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Do you use chemical hair relaxers to straighten your hair? If you do, you are at greater risk of having cancer.
Many who developed cancer after using these products are joining hair straightener cancer lawsuits to seek compensation for their damages.
However, the status of this litigation is still unknown. This post will overview the recent hair straightener cancer lawsuit update.
The Scientific Connection Between Hair Straightening Products and Uterine Cancer
Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that women who use chemical hair relaxers to straighten their hair are at higher risk of uterine cancer. This study was recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI).
The study also revealed that the most prevalent type of uterine cancer, endometrial cancer, disproportionately affects black women.
Regular users of these products had twice the risk of uterine cancer compared to the general public that does not use hair straighteners. A regular user uses hair relaxers four or more times yearly.
For many years, medical professionals were baffled by the disproportionate rate of uterine cancer among black women. Ideally, black women are not more likely to suffer from ovarian or uterine cancer.
According to this study, race does not influence the association between hair straightener usage and cancer rate. Instead, black women are more severely affected than other racial groups because they use hair relaxer products more frequently.
Hair Straighteners and Uterine Cancer Diagnoses
The primary purpose of chemical-based hair straighteners is to straighten curly hair by dismantling its structure. Users have to apply these products regularly to retain the desired effect.
Unfortunately, this frequent usage is now thought to place them at risk for ovarian, uterine, and uterine fibroids, requiring invasive treatments, such as surgery.
The EDCs have, at the very least, been proven to have harmful impacts on health and are the likely cause of these cancers. In particular, hair relaxer use is now conclusively linked to an increased risk of uterine cancer.
The Novel Hair Straightener Lawsuit Began in 2022
Jenny Mitchell filed the first hair straightener cancer lawsuit at the Northern District of Illinois federal court after being diagnosed with uterine cancer in 2018.
In this lawsuit, Mitchell claimed that exposure to EDCs in the hair straighteners she used caused her to develop uterine cancer at the age of 28. Then, before turning thirty, she had a hysterectomy, which left her infertile.
Mitchell, therefore, argues that hair straightening products were the cause of her uterine cancer. Although hers was the first hair straightener cancer lawsuit, many others did not take long to follow.
The ongoing hair straightener cancer lawsuit has recently seen more plaintiffs file claims.
Hair Straightener Cancer Lawsuit Basics
Hair products should meet strict safety regulations like any other cosmetic or household product. Personal care products should be safe and not risk the health of consumers.
Unfortunately, the cosmetic sector is not regulated by the FDA, so manufacturers do not care to meet safety standards.
Victims can use the presence of carcinogenic substances as a valid ground for a lawsuit to pursue compensation for injuries caused by a manufacturer’s negligence.
Do the Chemicals in Hair Straighteners Cause Uterine Cancer?
The relationship between EDCs and uterine cancer
Many hair straighteners contain EDCs, which change and disturb the function of the human endocrine system. Any endocrine system disruption can make you susceptible to hormone-based severe illnesses like obesity, diabetes, and cancer.
High rates of hair straightener uterine cancer
Numerous studies have analyzed the link between EDCs and uterine cancer. Hair straighteners contain significant EDCs, including parabens, phthalates, and fragrances.
Studies are increasingly showing a relationship between hair relaxer use and uterine cancer.
In 2010, Environment Health Perspectives published a study showing that black women used hair straighteners more often and had more significant amounts of phthalates and parabens in their bodies.
The study offers a potential explanation of why black women disproportionately suffer from uterine and breast cancers compared to their white counterparts.
Other hormone-based cancers
The hormone estrogen is responsible for the growth and development of uterine and ovarian cancers. EDCs can promote the overproduction of cells and lead to the development of three hormone-based cancers – uterine, ovarian, and breast cancer.
The most prevalent one reported in the National Institutes of Health study was uterine cancer, said to develop through an endometrioid.
Endocrine disruptors included in hair straighteners are more likely to be the cause since endometrial cancer is highly susceptible to hormonal factors.
Devastating impacts of hair straightener cancer on Black women
This study was a follow-up investigation of previous research. The International Journal of Cancer found a possible connection between using hair relaxers and increased ovarian and breast cancer rates.
This recent study evaluated the Sister Study’s findings, which the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences conducted.
The Sister Study included 33,500 female participants aged between 35 and 74 in the U.S. who reported their usage of hair straighteners and other hair products in questionnaires.
Out of 33,497 study participants, there were 378 incidences of uterine cancer. Only 1.64% of women who said they had never used hair straightening products were diagnosed with uterine cancer by the time they turned 70.
However, by age 70, 4.05% of women admitted to using hair straighteners had uterine cancer.
Regular users are at higher risk of cancer.
The study thus concluded that those frequently used hair relaxers were more at risk of uterine cancer than non-users. The risk was noticeably higher, even with limited use every year.
Uterine cancer is relatively uncommon, and these figures equal the single digits. Still, they suggest an apparent increase in risk that can be linked to hair straightener usage.
The study subjects who reported using hair straightening products were twice as likely to be diagnosed with uterine cancer as those who never utilized hair straighteners.
Additionally, even though these are only single-digit figures, they translate to thousands of uterine cancer incidences when tabulated against the staggering number of women who apply these products.
Can Hair Products Increase Uterine Cancer Risk?
The JNCI study never asked about the particular hair straightener brands used by the study subjects. But it established that only those who used hair straighteners were at risk of uterine cancer.
The study did not find a similar link to uterine cancer with other hair products like dyes and highlights.
Nevertheless, researchers are actively scrutinizing these products because past studies found a possible connection between the products and other types of cancer.
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) research also used the Sister Study’s findings.
The researchers found 2,794 breast cancer incidences following hair straightener use and a 30% rise in breast cancer risk among women who used hair relaxers every five to eight weeks.
How Do Hair Straighteners Increase Uterine Cancer Risk?
The scientific evidence does not explain how relaxing hair increases the risk of uterine cancer. Research has only suggested the presence of a relationship while making predictions on the role of hair straighteners.
Researchers think that endocrine disruptors in some substances are to blame for the increased risk of numerous medical conditions, including obesity, diabetes, ad cancer.
An evident fact is that African American women are twice at risk of uterine cancer, particularly endometrial cancer.
Studies also reveal that these hair straighteners have harsh chemical compositions necessary to dismantle the structure of curly or wavy hair to achieve the desired texture.
The cancers linked to these products result from hormonal disruptions. Scientists believe that this could be how hair straightening products increase cancer risk.
Got a Legal Issue? Let Us Help You Find An Attorney Near You
Researchers theorize that EDCs in hair straighteners, such as formaldehyde and parabens, penetrate the scalp directly when the product is applied to the hair. These chemicals further introduce estrogen properties into the body, leading to the rapid development of uterine cancer.
Higher Cancer Risk Among Black Women
Uterine cancer is relatively rare. Yet, research shows that the rate of uterine cancer among black women is significantly higher than in other races.
Only 7.4% of the National Institute of Health study participants were African American. Yet, they comprised 59.9% of those who reported using hair relaxers.
Another study revealed that African American women who frequently applied permanent dyes on their hair were 60% at risk of breast cancer, compared to their white counterparts, who were 8% at risk.
Another notable finding is that black women are the target market for hair straightening products. They relax their hair due to the desire to meet Eurocentric ideals of beauty and cosmetic flexibility.
They use these products more than other ethnicities and use them earlier in life. Black women are also believed to use different products simultaneously, which probably contributes to the cancer risk.
Researchers believe that the frequent use of these chemicals (four or more times per year) is why uterine cancer incidence is higher among black women. Besides, other products have negligible impact on uterine cancer.
Researchers also hold that exposure to chemicals in hair straighteners at a tender age is disturbing since their bodies absorb more chemicals through the scalp. Besides, the products cause burns, further increasing the chemical absorption through the scalp.
Uterine Cancer and its Impacts
As the name suggests, uterine cancer occurs in the uterus and usually begins in the endometrium (uterus lining). It is a widespread type of cancer that affects the female reproductive system.
But when detected early, it is curable via a hysterectomy or other treatments like chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
Types of uterine cancer
There are two uterine cancer types – endometrial cancer and uterine sarcoma.
Endometrial cancer, or endometrial carcinoma, occurs in the uterus lining and is the most prevalent type of uterine cancer.
It develops when cells in the uterine lining multiply and proliferate excessively. Endometrial cancer is classified into several subtypes based on the microscopic appearance of the cancer cells.
Uterine sarcoma is relatively uncommon. It develops in the uterus tissue and muscle. This malignancy is hormone-based, as with many other uterine cancers.
The hormone estrogen is responsible for ovarian or uterine cancer growth, so EDCs are a risk factor for the two cancer types.
Recent Updates on the Hair Straightener Cancer Lawsuit
May 1, 2023
In the past, individuals filing product liability lawsuits against manufacturers of hair straighteners had to do so in their state’s federal court and appeal to have the case moved to the Northern District of Illinois as a multidistrict litigation (MDL).
But Judge Rowland, the MDL’s administrative judge, is now allowing people to file directly through a short-form petition, making it easy to join the MDL.
The MDL had about 100 cases at the beginning of the month. But this number will likely increase thanks to this ruling.
February 8, 2023
The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) consolidated all ongoing hair straightener cancer lawsuits filed nationwide into an MDL. The JPML did this in the Northern District of Illinois, overseen by Judge Rowland.
The MDL began with 60 lawsuits only, but many others will likely be added going forward. The case could become vast litigation in the next few months.
The defendants named in this case oppose the formation of the MDL. They claim that the MDL was unsuitable since the lawsuit names different competitor hair straightener producers and plaintiffs applied different product brands in their lifetime.
Defendants also claim that no specific chemical is blamed for the damages the plaintiffs sustained.
January 26, 2023
The JPML heard opinions for and against an MDL in Miami today. Plaintiffs blamed chemicals in hair relaxer products like Just for Me, Dark & Lovely, and Cantu Shea Butter Relaxer, among others, for their development of uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, and uterine fibroids, which required a hysterectomy.
The plaintiffs also argue that manufacturers marketed these products to black women. They, therefore, request the merging of all hair straightener cancer lawsuits in the Northern District of Illinois.
Hair straightener manufacturers, on the other hand, argue against the consolidation of the lawsuits arguing that it is an ineffective option because the case involves multiple defendants and illnesses.
They also do not support using the Northern District of Illinois as a central venue and suggest the Southern District of New York as an alternative venue.
December 17, 2022
The JPML heard oral opinions on consolidating the ongoing hair straightener cancer lawsuits into an MDL. Several plaintiffs argue in the affirmative, saying it will help rationalize the discovery phase and schedule bellwether trials soon.
Generally, MDLs help prevent unnecessary repetitions during discovery across likely thousands of lawsuits. An MDL also avoids a case of conflict in pre-trial decisions, where witnesses would have to travel across the country to show up in different lawsuits.
December 11, 2022
A hearing to decide whether all ongoing hair relaxer cases filed across the United States should be merged into one court has been set for January 26, 2023, in Miami. Defendants criticize the move to create an MDL because of the many products and defendants in question.
November 15, 2022
Several plaintiffs filed a motion to transfer the cases and create a countrywide hair straightener cancer MDL.
They are seeking the consolidation of all hair straightener cancer lawsuits currently ongoing in federal courts across the country and bring them under one jurisdiction presided over by a single judge.
The plaintiffs suggested consolidating all actions in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
November 4, 2022
On November 3, 2022, a class action was submitted to the Northern District of Illinois’ federal district court.
Softsheen Carson, Inc. and L’Oreal USA, Inc. are listed as defendants in the case, seeking class-action status on behalf of named plaintiffs and other parties in a comparable situation.
Female plaintiffs contend they bought hair straighteners containing EDCs, which they would never have done if they knew the products contained potentially harmful substances.
All plaintiffs explicitly acknowledge they are yet to be diagnosed with a condition linked to the hair straightening products, which makes this class action unique.
Still, they demand that the defendants compensate for medical care, including preventative screenings and examinations.
October 22, 2022
Ben Crump, a renowned civil rights lawyer, sued L’Oreal on Jenny Mitchell’s behalf. Ben Crump argues that the plaintiff’s habitual utilization of Dark & Lovely, a hair relaxer brand made by L’Oreal, contributed to the growth of uterine cancer.
Mitchell’s lawsuit came after a study recently published in the JNCI demonstrated that women who routinely used hair straighteners were twice at risk of acquiring uterine cancer.
Defendants In The Hair Straightener Cancer Lawsuit
L’Oreal is the primary defendant in the ongoing hair relaxer cancer lawsuit. L’Oreal manufactures popular hair relaxers like Soft & Beautiful and Dark & Lovely.
Other manufacturers with competitor products, including Unilever and Proctor and Gamble, have also been named in these lawsuits.
But smaller manufacturers may also be named in the upcoming lawsuits. They include:
- Avlon Industries
- Beauty Bell Enterprises
- Dabur International
- House of Cheatham
- Namaste Laboratories
- Parfums De Coeur
- Softsheen Carson, Inc.
Potential Hair Straightener Brands
Some popular hair straightener brands likely to be named in the ongoing hair straightener cancer lawsuit are:
- African Pride
- Creme of Nature
- Dar & Lovely
- Just For Me
- Motions Hair Relaxer
- ORS Olive Oil
- Positively Smooth Relaxer System
- Soft & Beautiful
- TCB Naturals Relaxer Crème
- Ultra Sheen
A Hair Straightener Cancer Lawsuit Attorney Can Help
You can join the ongoing hair straightener cancer MDL if you developed uterine cancer after using hair straighteners. However, MDLs are complex, and you cannot get the compensation you deserve without legal representation.
At Legal Giant, we connect you with an experienced lawyer to review your case and guide you on the way forward. Our partner attorneys are familiar with product liability laws and will do everything to ensure your hair straightener cancer lawsuit is successful.
Contact us for a free case evaluation today.


