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Talking Points This Week: The Fed, China And 'Make In India' Are All Changing
Every week, Niraj Shah studies how top business leaders and market makers are navigating the fast-changing financial landscape.
This week was punctuated by Indian markets hitting life highs, and global markets participating as well. Chinese markets have rallied, with CSI 300 up around 5% and the Hang Seng up about 10% in the last five days.
Compared to these, India's 1% upmove seems sedate, but Indian markets have had a 6% upmove year-to-date versus a 19.7% downtick for Hang Seng and 21.2% downtick for the CSI 300 index.
Aside of markets, public anger led to a change of rules in China as well as Jerome Powell's slightly softer stance on the rate hikes ahead were centrestage.
China Is Changing
China protesters exploited gaps in the great Chinese firewall to pressure the Xi Jinping regime.
Presumably as a result, Beijing has decided to allow some Covid-infected people to isolate at home, in a landmark shift that reflects the pressure officials are under from a record outbreak and public opposition to strict virus regulations.
China’s top official, in charge of the fight against Covid, said the country’s efforts to combat the virus are entering a new phase with the Omicron variant weakening and more Chinese getting vaccinated.
The big question is: Is this a fresh sign that Beijing may be seeking to amend its strategy, after protests at the weekend were followed by a pledge to crack down on social disorder?
It may well have a bearing on how Chinese stocks do. Will Chinese consumption names see the same kind of revenge consumption that has been seen in other countries?
Fed Is Changing
The Federal Reserve will slow the pace of interest rate increases next month, Chair Jerome Powell signaled, while stressing that borrowing costs will need to keep rising and remain restrictive for some time to beat inflation.
His comments likely cement expectations for the Fed to raise interest rates by 50 basis points when they meet on Dec. 13-14.
Stocks in Asia surged following a sharp rally on Wall Street after Powell’s comments, and the street now pencils in a more moderate pace of hikes.
However, as one expert wrote to me on a private email, we should keep in mind that the Fed would maintain the tightening strategy till it reaches a restrictive set-up as it will be necessary to attain 2% inflation over time.
The Fed draws comfort from goods inflation but is still significantly concerned on the other two dominant factors of inflation viz, housing services inflation and the dominant services inflation, which gets influenced by the high wage growth.
So, while the markets have cheered Fed’s guidance for smaller rate hikes, there might be merit in not extrapolating it to a more benign scenario in the immediate future.
Selling Pressure Showing Changed Behaviour
Softbank arm SPV Holding was offering 22.8 million shares of PB Fintech at a 4.6% discount to Thursday's closing price. The stock closed higher by 5% on Friday. This brings into the equation the absorption of selling in the platform companies in India.
For a bunch of these names, the pre-IPO lock-in opened in November. However, amid some marquee investor selling stake in the stocks.
Nykaa was the poster boy because of the whole bonus issue, but the larger point is that the stock is down about 8.77% since Nov. 1, despite marquee investors including Lighthouse, TPG Growth, Senantii India selling stake.
Similarly, stocks like PB Fintech, Zomato or Delhivery are all doing much better compared to the fears of a possible collapse in prices because of the large selling that was expected.
Make In India Is Changing
Swiss chocolate company 'Barry Callebaut' started construction of its new factory in Neemrana, Rajasthan. Expected to commence operations in 2024, it will make India the company's largest chocolate producing market in Asia Pacific. This is the third investment in India for the group, and conversations with experts suggest that these names are not the only ones.
The grapevine has it that a large sports goods manufacturer is doing the same, and we have already seen instances of Apple and other global giants starting to use India more effectively as a manufacturing hub.
Has the party just begun? It certainly seems so.
Niraj Shah is Executive Editor at BQ Prime.


