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Older Americans are catching up in terms of smartphone penetration in the US, according to the latest annual mobile consumer survey from Deloitte [download page]. Some 74% of adults over the age of 55 now own a smartphone (up from 67% last year), making them the fastest-growing group in terms of smartphone ownership.
This figure for older Americans aligns with previous findings this year from the Pew Research Center, which revealed that the majority (55%) of those aged 70 or older also owned a smartphone.
The combined annual growth rate (CAGR) for smartphones in the 55+ group stands at 11.6% in the period from 2015, when Deloitte’s study then reported that 53% had such a device.
But for younger adult consumers, the near-saturation of the market means growth in ownership has leveled out, as 94% of US consumers aged 18-24 now own a device (up just a single percentage point from 93% last year). The CAGR for this group since 2015 is just 1.8%.
The Smartphone Dominates Most Activities – Apart from Shopping
With the size of the app economy, today’s smartphone can be used for a near infinite number of applications. As such, it comes as no surprise that the report shows it is the device of choice for many purposes such as checking bank balances, video calls, watching short videos or watching the news. In fact only among people over 45 does laptop/desktop dominate in those areas.
However, traditional computers remain the most commonly used device for browsing shopping websites (except for 25-34 year olds) and making online purchases. These findings tally with those noted by Forrester, which reported that the use of smartphones for shopping actually fell last year to just 36% of reported sales (from 43% the previous year).
The Smartphone Blends Work and Personal Life
An interesting point that the research highlights is how smartphones have merged personal and work-related time. Seven in 10 say they use their personal smartphone for work outside of working hours (35% “very/fairly often” and 35% “occasionally”) while 94% use their personal smartphone during work hours (59% “very/fairly often” and 35% “occasionally”).
Part of the drive in using personal smartphones for work activity may be the growth in the use of apps such as Slack in addition to traditional email: white-collar workers report that instant messaging has innovated the most in the past five years compared to other communications formats.
The Smartphone Is The Most Popular Device, As Others Stall
The smartphone is the most prevalent device among US consumers, with 85% owning one. This beats those with a laptop (77%), tablet (57%) or desktop computer (57%). And while more than 1 in 5 own a fitness band (21%), smartwatches are yet to achieve the same penetration, with only 14% owning one.
However, tablet ownership has fallen this year (from 62%) as have other devices such as Ereaders (20% this year v. 24% in 2017), portable game consoles (18% v. 21%) and VR headsets (8% v. 10%). As many smartphones can perform these activities, consumers may be simply doing more with one device.
The study notes that 94% of smartphone owners use their devices daily, compared to just 74% for laptop owners, 52% for tablet owners and 17% for those that own VR headsets.
The full report can be accessed here.
About the data: The study is based on a survey of approximately 2,000 respondents within the United States, conducted in August 2018.


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Updated At: May 02, 2022 06:39 PM (IST)
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. PTI file
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, May 2
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday said that if the US-based EV maker Tesla manufactures its electric vehicles in India then the company will also get benefits.
Addressing an event here, Gadkari said days are not very far when the prices of all electric vehicles will be less than the cost of petrol vehicles in the country.
“Agar Tesla India me electric car manufacture karega toh unka bhi fayda hoga (If Tesla manufactures its electric vehicles in India, then they will also get benefits),” he said.
Earlier on April 26, Gadkari had said, if Tesla is ready to manufacture its EVs in India then there is ‘no problem’, but the company must not import cars from China.
“If Elon Musk (Tesla CEO) is ready to manufacture in India then there is no problem … Come to India, start manufacturing, India is a large market, they can export from India,” he had said at an interactive session at the Raisina Dialogue.
Last year, the heavy industries ministry had also asked Tesla to first start manufacturing its iconic electric vehicles in India before any tax concessions can be considered.
At present, cars imported as Completely Built Units (CBUs) attract customs duty ranging from 60-100 per cent, depending on engine size and Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) value less or above USD 40,000.
Last year, in a letter to the road ministry, the US firm had stated that the effective import tariff of 110 per cent on vehicles with customs value above USD 40,000 is “prohibitive” to zero-emission vehicles.
It had requested the government to standardise the tariff on electric cars to 40 per cent, irrespective of the customs value, and withdraw the social welfare surcharge of 10 per cent on electric cars.
It had stated that these changes would boost the development of the Indian EV ecosystem and the company will make significant direct investments in sales, service, and charging infrastructure; and significantly increase procurement from India for its global operations.
The company had argued that these proposals would not have any negative impact on the Indian automotive market as no Indian original equipment manufacturer currently produces a car (EV or Internal Combustion Engine) with ex-factory price above USD 40,000 (around Rs 30.6 lakh), and only 1-2 per cent of cars sold in India (EV or ICE) have ex-factory/customs value above USD 40,000. PTI
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The Tribune, now published from Chandigarh, started publication on February 2, 1881, in Lahore (now in Pakistan). It was started by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist, and is run by a trust comprising four eminent persons as trustees.
The Tribune, the largest selling English daily in North India, publishes news and views without any bias or prejudice of any kind. Restraint and moderation, rather than agitational language and partisanship, are the hallmarks of the paper. It is an independent newspaper in the real sense of the term.
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Released in September 2020, Android 11 continues to be distributed among the numerous smartphone manufacturers now, even after the testing of the upcoming Android 12 operating system by Google has begun. In this article, we list the models that have already received or should receive the Android 11 update according to the respective manufacturers.
Android 11 highlighted different improvements in areas of privacy, improved integration with devices for a connected home (smart home), and new communication features including the now native option in Android for floating conversation bubbles.
It’s worth remembering that even though rollout might have begun for one model, regional differences and even customizations made by mobile operators can delay – or even outright cancel – the update for specific models.
Shortcut to your favorite smartphone manufacturer
It is unsurprising to see Google, the Android operating system’s developer, also ensured that their smartphones were the first in the market to receive the Android 11 update – available right on Android 11’s launch day itself. In the case of the Pixel, Google ensured that you continue to have installation options through an Over-the-Air (OTA) update or via a system image download and installation using the ADB tool which primarily targets developers. Google’s models that have already received the update to Android 11 are:
Despite a commitment to update its flagship models for three operating system updates in addition to offering security patch updates for up to four years for its most recent smartphones, Samsung is not among the fastest manufacturers to release such updates. Still, it is commendable on the South Koreans’ part to have already released Android 11 – together with the One UI 3.0 skin – for its major 2020 and even some 2019 releases:
Models that should receive the update
Samsung has released a schedule for the release of Android 11 on the Samsung Members app, including models that have already received the update as well as other smartphones in their inventory that should receive the new operating system version before 2021 comes to a close.
So far, the company has made the update available for some smartphones from the previous list in advance, but there is always the possibility of delays.
- Galaxy A01 (June ~ July)
- Galaxy A01 Core (June)
- Galaxy A10 (August ~ October)
- Galaxy A10s (August ~ September)
- Galaxy A11 (June ~ August)
- Galaxy A12 (June ~ July)
- Galaxy A20 (August ~ September)
- Galaxy A20e (July)
- Galaxy A20s (August ~ September)
- Galaxy A21s (May ~ June)
- Galaxy A30 (June ~ July)
- Galaxy A30s (July ~ September)
- Galaxy A31 (June ~ July)
- Galaxy A40 (April)
- Galaxy A41 (June)
- Galaxy A42 5G (May)
- Galaxy A70 (May)
- Galaxy A80 (April ~ May)
- Galaxy Tab A (June)
- Galaxy Tab A 10.1 (2019) (August)
- Galaxy Tab A 8 (2019) (August)
- Galaxy Tab A 8 Plus (2019) (August)
- Galaxy Tab Active 3 (June)
- Galaxy Tab Active Pro (August)
- Galaxy Tab S5e (July)
- Galaxy XCover Pro (November)
- Galaxy XCover 4s (August)
Launching exclusive models for some markets and constantly swapping names – including using titles that represent completely different models based on the release country – makes it difficult to keep up with updates from Xiaomi and its “independent” brands.
In addition, the MIUI skin update is independent of the operating system. This set of factors may further delay the release of Android 11 for smartphones depending on the country.
You should receive Android 11 for the following devices:
- Black Shark 2 / Black Shark 2 Pro
- Black Shark 3 / Black Shark 3S / Black Shark 3 Pro
- Poco C3
- Poco M2
- Poco M2 Pro
- Poco M3
- Redmi 10X 5G
- Redmi 10X Pro
- Poco M2
- Redmi 9 Power
- Redmi 9A
- Redmi 9C (Poco C3 in India)
- Redmi 9T
- Redmi K20 Pro
- Redmi K30 Ultra
- Redmi K30S
- Redmi K30S Ultra
- Redmi Note 8 Pro
- Redmi Note 8T
- Redmi Note 9
- Redmi Note 9 Pro
- Xiaomi Mi 9 / Mi 9 Pro / Mi 9 SE
- Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite (CC9 in China)
- Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro
Since Lenovo purchased Motorola, the frequency of system and security updates for Motorola’s smartphones has taken a turn for the worse in terms of speed and consistency. The older, mid-range models tend to receive new versions before newer or more advanced devices.
Interestingly, the official list released by Motorola includes the Lenovo K12, but does not mention the Legion range of gaming smartphones.
The South Korean company released an update schedule for Android 11 (albeit in German) that involved just a few models, leaving out several basic and mid-range smartphones that were released throughout 2020, such as the K62 and K92, for example.
These devices should receive Android 11:
The manufacturer rolls out details about monthly updates via its ColorOS customization Twitter profile. In Oppo’s case, Android 11 is the base for the ColorOS 11 skin, which makes it easy to identify if the smartphone already has the latest version of the system.
You should receive Android 11 on the following devices:
- Oppo A91
- Oppo F15
- Oppo Reno2
- Oppo Reno2 Z
HMD Global, responsible for Nokia smartphones, announced its timeline for Android 11 releases for its smartphones in October last year. At time of publishing, the deadline for some of the models listed for such an update has already passed.
Huawei and Honor
In the case of the Chinese manufacturer and its former subsidiary, they only had access to the Android 11 source code with the release by AOSP (Android Open Source Project), which was not possible to customize EMUI 11 onto Android 11, hence making smartphones from both companies run on Android 10 still. Usually, the skin corresponds to the operating system version).
Moreover, Huawei has concentrated their efforts on HarmonyOS, and everything seems to indicate that the brand’s devices will not receive the 2020 edition of Google’s mobile operating system.
With a relatively small range of smartphones, OnePlus’ list of phones running Android 11 is rather straightforward and to the point. According to the lead developer of the OxygenOS skin, the manufacturer is still studying the possibility of bringing Android 11 to the OnePlus 6, 6T, Nord N10, and N100 devices.
These smartphones should receive Android 11:
In the case of the Chinese brand, the update to Android 11 comes with the RealmeUI 2.0 skin. The distribution of the new version began in December, with the X50 Pro model first off the blocks.
These should receive Android 11:
In the case of the Taiwanese company, the Android 11 update began trickling out with the 2019 ZenFone 6, which is a curious decision, while its successor, the ZenFone 7, remained in open beta.
They should receive Android 11:
Another manufacturer that has streamlined its product range, Sony has already completed its update schedule for Android 11, as announced in late 2020. Since then, the company announced the Xperia Pro, which should also receive an update soon. It is worth remembering that the company left Brazil in 2019, so there were no new models launched in that part of the world after that.
The above list was compiled based on updates that are already available, announced, or are currently in testing, and may change according to the country or modifications made by mobile operators.
Has your device been updated to Android 11 yet? Share with our community and help complete this list.


