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Oppo has changed its software update cycle and will now provide 4 years of software updates to rival the likes of Samsung. This comes after OnePlus recently revealed plans to provide 4 years of updates but is currently limited to some devices in 2023. Here’s what Oppo has to offer.
Oppo Wants to Offer Extended Updates
Oppo will now release 4 major ColorOS updates and 5 years of security updates, starting in 2023. Much like OnePlus, this will be for select flagship phones and we can expect the upcoming Find X series phone to become a part of the new update cycle. Even the recently launched Oppo Find N2 series could get 4 years of updates.
This new update cycle is meant for global users. But before you get too excited, there’s one thing to note. Oppo says that there will be 4 years of ColorOS updates so we don’t know if this will also include new Android versions. There are chances that new ColorOS iterations might come in regularly but will be based on old Android versions. For instance, Oppo might release the ColorOS 14 based on Android 13 as part of the new update policy.
Nonetheless, this new update will give neck-to-neck competition to Samsung, which already provides users with four years of major Android updates, and may eventually persuade more OEMs to adopt this strategy as a standard. We can expect similar changes to the update cycle by Realme soon. Outside of the Android ecosystem, it’s Apple that offers 5 years of major updates to the iPhones.
In addition to this, Oppo has revealed that the current ColorOS 13 skin has seen a faster rollout as compared to the previous versions. It has reached 33 smartphones since August 2022, becoming the ‘fastest and biggest update in the history of ColorOS.‘ The ColorOS 13 update brings the Aquamorphic design, new Always-on-Display (AOD) changes, new privacy features (including the screenshot pixelation feature), and more.
So, what are your thoughts on the new update policy by Oppo? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.


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Profitability path key, says WearYouWant CEO
Thailand’s online fashion and beauty marketplace WearYouWant has warned startups to have a clear strategy toward profitability, which is now being demanded by investors.
CEO and co-founder Martin Toft Sorensen says there was considerable discussion at the Last Mile Fulfilment Asia (LMFAsia) Conference & Exhibition in Singapore on how startups should focus beyond just team, product and market to become successful. The event brought together retailers, eCommerce businesses, logistics and parcel-industry professionals.
“Startups should have a clear path and strategy toward achieving profitability by scaling the business, without forgetting the lifetime value of the customer versus cost per acquisition,” says Sorensen.
“If eCommerce businesses simply follow a desire to climb user acquisition heights quickly without keeping an eye on the ROI, there is a higher risk of a greater fall.
“Penetration from online platforms can go far, wide and deep, but the trajectory needs to be based on running a business that brings in money for investors, shareholders and other stakeholders in the near future.”
Sorensen also says that as well as having a viable business model, startups should be creative in attracting and keeping customers.
High sales, no profits
While many eCommerce sites are reporting high sales growth, he says the reality is that they may not be showing any profitability.
“In Thailand, we have yet to see any eCommerce companies proving they can scale yet become profitable.
“The recent acquisition of Rocket Internet’s fast-growing, yet loss-making, Lazada site by Chinese eCommerce giant Alibaba, and Zalora (Thailand and Vietnam) by Central Group, has definitely created waves in the eCommerce industry.”
Sorensen says that while Lazada will pave the way for Alibaba to penetrate into Southeast Asia as a market leader, it remains to be seen whether Zalora’s acquisition by a traditional offline retailer will kickstart true omni-channel experiences in Thailand.
He says it is an exciting time for eCommerce companies and startups in general, as well as for investors.
“There has been a lot of noise on increased funding in various eCommerce businesses lately, but little on acquisitions and exits, which are important factors. I think acquisitions are just the beginning of market consolidation and a signal to what this year will bring.”

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YouTube made news today after announcing that they’re testing a live streaming platform. This isn’t their first venture into live broadcasting (previous broadcasts included U2, the Indian Premier League, the White House & E3) but this is the first time they’re testing live broadcasts with the public. The limited test will occur on 9/13/10 & 9/14/10.
Broadcasters will simply need a webcam or external USB/FireWire camera to join in on the fun. YouTube will also test a “Live Comments” module which will allow two-way communication between the broadcaster and the YouTube community.
They’ve teamed up with four content partners to assist in the test: Howcast, Next New Networks, Rocketboom and Young Hollywood. They will evaluate the results of the initial test and may consider rolling out the platform on a broader basis.
YouTube is the dominant player when it comes to streaming video. How do you think this will impact established brands like uStream or Justin.tv, if YouTube’s live streaming is rolled out on a broader basis?
September 13-14, 2010 content schedule:


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- U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) decision to remove certain CBD products from its Schedule 1 list of controlled substances will make CBD clinical studies easier to plan
- ETST’s pipeline includes CBD-based pharmaceutical formulas; company expects its pure hemp oil and new formulas to eventually be sold worldwide
- ETST will be a licensed distributor and plans to work closely with pharmacists and researchers to serve this market; it plans to launch two CBD nutraceutical formulas
Earth Science Tech, Inc.’s (OTCQB: ETST) anticipation that its pure hemp oil and new formulas will eventually be sold globally and that it will be a licensed distributor and will work closely with pharmacists and researchers to serve the cannabis market has been strengthened by the DEA’s recent decision on CBD (http://cnw.fm/03dUM).
The DEA decided to remove some CBD products from its Schedule 1 list of controlled substances. It voted to reclassify FDA-approved drugs that contain cannabis-derived CBD and contain less than 0.1% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as Schedule V, the lowest restriction classification.
ETST sees this ruling as an opportunity. In a news release, Dr. Michel Aubé, CEO and chief science officer of ETST, said, “In 2018, we have a much deeper understanding of cannabinoids, cannabinoid-receptors, and the endocannabinoid system than we did decades ago when CBD was classified as a schedule 1 drug. We are pleased to see that the DEA has shifted its stance amid conclusive evidence that CBD is not addictive but has both anti-psychotic properties and the opposite effect of THC.”
ETST is a biotech company based in Doral, Florida, marketing and developing CBD products for the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical fields. The company is focused on the cannabidiol, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical sectors, as well as the development, through subsidiaries, of medical devices and research. ETST’s goal is to become a world leader in the CBD space.
ETST has announced that it will soon launch two CBD-based nutraceutical formulas under a provisory patent. These include a neuron protector and a breast protector. The company is also developing a new brand for these formula patents.
The company said that the Quebec Agrifood Innovation Center (QAIC) is completing the standardization of the formulas. By the end of October, TransBiotech is expected to conduct in vitro testing of the biological activities of the formula, comparing the level of protection offered by ETST’s hemp oil alone versus its hemp oil with other natural ingredients.
Nickolas S. Tabraue, president and director of ETST, added, “The results obtained from TransBiotech will help us understand the mechanism of action of CBD and will open the doors for the research needed to develop revolutionary CBD-based pharmaceutical drugs.”
ETST holds several wholly owned subsidiaries. Cannabis Therapeutics is an emerging biotechnology company. KannaBidioiD manufactures and distributes in the recreational sector. Earth Science Foundation, Inc. is becoming a non-profit and accepts grants and donations to conduct additional studies. Earth Science Pharmaceutical develops medical diagnostic tools and vaccines. ETST also formed subsidiary Canno Inno Laboratories Inc., a strategic Montreal, Canada-based company that provides ETST with access to government grants.
For more information, visit the company’s website at www.EarthScienceTech.com
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Tech sector announcement season is in full swing. The Digiflare team gathered once again at noon (EST) yesterday with their lunches in the main lobby, this time for Google’s new hardware event streaming live from Mountain View, California. The biggest buzz was around two new Nexus phones that will compete with Apple’s latest iPhone offerings. Also anticipated is the announcement of a new and improved Chromecast along with the Chromecast Audio, a separate device for Wi-Fi-enabling household speakers.
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Other than Andy Samberg’s consistently on-point (and on-time!) performance as host, premium cable networks were the big winners at the 67th Emmy Awards. HBO racked up a record number of winged statuettes, including many for their fantasy megahit Game of Thrones which earned the high prestige Best Drama Series award.
Amazon Fire TV just became a big fish in the 4K/Ultra HD ecosystem with a new version announced Thursday, September 17th. The 4K-equipped Fire TV will ship October 5th for $99.99. The device’s ultra-high resolution capability and attractive price tag will make it a high-potential competitor to the new generation of Apple TV announced last week. Like the new Apple offering, the Amazon’s new connected TV device puts an enhanced focus on gaming. Read More


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Retailers, consumers and prices
P&G, the world’s biggest consumer products company and advertiser, wants cash-strapped consumers to keep buying its products. Its sales growth has slowed as shoppers use up what they have in their pantries rather than go out and buy more detergent and deodorant.
Now, P&G (named after founders William Procter and James Gamble, shown in cardboard cutouts above) is offering more coupon circulars that go out with Sunday newspapers. Shoppers who shop and then do a little homework (using that home ec education) can save even more.
The company has issued 14 circulars each year over the past two fiscal years. This fiscal year it plans to send out 17 such circulars, including two in December instead of the one it had planned for this month. This past Sunday’s circular included more than $45 worth of coupons.
A spokeswoman said consumers have been asking for more coupons and better ones.
Consumers who buy $50 worth of P&G products and send in those receipts get a book with coupons for up to $122 off their next purchases. Those coupons include as much as $5 off of certain Olay moisturizers. This is the first time P&G has offered such a book.
“Our sense is that coupons are being used more,” a P&G spokesman said. “They want to cut back, but they also want the brands that they want.”
Readers, are you clipping more coupons these days?