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[Funding alert] Location Intelligence startup GeoIQ raises Rs 2.5 Cr led by 9Unicorns
Bengaluru-based location Intelligence platform,, has raised Rs 2.5 crore seed investment led by 9Unicorns with participation from IPV, Kayenne, among others. The startup leverages its premium location data stack and machine learning engine to deliver hyperlocal consumer insights.
Earlier in October 2019, GeoIQ had secured an undisclosed amount of funding from IP Ventures.
GeoIQ was founded in 2018 by Devashish Fuloria (CEO), Tusheet Shrivastava (CTO), and Ankita Thakur (Head of Data). Since then, GeoIQ data stack has grown to an unprecedented size, which provides 10 times more coverage than anyone else, with at least 400 times more granularity. GeoIQ aims to empower organisations by using its unparalleled location data stack and providing unique insights on their customers. To achieve this, the startup leverages its category-leading technologies and all-India coverage that includes every town, village, pincode and street.
GeoIQ said that its hyperlocal data with 100 percent coverage of India gives unprecedented insights for companies looking to reach out to the next billion users, reaching far corners where even bureau data doesn't penetrate. It said GeoIQ is expanding its footprint within fintech with multiple use cases, from identifying risk to prioritising collections. Outside fintech and insurance, the data stack will power use cases within ecommerce and retail.
Devashish Fuloria, Founder and CEO, GeoIQ, said, “With big names of Indian consumer lending as clients, GeoIQ is fast expanding their API usage. The fund raise is strategic, with the aim of expanding the user base aggressively.”
A recent report by Gartner states that the location intelligence global industry is pegged to be at $25 billion by 2025. While North America is the largest market, APAC is the fastest-growing region.
GeoIQ said that in an increasingly digital-first country like India, knowing the next billion users presents an invaluable opportunity for businesses, budding or established, across sectors. Within consumer lending and insurance sectors alone, GeoIQ is poised to tap into a revenue opportunity worth over Rs 1,500 crore.

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A new round of U.S. tariffs on $16 billion worth of Chinese imports kicked in on Thursday, prompting Beijing to retaliate with its own levies on American goods worth the same amount. The latest trade escalation comes as officials from the world’s two largest economies meet for tariff negotiations in Washington.
At 12.01 a.m. EDT on Thursday, the U.S. began collecting additional 25 percent duties on 279 Chinese import product categories identified by U.S. Trade Representative. Key products that will be hit by the duties include semiconductors, chemicals, plastics, motorbikes and electric scooters.
Beijing retaliated with its own fresh tariffs on $16 billion worth of additional imports from the U.S. including fuel, steel products, autos and medical equipment.


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IHS is hosting a half-day event at the IFA Business Conference in Berlin, Germany to brief customers on latest Consumer electronics trends in China. The event sessions will take place on September 7, 2015 between 12:30 pm and 6:30 pm.
The event will focus on the latest and emerging trends in China’s TV market including ultra-high-definition (UHD) TV, high dynamic range (HDR) technology, streaming devices and applications, as well as China’s growing presence in the global TV arena. The agenda will include registration, a welcome from IFA and IHS and a keynote address followed by a four panel discussion. Guest speakers will include representatives from Sky Deutschland, Orange labs and Hubii.
Panel session schedule:
1:30 Session One: Market update: Global CE market roundup: What’s new, what’s hot and what’s next?
3:30 Session Two: Panel discussion: From fixed function to app platform: What next for connected CE?
4.30 Session Three. Panel discussion: UHD: Why are we waiting?
5.30 Closing panel discussion
Attendees are welcome to attend an Oktoberfest pavilion reception and complimentary dinner after the last panel discussion. To register, click here or contact Laura Castellano from IHS at email@example.com or +1 408 334 5827.