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Apple Inc is expected to give software makers new tools to make it easier to adapt their iPad and iPhone apps for its Mac laptops on June 3 at its annual developer conference in San Jose, California.
Say your alarm clock rings in the morning and you wake up unrefreshed. Did you go to bed too late? Are you simply a night owl? Would it have been better if the alarm had gone off 10 minutes earlier and didn’t interrupt your dream?
Women who turn to the Internet and mobile apps to sort out the best time of the month to try getting pregnant may receive bad advice, a study suggests.
In the battle to become the global messaging app of choice, China's WeChat and Japan-based Line have brought out some large marketing guns — TV ads featuring soccer star Lionel Messi, for instance — that have powered promising bursts of overseas growth.
Facebook Inc opened up its Messenger service for developers to create apps and for shoppers to communicate directly with retailers, as the Internet company seeks to expand its reach.


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According to a report in the Economic Times (ET), Paytm’s parent company One 97 Communications has laid off over 1,000 employees from various departments as part of strategic measures to streamline operations and reduce costs. The job cuts over the past few months are among the most significant job cuts at Indian technology companies this year.
The job cuts, which will affect more than 10 per cent of Paytm’s total workforce, come in the wake of recent moves such as discontinuation of small consumer loans and discontinuation of the UPI platform’s ‘buy now, pay later’ loan arm.
The decision to cut jobs is in line with Paytm’s broader efforts to refocus its business. The fintech company plans to implement further cost-cutting measures in the coming months to accommodate changes to its operating structure. Most of the job cuts are due to Paytm’s lending business, which registered strong growth last year. A Paytm spokesperson told ET that while the exact number of employees affected is unknown, the fintech company is working to reduce labor costs by 10-15 per cent this fiscal year. The spokesperson added that Paytm’s cash balance at the end of September was Rs 8,754 crore.
Paytm Postpaid, known for offering loans under Rs 50,000, is also foraying into the wealth management space. The company faced a setback on December 7 when its stock price plummeted by around 20% following the discontinuation of the Paytm deferred payment credit plan. Trends in industry downsizing
Paytm’s layoffs add to the trend of job cuts among Indian startups in 2023, with over 28,000 people to be laid off by new businesses in just six months, according to ET. Layoff rates have been accelerating since 2022, with global tech giants such as Meta and Amazon significantly reducing their workforces.
Apart from Paytm, other technology startups like PhysicsWallah, Udaan, Third Wave Coffee and Bizongo also experienced significant job cuts this year. Additionally, industry giants like Flipkart and Byjus have chosen not to provide ratings for their top performers, reflecting the evolving dynamics within the Indian technology ecosystem. The news also comes days after fintech startup ZestMoney announced it would shut down after a failed turnaround attempt.
For more information, see https://happenrecently.com/zepto/?amp=1


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General Motors has extended downtime at several assemblies as the global microchip shortage continues to affect the company’s vehicle manufacturing process negatively.
General Motors has revealed that it had cut vehicle production in North America again due to the continuous shortage of computer chips.
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Johnson Fistel, LLP is investigating potential claims on behalf of General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) against certain of its officers and directors. On August 4, 2021, General Motors announced its second quarter 2021 financial results. General Motors reported that the quarterly results were negatively impacted by “warranty recall costs” of $1.3 billion, which included approximately $800 million related to the Chevrolet Bolt EV. Following this news, Gen


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African diaspora-focused fintech startup Lemonade Finance has expanded user transaction options to Senegal, Ivory Coast, Benin, Cameroon, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda.
Initially, users could only send money to Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya at affordable rates on the Lemonade Finance platform. The new extension provides users with more alternatives to transact across countries.
Ridwan Olalere and Rian Cochran founded Lemonade Finance in 2020. The Y Combinator-backed fintech is registered with the Financial Conduct Authority and provides users with accounts in their country of residence and country of origin for personal and business banking needs .
The financial company is licensed in Canada as a Money Services Business and has the necessary licensing coverage in the US, UK and Europe to allow Nigerians to send money to bank accounts in these countries.
Lemonade Finance addresses the challenges of cross-border payments, such as long transaction turnaround times, usage restrictions and high fees, faced by Africans. Allowing users to switch between currencies, Lemonade claims to have thousands of users in North America and Europe.
Its participation in Y Combinator W21 saw the startup close a $725,000 pre-seed funding round that included Microtraction, Ventures Platform, and Acuity Venture Partners.
The company’s expansion opens the doors to a greater share of the African market for Lemonade Finance, spurring the startup’s drive to build the largest neobank for African immigrants.
Afeez Gbotosho, product manager at Lemonade, said the addition of Senegal, Ivory Coast, Benin Republic, Cameroon, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda was based on the data. . “These six countries have nationals abroad who often need to send money home.
The fintech company is firmly banking on its instant cross-border delivery and innovation to stay on top despite the competition.


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Reconciling National Security and Consumer Privacy
Washington DC Forum Aims to Help Organizations Walk Line Between
Anti-Terror Efforts and Consumer Data Protection
YORK, Maine — August 17, 2004 — The International Association of Privacy Professionals, the world's largest association for the privacy profession, announced it will host an event examining the intersection of consumer privacy and national security. The IAPP Privacy and National Security Forum, to be held at the Washington Renaissance Hotel on September 30th, will assemble thought leaders in government and industry for a candid debate on the privacy issues raised by current national security efforts.
"In an era of increased focus on national security, demands placed on the private sector for data and technologies to combat increased threats seem incompatible with demands on the protection of sensitive consumer information," notes Trevor Hughes, Executive Director of the IAPP. "How can an organization maintain robust data security to protect consumer privacy while also making provision for possible cooperation with governmental anti-terror efforts? This is the central issue addressed at our forum."
The IAPP Privacy and National Security Forum, with sponsorship from Gray Cary and Infoglide, offers a series of keynotes from leading privacy and governmental experts, and topical panels on subjects including personal surveillance technologies, risk assessment, and the international security perspective. Through this one-day forum, attendees will learn how to respond to the business opportunities and privacy challenges they face today, hear how to avoid common privacy pitfalls that can ensnare promising technologies and programs, and discover how such problems can be overcome, while preserving their commitment to maintaining consumer privacy and trust.
Speakers and panelists include:
Nuala O'Connor Kelly, Chief Privacy Officer, Department of Homeland Security
Jeff Rosen, Professor of Law, George Washington University; Author, The Naked Crowd
Steven Brill, President, Verified Identity Pass
Fred Cate, Professor of Law, Indiana University
Paul Rosenzweig, Senior Legal Research Fellow, Heritage Foundation
Dan Caprio, Chief Privacy Officer, US Department of Commerce
Jim Dempsey, Executive Director, Center for Democracy and Technology
Marty Abrams, Director, Center for Information Policy Management
The Privacy and National Security Forum
Washington Renaissance Hotel
September 30, 2004
For more information or to register, call the IAPP at 800-266-6501, or visit www.privacyassociation.org.
About the IAPP
The International Association of Privacy Professionals is the world's leading association of privacy and security professionals. The IAPP helps define and support the profession of privacy by being a forum for interaction, education, and discussion across industries. To learn more, visit www.privacyassociation.org.
# # #


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Mobile Payments Will Reach $1 Billion This Year
Posted: July 15, 2013 by Alex Chan
According to the latest study conducted by eMarketer, mobile payments will pass the threshold of $1 billion this year. By the year 2017, that number will rise to an amazing $58 billion. eMarketer defines mobile payments as "transactions for goods and services made by mobile phones, scanning, tapping, swiping, or checking the phone at the point of the sale". Mobile payments differ from mobile commerce which is a term for buying items on a smartphone.
The growth of mobile payments has hit a minor setback due to the constant rise in technologies with no definite system for accepting payments. The analyst company believes that the slow progress of mobile payments will continue up to 2016.
Mobile payments are on a slow rise for several reasons. The lack of a standard system due to competing technologies prevents merchants from accepting any single payment solution. Despite setbacks, there has been progress with mobile payments. Starbucks has accepted and implemented mobile payments in their shops. This is a big step in building trust for other mobile payment solutions. With this new implementation, eMarketer believes that people will start using their mobile phones for larger purchases in the future.


