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Gap is struggling. CNBC reported that Gap’s stock had fallen by more than 25% over the past year before the coronavirus outbreak. Gap’s former CEO, Art Peck, was fired in November of 2019 after a series of missteps led the brand away from the resurrection the retailer needed. Gap recently furloughed the majority of its employees without pay, but extending health benefits throughout shutdowns. So, what’s the problem with Gap? The standout issue is that its offerings have, for some time now, been undifferentiated from those of Old Navy, its diffusion line.
Fallen from Grace
Sure, Gap was once a gold standard in mall-based retailing, but the brand’s offerings have become “basic” and boring in a fashion era where individuality is the name of the game. It’s dubious whether the legacy retailer will be able to withstand reopening especially during the pandemic. Young consumers need reasons beyond just a well-known brand name to make a purchase. And while Gap’s core audience was once teenagers, the retailer hasn’t carved out a relevant niche for itself with Gen Z. Next Gen consumers demand sustainability and, while Gap does publish a sustainability report, it still doesn’t have sustainable inventory offerings like other mid-tier/fast-fashion retailers such as ASOS or H&M.
Extending the Brand
However, through Gap-owned Intermix’s recent licensing deal with talent and event management company, IMG, the retail conglomerate will try to bring new lifeblood into Gap, Banana Republic, and Janie and Jack. Whether the company is able to achieve this will depend on the relevance and fashion cred of the licensed offerings.
In Gap’s heyday, the retailer wasn’t afraid to take fashion risks to stand out from the herd. Yes, Gap apparel still fell into the “preppy” category, but its iconic rainbow sweater and grass perfume were groundbreaking back in the day.
Let’s take a look at a few of the factors contributing to Gap’s strange descent into becoming Old Navy, as well as what Intermix needs to avoid when striving to differentiate the brands in its portfolio in the future.
Failure to Differentiate Style and Price Point
The race-to-the-bottom wasn’t kind to Gap. The retailer struggled to retain sales as its customer base began to favor discount stores over full-priced fashion brands. With the advent of ecommerce, customers started going to malls looking for a standout shopping experience. Gap’s response to this was heavy discounting which, as we’ve seen from other mall-based retailers that have faced the same struggles (Victoria’s Secret, Express, J.Crew, The Limited, etc.), doesn’t work for long. In 2019, Gap saw its largest sales decline, with a seven percent decline in comparable sales. Sales at Old Navy and Banana Republic also sank by four percent and three percent, respectively.
Instead of refocusing on manufacturing and marketing quality goods, Gap doubled down on discounting boring merchandise. It’s important to note here that in Gap’s heyday, the retailer wasn’t afraid to take fashion risks to stand out from the herd. Yes, Gap apparel still fell into the “preppy” category, but its iconic rainbow sweater and grass perfume were groundbreaking back in the day. But there’s nothing to differentiate the retailer in the past decade. Instead of following in J.Crew’s footsteps with a Madewell-esque brand that’s focused on quality, Gap and Gap subsidiaries have been going down-market.
Gap’s price points are now nearly undifferentiable from Old Navy: Women’s pants at Old Navy are about $20-$40 before coupons, women’s pants at Gap are about $25-$50 before coupons. There are no distinctive details to any of the fashions–– if they were bought at Gap, at Old Navy, or on Groupon for $3––nobody would be able to tell the difference. In an era of brand distinction and experimentation, Gap brands are amalgamating. Pamela Danziger put it perfectly when she said, “Old Navy is perceived as Gap-lite.’
So, will Gap’s new licensed apparel give it a leg-up on Old Navy’s (relatively basic) unlicensed gear? And is Gap’s current CEO the right frontwoman to elevate the brand?
New Gap CEO… from Old Navy
So, who did Gap choose to replace Art Peck after the long-time CEO’s departure? The former CEO of Old Navy, Sonia Syngal, of course. This is a dubious move considering the fact that Old Navy hasn’t exactly been killing it lately in the sales department. And a refocus on developing targeted fashion for Gap’s core customer base doesn’t sound like it’s on Syngal’s list of top priorities.
CNBC published a statement by Syngal about her plans for the Gap brand. “I’m committed to fully realizing the potential of our portfolio and the advantage of our scale,” Syngal said. “With a focus on strengthening the love that our millions of customers have for our brands. To do that, we must better prioritize initiatives and capabilities that will improve execution and drive value creation.”
“The advantage of our scale?” “Value creation?” Now call me a skeptic, but that sounds a lot like discounting. Based on Old Navy’s existing retail model (which has recently been bleeding profits), it doesn’t look probable that the “value creation” Syngal mentioned refers to improving product quality, tailoring Gap’s apparel and accessory offerings, turning employees into brand advocates, or strengthening its sustainability initiative––all of which will be necessary if Gap leadership wants to tap into its next-gen consumer base once all of this is over.
Logo Diffusion and Confusion
At this point you may be asking, “what about the millennials?” You would think that Gap could follow in the footsteps of Delia’s, Caboodles and Urban Outfitters, by tapping into that oh-so lucrative revenue stream that comes from millennial nostalgia. But when former Gap CMO, Alegra O’ Hare tried to revive Gap’s iconic logo sweater from the 90s, and making customers take notice proved to be easier said than done. This is because the Gap logo no longer carries the clout it once did.
While Delia’s and Caboodles were relatively nonexistent until their resurrection a few years ago, consumers have witnessed Gap’s gradual decline and discounting of logo products. In a ridiculous move back in 2010, Gap even tried to redesign their traditional logo (to the shock and horror of many a millennial consumer who grew up on the brand). The Gap brand has been there the whole time––through the race-to-the bottom, the rise of ecommerce and the shift in young consumers’ purchasing priorities––but its journey hasn’t been pretty. The cold, hard truth? Nobody wants to wear a Gap logo sweater anymore. Especially not now, when utilitarian merchandise reigns supreme.
It remains to be seen what type of licensed merchandise is going to be added to Gap and Banana Republic with the new IMG deal, but it needs to be fashion to curb the brands’ down-market trajectory.
What it Would Take for a Turnaround
Gap needs to get cool again, but how? Much like the present-day customer journey, the retailer needs to start online. Not by trying to revive its old denim value proposition on Instagram (when the reality is that many of its discounted products don’t withstand the test of time), but by listening to what Gen Z and millennial customers really want: Quality-driven value, ethical treatment of employees and an eco-conscious manufacturing process. Sustainability and functionality are the new cool. Whether Gap gets there through a slow return to more conscious manufacturing processes or creates a Madewell-esque spinoff brand with a better reputation, the way forward is a return to full-price (and full quality).
Gap corporate’s energies would be better focused on responding to customer demand, rather than trying to make big moves like selling off Old Navy. It’s Gap’s ability to respond to these demands through its manufacturing process and maintenance of its relationships with furloughed employees that will determine whether the retailer makes a comeback, or just becomes synonymous with its diffusion line.


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It is the holy grail for smartphones: a screen that really can not be broken at all. That and a battery life of two weeks, but it is not that far yet. Although the screens of smartphones and tablets are becoming increasingly robust no one has managed to produce that unbreakable screen. Now, however, Samsung claims that their new flexible screen without glass can not be destroyed .
The screen is an OLED that is flexible and that does not have a glass plate over it. Instead, the display is coated with a specific kind of transparent plastic that feels like glass but can not break like glass. In addition, the material is also a lot lighter, which is certainly an important fact for smartphones. The screen is apparently so robust that renowned test lab UL could not break the screen with all standard tests for the US Army.
The screen has been able to stay upright even in even worse conditions. After being dropped 26 times from 1.2 meters, the screen was also thrown on the ground from 1.8 meters high without getting any damage. Even extreme temperatures can not endure: testing between -32 and 71 degrees did not cause any problems. Compare that with the tests of the brand new Gorilla Glass 6 and then this screen wins with ease, although long-term tests have to show whether the screen does not break eventually and what exactly happens.
If the screen is really as good as Samsung says, you can expect to see it on almost all things with a screen that does not stand on one foot or screwed on a wall. It all sounds impressive, but Samsung Display has not yet said whether this type of screen is even close to mass production.
An end to the fear of falling?
In the worst case, that means we have to wait a few more years before we can really experience this discovery. You can say that when this screen comes on the market, it will first be in a Samsung phone. Maybe this is the type of screen Samsung is going to use in their foldable Galaxy X phone. Precisely for such a device, a screen like this would be ideal, depending on how far the screen can bend.
It’s all very exciting, because when Samsung finally has found a way to make a nice screen that does not need glass, that’s the beginning of a development that will keep us from becoming anxious about five years from now. with our phones to have to go. Can those sloppy cases also enter the kliko.

domain: news


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Remember Immortals Of Aveum? It’s one of the many world premier reveals at the Game Awards 2022 that teased some magical gauntlet. That upcoming game by new developer team Ascendant Studio and published under EA Originals will be getting a new trailer this week.
Over on Twitter, the Immortals Of Aveum Twitter account has given a short tease on what to expect from this game, described as a magic-shooter with some words from the game director.
Game director Brett Robins previously worked at EA on Dead Space, and then later on moved to Sledgehammer Games where he was involved in the creation of Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 3, Call Of Duty Advance Warfare and Call Of Duty WWII. That should give some context why he imagined helicopters being swapped with dragons and RPG shells replaced with magic spells.
The new trailer will be live on April 13- specifically 12 AM April 14 for Malaysia, +8 GMT.
Immortals Of Aveum is targeting a 2023 release on PS4, PC and Xbox Series X|S.