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If the advent of artificial-intelligence-driven smart speakers like Google Home and Amazon Echo is any indication, the Internet of Things is that much closer to becoming a reality, even when we check into our hotel rooms.
It might be crazy to think of this — especially at a time when some of us still agonize over the super-slow speed with which it takes to download a simple PDF in some hotel rooms — but we’re calling it: In just a few years’ time, it’s highly likely that the Internet of Things (IoT) will be coming to a hotel room near you.
What does that mean, exactly? It means that the only “smart” product in your hotel room won’t be limited to your phone anymore. It means that your TV, the temperature, the lighting, the curtains, will all be connected via the Internet, and controlled by the guest.
Robert Cole, the founder of RockCheetah, a hotel marketing strategy and travel technology consulting firm, envisions a future where guests won’t even have to log in to access Wi-Fi.
“You can walk into a hotel and be on your mobile device, and whether you have a reservation or not, you can automatically log into the high-speed guest network,” he said. “If you have a reservation, the hotel recognizes you’re there and accessing the Wi-Fi or using Bluetooth smart beacons. You should be able to go up to your room and use your phone to get in and as soon as you enter, your Netflix will show up. Everything should happen seamlessly. Your apps and services will help you with your journey.”
We’re not there just yet, and there are still some obvious challenges for the IoT to work itself out, especially when it comes to cybersecurity. But there could be a day in the not-so-distant future when voice-activated rooms, like the ones being piloted by Aloft, will become the norm.
And even more likely? That we’ll all be able to watch the latest season of Netflix’s House of Cards or Amazon’s Transparent from our hotel rooms.
Here’s where we currently stand when it comes to in-room technology and entertainment.
More hotels are enabling guests to be able to watch streaming channels like Netflix and Hulu from their hotel room TVs, and exploring casting technology solutions to be able to do so.
In June 2015, Marriott became the first hotel chain to allow its guests to watch Netflix from their hotel room televisions. Working with hospitality technology provider Enseo (which has a partnership with Netflix), Marriott was able to allow guests to sign into their own Netflix accounts on their in-room TVs and watch their favorite shows, in addition to accessing other services such as Hulu and Pandora. Marriott expects to have 1,000 contracts for this signed by the end of 2017.
Scott Hansen, Marriott International director of guest technology, said that Marriott realized “the video-on-demand model wasn’t sustainable anymore. People just weren’t buying at the pace they were. You can’t upgrade the infrastructure with ties to a video-on-demand operator. We had to go in a new direction. Guest habits have changed. They want more over- the-top content and less linear programming.”
The solution, Hansen said, was to provide guests with access to everything “we take for granted in our own living rooms” and, since then, it’s been a “tremendous success.”
Enseo, the tech provider which Marriott worked with to bring Netflix and other streaming channels to hotel guest rooms, said that Netflix is consistently among the top three most watched channels among properties that use its technology. It accounted for 11 percent of total viewership time and was the No. 1 watched channel in July 2016. In July 2015, it was the No. 2 most watched channel and accounted for 7 percent of total viewership time.
Marriott’s system for accessing channels like Netflix is simple enough: Guests simply log into their respective accounts on the TV screen. Typing in every email address and password on the TV, however, isn’t always the most seamless.
“In a hotel room obviously typing in your credentials with a remote control is tedious,” Hansen said. “Doing it from your mobile phone is easier.” This is why other hotels, Marriott included, are exploring more options that enable guests to simply cast their entertainment preferences directly onto their TV screens.
Hansen said Marriott is currently in the process of debuting Connect My Device, which is based on Google Chromecast protocol and hardware. “We’ve patented a solution that allows for very simple pairing of a guest’s device to the in-room TV,” he said. “It’s proprietary software we’ve developed that works with Chromecast products in guest rooms. Guests enter a simple code and it pairs their mobile device to the TV and isolates it to that room. It pairs it down to just the in-room one.”
When Skift spoke with Hansen in October, he said Marriott was testing this new technology in 6 hotels and that several continents have already made this a brand standard for future Marriott properties.
Prior to its acquisition by Marriott, Starwood’s Aloft Hotels were also piloting a somewhat similar system as well, called RoomCast. Sarah Downing, vice president of global guest initiatives and innovation for Aloft Hotels, told Skift that the RoomCast pilot at the Aloft hotel in New Orleans was a continuing process and that by November, the entire property will have the technology in every guest room.
Wyndham’s Wingate by Wyndham brand is also piloting a casting service, working with Sonicast, which is powered by Google Chromecast. Lisa Checchio, VP of brand marketing and insights for Wyndham Hotel Group, told Skift that a pilot was launched in September at a property located outside of Chicago that is password-protected and secure.
“You can fully cast content from thousands of different apps without having to enter your personal credentials, without having to enter it into the personal TV, and it’s automatically disconnected when you leave,” she explained.
She added that this new technology is easy for hotel owners to implement as well because it “leverages existing infrastructure — wired or wireless,” and that nearly 50 percent of the portfolio of Wingate owners wants to install the technology into their properties.
The Hotel TV Channel Evolves
While we, like most people, dread turning on the TV and having that default hotel channel pop up, many hotel companies are trying to update the content on those channels into something guests will actually want to watch.
Wyndham, for example, launched Wyndham Rewards TV earlier this summer with a series called, “Have Points, Will Travel.” It follows a couple who was given a million Wyndham Rewards points to travel from Northern to Southern California on points alone.
“It’s sort of like Modern Family meets the Amazing Race,” Checchio explained. “There is so much you can do with in-room content that isn’t just about the properties themselves. Guests want to be entertained.”
For Wyndham’s Hawthorn Suites brand, Checchio said Wyndham is thinking of, perhaps, showcasing “mini cooking demos” through the hotel TV channel, in conjunction with the brand’s new Homemade at Hawthorn initiative. For this program, Wyndham partnered with two regional chefs who created an e-cookbook for guests staying at Hawthorn Suites.
In January, Marriott’s Autograph Collection will debut an independent film channel. Working with FilmBuff, the channel will broadcast more than 1,500 different titles — films, documentaries, shorts, TV shows, and webisodes — that focus on art, design, food and music.
Earlier this year, Marriott Hotels also announced that it would include exclusive TED content in its in-room entertainment for guests. And Marriott International’s own content studio continues to produce short films like the Two Bellmen series.
Infrastructure Is Getting Better
All of these innovations, such as casting, are indeed a step forward in terms of being able to better personalize the in-room guest experience. But they’re often not possible for hotels to implement unless they have the tech infrastructure necessary to deliver these services.
That’s why a number of hotel brands and individual properties are making major investments in technology infrastructure first, before they start testing out casting or voice-activated rooms, for example.
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is doing so on a massive scale. The IHG Connect Internet initiative, which began last year, will impact 1,500 hotels in the Americas by the end of 2016 and, eventually, all of IHG’s more than 5,000 hotels worldwide, bringing faster, more reliable, and more seamless Internet access to guests.
“This is a foundational platform for the future of IHG,” Jeff Eckard, VP of technology for the Americas at IHG told Skift. The reason IHG is investing so heavily in this is because the number of devices in use worldwide is expected to increase to 33 billion by 2020, and each person is estimated to have approximately 4.3 connected device by 2020 as well.
IHG Connect involves the placement of multiple wireless access points throughout each hotel that increase bandwidth by at least four times, creating “dedicated pipes that can grab as much connectivity that’s needed so hotel owners don’t have to worry about how much bandwidth they’ve signed up for, and hotel guests won’t become frustrated,” Eckard explained. Those wireless points also contain built-in beacons and all are connected to a cloud-based tech platform that allows IHG to monitor each access point and implement changes that much more easily. Guests will log in once, and then have access their entire stay.
In a similar fashion, Samsung is working with hotels to deliver a similar type of technology and Internet speed for hotel guests with its Samsung Hospitality Wall Plate access point. Earlier this year, the company partnered with New York’s Le Parker Meridien hotel to test the service in the hotel, and the results, said John Yu, director of management systems for Le Parker Meridien, were a success.
“At any given time, we have 800 to 1,400 devices running on our network,” Yu said. “But during our peak evening hours, we typically have over 2,000 devices connected to the network simultaneously.” By placing these access points throughout the hotel, however, Yu said, “We used to have difficulty providing a quality network experience when we hosted gaming or movie companies because of their VPN, static IP, speed and coverage needs. But our new access points are robust enough to take care of these issues.”
Having all of these access points in place, IHG’s Eckard said, will help IHG further strengthen its loyalty program (all loyalty members get access to free Wi-Fi) and that because the system auto-recognizes guests, it will automatically be able to connect them to Wi-Fi more easily. With the beacons, he said, “We can turn on location-based services, and start to recognize and connect and personalize the experience for our guests.”
Beacon-based technology is something being piloted by Hilton and Marriott, enabling both companies to know exactly where their guests are on property and sending them targeted marketing messages or offering them customized information.
Eckard added, “This is just the beginning. This is the beginning of our journey. IHG connect is laying down the foundation to help us personalize the guest experience and deliver faster performance. Those latest devices are all engineered to go faster and faster, and we’re enabling those devices to go as fast as they can.”
Smart Hotel Rooms
Having that kind of an infrastructure in terms of connectivity lays the groundwork for what’s to come: smart hotel rooms, or even voice-activated guest rooms.
“Voice-activated rooms have been a home run for us,” said Aloft Hotels’ Downing. “We’ve gotten a ton of feedback from our guests and operators as well. They’re asking us: ‘How do we add in-room delivery on the app so guests can order meals that come to their room? How can we add electronic drapes there when the sun is rising, or come up when sun is setting? It’s all about putting control in the guest’s hands.”
Some critics have said the Aloft pilot with Siri, while novel and tech-forward, can be a bit cumbersome because of the instructions involved and that some guests would rather just use the provided in-room iPad to adjust things in the room instead of using their voice.
To that point, Downing said, “That’s why piloting in the space is so important. You’re listening to the guest to tell you what’s too much versus what they want more of. A person not comfortable about the temp can just tell Siri without getting out of bed. We’re also looking at the voice-activation and making it acceptable for those who aren’t as comfortable with being future forward. If you don’t want to speak to Siri you just pick up the iPad and you can use it just as you would with your own personal devices.”
While many agree that voice-activated mechanisms like search by voice will be crucial going forward, including the founders of Expedia and Priceline, not everyone is so convinced it’s worth the return on investment when it comes to hotels.
“The future of the guest room will be voice activation,” said Marriott’s Hansen. “Amazon Echo and Apple’s Siri are consumer versions of this technology. I have all that in my own home. That is the future. Whether we use that existing tech or some other voice-activated mechanism has yet to be determined. The real brick in the road is trying to get the Internet of Things upgraded to the net-connected appropriate part of the network. It’s very expensive to retrofit everything in a hotel.”
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Photo credit: Marriott is piloting a new casting technology called Connect My Device that will allow guests to "cast" their favorite streaming content directly onto their in-room TVs. Marriott International


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Category: Mobile Security
Mobile malware has quickly become one of the greatest threats to cybersecurity. Stay ahead of the hackers by reading our bloggers’ latest findings and tips.
If the laws of nature are capable of teaching us one thing it’s this: if it seems too good to be true, it usually is. One of the most popular apps in the Google Play Store was recently found to be just that – a fantasy. The app titled Virus Shield purported to “improve the […]
During recent weeks we’ve seen a new botnet kit advertised in several Russian forums. The iDroidbot costs US$1,500 and targets phones running iOS 7.1 and earlier, as well as Android 2.2 and later. The kit has some interesting features, including a credit-card number grabber and a method for draining mobile wallets. According to the developer, […]
A night at the movies previously meant compromising between an edge-of-your-seat thriller and that new Nora Ephron romantic comedy, with the biggest ding to your wallet being a $10 bucket of large popcorn. However, now it may end up costing you more than just the exorbitantly priced snacks. Movie ticket site Fandango as well as […]
As part of your overall personal data security, you should make sure you are using secure Wi-Fi connections for privacy of your transmissions, and to control who (or what devices) have access to use your Wi-Fi connection. An unprotected wireless network (or Wi-Fi connection) and can expose you to risk as hackers can use this […]
In China, some mobile phone geeks like to refresh their Android machines with images from the Internet. For some mobile phone dealers, this makes good business. They can earn extra money from refreshing phone ROMs for those users who want to erase a lot of useless applications in the original ROMs. However, making an Android […]


