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In the rotunda of Apple's headquarters, the iPhone maker may be working on a new hybrid reality helmet, or HMD. According to a newly published patent first noticed by Apple, possible devices use a waveguide display system with an adjustable lens. |
According to documents released by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the new helmet display system has been conceptualized and looks thinner and more modern than solutions provided by other vendors. It also shows an "ideal level of optical performance". The potential device could allow end users to overwrite computer-generated content on real-world content, according to the filing. The headset display will be bundled with iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Apple points out that in AR mode, users can view real-world content directly through the transparent part of the optical system. In another mode, the real world will be captured by a face camera on the helmet display. The optical system may be used to route the image from one or more pixel arrays or scanning devices in the display system to the eyes of the viewer.
The optical system may include waveguides formed by one or more pieces of transparent material (such as glass or plastic) or other light guides, such as thin planar waveguides, to transmit image light from the pixel array to the observer.
It has long been rumored that Apple is developing a pair of augmented reality (AR) glasses. There have been rumors that Apple's efforts are focused on ARKit, its platform for hundreds of millions of iPhones and iPad users. Apple sees AR as a core technology that will be part of many products in the future. Just as LCD and OLED are part of many products today. Apple's first AR glasses are likely to be released later this year.


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Big Funding Rounds for Robotics
7-Eleven turns to Neubility, ABB launches new cobots
If you’re not getting enough insights from our newly launched Modern Delivery vertical, fear not - we’ve still got plenty of robotics and automation news below. It may be a holiday tomorrow, but robots are still getting the job done!
Positive Signals for Robotics Investment
The funding environment is showing signs of life for robotics and automation startups, as VCs take heed of new data that suggests robotic picking alone is set to be a $6.8 billion market by 2030, and the overall industrial robotics market will grow between 5-7% annually for the next four years. On the consumer side, restaurant customers are looking more and more enthusiastic about automation, with 58% of customers 13-38 feeling positively about the trend.
Realtime, Rentaus, Dexory, Contoro Haul in Fresh Funding
Getting down to the numbers, Renatus Robotics, based out of Tokyo, raised $2 million for its autonomous warehouse and logistics technology. Backers include Dawn Capital and e-LogiT co. Moving up in size: Dexory raised a $19 million series A, led by Atomico and joined by the likes of Lakestar, Kindred, Capnamic, and Maersk Growth. The British company makes robots that patrol the warehouse floor, to continuously monitor inventory levels and space availability. On the robotic arm side of things - Contoro Robotics raised $4.7 million for its software that allows a human operator to remotely operate machinery. And Realtime Robotics pulled in $9.5 million from Shinhan GIB and Kyobo Life Insurance for its own robotic arm software.
ABB Unveils New GoFa Cobots
Speaking of six-axis arms, industry giant ABB had big news of its own. The new GoFa 10 and GoFa 12 versions of its collaborative robot line can handle payloads of 10 and 12 kilograms, respectively. The industrial multinational also unveiled a new line of heavy-duty large robots that can handle up to 683 pounds. We’re excited to see that one potentially handle the world’s largest basket of french fries!
OttOmate is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Neubility & 7-Eleven
While 7-Eleven might be working with Serve to handle robotic deliveries in the United States, it sounds like the convenience giant’s South Korean division has different ideas. The company is teaming up with Neubility, also based out of South Korea, starting with two locations in Seoul. Eight robots are involved in the initial pilot, which charges customers about 78 cents (USD) per order. On the tech-side, Neubility has opted to use V-SLAM over Lidar.

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Online fishing gear makers open store in Urbandale
MudbuM LLC, an Urbandale company that sells specialized catfishing and related sports gear, has opened a shop at 3894 N.W. Urbandale Drive. The owners have marketed their Hawg Lawg, a specialized heavy-duty catfishing shore pole designed to land monster catfish, for the past couple of years online along with their own clothing line and other fishing accessories. Their online TV show, “The MudbuM Boys,” also has an avid following on the Pursuit Channel and Carbon TV. “We did some trade shows and were very successful, so we decided to introduce our product to the public in a brick-and-mortar store,” said Jeff Garrett, one of the owners. Visitors to the store, which had a soft opening in mid-April, will experience “a real cool outdoor theme” throughout the shop, complete with an old fishing boat in the center of the store and a wildlife art gallery of mounted deer heads and skins on the walls. In addition to its line of catfishing equipment and clothing, the store carries a line of equipment from the show’s sponsors including coolers, vehicle lights and camping gear. A grand opening event May 21 will feature a live broadcast by 93.7 “the Outlaw” along with food and giveaways.
Read an article about MudbuM on BusinessRecord.com.