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A new report states that NBC spent $195 million in July 2012 in order to take over the half of MSNBC.com that it didn't already own from Microsoft, which terminated the two companies' partnership.
The Oukitel C3 is an entry level device that ticks all the right boxes
Windows 10 Insider Preview build 14372 out now for PC and Mobile
Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview build 14367 now on the Slow ring
The Dell XPS 12 is a 2-in-1 Surface Pro competitor that falls just short of the mark
Nokia Lumia Icon to finally receive Windows 10 Mobile
When will Android updates end for your Nexus device?
A new report claims that Microsoft could sell off its remaining stake in the MSNBC.com website to NBC and its parent company Comcast, but still have placement on the MSN.com site.
Microsoft has confirmed it is launching a number of new video and audio services via Xbox Live today, including the long awaited YouTube support.
MSNBC.com, an Internet news unit owned by Microsoft and General Electric's NBC, said Monday that it is laying off 9 percent of its roughly 200 staffers as it cuts costs amid the economic downturn. ...


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U.S. in Eleventh-Hour Talks on Third-World-Market Access
MARRAKECH, Morocco -- The U.S. is engaged in discreet bilateral diplomacy on the sidelines of the Uruguay Round summit here in a last-minute bid to extract better market access terms from developing nations, particularly India and Pakistan, for U.S....
MARRAKECH, Morocco -- The U.S. is engaged in discreet bilateral diplomacy on the sidelines of the Uruguay Round summit here in a last-minute bid to extract better market access terms from developing nations, particularly India and Pakistan, for U.S. textiles and apparel, according to trade sources.
Trade ministers from 121 countries have been gathered here for a four-day conference through Thursday to sign off on the GATT Uruguay Round trade liberalization accords. Main negotiations for the accords were completed last December.
The inability of negotiators to gain more market access for U.S. goods into India and Pakistan has been a sore point in the U.S. textile and apparel industries, which threaten to oppose the GATT treaty when it comes before Congress for approval.
On Tuesday, Mickey Kantor, U.S. Trade Representative, told reporters here that the U.S. was "not satisfied with the market access offers of either Pakistan or India in the Round."
"We believe that neither has lived up to its responsibilities in the Round, as yet," he said. "We are trying to work with both countries in order to improve their offers, but so far we have been disappointed."
Kantor is scheduled to meet here today with his Indian and Indonesian counterparts and will also meet with ministers from the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum.
However, U.S. officials declined to state whether the American delegation, which includes chief textile negotiator Jennifer Hillman, will demand that India make its textile and apparel offers more liberal.
Talks on this issue ended in deadlock a few weeks ago in Geneva, after India said that before it could agree to grant the U.S. better terms for specialty garments and value-added upmarket products, Washington had to be more forthcoming in granting India better quotas.
Sources close to the Indian delegation said they are not likely to take the initiative in reviving the textile access issues.
The Indians are more likely to use the meeting to express their concerns about attempts to link labor standards with trade.
The U.S. delegation was also tightlipped on whether it was close to brokering an accord with Pakistan. Unlike India, Pakistan did not break off the talks but has been waiting for the U.S. to come back with a counteroffer to improve access of its goods to the U.S. market, before it decides whether a deal can be cut.
My character, Dinah Madani, is just the coolest, [most] badass woman imaginable," says @amberroserevah. The actress stars in @marvel's newest series on @netflix, @thepunisher. To prepare for her role, Revah sat down with Homeland agents to get a real sense of with Dinah's day-to-day life is really like. Read our full interview on WWD.com. #wwdeye (📷: @jilliansollazzo)
A scene from the 91st annual @macys Thanksgiving Day Parade. The parade, which boasts 50 million TV viewers and 3.5 million on-site spectators, is considered one of the largest and most watched parades in the world. (📷: Jason Szenes/EPA-REX)
The circus came to @bloomingdales 59th Street on Tuesday night and lit up Lexington Avenue with acrobatic dancers, death-defying knife throwing, sword swallowing and aerial acts with no net. The 45 minutes of theatrics built up to unveiling the holiday windows depicting @swarovski crystal-encrusted circus pieces and scenes from “The Greatest Showman” – songs from the soundtrack included. See the rest of the photos on WWD.com #wwdfashion (📷: Joshua Scott)
The psychedelic fashion that pervaded the ’60s is back with an exhibit at the @museumofcityny. “Mode New York: Fashion Takes a Trip” chronicles the changing styles from 1960 through 1973 and features designers such as @ysl, @oscardelarenta and more. The exhibition, which is on display through April 1, is organized into four periods: First Lady Fasion, Youthquake, New Bohemia and New Nonchalance. Pictured here is model Pat Bardonella during the Garvey Day Parade in 1968. (📷: @kwamebphoto) #wwdeye #wwdfashion
“People should be a lot more honest in expressing both the dark and light of themselves. We need to give each other the space to do that because it’s the only way we can grow and evolve,” says @noelwells of her new film “Mr. Roosevelt,” which is largely based on her own struggles. Unexpectedly leaving @nbcsnl in 2014 after just one season, Wells felt set back in her self-esteem and career trajectory. She quickly refocused her energy to more personal projects, which led to the completion of “Mr. Roosevelt.” Read the rest of WWD’s interview with the “Master of None” actress on WWD.com #wwdeye (📷: @jilliansollazzo)
@barbrastreisand is giving fans a chance to see her perform up close in a new concert series, which makes its debut on @Netflix today. From behind-the-scenes takes to her concert performance in Miami last December, the two-hour streaming special captures Streisand in her element. Pictured here is the singer/actress photographed for WWD in 1963. (📷: Palmieri Tony) #wwdeye #wwdarchive
@chanel and @pharrell dropped what’s being dubbed as the world’s most exclusive sneakers yesterday. The Adidas Originals NMD Hu, which Williams designed in collaboration with Chanel and @adidasoriginals, has a waiting list of over 120K people who pre-registered online at chanelatcolette.fr –– and only 500 pairs are on sale. The singer predicted the resale value of the shoes could reach $40K. Read the full interview on WWD.com. Link in bio. #wwdfashion (📷: Dominique Maître)
@imanshumpert is diving deeper into his creative endeavors and relaunching his clothing line, Post 90s, and is helping to raise money for the hurricane victims in St. Maarten with a jersey he’s designed with his brother. The Cleveland Cavaliers player talked to WWD about kneeling during the national anthem, working with fashion brands and how he wants to be more than an @nba player. Read the interview on WWD.com #wwdfashion (📷: George Chinese)


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Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) reported on Saturday that 417 stolen cell phones had been found in Nyeri County.
The agency also disclosed in a statement that it had taken into custody a 32-year-old man who was suspected of stealing the cell phones.
The middle-aged man was taken into custody after detectives conducted an impromptu raid into his electronics shop, where several items had been hidden, according to the agency’s statement.
The agency added that the two men’s interrogation after being apprehended by Nyeri-based detectives for stealing cell phones from customers in Gatitu, Nyeri, was immediately followed by their recovery and arrest.
Officers also found a printer, 47 SIM cards, two TV sets, three laptops, and two cameras during the raid.
The three will be detained by the police for the weekend, according to DCI, and charged when they are arraigned in court on Monday.
The incident occurred just one week after detectives raided several Eldoret stores on October 24 in an operation that resulted in the recovery of various electronic items.
Eldoret Township’s Petresha Building is home to an electronics store where 56 cell phones, 45 TVs, and 41 laptops were found.
The items were recovered after raids on several electronic repair shops that were thought to be selling stolen goods.


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Just in time for the beginning of the year, AGPU welcomes a first new member, Polysecure GmbH from Freiburg. The company offers solutions for plagiarism protection, product authentication, material detection and marking.
At the end of last year, Polysecure Managing Director Jochen Mößlein received the StartGreen Award 2017. Together with REHAU, his company has developed a process for the separation of glass-fibre-containing PVC regrind. The company is also working with the Green Dot on a joint project to significantly increase the mechanical recycling rate of plastic packaging in the future.


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Mosaic Brands has returned to earnings growth despite faltering sales, clocking in a net profit figure of $2.7 million – 101 per cent up on last year – despite revenue falling 3.8 per cent during the year to 27 June.
Online sales also hit a new high of $111 million, up 19 per cent on the same period of last year.
Group chief executive Scott Evans said the business was incredibly pleased with the result, which came about after Mosaic Brands took actions to “reset the entire group for the future”.
“The benefits of these actions became evident in the fourth quarter, which delivered our second most profitable Q4 on record with comparable sales growth of 27.9 per cent and comparable margin growth of 33 per cent, against a backdrop of subdued sentiment amongst our core customer group due to Covid-19.”
And, while it said it had ended the financial year in a net positive cash position, the group has entered a trading halt in order to undertake a capital raising over the next few days in order to strengthen its balance sheet – given the uncertainty the current trading conditions create.
The first weeks of the new financial year have been difficult for Mosaic Brands, with the momentum gained in FY21 stalling due to widespread lockdowns.
“For the entire retail sector, it’s critical that by late October, stores nationally are able to open and be trading again,” said Mosaic Brands chairman Richard Facioni.
“From supply chain logistics to consumer and national sentiment, ongoing internal borders beyond this timeframe will leave lasting scars.”


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New Stovetop Technology to Reduce Fire Risk
Coming soon: All new electric stovetops will come with a built-in sensor that will shut off burners before they reach the temperature at which grease catches fire.
This new shut-off capability comes courtesy of researchers at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and will be a standard feature on all new electric stovetops soon (the date is still to be determined). According to NFPA data, two-thirds of stovetop fires occur when food or cookware catches fire, resulting in annual property damage of $853 million.
With funding from National Institute of Standards and Technology, NFPA’s Fire Protection Research Foundation worked with the cooking, appliance and insurance industries and the Consumer Product Safety Commission to determine the precise shut-off moment. The research took into account different cooking oils and pan materials and sizes.
Current shut-off technology options, such as motion sensors to turn off unattended stoves, are available as retrofits but do not come built into new stovetops. Electric coil cooktops that are already in use will not have to be retrofitted with this new shut-off technology.


