its cloud operations, that revenue is coming with high costs. Google's fourth-quarter fiscal 2020 is the first in which the company provided more details about its cloud operations financial metrics, including operating income.
Unlike the other two top public cloud providers, for the full fiscal 2020 year, Google Cloud had a net operating loss of $5.6 billion, $1.2 billion of which came in the fourth quarter. Alphabet Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat put a positive spin on the cloud numbers during her company's earnings call.
"Cloud's operating loss reflects that we have meaningfully built out our organization ahead of revenues, with respect to the substantial investments in our go-to-market organization as well as engineering and technical infrastructure," Porat said. "Operating loss and operating margin will benefit from increased scale over time."
Porat added that Google Cloud is focused on delivering on its own efficiency efforts across the board to contribute incrementally to profitability over time.
Cloud Spending Up 35% Overall
According to an analysis by Synergy Research Group, enterprise expenditures on cloud infrastructure services grew in the fourth quarter of 2020 by 35% on a year-over-year basis.
“2020 ended with a bang for the cloud market, as the sequential jump of $4 billion from Q3 easily set a new record for cloud providers' incremental revenue growth,” said John Dinsdale, a chief analyst at Synergy Research, in a release. "Amazon and Microsoft tend to overshadow the market, with Amazon share staying at well over 30% and Microsoft growing its share from 10% to 20% over 16 quarters."


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Meta’s Earnings Are Wednesday. Wall Street Is Cutting Its Revenue Forecasts
Jul 25, 2022
On Wednesday, Meta (META) Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, will release its profits. Analysts are preparing for dissatisfaction.
The social media titan is still battling a less aggressive advertising market, competition from TikTok, and the continuing impacts of Apple's (AAPL) more aggressive approach to safeguarding iPhone users' privacy. In an effort to make its Facebook experience more like TikTok, Meta recently scaled back its employment goals and released a new version of its main Facebook experience.
The stock price of Snap (SNAP) fell by about 40% last week after the firm released poor June quarter data, sending Meta shares down by almost 8% as a foreboding harbinger of things to come. Meta is down roughly 50% for the year.
In a prior forecast, Meta predicted that second-quarter revenues would range between $28 and $30 billion, with a 3 percent headwind resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates. It is possible that the impact of the currency fluctuations will turn out to be far more than what the firm had anticipated, given recent financial results from companies like IBM (IBM), Netflix (NFLX), and others. As the Federal Reserve increased interest rates this year, the value of the dollar rose.
The Wall Street estimate for sales for the June quarter is $29 billion, which is in the center of the expected range. According to Wall Street, sales will total $30.7 billion in the September quarter, $125 billion for the year, and $143 billion in 2023.
Although the majority still suggest the stock of the firm, some experts worry that all of those projections are simply too high.
James Lee, a Mizuho analyst, addressed that precise issue in a research report on Monday. He anticipates $28.5 billion in sales for the June quarter and $29.4 billion for the September quarter. He decreased his projection for 2022 by roughly $6 billion, to $120.7 billion, and down his forecast for 2023 by over $17 billion, to $130.9 billion.
Lee believes that Meta might reduce spending in reaction to the pressure on the top line. The projection for overall costs in 2022 by Meta was reduced last quarter from $90 to $95 billion to a range of $87 to $92 billion, including capital expenditures of $29 to $34 billion.
Lee maintained his Buy rating on the shares but lowered his price objective for Meta shares from $325 to $250. Reduced operational expenditure estimate "may lessen downside risk for the company," even if "we foresee a negative revision cycle," according to analysts.
Buy-side projections for the quarter, according to BofA Global Research analyst Justin Post, are about $28.5 billion in sales, which is less than the analyst consensus. Justin Post maintains a Buy recommendation on Meta shares with a $233 price target. His personal projections are $28.8 billion with earnings of $2.39 per share, which is less than the $2.61 average.
Overall, Post said, "we believe Meta is probably experiencing increased pressure on ad spend since May but is probably holding up slightly better than Snap in Q3 owing to a more established ad platform and larger advertiser base." The BofA analyst believes Meta hasn't done enough to capitalize on important assets, such as Reels, Marketplaces, and Messaging, and he views the current price, which is 14 times expected 2023 earnings per share, to be attractive.
Like his colleagues, Evercore ISI analyst Mark Mahaney is positive about Meta in the long run, but he is concerned about the immediate term due to what he perceives to be excessive projections. In a research report announcing the quarter, Mahaney stated, "We anticipate Meta management's tone being quite cautious" on the forecast for the balance of the year.
He believes that for the stock to increase, Meta must show that it can effectively create and implement an efficient ad attribution methodology that gets over Apple's privacy concerns.
Shares of Meta decreased 1.1 percent on Monday to $167.35.