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There are rumors flushing that Apple is expected to unveil a new iPhone model in the month of March, with a new iPad and MacBook. However, the fans are not believing these rumors to be true but the recent reports might help you in understanding why the possibility for the reports to be true is more than real.
As per the reports from Mixpanel, about 19% of the fans are still holding on the iPhone 5S device. On the other hand, the original iPhone 5 accounts for 8% sales while the cheaper iPhone 5C and iPhone 4S have 5.4% and 4.2% of the active users.
It is confirmed from these numbers that out of the total number of iPhone users, one-third are liking the 4 inches display. These are the users that don’t want to compromise their iPhone device for a bigger screen. On the other hand, if you look at the iPhone 4S and older 3.5 inches phones then we get 40% iPhone users who are not using a bigger screen.
We are sure that people should have their own reasons for not upgrading their iPhone handset but the most surprising is because of its bigger screen size. Many don’t want to upgrade to an Apple iPhone because the manufacturer is not presenting them with a device they want. We can also translate this number to a huge demand for the smaller iPhone devices. With this the recent reports revealing an iPhone 5se with a smaller screen make some sense.

domain: news


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The big change is in regards to the Music apps, which now grabs the new branding of Groove Music announced earlier this week. Everything from the new Live Tile (which reveals now playing info) to the app itself has the new Groove label on it. No other changes are noted.
The version has been updated for phone and Windows 10 desktop. Look for version 3.6.1154.0 in the Store for the Groove labeled release.


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Some headlines are now saying that a significant recession could cause a demand surge for recreational cannabis in Canada. These headlines have caused some optimism in the sector for the first time in a while. I, however, don’t see how spending a higher percentage of one’s EI cheque on pot rather than rent makes sense. But perhaps folks prioritize needs differently.
If anything, the social aspect of smoking a joint with friends or indulging in some brownies at a party is all but shuttered. Right now, Canadians should be self-isolating or quarantining where necessary. I find it hard to believe that smoking boatloads of cannabis by oneself in one’s apartment while receiving EI makes a heck of a lot of sense right now. But I may be missing something.
Canopy Growth Corp. and other cannabis producers have invested heavily in retail storefronts and verticals throughout the supply chain. These companies have announced, like everyone else it seems, store closures and production plant closures.
The supply glut and a lack of demand have hit this sector hard. Anyone who was blindsided by this wasn’t reading my dozens of articles, from 2017 to 2019, that called for significant caution. An obvious oversupply and overly optimistic demand forecasts made no sense and would eventually be caught out when this sector began to be tracked by real data. If you’re interested in reading more about the data, check out my December 2018 article “Cannabis Investors: Let’s Dive Into The Numbers.”
The thought that some cannabis producers are “cheap” right now is laughable. If anything, I would expect to see a higher percentage of cannabis producers going broke than Canadian oil companies, which says a lot. Many Canadian cannabis producers have been irresponsibly run. The hens are now coming home to roost.
My heartfelt appeal to Canadian investors right now is to please continue to avoid the Canadian cannabis sector overall. There is a lot more pain to come. I don’t think many retail investors fully understand the risks of investing in these companies, which are in many cases riskier than junior mining names. That says a lot, as junior mining used to be among the most crooked, least regulated, and dangerous sectors. (This was way before the cannabis industry existed). Anyone who remembers the Vancouver Stock Exchange, Bre-X, and the insane stock promotion of yesteryear can attest to this.
What if you still want to invest in cannabis?
Despite all the risk, some investors remain interested in investing in the cannabis sector. My recommendation for these investors is to spread their risk by investing in the exchange-traded fund (ETF) that tracks the cannabis sector. This ETF is the Horizons Marijuana Life Sciences ETF. I see buying and selling any individual cannabis companies at this point as far too risky, with no upside.
Stay Foolish, my friends.


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Last week, Local 401 of the United Food and Commercial Workers announced that delivery drivers employed with TForce had recently voted in favour of joining their local.
The Texas-based shipping company also has a Canadian headquarters in Ontario, as well as offices in Calgary, Edmonton, and Red Deer.
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The next step is for the workers to put together a bargaining team and to start negotiating their first contract.
The UFCW has some big shoes to fill. The Teamsters union represents TForce workers in the United States and just won a huge new contract this summer for its members.
According to Sean M. O’Brien, Teamsters general president and chair of the Teamsters National Freight Industry Negotiating Committee in the United States, their new “contract contains zero concessions, only gains”.
Over 80% of Teamsters members working for TForce in the USA voted in favour of their new 5-year contract, which a Teamsters media release said includes “the highest wage increases in the history of the national contract.”
Hopefully TForce workers here can see similar improvements.