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New Zealand Manuka Honey Company and Buyers From Large and Small Retail Chains to Attend ‘Healthy Living, Vitamins, and Nutrition Program”
/EIN News/ — PALM BEACH, FL, March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tahi Honey, the makers of 100 percent pure Manuka honey, will highlight its product line at next week’s ECRM’s “Healthy Living, Vitamin, and Nutrition Program.”
Hailing from a remote location in New Zealand, Tahi’s pure, potent, biodiversity-positive honey has a unique, delicious taste all of its own. Made from the nectar of New Zealand’s native mānuka and wildflowers, Tahi honey is carbon neutral and fully traceable, with absolutely, passionately no GMOs, GE, added sugar or water, and nothing artificial. Ever.
“We are excited that our representatives will promote our luxury Manuka honey from New Zealand to retailers in the United States,” says Suzan Craig, founder and director of Tahi New Zealand. “We are launching Tahi honey in the United States this year, and ECRM gives us a platform to meet with retail buyers from across America.”
Manuka, which has been used for centuries in traditional remedies, is considered the superfood of honey because it contains a higher concentration of its antibacterial component: methylglyoxal.
Coinciding with the ECRM event, Craig says OneLavi.com, a popular health and wellness site, now carries Tahi products.
Tahi has been in the news recently not only because OneLavi.com now carries its product line, but because Luxury Lifestyle Awards recently named Tahi Honey the Best Luxury Honey in the world.
Tahi honey varieties available on OneLavi.com include:
- Tahi Manuka Multifloral Honey MGO 80+, 400gm, which has a sweet, smooth, and mildly tangy taste.
- Tahi Manuka lozenges, which has a delicious soothing with a sweet yet slightly tangy taste. Tahi Manuka honey lozenges are 100 percent UMF™ 15+ Manuka honey with no added water, sugar, or anything artificial.
- Tahi UMF 5+ 250gm Manuka honey, certified as authentic New Zealand Manuka honey, containing all the unique and natural properties that make Manuka honey popular worldwide.
- Tahi Beelicious Honey (Bee) 250gm/400gm, which has a tasty blend that kids will love.
Honey with a purpose
As well as producing honey, Tahi is an award-winning, ecologically-conscious nature sanctuary and eco-retreat. Being 100% Full Circle guides Tahi in everything they do. 100% of the profits from every purchase directly contribute to culture, community and award-winning conservation projects. Visit tahinz.com.
Helping nature to help itself
At Tahi, we’re passionate about biodiversity. So far, we’ve planted 350,000 trees, restored 14 wetlands, and protected numerous streams and sand dunes. 15 years of science-based ecosystem restoration has already achieved amazing results like the return of many bird species—from 14 to 71, of which 22 are endangered.
Recently Tahi was named the Supreme Winner of New Zealand’s prestigious Sustainable Business Awards, 2020 (recognizing a business that puts restoration at the heart of its sustainability journey). Tahi honey was also voted the Best Luxury Honey in the world in the 2020 Luxury Lifestyle Awards.
Why everyone’s abuzz about Tahi honey…
For centuries, honey has been used in traditional healing remedies in many cultures. And recent research highlights its healing properties, suggesting that honey beats antibiotics and other over-the-counter medications for relieving coughs, sore throats, and colds1.
Luckily, you can now reap all the benefits of Tahi honey in a delicious lozenge – 100% Mānuka UMF 15+ Lozenges can help soothe coughs, colds, and sore throats, as well as offering a natural energy boost.
(1. Oxford University study, August 2020: honey beats antibiotics and other over-the-counter medications for relieving coughs, sore throats, and colds.)
Tahi, which packs its honey onsite in New Zealand, is certified by the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) rating, which is a scientifically developed scale for rating Manuka honey’s potency. The UMF rating ensures the Manuka honey consumers are buying is 100 percent pure.
“2021 is an exciting year for Tahi. We are looking forward to adding more retail outlets for Tahi, and making it readily available to American consumers,” Craig adds.
To purchase Tahi, visit OneLavi.com.
Robert Grant Tahi 561-421-3045 firstname.lastname@example.org


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Silversea Cruises’ new ship Silver Dawn touched h2o for the first time Thursday for the duration of its float-out at the Fincantieri shipyard in Ancona, Italy. The fitting-out stage will now begin—during which Fincantieri’s craftspeople will provide the ship’s interiors to life. Silver Dawn will grow to be the 10th ship in the luxurious cruise line’s fleet. Silver Dawn’s shipping and delivery in November 2021 follows Silver Origin and Silver Moon, which have been each released in 2020.
The 3rd ship in the Muse-course series, and aspect of a very long-phrase system to improve and increase the cruise line’s fleet, Silver Dawn will be a sister ship to Silversea’s Silver Muse, crafted in the Fincantieri shipyard of Sestri Ponente (Genoa) in April 2017, and Silver Moon, which was delivered in Ancona in October 2020. With that claimed, Roberto Martinoli, president and CEO of Silversea Cruises, in a press announcement included, “While Silver Dawn takes affect from our beloved ships Silver Muse and Silver Moon, our visitors will profit from many groundbreaking enhancements aboard the tenth ship in our fleet.”
Accommodating just 596 visitors in 298 ocean-perspective suites—96 percent of which will have a non-public veranda—and a crew-to-visitor ratio of 1-to-1.45. The new enhancements will be disclosed in the coming months, Martinoli said.
Its inaugural sailing will be November 9 from Barcelona to possibly Lisbon (10 days) or Fort Lauderdale (23 days). Stops incorporate Palma de Mallorca, Valencia, Cartagena, Malaga, Cádiz, Casablanca, Tangier and Lisbon the extension also includes Funchal, Madeira and Santa Cruz de La Palma, Canary Islands, before arriving in Florida.
Out there in a a single- or two-bed room alternative, the Owner’s Suite is the top digs onboard. Friends can expect a massive seating, geared up with a Bose audio process, an interactive 55-inch Television and even an Illy espresso equipment, as very well as a independent dining place, wander-in wardrobes, a marble lavatory with a complete-dimension tub and different clearly show, a big teak veranda with patio furniture.
Ships of Dreams: New Cruises on the Waterways
Uniworld Announces Oberammergau Extension for 2022
Seabourn Releases Freshly Revised, 7-Day Alaska and BC Itineraries
Crystal Experiences Crystal Endeavor Is on Timetable for ’21 Supply


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Can Avago Technologies Ride The Apple Supplier Wave?
Avago Technologies Ltd (NASDAQ: AVGO) closed up more than 7 percent Wednesday and jumped another 2 percent in after hours trading, but the company’s future might be hindered by its limited exposure to Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL).
Sean Udall, CIO of Quantum Trading Strategies and author of The TechStrat Report, told Benzinga that he believes Avago is more diversified than Qorvo Inc (NASDAQ: QRVO), Cirrus Logic, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRUS) and Skyworks Solutions Inc (NASDAQ: SWKS). This could work in Avago’s favor if Apple and Google Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG) continue to fluctuate.
If Apple dominates the smartphone business, however, diversified suppliers may not perform as well as those who focus their efforts on Apple.
“I used to trade Avago when it was a $30 to $40 stock,” said Udall. “I like it to a point. I wasn’t as close to the name as some other names, like Skyworks, which I was really bullish on for the better part of a couple years.”
Udall said it is “possible” that Avago has “20 to 25 percent exposure to Apple,” but he thinks it is a “little bit lower.”
“In general, their smartphone exposure is a little lower than some of these smartphone stocks,” Udall explained. “None of these guys say [they supply for] Apple. They all say ‘high-end smartphones’ or ‘North American exposure.’ But Avago is a little harder to read.”
Avago reported a Q2 EPS of $2.24 versus the Street estimate of $2.14. Sales arrived at $1.735 billion versus $1.74 billion.
“Their quarter was pretty good,” Udall added. “I think they guided pretty strongly last quarter. Here’s how I would read this: the fact that everybody thought the world was ending and everybody thinks the Chinese market is this huge detriment…the fact that Avago just guided in-line sort of says that business is probably pretty good.”
That said, Udall doesn’t believe Avago’s rise has anything to do with earnings.
“The stock has come from $150 to $100,” he said. “Once a stock, even an expensive stock, drops 50 points (or 35 percent), it’s just not as expensive anymore. I think the stock was up today because it got hit so hard. The stock’s not up a ton after hours. I think people were hoping for more, because Avago has reported some hellacious beats in the past.”
Global Equities Research analyst Trip Chowdhry told Benzinga that investors may have “overcorrected” Avago.
“It seems like the pessimism that investors may have felt on Apple and its suppliers is not that serious at all,” said Chowdhry. “If you look at Avago, they just missed [sales], it’s not that serious. The impact from China is less severe than many people have been assuming. I think. Based on the numbers Avago put in, it could recover the decline in value.”
Chowdhry said the company might recover in the next 90 days.
Disclosure: At the time of this writing, Louis Bedigian had no position in the equities mentioned in this report.
© 2021 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.