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Media Power 50
A modest uptick occurring in b-to-b ad spending, but the sector is still reeling from two years of recession. Facing budget constraints and increased scrutiny from the accounting department, b-to-b marketers are acting on their caution in three key ways:
- They’re relying on established brands for media buys.
- They’re using integrated marketing to stretch their budgets.
- They’re analyzing their expenditures by measuring return on investment.
Top 10 Profiles
1 The Wall Street Journal
2 The New York Times
4. "Lou Dobbs Moneyline"
6. Aviation Week & Space Technology
9. Information Week
10. "The O'Reilly Factor," Fox News Channel
All of these trends can be seen in the Top 10 of the Media Power 50, BtoB’s annual list of the best venues for b-to-b marketing messages. This year, the Top 10 teems with established brands: The Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, Fortune and "Lou Dobbs Moneyline," to name a few. Even Google has established itself as an undisputed leading brand in only a few years.
"It’s become a household name," said Kevin Arsham, strategy supervisor at OMD, global media partner of BBDO, New York.
From Google to The New York Times, the default position for b-to-b marketers is to run their messages aligned with strong brands. "The traditional brand philosophy is that as you’re building your own brand, you want to develop it with and associate it with other strong brands," said Nancy Bhagat, senior VP-corporate marketing at Computer Associates International Inc.
This approach also extends to the trade press, where it has become axiomatic to say that only one or two publications are expected to thrive in any one vertical market. A No. 3 or No. 4 publication, industry observers say, doesn’t have
the brand power to attract ads and survive.
Since the 1991 b-to-b advertising recession, trade publications have been adept at extending their print brands into trade shows, conferences and the Internet. B-to-b publishers began offering integrated marketing opportunities under a single brand in an effort to get a larger share of advertisers’ budgets. It was a simple plan, and it has helped insulate, to some degree, b-to-b media from dips in ad spending.
The larger media brands, following the trade publications’ lead, have realized the advantages of extending their own brands.
"Many of these strong brands have done an excellent job of building and developing brand extensions and leveraging that brand, offering more opportunities to advertisers looking for 360-degree marketing," Bhagat said.
Powerful print names now offer brand extensions that allow for integrated marketing. BusinessWeek, Fortune and Forbes all have executive conferences and sophisticated Web sites.
These big brands, even with declining print revenues, are attempting to get a bigger share of the marketing pie. Even Dow Jones & Co., renowned for eschewing negotiation, has begun to aggressively offer integrated marketing deals to b-to-b marketers. In addition to The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones has in its stable such powerful brands as the Wall Street Journal Online, the Wall Street Journal Radio Network, Barron’s and Smart Money.
Chris Phillip, senior VP-media director at Doremus, New York, helped craft the integrated media plan for client United Technologies Corp. He was impressed with the cross-media platform plan that Dow Jones helped create. "It may be old for everyone else, but no one has really done a great job at doing it," Phillip said.
No free ride for brands
While established brands may hold an advantage during recessions, no brand is getting a free ride in this new era, which demands ever more precise measurement of marketing return on investment.
One brand in particular has made a name for itself by promising results: TechTarget Inc., which has developed niche Web sites (such as searchstorage.com) that promise advertisers ROI. "Marketers are really excited by this new ability to track, but CFOs are more excited," said TechTarget CEO Greg Strakosch.
Even more established brands have guaranteed a specific ROI. Forbes.com has introduced a money-back guarantee that a minimum of $100,000 spent over 60 days on its site will boost a company’s brand metrics.
Similarly, Investors Business Daily has developed a 30% guarantee: If a marketer runs the same size ad and schedule in IBD and The Wall Street Journal or The New York Times, IBD will guarantee a 30% lower cost-per-lead.
IDC, the research arm of technology media company International Data Group, recently created the CMO Advisory Service to provide benchmarks and other research for tech marketers. A recent study by the group concluded: "The pressure for improved marketing measurement and ROI data will continue beyond the onset of the recovery."
But can a media property fairly measure the success of a b-to-b marketer’s advertising? Donna Mercer, media director at advertising agency Howard, Merrell & Partners, said, "I don’t know how a media company can tell me how my ad is working. … They really can’t tell me if my ad moved product."
Indeed, while some media companies are offering measurement, most of the hunger for ROI is in the belly of the marketer. "There’s more pressure to quantify the value we’re bringing to the business," said Bhagat, who is helping to develop a stricter ROI program for Computer Associates’ marketing expenditures.
CA is in the process of implementing a sophisticated measurement program to examine how marketing affects sales. It’s hard to imagine that this ambitious software system will be dismantled when the recession ends.
"Certain media are acknowledging and embracing [ROI measurement] and leading the industry by recognizing that this is not going away," Bhagat said.
The brands that populate the next Media Power 50 will likely be those implementing programs to help their advertisers to measure effectiveness.Top 10 Profiles
1. The Wall Street Journal
Battered by the tech wreck and a downturn in financial services, The Wall Street Journal saw its ad linage drop 17.6% in 2002, compared with 2001.
Under such circumstances, there are not many publications that could avoid the impression that their editorial quality or the reach of their circulation is slipping, but the Journal seems beyond reproach in good times or in bad—at least according to b-to-b media strategists. They still embrace the newspaper as the best place to put a b-to-b ad.
"Sure, there’s a bit of a downturn there, but as far as editorial product and reach, it’s still a can’t-miss vehicle," said Al Samuelian, associate media director at Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos Inc., Boston. "It definitely is the bible as far as reaching business influencers."
Not only is the newspaper delivered to a powerful and broad subscriber base, the executives who receive it read it. The Journal’s own research found that readers spend 52 minutes a day with the paper. Research by advertising agency Doremus, which surveyed top executives last year, showed that the Journal had 92% readership, and 57% of respondents considered it a "must-read."
It’s considered a must-read because of its unequaled business coverage. "It’s the authoritative voice of business," said Donna Mercer, partner-media director at Howard, Merrell & Partners, Raleigh, N.C.
The Journal made several moves since the start of last year to strengthen its editorial presentation. It added color to the newspaper, rearranged its front page and added the Personal Journal section.
Alterations to the print Journal were only the most visible changes at Dow Jones. The company also shuffled executives in the past year. The latest change was the naming of Scott Schulman as senior VP-sales and marketing. Schulman formerly was president of Dow Jones’ consumer electronic publishing division.
Schulman’s appointment makes him the point man for a new advertising sales strategy at Dow Jones. While most business media companies have emphasized multimedia sales packages for a decade or more, Dow Jones has only recently begun to take full advantage of its arsenal.
Beyond the print Journal and its editions in Europe and Asia, Dow Jones’ firepower includes Barron’s, SmartMoney, The Wall Street Journal Interactive and The Wall Street Journal Radio Network. Additionally, Dow Jones has an advertising and content relationship with CNBC that allows it to include cable news advertising in the mix.
Dow Jones has committed to offering more integrated marketing packages to advertisers. "We definitely want to emphasize these assets and coordinate more strategically between them," Schulman said.
Cigna and United Technologies Corp. are two key examples of b-to-b companies taking advantage of Dow Jones’ new commitment to integration. Beginning this month, Cigna will use the Journal, Barron’s, CNBC, co-sponsored events and other Dow Jones properties to communicate the message that Cigna is more than an employee benefits company; it is also a financial services company.
Ed Faruolo, Cigna’s VP-marketing/brand strategy, said he couldn’t think of a better place than the Journal to reach the appropriate audience. "We want The Wall Street Journal marquee effect," he said.
United Technologies plans to use the Journal, Barron’s, The Wall Street Journal Radio Network, events and wsj.com to reach the institutional investor community with a new brand message for the company. Chris Phillip, senior VP-media director for Doremus, United Technologies’ agency, was impressed by the integrated package delivered by Dow Jones. "They’re new at the game," he said. "It’s all brand new to them, but they did a great job right out of the gate."
2. The New York Times
Watch out Wall Street Journal; your good neighbor, The New York Times, is right behind you in the minds of b-to-b media strategists, landing the paper in the top 10 of our Media Power 50 report for the first time.
Strong reporting on military operations in the Middle East and on the global SARS scare—in addition to its ever-improving business coverage—make the Times the morning’s first read for many business leaders in New York and throughout the U.S.
"Certainly, the current news environment has made our newspaper more relevant than ever," said Jyll Holzman, the Times’ senior VP-advertising. "It’s critical for executives to follow the events going on around the globe, and they’re more often turning to us for balanced, in-depth information."
The Times already had been gaining in appeal with b-to-b advertisers, mainly through its expanded focus on topics such as corporate travel and technology, the addition of several columnists to its Business Day section and its expanding national presence. The newspaper is now available in 241 markets nationwide, up from just 62 in 1997, giving it a daily circulation of 1.1 million, and 1.7 million on Sundays.
In some media strategists’ opinion, the Times’ Business Day goes toe-to-toe with the Journal for scoops. In particular, the Times excels in its coverage of the financial, computer and advertising industries.
"The New York Times is one excellent vehicle that also has a strong regional [New York] focus,’ said Donna Mercer, media director at Howard, Merrell & Partners. "I think they’re a good complement if you’re trying to talk to Wall Street … or if you’re trying to make an impression on Madison Avenue."
Holzman said the Times recently made strong commitments to growing its market share in the b-to-b advertising category.
"We’re constantly looking to bolster our advertising packages and production capabilities," Holzman said. Add to that opportunities to exploit cross-media efficiencies through the acclaimed nytimes.com site, and "we’re giving marketers every incentive to run in one of the best editorial environments for b-to-b," she said.
Just last year, Google.com was bragging that it had more than 10,000 b-to-b and consumer advertisers. Already this year, the search engine site has eclipsed 100,000.
Google has gone gangbusters during the economic downturn, picking up business from marketers looking for cheaper, more performance-driven methods of generating leads, selling products and boosting brand awareness.
"Search offers [decision-makers] a chance to reach potential customers during every part of the buying cycle," said David Hirsch, director of Google’s B2B Vertical Markets Group. "Search has become an essential part of an ROI-focused marketing mix. Of course, we think we do search better than anyone."
Adds John Keck, media strategist at Doner, "Right now Google owns search."
But why has Google done so well so fast, especially in the b-to-b space?
It’s not just about the numbers, though they are increasingly impressive. The site draws more than 52.6 million unique visitors per month—making it the fifth-ranked Internet property worldwide—who conduct more than 200 million individual searches per day. The Google click-through rate averages 2%, nearly five times greater than the industry standard for banners.
"However, our success on both b-to-b and consumer fronts is all about relevancy; not sheer reach," Hirsch said. "You’ll simply never see an untargeted ad on Google."
Since it first began selling ads about three years ago, the company was wise to invest its time and money into building a very sophisticated marketing organization, including the B2B Vertical Markets Group. "We’ve worked diligently to cover all the major b-to-b vertical industries, ranging from manufacturing to healthcare," Hirsch said. "We’ve nurtured deep relationships with companies, associations and customers in these industries, as well as developed an understanding of the words and phrases most often used in searches."
In recent months, Google has expanded its reach by syndicating its ads with partners such as AOL and Ask Jeeves. Even more important to b-to-b marketers, the search site announced in March it is employing its industry-leading technology to target content on news sites—currently those of several newspapers. Soon this will expand to business media sites. And it will place relevant Google text ads on them, with a commission going to the news organization.
"We’ll keep expanding our efforts as long as it makes sense for our advertisers and our users," Hirsch said.
4. "Lou Dobbs Moneyline"
Marketers that have advertised on CNN’s "Lou Dobbs Moneyline" run the gamut of b-to-b industries, including technology (IBM Corp.), financial services (Merrill Lynch), agriculture (Archer Daniels Midland Co.), aerospace (Boeing Co.) and industrial (General Electric Co.) Note that b-to-b heavyweight GE is appearing on CNN even though it has an ownership stake in MSNBC and CNBC.
A big reason "Lou Dobbs Moneyline," which airs daily at 6 p.m. Eastern, consistently attracts advertisers is Dobbs himself. "Lou is kind of a brand name on his own, which attracts a lot of financial advertisers," said Greg D’Alba, CNN’s exec VP-sales and marketing.
Al Samuelian, associate media director at Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos Inc., whose clients include FleetBoston Financial, agreed. "You know what you’re getting with Lou Dobbs," he said. "It’s information people can use. It’s daily. It’s topical. It’s high end."
Mike Paradiso, worldwide media director for Computer Associates, added: "It’s a premier player for reaching a b-to-b audience."
According to D’Alba, Dobbs brings more to the anchor desk than do most financial reporters on TV.
"In the past year and a half, ‘Moneyline’ has morphed into a news hour that is not just financial news but looks at the economy as a whole and how it’s affected by world news," he said. "That Lou does very well."
"Lou Dobbs Moneyline" boosted its advertising revenue in 2002 over 2001, jumping to $47.2 million from $35.9 million, according to Competitive Media Reporting.
The value of "Lou Dobbs Moneyline," said media strategists, is in the business audience delivered at a reasonable price.
Although Fox News Channel may win the ratings battle, media strategists such as Foote Cone Belding Worldwide’s Tyler Schaeffer point out that CNN wins the battle for cumulative viewers.
The argument is that, at any one time, more viewers may be watching Fox News Channel, but they tend to be the same viewers. On CNN, there are fewer viewers at any one time, but over the course of, say, four weeks, more total unique viewers are tuning to CNN.
That’s one reason why in 2002, CNN’s total ad revenues were $352.4 million, compared with $91.6 million for Fox News Channel, according to Competitive Media Reporting.
For the remainder of 2003, D’Alba appears optimistic regarding "Moneyline." Although war coverage eliminated some ad revenue, the effect was temporary. "We’ve retained most of our advertisers," D’Alba said.
Let’s get to Fortune's bad news firsts: The business biweekly saw a 12% decline in ad revenue between 2001 and 2002, dropping between $33.8 million to $293.7 million. Of course, virtually every business publication lost revenue last year, and most were hurt far worse than Fortune.
But there’s lots of good news for the venerable magazine: Circulation reached a record high in the second half of 2002; ad revenues were up in the first quarter of this year; and the publication’s conference business has never been better. Not many competitors can make similar claims.
Even more important, Fortune's in-depth and incisive editorial content has never been more valuable to readers and advertisers.
"Fortune still offers more of the longer length editorial...so readers spend more time with it," said Kevin Arsham, strategy supervisor at OMD, global media partner of BBDO.
Other media buyers said the magazine remains at the top of the pile when it comes to what CEOs and other senior executives actually read. Also, the Fortune 500 and emerging lists, such as the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business, provide business clout like no other publication.
Advertisers believe that Fortune continues to improve its leverage of AOL Time Warner’s top-notch broadcast and Internet properties. "We’ve been doing more integrating, more cross-platform offerings with CNN, CNN Online, Fortune.com and AOL," said Fortune Associate Publisher John Donnelly, who was recently promoted from national advertising director. "We’ve generated incremental revenue from 11 accounts, and we hope we’ll continue to get more."
Donnelly said that despite the drop in ad revenue last year, Fortune did well in the telecommunication and insurance industries, and scored some exclusive wins—such as ads from Steelcase Inc. office furniture and United Bank of Switzerland commercial banking.
Newsstand sales continue to be a bright spot. "We’re up 4.6% over a year ago," Donnelly said, "and we still hold a two-to-one edge over our closest competitors."
John Keck, media strategist at Doner, said Fortune’s newsstand performance, compared with that of BusinessWeek and Forbes, is a great advantage to advertisers because newsstand copies generate about five times the response rate for ads as subscription copies.
While the ad market looks soft across the board for the second quarter, Donnelly thinks better times are coming. He’s already ramping up for 2004, which will mark the 50th anniversary of the Fortune 500.
6) Aviation Week & Space Technology
On Saturday, Feb. 1, Senior Editor Craig Covault of McGraw-Hill’s Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine, posted a story on the magazine’s AviationNow Web site that scooped every journalist in the world. Covault was first with the U.S. Air Force photos and a report indicating damage to the space shuttle Columbia’s left wing.
"We broke the story of the why and the how," said Aviation Week Exec VP-Publisher Kenneth E. Gazzola.
The commitment to covering news is not limited to the space program. Aviation Week sent senior Pentagon editor Robert Wall to the Persian Gulf to cover the war in Iraq. He spent time on an aircraft carrier as well as with a Marine squadron. "We’re over there getting a sense of the troops in the field and their ability to manage this process [fighting a war with complex weapons systems] and how they feel about its success," Gazzola said.
For content such as this, 105,000 people in 180 countries are willing to pay to subscribe to Aviation Week. Readers are in the government/military, manufacturing, commercial aviation and financial sectors.
"It’s a powerful circulation," Gazzola said. "I don’t know any publisher who’d want a controlled circulation when he can have a paid circulation."
With this coveted audience, Aviation Week’s pages feature advertisements from a host of b-to-b marketers, including GE Aircraft Engines, Boeing, Raytheon, Lockheed-Martin and Northrup-Grumman.
"It’s still a strong play in the aviation market," said Kevin Arsham, media supervisor at OMD, the global media partner of BBDO, New York. "If I really want to reach airline executives, I’m definitely going to have that in my plan."
But with the current travails of the commercial airline industry, Aviation Week is struggling with a downturn in ad revenues. They fell from $26.2 million in 2001 to $23.1 million last year, according to Competitive Media Reporting, New York. Gazzola said that some competitors that cover only commercial aviation were off 30%, but Aviation Week, because it also covers military and aerospace, has a buffer.
Even with the revenue fall-off, 2002 was not as bad for Aviation Week as it looked, and Gazzola said ad pages are up single digits so far this year.
What helped protect Aviation Week’s revenues in 2002 was its brand extensions. The magazine has continued to invest in AviationNow, and is converting much of the site to paid content. It is also striving to offer more targeted content on the Web to allow, for instance, military users to filter out information relevant only to the commercial aviation industry.
Additionally, Aviation Week now conducts 14 conferences, including its Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul Conference and Exhibition, which attracted 4,500 attendees and nearly 500 exhibitors last month in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
"Revenue [for conferences] was up in 2002, believe it or not," Gazzola said.
Like most business publications, McGraw-Hill Cos.’ BusinessWeek suffered a decline in ad revenue in 2002. Its revenues tumbled 10.8% to $351.6 million, from $394.3 million in 2001, according to Publishers Information Bureau figures. Despite the drop, BusinessWeek outdistanced its main competitors, Fortune and Forbes, by more than $50 million in ad revenue.
"It’s No. 1 because of its brand extensions," said Michael Paradiso, worldwide media director for Computer Associates, which has run pages in BusinessWeek and banners on businessweek.com, and has sponsored a number of BusinessWeek conferences.
Geoff Dodge, BusinessWeek’s associate publisher and U.S. ad director, said the brand begins with the magazine. "Editorial and circulation—nothing happens if you don’t get those right," he said.
BusinessWeek reaches 987,369 business people in North America. The magazine, Dodge said, is confident enough in the strength of its circulation that it raised its rate base to 970,000 from 950,000.
Dodge said BusinessWeek’s ultimate strength is its editorial. Its commitment to editorial is evident in the masthead—the long list of editors and reporters recorded in small type in every issue of the magazine. The payoff from this investment comes in comprehensive reporting. Dodge contends that BusinessWeek’s frequency, which some see as a weakness, boosts the ability of its reporters to go in-depth. "It’s an advantage that we’re a weekly and not a daily [so we can] stand back and analyze stories and comment on the implications," he said.
Jane Groft, senior VP-corporate media director at Publics & Hal Riney, San Francisco, is a great believer in BusinessWeek. The ad agency’s client Hewlett-Packard Co. has been using the magazine and its brand extensions for brand messaging.
The publication is not only well read, it is read well, Groft said: "They have very high ad recall. We feel that our ads are getting seen, which implies that the reader is very involved, and that gives us a chance for our ads to be more noticed."
Groft added that BusinessWeek goes to great lengths to provide HP with strong marketing opportunities in print, online and in person. "They are a great marketing partner," she said.
A key factor in this HP relationship is that BusinessWeek itself is such a widely respected brand. "You want to be associated with a well-respected, excellent brand," Groft said. "If you’re looking to make a statement about your client’s brand, you can do that far better in a well-respected publication."
From the beginning, Dow Jones & Co.’s online strategy has been contrarian and aggressive. While other Web sites seemed happy to provide free content and charge only for advertising, The Wall Street Journal Online went against the grain, deciding to charge for both.
The out-of-the-ordinary approach has paid off: By the end of 2002, wsj.com had 679,000 subscribers who paid as much as $79 for a year’s access to the site. At the end of 2001, the site had 626,000 paid subscribers. Wsj.com has the largest subscription base of any news site on the Internet.
The subscribers come to the site because of the content, which is both broad and deep. The site, of course, uses content from the print Wall Street Journal, as well as material from the Dow Jones newswires and other company properties. Subscribers can format their interface to track individual corporations or specific industries.
It’s a simple equation: Wsj.com’s content attracts subscribers, and the subscribers attract advertisers. Sun Microsystems and Intel Corp. are just two of the major b-to-b advertisers that have used wsj.com.
According to Todd Larsen, president of Dow Jones Consumer Electronic Publishing, which oversees the Online Journal, advertisers also come to wsj.com because of its environment. The site is uncluttered, he said, and the Online Journal’s ad sizes ensure that a marketing message will get noticed.
Additionally, the Online Journal offers targeted ads that appear near content of interest to those in a particular industry, such as agribusiness.
"I think it [wsj.com] is very strong," said Chris Phillip, senior VP-media director at Doremus. "When we’re trying to reach a b-to-b market, even if we don’t have a budget to do a page in the [print] Journal, it’s a very nice alternative to use wsj.com. You can target a little bit more by industry."
While the Online Journal is about as broad as a business site can get, it also attempts to cater to vertical audiences. Last year, it launched a Health Industry edition that attracted "thousands" of new subscribers, Larsen said. Additionally, page views of health-care content increased 10-fold, according to Dow Jones.
This month, the Online Journal is adding a Marketing & Media edition that will provide streamlined access to marketing, media and entertainment content. The Online Journal expects another bump in subscribers from this move, and it is only beginning to explore how vertical versions of the Web site might appeal to advertisers.
"By and large, it was a subscriber- and circulation-oriented initiative," Larsen said. "But along the way it has yielded some attractive advertising opportunities."
9. Information Week
Pummeled by plummeting ad expenditures by technology marketers, CMP Media’s InformationWeek saw its advertising revenues slip from $137.5 million in 2001 to $108.1 million in 2002, according to Competitive Media Reporting. Nonetheless, InformationWeek keeps its place among the Top 10 of BtoB’s Media Power 50 because it is still the biggest strictly b-to-b tech publication there is.
"InformationWeek will always be important," said Brett Stewart, senior VP-global account director at Universal McCann, San Francisco.
And InformationWeek is not sitting idly by while its ad revenue dwindles. The publication is aggressively preserving its relevance by changing with the times.
"There’s a trend toward the vertical," said Mike Friedenberg, InformationWeek VP-publisher. "It’s becoming more important for brands like InformationWeek to provide breadth and depth."
Like all of the most powerful names in business journalism, InformationWeek has expanded its brand in many directions. New brands such as Optimize magazine and a consulting arm have allowed the publication to continue providing horizontal reach to advertisers while introducing more vertical industry and niche marketing opportunities.
"InformationWeek continues to commit—more than any other publication that I’m aware of—to study what their readers want," said Sam Whitmore, editor of mediasurvey.com.
Observers believe readers want more practical information and more vertical industry information. So, to deliver information about putting business strategy to work in the real world, InformationWeek launched Optimize, a monthly publication with a circulation of 70,000 top IT executives. It also introduced a quarterly supplement, "Government Enterprise," and plans to add a health-care industry supplement later this year, Friedenberg said.
The decline in revenue for the flagship publication is somewhat misleading. When its brand extensions are factored in, InformationWeek is generating more revenue than it did in the late 1990s, Friedenberg noted.
Even with the brand extensions, the print version remains the focal point for most advertisers. For instance, SAS Institute, which markets data-mining and other software, depends on InformationWeek’s broad reach to communicate with the wide range of companies that can use SAS software.
"It’s a good environment to be in," said Laura Wilson, SAS’ director of advertising strategy. "The goal of our advertising campaign is to generate inquires. There’s a large part of the circulation in InformationWeek that we want to reach. InformationWeek is a staple."
10. "The O’Reilly Factor," Fox News Channel
Many advertisers strive to avoid controversy when they can, but they’ve learned to embrace it to reach the loyal, attentive audience of Fox News Channel’s "The O’Reilly Factor." The list of companies running ads on this top-ranked cable news show reads like a "Who’s Who" of b-to-b marketers—American Express, Bank of America, Cisco Systems, FedEx, Microsoft and dozens more—even though conservative host Bill O’Reilly often skewers the nation’s power players in his so-called "No Spin Zone."
Media strategists are reluctant to comment on "The O’Reilly Factor" for two reasons. One, some companies and agencies don’t want to align themselves with O’Reilly himself, who "comes off like a jerk or a genius, depending on whom you talk to," said one buyer. Two, they feel the show, which airs at 8 p.m. Eastern Monday through Friday, still has a long way to go in terms of overall respect and ad revenue.
According to Nielsen Monitor-Plus, FNC trailed CNN by a wide measure from January through October 2002 (the most recent period for which figures were available), with $94.5 million in ad revenue compared with CNN’s $26.2 million.
But the war in Iraq may have helped change all that. FNC’s audience and revenues soared in March, which many analysts say was due to its focus on analysis and the ever-present news scroll.
"Fox News Channel’s annual ad revenue now stands at $200 million," said Roger Domal, VP-national sales. "And `The O’Reilly Factor’ makes up about a 10th of that."
Moreover, "The O’Reilly Factor" audience hit a record high of an average of 3.9 million viewers nightly in March, compared with 2.7 million viewers in February (before the war broke out).
"We lost some of those viewers in April, as everyone has," Domal said. "But it’s only a 18% drop, compared with other shows that lost viewers in the 20% to 30% range. In the end, we believe we’ll have made a significant net gain of regular viewers."
It doesn’t hurt that this pundit of the moment is seemingly everywhere these days. O’Reilly has two bestsellers in bookstores, "The O’Reilly Factor" and "The No Spin Zone," and a daily radio talk show, "The Radio Factor."
"People can’t wait to hear what he’ll say next," Domal said. "O’Reilly has an immense and intense following that includes those who don’t usually agree with him."
Although viewers may argue about whether O’Reilly provides fair and objective journalism, they do keep coming back—perhaps just for controversy’s sake. And that’s something an increasing number of advertisers and media buyers can’t afford to ignore, especially with cable’s bang for the buck in the b-to-b space.
In making the selections for the Media Power 50 list, BtoB editors employed both objective and subjective criteria. They also evaluated data such as ad revenue and audience and interviewed about two dozen top media buyers, advertisers and industry analysts for their opinions on the most powerful and targeted b-to-b advertising venues. A panel of editors and reporters chose the Media Power 50. Crain Communications Inc. titles and those of its direct competitors were excluded from consideration.