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Aeropostale Director Acquires $19,783 in Stock (ARO)
Aeropostale (NYSE:ARO) Director John N. Haugh purchased 4,825 shares of the stock on the open market in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 29th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $4.10 per share, for a total transaction of $19,782.50. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link.
A number of analysts have recently weighed in on ARO shares. Analysts at RBC Capital cut their price target on shares of Aeropostale from $6.00 to $5.00 in a research note on Monday, August 25th. Separately, analysts at Susquehanna cut their price target on shares of Aeropostale from $8.00 to $6.00 in a research note on Monday, August 25th. Finally, analysts at Jefferies Group reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of Aeropostale in a research note on Friday, August 22nd. They now have a $4.00 price target on the stock, down previously from $5.00. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have issued a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. The company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $4.97.
Aeropostale (NYSE:ARO) traded up 1.21% during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $4.17. The stock had a trading volume of 694,319 shares. Aeropostale has a 52-week low of $3.10 and a 52-week high of $10.68. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $3.47 and its 200-day moving average is $4.46. The company’s market cap is $328.4 million.
Aeropostale (NYSE:ARO) last released its earnings data on Thursday, August 21st. The company reported ($0.46) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.59) by $0.13. The company had revenue of $396.20 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $392.61 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted ($0.34) earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down 12.7% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that Aeropostale will post $-1.79 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Aeropostale, Inc, (NYSE:ARO) is a mall-based, specialty retailer of casual apparel and accessories, principally targeting 14 to 17 year-old young women and men through its Aeropostale stores and 4 to 12 year-old kids through its P.
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NEW YORK — War is swell this year. Assassination is big, and dueling--either between preadolescent gunslingers or between the gunslingers and their television sets --is encouraged.
When the prophet Isaiah wrote about people beating swords into plowshares, he definitely did not have the 84th American International Toy Fair in mind. Only if the event had been staged in Beirut would there have been a wider variety of weapons.
Among the toys shown by more than 1,000 manufacturers from around the world last week was a proliferation of laser guns with chest targets to register ``hits`` and even the Zap-It Liquidator, a pistol that leaves a bloody wound in fading ink on a stricken youngster`s T-shirt. Other new high- tech toy weaponry interacts with the television, taking orders from broadcast cartoon characters.
Peace organizations picketed outside the trade show, which goes through Wednesday, chanting ``Stop the war toys!`` Social critics and child psychologists fumed to reporters about materialism and militarism, and the American Academy of Pediatrics decried onrushing toy technology. Manufacturers argued that the new toys have value, but at least one maker of traditional toys sided with the experts.
``Increasingly, the creativity goes not into the toy, but into how to market and sell the toy,`` Peter Reynolds, president of the Sweden-based BRIO Scanditoy, said of toy makers` efforts.
``The ultimate for this industry is to produce a toy that doesn`t need a child,`` he added sarcastically, ``because the child is a critic who might reject our product. Maybe we can get rid of the child and have the dolls play with the toys.``
Indeed, this year there is a new crop of androids that play with children the way children used to play with dolls.
And now children play Space Age laser gun duels the way they used to play cowboys and Indians. The trend was triggered last year when Worlds of Wonder hit the market with Lazer Tag. This year, dozens of manufacturers are out with the light-beam dueling pistols and, not to be outdone in its own turf, Worlds of Wonder has developed a gun called Lazer Tag Starlyte Pro, with which a youngster can zap his opponent a football field away.
Douglas Thompson, president of the Toy Manufacturers of America, complained that the furor was unfair.
``Twice as many plush and pre-school toys are sold than war toys,`` he said. ``I think it`s the press that likes war toys.``
Thompson was right about comparative volumes. The fair was fairly awash with cuddly dolls, animals, fantasy games and ultra-feminine accessories for little girls, but it was clear that little boys will be powering up their lasers, loading their inky squirt guns and going into battle in unprecedented numbers this year. Jack Pitney, of Hill Holiday, the public relations firm representing LJN Toys, which is out with Gotcha--an assassination game in which participants stalk each other with guns that shoot cannisters of paint
--said he thought it was a good idea.
``This is based on the national survival game that`s all the craze on college campuses, and interest in it has increased exponentially,`` he said.
``It`s a great way to get aggressions out in a competitive environment. It`s not violent. The paint is water-soluble and it washes out. It`s just the `80s version of cowboys and Indians.``
The toys kicking up the most controversy are the offspring of a computer technology that 10 years ago could have lived nowhere outside a science-fiction novel. Mattel, with its Captain Power and Soldiers of the Future, and Axlon, with Techforce, will usher in a new generation of combat toys that interact directly with light and sound patterns on the television screen for the benefit of children whose parents can afford them.
With Captain Power, who proved harder to see than the president of the United States because of the mob crowding the Mattel display hall, youngsters wield jet aircraft and fire at targets as they appear in battle on the screen. The targets fire back and a sensor keeps track of hits and misses. The participant who takes a hit sees the pilot ejected from the cockpit of his plane. As with most items, the jets demand a wide array of accessories which, if purchased in full, would come to nearly $400, though the jets themselves will retail for $30.
Axlon, owned by Nolan K. Bushnell, who founded Atari, offers high-tech robots that respond to screen patterns and maneuver against each other across the living room floor as part of the action on the screen. Axlon`s toy fair booth was not open and no one answered the phone, but the Techforce kit reportedly will retail in the range of $250. Corresponding television shows are planned for the new season in September and the toys will hit the market sometime this summer.
On the lighter, if no less controversial, side of all the ``Star Wars`` inspiration are dolls that do more than talk -- just as Coleco`s popular Cabbage Patch Kids find their tongues.