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May 9, 2011: Among all the brands in the world, there can be only one that claims the No. 1 spot as being most valuable.
This year, that honor goes to Apple, which registered an 84% increase in value over the past year. Apple's move up from third in 2010 ended Google's four-year reign, dropping the search engine-anchored tech/communications company to second, according to the sixth annual BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands study.
The annual 2011 BrandZ study is compiled by Millward Brown Optimor, a division of WPP Group.
IBM, which had been ranked No. 2 in 2010, is now No. 3. The Top Ten for 2011 also include (in order) McDonald's, Microsoft, Coca-Cola, AT&T, Marlboro, China Mobile and GE.
Meanwhile, online retailer Amazon edged past Wal-Mart to become the No. 1 retail brand and 14th overall, with a 37% rise in brand value to $37.6 billion.
The Apple brand has increased in value by 859% since 2006 and is now valued at $153.3 billion. Google comes in at $111.5 billion and IBM at $100.8 billion as the only three companies worldwide to top the $100 billion mark, according to the report.
The study also found that that "during the economic recovery of the last year, the combined value of all the brands in the top 100 has risen by 17% and is now worth $2.4 trillion."
The Top 100 Brand categories include apparel, beer, cars, fast food, financial institutions, insurance, luxury, oil/gas, personal care, retail, soft drinks technology and telecom.
Each of the 13 market sectors covered in this study grew in value over the last year. Fast food led the sector growth (22%) followed by luxury (19%) and technology (18%). The oil/gas sector experienced the slowest rate of growth (1%).
"The importance of brand for global business success is becoming increasingly significant," David Roth, CEO at The Store, a retail and marketing consultancy and analyst division at WPP, said in a statement.
According to Roth, over the past year, "The global economy shifted from recovery to real growth, the combined value of all brands in the Top 100 ranking has risen by 64% since 2006 and is now worth $2.4 trillion. Strong brands, while not immune to the vicissitudes of the market, are more protected, prepared, resourceful and resilient."
Among other findings in the 2010 Brandz report:
• Technology and telecom brands dominate the ranking, making up a third of the Top 100 brands, continue to demonstrate their relevance in our daily lives.
• This year, 19 brands come from emerging markets compared to two in 2006 and 13 in 2010. Emerging market brands make up 19% of the BrandZ Top 100.
• Facebook entered the BrandZ Top 100 for the first time at No. 35 with a 246% surge in brand value.
• Heritage brands remain relevant in a technology age: McDonald's (No. 4), Coca-Cola (No. 6), GE (No. 10) and IBM (No. 3) "stand out in this study of global brand strength as brands that have survived for more than 50 years. Leadership, strategy and tactics aside, what all of these companies have in common is their use of brand to remain relevant to consumers and drive global business success."
* Among top rivals, Coke (No. 6) far outdistanced Pepsi (No. 63) and Visa (No. 20) surpassed MasterCard (No. 60),
• Toyota at No. 27 claims the position as most valuable car brand, rising 11% to $24.1 billion over 2010. According to the report, Toyota demonstrate "the power of strong brands to recover from the most fundamental challenges to product efficacy and reputation." Among car companies, BMW was No. 30 and Mercedes-Benz at No. 50 were the only three to crack the Top 50.
"The global economy shifted from recovery to real growth, the combined value of the Top 100 ranking has risen by 64% since 2006 and is now worth $2.4 trillion."
"Our brand valuations are a powerful measure of an organization's ability to create real and lasting value for shareholders," Eileen Campbell, CEO of brand research for Millward Brown, said in a statement. "By nurturing its brand and constantly innovating, Apple is able to command a high price premium and weather economic turbulence, providing a global business success story that other brands can learn from."
For the full list of 100 brands see here.