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A massive new malware threat, known as CopyCat has infected 14 million devices, rooting some 8 million of them in the process, according to a blog post from Check Point researchers. In two short months, CopyCat has earned $1.5 million for the attackers behind it.
CopyCat targets Android devices and it makes money by stealing advertising revenues, the post said. The malware has infected devices around the world, but it has seen the biggest impact in Southeast Asia.
Check Point called CopyCat a “fully developed malware” that is able to gain root access. The post noted that it then has the ability to inject code into Zygote, the app launching daemon in Android, in order to gain control over the victim’s device.
SEE: The Four Volume Cyber Security Bundle (TechRepublic Academy)
Once it has control over Zygote, CopyCat makes its money by fraudulently installing apps with its own ID. It then can display fraudulent ads that are difficult to track down by the user, the post said.
Of the infected devices, 3.8 million were used to serve fraudulent ads, and 4.9 million had fraudulent apps installed on them, the post said. CopyCat was able to steal credit for the installed apps on 4.4 million of the infected devices.
It should be noted that Check Point itself provides IT security products. The firm first came across CopyCat when it had attacked a client of Check Point, prompting the company to investigate the malware. After receiving certain information from the server’s behind CopyCat, the Check Point team reverse-engineered it.
Third-party app stores and certain phishing scams were the primary culprits behind CopyCat, as it didn’t seem to have infiltrated the Google Play store. The researchers alerted Google to the campaign, and Google said it was able to stop it.
The number of devices that currently host the malware is much lower than at the campaign’s peak in spring 2016. However, “devices infected by CopyCat may still be affected by the malware even today,” the post said.
Ultimately, more than half of the infected devices were rooted, due to old security patches the post said. Android users should stay up-to-date on updating their OS, and rely on proper security hygiene practices to stay protected.
The 3 big takeaways for TechRepublic readers
- The new CopyCat malware infected 14 million devices, rooting some 8 million of them in the process, and earning $1.5 million for attackers.
- After rooting the device, CopyCat took over the Zygote daemon to install apps and serve fraudulent ads to make money.
- CopyCat had a high success rate with rooting devices because of old vulnerabilities. Android users should update their OS and stay current with all patches.


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Windows XP Continues to Dominate the Corporate World in China
August 8, 2013 9:03 AM
comment(s) - last by
China has a serious Windows XP problem
Microsoft has been pushing hard in the United States to get corporations and individual users to abandon Windows XP and move to more modern versions like Windows 7 and Windows 8. On
April 8, 2014
, Microsoft will deliver its last Windows XP security update, and that also happens to be the day that Microsoft hopes to have as many companies and individual users rid themselves of Windows XP altogether.
By April 8, 2014, estimates are that about 10% of all computers in the U.S. will still be running Windows XP. As high as that number sounds, it's only a tiny fraction of the number of computers in China that will still be running Windows XP when April 8 rolls around. In China, roughly 65% of all computers are expected to still be on Windows XP when April 8, 2014 rolls around.
Analytics firm Net Applications estimated that 37.2% of personal computers around the world ran Windows XP last month. Estimates from Microsoft showing 1.4 billion Windows computers around the globe, which would mean about 570 million PCs globally still run Windows XP. Data shows that 16.4% of all personal computers were running Windows XP in the U.S. during the month of July. In China, 72.1% of all computers relied on XP.
Opinions vary on why Windows XP is still so widely used by individuals and corporations. Some believe that XP is still so widely used because businesses continue to run custom or niche applications that would be prohibitively expensive to upgrade. Individuals running Windows XP may also have a computer that is working just fine on Windows XP for mundane duties such as email, internet browsing, and image viewing.
As the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
8/8/2013 10:57:13 AM
Other than the fact that you can't run any modern software, or hardware, or view modern websites? I guess nothing, as long as you can get by with static content from 15 years ago.
8/8/2013 11:09:50 AM
Bull. W98 had some serious issues, but it works just fine with "modern websites."
Suggest you visit a Fry's Electronics store. Lots of stuff requires XP or higher, but lots doesn't.
Here, all our systems continue running XP. Stable, bullet-proof, reliable, well-known.
8/8/2013 1:46:54 PM
XP is NOT 98(release 2 I presume). There is a huge gulf between the two. And there is not a lot that will run on it.
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Volkswagen Considers Exporting Its Popular `Bug' Back Home to Germany
VOLKSWAGEN is considering bringing the VW bug back home. Some 21 million of the little rounded cars have rolled off assembly lines, a world record in the auto industry.
When Volkswagen decided to expand production of the beetle from Mexico to Brazil next year, it thought it might use the new capacity to export the car back to its birthplace - Germany.
Though the bug has not been produced here for 15 years, Germans are still in love with it. It is not unusual for an owner of a Kafer (beetle) to return to his parked car and find a prospective buyer waiting to make an offer.
Volkswagen's marketers argue that a beetle renaissance would give the company a much-needed image boost. Last year, profits plunged 87 percent. But there is also "serious opposition" to the idea at Volkswagen's Wolfsburg headquarters, says spokesman Dietmar Fritsche.
Mr. Fritsche traveled to Mexico last year to celebrate the 21-millionth bug. "I climbed in myself - and I was disappointed. It simply isn't up to the standards of today's cars," he says. Were Volkswagen to import the car, the company would have to apply for a license to sell it, ensuring it met German environmental and safety requirements.
Besides, Fritsche argues, other carmakers are coming up with cute, small, energy-efficient, and low-priced cars.
At its annual shareholders' meeting June 3, Volkswagen Chairman Ferdinand Piech announced that VW planned to build a factory to make a new "people's car" that would be "the most affordable model in the world." Such a car would be stiff competition for the under-powered beetle.
Fritsche says VW will decide by the end of the year whether to import the beetle.


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Jetstar adds over 20,000 more seats a year to the Cook Islands
Friday, 13 October 2023 – Ahead of next year’s Easter holidays, Jetstar is launching a fourth weekly service between Sydney and Rarotonga, the largest of the Cook Islands.
Taking off from 27 March 2024, the extra flights will add 24,000 seats a year to the Cook Islands which is growing in popularity with Australian holidaymakers.
Since launching direct services from Sydney to the Cook Islands in June this year, Jetstar has already carried more than 8,000 customers to the South Pacific nation.
With the additional weekly flight, Jetstar expects to carry more than 70,000 customers a year between the two destinations using the newest aircraft in its fleet, the Airbus A321neo LR.
The inaugural flight in June made history by becoming the first non-stop service between Australia and the Cook Islands to be operated by an Australian airline since Ansett in the early 1990s.
Jetstar currently flies three times a week between Sydney and the Cook Islands on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. When it launches, the fourth flight will operate every Wednesday.
Jenn Armor, Jetstar’s Executive Manager, Customer said the popularity of the route had exceeded expectations.
“We’ve already carried more than 8,000 customers between Australia and the Cook Islands since we launched four months ago.
“Rarotonga, the largest of the Cook Islands, is utterly breathtaking. Every week more and more Australians are falling in love with its white sand beaches, sparkling blue waters, warm weather and friendly locals.
“We thank the Cook Islands Government for its ongoing support of the route.”
Graeme West, General Manager Australasia, Cook Islands Tourism said it’s great to see more Australians discovering the Cook Islands.
"This is a further step towards re-building our economy.
“Demand from Australia has been strong and feedback from Australian visitors over the past few months has been excellent, with many saying that the convenience of the direct flight influenced their decision to travel to the Cook Islands.’’
JQ141 Sydney – Rarotonga (Cook Islands)
Tue, Wed, Thu*, Sun
JQ142 Rarotonga (Cook Islands) - Sydney
Tue, Wed, Thu*, Sun
*Thursday flights will operate on Fridays from 3 November 2023.
^Available until sold out. One-way, excludes checked baggage. Selected travel dates and conditions apply.


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According to the latest rumors, Lenovo is working on a high end Android based Smartphone running the much famed quad core Snapdragon 800 processor. A Chinese website Leiphone leaked the images of Lenovo X910 Smartphone running a custom UI from Lenovo on top. The Smartphone is a slim looking device with a large screen 5+ inch display. It will also have Full HD 1920x1080p pixel resolution.
The leaked images show the rectangular shaped device with curved edges having the sides of the rim and the bottom likely to be made from Stainless Steel. The images also show a dual SIM set up with an SIM tray and the SIM indicator on the Status bar. This confirms that the Smartphone, which is dubbed as K6 by Lenovo, is expected to be released in Asia Pacific. We wouldn’t be surprised if Lenovo released the X910 around the globe since there isn’t any flagship phone with such premium specifications having a dual SIM functionality. It will also give an edge to Lenovo.
According to an earlier report by G for Games, an AnTuTu benchmark for Lenovo X910 was spotted running 2.2 GHz quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. It also got an excellent score of 27931 on the AnTuTu benchmark, which once again confirmed the sheer power of Snapdragon 800 processor. Another piece of news we can take away from the benchmark was that the Smartphone was running the latest Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS. As the images and benchmark are already leaked, we suspect that the launch might be near.
The X910 is expected to be the successor of the current flagship Lenovo K900 which was showcased at CES this year and was later launched in selected Asian countries. Lenovo launched K900 along with five other Android powered Smartphones A706, A390, P780, S820 and S920 which created a lot of buzz. K900 comes with a 5.5 inch IPS LCD Full HD display with eye-watering 401 PPI pixel density and Corning Gorilla Glass 2.
The current flagship Lenovo K900 packs an Intel Atom Z2580 2 GHz dual core Clover Trail+ processor with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage. It also has a 13 MP rear camera with Full HD capture, 2 MP front facing camera and a 2500 mAh non-removable Li-Po battery. It is available for Rs 27444 ($457) in India. The current flagship is doing well because of its good price point and a metallic body. It is strange that Lenovo chose to go with a Snapdragon processor on X910 when the Intel-Lenovo partnership was going well for them.
Stay tuned to our blog and follow us on Google+, Twitter and Facebook for more related news on phones, gadgets and tablets.