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Bangladesh plastic industry needs to upgrade its waste management strategies and expand recycling capacity for attaining a green-based growth, said experts.
The government’s Extended Producer's Responsibility (EPR) policy should address the matter of developing the sector’s waste management, said Tahmid Zami, Additional Research Director of Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD).“The EPR should deal with increasing waste collection efficiency, expanding plastic recycling capacity, and ensuring stakeholders’ cooperation on the multi-faceted problems," he said.
The suggestions came at a presentation on the role of EPR in the country’s plastic sector at the Third Sustainability and Green Growth Working Committee (SGGWC) on Tuesday, held virtually.
Ziaul Hasan, Secretary of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) presided over the meeting while Wasim Zakariah, Chairman of Standing Committee on Research and Development, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) was also present.
Md Tahmid Zami said the plastic industry is a high-priority sector for export diversification and the country should follow the footsteps of more than sixty other countries across the world that have adopted some models of EPR to combat the growing menace of mismanaged plastic waste.
Speaking at the meeting, Ziaul Hasan said the MoEFCC will work closely with the BUILD and other relevant stakeholders to ensure an effective policy on the EPR for the country’s plastic sector.
"We will form two new sub-committees on recycling and green growth under the existing Sustainability and Green Growth Working Committee (SGGWC)," he said, adding, "The two new platforms should hold regular discussions and deliberations on critical issues on sustainable development in the private sector."Wasim Zakariah endorsed the formation of two committees so that comprehensive policies in these two important areas can be framed.
He urged the government to form a platform that will be responsible for recycling of all kinds of wastes.
The government may come up with policy incentives for RMG factories in order to promote waste management of plastic.
BUILD Chairperson Abul Kasem Khan said, "In addition to recycling and management of waste, we also need to promote green growth through diversification and wider adoption of environment-friendly models and solutions such as jute-based pulp, bamboo-based fiber, bio-fuel from waste, and so on."
He underscored the importance of close and regular cooperation among public and private sectors through the SGGWC and its two proposed sub-committees.
Shamim Ahmed, former President of Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPGMEA) mentioned that banning plastic solutions without alternatives won’t be feasible while financial tools like imposing levy on single-use plastic could be more effective.
Narayan Dey, Secretary of BPGMEA, called for speedy completion of the plastic industrial park.
BUILD CEO Ferdaus Ara Begum said Bangladesh Bank has revised the provisions and design of the Green Transformation Fund to make it more accessible to all manufacturers-exporters for importing environment-friendly machineries. "The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has issued a SRO to get the battery-run electric vehicles registered," she added.
Prof Eng Abu Bakr Siddique, Dean at BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology, said he has developed solutions for producing various usable materials from recycled plastic. Nazmul Hasan, Director of Department of Environment (DOE), put emphasis on Green Budget and requested BUILD to support in that respect.
He further suggested that there is a Technical Committee in DOE on EPR where BUILD can be a member.
Representatives from Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Ministry of Water Resources, Finance Division, Ministry of Industries, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Unilever, and others, were also present at the meeting.