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01 July 2022
January's fairs and festivals around Catalonia feature a spectrum of food-related celebrations that include everything from botifarra and olive oil to seafood, rice and beans of all varieties
Oysters have been prized since prehistory
In the morningFirm:HERETAT SEGURA VIUDASLocation:TorrelavitSegura Viudas is one of the most recognised cava brands at home and abroad, a position only reached after many years of effort, innovation and...
Chef and businessman Òscar Manresa's ambition and untiring energy has allowed him in the last two decades to set up a growing empire of restaurants around the world
In the morningFirm:CASTELL D'ENCÚSLocation:Talarn (Lleida)The origin of Castell d'Encús is thanks to research by oenologist Raül Bobet who in 2001 was looking for terrain that would reduce the effects...
In Catalonia the annual Castanyada festival marks the start of the short but sweet chestnut season
Two wild mushrooms introduced from Italy have taken the world of bolets by storm
A mobile restaurant suspended over Girona's River Onyar showcases the best of Catalonia's culinary heritage
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(Reuters) — Mitsubishi Motors said Thursday it would close its sole production plant in the United States as the Japanese automaker cuts losses on dwindling sales in North America and a strong U.S. dollar, which has stymied returns.
Mitsubishi Motors confirmed a report in Japan's Nikkei newspaper on Thursday, which said that the automaker was unable to find a buyer for its factory in Normal and take on its workers.
"We have given up looking for an automaker to buy the plant, but we are looking for possible buyers from other industries," a Mitsubishi Motors spokesman said.
The spokesman, however, refused comment on the report's claim that Mitsubishi Motors expected to book an extraordinary loss of between 20 billion yen and 30 billion yen ($169.52 million to $254.28 million) in the fiscal year ending in March due to costs related to the closure.
Once a production hub for Mitsubishi's Outlander Sport SUV model, the plant ended vehicle production in November, laying off 1,000 workers.
The automaker said the plant would continue to make car parts until the end of May, at which point its remaining 250 workers would be made redundant.
Last year, the automaker said it would center production in Japan, Southeast Asia and Russia, after closing its plant in the Netherlands in 2012.


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The University of California, Davis World Food Center has partnered with Larta Institute to launch the Ag Innovation Showcase, California’s first such event, at the UC-Davis Conference Center May 8-9.
The Food & Ag Innovation Showcase will feature the most promising Ag startups and research projects pursuing solutions in high value, nutritious agriculture and food from across the globe.
The Showcase will leverage world-class research in crop, animal and food science at UC Davis alongside Larta’s high-impact programs that energize ideas and accelerate the path of innovation to the marketplace. Rising entrepreneurs from startup companies will join with agtech investors from this booming sector and researchers at the forefront of innovation.
Cutting edge start-ups and research projects across Ag-bio, renewable energy, sustainable materials, food production, animal health and farming technologies are invited to apply to present their business / technology at the 2017 Food & Ag Innovation Showcase (FAIS) on May 8-9, 2017 at the Mondavi Center at UC Davis.
Themes of the 2017 event include:
- Automation and robotics for fresh produce, fruits and nuts
- Food safety from production to product
- Boosting nutrition and sensory value in foods
- Innovation in the livestock and dairy sectors
Applications to present at the 2017 Food & Ag Innovation Showcase are open now through April 1st. Innovations that fall within the themes of the 2017 event are preferred, but all are welcome to apply.
Learn more at FoodAgInnovation.com.


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CHICAGO (CBS.MW) -- Shares of direct-marketing specialist MyPoints.com soared 60 percent Monday after a United Airlines affiliate agreed to buy the online membership organization for about $112.5 million, or $2.60 a share.
United New Ventures, which along with the airline is owned by UAL Corp. UAL, +1.05%, said the anticipated acquisition is intended to beef up its Internet activities and direct communications with its Mileage Plus members and users of the United.com Web site. With MyPoints, Mileage Plus members can rack up rewards points for gift certificates from Home Depot and Sprint as well as travel incentives.
"The proposed combination will create an even more powerful direct-marketing organization, with a highly motivated consumer list and a suite of database-driven online media products that should be compelling to any advertiser," MyPoints Chief Executive John Fullmer said in a statement.
News of the deal sent shares of MyPoints MYPT leaping 96 cents to $2.56. It should have. At $2.60 a share, the offer comes at a 62.5 percent premium to Friday's closing price and a whopping 420 percent premium to the stock's 52-week low.
Shares of UAL, which launched United New Ventures in October, fell 86 cents to $35.10.
Not surprisingly, the combination will boost MyPoints.com's programs when the two companies build new services for their combined customer base.
That would be a particular boon to MyPoints, considering United's 40 million customers is 21/2 times the size of MyPoints subscriber base. Last year, MyPoints reported a loss of $213.7 million on sales of $63.5 million -- a 163.5 percent jump from the year-earlier period.
"We are looking forward to leveraging United's 40 million Mileage Plus members in this relationship," said Fullmer on a conference call with analysts. "Our desire is to look at selling additional services and benefits going forward."
United's various suppliers, he said, "bring us a lot of contacts and relationships."
Advertising sales, predicted John Steuart, the company's chief financial officer, will take off.
"A lot of media clients are apprehensive about putting their eggs into any dot-com business," he said on the call. But that will change now, he predicted, "with the depth of our databases and the depth of lists."
Some changes are immediate. Members of the MyPoints program are would be able to redeem their points for travel awards on United Airlines.
The deal is expected to close in late July, assuming more than 90 percent of MyPoints' shareholders accept the tender offer. If not, it will slow down the acquisition by as much as three months, but won't halt it, executives said.
"Both United and MyPoints are very committed to this deal," Steuart said. If one of the concerns changes its mind, it will fork over a $4.5 million break-up fee.


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Cyber Awareness Part II: The Psychology of Behaviour Change
Part two in our blog series examining how the psychology of behaviour change will help us deliver effective awareness campaigns.
5 Anti-Phishing Insights Every CISO Should Know
Based the latest scientific research, tips to reduce human error and protect businesses against phishing attacks.
Cyber Awareness Part I: The Psychology of Behaviour Change
Cyber awareness helps reduce human error and insecure behaviours. Examining how the psychology of behaviour change will help us deliver effective awareness campaigns.
InfoSec Round-Up Jan 14th - Hut Six
APT infect themselves with malware. Valentines day scam warning. Diplomats targeted with phishing attack.
Infosec Round-Up Jan 7th - Hut Six
Kyoto Uni massive data loss. New ICO head begins role. French data watchdog issues GDPR fine.
Infosec Round-Up Dec 3rd - Hut Six
Clearview AI faces UK GDPR fine. Hacker charged for extortion attack. Cabinet Office hit with £500k fine.
Infosec Round-Up Nov 26th - Hut Six
1.2 million passwords breached in GoDaddy hack. 'Easy-to-guess' default passwords banned in UK. NSO Spyware company sued by Apple.
Infosec Round-Up Nov 19th - Hut Six
National Cyber Security Centre publishes annual review. US compensated fraud victims. State-sponsored hacker warning.
Infosec Round-Up Nov 12th - Hut Six
UK court throws out mass-action lawsuit against Google. US offers $10 million for the identity of REvil cyber criminals. Stor-a-File storage company suffers data breach.
Infosec Round-Up Nov 5th - Hut Six
UK Labour party data leaked by data handler. Facebook announces end to the use of facial recognition. US Commerce Department sanctions Israel's NSO Group.
Infosec Round-Up Oct 29th - Hut Six
GCHQ chief warns double in ransomware attacks. “Unprecedented” VOIP cyber-attack. Teen scammer has £2 million in crypto seized.
Infosec Round-Up Oct 22nd - Hut Six
Computer maker Acer hacked twice in a single week. Ofcom reports almost 45 million people targeted by scammers. US restricts the sale of hacking tools.
Infosec Round-Up Oct 8th - Hut Six
125GB of Twitch data leaked. School IT tech charged in insider threat case. EU parliament votes against A.I surveillance.
Infosec Round-Up Oct 1st - Hut Six
iPhone contactless flaw could allow locked phone payments. China warns crypto “seriously endanger the safety of people’s assets”. Ethereum research facing 20 years in prison.
InfoSec Round-Up Sep 24th - Hut Six
REvil steals loot from affiliate criminals. Lithuania warns of Chinese made phones. UK MoD exposes the data of Afghan interpreters.


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Alibaba joins forces with counterfeited brands
Chinese eCommerce giant Alibaba has teamed up with some of the world’s most-counterfeited brands to fight against copycats.
Collaborating with such global brands as Louis Vuitton, Samsung and Swarovski, Alibaba will provide its members with big data and other support to help them block, identify and even take down listings from its marketplaces such as Taobao and Tmall. Those two sites boast 1 billion product listings at any given time.
In return, the brands have committed to share their anti-counterfeiting data with Alibaba.
The move follows a lawsuit filed by the internet powerhouse against two vendors selling knock-off Swarovski watches from their online shopping bazaars on Taobao, claiming 1.4 million yuan (US$202,950) in losses. Taobao is the retail platform for smaller merchants.
“The most powerful weapon against counterfeiting today is data and analytics, and the only way we can win this war is to unite,” says Alibaba’s chief platform governance officer Jessie Zheng.
“Alibaba welcomes brands and other organisations to join us in what we believe is the world’s first ‘big-data anti-counterfeiting alliance’.”
Taobao was returned to the US government blacklist of “notorious markets” last month for hosting fake items, four years after Alibaba lobbied American trade officials to drop the platform from the list.
Alibaba says it is disappointed by the decision, noting it has “proactively removed more than double the number of infringing product listings than in 2015”. The company employs 2000 permanent staff and 5000 volunteers devoted to spotting fake goods.
According to the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition, a nonprofit watchdog overseeing piracy concerns, China is the biggest market for knockoffs globally with handbags, footwear, watches and iPhones topping the list of most-faked items.
Louis Vuitton, Nike, Ray Ban and Rolex are among the labels that seem to be more intensely targeted by counterfeiters, says a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Domestic brands also have fallen victim. Chinese liquor maker Kweichou Moutai has confiscated 300 tonnes of fake Moutai in a three-year drive against bootleggers, whose products can feature packaging identical to genuine products.
Chinese authorities have also stepped up efforts to root out people involved in marketing fake goods, staging raids and arresting thousands of suspected offenders.