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Last week, iD software confirmed that the flesh tearing, demon-slaying title, DOOM will be making an appearance on Nintendo’s hybrid console.
‘We might not be getting Titanfall 2, but FPS fans can rejoice in the knowledge that Bethesda will be bringing both DOOM and Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus to the Nintendo Switch.’
Considering that the game was pretty huge when it launched last year for Xbox One and PS4, fans have been wondering just how much of the game will actually be on the Switch’s cartridge considering the limited space of both Nintendo’s cartridge and the actual console.
Bethesda has addressed this issue stating that the company will offer the full game as a download for those who buy digitally. But, if you prefer your games physical, then you’ll only get the single-player part of the game. The multiplayer can be downloaded for free by those with a cartridge.
DOOM will drop this winter while Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus is expected to release sometime in 2018. Earlier this year, Bethesda said that The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim would indeed be coming to Nintendo Switch.
Excited to tear up some demons on the Switch? Let us know in the comments below.
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General Motors said Tuesday that it will spend $7 billion to build a battery plant in Michigan and overhaul an existing plant outside of Detroit to begin making electric pickup trucks in 2024.
The investment will create 4,000 jobs and significantly increase GM’s electric vehicle production capacity in the United States, the company said.
“We want to have a good manufacturing facility in the Midwest,” GM president Mark Reuss said during a meeting with reporters. “Three years ago, we looked at the full potential of EVs and started planning our footprint.”
The state of Michigan is offering GM $824 million in economic incentives.
The investment plan is the auto industry’s latest move to ramp up production of electric vehicles. In December, Toyota said it had a plan build a battery factory in North Carolina is expected to employ 1,750 people.
Ford Motor overhauled a plant in Dearborn, Mich., and set it to begins production of an electric version of the F-150 . pickup this spring. Ford also plans to spend 11.4 billion dollars built two battery plants in Kentucky and a third battery plant and an electric truck plant in Tennessee.
GM there is a battery factory under construction in Ohio and Tennessee, and has retooled a factory in Detroit, where it recently began producing an electric Hummer truck. It also plans to produce electric vehicles at a plant in Ontario and another in Mexico.
GM said it aims to phase out production of gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035, but so far, Ford is leading GM in electric vehicle sales. Ford sold an electric SUV, Mustang Mach Efor over a year, and has received over 200,000 pre-orders for the electric F-150 Lightning.
Ford developed those models using battery packs developed by a supplier. GM decided to spend more time developing its own modular battery packs, which it believes will provide a cost advantage over competitors in the long run.
GM’s new Michigan battery plant, like other GM battery plants, will be a joint venture between the automaker and LG Electric. It will be built on the site of an existing factory in Lansing, at a cost of $2.6 billion that will be shared between GM and LG.
GM will also invest $4 billion to build a plant in Orion, Mich., to produce electric versions of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks. The company expects to add 2,350 jobs at the Orion plant and retain another 1,000 at the plant when pickup production begins.
The factory produced the Chevrolet Bolt, an electric compact car, although production was halted for several months because of the recall that required GM and LG to replace the battery packs for all Bolts produced. since 2017.
Reuss declined to say whether GM will continue to make the Bolt as it prepares for the Orion plant to make pickup trucks.
GM expects the Orion plant and the Detroit plant, known as Factory Zero, to eventually be able to produce 600,000 full-size electric trucks a year. The company said that by the end of 2025, it plans to reach a total annual production capacity of one million electric vehicles.
GM also said it will spend $510 million to upgrade two vehicle plants in Lansing.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/25/business/general-motors-electric-vehicle-plant.html General Motors spends $7 billion on electric vehicle factories


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When D.K. Bhaskar first trekked into the Amazon basin in 2004, publishing a book of his travels wasn't a top priority.
"I just wanted to see the rainforest," said Bhaskar, an award-winning photographer and Martinez resident.
While living in India, Bhaskar had met a University of Oxford scientist, who was conducting research in the Amazon. He asked if Bhaskar had any interest documenting the work.
Two months later, Bhaskar received an e-mail informing him the job was his.
"To me, that was a magical experience," he said. "I come from a very small village in India and for me to travel thousands of miles away into the rainforest; who would have thought?"
Bhaskar spent the next six years embarking on several trips to the region, where his recently published book, The Fragile Forest: Inside Brazilian Amazonia , came to fruition.
The 188-page book chronicles Bhaskar's journey into both the Amazon River and rainforest. The narrative delves into the rich culture and global significance of the Amazon basin and examines the role science must play in the region.
The book encapsulates 160 color photographs that showcase the people, wildlife and landscape of the area.
"My book talks a lot about the human presence," Bhaskar said. "Whether we talk about the deforestation or the preservation, there is a human element.
"Without the human presence, the Amazon does not exist."
The people, he noted, are passionate despite becoming increasingly modernized.
Bhaskar said he spent up to two months on his trips in the Amazon, where he often slept in a small, rustic boat.
Battling mosquitoes and an extremely humid climate, Bhaskar worked among 12 scientists, each of whom was studying a different component of the region.
As he learned more about the science and research being conducted, Bhaskar said he knew he wanted to share the "amazing experience" with others.
"I hope the younger generation gets a spirit of science and exploration," he said. "It is not just about seeing pretty pictures."
The book, which includes a separate list of species native to the area, is available at area museums, Borders bookstores and online at www.amazon.com.
Bhaskar also is holding book signings throughout the area this month and in September.
The Columbia County News-Times ©2013. All Rights Reserved.


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It's beginning to look more and more likely that a Nintendo Switch 2 is on the horizon. For a while now, rumors have been rife that the House of Mario is working on a new, more premium Nintendo Switch – set to offer upgraded hardware with improved graphics and processing power.
While Nintendo hasn't confirmed this is the case, the evidence is continuing to mount up that a Switch 2 is on the way.
According to a recent report by Bloomberg (opens in new tab), primarily focused on the company boosting its Switch production, Nintendo has allegedly asked developers to make their Nintendo Switch games 4K-ready.
- Best Nintendo Switch games: the most essential Switch releases
- The cheapest Nintendo Switch bundles, deals and sale prices
- Best Nintendo Switch accessories 2020: make the most of your console
Time for a switch up?
This would suggest that Nintendo is preparing for a resolution upgrade and adds significant weight to rumors of a 4K-ready, upgraded Switch console.
In particular, this would correlate with a report from the Economic Daily News (opens in new tab) a few weeks back, which claims a more powerful Nintendo Switch console with upgraded interactivity and improved display quality could be coming next year.
The report cites various hardware manufacturers responsible for the Switch’s Flash storage and Joy-Con controllers, and says that the console could go into production by the end of 2021.
However, it's worth noting Nintendo hasn't explicitly said a new Switch is coming and, if a Nintendo Switch 2 is on the way, it won't arrive in 2020 – as the company previously confirmed no new consoles will launch this year.


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LONDON (MarketWatch) — U.K. stocks fell sharply Tuesday as HSBC Holdings PLC slumped for a second session, while retailers also lost ground after HMV Group PLC said it’s in talks to renegotiate loan facilities.
The FTSE 100 index (UKX) declined 58.25 points, or 1%, to end at 5,935.76. Other European markets also ended lower. See Europe Markets.
On Wall Street, stocks had moved broadly lower by the close of London trading, as investors reacted to robust U.S. manufacturing data and Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke’s testimony on monetary policy and the outlook for inflation and growth in the largest global economy.
In London, cruise operator Carnival PLC (CCL) ranked as one of the sharpest decliners, its shares tumbling 5.6%.
Banking giant HSBC (HSBA)
UBS analyst Alastair Ryan said a convincing return to loan growth and good momentum on deposits “should have been the raw material for a sustainable growth story.”
Instead, “rampant cost growth and a resolute unwillingness to discuss revenue prospects leave us without confidence in the 2011 outlook,” Ryan said.
HSBC’s shares have traded down 7.5% from their Friday close in London.
On the upside, outsourcing company Capita Group PLC (CPI) jumped 5.2% as the biggest gainer riser in the FTSE 100. Capita said it’s in talks to lengthen and broaden the scope of a major contract with Zurich Financial Services Group (ZURN).
Associated British Foods PLC (ABF) also gained, up 2.7% after Evolution Securities upgraded the shares to buy from neutral. They had previously fallen more than 20% in the year to date, the broker noted.
Difficult session for retailers
Also Tuesday, some of the weakest stocks in London came from the ranks of retailers, most notably HMV (HMV). Shares of the CD and DVD chain plunged 22% as the small-cap company said it expects to breach some borrowing covenants and is in talks with its banks in order to renegotiate loan facilities.
HMV also said that trading conditions have remained challenging and that pretax profit for the financial year will be moderately below market expectations.
Seymour Pierce analyst Freddie George reiterated a sell recommendation on HMV and said he’d be reducing his forecasts for the company.
George said that, while there’s talk of an offer for the group’s Waterstones division from shareholder Alexander Mamut, HMV shares are “a value trap” and that the company lacks the scale it needs to overcome the immediate structural concerns.
Among other retailers, Kingfisher PLC (KGF) fell nearly 5% after Societe Generale downgraded the home-improvement group to a sell rating from hold.
Marks & Spencer Group PLC (MKS) dropped 1.9% and clothing retailer Next PLC (NXT) fell 1.8%.