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Media personality Grace Msalame is suing the Ugandan Ministry of Tourism for using her Photos to promote its 2019 Miss Curvy Competition aimed at attracting tourists without permission.
Grace Msalame takes legal action against Uganda after Ministry used her photos
They have used her images to attract tourists without seeking permission
On Thursday, Organizers of Miss Curvy Uganda rolled out a campaign to showcase that Uganda is a sanctuary for curvy women, but went ahead to use Ms Msalame’s photos to propagate their agenda.
Following the incident, Msalame has been forced to sue them for defamation and character assassination affirming that she doesn’t endorse such a campaign aimed at promoting and encouraging the violation of women’s bodies.
Damaged her brand
She went ahead to state the act has defamed her character and reputation, damaging a brand she has built for years.
“Miss Curvy Uganda’s deliberate and calculated use of my image and likeness to promote and encourage the violation of women’s bodies has defamed my character and reputation, damaged a brand I have worked for many years to establish and subjected me to unwarranted and underserved cyber bullying. I strongly and categorically reject a message that pits women of different sizes against each other. I am in no way associated with an activity that objectifies women in the name of promoting culture,” reads part of her statement.
Grace who is set for a TV comeback via NTV, distanced herself from the campaign accusing them of objectifying women.
This is not the first time the Ugandans have claimed the Kenyan beauties as their own. In 2017 a Ugandan entertainment paper shocked many after it listed Msalame as one of the sexiest Ugandans.
Full statement from Grace Msalame
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Drink from Earth to Mars at events Jan. 8-14
Welcome to 2016's first beer/bourbon events round-up!
Here's what's happening:
Three of Louisville's best food service professionals — Jonathan Exum of Wiltshire on Market, Lamont Itamae Bobo of 10 Tables and Griffin Paulin of Corbett's — will participate in an Iron Chef-style cooking competition at Garage Bar, with proceeds benefiting NewRoots. While the bar's kitchen will be closed, a $10 burger bar will be available.
WHEN: 6 p.m. Monday
WHERE: 700 E. Market St.
COST: Suggested $5 donation.
Varanese Restaurant will host the 7th annual dinner over two nights, with a five-course meal created by Sous Chef Erik Abraham offered each evening. The event will feature guest speaker Sean Barrett from Grgich Hills Estate.
WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday
WHERE: 2106 Frankfort Ave.
COST: $75 per person. Make reservations by calling 502-899-9904 or emailing firstname.lastname@example.org.
The bourbon group will celebrate its birthday at the recently opened Jim Beam Urban Bourbon Stillhouse with cocktails and appetizers.
WHEN: 6-9 p.m. Wednesday
WHERE: 404 S. Fourth St.
COST: $15 per person. Buy tickets here.
New2Lou is a social networking organization that holds socials on the second Wednesday of every month. This month, the group will head to the newly opened Corner Bar at Aloft Louisville Downtown.
WHEN: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday
WHERE: 102 W. Main St.
COST: Free with RSVP.
Learn everything there is to know about Mars at Against the Grain's weekly science talk. University of Louisville professor Timothy Dowling will give a 30-minute presentation about the infamous "Red Planet" and recent findings from the Martian exploration.
WHEN: 8 p.m. Wednesday
WHERE: 401 E. Main St.
COST: Free admittance
Remember to drink smart, drink safe. Reach reporter Bailey Loosemore at 502-582-4646 or email@example.com.