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The Dtac, a Thai mobile telecom company, in collaboration with the TBWA’s Creative Juice, has recently launched the latest ‘’Moving WiFi’’ service made of unique portable hotspots. These hubs were hooked on to something quite mobile: Pets.
The brand faced the challenge of creating a groundbreaking experience that would spread positive word-of mouth and gain subscribers. The two-minute video shows how adorable puppies can be utilized as moving, yet stable, online sources; needless to say, the people of Bangkok were delighted and surprised by this unusual ‘‘work and play” invention. Interested parties could receive the WiFi by simply getting close to the animal and connecting to the free network.
These new kinds of hotspots are not just for providing free internet, but rather allow users to play and interact with them, too. The video depicts the remarkably positive results, both through traditional and new media, of the brand’s campaign.
Take a look at the lovely campaign and feel free to share your impressions about this innovative service.


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Hulu is launching its first scripted original series in February, and the company is already thinking about investing more in original content: Hulu Chief Content Officer Andy Forssell told Bloomberg on Sunday it might raise money this year to spend more on shows you haven’t seen on TV yet.
Hulu’s move toward original content follows similar announcements by Netflix, (s NFLX) which is going to launch its first original series this spring as well. For both companies, going into original content is in part a reaction to the threat of being locked out of deals for popular TV shows. But it’s also part of a larger movement toward a new Hollywood, where content is produced for online-only properties, money is raised differently and networks aren’t the only game in town anymore. It’s a new golden age of content, and these are its key players:
- Netflix (s nflx) has been spending big on original content, in part to make up for losing access to movies from Starz, (s lstza) in part to bolster its international expansion: You don’t have to renegotiate deals in every single country if you own a show outright. Subscribers will have a first chance to check out original Netflix fare on Feb. 6, when Lilyhammer, a show starring Steven van Zandt as a New York mobster in witness protection in Norway, debuts on the service. Netflix will also debut the Kevin Spacey series House of Cards later this year, and bring back Arrested Development early next year.
- Hulu’s first scripted original, titled Battleground, will debut on Feb. 15. The show is a timely dramatization of the primary race, and it’s not Hulu’s only stint in original programming. The company also ordered another season of Morgan Spurlock’s documentary series A Day in the Life, and a six-part documentary miniseries from star director Richard Linklater. Previously, Hulu had the exclusive rights to the reality show If I Can Dream in 2010. Hulu’s CEO Jason Kilar recently announced that he intends to spend $500 million on content this year.
- YouTube has been investing big in original content and is in the process of rolling out around 100 new channels from Hollywood A-list celebs and YouTube stars alike, including contributions from Madonna, Rainn Wilson and Ashton Kutcher. The Google-owned (s GOOG) video site is paying its new high-profile talent advances against ad revenue, and experienced YouTubers have been able to make six-figure income through the site for some time. And YouTube is not alone with its focus on A-list web content; both Yahoo (s YHOO) and AOL (s AOL) are investing heavily in web series.
- Kickstarter. The crowd-funding site, as well as its competitor IndieGoGo are increasingly playing a role in the financing of movies and web series – and it certainly helps that even Hollywood’s rich and famous are turning to the site. One example: Colin Hanks raised $92,000 last summer to finance the making of a documentary about Tower Records.
- Amazon Studios is at the forefront of another funding game changer: The Amazon (s AMZN) venture, and others like FilmFunds.com, are using crowdsourcing techniques as well as experienced Hollywood to decide who should get funding. Amazon Studios paid $580,000 to script writers and $2.1 million for test movies in 2011.
- BitTorrent. Consumers may be flocking to streaming services like Netflix, but don’t rule out the power of file sharing just yet. BitTorrent Inc. announced recently that it has 150 million active users a month, and the company has been utilizing this giant user base to raise awareness as well as money for film makers as well. At the helm of these efforts is VODO.net, which has raised close to $90,000 for the P2P-exclusive TV show Pioneer One alone.
Taken by itself, any of these efforts may be dwarfed by the budgets established cable networks like HBO (s twx) spend on original content. But combined, they’re beginning to represent a power shift towards online-exclusive distribution.
And there’s something else going on here that’s even more profound: Previously, web series and the occasional YouTube short used to be about getting discovered by Hollywood and eventually having your show picked up by TV networks. These days, YouTube itself is becoming a way to make money; Kickstarter and Amazon are becoming options to raise more money; and eventually Netflix, and not TV, may be the big break. Benefiting from this are consumers, who are going to see a lot more shows and movies show up on a lot more screens.