text: Some of us still remember that the appearance on the market next-generation operating system Windows Vista marked the software giant Microsoft for the entire sequence of problems, which are said to date. Many partners and corporate customers even before the announcement Microsoft Vista made a statement on the rejection of the planned upgrade. Most of these decisions were motivated by the problems of compatibility between Vista, OS humidity. Now Microsoft is working on a new version of its operating system - Windows 7. Judging by the reviews of independent experts, the new OS will be required to return the lost position of Microsoft in the corporate segment, to attract buyers stability, better compatibility with hardware and software, new opportunities. Nevertheless, not all think so. Proof of this are used the results of a survey recently conducted by Dimensional Research. The report Dimensional Research noted that, in general, beta-testers fairly stable and opportunities the new OS, especially if we compare it with Windows Vista. But even the positive reviews of experts and competent marketing policy will not change the view of Microsoft corporate customers on the move to Windows 7. In a study Dimensional Research polled more than 1100 IT-experts in large companies. More than 83% of them said with confidence that they will refuse a planned upgrade of the OS. But to blame only Microsoft is not worth it. During the crisis, many businesses have had to cut budgets for upgrading and supporting IT-structure, and some simply will not be able to afford the next upgrade. Compatibility of software - the second problem. Now we can only wonder whether Microsoft will be able to change the view of the corporate segment and to convince customers of the opposite. After all, it is not only money but also in reputation.


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Following the announcement of Counter-Strike 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has reached a new record for the most active players, surpassing the previous record by 100,000.
According to independent Steam tracker SteamDB, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive reached the biggest number of concurrent players, reaching a peak of an incredible 1,519,457 players who were actively playing this game at the same time, surpassing the previous record by 100,000. Interestingly, the second most active game on Steam this week was DOTA , which had three times fewer active players than the leading CS:GO, a total of 667,348; the difference between first and second place is rarely so large.
The announcement of Counter-Strike 2 is, without a doubt, mainly responsible for the increase in the number of active players in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Valve announced earlier this week the next instalment of the popular FPS competitive multiplayer, which we can expect to be released sometime during the summer.
Counter-Strike 2 will be, as Valve claims, a free upgrade to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and will allow the players to bring their progress and inventory items from the previous game. Perhaps one of the reasons for the increased interest in the game is that players want to be as prepared as possible for the upcoming update.
According to Valve, the game will be "cleaner, brighter, and more visually appealing." Counter-Strike 2 maps are being upgraded and overhauled to take advantage of all of the new Source 2 tools and rendering features.
"Counter-Strike 2 sounds have been reworked to better reflect the physical environment, to be more distinct, and to express more game state," the company said. "They've also been rebalanced for a better listening experience."
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- Sony had the highest-rated games in 2023 according to Metacritic


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Millions travel to Japan just to experience the beautiful sakura trees blooming every year
But with the COVID-19 epidemic spreading across the world, it may not be the best idea to fly anywhere overseas right now.
However, there is good news! It was reported by Bernama that Malaysia's very own 'sakura' trees have just started to bloom this week!
Every year, these trees will give downtown Alor Setar, Kedah a beautiful splash of pink
Reaching their peak bloom in March, the tecoma trees look as calming and pleasing as the cherry blossom trees in Japan do
Grab your cameras and find the trees along Jalan Kuala Kedah, Jalan Langgar, and Jalan Yan in downtown Alor Setar
You can find the trees anywhere else in the city, as according to The Star, there are a total of 2,720 existing tecoma trees there to date.
Alor Setar City Council mayor Datuk Mohd Zohdi Saad said they plan to plant more trees and make a 'Sakura Kedah' corner at Jalan Kuala Kedah in June this year.
They will also be holding a photography contest to attract more tourists to their city.
It may be a good idea to head on to Kedah now, because while the trees will flower in stages over the next month, the flowers will only bloom for 14 days!


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PITTSBURGH, PA - The H.J. Heinz Company announced that it is merging with the Kraft Food Group in a union valued at about $46 billion.
“This transaction creates the third largest food company in North America and the fifth largest food company in the world, with combined sales of $28 billion and 44,000 employees,” Klaus Hofmann, Senior Vice President of Global Procurement, said in a press release.
The new Kraft Heinz, Co. will be co-headquartered in both Pittsburgh and Chicago in respect of the hometowns of both companies, who have been household names for a number of years.
According to Hoffman, this decision was made with an understanding on both sides for the need to “preserve Heinz and Kraft’s heritage."
“This is a historic moment for Heinz, our employees and our millions of global consumers,” the release states. “Heinz and Kraft are two world-class businesses with storied pasts, and together, an even brighter future. We appreciate your ongoing support of Heinz as we move into the company’s next exciting chapter.”
Heinz shareholders will own 51 percent of the combined company with Kraft shareholders owning the remaining 49 percent, according to Reuters. The parameters of the deal requires the exchange of each Kraft share for one share in the combined Kraft Heinz Co., plus a special cash dividend of $16.50 per share to existing Kraft shareholders.


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The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association commissioned an Economic Impact Study on the RV industry, released on June 7, 2016. The study found that the RV industry contributes about $49.7 billion in economic output or 0.28 percent of the Gross Domestic Product. Through its production and distribution linkages, the industry impacts firms in 426 of the 440 sectors of the United States economy.
Nationwide, the industry is responsible for 216,170 jobs, both directly and inderectly, creating an economic impact of $37.5 billion. The full study results, along with each individual state and congressional district's economic impact is available on the website by clicking here .
Tue Jan 31, 2017
Author: Scott Hansen
The NTP-Stag Show opened Monday to thousands of attendees, exhibitors and vendors at the Anaheim Convention Center across from Disneyland in Anaheim, California.
The morning began with RV University, a collection of 30 different seminars spanning more than six hours of the day, which attracted a record 928 attendees, according to Keystone Automotive Vice President and General Manager Bill Rogers, during the opening luncheon welcome. The seminars were hosted by many leading aftermarket suppliers to the RV industry, including MORryde, Demco, JR Products, Lippert Components, Blue Ox, Torklift, Marshall Excelsior, PullRite, Winegard and more.
The six ballrooms hosting the seminars each hour were packed to standing room only, with extra participants clogging the door and entryways because of limited space. If attendees weren't 10 minutes early to the seminars, they didn't get a seat.
PullRite gave its seminar focused on its new hitch offerings, the SuperGlide, the automatic sliding hitch that has been in the RV market for a little more than a year; and the SuperLite, the new concept among fifth wheel towing that allows the RVer to connect the hitch by just getting close to the connection.
A steel funnel positioned around the connection catches the hitch ball and gravity then does the rest as it will fall into place, allowing the RVer to simply lock it in after that. Weighing only 52 pounds, the hitch is one of the lightest on the market.
The SuperGlide has revolutionized the fifth wheel towing market, sliding up, down, left and right in the truck bed as the vehicle makes short turns, letting the driver stay in the vehicle and not having to worry about the trailer crashing into the vehicle.
B.J. Reeves, the service manager at RV Outlet in Ringgold, Virginia, says the SuperGlide is the only fifth wheel hitch his dealership carries anymore, not giving RVers the option to get anything else, because of the quality, lesser liability and overall satisfaction from the product.
"We don't even offer manual hitches anymore," Reeves says. "The SuperGlide is the best invention for the fifth wheel they have come out with since the invention of the fifth wheel."
At the training for JR Products, Vice President of Sales and Marketing Brian Roba provided a training on merchandising the dealer's products and how to attract the customers to their store, even with larger, more well-known outlets competing in the market.
"Price is a race to the bottom," Roba says. "You cannot compete with a $500 billion company. They can give away product until we're all dead and they'd still be around. So why do they choose us? Because of our service. Customers buy why you do it, not what you do."
When the show floor opened in the afternoon, thousands of show attendees streamed through the doors at the convention center to applause from the NTP staff and then spent five hours Monday meeting the suppliers, building relationships and making deals for this year's season.
The show continues Tuesday, with the show floor open until 5 p.m. PST and closing out with a party in the warm California winter air.