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ROANOKE, Va. – Toys R Us fans can get excited about the iconic brands new vision.
With a new company and team, Toys R Us officially emerged hoping to deliver the magic of its brand around the world.
The new company, Tru Kids Inc., is taking over Toys R Us, Babies R Us, Geoffrey and more than 20 other established toy and baby brands.
For more than 70 years, children spent their childhood in Toys R Us and Babies R Us was the destination for expecting parents. The beloved and famous mascot Geoffrey the Giraffe was adored by children and their families for more than 50 years.
Even though the two stores had an unprecedented effort to capture the U.S. market this past holiday season, they still have a strong loyalty on social media with more than 9.5 million followers.
"We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to write the next chapter of Toys R Us by launching a newly imagined omni-channel retail experience for our beloved brands here in the U.S.," said Richard Barry, president & CEO of Tru Kids Brand.
The new company also has plans to open 70 new stores internationally in Asia, India and Europe.
Tru Kids will be headquartered in New Jersey with a skilled team of returning Toys R Us employees.
According to Barry, the team is focused on bringing back the stores in a completely new way so the U.S. doesn't have to go another holiday season without the beloved brand.


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Tonota youth collaborate to raise funds for their businesses
With Covid-19 causing chaos in the business world, 20 pragmatic Tonota youth have come together to help each other’s businesses stay afloat.
On Saturday, their Motshelo, which was conceptualised in December 2020, got off to a perfect start as the first two members received their dues.
The group mainly consists of food vendors, poultry owners, and hairdressers, with each member contributing P500 a month.
Speaking at the launch, the host, Lebogang Ntsosa said after realising that accessing money for small businesses is not easy, they decided to come together for group funding.
“Young people are struggling to finance their small businesses, and it has become even worse today since the outbreak of Covid-19. A poultry owner may struggle to find money to buy live chickens which may threaten their business,” noted Ntsosa, who is a founding member of the group.
Appealing to the village leadership that included area Councillor Andy Boatile, to lend a supporting hand to youth in the area, many of whom are unemployed, Ntsosa further said she hopes their initiative will inspire other Tonota youth to follow suit.
Another member, Daniel Tshoganetso said as young business owners they had thought the Corona pandemic would be over by now. But with the virus now deadlier than ever, it is evident there’s a need to do things differently in order to survive.
“Our businesses have collapsed and Covid-19 is not coming to an end anytime soon. We’ve to come together to help each other sustain them. The intention is to see this initiative growing and even attracting well-established businesses.”
Tshoganetso, who hires out luxury cars for weddings and parties, said since the restrictive regulations on wedding celebrations and parties, his business has suffered greatly.
“I’m also an artist, so you can imagine how Covid has really affected me. We were in the process of importing limousines to add to our fleet but we have since been dealt a heavy blow. This initiative, however, gives me hope. The P5, 000 each member receives every month could be a lifesaver for anyone in my position,” said Tshoganetso.
His sentiments were echoed by Shawn Kgokong, who encouraged group members to remain focused on growing their enterprises.
“Gone are the days when a Diploma or Degree guaranteed you employment. This initiative increases your value as a human being,” Kgokong stated.
Businesswoman and mentor, Masego Kobokobo, advised the group members to never be ashamed of what they do for a living.
“I’m living proof that if done well ‘motshelo’ can change someone’s life. I used to sell fat cakes right here in Tonota as most of you already know. But today I’ve multiple streams of income. I’m a member of similar groups in Gaborone and we’ve successfully helped to open businesses for our members,” she said.
The two beneficiaries of the day Kenaleone Oabile and Gertrude Bob said they were going to use the money to refinance their businesses.
Oabile, who owns a poultry house, said she intends to increase its capacity from 100 chickens to 300, while Bob plans to buy stock for her tuckshop at the cattle post.
In his remarks, Councillor Boatile said he was impressed to see young people coming together to support each other.
“Usually partnerships like this never work. There’s always infighting, so it’s really sobering.”
Boatile urged the group members to look within and support each other’s businesses, before expecting anyone from outside the group to do so.
“Buy your chicken from a fellow group member and do your nails and hair from your members,” implored Boatile, who encouraged the members to consider expanding into other lines of business as well.
“Today I tell you that 90 percent of products you find in any kitchen and bathroom are made outside Botswana. There’s an opportunity there waiting to be explored,” insisted Boatile.


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While the folks at our first national car manufacturer are busy restructuring Team Proton, Perodua is grinning ear to ear at the runaway success of their latest model the Perodua Myvi. The Perodua Myvi has received 80,000 bookings so far, but only 35,000 are on the road due to inability for production to keep up with sales. Average bookings per month have stabilized at a certain figure, but still pretty much piling up at a rate of 4000-4500 new bookings a month. Earlier months sometimes had over 10,000 bookings in a single month. Perodua is working on expanding their production capacity and hopes to reduce the waiting period to 4 months from the current 7-9 months by mid-2006.
As for a new model, Perodua has one up it’s sleeves (I think it’s this model), but it will only launch it in early 2007 in order not to cannibalize it’s Perodua Myvi’s sales. The new model would also have engine capacities of 1.0 litre and below in order not to cut into the Perodua Myvi’s segment. Definitely sounds like either a Kelisa or a Kancil replacement model. I wonder if Perodua will combine the two product lines.


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It doesn't seem like it, but just a year and a few days ago, Google made available the first handset to bear the Nexus name - and what a long way we've come since. When the Nexus One was released, there were cries of "iPhone killer" and of Google entering the handset arena in direct competition with Apple. While the latter assertion remains debatable - the first does not. The Nexus One was a near-total commercial failure next to the iPhone 3GS, and even the original Motorola DROID ate the Nexus One for breakfast in terms of sales.
Every month, mobile advertiser Millennial Media releases their Mobile Mix, a report detailing where things stand in the mobile industry. This month marks a significant first, as well as some all-around good news for Android. Their highlights:
- For the first time, Android surpassed iOS as the largest Smartphone OS on the Millennial network, with an 8% increase month-over-month and 46% impression share on our network in December. The iOS currently has a 32% share
- Android ad requests grew 141% from Q3 to Q4 and since January, Android has grown 3130%
- Android devices represented 16 of the top 30 mobile devices on the Millennial network
- When breaking down the revenue generated by apps in Q4—Android had a 55% share as opposed to 39% for Apple.
In what is the most carefully-worded way of saying "we don't know" I've seen in a while, Asus's UK marketing manager John Swatton has told Pocket-lint that the company's new Android tablets will be shipping with Honeycomb "if Honeycomb is available." The reason for the uncertainty? Swanson seems to be suggesting that Motorola's XOOM has been given special treatment by Google, while Honeycomb remains unavailable to most, if not all, other tablet manufacturers.
As Android's market share continues to grow, it is inevitable that it will become a target for viruses and other malware. Indeed Steve Chang, the chairman of Trend Micro, a provider of security software, cautioned that Android is far more susceptible to malware attacks than iOS.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Chang claimed that Android's open source infrastructure allowed hackers to better understand the underlying architecture and source code.
As you probably know by now, versions of the Android OS tend to be alphabetically named and include some sort of reference to a dessert. Therefore, it was only reasonable to assume that the version of Android following Honeycomb would be called "Ice Cream."
However, according to Andy Rubin, that is not the case - instead, the name will be "Ice Cream Sandwich."
We still don't know Ice Cream Sandwich's version number, the features it will introduce, or anything else about it, but for those of you interested in the reason behind the name, TechCrunch has a pretty good theory: Google's statue for Android 2.2 includes frozen yogurt, which would be pretty hard to distinguish from ice cream.
If there's one thing CES told us about the upcoming twelve months in technology, it's that 2011 will be the year of Android tablets. And with noteworthy entries such as the Motorola XOOM, ASUS' lineup, and the T-Mobile G-Slate, it looks like the tablets' quality might be just as high as their quantity - at least hardware-wise.
But what about the software? After all, isn't a device's OS what makes or breaks it?
During CES 2011 Sony Ericsson's newest smartphone, the Xperia arc, was sighted running Android version "2.4".
A few weeks ago there were rumours that Honeycomb, Google's next iteration of the Android platform, would actually be Android 2.4 and not Android 3.0. Although it was later confirmed that Honeycomb will indeed be Android 3.0, rumours suggested that an incremental update to Android was being readied. The About section of the Xperia arc, displayed below, appeared to confirm that there was indeed a version 2.4.
It's not unheard of for tuners to throw a small PC into a car (commonly called a "carputer" in the industry). It's a lot less common for Android to appear in cars, though it does happen - GM has considered using it to power OnStar and has a Volt app, while the Roewe 350 rocks Android in a pretty hardcore way. We've yet to hear of aftermarket tuners taking advantage of Android - until now, that is.
Motorola is expected to launch its XOOM tablet in February 2011 and, according to DigiTimes, they have placed an order for about 700,000 to 800,000 units. If there is greater demand, DigiTimes expects the order to reach up to one million units by the end of the first quarter of 2011.
Interestingly, DigiTimes also claims that Motorola and Samsung are being given special treatment by Google, while competitors, such as LG and HTC, are being left behind.
I've been roaming the booths of CES for 3 days now, and I think I've seen almost everything even remotely related to Android that was worth seeing. One company, Recon Instruments, has been on my mind since the beginning, however, and I'm really glad I finally made it to their booth today.
Their current product, called Transcend, is a full snow goggles solution incorporating a little color LCD screen in the bottom right corner.