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Halo Infinite’s long-awaited Forge feature was finally released in beta form back in November last year with the launch of the Winter Update. The creation tool, which allows players to create their own maps, modes and more, has been a mainstay in the Halo franchise since its inception with Halo 3.
Over on Xbox Wire the team has announced that as of January 2nd users had made over 1 million creations in the Halo Infinite Forge beta. That is quite an impressive number given that it was achieved in under two months.
The post also revealed that more than 8.5 million custom game matches had been played since the launch of the Custom Game Browser as of January 2.
You may have seen on YouTube some of the incredible creations users have been able to make. Among them: The Legend of Zelda’s Kokiri Forest; Andy’s Room from Toy Story; Lord of the Ring’s Minas Tirith, and more.
On a side note, Halo Infinite’s multiplayer Season 3: Echoes Within launches March 7.


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Tesco goes blue in memory of Tom Prince
Blue Day is all about the people of Portsmouth all coming together as a community to raise awareness and money for osteosarcoma research, and that's exactly what Fratton Tesco did today.
Tom was just only 15 when he passed away after enduring cancer for several years.
Tesco gave a personal touch to Blue Day with most of its staff knowing Tom’s parents personally as they are shoppers in the store.
Fratton Tesco had a variety of activities going on, from employees wearing blue to commemorate the day, to a bake sale and even an organised football match with the local police force.
‘They are such lovely people and have worked very hard to make sure that the pain and suffering they went through won’t happen to another family,’ said Tesco’s community champion Gemma Morrison.


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Luke’s Lobster Opens Today in Downtown Crossing
The first Luke’s opened in 2009 in the East Village, the vision of one-time lobsterman-turned investment banker Luke Holden and cofounder Ben Coniff. The chain elevates the seafood shack with a commitment to sustainable, traceable seafood, and in 2012, it got a sister company, Cape Seafood, to help fuel that mission.
A Back Bay location debuted last year, and while Luke’s Lobster doesn’t have any concrete Boston expansion plans at this point, Coniff says to expect more local Luke’s Lobster locations in the coming year.
“We would be very sad if we only have two Boston locations in the next few years,” he says. “Right now, we’re figuring out the right opportunity for our next move.”
Luke’s is currently in eight states, with fast-casual restaurants in Philadelphia, New Jersey, Chicago, and Las Vegas, along with New York and Boston. Earlier this year, the company opened its first full-service restaurant at Tenants Harbor, a cooperative fishing dock in St. George, Maine. That location sources an expanded menu from the fishermen, and the co-op shares 50 percent of restaurant profits.
Located at the corner of Washington and School streets in Downtown Crossing, the newest Luke’s Lobster is just under 1,000 square feet. The restaurant is mainly focused on takeout service, though there are four tables, and four counter seats. Lining the walls are framed photos taken mainly at Tenants Harbor, and Maine lobster buoys and other nautical decor on display.
Like the Back Bay location, Luke’s new shop will offer South End Buttery sea salt chocolate chip cookies, as well as cookiewiches with Gifford’s Ice Cream from Maine. The small menu is otherwise the same: a Maine-style lobster roll, New England clam chowder, Jonah crab claws and split lobster tails, seasonal salads. The new location catches the lobster tail-end of Luke’s summer offering: the Wild Blue salad, with arugula, Maine blueberries, and a split lobster tail. Come winter, there will be a cold-weather salad, as well as lobster grilled cheese and a crab melt, Coniff says.
To celebrate its 21st location, the first 21 customers in line at Downtown Crossing will get a free lobster roll. (Though they’re probably gone by the time you’re reading this.) In honor of National Lobster Day this Sunday, September 25, all Luke’s locations have a $25 Lobstah, Lobstah, Lobstah special, with a lobster roll, a half-serving of lobster bisque, and a skewered half lobster tail, served with cocktail sauce. It’s available all day on Sunday, while supplies last.
Luke’s Lobster opened today at noon. The hours going forward are Sunday-Wednesday from 11 a.m.-9 p.m., and Thursday-Saturday from 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Luke’s Lobster, 290 Washington St., Boston, 75 Exeter St., Boston, 857-350-4626, lukeslobster.com.