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Nongfu Spring’s bottled water in a supermarket in Hangzhou, China.
Costfoto | Barcroft Media | Getty Images
SINGAPORE — Shares of Chinese bottled water giant Nongfu Spring surged more than 85% in their debut on the Hong Kong stock market on Tuesday.
The stock opened at 39.80 Hong Kong dollars per share ($5.14) before inching down to around 35.00 Hong Kong dollars ($4.52). Its initial public offering price was 21.50 Hong Kong dollars ($2.77), allowing the company to raise around $1.1 billion.
Dickie Wong, executive director of Kingston Securities, told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia” that Nongfu Spring was “one of the hottest IPO ever” in the history of Hong Kong’s stock market. He pointed out…


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Getting a brand new GPU is sort of inconceivable proper now, with costs skyrocketing as provide continues to lag demand. Nvidia has already introduced some steps to separate cryptocurrency functions into a brand new product class, and it’s even received a brand new gaming GPU that blocks high-speed crypto mining. Through the firm’s latest earnings name, Nvidia CFO Colette Kress hinted that more gaming GPU restrictions could be coming.
Within the unlucky occasion your GPU dies, you’ll be dismayed to be taught the one strategy to get a midway respectable alternative is to pay a reseller at the least 50 p.c over MSRP. The demand for GPUs is especially excessive proper now because of the COVID pandemic that’s saved everybody inside for a yr, in addition to the surging worth of cryptocurrency. The worldwide semiconductor scarcity isn’t serving to, both.
Nvidia’s first actual stab at addressing the out-of-control pricing was to nerf its latest RTX 3060 GPU. This card has an artificially decreased Etherium hash charge, making it much less fascinating to crypto miners. Nvidia hopes this can enhance provide for avid gamers who simply need to frag some noobs. It’s additionally planning to launch a line of cryptomining processors (CMPs) which might be solely good for mining (they don’t even have video outputs).
In discussing the scarcity, Kress famous that Nvidia has restricted hash charges on GPUs “beginning with the 3060.” That strongly implies future GPUs will include related restrictions, and the corporate did exit of its approach lately to emphasize that it would not nerf any existing video cards. Nvidia’s need to maintain the gaming and mining markets separate helps the thought future playing cards could have mining limits, as confused by CEO Jensen Huang. “I believe proof of labor goes to be round for a bit,” he mentioned, referring to the workloads that miners run to unlock new digital cash. “We developed CMP for this very motive.”
It plans to ship roughly 15 million CMP playing cards for industrial miners within the first quarter of the yr. Which may assist get GPUs again on retailer cabinets for avid gamers, however the pattern of splitting mining and gaming won’t attraction to everybody. Hopefully, Nvidia leaves at the least some product strains alone — in case you’re spending massive on a flagship GPU, it’s affordable to count on it to be unencumbered by synthetic restrictions of any sort.


text: Great Scott! It’s that time of year again and the launch of SOLIDWORKS 2016 is quickly approaching! CAPINC is kicking-off the launch of SOLIDWORKS 2016 at our annual user event in Boxborough, MA. We’re happy to announce that our event will primarily focus on What’s New in SOLIDWORKS 2016, designed to give you a preview into the updates that will help you and your company continue on your journey of improving engineering productivity. CLICK TO SEE AGENDA!


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What a week: with speculation running high around a new smartwatch from Samsung and new iPhones from Apple, Steve Ballmer’s impending departure from Microsoft, and Om’s latest takedown of Yahoo, the dog days of summer don’t seem to be affecting the tech newsroom. Meanwhile, over on GigaOM Research, our analysts aren’t taking a break, either – this week, some of the most popular research content includes a deep dive into the electric vehicle industry, as well as a comprehensive analysis of proactive defense tactics in the cybersecurity arena.
Note: GigaOM Research, previously known as GigaOM Pro, is a subscription-based research service offering in-depth, timely analysis of developing trends and technologies. Visit pro.gigaom.com to learn more about it.
Cleantech: Electric vehicle business models
John Gartner, Dave Hurst, Lisa Jerram, and Scott Shepard
Now that the electric vehicle (EV) industry has progressed beyond the nascent stage, it’s time for…
View original post 408 more words


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The 2016 Running Event (TRE) held in Orlando, FL at the Orange County Convention Center attracted the second strongest attendance in the event’s 11-year history, according to event provider Formula4 Media.
Total attendance in 2016 was 2,540 industry professionals, versus 2,705 in 2015.
However, overall exhibitor count was down slightly to 278 suppliers in 2016, from 307 the previous year, and exhibitor square footage was flat.
TRE 2016 also charted 70 first time exhibitors, a fun Indie 5K run through Disney World’s EPCOT Center, and hosted a record-breaking treadmill endurance record. The event also honored the top run specialty retailers in America and inducted four industry veterans into the Running Specialty Hall of Fame.
Although usually held in Austin, TRE relocated this year to Orlando due to a scheduling conflict. Still, the show attracted 870 buyers representing 1,250 retail storefronts from 21 countries, placing it close to the record buyer attendance at TRE 2014.
Photo courtesy Orange County Convention Center


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Mobile wallet usage and vas could become utilized to promote sound financial management similarly, possibly to a wider viewers. Then, at the same time, the lender would placement themselves as getting on the aspect of their clients, protecting them from frittering apart their hard-earned money, and instead encouraging ventures and cost savings via regular use of their bank app.
“they’re kind of trapped right now,” balicka said. By august, they had been in his back garden – an gear specialist performing routine maintenance found out one at a gas station in madison.
Many business owners starting out are ignorant of business credit and may perform significant damage to their credit without realizing it — mainly by maxing-out personal credit cards and/or credit lines because they believe they possess no other choice. People are even more most likely to go buying and, once they’re out, to spend even more than they normally would – a dual whammy for the wallet, they said. Probably mobile money administration services could be ‘unlocked’ within the pocket book, just like in-app purchases, to reward daily stability bank checks or the regular looking at of purchase histories. Gas channels frequently have got cameras, for example, but family and friends at busy locations may have period to look at the passes, frassetto mentioned. Legos have got gone up in value faster than savings accounts or silver, according to a statement by the the telegraph. Yellow metal, over the same stretch, saw a 9. 8 percent gain, while savings only saw 2.
8 percent increases. The big catch, as with many collectibles, is that it applies mostly to those legos that haven’t been played with – the mint-in-box standard that also applies to classic action figures.


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Speaking on worsening inflation in the US and across the globe in a recent interview, geopolitical expert, Jim Rickards, explained the debilitating ripple effect it has on the economy and the populace.
Rickards explained that the effects of inflation are numerous and mostly invisible. He added that one of such effects is that inflation reduces your “real income” considering that the dollars you earn are worth a bit less. Inflation also reduces the government debt as it becomes cheaper to repay the debt the government owns thanks to the diminished value of the dollar.
The economist also explained that inflation worsens the difference between nominal income and real income. Simply put, nominal income is how much you earn in dollar terms, while real income is the actual worth of your dollar earnings when adjusted for inflation.
That said, the effects of a decline in real income on an economy are severe as they negatively affect the spending habits of citizens, causing small and medium-scale businesses to suffer.
Rickards further explained that inflation is more of a supply-side problem than it is of demand. He noted that supply chain disruptions like the ones getting recorded recently due to COVID-19 and geopolitical tensions. Unfortunately, these issues are not expected to show any improvements in the near to medium term. The economist and investment banker argue that they could get worse in the short term.
For example, as a corrective measure, China locks down entire cities and cuts off transportation relating to the affected city. At the moment, Shanghai has become the latest Chinese city to witness such a lockdown, as all 26 million residents have been ordered to remain indoors and occasionally come out for necessary supplies.
That said, considering the economic importance of Shanghai, one of the largest cities in the world, to global trade, it is easy to see how supply chains can be affected.
US Fed Expected to Competently Spur Recession to Outrun Inflation
Rickards explained that with such realities, the US Fed has limited options to tackle rising inflation, as the causes are out of its control. However, the economist opined that there is just one way the Fed can get inflation under control, which is by raising interest rates until a recession is achieved. That said, many doubt the competence of the Fed to successfully pull off such a stunt, arguing that the US could end up with both inflation and recession.
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Today is the fifth anniversary of the launch of the Apple App Store, the official source for software for the iPad and iPhone. To celebrate, ten popular games and other apps are free for a limited time.
- Barefoot World Atlas
- Day One (Journal/Diary)
- How to Cook Everything
- Infinity Blade II
- Superbrothers: Sword and Sworcery EP
- Tiny Wings HD
- Traktor DJ
- Where’s my Water?
Since the App Store launched on June 10, 2008, it has grown to 900,000 titles, including 375,000 that are optimised for the iPad.
This is somewhat ironic, as Apple originally did not want it. When the first iPhone was released it had no support for running native applications. After a year of complaints from users, the App Store debuted with the release of the company’s second smartphone, the iPhone 3G.


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The Senate on Friday approved legislation that would authorize the use of electronic signatures and contracts.
Unlike the House bill adopted earlier this month, the Senate version does not permit financial services companies to electronically make mortgage and other disclosures required by consumer protection laws.
Industry lobbyists have pushed hard for the electronic disclosures, but nevertheless welcomed the Senate passage.
"It gets us to the next stage of negotiations," said James F. Febeo Jr., staff attorney for the Consumer Bankers Association. "We have received word from the principal players that they would work toward a final product that will include provisions authorizing electronic disclosures."
Their job will not be easy. The White House and advocacy groups have been critical of electronic disclosures, arguing that customers might not have regular on-line access and that the bill inadvertently could weaken protections in current law.
The industry aims to convince lawmakers that the House bill has plenty of consumer protections because, among other things, customers would have to sign a "conspicuous and visually separate" consent request before lenders could send electronic disclosures and records. The House bill also would require that customers can always review, retain, and print records using a pre-authorized computer format.
Congress was expected to adjourn over the weekend, so further action on the bill will not occur until January at the earliest. Sponsor Sen. Spencer Abraham said Friday that federal legislation is necessary because 42 states have enacted differing electronic signatures laws. The Michigan Republican vowed to work with House lawmakers so that a compromise bill can be sent to President Clinton "very early" next year. -- Dean Anason


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ST. LOUIS — C3 Industries, a multistate cannabis company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, said Wednesday it plans to start operating a new manufacturing plant in south St. Louis this month.
C3's new production facility is at 1630 Macklind Ave. in The Hill neighborhood, a former branch of New York-based General Insulation Co., a wholesale insulation distributor. The building is owned by H&F Properties, an entity organized by Robert Flynn III of Clayton, according to city and state records.
C3 has a 10-year lease for the space, and development costs were about $2.5 million, a spokeswoman told the Business Journal. A general manager hasn't yet been named for the local facility, which will employ about 20 and is currently hiring, she said.
The company produces cannabis products under its Cloud Cover Cannabis brand and operates a retail network of High Profile stores. The state of Missouri awarded C3 one medical marijuana manufacturing license and five retail licenses. C3 has opened all five of its Missouri-licensed High Profile stores: most recently in Sunset Hills, as well as earlier in St. Charles, St. Robert, Cape Girardea, and Columbia, Missouri.
C3 also said Wednesday that it has inked an exclusive licensing deal with Oakland, California-based Kiva Confections, a producer of cannabis edibles, to bring Kiva's premium edibles brands to the Missouri market. Subject to regulatory approvals, C3 will produce Kiva's full line: Lost Farm gummies, Camino gummies, Petra mints, Terra chocolate bites and Kiva Bars.
Initially, C3's St. Louis manufacturing facility will produce concentrates and cartridges under C3's Galactic Meds brand, with sales expected to begin in the first quarter of 2022. The company said it expects to launch the Kiva line in the second or third quarter next year. Then in late 2022, the St. Louis facility will also produce C3's Cloud Cover Cannabis line of concentrates, cartridges and pre-rolls.
Products manufactured in the St. Louis plant will supply dispensary locations across Missouri, including C3's five High Profile shops in the state, officials said.
Click here for the full story.