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WorldFood Moscow the largest trade show of food and drinks began its work
WorldFood Moscow International Food & Drink Exhibition, the largest in Russia autumn exhibition of global food and drink products, will be for the first time hosted in Crocus Expo September 24 through 27, 2019.
WorldFood Moscow is a major exhibition serving the global food and drinks industry. Since its inception in 1991, it has grown to become the entry point for international manufacturers looking to enter the vibrant Russian market. Every year, the event connects thousands of businesses from around the world with Russia's key food and drink buyers, including retail representatives from Russia’s leading supermarket chains, wholesalers, HoReCa sector members, and food manufacturers. WorldFood Moscow is the best Food & Drink exhibition in Russia in the “International Recognition” nomination based on the results of the Russian National Exhibition Rating 2016–2017.
One can find potential partners among more than 1,500 leading companies from 65 countries and 40 Russian regions - as well as meeting existing contacts, keeping up with industry developments, and learning from our range of inspiring speakers. The exhibit space will comprise more than 50 000 sq m this year. More than 500 companies will display their products for the first time. More than 60 % of the exposition are occupied by national pavilions.
WorldFood Moscow is supported by The State Duma and the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, Federal and regional ministries of agriculture of the Russian Federation, Ministry of industry and trade, Moscow Government, trade unions and associations, international organizations.
See you in Crocus Expo!
Back to the list


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Apple may be exploring the possibility of larger iPad Pros, 14″ and even 16″
Apple’s financial report for the second quarter of 2021 showed that revenues from sales of Macs and iPads increased significantly compared to last year – Macs were up to $ 9.10 billion. (+ 70.1% year-over-year), iPads were close behind with $ 7.8 billion. (+ 78.9%).
So Apple has to think of ways to keep growth going, and one option could be iPads in giant sizes. Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman daydreamed of 14 “and even 16” iPads in his weekly Switch on newsletter. But it is more than wishful thinking.
According to Gurman, engineers and designers at Apple are investigating the possibilities for larger iPads. However, it will be a long dream as they will not arrive for several years.
Apple’s immediate concern is to complete the update of the iPad Pro series by 2022. Only the 12.9 “model, which was launched with a mini” LED screen, the 11 “, was missed due to lack of supply. These 14 ”and 16” mini-LED panels will also go to the new MacBooks expected later this year.
Once the supply chain for them gets on its feet, Apple could start thinking about increasing the capacity to also have enough panels for larger iPad pros. Or that step may never come – companies build prototypes to explore different options, only some of them are considered good enough to become real products.
The continued convergence of iPadOS and macOS and the switch to Apple M1 chipsets for both, as well as the introduction of the magic keyboard, have really blurred the lines between iPad Pros and MacBooks. However, the largest iPad Pro has a 12.9 ”screen, smaller than the smallest MacBook currently available (13.3”).
As Gurman points out, iPadOS still lags behind macOS in terms of app support and how it handles multitasking. The ability to run macOS apps on the iPad with freely changeable windows can really transform the Apple tablets.


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Intel Corp. and Symantec Corp. executives touted the benefits of application virtualization in a roundtable discussion with reporters Thursday in San Francisco.
Virtualization at the application level separates the application from the operating system, preventing applications from modifying system files and avoiding DLL conflicts, said Mike Ferron-Jones, marketing manager at Intel. The technology allows applications to run on clients and be administered from a central location.
“It’s a great way to deploy applications in a way that eliminates the root cause of many helpdesk calls,” he said.
Application virtualization offers IT organizations the ability to save money and maintain control over licensing and patching while giving end users the mobility and performance they need, Ferron-Jones and Brian Duckering, senior product marketing manager in the Endpoint Virtualization Group at Symantec said.
“You can strike a balance between the user and IT needs,” Duckering said.
Virtualization, however, doesn’t eliminate security problems, the executives said.
“An unpatched virtual application is just as vulnerable as an unpatched local application,” Ferron-Jones said.
Duckering cautioned that companies shouldn’t deploy virtualization just for the sake of it. “Understand why you’re doing it and what you’re trying to accomplish.”
Symantec is working on a virtualized security system for Intel’s vPro platform, but a published report last summer said licensing issues were delaying its release. The system will be isolated from the primary OS with the goal of making it tamper resistant.
In a statement Friday, Symantec said customers have been beta testing the first version of the virtual security system and “that customer input will be used for virtual security solutions going forward, but we do not have any dates set for a product release yet.” The company said it’s continuing to work with Intel and its vPro platform from an endpoint management standpoint.


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The rise of the rouble amid the Ukraine invasion
- The Russian rouble has staged an impressive recovery after it lost about half of its value in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
- The currency has recovered almost all of the losses it incurred following the invasion and has thus, surprised many who had predicted a further fall in its value.
What kind of sanctions were imposed on Russia?
Sanctions were imposed on the Russian economy by Western governments right after Russia invaded Ukraine in late February.
- Sanctions included cutting off many Russian banks from the SWIFT payments signalling system and also freezing the Russian central bank’s foreign reserves held abroad.
- Many western companies including oil majors such as British Petroleum and Shell also pulled out of Russia amid pressure from Western governments.
- Sanctions basically made it harder for Russian businesses to sell their goods abroad and also made it harder for ordinary Russians to purchase goods from abroad.
- Rouble experienced a sharp hit right leading many to believe that the Russian economy had been brought to its knees.
- It took about 81 roubles to purchase a US dollar one day before Russian forces invaded Ukraine on February 24. A couple of weeks later, it took 151 roubles to purchase a US dollar, marking the rouble’s low since the beginning of the war. This week, it takes about 83 Russian roubles to buy a US dollar.
- The rouble has, thus, recovered pretty much all of the losses that it incurred in the aftermath of the war.
What’s driving the rouble’s sharp recovery?
The price or exchange value of any currency is determined by the supply and demand for the currency.
- Through sanctions, dollars flowing into Russia were made harder, either in the form of investments or by the purchase of Russian goods.
- Sanctions on the Russian central bank also made sure that the Bank of Russia could not flood the currency market with US dollars to prop up the value of the rouble.
- The demand for foreign goods and assets, however, remained stable and when combined with a drop in the inflow of dollars, it caused the value of the rouble to fall in the initial weeks of the war.
- The Russian central bank was able to counter this negative trend in the forex market that had caused the rouble’s value to plunge against the US dollar.
- It managed to do this primarily through capital controls that aim to increase demand for roubles and reduce the demand for dollars.
- Bank of Russia ordered Russian energy exporters, who still had access to US dollars, thanks to exceptions in Western sanctions to Russian energy exports, to use 80% of their forex holdings to purchase roubles.
- It ordered Russian brokers to not allow foreigners to sell their assets in Russia; to prevent the outflow of capital which would further depreciate the rouble as investors sell their roubles to purchase dollars.
- The Russian central bank’s decision to raise its benchmark interest rate to 20% could have also helped draw some foreign investment that propped up the exchange value of the rouble.
What lies ahead?
- Capital controls imposed by the Russian central bank, including the use of dollars earned by selling Russia’s huge energy reserves to prop up the rouble, may help in shoring up the rouble but this respite for the rouble may be temporary.
- It should be noted that capital controls affect the free flow of capital and could have serious implications for Russia’s future economic growth since investors are generally wary of investing in economies that do not allow the free exit of capital.
- It should also be remembered that the Russian economy is poorer due to the exit of foreign businesses and the boycott of the Russian economy by the West.
- Exchange rate
- Monetary policies
Q. Sanctions were imposed on the Russian economy by Western governments right after Russia invaded Ukraine. Discuss the impact of sanctions on the Russian economy and why economic sanctions are likely to be even less effective against Russia in 2022?


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The division develops and manufactures starters and alternators
for passenger cars and commercial vehicles which help reduce fuel consumption, for example as part of the start-stop system.
manufacturer Stamford has launched two new products at the Middle East Electricity exhibition being held in Dubai.
After troubleshooting with manufacturer's service department, unit shorted internally, which the manufacturer would not warranty because they said the alternator
was at fault.
Once the battery does its job starting the engine, a healthy alternator
keeps it charged, while powering the electrical system even at low engine RPM.
The four major components include a vehicle alternator
with a built-in voltage regulator, a General Motors (GM) fan and clutch assembly (I used one from a 1988 GM 350 motor), a tower or pole on which to mount the generator (15 feet of used 2-inch tubing cost me $20), and the metal to build a bracket for mounting the generator on the tower or pole.
This is the latest move in an ongoing expansion of MEAA's North American market, the company said and added that MEAA began producing these alternators
at its plant in Mason, Ohio, in 2014 and the new additions will increase the production capacity for core parts used in these alternators
Using our alternator
example, If Industry developed new, low-friction bearings for the alternator
(thereby reducing fuel consumption), how would the PM desire to take advantage of this new technology* The choice--buy new alternators
or buy new bearings and rebuild the existing alternators
with government assets--will determine what technical data are required to be delivered to enable the desired upgrade approach.
can fail, causing the 3.6-liter V6 engines to stall unexpectedly.
The primary raw materials used in LT AC brushless alternators
are copper and steel.
Toyota has commissioned an automotive alternator
maker in Japan to accept Actron's product samples, Lu said, and Toyota will immediately adopt Actron's parts when samples are certified.
"The Power 450 is effectively four alternators
in one," said Mark Bader, EMP's director of new products and a technical engineering manager.
A LOW-COST and compact alternative to conventional alternators
will help reduce car emissions from next year.
Kariya, Nov 7, 2008 - (JCN Newswire) - DENSO Corporation today announced that it will consolidate its manufacturing operations of starters and alternators
in Europe to DENSO Manufacturing Italia S.p.A.
This focuses on such things as alternators
, batteries, architectures, converters, pumps, compressors, etc.