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Smart speakers. Smartphones. They, and the world they belong to, feel less and less smart each day.
Underpaid and exhausted: the human cost of your Kindle
In the Chinese city of Hengyang, we find a fatigued, disposable workforce assembling gadgets for Amazon, owned by the world’s richest man. […]
Talk in the factory is of agency workers being laid off without pay during quiet periods: 700 in April and May, and 2,700 in January and February. Yet among the workers there is no great simmering anger, no burning resentment. Few have heard of Amazon or Bezos. They aren’t expecting very much and aren’t particularly disappointed when not very much is exactly what Foxconn and Amazon give them.
One 32-year-old married man says he can earn a basic 2,000 yuan (£233) a month making Kindles, but even with overtime taking it up to around £315 it is not enough.
It’s crazy to think that they work such long hours for such low pay, without being aware of how much money these companies are making, as a result of their work.
And it’s crazy to think that not joining in with this is now seen as outlandish and controversial.
This is what it’s like to not own a smartphone In 2018
Four years ago, I wrote about having no regrets for being a “dumb phone” user. At the time I was an anomaly: 58% of Americans, according to Pew researchers, owned a smartphone; that figure was around 80% for people in my age demographic. Now, I’m a clear oddity: 77% of U.S. adults are smartphone users, as are around 90% of my peers.
But, oh well. I don’t plan on changing tack anytime soon. Here’s why. …
My life without a smartphone
The problem is, divided out like that, we are left as partially everywhere and fully nowhere. We live with a constant Fear of Missing Out; but in need to fill the moments documenting life and making sure we don’t miss an email or update, we miss out being present in life, a sentiment beautifully illustrated in the viral “I forgot my phone” short film from last year.
I wonder if those Foxconn workers have any idea what that video’s on about.


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We are immersed in the week that generates the most hype in the world of video games. We’ve already enjoyed the Summer Game Fest, but the main courses are yet to come. Led by the Xbox Games Showcase, which will take place on June 11, the Ubisoft Forward is one of the most anticipated events.
The company may not be going through its best moment, but it still has several very powerful licenses capable of knocking us out of our chairs when they appear on screen. This is why the Ubisoft conference is, year after year, one of the most anticipated. And this year was not going to be less, as they have a good number of games announced to show more a few aces up their sleeves. So, as usual with us, we bring you our prediction of what we think will be there, what won’t be there, and what might be a surprise.
The old glories will be present
We start with what we know for sure, since Ubisoft itself has confirmed that in Ubisoft Forward we will have new preview of Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and The Crew Motorfest. These are the next three big releases from the company, but only Mirage knows its date. Thus, our bet is for abundant gameplay of all games, with release dates included.
Moreover, we now know that they will be at the XDefiant show, its new shooter that wants to rival Call of Duty, and Prince of Persia: The Lost Raven, the new franchise game announced last Thursday. Just for that, it would remain a good event, but we would need a big punch, a last surprise that we know what will be. Ubisoft, in the event trailer, confirmed an unannounced game. It is true that it could refer to the new Prince of Persian, but it would be strange if in the trailer for your event you mentioned a new game that is shown before. So we bet we will have an unexpected surprise.
Our bet: Splinter Cell Remake
I would want nothing more than the final surprise to be The Division’s parents’ new Star Wars, but I see it as unlikely knowing that they have to launch Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora first. For this reason, I believe that the surprise and the surprise game that I have spoken of will be the first look at Splinter Cell Remake. It may be risky, but I bet on it. I think it’s time to see this game in action, even with a CGI trailer at the end of the show to increase the hype. We know it exists, but nothing else, and it’s time for the return of one of the most acclaimed sagas.
Another risky bet would undoubtedly be the second from Immortals: Fenyx Rising, a different game in the Ubisoft catalog and that they liked a lot. We know that the company’s idea is to develop a sequel in another mythology, but we don’t know more. Will this be the surprise game?
Those who will not be
My bet is that we won’t see anything from Skull & Bonesa title that I really want but every day I see a worse future, and Beyond Good and Evil 2, which we know is still in development but still has a long time to go. We don’t know how the development process is going, but I highly doubt we’ll see it. Also, I have already mentioned the absence of Star Wars from Massive, as well as the remake of Sands of Time, which recently released a statement indicating that it is still under development. When will we see it? It’s a mystery.
The Ubisoft Forward will take place on June 12, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. (Peninsula Time).


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The French outdoor brand Salomon is releasing a range of smart ski helmets for kids as a part of their FW 22/23 equipment launch. By integrating the safety technology Twiceme, the helmets can provide info such as parent phone numbers, exact location and other relevant information needed if something were to happen. Here you can find our recommended kids helmets. In this way, the collaboration between Salomon and Twiceme can help set co-riders and loved ones at ease – and is a clear mark where the equipment industry is headed.
Twiceme HTH (Help The Helpers) technology gives you the information you need to help someone who has become incapacitated in and accident. Using the NFC antenna on any smartphone, it enables bystanders to relay location, medical information and critical contact information to first responders on their way to the scene of the accident.
And it buys them and the wearer critical time. All without the need to unlock the wearer’s phone or even having network access.
Salomon’s tradition of producing high-performing outdoor gear and head protection worn by enthusiasts all around the globe is brought to an apex with their decision to step into the tech domain. Salomon is now launching not one, not two, but three (!) different models of kids helmets integrated with Twiceme. By making their helmets smart, they are joining other world-leading brands such as Oakley, POC, and Julbo in the mission of building a global standard of safety and their aim to create the most advanced protection out there.
“Being able to integrate smart safety in our helmets feels like a big step forward. Twiceme intuitive technology brings protection to a new level. Combining Salomon’s best patented safety technologies with easy access to essential information thanks to the Twiceme app, parents can fully enjoy their family ski days.” – Benjamin Raffort, Product Line Manager at Salomon.
“We are proud and excited for this initiative from the highly recognized brand Salomon as it increases reach and visibility which helps build Twiceme as the global symbol for smart safety. Salomon will join POC in the children’s segment which can help put worried parents at ease knowing that essential information about their loved one can be made available by the tap of a smartphone. “ says Christian Connolly, CEO of Twiceme Technology.
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ABOUT TWICEME TECHNOLOGY
Twiceme Technology is a Swedish safe-tech company aiming to make people safer by making equipment smart. By giving users the tools to take the correct actions, faster, twICEme hopes to create a new safety norm for outdoor sports and work environments. twICEme is a technology, established in 2017, based on an idea from ex-militaries. It has since been developed in close collaboration with professional rescue teams.
Salomon delivers innovation to mountain sports, converting new ideas into action and expanding the limits of possibility. Salomon’s heritage, culture, and commitment are tied together by one simple concept: the world’s leading mountain people creating the world’s leading mountain products.


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Eurozone instability is casting a pall over markets across the Asia Pacific region. “Asia has no shortage of investment capital, and until the middle of 2011 there was more concern over inflationary pressures than lack of demand,” says Simon Treacy, ULI trustee and ULI South Asia chairman. “Suddenly, however, the prospect of a global relapse into recession is creating mounting unease. There will be ongoing and significant uncertainty in the global and regional economies and real estate markets over the coming 12 months.”
Following are the top five Asia/Pacific markets, as ranked by survey respondents for Emerging Trends Asia Pacific:
Singapore. Claiming the top spot for the second-consecutive year, Singapore continues to become a truly global city with a burgeoning asset and wealth management sector. In turn, the city continues to experience strong immigration and growth in tourism. But respondents say the market may have peaked. They suggest a large pipeline of Grade A office buildings and lower growth rates in rents may hold down investor returns. Over half the survey respondents recommended that investors hold properties—rather than buy or sell—in 2012.
Shanghai. Ranked second for investment potential for the second-straight year, the Chinese city with the second-largest gross domestic product continues to grow and attract institutional capital. Office space remains the key focus because of high demand and short supply, with an equal number of respondents choosing buy and hold as the best strategy in the office market. Retail growth is robust because of high domestic consumption, fueled in part by tourism, and over half the respondents gave a buy recommendation for the retail sector.
Sydney. The stability of Sydney, with some of the lowest risk found in the Asia Pacific region, supports its high ranking for investment potential. In 2011, there was a surge in office development, with office demand showing signs of recovery. With investors finding good access to capital from multiple sources, acquisitions across all property types have remained active and are projected to continue into 2012.
Chongqing. Included in Emerging Trends Asia Pacific for the first time this year, Chongqing is ranked fourth for investment prospects. One of the fastest-growing cities in China, Chongqing is home to some of China’s largest automobile and steel corporations, as well as large firms in other industries. With labor costs rising in the nation’s tier-one cities, second-tier cities such as Chongqing are seeing the benefit, boosting retail opportunities. Similar to Shanghai, over half the respondents gave a buy recommendation for retail properties. Office stock is expected to increase dramatically over the next five years, far beyond the market’s absorption capability.
Beijing. Respondents reported being bullish on Beijing, albeit conscious of the ongoing economic slowdown or “soft landing.” The commercial leasing market is strong, with a constant supply of new buildings being met with consistent demand and growing rents. The area is cultivating new, large startups, which, together with an abundant supply of capital, will support further construction. Recommendations focus on hold strategies for the office and hotel sectors, and on both buy and hold strategies for the retail and industrial sectors.
ULI-the Urban Land Institute