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Campbell Brown, Facebook’s top news executive, said this month that she was leaving the company. Twitter, now known as X, removed headlines from the platform days later. The head of Instagram’s Threads app, an X competitor, reiterated that his social network would not amplify news.
Even Google — the strongest partner to news organizations over the past 10 years — has become less dependable, making publishers more wary of their reliance on the search giant. The company has laid off news employees in two recent team reorganizations, and some publishers say traffic from Google has tapered off.
If it wasn’t clear before, it’s clear now: The major online platforms are breaking up with news.
Some executives of the largest tech companies, like Adam Mosseri at Instagram, have said in no uncertain terms that hosting news on their sites can often be more trouble than it is worth because it generates polarized debates. Others, like Elon Musk, the owner of X, have expressed disdain for the mainstream press. Publishers seem resigned to the idea that traffic from the big tech companies will not return to what it once was.
Even in the long-fractious relationship between publishers and tech platforms, the latest rift stands out — and the consequences for the news industry are stark.
Many news companies have struggled to survive after the tech companies threw the industry’s business model into upheaval more than a decade ago. One lifeline was the traffic — and, by extension, advertising — that came from sites like Facebook and Twitter.
Now that traffic is disappearing. Top news sites got about 11.5 percent of their web traffic in the United States from social networks in September 2020, according to Similarweb, a data and analytics company. By September this year, it was down to 6.5 percent.
“The disruption to an already difficult business model is real,” Adrienne LaFrance, the executive editor of The Atlantic, said in an interview. Ms. LaFrance noted that while social traffic had always gone through boom and bust times, the slide in the past 12 to 18 months had been more severe than most publishers expected.
“This is a post-social web,” she added.
A spokeswoman for Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads, declined to comment. Elon Musk and a spokesman for Linda Yaccarino, X’s chief executive, did not respond to a request for comment.
Jaffer Zaidi, Google’s vice president of global news partnerships, said in a statement that the company continued to put a priority on “sending valuable traffic to publishers and supporting a healthy, open web.”
It didn’t start out this way. During the rise of the consumer internet roughly 20 years ago, companies like Google, Facebook and Twitter embraced journalism, and articles from traditional media companies appeared on their platforms.
“Every internet platform has a responsibility to try to help fund and form partnerships to support news,” Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, said in an interview with the chief executive of News Corp several years ago when Mr. Zuckerberg was still trying to court publishers.
Both Facebook and Twitter toyed with initiatives to support news on their platforms. In 2019, for example, Facebook introduced Facebook News, a tab for readers to find news coverage from partner publications that it paid. Twitter also experimented with partnerships, teaming up with The Associated Press and Reuters in 2021 to address misinformation.
But these efforts were short-lived. Facebook News is no longer, and Ms. Brown, the executive who led the news efforts, has announced her departure. Since Mr. Musk bought Twitter nearly a year ago, he has introduced changes that de-emphasized traditional media on the site, including not showing headlines on articles in posts and removing the “verified” blue check mark from journalists and public figures who did not pay for it. Platforms like TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram generate negligible traffic numbers to media outlets.
The sharp decline in referral traffic from social media platforms over the past two years has hit all news publishers, including The New York Times.
The Wall Street Journal noticed a decline starting about 18 months ago, according to a recording of a September staff meeting obtained by The Times. “We are at the mercy of social algorithms and tech giants for much of our distribution,” Emma Tucker, The Journal’s editor in chief, told the newsroom in the meeting.
Ben Smith, the editor in chief of Semafor and a former media columnist for The Times, said web traffic was no longer “the god metric in digital media.” He said intermediate platforms like SmartNews, Apple News and Flipboard were becoming more important to publishers, as readers looked for a combination of authoritative journalism and the option of multiple sources.
“People do like having lots of sources of information, but they don’t want to be nosing around a postapocalyptic wasteland to find them,” Mr. Smith said.
With Meta and X no longer dependable, publishers have grown more reliant on Google. For more than two decades, publishers big and small have packaged their content to rank highly in Google’s search results, a practice called search engine optimization. These deeply integrated efforts include creating secondary headlines meant to mimic likely Google user queries, filling articles with links to other sites and maintaining teams of people to drive traffic and stay abreast of search engine changes.
Google says it sends 24 billion clicks per month, or 9,000 per second, to news publishers’ websites through its search engine and associated news page.
While The Los Angeles Times is getting a slightly larger share of traffic from online searches (50 to 60 percent, up from 30 to 40 percent), it is not making up for the losses from social media, said Samantha Melbourneweaver, the assistant managing editor for audience.
But even Google is shaky. Some publishers have seen declines in Google referral traffic in recent weeks, two people at different major media sites said. Though Google remains the most important referral traffic source to publishers by far, those people are concerned that the decline is a sign of things to come.
“It’s volatile,” Ms. Melbourneweaver said. “Google exists for Google’s needs, rather than for ours.”
Google cut some members of its news partnership team in September, and this week it laid off as many as 45 workers from its Google News team, the Alphabet Workers Union said. (The Information, a tech news website, reported the Google News layoffs earlier.)
“We’ve made some internal changes to streamline our organization,” Jenn Crider, a Google spokeswoman, said in a statement.
The news partnership team was established to forge agreements with publishers and partnerships, and over time it introduced programs to train newsrooms, support the development of news products and respond to governments around the world that have pressed Google to share more revenue with news organizations.
Mr. Zaidi wrote in an internal memo reviewed by The New York Times that the team would be adopting more artificial intelligence. “We had to make some difficult decisions to better position our team for what lies ahead,” he wrote.
Google has been on an A.I. push all year, releasing an A.I. chatbot called Bard in March and offering some users in May a version of its search engine that can generate explanations, poetry and prose above traditional web results. News organizations have expressed concern that these A.I. systems, which can answer users’ questions without their clicking a link, could one day erode traffic to their sites.
Privately, a number of publishers have discussed what a post-Google traffic future may look like, and how to better prepare if Google’s A.I. products become more popular and further bury links to news publications.
Ms. LaFrance said The Atlantic was pushing branded newsletters, its home page and its print magazine. At the end of June, The Atlantic had more than 925,000 paid subscribers across its print and digital products, an increase of 10 percent from a year earlier, the company said.
“Direct connections to your readership are obviously important,” Ms. LaFrance said. “We as humans and readers should not be going only to three all-powerful, attention-consuming megaplatforms to make us curious and informed.”
She added: “In a way, this decline of the social web — it’s extraordinarily liberating.”
Mike Isaac, Katie Robertson and Nico Grant


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More than two years after the Olympic Games were held here, dozens of impossibly accomplished and finely-tuned bodies were back in town Tuesday for the full-contact sport of underwear strutting.
For the first time, Victoria’s Secret brought its annual flagship lingerie show from New York to London’s Earls Court. Despite the Anglo setting, this was not a prim and proper affair.
The show that’s regularly hailed as the sexiest on earth saw the sculpted physiques of more than 40 models (known as Angels) sashay down the catwalk. The strides were of the long, bounding, gazelle-like variety as the Angels navigated more than 100 feet of glittery runway.
The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is being produced by Done and Dusted with Executive Producers Edward G. Razek, Monica Mitro and Ian Stewart and Director Hamish Hamilton.
Victoria’s Secret has revealed a sneak peek of the looks for the London catwalk show which took place today 2 December. The lingerie supremos have released sketches of what the costume themes will be, and it’s set to be a night to remember.
The event will appear on CBS Dec. 9 at 10 p.m. ET.