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This week, Stratasys officially unveiled the spin-off of its Selective Thermoplastic Electrophotographic Process (STEP) technology and forming of a new company, Evolve Additive Solutions.
After nearly 10 years as an incubation project, the new organization will be led by a dedicated management team, exclusively focused on bringing the proprietary STEP technology to market – aimed at delivering high-volume production additive manufacturing at breakthrough speeds compared to other commercially available additive processes.
Traditional manufacturers have long sought to combine the benefits of additive manufacturing with the material, quality and economics of traditional production processes. Built on Stratasys’ pioneering development and 3D printing and additive manufacturing expertise, Evolve’s STEP technology is aimed at producing parts at a cost, quality and throughput comparable to traditional manufacturing processes. The solution is intended for high-volume production runs into the hundreds of thousands per year. As such, it is expected to compete with traditional processes, such as injection molding.
For an overview of the STEP technology, click here.
“As an independent company, Evolve will best be able to focus on the advancement of the technology, provide the entrepreneurial environment and management equity incentives suitable for early stage efforts and drive the customer relationships and partnerships to foster further development and initial market adoption,” said Stratasys CEO, Ilan Levin. “As an equity stakeholder, we look forward to collaborating with Evolve and supporting this initiative to help make it a success.”
The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), a nonprofit organization that supports the manufacturing industry, and Stratasys Ltd. announced the winners of a student additive manufacturing competition held during the 53rd annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference.
The SkillsUSA Additive Manufacturing Competition is a student contest co-sponsored by the organizations to attract the future workforce to this growing field and allow contestants to get hands-on experience using the latest 3D printing software and technology, such as the new Stratasys F123 Series. The competition was held at the 53rd annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, and six teams took home gold, silver and bronze medals for fulfilling all of the contest requirements.
Now in its third year, the 2017 Additive Manufacturing Competition consisted of 34 high school and post-secondary student teams competing for a chance to take home gold, silver, or bronze medals – as well as scholarships from the SME Education Foundation, and a MakerBot Mini printer. The Additive Manufacturing Competition was created to stimulate student learning of additive manufacturing and 3D printing techniques.
“Each year, we attract more students to participate in the SkillsUSA Additive Manufacturing Competition and we couldn’t be more thrilled with the growth,” said Jeff Krause, executive director and CEO of SME. “This is an exciting time for additive manufacturing and 3D printing and we are proud to be at the forefront of its evolution and making sure our future manufacturing leaders will be prepared for what lies ahead as the industry progresses.”
The 2017 Additive Manufacturing Competition involved designing and printing a track piece (fixture) capable of moving a marble to a designated location after the ball rolls down a ramp. The fixture was required to connect with the ramp at specific points and remain stable for the test’s duration. Each team was provided time to design the fixture, build the 3D printed prototype on a Stratasys 3D printer, and make any necessary design modifications the next day. (more…)
Last month at IMTS 2016 we checked out a lot of new and improved manufacturing technologies, including several innovative developments in 3D printing/additive manufacturing. A couple of the most unique technology introductions were from Stratasys.
The company demonstrated its next-generation manufacturing technologies as part of its Shaping What’s Next vision for manufacturing that builds on its industrial FDM 3D printing expertise in response to the needs of customers’ most challenging applications, addressing manufacturers’ needs to rapidly produce strong parts ranging in size from an automobile armrest to an entire aircraft interior panel.
Stratasys developed two new prototype machines that they called demonstrators to prove their practicality – the Infinite Build 3D Demonstrator and the Robotic Composite 3D Demonstrator.
Stratasys CMO, Tim Bohling, Leads Tour of Company’s 3D Printing at IMTS 2016
The Infinite-Build 3D Demonstrator
The Stratasys Infinite-Build 3D Demonstrator was designed to address the requirements of aerospace, automotive and other industries for large, lightweight, thermoplastic parts with predictable mechanical properties. The 3D Demonstrator featured a new approach to FDM extrusion that increases throughput and repeatability. The system also employed a unique “infinite-build” approach, that prints on a vertical plane for parts that are virtually unlimited size in the build direction, such as entire airplane panels.
The Infinite-Build demonstrator is called that because, by flipping the vertical FDM process on its side, “We’re able to print parts in that vertical plane direction essentially as large as we want,” said Rich Garrity, president of Stratasys Americas.
Like virtually all of our readers, I have purchased and used a lot of proprietary software for a long time. I am also a fan and proponent of the open software and hardware movement. Here, I’ll touch on open source hardware and focus on open source software.
One of the things I really like about source software and hardware is that it is about working not with just technology, but people. Also, the open source software and hardware sectors are growing. Open source software is not driven by corporate budgets, but by people fulfilling a need and software development and use freedom. My open source experience has also taught me that the currency of open source is not necessarily money, but more likely, beer and T-shirts. (more…)
This week MakerBot announced that it had sold more than 100,000 3D printers worldwide. The company said it was able to reach this milestone (as the first 3D printer company to do it) by providing an accessible, affordable, and easy-to-use 3D printing experience.
“Being the first company to have sold 100,000 3D printers is a major milestone for MakerBot and the entire industry,” said Jonathan Jaglom, CEO at MakerBot. “MakerBot has made 3D printing more accessible and today is empowering businesses and educators to redefine what’s possible. What was once a product used only by makers and hobbyists has matured significantly and become an indispensible tool that is changing the way students learn and businesses innovate.”
MakerBot was one of the first companies to make 3D printing accessible and affordable. Since its founding in 2009, MakerBot has pushed 3D printing and has introduced many industry firsts. Thingiverse was the first platform where anyone could share 3D designs and launched even before MakerBot was founded. In 2009, MakerBot introduced its first 3D printer, the Cupcake CNC, at SXSW. In 2010, MakerBot became the first company to present a 3D printer at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Now, 3D printing is its own category at CES with a myriad of 3D printing companies from around the world in attendance each year.
As a first-year Denver Math Fellow (I assist math teachers and tutor in small groups), last week I was give a reprieve from my daily grind of lesson plans and teaching by participating in what my school calls Explore Week. This is a week where I was partnered with a teacher, chose a topic to explore with students, made a video promoting our explore class, and had students sign up to join us.
The topic my teaching partner and I decided on was “Creating Furniture Using Non-Traditional Methods and Materials.” Our course included designing and creating furniture models from cardboard, as well as 3D printing simple models. It was a lot of fun, and as I said, a nice change of pace, not to mention I really felt I was in my comfort zone.
Explore Week was made possible by the efforts of several companies, including:
Without a doubt, one of the biggest developments in the MCAD world in the past few years has been 3D printing (also known as additive manufacturing). Until relatively recently, though, the cost of the 3D printing machines was cost prohibitive for all but large companies. To a large extent, costs have been plummeting, but there are machines that cost more than a million dollars. However, that is changing with the advent of relatively low-cost desktop 3D printers.
3D printers sound cool, and to a large extent they are. But, before running out to buy one, there are a few things to keep in mind. Currently, a machine will set you back $500 to $5,000, plus $40 to $100 for a roll of plastic filament (think Weed Wacker) for producing parts. Also keep in mind that producing one small object could take hours, and end up costing much more than buying it. Don’t forget, too, that you need some technical know-how to make it all work, including how to create a solid model with a CAD tool. As I have maintained for some time, with all the online 3D printing services that are available, why buy when you can rent. Check out my blog post on this sentiment from last year entitled, “3D Printing Goes Retail: Why Buy When You Can Rent?”
That’s why I have said that the first low-cost devices were more fun than functional, and appealed to DIYers, hobbyists, and early adopters. All that is changing as the technology matures, prices come down, more materials become available, and part quality vastly improves.
As exciting as the 3D printing/additive manufacturing (AM) space has been the past several, especially the last couple, its unbridled enthusiasm and expectations couldn’t be expected to go on forever, and they’re not. Stratasys reported less than anticipated financials for Q1 2015.
All was not doom and gloom for Stratasys, however, as the financials also include the following:
Announced that Stratasys AM technologies were selected by Airbus for producing 3D printed flight parts for use in the first-of-type A350 XWB aircraft.
Announced organizational changes, including the creation of the Stratasys Strategic Consulting Division to help support customer development.
Completed the organizational integration of Solid Concepts, Harvest Technologies and RedEye Services to form Stratasys Direct Manufacturing (SDM).
Initiated a reorganization within MakerBot. This involved a sizable layoff of MakerBot employees and the closing of MakerBot retail stores. This reorganization was done to make MakerBot a better “fit” within Stratasys.
The company sold 7,536 3D printing and additive manufacturing systems during the quarter.
Stratasys Presents a 3D Printed Aircraft Interior at EuroMold 2014
Fred Fischer, Director of PolyJet and FDM Applications at Stratasys, presents an aircraft interior 3D printed using a unique combination additive manufacturing technologies. The presentation was filmed at Stratasys’ aerospace-themed booth at EuroMold 2014 in Frankfurt.
As impressive as it is, last month we gave 3D printing a bit of a dressing down based on personal experience. The blog post was a reality check and a look at the technology not through rose-colored glasses. That’s not to say, though, that 3D printing is still one of the biggest innovations on the manufacturing front, if not the biggest, in recent memory.
Even with the major advances that have transpired in 3D printing, there are still a number of skeptics who view the technology as little more than a promotional stunt or gimmick.
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2015 took place this week. It’s an annual tech festival that began in 1967 that today attracts more than 160,000 attendees checking out about 3,500 exhibitors. Over the years, some of the more significant technologies first released at CES have included:
1970 – VCR
1981 – CD player
1985 – Nintendo Entertainment System
1998 – High-definition TV
2000 – Satellite radio
2003 – Blu-Ray DVDs
2015 – 3D Printing(?)
We didn’t attend CES this year, but we have been monitoring the activities in a pavilion dedicated to innovative technologies, including 3D printing.
Along with SpaceClaim being acquired by ANSYS earlier this year, the CAD consolidation train moves to its next stop with Stratasys announcing that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held GrabCAD in an all-cash transaction.
Stratasys Ltd, of course, is one of the leading global providers of 3D printing and additive manufacturing solutions. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but is rumored to be in the $100 million range. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of September (that’s today!), subject to the fulfillment of customary closing conditions. Upon completion of the transaction, GrabCAD will operate as a unit within the Stratasys Global Products and Technology Group. Hardi Meybaum, co-founder and CEO of GrabCAD, will continue to lead GrabCAD within the group.
The company’s flagship product, GrabCAD Workbench is its cloud-based PDM for sharing and managing CAD files. The video provides a quick overview of GrabCAD Workbench.
What IS GrabCAD Workbench?
For those new to GrabCAD, it’s unique in that it’s more of a 3D CAD collaboration platform than it is a traditional CAD product. Launched earlier this, GrabCAD Workbench is a unique cloud-based collaboration hub designed to manage and share product development CAD files and other design data. In other words, a PDM system.
Founded in 2010 and led by Mr. Meybaum, a visionary entrepreneur and pioneer in 3D CAD cloud collaboration tools, GrabCAD is helping engineers get products to market faster by connecting people, content and technology. GrabCAD offers GrabCAD Workbench, a cloud-based collaboration tool that enables engineers and designers to share, view and manage CAD files and other design data. GrabCAD is also home to a community of more than 1.5 million global members who can access a large public CAD file library, as well as connect with other designers and engineers.
The acquisition should enable Stratasys to provide its customers with enhanced collaboration tools and improved accessibility relating to 3D CAD content. The addition of GrabCAD Workbench provides Stratasys with an opportunity to drive communication and collaboration throughout the 3D printing process and grow its technology solutions and user communities.
“The addition of GrabCAD provides Stratasys with a leading cloud-based collaboration platform for engineering teams to manage, share and view CAD files,” said David Reis, Stratasys Chief Executive Officer. “By increasing the collaboration and accessibility of 3D CAD files, we believe we can further accelerate the adoption of 3D printing solutions and Stratasys’ product offerings. Together with GrabCAD, we believe that we will accelerate innovation and provide increased value to a growing universe of customers seeking to utilize 3D printing solutions. We also welcome GrabCAD’s active and important community to the Stratasys family. The potential within our 3D ecosystem is very exciting.”
“GrabCAD was founded to bring the world’s engineers together and help them collaborate to bring better products to market faster,” said Hardi Meybaum, Chief Executive Officer of GrabCAD. “By joining forces with Stratasys, a global leader in 3D printing and additive manufacturing, we believe we can extend the reach of one of the most exciting and innovative design collaboration technologies available. With its broad and growing customer base and worldwide presence, Stratasys can provide more customers around the world with exciting new solutions to meet their design needs.”
Prior to the acquisition, GrabCAD had a number of relationships with CAD vendors for making it easier for users of products, such as Autodesk Fusion and Siemens Solid Edge to use the cloud-based service. It seems that the cloud-based nature of GrabCAD is what especially interested/enticed Stratasys for the acquisition.
The potential benefits are many, and through its acquisition of GrabCAD, Stratasys expects to gain:
Knowledge: With the addition of GrabCAD, Stratasys gains a team of software professionals with a deep understanding of the needs of designers and engineers.
Products: GrabCAD’s cloud-based collaboration platform, Workbench, will enable Stratasys to offer customers a solution to drive communication and ease of use throughout the design and 3D printing process. GrabCAD also provides Stratasys with the opportunity to further partner with CAD vendors and other ecosystem partners while offering innovative collaboration tools related to 3D CAD.
Community: GrabCAD has built a global, leading and fast growing community of mechanical engineers and designers, with 1.5 million users who are passionate about design. This includes a large online community of M-CAD users and a significant public online repository of free CAD files, with more than 500,000 CAD designs available for download and nearly 50,000 file downloads per day.


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Chinese car maker commissioned a student project in which the designer was asked to envision a luxury sedan for the year 2020. This is what he came up with, a massive four-door saloon called Qoros 9. The design has been turned into a 1:4.5 scale clay model and is currently on display at Coventry University.
Being Chinese, it is inevitable for Qoros 9 to draw inspiration from successful foreign cars, even though the designers seem to have obscured it very well here. Still, we can see a bit of Chrysler 300 in this car, and maybe some lines from old Lincoln models.
The designer says he got his inspirations from Qoros 3 production car and accentuated its features with clean horizontal lines and emphasizing the present-day Qoros signature hockey-stick design theme. Some of the features of Qoros 9 include high-res cameras instead of wing mirrors, diamond-cut eight-spoke 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and LED side indicator repeaters.
Qoros’ Executive Director of Design, Gert Volker Hildebrand, said: “Qoros is a rapidly growing brand and we are dedicated to helping and educating young, up-and-coming talent. Finding the very best talent will be a crucial success factor for our company in the future. Jihoon is the eighth design intern we have welcomed at Qoros in just the past few years and we will continue to offer internships to the brightest students.”