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WASHINGTON — The prices for natural gas and electricity remain stable, while regular-grade motor gasoline continues to climb, according to the most recent U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) short-term energy outlook.
Natural gas working inventories ended March 2011 at 1.6 trillion cubic feet (Tcf), slightly below the 2010 end-of-March level. EIA expects that working gas inventories will remain relatively high throughout 2011.
The projected Henry Hub natural-gas spot price is expected to average $4.10 per million Btu (MMBtu) in 2011, $0.29 per MMBtu lower than the 2010 average. EIA also expects the natural-gas market to begin to tighten in 2012.
The Henry Hub spot price averaged $3.97 per MMBtu in March, 12 cents lower than the average price in February and 6 cents lower than the March forecast in last month’s Outlook.
EIA expects an increase of 0.2% in total U.S. electricity consumption during 2011. While retail sales of electricity to the residential sector are expected to decline this year, improved economic conditions during 2011 should spur growth in sales of electricity to the commercial and industrial sectors of 1% and 2.5%, respectively.
The effect of lower generation fuel costs should be more evident during 2011 in retail prices for electricity distributed to the industrial sector, which EIA projects will increase by only 0.9% during 2011, then fall slightly, by 0.2% next year.
EIA projects that the retail price of regular-grade motor gasoline will average $3.86 per gallon during the summer’s driving season (April 1 through Sept. 30), up from $2.76 per gallon last summer.
Current market prices of futures and options contracts for gasoline suggest a 33% probability that the national monthly average retail price for regular gasoline could exceed $4 per gallon during July.
Weekly and daily national average prices can differ significantly from monthly and seasonal averages, and there are significant differences across regions, with monthly average prices in some areas exceeding the national average price by 25 cents per gallon or more.
The projected increase in gasoline prices suggests that vehicle-fueling costs for the average U.S. household will be about $825 higher in 2011 than they were in 2010,


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Stryker Corp. agrees to pony up more than $1 billion to settle thousands of product liability lawsuits filed over its recalled Rejuvenate and ABG II metal-on-metal hip implants.
NuVasive swings to a 3rd-quarter loss on higher-than-expected taxes, but beats Wall Street's sales expectations and says it expects to recoup the loss next quarter.
A federal judge rules that TIG Insurance Co. owes Stryker Corp. nearly $8 million to cover deals the orthopedics company made to settle product liability lawsuits concerning its Duracon Uni-Knee implants.
A federal jury in Texas clears Johnson & Johnson's DePuy Pinnacle hip implant in the 1st bellwether product liability trial over the metal-on-metal device.
A federal jury in Texas reportedly clears Johnson & Johnson's DePuy Pinnacle hip implant in the 1st bellwether product liability trial over the metal-on-metal device.
UPDATED Oct. 23, 2014, with comment from DePuy.
A jury begins deliberations in the 1st trial over DePuy Orthopaedics' Pinnacle metal-on-metal hip implant.
A new line of spinal implants from Medtronic makes its debut on the global stage.
Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) said it's introduced a new line of spinal implants made of a titanium-plastic combination for interbody fusion procedures.


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Michael Robertson's creation for on-line music sharing is reaching the end of the line, as the USA businessman explains how the recording industry sued his company out of existence.
Our review of the Smartron S805 Android TV box, the device that got TV navigation right
A week of Apple riches, Microsoft's future, and low-end Lumia love
NFL Super Bowl XLIX will be live streamed for free
NFL Super Bowl
NewerTech Wireless Aluminum Keypad Review
NewerTech Wireless Aluminum Keypad
Hands on with HoloLens


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Depot (/ˈdɛpoʊ/DEP-oh or /ˈdiːpoʊ/DEE-poh) is from the French dépôt which means a deposit (as in geology or banking) or a storehouse. In English, depot can mean any one of a number of things, with minor variances between the different English speaking countries:
Castaway depot, contains stores and survival gear for victims of shipwrecks
A train depot, where mainly locomotives are sheltered and repaired
Used as a part of railway station's name, because the same place was previously or still is being used as a train shelter and naturally became a railway station as well (e.g. Boise Union Pacific Depot)
Bus garage or 'bus depot', where buses are sheltered when not in use
Earlier this month, Home Depot, the Georgia-based home improvement big box retailer with more than $150 billion in revenue, purchased Fashion Square Mall...Officials said the more than 30 mall tenants will continue their leases ... Mall officials have said retailers currently in the mall will continue with their leases.
The Commerce Commission's (NZCC) clearance was subject to selling 110 of Apollo's existing four to six-berth motorhome rental fleet in New Zealand, Apollo's Star RV brand, forward motorhome rental bookings, the lease to an existing Apollo depot and other ...
Dr ... Dr ... Dr ... Dr ... Rawson and Best are credited with leading the CMC through its formative stage that included expanding the CMC’s strategic business, member, and partner relationships, overseeing the lease agreement for the CMC’s Ramp-Up Factory at Depot Park in Sacramento, CA, and spearheading the CMC’s official commercialization launch in March 2021 ... .
Wet-leased minibuses, launched in 2019, are idling away at BEST's depots for over a fortnight as the drivers haven't received the salaries for two-and-a-half months ... He said drivers reach depots such as the one at Kurla, where a large number of minibuses are parked, daily.
The incident occurred in the city of Itapecerica da Serra, at a depot belonging to Multiteiner, a company that sells and leases containers to businesses that export goods ... At least 9 dead in container depot ...
Supply chain disruption during the pandemic and later Russia’s war in Ukraine have pushed up prices of commodities ... Supply chain disruption during the pandemic and later Russia’s war in Ukraine have pushed up prices of commodities ... FOMC meeting this week ... FCI to extend half of private storage depot leases. Also read ... .
Elaborating on the potential benefits emanating from India from the FTA with the UK, he said it is expected to provide certainty, predictability, transparency and will create a more facilitative and competitive services regime ...FOMC meeting this week ... FCI to extend half of private storage depot leases ... .
Sitharaman was replying to a question by Kris Gopalakrishnan, Chairman, Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2022 Advisory Board, who wanted to know how to ensure trust among industry, regulators, and the government ... “I don’t want to sound cliche, but distance brings distrust ... Also read ... FCI to extend half of private storage depot leases ... Also read ... .
In July, retail inflation for farm and rural workers stood at 6.60 per cent and 6.82 per cent respectively, a labour ministry statement said ... In July, retail inflation for farm and rural workers stood at 6.60 per cent and 6.82 per cent respectively, a labour ministry statement said ... FCI to extend half of private storage depot leases ... Also read ... .
“India’s own growth rates have come off the projections made in January down to about 7-plus per cent for the current financial year,” Nageswaran said speaking at Global Fintech Fest event here ... Also read. Indian economy expected to grow by 7.5 per cent this year ... FCI to extend half of private storage depot leases ... Also read ... .
Despite the slowdown and recession threat looming over the world, Barclays believes that India’s economy stands out as an outlier, benefiting from enhanced food security, deleveraged private sector balance sheets, and more ... Also Read ... FOMC meeting this week ... FCI to extend half of private storage depot leases ... Domestic tailwinds ... Also Read ... .
Expect a 75bps hike in the upcoming US FOMC meet on Sept 20-21 (followed by two more rate hikes at least) and now forecast a terminal Fed fund rate at 4-4.25%. By Deepak Jasani. The US Fed is caught in a quandary, whether to target inflation or be concerned about slowing economic growth ... Also read ... FCI to extend half of private storage depot leases ... .
The food ministry has approved a policy to extend the leases for storage depots, built under the private entrepreneurs guarantee (PEG) scheme for grain storage by the Food Corporation of India (FCI), according to official sources. A 10-year lease period has recently lapsed in the case of almost half of the PEG capacity used by the FCI.
They just ran their first annual surplus in years, their subscriptions have bounced back from pandemic losses, and they're closing in on a lease with St. Louis County to move into the Depot ...DuluthSuperiorSymphony Orchestra on track to move into Depot ... Depot does the java jive ... The Depot's most caffeinated day of the year is coming up on Saturday.


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Hyderabad, Dec 13: Celkon Mobiles has bagged the rights to be a co-presenter of the upcoming India-Pakistan Cricket series. This is part of the Rs 40-crore promotional campaign the company is launching next week.
It has tied up with cricketer Virat Kohli and South Indian film actress Tamanna Bhatia for the ad campaign. Leading Telugu film director Trivikram Srinivas made the promos for the cellular handset company in Hindi and regional languages.
The home-grown mobile player, which registered a turnover of Rs 320 crore last year, plans to cross the Rs 800-crore mark in 2013-14, largely backed by the nationwide campaign it is planning. It sells 5.5 lakh phones and tablets a month.
“About 10 per cent of them are smartphones. Next year, we plan to sell 10 lakh phones and tablets a month, with the contribution from smart phones and tablets increasing to 20 per cent,” Y. Guruswamy Naidu, Managing director of Celkon Mobiles, said, after launching the tablet.
Ahead of the launch of the nationwide campaign, the company launched a 3G-dongle tablet PC at Rs 6,499 a piece. It comes with a RAM of 1 GB and 1.2 GHz processor.
“We have sold 50,000 tablets (three varieties) in the last few months. We could have done better but for the problems in the supply chain. We will be selling 50,000 a month as the supply chain is restored,” It also launched a dual core smart phone (A200) at Rs 8,449, which comes with a 5 mega pixel camera and 1GHz processor.