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Discover more from @JamieBykovBrett
Apple has bought an AR headset startup called Mira.
🕶 Apple’s ambitious augmented reality pursuit continues with another acquisition!
👏 According to sources, Apple has acquired Mira, an L.A.-based AR startup that makes headsets for other companies and the US military.
💰 While uncertainties remain on how much Apple paid for Mira’s acquisition, it’s no secret that Mira raised around $17 million in funding to date. Also interesting to note: Ive, Apple’s former design chief, was an advisor to Mira at one point.
🛡 Mira’s military contracts include a small agreement with the US Air Force and a $702,351 agreement with the Navy, both for military purposes.
🌐 Another significant contract Mira has is with Nintendo World, which uses its headsets for the Mario Kart ride. Mira’s headset displays virtual characters and complements the game as one progresses through the ride.
🙌 Apple now has at least 11 of Mira's employees as part of the acquisition. According to Mira CEO, "7 year journey from dorm room to acquisition."
💡 This acquisition indicates that Apple’s AR pursuits are continuing, and it is testing the waters to provide AR hardware as well as software solutions.
#AppleAR #MiraAcquisition #MilitaryTech #Insights
Read the article: https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/6/23751350/apple-mira-ar-headset-startup
💡 Would you like to learn more? Join our Web3, Metaverse & AI learning community: http://distributedrepublic.xyz/


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Some Meijer stores to open in 2015, others later
Meijer Inc. plans to open four of its new southeastern Wisconsin combined supermarket-discount stores next year, a company spokesman said.
The Grand Rapids, Mich.-based company plans to open stores in Kenosha, Grafton, Oak Creek and Wauwatosa in 2015, said Frank Guglielmi, senior director of communications. The company usually confirms store openings one year in advance, he said.
The Meijer store in Sussex, where the company has done site preparation work, isn't set to open until 2016, Guglielmi said.
Meijer also plans to open area stores in Waukesha, where the Plan Commission is conducting a final site plan review at its Wednesday night meeting, and Greenfield, where that city's Plan Commission is conducting a conceptual review at a Tuesday night meeting.
"We are also talking to numerous other communities, but can't confirm those sites yet," Guglielmi said.
- Video: Northridge area development plans bring clashing ideas
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- Embassy Suites opens renovated Brookfield hotel
- Apartment building planned for east side
- North side wellness development gets additional funds
- Former east side church razed to create large development site
- Town of Waukesha indoor sports complex wins approvals
- Renaissance Book Shop to be dismantled
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- Laacke & Joys conversion project might get $1 million cleanup loan
Commercial Real Estate News
However, the area's newly elected alderwoman, Chantia Lewis, has a different idea.
She says the city should instead focus on attracting supermarkets, other stores, restaurants and family entertainment businesses, such as a movie theater and a bowling alley, to the large commercial area centered at W. Brown Deer Road and N. 76th St.
Find property assessments for other communities throughout the state at AssessorData.org.
The Milwaukee Department of City Development website includes information on the city Plan Commission and Redevelopment Authority.
The Commercial Association of Realtors Wisconsin offers information on commercial realtors and real estate.
The Milwaukee chapter of the Institute of Real Estate Management serves the needs of real estate management professionals
The Wisconsin chapter of the NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association aims to serve developers and owners of commercial real estate.
The Land and Space blog was recognized by the Society of American Business Editors and Writers in the blog category for dailies with circulation between 200,000 to 500,000.