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Comish, who was previously the chief executive of Tesco digital entertainment, will now be in charge of shaping Tesco’s multi-channel strategy and will lead a new team tasked with developing a more "customer-led approach" to online services.
Tesco plans to hire 150 people with engineering and user experience expertise to work in the new team.
The team will be based in Tesco’s new 30,000-sq ft digital campus in Farringdon, which opens in the autumn and will house services including Clubcard TV and Tesco’s Blinkbox-branded ebook, music and movies and film offering.
Comish co-founded Blinkbox in 2006 and sold the company to Tesco in May 2011.
Prior to Blinkbox, Comish held the role of managing director of 4 Services at Channel 4 between 2002 and 2005, and helped found online video company AtomFilms, which merged with Showckwave.com to become AtomShockwave with the company eventually being sold to Viacom for $200m in 2006.


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As part of its plan to compete with the cable companies that are invading its turf, Verizon signed a multiyear agreement with Motorola to develop video equipment for its new fiber-optic network.
Motorola will help Verizon send video through its fiber lines, which are linked directly into consumers' homes, at download speeds of up to 30 megabits per second--six times faster than the speeds offered by cable companies. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
"One of reasons to build the fiber network is that it allows us to offer a very competitive video product that will surpass what is available today," says a Verizon spokesman. He says the company plans to roll out its first video product next year. Verizon is currently in negotiations to acquire digital television content but the spokesman would not say whom the company is talking with.
Currently, Verizon has a tie-up with DirecTV to bundle satellite television with telecommunications services for its consumers, but the product is not considered as attractive as cable television because it doesn't have the popular video-on-demand service.


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If you’ve always dreamed of munching on the sandwich Billy Crystal was eating from that scene in When Harry Met Sally, now you can.
This is because pastrami sandwiches from Katz Deli are only a £99 flight away.
Budget airline WOW has announced that it is selling one-way flights from London’s Stansted airport to New York’s JFK International for just £99.
The airline has said it is essentially “paying for passengers to fly” as the price of the flight is less than the tax.
The flight’s price is £24 cheaper than the flight tax alone – and the UK has the highest taxes on airfares in the world.
Fares are on sale now and the route will begin flying April 2018.
As WOW air is an Icelandic airline, all flights will be stopping over in Reykjavik on the way to NYC. You can use this as an excuse to make two trips in one as you can look into extending your stopover in Reykjavik to explore Iceland’s natural beauty.
As with other low-cost airlines, any extras will need to be paid for as you can only have 10kg of carry-on luggage free of charge.
Skúli Mogensen, CEO and Founder of WOW air, said in a statement: “We are proud to constantly be lowering fares across the Atlantic, enabling more people to fly in our brand new aircraft and to experience the world.
“Air Passenger Duty in the UK is one of the highest in the world and we would love to change this. These low fares make a statement and allow our passengers to fly affordably.”
You know what? With flights this cheap – make that two pastrami sandwiches.