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NEW YORK (TheStreet) --Piper Jaffray research analyst Gene Munster joined Tuesday morning's CNBC "Squawk on the Street" to comment on the reports that Apple (AAPL) - Get Apple Inc. (AAPL) Report received illegal tax benefits from Ireland.
Reports suggest that Apple evaded international tax rules in exchange for job creation in Ireland. Now the tech titan is facing a $14.5 billion tax from the European Union.
"It is an eye-popping number to the magnitude that we haven't heard before, but the reason why is just simple math. If they get penalized the $14.5 billion, which is still unsure whether they will pay that, but assuming they do, it's going to be about $2.50 almost $3.00 per share," Munster explained.
He argued that those are relatively incremental numbers and that the bigger challenge and worry for investors stem from the relationship between Apple and the E.U.
"The EU should be careful about how they approach this. Obviously, because they want investment from U.S. companies, so I think there's going to be precedence that's going to be set by this," Munster said.
From Apple's perspective, Munster feels that as long as the company continues to cultivate an interest in its products, consumer sentiment within the E.U. will remain healthy.
Regarding Ireland, the country has become an attractive site for the technology industry in Europe. In light of these reports, Munster was questioned as to whether this would diminish.
"I definitely think it would, and I think that's probably why Ireland is pushing so hard to keep this together. I'm sure there are very talented in Ireland, but I'm sure these big companies can find talent anywhere in the world. So I think it's important for Ireland to keep this together for local employment," Munster noted.
Shares of Apple were lower during mid-morning trading on Tuesday.
(Apple is a core holding of Jim Cramer's charitable trust Action Alerts PLUS. See all of his holding with a free trialhere.)
Separately, TheStreet Ratings team rates the stock as a "buy" with a ratings score of B+.
Apple's strengths such as its largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, expanding profit margins, increase in stock price during the past year and notable return on equity outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income.
You can view the full analysis from the report here: AAPL
TheStreet Ratings objectively rated this stock according to its "risk-adjusted" total return prospect over a 12-month investment horizon. Not based on the news in any given day, the rating may differ from Jim Cramer's view or that of this article's author.


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Business News Roundup, March 15
over dead dog
A U.S. senator has asked United Airlines to explain its high rate of animal deaths, deepening the carrier’s latest public relations crisis over a dog that perished in an overhead bin.
Eighteen of the 24 animals that died on a major U.S. airline last year were in United’s care, Louisiana Republican John Kennedy wrote in a letter to United President Scott Kirby on Wednesday.
“For many people, pets are members of the family,” Kennedy wrote. “They should not be treated like insignificant cargo.”
United faced heavy fallout from a Monday night incident aboard Flight 1284 from Houston to New York’s LaGuardia Airport. A small dog in a pet carrier died after being placed in the overhead bins.
While the owner alerted a flight attendant that a dog was inside the crate, the attendant “did not hear or understand her, and did not knowingly place the dog in the overhead bin,” United said.
Broadcom is officially withdrawing its $117 billion bid to buy Qualcomm, two days after President Trump blocked the Singapore company’s ambitions over national security fears.
Wednesday’s move is a formality since the presidential order had ensured the deal would be killed in any U.S. regulatory review. Broadcom said it still plans to move its headquarters to San Jose.
U.S. Toys R Us stores may shut
Toys R Us said Wednesday that it will close all its stores in Britain after failing to find a buyer, and the Washington Post reported that the once-dominant retailer plans to sell or close all its U.S. stores as well.
The company’s website shows 25 Bay Area stores, seven of which were already scheduled to close.
Toys R Us, which filed for bankruptcy in the U.S. last year, is owned by the private equity firms Bain Capital and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and the real estate firm Vornado Realty Trust.
The British arm of the toy seller went into administration, which is similar to a bankruptcy, in February. It had set a deadline of Wednesday to find a buyer for its remaining stores.
Walmart is expanding its online grocery delivery service to more than 100 U.S. metro areas as it tries to keep pace in an increasingly expensive turf war with Amazon, Target and other retailers.
On Wednesday, Walmart said its delivery service would be available to more than 40 percent of U.S. households by the end of the year. Some orders would be delivered on the day they are placed, the company said. Walmart plans to use 800 of its own stores to fulfill customer requests, and partner with Uber and other driving services for delivery.
Walmart charges a $9.95 fee for its grocery delivery service and requires a minimum order of $30.
gets big raise
Wells Fargo’s board of directors has given CEO Tim Sloan a $4.6 million raise, despite the San Francisco bank continuing to face the fallout of its sales-practices scandal and other issues.
In its annual proxy to shareholders, Wells Fargo said Wednesday that Sloan made $17.6 million last year, up from $13 million in 2016. While Sloan did not get a cash bonus in 2017, the value of the Wells Fargo stock awarded him rose to $15 million from $10.5 million.
Williams-Sonoma on Wednesday reported fiscal fourth-quarter profit of $95.8 million ($1.13 per share).
Adjusted for one-time gains and costs, the San Francisco company’s earnings came to $1.68 per share, topping expectations. For the quarter ending in May, Williams-Sonoma expects its per-share earnings to range from 55 to 60 cents.
Chronicle News Services


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San Francisco, Oct 18 Popular online video game Fortnite on Tuesday released an update that features “Fortnitemares”, the annual Halloween event that includes the ability to transform into a wolf-like monster.
As reported by The Verge, the update includes multiple new features such as there is now a DJ hanging out at the Reality Tree, and players can perform a ritual to get access to an item called “howler claws” that results in the werewolf transformation.
With the claws equipped, players can now find other players, use melee attacks, and double jump. In some ways, it sounds like the wraith-like abilities from 2020.
Moreover, the latest update also brings a new Zero Build version of the classic horde rush mode, the return of Halloween-themed items like candy and a pumpkin launcher, and a handful of quests to unlock free in-game items.
Fortnitemares runs from now until November 1st, as reported.
In the new update, a “Custom Diagonals Keyboard Movement” setting has been added to the Mouse and Keyboard settings tab. This new setting allows the player to adjust the diagonal movement of their character to their liking.
Meanwhile, Fortnite launched its latest season a month ago, and it includes new features like metallic substances that can turn you into chrome blobs. As a Chrome blob, users also gain the ability to air dash, allowing them to close distance on enemies quickly, the report said.


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Textile and apparel circularity is a vital part of the sector’s sustainability goals and practicing circularity in textiles has significant implications for the Earth’s natural resources. When textile production is developed in a manner that links it to reverse logistics, capacities could then improve the supply chain resilience by connecting production and disposal in one loop.
In a step to strengthen circularity practices in this sector, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL) are collaborating on “Approaches for Circular Textiles and Apparel Industry in India (ACTAII)” as part of the Indo-German Development Public-Private Partnership program (develoPPP). The ACTAII project aims to help India’s textile and apparel industry embrace circular economy principles by developing circular economy guidelines, circularity training modules, and collaborating with startups through an innovation challenge.
A baseline study was just concluded and the highlight of the report was that the Indian textile and apparel sector must make more strides towards the circularity of its produce. Prajakta L Verma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India said in response to this report “The Textile and Apparel sector is a major economic sector in India. Thus, the integration of sustainability and circularity principles in the value chain is imperative for the larger good of our planet and its people.”
Textile circularity’s current situation in India
As per the baseline report, India is still in the early stages of development in textile circularity. While there is a growing awareness of sustainable practices in the textile industry, there are still challenges to be addressed in order to implement circularity in the textile value chain. “This report includes first-hand data on India’s textile and apparel industry, including current practices on sustainability and circularity, existing gaps and challenges and potential areas for pilot implementation from innovations. The study addresses textile industry circularity and stakeholders at each step of the value chain, including design, manufacturing, distribution, retail sale, and consumer use,” says Kartikeya Sarabhai, Director, Centre for Environment Education (CEE).
The lack of infrastructure and technology are two major challenges that limit progression of circularity in the sector. In addition, the industry has limited government support for undertaking circularity. Moreover, the consumers are also not inclined towards buying sustainable products. Efforts are underway to address these challenges and promote textile circularity in India; companies such as Birla Cellulose, Reliance Industries, PurFI, Kishco and many others are working on textile recycling and repurposing.
The picture of a dynamic roadmap
The local textile sector in India has much to do and the baseline report has suggested multiple points of action. The innovation challenge is to be used to motivate textile manufacturers to prioritize at least six action points from a list of identified focal areas of textile production – these actions will then be used as benchmarks for an innovation challenge from startups that bring diverse next-generation solutions. A jury will evaluate the three most suitable circularity practicing businesses for pilot scale implementation emic institutions such as NID and NIFT, research organizations, subject expert agencies and textile manufacturing conglomerates. This white paper will enable the government make informed decisions to help create initiatives for the Indian T&A sector fast forward its circularity goals.
Another key element on the roadmap for achieving circularity goals is conducting trainings workshops for not only management but also factory workers with every part of the textile value chain. Along with such awareness development initiative, the baseline report recommends creating a manifesto for India’s textile circularity. The insights provided by the baseline report would go towards creating a holistic framework that includes every aspect of the textile’s lifecycle which would affect its design, supply chain and waste management as well as engaging consumers and stakeholders alike.


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Processor of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee, Mavis Bank Coffee Factory (MBCF) will be investing roughly US$2.5 million in operations over the next four years.
Director of Internal Consulting David Martin, in an interview with the Jamaica Observer, said the company will be using the funds to ensure maximum operation efficiency, development of product lines, and cementing its brand name in regional markets to include Florida.
What’s more, the company — which was some five years ago acquired by Jamaica Producers Limited and joint venture partner Pan Jamaican Investment Trust following a six-month negotiation with the Development Bank of Jamaica — is looking to double its active coffee cultivation to 120 acres on its Andover Blue Mountain Coffee Farm and is also eyeing the acquisition of another farm.
“The investments will be in three pockets. A good chunk of that investment is for building the four Jablum brands — Gold, Classic, Caribbean and True Brew throughout the region, where appropriate.
“We want True Brew to become an everyday coffee to Jamaicans first and foremost, and then secondly we will export to the diaspora in the United States and also the Caribbean markets.
Jablum Gold, Classic and Caribbean are very relevant in travel retail channels throughout the region, including the airports, hotels and cruise,” Martin told the Business Observer. “So there is a big emphasis on marketing.”
The company will also use a portion of the funds to upgrade capital machinery in its roasted coffee factory to support plans the company has for its four Jablum brands.
“For example, we are interested in doing k-cups and sachets that have the pods. So imagine you have a single serve of coffee in a round pouch; we use it not quite like a tea bag but in a machine that can drip one cup of water through the pod to make a cup of coffee.
So we have that being used right now at the Courtyard Marriott and we want to do more of that — and we need to invest in the machinery,” he said.
Mavis Bank is also seeking investors for efficient converting of its coffee cherries in its green bean coffee factory.