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Attributing the rise in inflation to supply-side frictions, Chief Economic Adviser K V Subramanian has exuded confidence that retail inflation will come down in the days ahead with the easing of lockdowns. According to the government data, retail inflation rose to 6.93 per cent in July, mainly driven by rising prices of food items like vegetables, pulses, meat and fish. However, wholesale price-based inflation declined 0.58 per cent in July, even as food items turned costlier.
"If you look at inflation...it's primarily because of those supply-side frictions, but as local lockdowns are actually being reduced, these frictions should basically go down," he told PTI. "Overall, the difference between wholesale and retail inflation is primarily due to supply-side factors which should decrease and therefore going forward even the retail inflation should ease," Subramanian said.
There are fears that retail inflation would remain at an elevated level during the rest of the year limiting the scope for the RBI to further ease the benchmark interest rate. The six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) headed by the RBI Governor has been given the mandate to maintain annual retail inflation at 4 per cent until March 31, 2021, with an upper tolerance of 6 per cent and a lower tolerance of 2 per cent.
Retail inflation so far has been in the tolerance range of MPC except for breach in July. In June, retail inflation was 6.09 per cent. At the same time, WPI inflation in June was at (-) 1.81 per cent, while for the month of May and April it was (-) 3.37 per cent and (-) 1.57 per cent respectively.
As far as growth is concerned, India's economy suffered its worst slump on record in April-June, with the gross domestic product (GDP) contracting by 23.9 per cent as the coronavirus-related lockdowns weighed on the already-declining consumer demand and investment.
The GDP contraction in the world's fifth-largest economy compared with 3.1 per cent growth in the preceding January-March quarter and 5.2 per cent expansion in the same period a year back. During the April-June quarter, agriculture was the lone bright spot, growing by 3.4 per cent. Financial services -- the biggest component of India's dominant services sector -- shrank 5.3 per cent, while trade, hotels, transport and communication declined 47 per cent.
Manufacturing shrank 39.3 per cent, construction contracted 50.3 per cent, mining output fell 23.3 per cent, and electricity and gas segment dropped 7 per cent. The latest print of factory output is also not encouraging as the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) contracted by 10.4 per cent in July mainly due to lower output of manufacturing, mining and power generation. This is the fifth consecutive monthly decline.
Copyright©2022 Living Media India Limited. For reprint rights: Syndications Today


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IT´S IN OUR NATURE
Hello “It´s in our nature”! NIBE Energy Systems to launch new products and a new brand promise at ISH 2017.
The ISH exhibition held in Frankfurt am Main is the world’s largest showcase for energy efficient heating, air-conditioning technology and renewable energies. For the 9th time in a row, NIBE Energy Systems will be there –this year loaded with new products, the largest booth ever and a new brand statement, “It´s in our nature”. A message that salutes the power of nature.
At ISH in Frankfurt am Main, 14-18 March, NIBE Energy Systems will be presenting a broad product portfolio that encompasses heating/cooling, hot water and ventilation. NIBE Energy Systems will be showcasing a strong, wide and smart range of products that meet the expectations of today and tomorrow. Alongside the product range, NIBE Energy Systems will also be presenting the latest in inverter-controlled heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, exhaust air heat pumps and air/water heat pumps and championing the NIBE F2120 with its groundbreaking efficiency and SCOP of over 5.0. Visit our stand and find out about all our new products, such as the NIBE F1355-28, NIBE AMS 10-6,NIBE F2040-6 and NIBE F2120.
“As a premium brand in the market, quality and efficiency are guiding principles for NIBE Energy Systems. At ISH we are excited to be presenting innovative progress in heating solutions as well as a clear and important message. Energy-efficient, innovative and user-friendly products is in our nature, and we are proud to be meeting visitors with great solutions for a greener world and perfect indoor climate. In other words, maximum comfort and minimum carbon footprint,” says Kjell Ekermo, Director, NIBE Climate Solutions.
By using a climate system built on self-learning smart technology, users can easily minimise energy consumption, without having to sacrifice comfort.
At the same time, the importance of reducing carbon dioxide emissions is widely recognised. NIBE Energy Systems has incorporated this into its development and new brand message to emphasise nature’s role in human lives.
“It´s in our nature” means that we recognise the power of nature. When we develop our products, we ensure that they are equipped as much as possible to run on natural power, no matter what the outdoor climate conditions. NIBE Energy Systems converts this power into a perfect indoor climate. Naturally, with the least possible environmental impact,”says Magnus Axelsson, Market Communication Manager, NIBE Energy Systems.
At ISH 2017, 14-18 March, 2,500 exhibitors and 200,000 visitors will be teaming up to learn about the innovative future of heating and cooling products and renewable energy solutions. NIBE Energy Systems has attended ISH since 2001 and, in 2017, the stand area will have grown to 650 square metres. You can find NIBE in Hall 8.0, stand D65.


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EA has announced that they will be incorporating microtransactions into all of their PC and console games.
The news comes in after the the release of their first game that included microtransactions, Dead Space 3.
“The next and much bigger piece [of the business] is microtransactions within games,” said EA’s Chief Financial Officer Blake Jorgensen at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media and Telecom Conference (transcribed by Seeking Alpha).
“We’re building into all of our games the ability to pay for things along the way, either to get to a higher level to buy a new character, to buy a truck, a gun, whatever it might be.”
EA is no stranger to the microtransaction system. They have previously outsourced mictoransaction system management to other companies. Their increased interest in this particular system has caused them to bring in microtransactions within the company.
“Without a doubt, you’re going to see more digital business and particularly more digital components of the gameplay allowed because the ease of it will be much better and the storage capability better.
“Consumers are enjoying and embracing that way of the business,” said Jorgensen.
Dead Space 3 was the first EA game that is centred on the microtrasaction model. Mass Effect 3 gave players the option of purchasing extra credits for multiplayer.
Earlier this month, a resource-earning glitch in Dead Space 3 was brought to attention. The BBC reported on the story and considered the glitch as stealing from EA. However, EA responded and explained how the glitch was “deliberately designed” in order for players to farm resources faster.


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But, there remains a very large question as to whether this means much to the history of industrial development. The big actors have always built their industrial infrastructure with all the pieces in place. That's how England, USA, Germany, France, Sweden, etc. did it. And this is most especially true of Japan which institutionalized industrial self-sufficiency and made it the centerpiece of their national industrial planning--especially after WW II. In fact, the easiest way to understand Japan is that they would never import anything they thought they could build themselves. BTW, Korea has been following their playbook to the letter.
By contrast, China offered its massive work force at below-bargain prices to attract runaway industry. Critics of this approach often call it "screwdriver industrialization." How this works is you import sophisticated parts (like computer chips) and assemble them into more complex items (like an iPad.)
The problem is that because you didn't go through the stages of figuring out how to make the computer chips in the first place--what kind of schools? what precision tooling? how do you figure out production? etc.--you wind up with giant holes in your partially industrialized economy. If all this sounds complex just think of it this way--lots of very nice things are assembled in China these days but she has no indigenous industry that can build a Lexus. Stuff made in China still sports foreign brands. There is no Chinese Hyundai or Sony or Nikon.
Now maybe this screwdriver-to-the-world approach will ultimately prove the right path. You capture runaway assembly and learn backward to the parts of the industrial infrastructure you missed. We will see. I'll believe China has passed Japan industrially when some product, invented in China, by a Chinese company becomes must-have around the world.
China's economy as No. 2: How it's playing in Japan
Some Japanese hope the news that China's economy has bumped Japan's as the world's second largest will serve as a wake-up call. Most Japanese knew this day was inevitable.
By Gavin Blair, Correspondent / August 17, 2010
China finally overtook Japan and became the world’s second-biggest economy, according to data released this week in Tokyo, which showed minimal GDP growth in the land of the rising sun, while its huge neighbor continued its blistering rise.
While some observers say the change in the economic world order is “purely symbolic,” others say it should act as a wake-up call to both countries – Japan to get its economic house in order, China to become more politically responsible.
And although some Japanese may gaze across the East China Sea with a touch of envy at the growing economic might of the new kid on the block, most knew that this day was inevitable for a country with more than 10 times the population of their homeland’s 127 million.
“China’s domestic expansion is very positive for Japan’s economy,” says Takashi Shiono, an economist at Credit Suisse in Tokyo. “While some Japanese people might feel kind of envious, this is a huge opportunity for Japanese companies.”
It is a view echoed by Dr. Martin Schulz, senior economist at Tokyo’s Fujitsu Research Institute: “The faster China grows, the better it is for Japan.” more
China still a developing country: French economist
English.news.cn 2010-08-17 11:53:41
PARIS, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- China is still a developing country with its per capita income ranking behind although the country has replaced Japan to become the world's "No. 2 economy," a French economist has said.
The economic model of China "is still mainly based on subcontracting, providing labor-intensive segments for re-exportation," Diana Hochraich was quoted by French newspaper La Tribune as saying on Monday.
"Actually, China continues to import 70 percent of what it exports and it is mainly the foreign companies that export sophisticated products from China," said Hochraich, an expert on the Asian economy who has worked with the Ministry of Economy for many years.
"China remains dependent on industrialized countries, both for value-added inputs and for market for its products," she added.
According to Hochraich, China is still far from catching up with the United States and Japan in terms of innovation. "Innovation is the result of cultural sedimentation through generations." more


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8 hrs ago | International Business Times
While Memorial Day is a holiday to and commemorate all those who have fallen while serving in the United States Armed Forces - along with some time off work and school for a BBQ day, of course - Monday, May 27 may also be a great day to snag sales.
ENP Newswire - 24 May 2013 Release date- 23052013 - Sharp's SH-02E smartphone with IGZO*1 LCD panel, sold by NTT Docomo in Japan, has won the Gold Award*2 in the Display of the Year category, part of the 2013 Display Industry Awards*3 sponsored by the SID .
No matter how many 4K TVs hit shelves , without native content their appeal will likely remain limited.
Last year, the number-one TV I recommended to friends, family, and anyone else who would listen was Panasonic's ST50 series plasma.
This week, winxdvd.com, a devoted multimedia program producer, released a newly developed mobile video converter for Android that has good 200 profiles and blazing "Video-to-Android" feature to convert almost any videos to be Android devices compatible.
Selfridges has launched the 55-inch Philips DesignLine TV today as part of an exclusive deal with TP Vision UK.
We were less impressed with its $5,000+ price and lack of networking capabilities, but neither gripe prevented us from giving it an Editors' Choice award.
Freespace enables small in-air movements of remote controls to move a cursor around the TV screen.
A new wave of smaller, but less expensive Ultra HD televisions is beginning to hit stores.
Bottom Line: The Bose VideoWave II Entertainment System offers a few video-related improvements over the original iteration, but nothing has changed in terms of this high-end HDTV's phenomenal audio system.
When Cathedral of Faith Church began its HD overhaul last year, systems integrator Spectaveris selected Hitachi Kokusai Electric America SK-HD1000 multi-format digital HDTV production cameras were ideal for their client.
Best Buy started offering the high-end Sony 4K Ultra High Definition TV sets in 700 of its U.S. stores on Sunday in an effort to shake up the stagnant TV category.
Sharp announced it will release 60- and 70-inch models, with the 60-inch priced at JPY650,000 and the 70-inch JPY850,000. Both TVs reportedly come equipped with Sharp's Ultra HD Moth-eye panel, the company's Aquos Ultra HD master engine pro HD upconversion engine, 2.1 channel THX surround and 3D capability.
The 2013 LG Smart TVs are easier than ever to use, with a new smart and expansive entertainment platform that keeps you connected, offering access to a wide selection of premium content.
If you have a TV - HD or even an old SD/CRT - that you'd like to expand the capabilities of, you can turn it into a "smarter" TV with the SmartPod from Woxi Media .
On Tuesday Microsoft unveiled the next generation of its Xbox - the Xbox One . The One though isn't just a gaming system as the Xbox has long been - it's an "all-in-one" entertainment system.