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Within Africa, South Africa holds the second-largest economy which comes from high flow of foreign investment into various manufacturing and mining industries. The discovery of diamond and gold mines in the country set this sub-Saharan Africa region apart from its siblings as it opened a new economical channel. But this was 19th century news, since then, the economy of the country has undergone immense highs and lows and finally found stability under democratic rule established in 1994.
Since then, the government has taken positive measures to redistribute the economic flow in the country and lay strong foundations that are helping South Africa on the path to becoming a freer country. The government integrity has been rated as a high factor for the country’s development as it gave an all-time high recorded growth of 1.3% in 2017. The World Bank expected good growth to continue, at a rather slow pace, with some fluctuations but the arrival of pandemic in has had a major effect on the previously predicted growth.
Export, a major economic driver in the country, has come to a halt along with global trade. Though the export industry does not match anywhere near the global demand, it is a major industry that contributes to the South African GDP. The economy that was already under strain with a certain decline in growth was put under pressure by the pandemic and over 5% of crashes was observed by the end of 2020.
The ICT sector falls under ICASA (Independent Communication Authority of South Africa) and is responsible for broadband and telecommunication services along with other services like postal. According to a web report by Statistica, between 2017 to 2019, the investment in the industry jumped from about 250000 Rand to 300000 Rand and was expected to hit 350000 in 2020 but went stale at the sudden global outbreak. The revenue generated by ICT alone since its peak economic year of 2015 increased by 6.5% with major contribution from the telecommunication sub-sector. Since major multinational names have been looking for a home in the country for its data centres, the cloud computing market has also been rising at a rapid speed in South Africa.
Overall, the South African market had already been struggling and the stringent measures considering the pandemic worsened the situation. Moreover, the ICT industry was rising compared to other fields over the last few years and the bounce back is imminent moving forward.
VPS as/for Business
One of the things you can do to take advantage of VPS’s existence is to start a hosting business. This can be easy and cheap. Since so many people and businesses require websites, offering hosting services will make you a lot of money. Here are some of the tips to help you get started.
Get a reliable provider to rent one or more servers from, set up a control panel to resell VPS from, and then sell them to customers. To be successful here, you have to find an established provider that offers cheap prices and has reliable services at the same time as this will allow you to significantly cut costs and start a hosting business with little investment.
In the web hosting business, competition is simply too high. You just cannot compete with the giants of the industry so focused on a niche. You could consider selling VPS servers to a niche that you’re particularly familiar with.
Maybe a gaming community you are part of needs VPS servers. The key advantage of taking this approach is that because you are one of them, you can speak very clearly in a language they will understand.
You need to design and create your VPS infrastructure. Create a few packages, with several CPU cores, RAM, and disk space variations. Buy cheap VPS servers from a provider and resell as purchased to make the packages target-specific.
Create your business model which includes branding - brand name, logo, and tagline. The quality of your website reflects the quality of your services, so go the extra mile to make it professional.


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19 Dec The Customer Service Gig
Sick of hearing about the gig economy yet? If you haven’t heard the term likely you’ve been living under a proverbial rock. Is the gig economy rising? That depends on which source of data you read. Still, the customer service gig is rising.
Tell Me What You Want
Workers want more freedom over their work. Ever hear the term work-life balance? Yeah, that. Whether owners or workers, people want to feel an autonomy over their experience. Fewer workers are willing to be used until they are exhausted, let go or die with little time to enjoy life outside of work. That is partly in response to a market that has squeezed benefits and assurances out of the employer-worker relationship.
Workers businesses don’t have to provide benefits, paid leave, workers compensation, 401ks, snacks or even taxes for sound attractive. For the businesses that handle this arrangement well there is long-term benefit on both sides. For those that don’t there is burnout and potential damage on both sides.
In industries like customer service support where the education level tends to be lower, some companies take advantage of this kind of relationship. Businesses save money on the workers and the only benefit to the workers is being able to work in their PJs. Signing bonuses and company cars aren’t standard, but a livable wage and respect has to be.
Terms like work-life balance are popular but pensions, retirement benefits and paid vacations are fading from common parlance. There is a segment of the workforce that is saying “If we get less you get less.” Understandable. Businesses are looking for a score and workers want one too. Some customer service workers are taking on the gig lifestyle and others believe on-demand work could grant them a better experience than a traditional clock-punching job.
Shep Hyken, well known author and customer service specialist, says:
“The Gig Economy is “triple win” for customer service”…”“For companies, it allows for great flexibility in staffing during busy and slow times. For “giggers,” they like the flexibility of being called on when needed, the extra money, and work that can be tailored to fit into their lifestyle. And finally, for customers, it means a better service experience, as even during busy times, the company is staffed to deliver fast support when the customer wants and needs it.”
According to Aspect Software’s 2018 Agent Experience index 16% of agents surveyed work in the gig economy. 41% want to do gig work. Of that group, 86% indicated work-life balance as their main reason.
Compared to employed agents, a larger percentage of on-demand agents indicated they have quality software to work with companies and customers. They say distance makes the heart grow fonder. Bridged by software that distance has the potential to create a better working relationship.
The Costs of the Gig
If businesses offer schedule freedom but don’t invest in workers, what they save in cost they may sacrifice in employee loyalty. Why should workers invest themselves in companies that treat them as cheap help to meet their bottom line? This can result in long term negative impact in the quality of service and customer retention.
For the giggers there are additional complications. An Oxford University study revealed some of the health problems stemming from this kind of work:
“ ‘Our findings demonstrate evidence that the autonomy of working in the gig economy often comes at the price of long, irregular and anti-social hours, which can lead to sleep deprivation and exhaustion,’ says Dr. Alex Wood, co-author of the paper…Fifty-four percent of workers taking part in the study said they must work at very high speeds, and 22 percent reported pain as a result of their work. ‘This is particularly felt by low-skilled workers, who must complete a very high number of gigs in order to make a decent living,’ says Professor Mark Graham, co-author. ‘As there is an oversupply of low-skill workers and no collective bargaining power, pay remains low. Completing as many jobs as possible is the only way to make a decent living.’ “
Can Everybody Win?
With pros and cons the difference between a positive or negative outcome is the culture and choices of the individual company. Companies hiring gig workers are capable of saving on start up and running costs and offering workers compensation, tools and even benefits that palpably show they’re valued. That value extends to the customer which in turn circles back to the company.
David Martin, in a guest post on Shep Hyken’s blog gives an example of his tech-enabled moving company in the gig space. They have amazing positive reviews on service and have expanded to 130 cities in the US. He says their success is from treating their workers as well as their customers:
“These variables aren’t just tied to the sharing economy. They are the same for any business–brick and mortar, or online. When an employer blows the minds of their employees, those team members will likely do the same for the customer.”
The interest in the customer service gig and the discussion of bills to protect gig workers show the potential for gigging to grow. With the support of such bills, companies and workers are capable of achieving the right balance benefitting all.


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The Google Nexus S, the first Android phone to support NFC, already has all the functionality required to support a full range of near field communication services, chip maker NXP has told NFC World.
Software upgrades to Android 2.3 and further extensions to the software development kit (SDK) to support mobile payments and other NFC functions will be rolled out in phases.
Other handset manufacturers are also now able to develop Android Gingerbread phones with full NFC functionality built in, NXP added, as the protocol stack it has developed for Google includes all the functionality they require.
The reason the SDK only includes tag reading functionality at the moment is that Google wanted to introduce NFC as quickly as possible, NXP’s Charles Dachs told NFC World at the Cartes show in Paris this week. Updates to the SDK to enable developers to write NFC applications for mobile payments and other applications on Android Gingerbread devices are to be rolled out on a phased basis, he explained.


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- 64% more likely to buy from retailers with sustainable packaging
- 50% willing to pay more for sustainable packaging and delivery
- Opportunity for retail brands to build consumer trust
A new report by Drapers, the B2B publication covering the fashion retail industry, in partnership with Smurfit Kappa, the leading paper-based packaging company, has revealed that packaging matters to UK consumers and plays a significant role in the purchasing decisions of shoppers. Nearly two-thirds of respondents (64%) stated they are more likely to purchase from a brand or retailer if it uses sustainable packaging.
Sustainable packaging strengthens brands’ perception
In the Drapers’ Sustainability and the Consumer 2021 report, fashion consumers stated the packaging material their purchase arrives in matters, with 73% stating that the use of paper or cardboard packaging is important to them when considering a brand’s level of sustainability. Another 77% stated that brands should use as little packaging as possible, while two-thirds (66%) stated it is important to them that the packaging can be recycled.
However, perhaps more significantly for retailers, nearly half (49%) of fashion consumers surveyed said they would pay more for both sustainable packaging and sustainable delivery. In addition, a third (33%) say they have rejected a purchase because of unsustainable packaging.
Commenting on the importance for retailers to introduce sustainable packaging, Eddie Fellows, CEO of Smurfit Kappa UK and Ireland, said: “Packaging is a visible and tangible signal of a brand’s commitment to sustainability. The report highlights how sustainable packaging is increasingly becoming a significant decision driver for consumers purchasing fashion and an indication of a brand’s sustainable status. It also underscores the importance for businesses to understand the opportunities in moving to sustainable packaging, the ramifications of inaction for reputation, and the role that sustainable packaging can play in reaching sustainability targets.
“There is often a misunderstanding amongst retailers that switching to a greener supply chain will incur significant investment. We work closely with our customers to help them understand the longer-term cost benefit of optimising and greening their packaging supply chain.”
Trust gap between consumers and brands, but appetite for change
The report also highlighted an opportunity for brands and companies to build consumer trust. Consumers want to be more sustainable. It is often the case that consumers do not know which brands are committed to sustainable practices. The research highlighted that over two-thirds (69%) of consumers stated that they did not always trust brands and retailers that say they are sustainable and only 36% believe brands and retailers are doing enough to be sustainable.
However, it is often a challenge for consumers to make exclusively sustainable choices. Shoppers have busy lives, and often have conflicting priorities. Price can remain a barrier for fashion purchases, with 76% of consumers stating they would buy more sustainable fashion if it was more affordable. Taken together with the findings that half of consumers will pay more for sustainable packaging and delivery, consumers are demonstrating a growing appetite to incorporate sustainability into their purchasing decisions.
Expectation for leadership
The research found that consumers believe it is retailers (43%) who should be leading the way when it comes to improving performance on fashion sustainability, ahead of Government (27%) and consumers themselves (12%). Despite this, only 27% of consumers believe retailers are leading the way.
Tony Smurfit, Group CEO of Smurfit Kappa, commented: “Sustainability is one of the challenges of our time. Packaging provides a clear opportunity for brands and retailers to demonstrate their sustainability, and with the continued growth of eCommerce, fit-for-purpose sustainable packaging is an even more integral part of the brand experience. We continue to partner with an increasing number of our customers who are responding to the growing demand for sustainable packaging and as businesses strive to meet, and accelerate, their commitments to deliver a better planet for all.”
Source: Smurfit Kappa