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Adjusting itself to the central government's point of expanding trades, the Uttar Pradesh government has set itself a profoundly aspiring objective of exporting goods products worth Rs 3 lakh crore in the following a long time from the current Rs 1.2 lakh crore, which is an expansion of almost 250%.
Uttar Pradesh's minister for MSME, Investment and Export Promotion Siddharth Nath Singh said to trade out the space that China has been compelled to clear because of international disturbances, the Uttar Pradesh government had roped in worldwide consultancy firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and has prepared a export technique & tricks for the state. While 17 key areas have been basically recognized, in the main stage, the emphasis would be on the best five need product that have export potential and great interest in the worldwide business sectors.
The recognized sectors are gadgets and electrical gear, apparel, machine and hardware, prepared food things and natural synthetic compounds. The shortlisted prime products in preset contribute to around 63% of the exports from UP and represent around 5% of India's exports.
We have additionally attempted to discover goods openings where China recently had a significant worldwide export share, the chain of which has now been disturbed inferable from Covid, he said adding that UP has a market presence in numerous sector.
We need to deal with our specialized topics. In 2020-21, our export was to the tune of Rs 1.20 lakh crore, which was a bounce of more than 28% over the earlier year. We wish to take this up further to Rs 3 lakh crores in the following four years, the priest said, adding that the state government is dealing with connecting different activities including the state's leader one district one product (ODOP) scheme, which has revived imperiled neighborhood expressions and artworks as well as aided in getting the business of millions of country individuals occupied with these activities.
What is significant is that the ODOP scheme has additionally helped support the state's export. We are certain that the plan will end up being a gamechanger as we continued looking for arriving at higher fares focuses on, the minister stated.


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The Jumeirah group paid almost $425 million in 2005 for the property and spent millions refurbishing it and turning rooms into condos. The latest sale excludes most of those condos.
Strategic Hotels & Resorts Inc. said Friday that it reached a deal to buy New York City’s Essex House Hotel from the Dubai Investment Group for about $362.3 million.
The Chicago-based real estate investment trust said the deal includes 509 hotel rooms, nine condominium units and “significant hotel-level cash reserves.” It is expected to close on or before Sept. 7.
Strategic Hotels said it has arranged for $190 million in first mortgage financing from Bank of America, with the rest of the purchase price to be funded in cash. The company said it’s looking at joint venture options and other alternatives, including asset sales, as ways to fund the rest of the purchase.
In connection with the deal, Strategic Hotels said it signed a 50-year management agreement with Marriott International Inc. to rebrand the hotel as the JW Marriott Essex House New York.
Under that deal, Marriott will guarantee the net operating income of the hotel up to $21.5 million per year for eight years, subject to maximum funding by Marriott of $14 million in 2013 and $12 million in each year from 2014 to 2020. Total cumulative funding by Marriott is capped at $40 million, the company said.
Strategic Hotels said it plans to invest about $18.3 million to improve and renovate the property.
In midday trading, shares of Strategic Hotels were flat at $5.94, while Marriott shares rose 18 cents to $37.99.
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Mumbai: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has sought an explanation from telecom companies as to why it sells a 28-day recharge as a monthly plan. Due to increasing customer complaints Trine This step has been taken.
Trine Telecom companies have been directed to comment mainly on monthly plans. Today, the validity of monthly plans of all telecom companies of the country is 28 days. So customers will have to recharge 13 times a year instead of 12. Troy said consumers have objected to companies being charged an extra month’s fee. The payment range for a postpaid plan is 30 days, while for prepaid customers the monthly plan is valid for 28 days. Troy seeks clarification as to why there is no 30-day payment chain for all customers. It has also been mentioned that all the concerned telecom companies should submit their views from 11 to 25 June 2021.
Customer’s objection –
– Monthly plan validity of 24 days?
– Why are prepaid and postpaid payment chains not the same?
– Why do customers recharge 13 times a year instead of 12?
Two months from now on recharge and robbed?
Although the telecom companies have reduced the validity of monthly recharge by two days, the duration of all subsequent recharge has been reduced to four, six, eight days. That is, the validity of a two-month recharge is 56 days, 84 days for three months and 356 days for a one-year plan. Telecom experts say that consumers ignore this because they get to use a lot of data every day.
Monthly plan validity for 28 days, why TRAI asks for clarification from telecom companies
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Web Title: Monthly plan validity for 28 days, why TRAI asks for clarification from telecom companies
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All those Galaxys, Tabs, Notes, and every other model that Samsung makes sure add up—the Korean electronics giant is set to end the first quarter of 2013 at high levels, but it will conclude its run with five straight quarters of record profits.
In a “guidance note” released on Friday, Samsung alerted its investors that its first-quarter 2013 profit was 8.7 trillion won ($7.7 billion), approximately 53 percent higher when compared to the same quarter a year ago (Q1 2012). Official audited earnings will be announced later this month.
Typically, consumer electronics manufacturers (like many retailers) experience a surge in profits at the end of the year (Q4), boosted by holiday sales. Usually, Q1 is the weakest quarter, as it comes right after the holiday season. The fact that Samsung boosted its year-over-year quarterly profits (Q1 2012 vs. Q1 2013) by so much is notable—however, Samsung did not record a profit greater than it made in 2012's Q4 (when it posted profits of $8.3 billion), thus ending its record run.
"Samsung still lags behind Apple in the high-end market, which is where the money is," Lee Sun-Tae, an analyst at NH Investment and Securities told Dow Jones.
Despite the huge profits, Samsung's shares fell slightly on the day on the Korea Exchange stock market. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters put estimated quarterly profits at an average of 8.3 trillion won for the world’s largest tech firm, when measured by total revenue—shareholders seem to be disappointed that Samsung didn’t beat estimates by more.
The highly anticipated Galaxy S 4, which is set to be released later this month, is expected to help the company’s bottom line even further—possibly sending profits as high as 10.3 trillion won.
“Second-quarter profit looks even better than the first, as the Galaxy S4 will have a great impact,” Chung Chang Won, a Seoul-based analyst at Nomura Holdings Inc., told Bloomberg. “Samsung’s shipments of its flagship smartphone will outpace that of the iPhone sometime in the second or third quarter."
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She’ll answer any questions you have about who we are, what we do, or how we can help.
Popular in Crypto Market
Mo Works is now officially accepting cryptocurrency as a form of payment for its services as Melbourne’s latest ICO Marketing agency.
A cashless society is already well on its way—banks have issued milestones to eliminate physical cash by 2020. There’s no stopping it.


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Microsoft 11 Build 2200.282 (KB5006746) is now rolling out to testers in the Beta and Release Preview Channel today in fixing the performance issues by AMD.
Windows 11 is rolling out to Windows Insider Preview with build version 22000.282, a bug in Windows 11 could reduce the performance in eligible AMD devices.
Some Windows 11 users mentioned about the high usage of RAM in file explorer seen in some cases. Microsoft is currently rolling out the official Windows 11 to newest PCs and older eligible pc’s in weekly.
The company has confirmed the full rollout will happen in the next year Q2,2022. We will hoping that Microsoft will resolved the bugs in the coming future updates in the stable version soon.
Windows 11 Stable Issue faced on Intel 8th Generation and AMD Processors
In our Dell XPS 15, 9670 8th Generation had noticed the high usage of battery life could be possible due to eating RAM in running applications in the background bug hasn’t fixed yet in the cumulative updates arrived in October month.
The patch update KB5006674(x64-based systems) is currently available only in the Insider machines has been finally address all issues with L3 caching which effects the performance in sort of apps.
Learn How To Improve Your SEO (Search Engine Optimization) With WordPress – Buy course Course
With the latest version Windows 11 Build 22000.282 , it will try to load apps or games on AMD CPU will not reducing the performance after the fix arrived in the Insider preview.
Windows Task Manager Feature Resources
Microsoft Edge 94 comes with several improvements for Windows 11’s Task Manager to look better representation the browser Edge processes.
Using the Dynamic refresh rate system, Microsoft has now enabled better refresh rates as the Windows 11 OS can now seamlessly switch between a lower refresh rate and a higher refresh rate with algorithm is based on your device usage to balance power and power consumption.


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Hosting the largest fair organizations in the world, CNR Holding has been the biggest supporter of the Turkish economy and exporters with over 1500 exhibitions organized until now. CNR Holding, having served continuously for 35 years, initiates CNR Food Istanbul, the largest trade platform of the industry for the Turkish food industry.
CNR Holding is performing its activities for CNR Food Istanbul and Ambalaj Istanbul Special Section where food, beverage, and packaging industries will come together between September 02-05, 2020 and seize a chance to reinforce their supply chains, make direct trade connections with visitors, particularly in the nearby region, and get informed about the trends of the new normal.
The specially-trained data department of 45 people has made bilateral talks with potential buyers abroad, which has resulted in more than 2500 professional buyers across the world, particularly including Russia, Germany, Israel, Iran, the Turkic Republics, and the Middle East countries, to have bought online tickets. It is planned for this number to reach 5 thousand until the beginning date of the exhibition.


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APPLE'S much-hyped iPhone went on sale in America yesterday - and a Brit was first in the queue.
Johnny Vulkan, 36, an advertising executive from London, was the first customer outside the Apple store in New York's Soho district.
He and five volunteers picked up the maximum two handsets each to auction on eBay for a children's charity. Johnny said: "We aim to raise around #10,000 for kids in Africa. The money will help pay for treatment to fight Aids.
"If anyone wants to bid or donate some cash they need to visit www.keepachildalive.org."
The iPhone, which costs up to #300 in the US, goes on sale in Britain later this year and is expected to be more expensive.