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Consumers are increasingly cynical about inauthentic brands that don’t do what they say. If you want them to open their hearts (and pocketbooks), you have to be real.
Brand loyalty and trust used to be a lot easier to generate. Consumers chose their camp early and stuck with it. Today, serial switchers will abandon a brand for even a minor infraction or breach of trust, searching an alternative that better matches their needs, preferences, and values.
Increasingly that latter issue, aligning values with the stated principles of the brands they patronize, is a chief motivating factor for the switch. Edelman’s Trust Barometer 2020 reported that 64-percent of consumers are belief-driven buyers that won’t just stop buying from a brand that loses their support, they might actively campaign against it! Hence Accenture’s research, which found that 54-percent of the companies they studied that lost trust stood to lose at least $180 billion.
Living up to your brand promise and values is about more than just doing the right thing, it has very real financial consequences — and that cuts both ways. Dove, which has become a leader in authentic marketing, has seen their sales jump from $2.5 billion when they first started releasing campaigns showcasing real women with more natural appearances to over $4 billion today.
The most admired and successful brands right now are leading authentically and staying true to their mission. Brands like Patagonia, which is taking an active role in protecting natural environments, and Lego, which wants to inspire creativity and play for all kinds of kids (and adults, too!). The brands that put on a fake front and get caught (looking at you, Pepsi) face a backlash, loss of trust, and potentially loss of market share.
We’re All Values Consumers Now
The average company grows its revenue by 32-percent annually. But, the average values-driven company, according to Forrester Research, grows by 37-percent annually because they are more aligned with changing consumer demands. A large majority, 68-percent, of U.S. consumers now report that their buying decisions are influenced by brands’ social responsibility reputations.
Many headlines about this topic imply that the trend is primarily being driven by younger demographics, notably Gen Y and Z. There is some truth to that, but the young aren’t alone in wanting authentic and accountable brands. More than half (52-percent) of U.S. consumers over the age of 60 also say they too want the companies they patronize to act responsibly in regard to social issues.
There is also a mistaken perception that this trend only really applies to wealthy individuals, or at least those with greater than average access to disposable income, who can afford to pay a premium for products and services that align with their values. Lower-income demos, the thinking goes, don’t have that luxury; they have to buy the most economical offerings even if they find it personally distasteful, and they aren’t terribly focused on distant externalities like equitable treatment of employees or fairtrade supply chains.
However, Forrester found that an almost identical proportion (55 versus 54-percent) of U.S. consumers from households with yearly incomes less than $75,000 or more than $150,000 say social responsibility is important for companies.
Perhaps the most compelling reason unearthed by Forrester for brands to engage in authentic pro-social outreach is that their most outspoken and empowered customers, the trendsetters and early adopters that all other consumers are influenced by, are the largest bloc pushing for social responsibility: a massive 70-percent say it is an important corporate objective.
But how exactly can brands start acting in accordance with these new priorities? The process begins by finding the issues that connect them to their customers:
- Identify the causes that matter in your industry and to your customer base
- Choose the one or two issues that your brand can engage with authentically
- Codify and broadly share your values and policies, both internally and externally
- Put your values to work (i.e. don’t just write them down, enforce them rigorously but transparently)
- Solicit feedback, open a dialogue, and create a framework to continually re-examine and update your values and policies.
More important than the cause you choose is making it count. This should be more than words on a page. And if your organization isn’t willing to follow through and act on your values, you might as well skip the exercise altogether. Audiences are quick to sniff out insincerity and even quicker at holding up imposters to mockery. It seems circular to even say it, but you truly can’t fake authenticity.
Less Clamor, More Real Connections
Despite the research and trends, too many brands are still bombarding their audience in the hopes that they can win mindshare (and market share) by sheer volume and staying in feeds. That’s an easy way to be noticed, but it’s not a great way to instill lasting and positive brand affinity — especially not in a marketplace where the consumers have a growing say over what they see and who they interact with.
Photoshopped images, cold calls, hard-charging salespeople, and massive social media campaigns, aren’t going away entirely, but they are proving less and less effective when compared to more modern, inbound, digitally-optimized, lower-pressure, socially responsible marketing strategies that are authentically connected to the brand.
That softer, more real, and more grounded approach is proving better able to lower the natural defenses that jaded audiences put up when faced with information overload and intrusive and inauthentic brand messages.
The better, smarter route is more targeted, more personalized, and more in tune with where consumer behavior is heading, not where it was. The future of marketing is collaborative, with companies and their customers in a conversation about where the brand’s priorities should be and how it should behave — including how it should market itself.
Streaming platform Twitch’s recently updated brand guidelines were right on point in that regard, showing the brand is growing and evolving while remaining true to its core mission and values. It’s still the world’s most exciting place to watch live gaming, it’s just bigger and better.
The future is an open and accountable conversation; in other words, an authentic relationship.
Brands need to decide what they stand for, transparently (but tactfully) share them in an evolving dialogue with their audiences and stakeholders, and, most of all, stay true to those values.
That’s the authenticity test every brand today faces if it hopes to grow in the market ahead.
We love helping brands find out what matters most to their fans and spreading their authentic message. Contact Gigasavvy to learn how we can bring your real brand story to life.