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Heated Lobbying Clash Over Democrats' Electric Car Push
According to a plan adopted by the House Ways and Means Committee, the overwhelming majority of electric cars would be qualified for a $7,500 tax credit.
A heated lobbying fight on Capitol Hill has erupted due to Democrats' efforts to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). Carmakers are competing for influence over legislation that will define the industry's future.
President Biden's green-energy proposal, which would spend billions of taxpayer money on building charging stations throughout the country and increase incentives to make purchasing an electric vehicle more affordable, has received widespread support from the auto industry.
However, a major tax credit component of the plan has caused a rift between the two parties.
According to the proposal approved by the House Ways and Means Committee last month, the vast majority of electric vehicles would be eligible for a $7,500 tax credit.
On the other hand, union-built electric vehicles manufactured in the United States would get an extra $4,500 in credits.
Only Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, the parent company of Chrysler, would profit from the additional incentive since union employees build the vast majority of their electric vehicles in U.S. factories.
Other manufacturers, including Tesla, the nation's leading electric car producer, would be at a competitive disadvantage of $4,500 per vehicle under the plan.
Automobile manufacturers that do not have unionized workforces, such as Honda and Toyota, have expressed anger over the provision. Honda and Toyota have criticized the legislation wording as "blatantly prejudiced" and "discriminatory."
According to Honda, "If Congress is serious about solving the climate problem and achieving its objective of seeing these cars produced in America, it should treat all EVs created by U.S. auto workers fairly and equitably."
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, who has been a vocal opponent of unionization attempts, has also attacked the legislation, stating at a recent conference in Beverly Hills, CA, that the Biden administration is "dominated by labor."
Over the last month, executives from the car industry and trade associations have launched an all-out campaign to influence the final electric vehicle legislation that will be included in Democrats' multitrillion-dollar reconciliation plan.
Autos Drive America, a trade association that represents most major foreign-owned manufacturers, including Honda, Toyota, and Volkswagen, is airing television ads in Washington pushing legislators to vote against the pro-union legislation.
According to the group's most recent advertisement, "Carmakers are rushing to get more electric vehicles on the road, but Congress's sweetheart deal for labor would take most of today's EVs off the table for many American families."
The United Auto Workers (UAW), headquartered in Detroit, is pushing to keep the union clause in the bill, which was sponsored by Michigan legislators in both the House and Senate.
In a statement issued last week, UAW President Ray Curry said that the legislation "would guarantee that subsidies for electric cars are directed to excellent union jobs here in the United States."
"We need that the jobs of the future be as excellent as or better than the ones that they will replace," he said emphatically.
According to OpenSecrets, the majority of automakers have raised their federal lobbying expenditures this year.
General Motors spent about $5.6 million to employ 82 lobbyists during the first half of 2021, an increase of 13 percent over the previous year.
Toyota, which opponents claim has deliberately campaigned to delay the country's shift to electric vehicles, spent almost $3.4 million, a 15 percent increase over the previous year.
According to the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure plan that the Senate approved in August, $7.5 billion would be allocated to construct electric vehicle charging stations throughout the country, providing a significant boost to most carmakers who have not yet invested themselves.
Automobile manufacturers are emphasizing the need to combine EV infrastructure investment with consumer incentives.
They argue that consumers are less likely to convert to electric vehicles (EVs), which account for just 2% of total vehicle sales in the United States.
While the car industry is split into certain topics, it is unified in its support for Democrats' plan to repeal an existing provision that phases out tax incentives after a manufacturer sells 200,000 electric vehicles (EVs).
The auto industry is also urging Democrats to scrap a planned restriction on electric vehicle tax credits for consumers with incomes of $400,000 or more, as well as a proposal that would restrict the EV tax credit to vehicles costing $55,000 or less.
Zero Emission Transportation Association, which represents luxury electric vehicle manufacturers including Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid Motors, claims that setting a price limit will force manufacturers to produce lower range, less desirable vehicles, which will "diminishes the consumer experience and slow the adoption of electric vehicles."
Automakers will need to persuade Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ). They voted with Republicans in August for a nonbinding budget amendment that would limit the EV tax credit to buyers with incomes below $100,000 and EVs costing less than $40,000. Manchin, Sinema, and Kelly are all Democrats who voted with Republicans in August for a nonbinding.


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When Raul Santiago opened his candy shop 45 years ago after buying the business from a friend, he charged a penny for individual candies. Now, as he’s set to close up his Alphabet City shop for good on Thursday, they cost a whopping 2 cents.
Santiago, 75, and his wife Petra Oliviery, 70, said it’s time to retire.
"It’s my time to rest," said Oliviery.
Their storefront on Avenue B is Raul’s Candy Store’s third location in the area, and they have spent the last 20 years or so doling out gummy eggs and airheads to happy customers. But more than just a candy shop, Raul’s Candy Store was like a second home to many.
"I wish it wasn’t closing. I’m going to miss the store, I’m going to miss hanging out here like the family we are," said Jennifer Rosado, a resident of Alphabet City who has been shopping at the candy shop since she was a child. "It’s going to be sad."
Rosado used to go to the candy store after school, and said she is sad that kids today won’t have that same opportunity.
"It used to get packed," she said. "And we’re not going to have that."
By Wednesday afternoon, most of the candy had been purchased, leaving many of the glass shelves empty. Rosado said that last week a woman purchased $45 worth of candy after learning of the store’s closing.
Santiago said he’ll put whatever is left out on the sidewalk on Thursday.
Willy Guzman, 56, said he has patronized the store for more than 20 years, and used to hang out there after work and on weekends. Guzman said the regulars would take turns preparing meals — it was his turn last week, he made lasagna — and even spend holidays at the shop.
"We used to come and play dominoes over there," said the Alphabet City resident. "Everybody’s sad … It’s going to be strange for everybody."
Guzman said he bought a retirement card for all the regulars to sign. He said they would present it Thursday.