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After months of waiting on Garmin’s Android based smart phone, it seems that it is really close to being in our sweaty Android loving hands. The guys over at MobileBurn was lucky enough to get their hands on the device and
Sony Ericsson’s XPERIA X10 isn’t even in stores yet, and the company have already given it a couple of siblings. The XPERIA X10 mini – which we saw recently under its Robyn codename – and the X10 mini
Some lucky guy managed to get his hands on what is sure to be one of the hottest Android phones to be released this year, the HTC Legend.
Looks like PDAnet has some competition now. For the longest they have been the most popular way to tether your Android device without the need for root. Now enters EasyTether. This app works for MOST Android phones, but has been
The Compaq Airlife 100 is HP’s latest Android offering. This laptop will be released to select countries starting this spring. This laptop will be packed full of options.
Dell’s latest entry into the world of Android will be the Mini 5 tablet. This is a beautiful device and it might make its way to AT&T sometime soon. If it does, this will be their first Android device.
With the popularity of the Android platform growing more and more retailers will look into taking advantage of this new market of potential buyers. Best Buy has now released an app in the Android Market.
Any doubts that HTC might be bringing the Legend to Mobile World Congress 2010 next week look to be fast vanishing, as the smartphone – expected to be the successor to the HTC Hero – makes a (brief) appearance on the
Hard cases for the Motorola Droid are few and far between. Case-Mate intends to end your search with their latest offering. This case is designed to protect your entire phone including the screen without taking from the
Now that the “buzz” is dying down for the Google’s new Buzz service, its reality checks time. Currently only 2.0 and higher devices can take full advantage of the new features.


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Two men early Friday used a pickup to break into a North Toledo convenience store in an attempt to steal an ATM machine.
Officers responding to a burglary alarm about 5 a.m. arrived at a Stop N Go at 3504 Lagrange St. near East Manhattan Boulevard and found the front door smashed in and the ATM machine damaged.
The thugs were gone, police said.
Tom Irdi, co-owner of the store, said a store security camera shows two men taking down an electric meter, using a truck to knock down the front door and wall, and then hooking a chain to the ATM machine and trying to pull it out with the truck.
The men failed to remove the ATM machine, which was fastened to the floor, Mr. Irdi said.


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Apartment Building Catches Fire From a Lithium-Ion Battery
According to ABC 7, a firefighter was injured putting out a building fire located on Grand Concourse in the Fordham Heights section of the Bronx, New York.
On Saturday, January 8, 2022, at around 2 a.m., a four-story apartment building caught fire. Fire officials determined that the fire began in a restaurant on the lower floor. After an investigation, they identified the cause of the fire as a lithium-ion battery from either an electric scooter or an e-bike. One firefighter was injured while putting the fire out, but all residents were evacuated unharmed. The condition of the firefighter has not been released. It took the firefighters three hours to get the structural fire under control.
Dangers of Lithium-ion Batteries
These types of batteries can be found in many of our daily used devices. These include cell phones, laptops, tablets, scooters, hoverboards, e-bikes, electric scooters, and even electric cars. Lithium-ion batteries have a higher energy density than other types of batteries. This allows them to be utilized in high-power portable devices, keeping them running longer. Unfortunately, we do not always think of the dangers they can cause. Across the country, hospitals are seeing lithium-ion battery injuries at an increasing rate. Many times they result in life-changing injuries, including loss of eyesight and severe burns. When these batteries explode, they often result in second and third-degree burn injuries, leading victims to undergo skin grafts that may leave scarring and disfigurement. Since 2014, more than 5,000 reports have been made of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries.
Compensation for Lithium-ion Fire Injuries
We recently discussed the issue of the dangers of lithium-ion batteries with fire injury lawyer Laurence Banville. He shared some legal options available to victims of fires sparked by these batteries, explaining when victims may be awarded compensation for lithium-ion fire injuries.
Legal Examiner: How common are lithium-ion battery injuries?
Laurence Banville: Too often, people do not realize the hazards that lithium-ion batteries may cause. They are found in our everyday electronics and even in electric cars. Consumers put trust in the manufacturers to offer safe products. Sadly, we have seen many cases of these batteries overheating and becoming a fire hazard. The way they are designed causes them to have a sensitivity to extreme heat, and they are quite flammable. When these rechargeable batteries are defective, they can explode, causing massive fires harming victims and buildings.
Legal Examiner: Who can be held liable for fires caused by lithium-ion batteries?
Laurence Banville: Manufacturers have a legal responsibility to provide consumers with safe products. They can be held accountable for the design and manufacturing of defective products. When safety is neglected, a manufacturer can be held liable. If they have knowledge of reports that the product is malfunctioning and causing harm to others, yet they continue to sell the item, they can be found negligent.
Legal Examiner: Can victims injured in lithium-ion fires file a civil lawsuit?
Laurence Banville: In cases of manufacturer negligence, injured victims of lithium battery fires may have the legal right to file a lawsuit. Victims should explore their options with an experienced fire injury lawyer. The lawyer will be able to help identify who can be held liable for building fires started by lithium-ion batteries.
Mr. Banville is a personal injury attorney who has experience in handling auto accidents, work injuries, medical malpractice, dog bites, slip and falls, and representing survivors and victims of sexual abuse. Mr. Banville is affiliated with law firms in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, D.C., and Maryland. Abuse Guardian


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Shoppers endure rain for bargain Black Friday prices
Richard Adams had no regrets about not bringing an umbrella.
The 50 year-old Erie man was first in line outside the Best Buy in Summit Township on Thursday, waiting for the store to open at 5 p.m. so he could purchase a discounted laptop for his niece and seek refuge from the rain.
He had arrived at 9:30 in the morning, wearing a sweatshirt and bluejeans. He had brought nothing to eat or drink. He would eat his Thanksgiving meal later in the evening. For most of the day, his only possession was a paper ad, crumpled and wet in his hand.
"You may as well live it up," said Adams at about 4:30 p.m., when the rain was the heaviest it had been all day and the temperature outside was 45 degrees. By then, the line of shoppers extended into the parking lot. Other people waited inside their warm cars, scrolling through digital Black Friday ads on their smartphones.
Adams shows up each year for the annual holiday shopping gauntlet, which used to take place the day after Thanksgiving, but now begins much earlier. He prefers to shop at Best Buy. The electronics store opened earlier on Thursday than many other big retailers.
"They treat their customers a lot better," Adams said.
Earlier in the day, employees had handed out store maps to customers in line, so they knew exactly where to find the items they wanted when they were granted entrance.
For Tracie Byrne, 47, of Grimsby, Ontario, it was a large television.
Asked what size, Byrne employed what one of her fellow shoppers described as her "Canadian sense of humor."
"That's a very personal question," said Byrne, who was the fourth person in line. But she could not understand why anyone, including Marlon Palmer, 39, also of Ontario, needed anything larger than 49 inches.
Palmer, who was third in line, had his heart set on two TVs, a 50-inch and a 60-inch. He and his cousin, Joel Sidney, 47, had arrived at Best Buy around noon, and took their place right behind Adams.
The cousins struck up a running banter with Byrne and her husband, Paul, throughout the day, and it made Byrne's first Black Friday experience tolerable.
"If it weren't for these people," Byrne said, she would have regretted the decision. In fact, she said she had no idea why she decided to come in the first place.
Her husband, it turned out, was to blame.
"It was my idea," said Paul Byrne, 51.
Black Friday shopping, as much as it has expanded in recent years, online and in stores, has actually become a more controlled and efficient operation, said Sue Perkins, who stood in line outside the nearby Target store about 5 p.m., an hour before doors opened. Perkins, 62, of North East, has gone Black Friday shopping for the last 14 or 15 years, she said.
As opposed to all at once, shoppers now come at all hours, with the die-hard bargain hunters showing up for early deals known as "doorbusters." Retailers also do a better job of controlling the chaos, she said.
"It's more organized now," said Perkins, standing behind a metal barrier that cordoned off Target's front sidewalk. In previous years, she said, some people would wait in their cars and storm the entrance when the doors opened.
On Thursday, she had come to shop for her grandchildren and was hoping to grab discounted video game consoles that included store gift cards. At the same time, her daughter and granddaughter were waiting outside Toys R Us.
"We text each other to keep in touch," Perkins said.
She had a good sense of humor about being the type of person who is willing to stand in the rain for bargain prices. She knew exactly why a news reporter was approaching her on the dark and dreary Thanksgiving evening.
"You want to interview the crazies," she said.
Nico Salvatori can be reached at 870-1714 or by email. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNsalvatori.