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- The Pitch Report
- 2 min read
Bajaj partners with VMLY&R to enhance its digital presence
VMLY&R aims to refresh Bajaj’s digital presence through its new website, which is set to launch in August 2020...
The new website will aim to tell stories of Bajaj through four tenets: Indian at Heart; Visionary Outlook; Ambitious Doers and Growing Together. Each of these represents how the company sees itself interacting within its community.
Swati Bhattacharya, chief communications and brand officer, Bajaj Group, said, “This is an exciting time for us as a group. Our businesses are on a growth trajectory and we continue to impact millions of lives through our Foundation initiatives for farmers by developing grassroots infrastructure. Our new brand identity gives shape to our vision of building a unified Bajaj Group brand that leverages synergies across group businesses and drives a common culture based on our heritage and future ambitions. We feel like VMLY&R understands how to manifest this brand philosophy in the digital space through various touch points starting with the website and bring to life our brand ethos of 'Think Tomorrow' effectively.”
With sections for all stakeholders, including partners, investors, career seekers and media, the new site will allow users to see the evolution of the Bajaj Group from what it was yesterday, to what it is today and what it aims to be tomorrow.
Saurabh Mathur, business head, experience and technology at VMLY&R India, said, “Bajaj Group has a rich history full of stories. It has been a pleasure designing these stories into digital experiences that allow Bajaj’s partners and consumers to truly understand the brand and feel their promise of “Think Tomorrow” as deeply as Bajaj does. We look forward to launching first their new site, followed by the rest of their digital ecosystem, to help them connect with their community across every touch point.”
The new Bajaj Group website is set to launch in August 2020.