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The price of eggs may be the key to who is telling the truth in the Countdown free range egg controversy.
A Newsroom investigation revealed Monday the Serious Fraud Office was investigating the Palace Poultry brand over allegations it was selling millions of caged as free range eggs.
Palace Poultry’s owner Terry Fletcher has spoken for the first time since the story broke and told Radio New Zealand on Tuesday that he “never” sold caged eggs as free range.
His business was deceived by a “lying” egg wholesaler, he said.
The wholesaler, Eco Foods Ltd owner Robert Hehewerth, responded to Fletcher by saying Fletcher was the one lying, and that the price of eggs would prove it.
“If he thinks he can get around the paperwork he could never be able to [successfully] make the assumption that he could buy free range eggs at that price,” he said.
Fletcher told Radio New Zealand he paid a “free range price” of about $7.75 per tray (30 eggs) for the size 7 eggs purchased from Eco Foods.
“We are paying around $7.75. That’s a free range price.”
He said the caged egg price was “around the $6 mark”.
“Our side of our conscience, we are clear we have bought the product in good faith and we have sold the product in good faith,” said Fletcher.
In response to those claims Hehewerth told Newsroom $7.75 was the price of wholesale caged eggs.
Free range eggs were not sold in sizes, they were sold as mixed grade, and were usually between $10 and $11 per tray, he said.
Egg industry sources said the prices given by Hehewerth were “in the ball park” with market rates.
Hehewerth said the SFO had seized about seven years of hand-written dockets signed by Terry Fletcher and his son Aaron Fletcher, who used the names “TK” and “Stu” when dealing with Eco Foods.
The men also used the company name “TK Produce Supplies” which is not a registered entity in New Zealand.
Radio New Zealand did not ask Terry Fletcher about this in the radio interview.
Hehewerth said the dockets all had “caged” on them, as did the electronic invoices TK Produce Supplies were sent and paid.
A copy of a Xero invoice from Eco Foods Ltd showed stock clearly listed as caged. Fletcher said he had never seen the invoice.
“This man has concocted [the invoice] out of thin air for some reason. We have never seen them, John, we have never even seen the invoice that has surfaced on Newsroom.”
Fletcher said that he did not know where Hehewerth sourced the eggs from because it was commercially sensitive but also a common practice.
If he knew, he could undercut Hehewerth and purchase directly from the supplier.
However, today he had sent a list of all his free range suppliers detailing each farmer’s accreditation to his free range customers.
None of his customers had stopped trading with him since news of the controversy broke, he said.
Fletcher also said the Hehewerth was “a liar” because Hehewerth said he had never met Fletcher.
“He has known me for 20 years,” said Fletcher.
However, what Hehewerth said was the he did not know Terry Fletcher by his correct name, he knew him only as “TK”.
Countdown send in auditors
In another development Tuesday, Countdown announced it would be sending independent auditors into all its suppliers of free range eggs.
The supermarket chain removed Palace Poultry brand eggs from its shelves on Monday after a Newsroom investigation revealed that millions of those eggs were caged and not free range.
The audit will be carried out by AsureQuality and is expected to take several weeks. It will include Countdown’s own labels as well as other free range brands.
Brands caught up in the scandal are, Woodland, Farmer Brown and Countdown’s own brand, Select. Palace Poultry sourced and packaged eggs for these brands, as well as its own, but ceased providing eggs for Select in 2014.
Spokesman for Countdown, James Walker, said “We want to know what’s happening here and we want to know now. All our egg suppliers will be audited by a third party.”
Walker confirmed that changes were made to its quality assurance programme (WQA ) last year to make it easier for free range egg suppliers after they complained it was imposing too much of a burden.
“This now needs to be completely looked at again, and we may decide that WQA will come back in its entirety.”
Walker told Newsroom that Countdown has not audited Palace Poultry since 2014. This was when it stopped sourcing free range eggs from Palace for its Select brand.
He said Palace would have been audited between 2008 and 2014 but couldn’t say how many times. “Changes in the filing system and technology make that difficult.”
Where to find out more
Consumer NZ (2012)


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PTT Poly Canada plans to use the Solutia's Therminol fluids in its Montreal plant, which is reported to be the world's first large-scale continuous facility to commercially produce polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) thermoplastic. Solutia, based in St. Louis, will provide Therminol 66 and Therminol VP-1 fluids to meet the high temperature requirements in both liquid-and vapor-phase environments. The $100 million Canadian plant produces up to 95,000 tons of PTT annually.
“As the world's first commercial PTT plant, we have very high expectations,” said Pierre Lévesque, process chemist at PTT Poly Canada. Lévesque noted that Therminol's track record of meeting the demands of the synthetic fiber and thermoplastics industry for more than 40 years was important to the decision.
Solutia remains “committed to continuing to provide our customers with the best technical and commercial support in our industry,” said Dale Kline, Solutia's global business director, Specialty Fluids.
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The Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak was unveiled in France, showcasing the automobile manufacturer's latest efforts in the electric vehicle industry.
The prototype, however, already has weight on its shoulders, as it was purposely built to beat the electric car record at the upcoming 2018 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in June.
Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak: Built To Break Records
Volkswagen wants to claim the electric car record of the famous Pikes Peak course, and it is planning to do so with the Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak.
The electric vehicle, which is powered by two electric motors, was created specifically to take on the 19.99-kilometer, 156-corner hill climb in Colorado. The Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak goes from zero to 62 miles per hour in just 2.25 seconds, which the company claims makes it faster than a Formula One racer.
The electric car record that the Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak is looking to smash was set two years ago by Rhys Millen. The time to beat is 8 minutes and 57 seconds, but because testing at Pikes Peak is limited, Volkswagen will not say for sure that it will break the record. To prepare for the record attempt, the Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak will perform its test runs in different race tracks.
Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak With Only 670 HP
The Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak comes with 670 horsepower, which is definitely more than your regular electric vehicle but much less compared to the 1,595 horsepower in the car that Millen used to set the record. How does Volkswagen plan to set the record then?
It should be noted that the Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak weighs only about 2,400 pounds. In comparison with the Aston Martin DB11 with 600 horsepower and weighing 3,800 pounds, the Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak is capable of getting more power out with a lighter frame.
Breaking the record will not be all about horsepower, but it will require a delicate balance of power and weight.
Electric Supercars In The News
The Tesla Roadster is the poster child for electric supercars, and an updated model was described to be "the fastest production car ever made."
There are a few electric car companies that are looking to take the throne, though. The Japanese electric supercar named the Aspark Owl went from zero to 60 miles per hour in less than two seconds earlier in the year, while the Lucid Air reached a top speed of 235 miles per hour last year. A Ferrari electric supercar is also reportedly in the works.


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Samsung is making headway in the global smartphone camera sensor market and is trying to close the gap with Sony.
Traditionally, there has been tight competition between Samsung and Sony for the manufacture of smartphone camera sensors, and the two don’t want to give up. But it looks like Samsung is moving a bit closer to Sony and maybe could pick it up in the next few years.
According to a report by SamMobile (Via Strategy Analytics), Sony currently has a 46% revenue share of the smartphone image sensor market. The Japanese company has established its position as the world’s largest sensor supplier. In second place, Samsung LSI had a revenue share of 29% in 2020.
Compared to previous years, Sony has lost its share and is losing it to its Korean rival. Sony had a 50% market share, but for 2020 it is failing slightly. On the other hand, Samsung is quietly taking over Sony’s share.
Samsung’s revenue share was less than 20% a few years ago, but now it holds 29% of the global share. Thanks to the strategies and the launch of new sensors for mid-range to flagship smartphones, Samsung may even get more revenue share. Samsung LSI currently makes ISOCELL camera sensors, and it does a great job with them, as the sensors they make have consistently ranked at the top of the smartphone camera rankings.
After Sony and Samsung, OmniVision Technologies holds 10% of global sales. The remaining 15% is distributed among the other suppliers.
Samsung smartphone camera sensors conquer the market
One apparent reason for Sony’s loss is the US sanctions against Huawei. Sony has strong ties to Huawei and provides it with camera sensors. As one of the largest OEMs in China, Huawei ships millions of smartphone units every year. But US sanctions have had a ruinous effect on Huawei’s operations and even led them to enter new business segments. When Huawei sells fewer smartphones, it has a direct impact on Sony’s revenue as a partner.
Samsung has also seized the opportunity and stepped up the sale of its sensors to other companies. Samsung is working on a variety of smartphone camera sensors. A few months ago, the company unveiled a 108-megapixel ISOCELL HM3 camera sensor equipped with the latest technology to capture sharper images.
The next camera sensor in the Samsung line is ISOCELL GN2, which comes with some cool features including dual pixel autofocus and 5x optical zoom. Xiaomi uses this sensor on Mi 11 Ultra.
If you think that a 108 megapixel sensor is enough for Samsung, you are completely wrong because they are working on a new generation of ISOCELL sensors with a resolution of 200 megapixels.


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PS4/PS Vita Exclusive Blue Reflection Gets Plenty of Screenshots Showing DLC Swimsuits
Gust shows more of its DLC swimsuits and costumes for Blue Reflection.
Today the first DLC costumes for Blue Reflection have been released in Japan, and Gust released a nice bunch of screenshots to show them off.
The screenshots show two different DLC sets, a hybrid between a bikini and a sailor uniform, and the Arland Maids set, which includes costumes from Atelier Rorona: The Alchemist of Arland, coming with male Hom and female Hom.
The sets are part of the game’s season pass, which costs a whopping $85, and includes costumes and content until July.
You can check out all the images below. Blue Reflection is currently available in Japan for PS4 and PS Vita, but no release has been announced for the west yet.