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SME fleets that have Mercedes-Benz models on their fleets will want to review their TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) models as the company says it plans to be a luxury car maker.
As part of that brand upshift, Mercedes will start dropping more attainable models in its range, while making model scarcity part of its brand strategy.
Speaking at the Association of Fleet Professionals’ first conference, Head of Fleet Sales, Tom Brennan, said that Mercedes was “changing lanes”.
Explaining what he meant by this, Tom said:
“Our ambition is no longer volume. That change will become clear in 2023 when we move to the agency model.
The agency model Mercedes is proposing allows the manufacturer to talk directly to customers with car retailers becoming handling agents. It is designed to bring price transparency – “the expectation of a luxury brand”, added Tom.
Along with the luxury pivot, Tom said that there would be product simplification and fewer trims – in other words, vehicles that were once part of SME fleet choice lists will no longer be available.
At a separate investors event held in France, Mercedes-Benz officials unveiled further elements of the strategy.
In future, there will be three Mercedes-Benz product categories:
- Top-End Luxury,
- Core Luxury and
- Entry Luxury.
In the Top-End Luxury segment the product portfolio encompasses:
- Mercedes-AMG and Mercedes-Maybach brands
- Top-End models from Mercedes-EQ, including the EQS and the EQS SUV
- Mercedes-Benz S-Class and G-Class models as well as the full-size luxury GLS
Core Luxury will be central to fleets where the company says it will electrify on an “accelerated timescale”. These include the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and E-Class model ranges. The new E-Class comes to market next year and will provide us with a better idea of where Mercedes is pitching itself to fleets.
The new entrance point of the Mercedes-Benz portfolio is being redefined with the next generation of vehicles. In the Entry Luxury segment, Mercedes-Benz will reduce the number of model variants from seven to four while significantly while adding greater levels of technology.
Finishing off, Tom Brennan was clear that fleets remained central to the company, saying:
The only way we are going to achieve all of this is with fleet customers. You are the most important customer group for us.
That might be the case – but at what cost to SME fleets?
Main picture shows the new Mercedes-Benz EQE saloon.


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Every so often, new Fortnite rumour spring up regarding the game getting deleted for some reason.
Be it through a lawsuit or some other vague issue; Epic Games have been repeatedly linked to shutting down the popular Battle Royale game.
And you can tell when they do return, as the question – Has Fortnite been deleted? Starts to trend on Google.
The good news is that Epic Games are very unlikely to ever shut down Fortnite Battle Royale when so many people are playing it.
The game’s original mode – Save the World – seems a more likely candidate to be shut down.
However, STW has a very dedicated fanbase who remain active and online in sizeable numbers.
So why are fans asking whether Fortnite is being deleted this week?
It all appears to stem from a joke shared by SpaceX founder, Elon Musk, on Twitter.
Musk reposted an image that stated he had bought Fortnite Battle Royale and was going to delete it.
The fact that Elon Musk is a billionaire probably helps with the narrative that he could do something like this on a whim.
The joke started on Twitter after the SpaceX founder retweeted the image referring to him buying the company.
The online mock-up states that Elon Musk bought Fortnite and then deleted it, with the tech billionaire adding: “Had to been done ur welcome.” (SIC)
This set off a wave of comments, one from Epic Games themselves, who retweeted an article on SpaceX’s predictions for a mars base.
Epic Games reposted the article with the caption: “A whole decade, @elonmusk? Just build, LOL!”
This is in reference to a Fortnite joke, where players ask for advice on the best way to improve their chance while playing.
This led to Musk adding a further comment to the Twitter discussion, tweeting: “Reality is hard.”
So whatever might be being shared online, there doesn’t seem to be any risk of Fortnite being deleted anytime soon.
It was only this month confirmed that Fortnite on Mobile had reached new heights of revenue for Epic Games.
A new report from data firm Sensor Tower claims that the iOS version of Fortnite Battle Royale has grossed a total of $ 300 million worldwide.
A large amount of that comes from the United States and is just one platform the game is currently available on.
When you add in the fact it’s also only been available for seven months, it makes the new stats pretty impressive.
Here’s more from Sensor Tower, who report: “Fortnite has grossed about 32 percent more than Supercell’s hit Clash Royale had at this point following its launch in March 2016, and more than twice as much as Tencent’s smash MOBA Honor of Kings managed on China’s App Store in the same amount of time post-release.
“To put the time needed for Fortnite to hit $ 300 million into perspective, Clash Royale took 249 days—almost two months longer—to gross as much on iOS outside China.
“Honor of Kings didn’t achieve the same total on China’s App Store until 316 days after it launched, or more than three months longer than Fortnite. Fortnite’s most direct rival, Tencent’s PUBG Mobile, has reached about $ 47 million on Apple’s platform since it began offering in-app purchases on April 15—173 days ago.
“As for the fastest game to hit $ 300 million on iOS, that was Niantic’s mega-hit Pokémon GO, which achieved this feat in just 113 days.”
Daily Express :: Gaming Feed


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Just recently we saw a 3D printer that prints chocolate, now researchers at the University of Glasgow have used a 3D printer to create something that they call ‘reactionware’.
‘Reactionware’ is a term coined for vessels created with a 3D printer that, through the introduction of certain chemicals in the build process, take part in chemical reactions. This method of including a vessel in a reaction process has been relatively common on a much larger scale but is a first for laboratory-sized equipment.
Professor Lee Cronin said, “By making the vessel itself part of the reaction process, the distinction between the reactor and the reaction becomes very hazy. It’s a new way for chemists to think, and it gives us very specific control over reactions because we can continually refine the design of our vessels as required.”
The technology is still in its early stages but could one day improve access to health care in developing countries and even function as a personal pharmacy, says Cronin.
“We could even see 3D printers reach into homes and become fabricators of domestic items, including medications. Perhaps with the introduction of carefully-controlled software ‘apps’, similar to the ones available from Apple, we could see consumers have access to a personal drug designer they could use at home to create the medication they need.”


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Jul 25, 2016
"No matter who you are, or what your business is, there will continue to be more market disruptions as time goes on. It’s a certainty. It’s Darwinian. And, as the theory of evolution states, it’s all about the survival of the fittest. In the case of the Amazon Disruption, the fittest will be those businesses that take the disruption seriously, study it, understand it then adopt whatever new business practices are necessary to stay alive."
Read Full Article on LinkedIn


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New York State Clamps Down On Herbal Supplements
Updated at 7 p.m. ET
Target says it will pull the supplements identified by the New York attorney general from its stores and website. The company says, with its vendor, it will investigate and will cooperate with the attorney general.
Walmart says it will pull the items from its shelves in New York, and that "based on testing performed by our suppliers we have not found any issues with the relevant products."
If you are looking to herbal supplements to help improve your memory or vitality or help you to sleep, you may want to save your money. The New York State attorney general's office is asking four major retailers — GNC, Target, Walmart and Walgreens — to stop selling herbal supplements after tests found that many of them did not contain the herbs listed on their labels.
In a press release, New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman said DNA tests were run on supplements claiming to contain ginko bilboa, St. John's wort, ginseng and echinacea. Samples of the supplements were purchased from various locations around New York, and each sample was tested five times. In four out of five cases, the tests showed that the pills contained nothing more than fillers such as asparagus, rice, wheat or houseplants.
"This investigation makes one thing abundantly clear: the old adage 'buyer beware' may be especially true for consumers of herbal supplements," said Schneiderman. He added that the herbal supplements "also pose unacceptable risks to New York families — especially those with allergies to hidden ingredients."
Schneiderman says mislabeling, contamination and false advertising are illegal, and he's asking each company to provide more detail on the production, testing and quality control of the herbal supplements sold at their stores.
Walgreen immediately agreed to the attorney general's request to pull the supplements off their shelves. Walmart said it would reach out to its suppliers and take appropriate action. GNC told the New York Times that the company would cooperate with the attorney general "in all appropriate ways," but that it stood behind the quality and purity of its store brand supplements.
The response from the herbal supplement trade association, the Council for Responsible Nutrition, was not as supportive. It called the attorney general's actions a "sting," and described them as reckless, which "smack of a self-serving publicity stunt under the guise of protecting public health."
But David Schardt, senior nutritionist of the Center for Science in the Public Interest says, "the evidence for these herbs' effectiveness is sketchy to begin with." Schardt, quoted in the attorney general's press release, says if the advertised herbs are in many of the products, it's a sign the "this loosely regulated industry is urgently in need of reform."
The US Food and Drug Administration requires companies to verify their products are safe and properly labelled. But a federal law was passed in 1994 which exempted herbal supplements from following the same stringent guidelines.
The New York Times says the chief architect of that law was Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah. The newspaper says Hatch "has accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the industry and repeatedly intervened in Washington to quash proposed legislation that would toughen the rules."
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Nike Inc said on May 28 that it split ways last year with Brazilian soccer star Neymar because he refused to cooperate in an investigation into sexual assault allegations leveled against him by a Nike employee.
The sports apparel giant said in a statement it viewed the allegations about an incident in 2016 as "credible" but also said an independent investigation it commissioned was inconclusive.
"No single set of facts emerged that would enable us to speak substantively on the matter. It would be inappropriate for Nike to make an accusatory statement without being able to provide supporting facts," a report in Reuters quoted the statement.
Neymar, who currently plays for Paris St Germain, denies the allegations, his spokeswoman said in a statement.