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Baidu loses US$10 billion as firm sees steepest decline in share price since 2008
Chinese online search giant Baidu saw the steepest decline in its US-traded shares since 2008, wiping off about US$10 billion from the company’s value.
Shares of Nasdaq-listed Baidu were down 15 per cent to finish at US$168.03 on Tuesday. That was also the stock’s lowest close since it reached US$166.42 on June 5 last year.
The sharp sell-off in Baidu’s shares came a day after the Beijing-based company forecast third-quarter revenue below Wall Street expectations and increased investments on its online-to-offline (O2O) businesses over the next several years.
The company projected total revenue in the third quarter to range from 18.17 billion yuan to 18.58 billion yuan, representing a 34.4 per cent to 37.4 per cent year-on-year growth. That was below the 18.79 billion yuan average estimate made by market analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters.
“Management estimates the O2O market in China is 10 trillion yuan (US$1.633 trillion), and its very strong initial success is giving it confidence to increase investment aggressively,” Chi Tsang, the head of Asia internet equity research at HSBC, said in a report published on Tuesday.
Baidu is expected to raise its selling, general and administrative expenses between 80 per cent to 90 per cent year on year in the second half of this year, which implied about 19 billion yuan in such spending for the period. That is up from the original guidance of 50 per cent year on year, which was worth 15 billion yuan.
“While we are surprised by the rapid step up in spending, we believe strong share gains support this investment,” the HSBC analyst said.
Baidu announced last month that it will invest about US$3.2 billion over the next three years in Nuomi, which links online shoppers to brick-and-mortar retailers.
Now with a market capitalisation of US$59.02 billion, Baidu on Monday reported a 3.3 per cent increase in net profit in the second quarter, which was offset by higher operating expenses and investments.
Alicia Yap, the head of China internet research at Barclays, said in a report that increased promotional campaigns for group-buying service Nuomi as well as incremental marketing investment for online travel site operator Qunar resulted in additional selling, general and administrative expenses in the second quarter.
“Because of the early stage nature [of its O2O businesses), we'll have to invest aggressively to make sure we will be successful,” Robin Li Yanhong, the chairman and chief executive at Baidu, said in a conference call with analysts on Monday.
As of June 30, Baidu had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments worth US$12.09 billion to help support that initiative.
The company for the first time reported the gross merchandise value of its existing O2O businesses Nuomi, Qunar and Baidu Takeout Delivery. This value — representing the total amount of merchandise sold by an e-commerce operation over a certain period before deducting fees and expenses — climbed 109 per cent year on year to 40.5 billion yuan.
Li pointed out that there was no timeline on when Baidu’s O2O investments should pay off. “Whether that’s in three years or five years, it’s really hard to tell at this point,” he said.
Baidu chief financial officer Jennifer Li reiterated that the company was continuing to gain market share in those businesses on mainland China.
She said Baidu “would basically double down” on its investments “to see really phenomenal growth continue to come from the O2O” market.
The company’s net profit in the quarter to June rose to 3.662 billion yuan, from 3.547 billion yuan in the same period last year, on the back of greater mobile business.
Total revenue jumped 38.3 per cent in the second quarter to 16.575 billion yuan, up from 11.986 billion yuan a year ago.
Monthly active users of Baidu’s mobile search platform grew 24 per cent year on year to 629 million in June, while those using mobile maps increased 48 per cent year on year in the same period.
“With Baidu's cornerstone search business delivering solid growth and enjoying ample runway ahead, and with powerful mobile gateways to leverage, we are ideally positioned to capture the O2O e-commerce opportunity and build the 'Next Baidu’,” Li said.
Baidu had about 590,000 active online marketing customers in the second quarter. Revenue per online marketing customer in that period advanced 13.2 per cent year on year to 27,400 yuan.
The company, however, has had to spend more to further grow its business and more effectively compete against its main rivals Alibaba Group and Tencent Holdings, which have made bigger bets in mainland China and overseas.
Selling, general and administrative expenses for Baidu in the second quarter increased 81 per cent year on year to 3.89 billion yuan due to higher promotional spending for the company’s O2O business.
Research and development costs in the same period were up 56.2 per cent year on year to 2.713 billion yuan as the company hired more personnel in this field.
Content expenses last quarter reached 840.2 million yuan, representing 5.1 per cent of Baidu’s total revenue. That was higher compared to 3 per cent in the corresponding period last year. The increase was mainly due to increased content costs of online video service iQiyi.


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Tag - Constellation
Luxury handset maker Vertu has just introduced its latest and most advanced smartphone with the Constellation. For one, it gets a modern AMOLED touchscreen sized at 3.5 inches and, as is typical of the brand, is coated in a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. On the rear, users will find black alligator skin.
Seagate on Tuesday morning put out four pro drives targeted at both enterprise users and serious users, including a near record-setting SSD. The Pulsar.2 is billed as the first SSD using multi-level cell (MLC) in business and uses the denser storage to boost capacity, but without reducing its lifespan. It can hold as much as 800GB in its 2.5-inch form but can take as many as 15 petabytes of writes, or more than five years if its drive were completely rewritten 10 times every day.
Seagate has just introduced its second-generation Constellation.2 family of enterprise hard drives with a 2.5-inch form factor. Made for use in data centers, they now reach up to 1TB and offer highest capacity in their size and have the lowest power consumption in the class. The choice of interface is equally diverse with either a 6Gbps SAS or same-speed SATA connection.
A Seagate representative has provided Electronista with a few additional details regarding Mac compatibility for the upcoming 3TB Constellation hard drive. In-house testing reportedly showed 3TB of usable space on Snow Leopard, indicating that Mac users should be able to utilize the full capacity of the drive without any special configurations or software updates.
Seagate today confirmed that it's making a 3TB hard drive for late this year. Spokeswoman Barbara Craig didn't provide many details to Thinq but explained that the Constellation disk would need a 64-bit OS that supports long logical block addressing (long LBA) to read the entire contents. Older 32-bit platforms may not see more than 2.1TB due to the original LBA, and Windows XP may not even see 1GB of space.
Storage media maker Seagate is said to be working on a 3TB Constellation ES disk drive that is expected to arrive in stores later this year, according to unnamed sources speaking to TheRegister. The enterprise-class drive would have a 6GBps SAS interface and have the largest capacity from any of its kind in Seagate's range. The largest current Constellation ES is a 2TB, 7,200RPM unit.
Seagate this morning promised a new level of security for work-oriented hard drives by shipping its first Self-Encrypted Drives (SED). The Cheetah 15K.7, Constellation, Savvio 10K.3 and Savvio 15K.2 all automatically protect data that isn't immediately being used. They all have an encryption engine that processes information on the fly but without slowing down the drives' actual speed.
Now AAPL Stock: 94.02 ( -2.58 )
Apple brings iTunes Movie Trailers app to Canada
After five years, Apple has expanded its iTunes Movie Trailers app for iOS to Canada. As of Saturday, the free app allows movie buffs to see HD movie trailers for new studio and independent features, and explore some other movie-related extras such as photos, behind-the-scenes footage, or clips from upcoming films. Users can save trailers for quick access, read reviews from RottenTomatoes.com within the app, use AirPlay to send them to an Apple TV, share trailers, and peruse the top movie charts. http://apple.co/1UUKtwr
Apple expands CloudKit API, provides web interface
On Friday, Apple notified developers that it was expanding a feature of CloudKit to allow for server-to-server web service requests. "In addition to providing a web interface for users to access the same data as your app, you can now easily read and write to the CloudKit public database from a server-side process or script with a server-to-server key," Apple said in its announcement. Previously, interaction with the CloudKit public database was limited to apps and web only. http://apple.co/20h1RwP
Remote S for Tesla Apple Watch app drives car out
Developer Allen Wong has created the Remote S for Tesla app, which can be used to remotely activate the Model S electric car via an Apple Watch, and drive it a short distance. Aside from providing data about the car and some basic function controls, the unofficial app uses the manufacturer's Summon command to allow the car to turn on, exit the garage, and park near to the user's location. The app is available to purchase from the App Store for $10. http://apple.co/1PprF4t
Seagate 3TB unreliability suit expands
The Seagate 3TB class-action hard drive lawsuit has been expanded to more devices. The expanded suit, filed today, now includes Seagate's Barracuda 3TB Hard Disk Drive, Desktop HDD 3TB, Backup Plus 3TB External Hard Disk Drive, GoFlex 3TB External Hard Disk Drive, or any other Seagate hard drive with model number ST3000DM001. The law firm, Hagens Berman, is seeking information from consumers such as time in service, purchase price, and the nature of any drive received in return from Seagate as a replacement for a failed unit. http://bit.ly/1Pc34Cq
BlackBerry Canada, Florida hit with layoffs
The BlackBerry campus has reportedly been wracked with layoffs. Sources familiar with the company's Waterloo office staffing claim that close to 35 percent of the local workforce has been laid off, with the deepest cuts being made in the BlackBerry 10 OS and hardware teams. Additionally, the state of Florida has been officially notified that the company's Sunrise facility will see 75 people fired. Enthusiast site Mobilesyrup puts the layoffs at around 1000 total. http://bit.ly/1Pc1Rep
Instagram tests multiple account support for iOS
Instagram is trialling support for multiple accounts in its iPhone app with a small number of users. The Facebook-owned photo sharing service confirmed the reports of the tests to TechCrunch, which will allow a single user to manage more than a single account within the app, transferring between two or three accounts with a few taps. It is unclear when the feature will roll out to the public, but it has previously tested it with the Android version of the app since November. http://tcrn.ch/1SPKEKh
Foxconn CEO declares Sharp deal near done
The Foxconn bid for Sharp is allegedly only waiting on specific details of the deal. Foxconn CEO Terry Gou has declared that his company has privileged negotiation rights for the Apple iPhone screen supplier, saying that "we have a consensus, the rest is a process ... I don't see a problem completing this process." Gou hopes the deal, worth up to $5.6 billion, will be formalized by the end of February. http://reut.rs/1SPEQjN