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UofSC Theatre & Dance to Offer Online Tickets
The University of SC Department of Theatre and Dance is pleased to announce that ticketing for its performances is now available online, effective immediately.
The department has contracted with web-based ticketing company Vendini to facilitate the new online system. Online ticketing will be utilized for theatre and dance performances held at all of the department's venues, including Longstreet Theatre, Drayton Hall Theatre, the Lab Theatre and the Center for Performance Experiment. Dance concerts held at the Koger Center will continue to be offered online through the Koger's online ticketing site (www.kogercenterforthearts.com).
Links to purchase tickets online will be made available on the department's websites, accessible at either theatre.sc.edu or dance.sc.edu, and will be made visible on several pages throughout each site. Online ticketing will also be integrated into the department's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/UofSCTheaDance).
With the updated system, patrons will be able to buy tickets at any time from the comfort of home, or purchase via mobile and tablet devices. In addition, tickets for events will now be available for purchase several weeks prior to each event's run dates. Previously, tickets were only made available one week before each set of run dates, or, for shows at the Lab or CPE venues, only at the door.
Once purchased online, patrons may choose to print their tickets, have them held at the box office, or present tickets at the door on a mobile phone for scanning. All seating will remain general admission. There is no additional charge for purchasing online.
"This new initiative will revolutionize our ability to serve patrons that support the department's theatre and dance programs," says Robert Richmond, Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance. "It will allows us to sell tickets 24/7 for an entire season and with so much more efficiency."
"I cannot wait to purchase my ticket to The Crucible online," he adds. "It will mark a new year and a new age for the performing arts at USC." Arthur Miller's classic drama, running February 2-10 at Longstreet Theatre, will be the first ever theatre production to be sold online in the program's history.
The department's physical box office presence will still be in operation for all Theatre and Dance "main stage" events (shows performed at either Longstreet Theatre or Drayton Hall Theatre). The physical box office, located at Longstreet Theatre (1300 Greene St.), is open one week before each main stage production run, and is staffed from 12:30pm to 5:30pm, Monday through Friday. The box office can be contacted by phone during these times at 803-777-2551. At-the-door ticketing will still be available at all locations, including the Lab Theatre and the Center for Performance Experiment.
For more information about the Theatre or Dance Programs at the University of South Carolina, contact Kevin Bush by phone at 803-777-9353 or via email at firstname.lastname@example.org. Find out about all of the events in store for the Spring 2018 semester online at theatre.sc.edu or dance.sc.edu.


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Zero Motorcycles, the global leader in the electric motorcycle industry announced yesterday it has raised $26 million in additional financing from its investor group, led by Invus, LP. The financing closed on March 3rd, 2011 with $17 million invested and the potential for an additional $9 million over the coming months as the company continues to grow. Invus, LP has been the principal investor in Zero Motorcycles since its initial investment in April 2008.
“With this investment, we will continue to ramp up our US-based production while rapidly expanding our global sales footprint. Our new 2011 lineup of California-designed and assembled electric motorcycles has been very well received by the market and press, and we intend to further accelerate growth and enhance our leadership position. We are continuing to commit significant R&D resources to our electric drivetrain technology, and are building the leading supply chain in the industry through our own efforts and our partnering with world-class suppliers. The company has the strong financial footing it needs to expand the business and move the state of electric motorcycle development rapidly forward,” said Zero, CEO, Gene Banman.
“Zero Motorcycles is well positioned to lead the motorcycle industry in new directions where electric propulsion offers unique advantages over traditional gas-powered motorcycles. As Zero’s electric powertrain technology continues to advance, we see the potential for Zero to make ever-increasing inroads in the motorcycle market,” said Aflalo Guimaraes, Managing Director of The Invus Group. “We are enthusiastic in our support of the company.”
via Zero Motorcycles


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La — An alert in the CDC is advocating individuals to be careful of eating romaine lettuce after nearly 60 everyone was infected by E. coli bacteria, CBS La reports. Medical officials repeat the illnesses were reported in Canada and 13 states including New You are able to, California, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio.
According to Consumer Reports, the harmful strain of bacteria has sent five individuals to a healthcare facility and wiped out one individual within the U.S. Another patient apparently died from the illness in Canada, in which the supply of the bacteria was tracked lower towards the leafy vegetables.
“Despite the fact that we can not say with 100 % certainty that romaine lettuce is the reason for the E. coli outbreak within the U.S., a better caution is suitable considering that lettuce is nearly always consumed raw,” Consumer Report’s director of food safety and research James Rogers stated.
The CDC reports that the outbreak started in mid-November and continues to be tested to verify if the cases within the U.S. and Canada could be tracked towards the same source.
“Preliminary results reveal that the kind of E. coli making people sick both in countries is carefully related genetically, meaning the ill people are more inclined to share a typical supply of infection,” the company stated inside a statement.
The CDC stopped lacking telling individuals to avoid romaine until it finishes its analysis in to the illnesses. But food safety experts at Consumer Reports went further, counseling everybody to steer clear of romaine lettuce like a precaution.
While washing any vegetables might help avoid some illnesses, Consumer Reports warns that it could not eliminate all E. coli bacteria which may be present.
“Vegetables could be contaminated if animal feces have been in the area or perhaps in irrigation or washing water,” Rogers explains. “The bacteria may also be transmitted if an individual who’s transporting the bacteria does not wash their hands after while using bathroom.”
The condition typically takes 1 to 3 days before signs and symptoms start to show, including severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. In severe cases, the stress referred to as Shiga contaminant-producing E. coli O157:H7 can result in severe illness, kidney failure, as well as dying.
Youthful children, seniors people, and individuals having a weakened defense mechanisms from the condition for example cancer or diabetes face the finest chance of becoming seriously ill from E. coli. “Individuals such groups ought to be particularly vigilant about staying away from romaine lettuce,” Rogers stated.
© 2018 CBS Interactive Corporation. All Legal rights Reserved.


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Tuesday 1.6.15: News to Know
CES 2015: Dish Unveils Low-Cost Internet-TV Service, with Access to ESPN and Maker Studios
As expected, Dish Network (DISH) has unveiled its upcoming internet-TV service, dubbed Sling TV, which will offer access to a skinny bundle of TV channels as well as clips from Disney’s Maker Studios for $20 a month.
CES 2015: Smart TVs, 4K TVs, Streaming Deals, and More
CES 2015 officially kicks off Tuesday, January 6. But many companies attending and presenting during the week in Las Vegas have already started to make major announcements. Dish Network, for instance, unveiled its much-discussed internet pay-TV service, which will be called Sling TV.
At CES, ‘Internet of Things’ showcases the connected life
Everywhere you look at CES, it seems there’s nothing that can’t be connected to the Internet: Tennis rackets, coffee makers, watches, jewelry, baby clothing, pet accessories, oven ranges and infinitely more appliances and household goods are all getting high-tech upgrades.
LA Times http://lat.ms/1DfyR12
CES: The Next New Gadget Is TV
Advances in almost every facet of consumer electronics — everything from robotics to drones to wearable “quantified self” technologies to the ubiquitous Internet of Things — are on hand here this week as the Consumer Electronics Association’s annual CES conference is poised to kick off, but it’s an old consumer favorite — television, albeit a new-and-improved version — that is projected to be the next big thing.
CES 2015: Consumer Data Gets Big
When the 2015 International CES opens today, so does a whole new age of interconnection.
Opinions & Analysis
My 5 Predictions for Digital VIDEO in 2015
2014 proved to be a transformational year for digital-first video and the YouTube economy.
Digital Media Update http://bit.ly/1xOeZh4
When is a media company also a tech company? It’s complicated
Elizabeth Spiers is the former editor-in-chief of Mediabistro, co-founder of Breaking Media and the founding editor of Gawker, so it’s worth paying attention to a recent blog post she wrote about the top five mistakes that digital media entities make when launching something new.
Deals & Signings
E! Greenlights Grace Helbig’s Talk Show
YouTube star Grace Helbig has had a talk show in development with E! for quite some. It now looks like that the project, currently under the working title “The Grace Helbig Project,” is moving forward to a series.
5 Most Pivotal Online-Video Deals in 2014
It’s been a big year for the online video industry. We’ve seen multi-million dollar acquisitions, significant licensing deals and commissions for original content, and more.
NeuLion Buys Video Tech Company DivX for $62.5M
NeuLion (NLN) has agreed to shell out $62.5 million to buy DivX (DIVX), a long-time provider of digital video streaming solutions.
Verizon Has Approached AOL for Possible Takeover or Joint Venture
Verizon Communications Inc. has approached AOL Inc. about a potential acquisition or joint venture with the Internet company to expand its mobile-video offerings, people with knowledge of the matter said.
Fandango Brings Its Web Video Series To Hulu
Fandango is known to most users as a web and mobile ticketing service, but it’s also been creating its own web TV shows. Today, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, it’s announcing that those programs are coming to Hulu, in what Fandango says is its first partnership with a subscription video-on-demand service.
Streaming Video News
Netflix to Air Edward Norton-Produced Docu-Film ‘My Own Man’
Netflix (NFLX) will debut a feature-length documentary executive produced by Edward Norton on March 6. Called “My Own Man,” the documentary written, directed, and produced by David Sampliner (of “Dirty Work”) explores the relationships between fathers and sons.
Amazon Drops Previously Ordered Series, ‘The After’
Last March, Amazon Studios ordered “The After,” a sci-fi series from “The X-Files” creator Chris Carter. Recently, however, the streaming service backtracked and dropped the order, according to a report from Variety.
Netflix to Debut ‘Puss in Boots’ Series from DreamWorks Animation
Netflix (NFLX) is bringing more adventures of feline hero Puss in Boots to its subscribers with a new original series, aptly titled “The Adventures of Puss in Boots.”
WebMD Makes Video Push With New Robin Roberts Series
In an effort to court advertisers outside its usual terrain, health information publisher WebMD Health Corp. will launch a new video series hosted by a familiar name in health news: “Good Morning America” co-anchor Robin Roberts.
TCL and Philips add Firefox OS-based Chromecast competitor to TVs
Matchstick, the Firefox OS-based Chromecast competitor that made waves on Kickstarter last year, is teaming up with TCL and Philips/AOC to integrate its technology into TVs, monitors and set-top boxes.
YouTube adding native support for 360-degree video soon
Google has confirmed that it will soon add native support for 360-degree videos on YouTube, reports Gizmodo.
Netflix Is Getting Serious About Illegal, Out-of-Country Viewing
It seems like Netflix (NFLX) hasn’t made its way around the world quite as fast as some people would like. Of course, people in countries where the service isn’t available — or offers a limited library due to licensing restrictions — have found ways around this nonetheless, thanks to virtual private networks.
REPORT: Verizon May Buy or Form Joint Venture with AOL
Well that was quick. In a bid to expand its online content, mobile video, and digital advertising capabilities, Verizon has approached AOL about a potential acquisition or joint venture, according to a Bloomberg report.
WME Agent Charles King Leaves to Launch New Content Firm
Charles King, a long-time partner at William Morris Endeavor, is leaving the Hollywood agency to launch a new entertainment venture called Macro, which will focus on creating and distributing content for multicultural audiences.
Tube Centrex Aims To Build Video Apps For YouTube Stars, Luxury Brands, And Others
Billing itself as “the world’s first cross device mobile and digital platform,” startup Tube Centrex is planning to help YouTube stars, media companies, and others build and monetize apps for their online videos.
Variety’s Digital Entertainment Execs to Watch
It can’t be overstated: Technology remains the biggest evolutionary force in entertainment today. Rapid changes in the media climate have resulted in the emergence of entirely new species of companies — and are forcing Hollywood giants to adapt quickly.
Israel’s Tech Industry Is On A Roll
Investors raised $6.94 billion from selling stakes in Israeli technology companies in 2014, a five percent increase on the previous year, boosted mainly by an increase in stock market listings.
Business Insider http://read.bi/1DfxO1b
Tags: Amazon, Amazon Studios, AOL, breaking media, CES 2015, Charles King, david sampliner, Dish Network, divx, Dreamworks Animation, E!, edward norton, Fandango, gawker, google, Grace Helbig, Hulu, internet of things, israel, Macro, maker studios, matchstick, mediabistro, my own man, Netflix, neulion, News to Know, News2Know, philips/aoc, puss in boots, robin roberts, TCL, The After, the grace helbig project, tube centrex, verizon, webmd, webmd health corp, William Morris Endeavor, youtube, youtube 360