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Chinese company Alibaba Group Holding Ltd has released a quarterly report. The performance is impressive! Both the company’s profit and revenue for the second quarter have turned out to be higher than the figures predicted by analysts.
Representatives of the Chinese company have issued a press release with various financial indicators. For example, net profit for the quarter has amounted to 72.5 billion yuan (10.1 billion US dollars), in terms of per share the figure is 27.51 yuan. For the same period last year, the net income was 20 billion yuan, or 7.62 yuan per share.
Earnings excluding one-time factors have increased to 13.10 yuan per share. Analysts agree that the value of this indicator is unlikely to exceed 10.75 yuan per share.
Also, the experts shared with the public revenue forecasts. In their opinion, it should have amounted to 117 billion yuan. The reality has turned out to be much better than expected. Alibaba’s revenue for the quarter has grown 40% to 119 billion yuan. The breakthrough was made by the company’s division engaged in “cloud” technologies; the revenue there has jumped 64% – to the level of 9.3 billion yuan.
It is noteworthy that the total number of company customers (that is, those individuals who use the company’s services in one way or another) has increased 19 million people over three months. This means that at the moment, the total annual audience is huge – 693 million users.
A large-scale Chinese platform Taobao is considered to be Alibaba’s main asset. The company accounts for more than 80% of all online transactions in the Celestial Empire.
Of course, strong reporting will affect stock prices. In less than a year, Alibaba’s capitalization has grown almost a third and currently totals $ 462.5 billion.
The material was prepared with the participation of Katya Wilson,
a leading analyst of the brokerage company UFT Group


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When Sony unveiled its “One Sony” game plan back in March after posting billions in losses, the company highlighted digital photography as one of its three main pillars going forward. It was a bit of a surprise, then, when Sony announced today that it will soon be closing a large lens manufacturing factory in Japan as part of the restructuring efforts.
Kodak has announced that it’ll be shedding even more jobs in an effort to cut costs as it transitions into being a company solely focused on commercial printing and corporate services. Two weeks after announcing the sale of its photographic film business, the company is stating that another 1,000 pink slips will be issued by the end of this year as part of a $330 million cost cutting plan. This is on top of the 2,700 layoff notices already handed out this year, and the new round of cuts will reduce the company’s headcount to 13,400, down from the 145,000 employees it had during its glory days.
Roughly 50 staffers at CNN were given pink slips today, including nearly a dozen photojournalists. In an email to the staff, Senior VP Jack Womack cited the accessibility of cameras and the growth of citizen journalism as reasons for the terminations:
We also spent a great deal of time analyzing how we utilize and deploy photojournalists across all of our locations in the U.S. [...] We looked at the impact of user-generated content and social media, CNN iReporters and of course our affiliate contributions in breaking news. Consumer and pro-sumer technologies are simpler and more accessible. Small cameras are now high broadcast quality. More of this technology is in the hands of more people. After completing this analysis, CNN determined that some photojournalists will be departing the company.
CNN’s citizen journalism initiative, iReport, has proved extremely valuable as a source of imagery during things like disasters and protests. However, it has also received criticism for not paying for submitted photos — even those that are subsequently broadcast worldwide.
(via The Hollywood Reporter via FilmmakerIQ)
Image credit: CNN by Ayushπ


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How Lavido Went From A Single Diaper Salve Made In Israel To A Global Natural Beauty Brand
When makeup artist Angela Levin was traveling in Israel, she wandered into one of Lavido’s four stores in the country and fell in love with the natural skincare brand. Upon returning to the United States, she used its products on her client Gwyneth Paltrow, and the actress and entrepreneur was similarly smitten.
Goop picked up Lavido in 2015, and the lifestyle e-tailer and content destination served as a springboard for the brand’s push into the U.S. Today, it’s carried in more than 100 stores nationwide—Pharmaca and Anthropologie have joined Goop in Lavido’s distribution network—and has plans to push further into retailers as well as products, including an extension into CBD.
The Israeli brand’s global reach is a far cry from its humble start. After creating a farm in the heart of Galilee’s Jezreel Valley, plant chemist Ido Magal whipped up a salve for his newborn nephew in 2002 to help with diaper rash. The salve became a hit with family and friends, prompting him to concoct more products that he would go on to sell at a local farmer’s market.
One day, a woman approached his makeshift rickety wooden crate display at the farmer’s market, and Magal watched her eyes light up as she opened his products and smelled the aromas emanating from them. He remembers, “I saw something in her face, a connection, and I knew right then I had something.” The woman cleared out his merchandise, and Magal subsequently set out to establish his brand in earnest.
“I started with only a few thousand dollars, my mom as my first employee [followed by other family members], and I had to take out a loan of $25,000 within the first two years to fulfill a big order,” recounts Magal. “I didn’t have much money, but the guy at the bank believed in me.”
Soon, additional people began to believe in him, too. In 2008, Magal met Yehuda Pearl, who became a partner in Sabra in 1993 and popularized hummus in the United States with it. Pearl was looking for green brands to support after PepsiCo picked up a 50% share of Sabra, which is also owned by Israeli food firm Strauss. He was impressed Lavido had secured clinical trials to substantiate the results of its skincare products rather than simply ballyhooing claims that weren’t verified by analysis and decided to partner with Magal on the brand.
“My goal is to be one of the top 20 brands in the world.”
“A lot of brands tout natural ingredients without any research to back them up, and consumers reflexively buy these products because the marketing works,” says Magal. “I’m not trying to be trendy within the green space. I’m in this for the long run, investing in formulas that actually work.”
After Pearl became involved, Lavido planted flagship stores in Nahalal, Zichron Yaakov, Karkur and Herzliya. The brand has two visitor’s centers in the agricultural settlement Nahalal, where people can learn about working with plants and formulating skincare products. The educational aspect of Lavido is vital to Magal, who’s interested in raising awareness about the environment through his brand’s merchandise.
To scale its business, Magal poured Lavido’s earnings back into its operations, and the brand just crossed into profitability in recent years. What began with a collection of six products and a workforce comprised of Magal’s family members has expanded to an assortment of 70-plus products and a staff of 50. Lavido is carried in around 450 doors in Israel and has plans to leap into Asia while heightening its presence in the U.S. and Europe. Magal says, “My goal is to be one of the top 20 brands in the world.” He declined to disclose Lavido’s annual revenues.
Breaking into international markets poses challenges. Magal’s advice to fellow brand founders is to learn to adapt. He elaborates, “Each market is different, and you can’t expect each one will behave in the same way. Don’t assume that what works well in Europe will work in the U.S. [on] everything from manufacturing to distribution to taxes. For example, the U.S. doesn’t have a VAT tax. There could be a 25% price point difference between two countries.”
“For all the other indie brands out there, never give up, be adaptable, persevere, and always remember why you started and why you love it.”
Magal continues that brands should pay attention to regional consumer preferences. He’s discovered Europeans have a greater appetite for fragrance than Americans. In the U.S., Lavido’s products are priced from $24 to $80. Among its bestsellers are $49 Age Away Night Cream, $49 Alert Eye Cream and $49 Replenishing Facial Serum.
There are aspects of the beauty industry, though, that seem to be universal. Curiosity about CBD is pervasive. Magal is waiting for regulations to be clarified in Israel, where CBD is in a legal gray area, but points out the country is a hotbed for cannabis studies. He’s intrigued by the benefits of CBD, not jumping on the latest trend. Magal says, “When regulations in Israel change and companies are able to incorporate CBD into their formulas, we plan to be one of the first to locally harness the powerful properties of this ingredient, researching innovative ways it can impact our skin and wellbeing for the better.”
Magal isn’t afraid to experiment with products, even if they don’t ultimately end up as the most successful entrants in Lavido’s range. The brand previously released a natural deodorant that wasn’t well-received. “Natural deodorant is tricky. Research suggests that only one out of three consumers are happy with their choice in this category,” says Magal. “We learned this the hard way and started experiencing negative reviews for the first time ever. I didn’t want this one product to cast a shadow over the reputation of the entire brand, so I dropped it.”
It takes trial and error to build a formidable business. Magal has confidence in Lavido’s ability to overcome small stumbles on its path to becoming what he hopes will be a household name worldwide. “Having people believe in you is a big part of it, but believing in yourself is just as important,” he says. “For all the other indie brands out there, never give up, be adaptable, persevere, and always remember why you started and why you love it.”