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By Jim Holland, research director, National Association of Letter Carriers Six days a week, over 200,000 city delivery letter carriers fan out on routes across the country to deliver and pick up mail and packages for residences and businesses. Carriers now even deliver packages on Sundays and holidays. Increasingly, letter carriers do work beyond traditional postal services, helping to meet the growing needs of both shippers and recipients. Letter carriers are a daily presence in communities across the country, which helps them become familiar with the needs of their communities.
It’s been said the opioid epidemic does not discriminate. Its impact is felt in all communities — rural or urban, big or small, wealthy or poor. As was noted at a recent Senate hearing, nearly every American has been touched in some way by this crisis.
Policymakers are looking to attack...Read More


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A Bath cycle studio has received more than 400 name suggestions after losing a battle over the trademark of the word "spinning".
Spin Village in Milsom Place lost a battle in September with US-based company Mad Dogg Athletics over the trademark rights to "spinning".
Since then Charlie Bird, the owner, has received 400 name suggestions for what the studio could be re-named as.
Charlie Bird said: "It’s been phenomenal to have received so many suggestions for our new studio.
"The opportunity to find a new name has been fantastic to truly make our riders part of the fabric of the studio and we are both delighted and humbled with the response.
"When we had all 250 or so new studio names written up on our glass windows, I was shocked at just how many people were dropping in to look through them all."
Spin Village owner Charlie Bird thought it was okay to use what is considered the generic term for indoor cycling.
Yet 18 months ago, German-based intellectual property law firm Greyhills told Spin Village it was a breach.
Mad Dogg Athletics has owned the trademark for "spinning" for 20 years as part of its large portfolio of fitness companies.
Mr Bird attempted to appease Greyhills by making changes to his firms trademark application, but a resolution was not reached.
Fearing a court case, Charlie decided to rename the studio.
From the 400 odd suggestions Charlie received, he has now selected a shortlist of ten.
He said: "We’ve had to make some really tough decisions to whittle down the names to a final shortlist, but we can now see the light at the end of the tunnel.
"As an independent business, it will be a huge weight off our shoulders to finally move on from this trademark dispute.
"To say that we are excited about announcing the new name would be a massive understatement! We cannot wait to open the next chapter in the studio’s journey!"
The shortlist is:
- Bike + Beat
- Cycle Works
- Strada Bianca
- Studio 26 (Studio XXVI)
- Velo Bath
- Velo City
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We can expect a lot of people to be staying indoors or in quarantine over the 2020 festive season. And you know what that means: a whole lot more video gaming!
According to recent research conducted by car performance brand Redex, people are planning to play a whole lot more video games like Mario Kart over Christmas this year, specifically because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Redex received feedback from 2,000 people across the UK via a survey which specifically focused on Nintendo’s hit series Mario Kart. Participants were asked about their fave Mario Kart characters and why, along with their most-loved items and race tracks. When asked to divulge on some of their current playing habits, participants reported that they foresee a bunch more gaming in the near future.
While any normal year would also generally come with a spike in game purchases and gaming around the season of gift-giving, this year is on a whole new level. Thanks to ongoing lockdowns, restrictions, and quarantine measures put in place all over the world, people are needing to make all kinds of changes to their upcoming festive season plans. That includes staying holed up and needing a steady source of electronic entertainment to keep from going mad.
Redex’s survey showed that 75% of players expect to be playing more games like Mario Kart over Christmas. Then there’s the fact that the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S are fresh on the scene. No doubt that thousands of players everywhere are busy scribbling the names of all the console-exclusive games they’re hungering after on their Christmas lists as we speak.
Interestingly, Mario Kart was also recently revealed as being one of the most stressful games around – obviously due to its competitive nature – in another study by BonusFinder. Perfect, just replace the intense stress you’re feeling around the current state of the world with another intense stress! Problem solved.
READ NEXT: Mario Kart’s Most Popular Character Is a Tie Between Peach & Mario
- Game News
- Mario Kart
- Playstation 5
- Xbox Series X
Neuroscience student and massive nerd, currently based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Research interests include how neuroscience and user experience in video games interact with each other. News and feature writer for TheGamer.com. Other interests include anime and everything Japanese, fitness, and cats.
Source: Read Full Article


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Chinese video platform bilibili has declared that it will ban the live broadcast of more than 60 video games, including the popular series Grand Theft Auto (GTA) Y The Witcher 3, to comply with regulatory guidelines, in the latest sign that the companies are following efforts by the Chinese government to purge the domestic gaming industry of content it disapproves of.
Bilibili’s live streaming unit said in a statement Monday that the decision to ban live streaming of these video games and others like Heart of Iron, Rainbow Six Siege Y World of Tanks it had been taken to comply with the guidelines of the Ministry of Culture and other authorities, which consider that these titles are not suitable for public dissemination. «Bilibili will ban the live broadcast of games with bloody, violent and pornographic content» the Shanghai-based company said in the statement.
Chinese authorities have tightened their control over video game content, treating it like movies and TV series when it comes to censorship, and launching a campaign against video game addiction. However, increased regulatory scrutiny is making it harder for video games developed by foreign studios to reach the country’s 666 million gamers, as the Chinese government has emphasized approving content that promotes positive social values.
China has already banned some games, such as Plague Inc, a real-time strategy simulation video game that allows players to create a pathogen to wipe out humanity. It was blocked from purchase by Chinese users on the Apple App Store and Steam in March 2020 after it gained popularity during the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan.
Video game related video content is an important part of what Bilibili offers on its platform. According to the statistics provided by Bilibili, the video game category accumulated more than 24 million videos in 2021, with a combined duration of about 5 million hours.
China’s government has stepped up surveillance of the country’s video game industry, the world’s largest in 2021, with an estimated $49.3 billion in business, according to data from the World Economic Forum and Statista. The freeze on new video game licenses in China has been extended until 2022, dashing earlier hopes that the process would resume in late 2021.
Fountain: South China Morning Post
Copyright © 2022 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.


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The price of ASOS shares is retreating 1.5% today in mid-day stock trading action at 5,700p per share following the release of the firm’s interim results covering the first six months of its fiscal year, despite the online fashion retailer posting strong sales and profitability growth during the period.
Revenues for ASOS (ASC) first half fiscal landed at £1.98 billion, which represents a 25% year-on-year increase, while the firm’s gross profit margin retreated almost 200 basis point at 45% as a result of lower average selling prices per unit – down 4% compared to the same period last year.
Higher sales in the United Kingdom – the largest market by revenue for ASOS – drove revenues higher, ending the period with a 39% increase at £800.4 million as a result of prolonged lockdowns.
Meanwhile, the number of active customers grew 12% from 22.3 million to 24.9 million, as ASOS has continued to take advantage of lockdown-led online shopping to grow its user base.
On the profitability front, ASOS EBITDA margin jumped 320 basis points to 9.2% by the end of these six months, resulting from a drop in distribution, warehousing, and other operating costs as a percentage of sales.
The company indicated that lower returns were the primary cause leading to this improvement in EBITDA margins, although marketing expenditures moved higher from 4.3% to 5.5% of total revenues as the firm increased its digital marketing efforts to “drive new customer acquisition”.
Moreover, ASOS reported adjusted profits before taxes of £112.9 million, representing a 275% year-on-year jump, while diluted earnings per share multiplied nearly three times, ending the period at 81.9p per share.
Data from Refinitiv shows that analysts are expecting to see annual after-tax earnings of £141.4 million and on sales of £3.95 billion.
ASOS expects slowdown in revenue growth as shoppers hit the streets
As a result of vaccinations, ASOS’s Chief Executive, Nick Beighton, indicated that the firm expects “a portion of consumer demand will move back to stores as restrictions are eased throughout our markets”.
Moreover, ASOS has repeatedly warned that it remains cautious about the economic impact that the pandemic could have had on customers in their 20s – possibly the most important demographic for the online retailer.
However, ASOS’s management team emphasised that the pandemic could have caused a long-lasting impact on consumers resulting in higher online shopping volumes in the foreseeable future as they have grown accustomed to buying apparel over the internet.
What’s next for ASOS shares?
Based on analysts’ profitability estimates ranging from £142 to £160 million, ASOS shares would be trading at 36 times the firm’s forecasted 2020-2021 earnings.
Notably, earnings have grown from £50 million in 2017 to possibly £180 million this year, if ASOS second semester’s profitability lands at around £70 million, while sales could end the year at around £3.5 and £3.9 billion.
Now, if we were to expect some degree of normalisation in the firm’s performance after the pandemic, one could possibly expect sales to keep growing at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 23.5% – in line with the firm’s historical growth.
Meanwhile, net after-tax profit margins should also normalise to around 2% to 3% which would result in a three-year forecast of £6.6 billion in revenue and around £132 and £200 million in profits for ASOS’s 2023-2024 fiscal year.
In this regard, Sophie Lund-Yates from Hargreaves Lansdown said: “Operating margins came too close to the ground for comfort in recent years, and if return rates start to spike again, we could see some of the progress in margins come undone”.
Based on those conservative forecasts, earnings growth for ASOS doesn’t seem too promising unless the firm manages to maintain these above-average net profit margins seen during the pandemic – possibly in the range of 5% to 6% as a result of economies of scale.
If that were to be the case, earnings, under the scenario outlined above, could jump to £330 million. This would represent a three-year earnings CAGR of 10%, which still results in a price-to-earnings-to-growth ratio higher than 3 – a lofty valuation by all means.
Therefore, even in the most optimistic scenario for the firm, its current valuation doesn’t seem to be attractive enough when compared to its forecasted earnings growth.
As a result, market participants could start reducing their exposure to the firm now that the virus crisis in Europe is coming to an end on the back of en-masse vaccinations.