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The designer has created a series of posters and graphics to support XR’s protests in central London, also joining supporters at a live printing workshop in Trafalgar Square.
Designer Anthony Burrill has created a series of graphics and slogans to support this week’s action. He has also joined in with the protests, taking part in a live print workshop at Trafalgar Square on Wednesday.
His designs aim to encourage others to think about their own carbon footprint and the steps they can take to reduce their impact on the environment. “I was thinking about change and those small changes we can make to our lives that have a bigger effect when we all do them,” he explains.
With his use of bold type and bright colours, Burrill’s aesthetic feels like a natural fit with Extinction Rebellion’s visual identity. The group has become known for its striking graphics, posters and props, which draw inspiration from protest movements of the 50s and 60s.


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Beijing’s municipal government has released a white paper to promote the innovation and development of Web3 technology. The Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission unveiled the “Web3 Innovation and Development White Paper” at the Zhongguancun Forum. The document recognizes Web3 technology as an “inevitable trend for future Internet industry development”, and outlines plans to create a favorable environment for the industry.
This includes providing support for Web3-related research and development, encouraging the application of Web3 technology, and promoting the development of Web3-related industries. The white paper also emphasizes the importance of protecting intellectual property rights and data security. The Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission hopes that the white paper will help to create a better environment for Web3 technology to thrive.
Policy support and technological advancements crucial for Web3 industry development
Beijing is aiming to become a global innovation hub for the digital economy. To achieve this goal, the Zhongguancun Chaoyang Park management committee has allocated 100 million yuan ($14 million) annually until 2025. The commission’s white paper highlights the importance of policy support and technological advancements for Web3 industry development. With the funding, Beijing, China’s Silicon Valley, will strengthen its position as a digital economy leader.
Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao noted the significance of the white paper release, aligning with Hong Kong’s new regulations. Starting from June 1, the SFC Hong Kong will allow retail investors in crypto trading under a new licensing framework. Experts anticipate that this new rulebook will establish a more secure and regulated environment for cryptocurrency trading in Hong Kong.
Web3 White Paper Suggests a Potential Shift In Stance
Hong Kong’s approach differs from the strict stance of the United States, as it aims to attract crypto companies. Despite China’s previous ban on cryptocurrencies, the release of the Web3 white paper suggests a potential shift in stance.
On May 23, China Central Television aired a cryptocurrency segment featuring the Bitcoin logo and a Hong Kong Bitcoin ATM. Binance’s Zhao highlighted the importance of such coverage, historically associated with market upswings. The piece also discussed nonfungible tokens but has since been taken down.
Disclaimer: Cryptocurrency trading involves significant risks and may result in the loss of your capital. You should carefully consider whether trading cryptocurrencies is right for you in light of your financial condition and ability to bear financial risks. Cryptocurrency prices are highly volatile and can fluctuate widely in a short period of time. As such, trading cryptocurrencies may not be suitable for everyone. Additionally, storing cryptocurrencies on a centralized exchange carries inherent risks, including the potential for loss due to hacking, exchange collapse, or other security breaches. We strongly advise that you seek independent professional advice before engaging in any cryptocurrency trading activities and carefully consider the security measures in place when choosing or storing your cryptocurrencies on a cryptocurrency exchange.


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I’m at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, which means I’ll hopefully have some nifty things to share soon. In the meantime, this seems like a good opportunity to get into some predictions for the upcoming year.
Mobile wallets are a good place to start. Sure, the promise of ditching physical wallets and using only our smartphones to pay for stuff has been around for years, but in 2013 the stars will finally align and it will become reality. I recently sat down with a lawyer friend who specializes in this stuff and he explained that the infrastructure is just about in place and, more importantly, some players in the field are taking bold initiatives, which is going to force the issue.
Infrastructure-wise, two things have needed to happen. Stores and merchants needed to have terminals equipped with near-field communication technology and consumers needed phones with similar connectivity.
On both ends of the equation, this is finally taking shape. Many merchants—especially in Canada—are already equipped with NFC terminals for reading chip-enabled credit cards, while the technology is quickly becoming standard on smartphones. In fact, I can’t imagine any manufacturer unveiling a new phone at CES this week without NFC in it.
As such, big merchants and retailers such as donut-and-coffee chain Tim Hortons, which recently showed off cashless payments, are geared up and ready.
The thing that has slowed the promise of mobile wallets so far is, as usual, money.
The credit card system is currently a complex web of stakeholders. At the top, there are the networks (Visa, MasterCard, etc.), who enjoin issuers (banks) and brokers to deal with their respective sides of the chain. Banks issue cards to consumers while brokers take care of transactions with merchants. All of these players get their cuts of the various fees associated with credit card usage.
With mobile wallets, a bunch of new players want into this web, from cellphone carriers (Rogers was part of that Tim Hortons test) to phone makers and even software providers. The problem is, the technology won’t take off if consumers are forced to pay extra for it, so which of the existing parties is willing to take a smaller cut of the action in order to let newcomers in?
The correct answer is likely none of them. And so we have an impasse.
Where things get interesting is when one of the new players decides it doesn’t necessarily need a cut—that there is something else of value in the whole transaction besides simple monetary reward.
Enter Google. With data being the company’s main currency, Google is far more interested in the information it can glean on users from their financial transactions than it is in a gaining a few percentages of a penny on each purchase. While the gathering of such sensitive financial data is sure to have privacy implications, it also represents a gold mine for a company that deals primarily in information.
Not surprisingly, the company is pushing ahead quickly with its own mobile payment app, Google Wallet. With Android making up the bulk of the smartphone market, Google could very well run away with the mobile payment market, which is why other would-be players—such as Verizon—are trying to slow it down.
But as the old saying goes, when you can’t beat ‘em, you might as well join ‘em, which is why there will be a flurry of mobile wallet activity in 2013.


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Saab’s new manager, National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), has produced two Saab 9-3.1 test vehicles in the brand’s Trollhattan construction plant in Sweden in advance of a production unveiling later on in 2013
The cars, which eventually left the assembly line on Wednesday, are the very first Saabs to get constructed in the plant considering that it closed down in April 2011 before the automaker declaring bankruptcy 8 months later on.
NEVS say the vehicles are mainly meant to help with calibrating manufacturing line systems and also to check new components prior to complete manufacturing.
“Prior to our final decision to begin manufacture of Saab vehicles, we have to finalize several remaining dialogues to construct relationships with suppliers. Now that we know the plant is prepared for manufacturing,” Mattias Bergman, the acting president of NEVS, stated on Wednesday.
NEVS intends to begin production of the Saab 9-3.1 driven by a petrol turbocharged power plant later on this year. The product will be quite a lot like the very last Saab manufactured in 2011, Mikael Oestlund, a spokesperson for NEVS, informed Automotive News Europe.
An electrical version planned for manufacturing in 2014 will include new face-lifted bodywork Oestlund stated.
Long term Saab vehicles won’t have the distinctive griffin head logo found on earlier Saabs following NEVS unsuccessful attempt to get the legal rights to make use of the badge when it acquired Saab out from bankruptcy last August.
Previous owner Spyker, which purchased Saab from General Motors, didn’t restore the brand name after attempting without success to set up a number of deals with Chinese shareholders.
NEVS has stated in the past it also intends to construct vehicles using the Phoenix architecture created by Saab prior to the car maker went on the rocks. The platform will need to be altered to eliminate the 20 % of components acquired from GM.
The business intends to construct 120,000 units of the Saab 9-3.1 annually by 2016, as outlined by a written report by Bloomberg in January. That goal will come near to the brand’s 2006 maximum of 133,000 vehicles.
NEVS states the Saab 9-3.1 is going to be available in European countries and China at first with U.S. sales probable later on.