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These are the deep discounts on offer on different car models – but they might have failed to lure buyers
- Car makers are offering massive discounts in the current vehicles – some going over ₹1 lakh with discounts!
- Maruti Suzuki is offering ₹1,15,000 total discount on Ciaz.
- With demand being stable, carmakers are also witnessing decreasing inventory days in the passenger vehicles segment.
AdvertisementCome 2020, car makers will get closer to the deadline wherein BSIV vehicles will be banned. And the fact that last year witnessed a big slump in sales did not help the growing inventory of vehicles which will no longer be in vogue.
That has reflected in deeper discounts towards the later part of the year. But that has not helped the declining sentiment in the midst of a general slowdown and lower consumer confidence.
“High discounts (even higher than festive schemes in some cases) and cost increase from January have led to the pickup in demand. However, underlying demand remains weak with over two-thirds of dealers seeing single digit decline or a flat annual sales volume,” said a Nirmal Bang survey report.
As new prices will kick in from January and we get closer to the ban of sale of BSIV vehicles in April 2020, cars are going at a discount anywhere between ₹1 to 1.7 lakh.
|Maruti Suzuki Alto||₹60,000|
|Maruti Suzuki Wagon-R||₹40,500|
|Maruti Suzuki Dzire||₹60,000|
|Maruti Suzuki Brezza||₹70,000|
|Maruti Suzuki Baleno||₹70,000|
|Maruti Suzuki Ciaz||₹1,15,000|
|Hyundai Grand i10||₹75,000|
|Tata Bolt & Zest||₹1,05,000|
Though demand fails to grow, carmakers are witnessing decreasing inventory days in the passenger vehicles segment. Inventory days are the number of days goods stay in the factory before being sold. From a high of 50 days in February, inventory levels have come down to 25-30 in the past few months.
Added to that, almost every carmaker has taken production holidays and removed temporary staff to match the lacklustre sales.
In spite of the spillover of excess unsold cars to the new year, most dealers believe that they will not be stuck with unsold vehicles from another era.
“Around 70-80% of the dealers sounded confident of liquidating BS-IV inventory before March end. Inventory of slow moving models like Tata Tigor, Tata Bolt, Tata Zest, Hyundai Xcent, Hyundai Verna are the point of concern dealers,” said the report.
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- AmazeVR wants to create the Netflix of virtual reality
In the past five years, virtual reality has unleashed passions. Dmany startups have embarked on this new technology, and investors around the world did not hesitate to rain the tickets. They all had in common that they were convinced that VR would appeal to the general public and would quickly become more democratic.
Unfortunately, despite the billions of dollars invested and the involvement of large tech companies, the consumer virtual reality market has still not taken off. Despite everything, some continue to believe in it and believe that the advances made in the field of hardware and services will finally succeed in capturing the attention of consumers in the years to come.
After all, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic. Technology is developing rapidly, and the arrival of autonomous VR headsets on the market should attract many users. In addition, virtual reality is an excellent use case for the new 5G mobile network and operators could therefore promote this technology to convince their customers to change their plan ...
AmazeVR wants to create the Netflix of virtual reality
South Korean company AmazeVR is among those who want to continue to believe in virtual reality. Founded by the creators of the Kakao messaging service, with immense success in South Korea, AmazeVR is the result of an investment of $ 6,3 million by Mirae Asset Group and other investors such as LG Technology Ventures, Timewise Investment and Smilegate Investment.
Its creators believe that the main problem with VR is content creation. Their objective is therefore to develop a platform for film producers and content creators, and to make this platform the main source of quality content in virtual reality.
LG's interest in this company is linked to the recent launch of its 5G network in South Korea. So, AmazeVR has partnered with LG U +, the company's telecommunications division, to produce virtual reality content. LG U + is responsible for hosting AmazeVR content on its service, using the company's proprietary content creation tools to facilitate production. More than 1500 experiments are already planned.
AmazeVR content will be available for a subscription offered for $ 7 per month, $ 18 for three months or $ 24 for six months. Currently, the platform offers around twenty VR experiences and already has more than 1000 subscribers and hopes to federate more customers as sales of VR headsets increase.


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A north Northumberland poultry farmer is looking forward to cracking times ahead after it announced a merger with another leading egg producer.
Sunny Hill Free Range Eggs, based at Detchant Farm near Belford, is joining forces with Lintz Hall Farm in County Durham, one of the North East’s biggest poultry producers.
The deal means Sunny Hill will continue to rear chickens and produce eggs, while Lintz Hall will help handle marketing and distribution.
Catherine Armstrong, who runs Sunny Hill with her parents Robert and Brenda Jackson, said the move would not change the personal service she likes to offer her customers.
She said: “Production and bird welfare is our passion and key strength, and this partnership enables us to concentrate on this.”
Richard Tulip, of Lintz Hall, is part of the fourth generation of his family to keep chickens at the farm, which first started producing eggs to feed local people during the Second World War.
He said: “Like Sunny Hill Free Range Eggs we are a farming family, and we share many of the same principles.”
80 per cent of Sunny Hill’s eggs aresold in and around the North East to restaurants, supermarkets and independent stores, including famous names such as Fenwick’s department store in Newcastle.


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JAPAN: Mazda RX-8 "shock cone" aluminium bonnet claimed to reduce pedestrian injury
Mazda Motor Corporation has developed a "Shock Cone Aluminium Hood [bonnet]," which has an all-new impact-absorbing structure aimed at enhancing pedestrian protection. Compared to conventional framed aluminium bonnets, this new structure has the potential to significantly reduce the severity of head injuries that can result when a pedestrian is struck by a car. The all-new bonnet will be used on the new RX-8 sports coupe due to appear in showrooms this spring, and will be gradually incorporated into other Mazda products.
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Effective May 1, Henrik Bunge will be the new chief executive of Peak Performance. The 38-year-old currently acts as the managing director of Adidas Group Nordic. Adidas has yet to name a successor to Bunge.
The appointment of Bunge at Peak Performance came after the Swedish brand had recruited Tobias Sachs for the position of the sales director, effective Feb. 29. After six years in various sales positions with Peak, he has been directing the sales at J.Lindeberg since 2008. The position of the sales director remained vacant for quite a while after the departure of Stefan Wahlén, who switched to Wolsey. The job has been executed on an interim basis by Jari Tanninen, the head of Peak's Finnish operations.
On an interim basis as well, Peak Performance as a whole has been led by Ann Larsson, chief financial officer, since last September, when the former chief, Jonas Ottosson, quit the company over strategic disagreement with the Danish parent group, IC Companys. Ottosson, who joined the brand in 1989, steered the company from 1999, shortly after the acquisition by the Danish group then known as Carli Gry.
Even though Ottosson more than quadrupled Peak's sales to about 1.3 billion Swedish kronor (€147.4m-$188.7m) during his long rule, the parent company saw more potential, especially when it comes to casual wear, which contributes only 30 percent of the sales compared with active wear's 70 percent.
However, it appears that the split between Ottosson and IC Companys was chiefly caused by strategic disagreements over the means to expand the brand. After more than one year of preparations, a new strategic plan was unveiled by Peak Performance in May, which apparently failed to convince IC Companys. The Danish owner is seeking faster turnover growth for Peak Performance, but there were fears at the company that this might hurt the brand and its profit margin.
Meanwhile, IC Companys has issued a profit warning after being hit by warm weather and poor consumer confidence. The company reported flat sales and a decline of nearly 45 percent in its operating profit for the first half of its fiscal year, until the end of December. In a conference call after the warning, IC Companys' managers said that Peak Performance was particularly exposed to the unusually warm weather in some of its largest markets.
Just a few weeks ago, while discussing its performance in the first quarter of its fiscal year, IC Companys warned that it suffered a dramatic downturn in consumer spending in large European markets, and that the situation had worsened at the start of its second IC Companys had to swallow what its managers described as a “deadly cocktail,” mixing a decrease in sales with a hike in cost prices and disastrous levels of consumer confidence,. Due to the warm weather, discounts were most aggressive for skiwear and other outerwear in Scandinavia. The company's same-store sales declined, and they were hit by more cancellations and returns on the wholesale side. Furthermore, the low traffic meant that IC Companys had to support its sales and its market share with more investments in marketing. The situation was particularly dramatic in Poland.
IC Companys predicts that the market situation will remain tough for the remainder of its fiscal year, until the end of June. However, the impact of weak sales and cost increases should be partly mitigated by cost cuts, which the group started to accelerate a few weeks ago. They should reduce costs by about DKK 40 million (€5.4m-$6.9m) in the second half (more in SGI Europe).