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We’ve been talking about the Volkswagen ID family for what feels like an eternity, but we’re finally getting a glimpse at an upcoming production model. Previewed by the original ID concept, this prototype is a hatchback that is expected to be called the ID Neo. The model was snapped in South Africa by Twitter user Theo Calitz (@Theolitz) and first noticed by The Drive. While the prototype is heavy camouflaged, we can see it will follow in the footsteps of the concept. Despite this, the hatchback has a rounder front bumper and a more traditional lower air intake. The headlights are also more conventional, but they retain the concept’s distinctive LED daytime running light ring. The profile and greenhouse appear to be nearly identical to the concept, but the production model appears to have a slightly thicker rear pillar. We can also see familiar bodywork, but designers installed traditional side mirrors and door handles. Other notable changes include a larger rear … [Read more...] about VW ID Hatchback Spotted In The Wild, Remains Pretty Faithful To The Concept
When GM announced a major restructuring of its North American plants last month, the company also pledged to double resources allocated to EVs and autonomous cars. If General Motors is truly planning an onslaught of electric vehicles in the U.S., lawmakers want the automaker to commit that it shall build those cars in America. Two U.S. senators from Ohio, the state that hosts the Lordstown Assembly plant scheduled to stop Chevy Cruze production in March 2019, want some answers from GM. In a letter to CEO Mary Barra, Republican Senator Rob Portman and Democrat Sherrod Brown demanded GM to commit to producing all future electric vehicles for American buyers in the U.S. and provide more details of plans to reduce car production in North America. The lawmakers also want to know whether GM will build additional electric passenger cars or shift to electric SUVs and crossovers. The automaker currently builds the Chevrolet Bolt EV (pictured) at the Orion Assembly plant in Michigan, but will … [Read more...] about Ohio Senators Want GM To Build All EVs For The Local Market In The U.S.
Hyundai has announced pricing for the 2019 Kona Electric crossover in the United States and the good news is it starts at just under $30,000 when the maximum available federal tax credit is included. The base price is $36,450, excluding the $1,045 destination and handling charge. Factor in the (still) available federal tax credit of up to $7,500 and you can get a 2019 Kona Electric from $29,995 (including delivery charges). That is undeniably a tempting price for an all-electric vehicle that delivers a 258-mile (415-km) driving range. The Kona Electric beats competitors such as the Chevrolet Bolt EV (238 miles/383 km) and Nissan Leaf (150 miles/241 km). Furthermore, it offers more than twice the driving range of the Ford Focus Electric (115 miles/185 km) and VW e-Golf (125 miles/201 km). The 2019 Kona Electric packs a 64-kWh lithium-ion battery with a high density of 141.3 Wh/kg that feeds electricity to an electric motor delivering 201 hp (204 PS) and 291 lb-ft (394 Nm) of torque. … [Read more...] about 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric Is Your Sub-$30,000 EV
Tesla chief executive Elon Musk really wants to launch a pickup truck. In fact, he is so keen to enter the pickup market that’s he’s considering fast-tracking the launch of the Tesla pickup. Responding to a question on Twitter about when the pickup will be available to order, Musk said that Tesla could unveil a pickup prototype next year. In recent years, Tesla has enjoyed unveiling prototypes of its new models a couple of years before they hit the market. In 2016 and 2017, it did exactly this with the entry-level Model 3, the Tesla Semi, and the all-new Tesla Roadster. Following a similar timeline to these three, the production-spec Tesla Pickup could be expected to launch in 2020 before full-scale production commences in 2021. Musk has been very open about his excitement for the Tesla Pickup in recent months. In early November, Musk told Recode that he is so excited about the vehicle that he’s not even bothered if it fails to sell well. “I’m personally … [Read more...] about Tesla Could Reveal Pickup Truck Prototype Next Year
The Tesla semi is about to face some tough competition as Volvo Trucks has announced its new VNR Electric will be launched in North America in 2020. Based on the Volvo VNR, the electric variant is being billed as a regional hauler that is cleaner and quieter than traditional diesel-powered semis. Volvo didn’t say much about the semi, but it follows in the footsteps of the standard model. However, it has a handful of unique features including an illuminated grille and more aerodynamic bodywork. Speaking of the latter, the truck eschews side-mounted fuel tanks for flat panels which presumably cover the battery pack. While commercial sales won’t begin until 2020, Volvo Trucks will introduce several demonstration units next year. The company is staying tight-lipped on specifics, but said the demonstration units will use an electric powertrain that is based on the “proven propulsion and energy storage technology currently being used in the Volvo FE Electric.” The FE … [Read more...] about Volvo Aims To Beat Tesla To The Punch With Its New VNR Electric Semi


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Allen 8 on 20th Street will reopen before holiday movie season with luxury recliners
Larger seats will mean more intimate experience, shorter lines, local manager says
- The new seating design means there will be a 60-percent decrease in the theater's capacity.
- Movie-goers will choose their seats at ticket purchase, online or at ticket booths.
- The Allen theater in the Animas Valley Mall is not getting new seating, but might get assigned seating soon.
FARMINGTON — The Allen 8 movie theater at 1819 E. 20th St. has closed for major renovations to its eight auditoriums.
Renovations include remodeled hallways, fresh paint, a new tile centerpiece in the lobby and, most notably, new reclining seats.
Phillip Stewart, general manager of Farmington’s Allen theaters, said there will be 528 new luxury electric recliners with swivel trays, wide arm rests and extended leg room installed for a reopening on Nov. 3.
The new seats, which are larger and more comfortable than traditional fixed seats, will mean smaller capacity in individual theaters. There will be a 60-percent decline in total capacity after the remodel, but Stewart said the smaller capacity offers some advantages.
“The larger seats mean less capacity in each theater, and from the customer perspective, it means shorter lines and less waits pretty much around the board,” Stewart said.
The theater has taken potential seat-availability issues into account — all tickets sold at the Allen 8 will be assigned a seat, Stewart said. Ticket booths will have a digital display of the auditorium for patrons to choose their seats, and online ticket sales also will include seating reservation requirements. Ushers will monitor auditoriums to make sure seats and patrons are accounted for.
Ticket prices will increase by $2, with matinees now at $9 and evening shows at $11, Stewart said. An additional $2 surcharge remains for 3D showings.
Though he wouldn’t reveal the exact cost, Russell Allen, president of Allen Theaters Inc., said the renovation costs are substantial — to the tune of “several hundreds of thousands of dollars.” Allen said it’s a worthy investment for the company, and not just in Four Corners.
“We're just trying to give the community the best that’s available in our industry,” Allen said. “Luxury power seating is the next trend in our business, and we’re going to start doing more installs.”
The Allen 8 will be the third of the Allen theaters throughout the state to get a seat upgrade — similar renovations have been finished at the Telshor 12 in Las Cruces and the Galaxy 8 in Roswell, Allen said. The company, which began in Farmington, has 14 theaters in 10 New Mexico cities, plus two theaters in Durango, Colo., according to the company website.
Stewart said the remodel didn’t create any new jobs, and the staff, which consists of 70 to 100 employees at the two local theaters, depending on the season, will remain the same size.
The Allen 8 is one of two Allen theaters in Farmington, including the Animas 10 located in the Animas Valley Mall. The Allen 8 opened in 1995, and the lobby and restrooms were remodeled in 2011, Steward said.
There are no plans for renovations at the Animas 10, which opened in 2006, but Allen said the renovation projects will continue throughout the rest of Allen’s theaters and that it may “swing back around” around to Farmington’s newer theater. However, a change is afoot there, too — Steward said reserved seating likely will begin at the mall theater after the holidays.
The Allen 8 closed Oct. 5 for the renovations, and Stewart said it should reopen by Nov. 3.
Though the shows — starting with the opening of "Thor: Ragnarok" — will go on after the Nov. 3 public reopening, Stewart said a grand reopening event is in the works for the future.
Megan Petersen covers business and education for The Daily Times. Reach her at 505-564-4621.


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ATLANTA, July 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Access Integrated Networks and Birch Telecom announced today that they have unified their brand identity to Birch Communications. Earlier this year the companies announced their merger was complete and have until now been operating under their respective brand names. The two operations announced the official combination of operations under one new brand identity effective July 1, 2008. "This is a landmark event. It brings together the proud heritage of both Access Integrated Networks and Birch Telecom," said Vincent Oddo, president and CEO of Birch Communications. "Over the last 10 years, both companies have each built reputations for delivering great service with a very strong commitment to customer satisfaction. It is on these solid foundations that we are now building the new company with a new brand identity." Birch Communications delivers voice and internet services to small and medium businesses and residential customers in 26 states. The company builds market share by offering services for rates below its larger telecom competitors and with a more personal approach to customer service. Capitalizing on the reputation for excellent customer service, Birch Communications also announces its new tagline, "At Your Service." "Along with our new name and logo, we are pleased to unveil a tagline that represents the true market character of our company - 'At Your Service,'" said Allan Samson, chief sales and marketing officer for Birch. "Customers select Birch Communications because of the affordability of our offerings. Customers stay with Birch Communications because of the service experience that each and every Birch employee brings to meeting the needs of our customers. 'At Your Service' reflects both the internal mission statement and external attributes that have made the company the compelling alternative for thousands of customers over the bureaucratic telecom giants." The new logo updates the trademark Birch leaf and points it upward representing the growth of a company in an industry where many of its peers have fallen back. The font and colors reflect the company's welcoming and accessible personality. The company's re-branded website is available to customers at www.birch.com. "Our current customers can be assured that their products and services will work just like they always have, and that Birch Communications continues to be dedicated to providing them excellent, personalized customer support," added Chris Aversano, chief operating officer at Birch. "Birch Communications, under the new brand, will continue with its aggressive growth strategy which includes additional network and customer base expansion and acquisitions; further development of new and improved products on our owned and operated all-digital network; and, of course we'll continue to focus on providing the personal attention our customers deserve," said Oddo. About Birch Communications Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, Birch Communications is one of the largest competitive local exchange carriers in the 26-state southeast, southwest and midwest regions serving small and medium business customers. Birch was the first in its class to deploy its own private IP network utilizing soft switch technology to deliver innovative, high quality, affordable voice and broadband communications services to small and medium business customers. Please visit www.birch.com for more information.
SOURCE Birch Communications


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Toronto IKEA stores now sell bulk candy
A trip to IKEA isn't complete without a $1 breakfast and a slice of lingonberry pie. But now there's even more than a cheap meal to look forward to when you decide to schlep out to one of Toronto's IKEA locations. That's because the Swedish furniture store now sells "pick-and-mix" bulk candy.
This candy shop concept comes from the Scandinavian Lรถrdagsgodis, or Saturday candy, tradition wherein children were allowed to get a bag of treats from their local store, notes a company news release.
Both Toronto locations currently offer 48 types of imported confections including chocolate, gummies, sours, marshmallows and liquorice. It'll cost you $1.99 per 100 grams.
Will you pick up candy on your next trip to IKEA? Let us know in the comments.
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