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Sony has finally thrown in the towel with the PlayStation Vita: no more first-party titles are in development and the company will now rely completely on third-party developers to keep the system going. That’s all, folks. Wrap it up. It’s over.
But here’s the part about the news that bugs me: Sony still doesn’t understand why the system failed.
In an interview with 4Gamer, Sony Computer Entertainment Senior Vice President Masayasu Ito attributed the system’s lack of popularity to three factors: it didn’t resonate with the under-20 demographic, it got outpaced in graphical power by smartphones and Capcom’s popular Monster Hunter series moved exclusively to Nintendo’s competing 3DS handheld.
Now, I’m not going to dispute any of those three reasons — they’re all absolutely correct — but Ito never demonstrated that he understood why each of those reasons exist or the even more pressing issues that still plague the system today.
Let’s get it out of the way now: the Vita’s biggest problem, one Ito completely ignores, is and has always been that it is way too expensive. The initial $249 asking price sounded perfectly reasonable until we all watched Nintendo’s 3DS crash and burn at the same price a full year earlier. The only way Nintendo was able to pull the 3DS out of free fall was a dramatic price cut to $169 just five months after launch. And if the follow-up to Nintendo’s most profitable handheld to date couldn’t successfully hold a $249 launch price, there was no reason to believe the Vita would be able to. Yet while Nintendo saw a huge, sustained sales uptick at its new price point, Sony refused to budge on price for a full year and a half before finally cutting the Vita down to $199 in August 2013, which is exactly where it sits now, over two years later. That’s right — a Vita will still set you back $199 today.
Two hundred dollars for an abandoned platform.
For perspective, the most expensive version of Nintendo’s 2015 follow-up to the 3DS, the New 3DS XL, costs the same amount and has a massive library of quality games with more on the way. And keep in mind that with that two hundred dollar Vita you’ll still need to factor in the cost of one of Sony’s infamous proprietary memory cards. Rather than using standard SD or even micro SD storage, Sony chose to make its own memory card format for the Vita and gouge consumers with ridiculous prices. The most expensive was the 32GB card at $99, effectively turning the Vita into a $349 handheld before you’ve even bought a single game for it. Like the system itself, the Vita’s memory cards have only seen a single price drop in over three years, bringing those 32GB cards to a still-far-too-expensive $79. For additional perspective, you can get a 32GB SD card right now for $12 on Amazon.
Did the Vita appeal to the under-20 demographic? No, of course it didn’t. It cost two hundred and fifty dollars at launch plus the cost of a memory card with little more to offer kids than Little Deviants. Did the Vita get outpaced by modern smartphones? Yes, of course it did, but that’s a weak excuse; the 3DS is decidedly less powerful than the Vita but has done extremely well for itself — once Nintendo dropped the price. Did the Vita suffer when Monster Hunter ditched the system? No doubt, but given the system’s slow sales and Sony’s languishing support, you can’t blame Capcom for jumping ship.
From the ground up, the Vita was a misguided device. Sony wanted to deliver “console-quality experiences” on a handheld that doesn’t have all the same console inputs. It essentially needed to create a Wii U GamePad with a smaller screen, but instead threw random, costly ideas at the wall to compete with smartphones: you’ve got a touch screen, both front- and rear-facing cameras, a microphone, a gyroscope and accelerometer, apps like Twitter, email and Skype, an optional 3G mobile network connection, and most baffling of all, a touch panel on the back of the system. Yes, Sony somehow managed to justify a rear touch panel, but not comfortable analog sticks that can click or a second set of shoulder buttons.
When you’re trying to figure out why the Vita failed, look no further than the outrageous cost of the system — a cost that still haunts it today, even after a redesign made the system cheaper to manufacture but ditched the gorgeous OLED display for a more standard LCD screen. Sure, you can point to any number of factors that certainly didn’t help the Vita on its way into its place on the pile of dead handhelds sandwiched between the PlayStation Portable and the Nokia N-Gage, but the price of the system is absolutely the reason it never took off.
The Vita failed because Sony failed: to read its audience, to price the system attractively, to avoid relying on gimmicks and to react to market realities. To blame the Vita’s problems on kids for not getting it, on smartphones for outpacing it and on Capcom for abandoning it is completely missing the point.