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This move marks a significant step forward for the lending industry. It represents Acredius’ commitment to providing cutting-edge technology and solutions for its users.
Acredius’ investors can use Cardano’s cryptocurrency, ADA, to invest in Swiss SMEs through this integration. Also, they will soon access a secondary market, allowing them to “liquify” their investments and enjoy greater investment flexibility.
Additionally, Acredius will deploy smart contracts on the Cardano blockchain. Besides supporting growth opportunities for SMEs, loan tokenisation on a retail investor level will impact the ecosystem.
This integration will bring greater investment portfolio transparency, security, and trust. Acredius is excited to embark on this new venture and looks forward to delivering unparalleled value to its users.
“We are excited to join forces with Cardano, a leader in the blockchain space. This collaboration will benefit both parties and ease access to marketplace lending,” says Ghassen BENHADJSALAH, Co-Founder & CEO at Acredius.
Launching on the Cardano ecosystem will enable the platform to harness the full potential of its blockchain technology. Hence, providing innovative and secure solutions to its clients.
In addition to leveraging the benefits of Cardano’s blockchain platform, this integration is also a part of Acredius’ broader strategy to promote financial inclusion and adopt advanced technologies.
We’re happy to expand Cardano’s reach and adoption and further promote blockchain technology’s benefits within the financial industry.
“Our client’s needs and expectations are evolving. We strive to be at the forefront of innovation in the marketplace lending industry,” adds Ghassen BENHADJSALAH, Co-Founder & CEO at Acredius.
Acredius’ integration with the Cardano ecosystem will provide a range of advantages for its clients, including enhanced security, innovative solutions, and access to cutting-edge technology. Acredius is excited to embark on this new venture and looks forward to delivering exceptional value to its clients.
We believe this collaboration will shift the marketplace lending industry paradigm.
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‘Peak Car’ or demotorisation is a term used to describe a society’s reduced dependence/loss of interest in cars, typically characterized by lack of growth in new car sales (market saturation), and a decline in driving license applications.
The phenomenon was first noted in Japan in the early 2000s. In a country where parking spaces are hard to come by, fuel prices are high, compulsory periodic vehicle inspections are very costly, but public transport is extremely efficient, and many young Japanese no longer own a car.
Many Japanese families now own just one car. It also explains why minivans are so popular there and sedans are falling out of favour, because if you are going to rely on just one car, that one car has to do everything.
A typical Japanese family today owns just one car, usually a utility type vehicle - minicar (kei), minivan, SUV or wagon, rarely a sedan.
The same trend has also been noted in USA and western Europe, but limited mostly to metropolitan cities. As more and more young people migrate to megacities, it’s a natural progression for people to drive less, and rely more on ride hailing or public transport.
The idea of a two-car ownership household in the suburbs is becoming less mainstream as today's young people marry later, and are more likely to stay closer to the city centre. In a developed city, this means having to deal with limited and expensive parking, and public transport becomes a more logical option.
The latest data compiled by data scientist and Twitter user Owen Boswarva confirmed what many had already suspected – nearly 30 percent of the UK citizens aged 25 and below don’t have a driving license. The numbers get more depressing as you dig the numbers for younger Brits – note the large gap between blue line (total population, by age) and red line (driving license holders) among young Brits, and how the gap closes significantly among older Brits.
In other words, the concentration of driving age population is heavily centred on older folks rather than the young.
In the UK, the minimum driving age is 17 but a 16 year olds can apply for a provisional license. Drivers aged below 20 years old are merely a blip on the chart. People born in an earlier era see holding a driver's license as a rite of passage into adulthood. Today's young don't see it that way.
There are many factors behind this. While some sociologists conclude that increased interaction on mobile and digital platforms mean that the current generation of youths don’t hang out in the same way as previous generations, others say it’s simply the poor financial standing of millenials - the generation most affected by the 2008 financial crisis. Against this pessimistic outlook, today's young prefer to spend their money on holidays and commitment-free purchases like gadgets, rather than being tied down to a car, which requires maintenance and lengthy repayment terms.
Many of today’s youths are also burderned by student debts with poor job prospects. This is especially true not just in Europe and USA, but also in Japan and Korea.
Contrary to the narrative that many Malaysians usually hear, car ownership is actually rather prohibitive even in many developed countries. Beyond the seemingly lower selling price, drivers in those countries pay a lot higher than us for fuel, insurance, maintenance, and parking. Many drivers leave their cars parked at home but commute to work via public transport – as it should be for any developed nation - or use ride hailing services.
Cars might be cheaper in other countries, but their drivers also pay RM5.50/litre for regular petrol (about RON 90) and RM6.00/litre for premium petrol (about RON 98), plus far more expensive parking. Traffic regulations are also strictly enforced so don't think about parking anywhere you like.
Strict emissions and safety regulations also mean that prices of new cars have been creeping up. Consumer data shows that even consumers in many higher income countries are keeping their cars longer than before.
Sales of passenger cars in Japan peaked in 1990, with 7.8 million motor vehicles sold. Today the figure is only around around 5.2 million.
Between 2003 and 2013, more than 100 driving schools in Japan have closed down, mostly because young Japanese are not interested in learning how to drive. Driving license applications dropped by more than 300,000 during that ten-year period.
Germany and USA are still behind Japan in terms of advancements of public transport and equal access to mobility for everyone, but signs are pointing that these two automotive powerhouses are also reaching their peak.
Applications for driving licenses among Germans aged 25 years old and below have slid 28 percent over the last 10 years – something that was once unimaginable for a country famed for its love of cars and speed limit-free autobahns.
In USA, the minimum driving age is 16 years old. Back in 1983, nearly 50 percent of 16 year-old Americans held a driving license. Today, the figure is just 25 percent (figures from University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute).
Against this backdrop, it explains why there are so few affordable, ‘fun to drive,’ rear-wheel drive manual transmission cars – the sort of cars young enthusiasts want – are available on the market. The simple explanation is that there is just simply not enough people buying such cars to make the product viable.
With interest in cars on the downtrend, you can expect the rise of SUVs and crossovers – whose high hip point and ease of access/exit are favoured by older buyers - to intensify. The trend towards electric driverless cars will continue unabated. To a new generation of consumers who see cars and driving as simply a mean to get around rather than a source of joy, a maintenance free and pay-as-you-use driverless cars/robotaxis is perfect.
For those of us who love driving, it only means one thing - if you have something special parked in your house, cherish and take good care of it because they won't make anything like that anymore. There are few brands who are resisting the tide of change.
Toyota's Akio Toyoda is a CEO on weekdays and racer on weekends and he is the world's strongest advocate to make cars cool again for young people, while Mazda wants to keep combustion engines alive, Jinba Ittai included. Honda has (at least in Japan), attempted to make cars cool again with mini sports car like the S660. While nearly every brand is resigning to their fate, the least that enthusiasts can do is to support the efforts of those who are holding the torch to forward the cause for analogue cars.


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Unbiased Article Reveals 3 New Things About Mt Baker Vape Juice That Nobody Is Talking About
It is also very important to bear in mind of different emergency dental necessities and when to name . Unlike different medical disciplines, dentistry is quite different and especially for folks looking for emergency dentists in Inverness. If you’re in search of extra about the latest from Apple, you can check out all the pieces that was introduced at the most recent occasion. CBD, a non-psychoactive compound derived mainly from the hemp variant of cannabis, online Vape Shop saw a huge rise in recognition final year as extra individuals turned to it for relaxation throughout the months-lengthy isolation caused by COVID-19, lifting sales of pot producers.
The explosion was triggered by an excess of nitrous oxide and butane containers in the two vape stores, the Los Angeles Police Department and vape shop the ATF decided — the Los Angeles Fire Department had not inspected the constructing in a year. The enormous explosion that ensued — triggered by an excess of nitrous oxide and butane containers in the stores, best vape the LAPD and vape cheap the ATF decided in a later investigation — engulfed Aguirre and the opposite firefighters in flames. Twelve firefighters were injured including Aguirre who lost all his fingers.
After two months in the hospital, vape shop 20-yr division veteran Aguirre had to have all of his fingers partially amputated — his body, in response to the lawsuit, was lined in extreme burns. Aguirre accused the three parties of ‘hazardous exercise, premise liability and negligence,’ based on the Los Angeles Times. The events also had to shell out $127,000 to the Los Angeles Fire Department for the cost of their investigation, the Times said. Hearth chief Ralph Terrazas advised the Occasions that a fire inspection seemingly would have resulted within the removal of a number of the supplies that sparked the explosion.
Fire Breathing — This is taken into account considered one of the most popular cirucs acts. For, Vape E-Liquids the American crime family has all the time been a shoot-off of the Sicilian one; Therefore, vape shop dedication stays strong no matter which department wherein one may discover oneself. Firstly, hunt for a dentist who has been within the occupation for a while due to this fact making him skilled and consistent.


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- Windows Phone head gets the sack [ITworld]
- Chris Nerney: Buzzphrase-heavy social networking startup reaps IPO riches [ITworld]
- Siemens execs charged with making $100 million bribe [ITworld]
- Kevin Fogarty: Carrier IQ denies everything [ITworld]
- Hit by Android malware? Get a free Windows Phone! [ITworld]
- Brian Proffitt: Is Canonical plotting its mobile moves? [ITworld]
- iPhone fake ID app will no longer aid underage drinkers and/or terrorists [ITworld]
- Dan Tynan: Carrier IQ, a cop's best friend [ITworld]
- Microsoft will fix your computer for $99 an hour [ITworld]
- Kevin Purdy: How Kindle Fire reviewers missed the tree for the forest [ITworld]
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Self-Driving Cars to Deliver Groceries
March 18, 2019—A self-driving car program is being implemented by Two Kroger, according to a report by Fox News. The program would retrieve orders placed at the store and deliver the products to customers doorsteps—without a driver.
The service was created by robotics company Nuro, founded by two individuals who formally worked at Google. According to the station, Kroger and Nuro formed a working partnership last year during a trial run in Scottsdale, Ariz.
The company has already completed thousands of deliveries without drivers in the Arizona market. The company currently uses a Toyota Prius fleet, but is looking to roll out its driverless R1 delivery vehicle in Texas, Fox News reports.
"Initially, we are going to start delivering with our self-driving Prius vehicles, so these are passenger vehicles just like regular Priuses that we've added sensing and computing to so they can drive themselves," Nuro co-founder and president Dave Ferguson told ABC13. "There will still be safety drivers in them."
"We generally feel that when you remove passengers from the vehicle, you can make it much safer for everyone else on the road," Ferguson said to ABC13. "For example, our vehicle is much smaller, it's much lighter, it sort of collapses in the unlikely event of any collision."
To use the device, customers place an order from the markets' website for a $5.95 fee, Fox News reports.


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Faster and more capable PCs are a wonder of modern technology, but the efficiency of high-end systems has raised the bar for production capacity in creative studios across the globe. Consumers demand better visual work faster, and professionals have to be ready to solve complex graphics problems on-the-fly to meet tight deadlines.
Luckily, AMD’s latest Radeon software update has an answer to high-speed creative expectations: driver-switching without having to reboot.
What Driver Switching Really Means
We’re usually operating with a single driver that matches the capabilities of our video card. The driver is designed to maximize the potential of the card’s hardware across all kinds of different software that uses various rendering and physics engines. That’s why it’s a driver – it pilots the graphics in each piece of software.
But not everyone has the same video card so drivers can vary significantly even among cards from the same graphics hardware manufacturer. That makes optimizing for various graphics capabilities extremely difficult for those who create visual media.
The current solution is to switch drivers after making significant changes and tweaks to current programming. Every time a change is made and must be tested on a different driver, users have to restart their machines so they can boot with the alternate driver’s settings.
Driver Switching Is a Boon to Developers
But AMD’s Radeon software update presents a unique solution: driver switching without the need to restart. That means that, on demand, developers can make a change to their programming or animation and test it against a set of alternate drivers to make sure the experience is consumable for a variety of PC users.
Such a change promises to shift the workflow of professionals. With more time to spend on perfecting a seamless experience across video cards and drivers, creatives and developers have a chance to experiment with new ways to maximize graphics performance under less-than-ideal conditions.
Updated Radeon software promises to set a new standard for professional graphics software suites attached to video cards. The resultant change could mean a rapid and recognizable improvement in graphics across many different industries.