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Even though South Korea announced a plan in 2014 designed to make the country a leader in the 3D printing industry, widespread adoption of industrial-scale additive manufacturing is still slow-going there, though research initiatives are much stronger. But a new collaboration between industrial 3D printer and materials OEM Essentium and South Korean 3D printing specialist Hephzibah could help speed up the process.
Essentium recently announced a distribution partnership with the industrial 3D printer business, which has been distributing additive manufacturing solutions since 2012 and has built up a strong industrial network in South Korea. Most manufacturing firms in the country know that they could potentially save a lot of money in production costs by adopting large-scale industrial 3D printing, but there are a lot of barriers to doing so, including economics, part strength, and production speed and scale.
By combining Hephzibah’s customer support skills, excellent service, wide network, and expertise with specific AM use-cases with its own industrial High Speed Extrusion (HSE) 3D printing platform, the Pflugerville, Texas-based startup believes that the two will be able to help South Korean manufacturing firms get past these widespread adoption issues.
“The speed, scale, and economics of the Essentium HSE 3D Printing Platform present huge efficiencies and improved time-to- market opportunities for our customers,” Joseph M.G. Lee, the President and CEO of Hephzibah said in a press release. “The fact that Essentium is an open platform means that our customers will benefit from greater innovation agility.”
Thanks to this new distribution partnership, Hephzibah will now offer its customers a complete range of Essentium’s materials, as well as the full Essentium HSE 180•S Series of 3D printers, which the company says are able to fabricate end-use parts with five times more accuracy, and 5-15 times more speed, than other FFF 3D printing systems. The series features low, standard, and high-temperature printer models, and would be a good choice of machine to use for applications in the automotive, consumer goods, and electronic manufacturing services industries.
By taking advantage of what the Essentium 3D printers can offer, in addition to the company’s planning, installation, support services, and training center, the company states that Hephzibah’s customers can invest in adding additive manufacturing to their shop floors without a high economic risk.
“The South Korea manufacturing industry – from automotive to consumer electronics and, more recently, aerospace – has a best-in-world reputation for quality and innovation,” stated Essentium’s CEO and Co-Founder Blake Teipel, PhD. “The integration of industrial-scale AM onto the factory floors of this manufacturing powerhouse has hugely exciting potential. I have no doubt that the combination of the Essentium 3D Printing Platform with Hephzibah’s rich customer knowledge and service infrastructure will ensure AM makes its mark in South Korea.”
(Images courtesy of Essentium)
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Recent expansion works at Dhamra Port, located in the Bhadrak district in Odisha, India, will quadruple its cargo handling capacity – increasing from 25 million metric tonnes (MMT) per annum to over 100 million MMT.
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) has employed more than 3000 individuals for the expansion, with 88% of those hires being a local workforce.
Phase two of the multi-stage project to develop the port was inaugurated on April 7, 2018, at a ceremony in the presence of Honourable Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri Naveen Patnaik.
Patnaik commented: “The Dhamra Port is a model of modern maritime trade in Odisha and a successful example of the PPP model.
The industrial park being set up by Adani will unleash large scale industrialisation in the area and create employment opportunities”.
Read One Network Enterprises' technical paper, “Optimizing Port Throughput”, discussing the application of digital systems to boost port efficiency
Chairman of the Adani Group, Mr Gautam Adani said: “This is a very proud moment for all of us in Odisha as well as the entire country.
“The Phase II expansion of Dhamra Port will not only make Dhamra India’s largest port but will also serve as India’s major gateway for trade with South East Asian Nations.
“We would like to sincerely thank all the government officials for their support in completing this expansion which will enhance growth, trade and industry for Odisha and India.”
Speaking at the occasion, CEO of APSEZ Mr Karan Adani outlined the company’s plans to reach 500 MMT by 2025: “We are delighted by the speed of execution of our teams that completed this expansion of the Phase II of Dhamra Port way before schedule.
“This expansion will help us achieve our vision 2020 of 200 MMT, well ahead of time and we now aim to touch 500 MMT by the year 2025.”


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FRESNO, California (KGPE) — Business owners in downtown Fresno say the homeless are causing problems for employees and customers.
Several owners said the homeless will demand free food or cause ruckus inside of businesses, break windows, or steal goods.
Almost every business on Fulton Street closes each day around 4:45 p.m. with owners locking up their gates and heading home, but restaurant Charapan stays open until 6 p.m. on weekdays and even later on weekends.
“It is a risk for us being open that late,” said Christopher Ventura whose family owns the restaurant.
Ventura said often homeless come inside and demand free food or even steal merchandise and take off.
“It gets difficult to remain in a safe environment,” he said.
Just down the street at the Fulton Mini Mart, the owner took a video of a man who blocks the entrance to the store so customers can’t get in. The owner said the man has disrupted business at least five times and has allegedly made threats.
At a dress store, employees worry for their safety with alleged thieves taking all the dresses they can get their hands on.
Downtown Partnership President Jimmy Cerracchio said most of the homeless don’t cause issues, but he said the ones who do aren’t staying locked up for long because of $0 bail.
“Breaking windows, starting fires, they will be arrested and then let out and get right back to it,” said Cerracchio.
Mayor Jerry Dyer encouraged business owners to report any issues to police and promised that once the city is finished clearing the highways, the focus will shift to city streets including downtown.
“We want to make sure we have an environment downtown where people feel safe,” said Dyer.
The Downtown Partnership has one security vehicle in the area, but owners hope there will also be a heavier police presence in the future especially at night.


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Buy Disney Gift Cards Knievel is seeking unspecified damages totaling more than $300,000 on allegations that also include false endorsement and unjust enrichment.The Caboom character is described by Disney Pixar as a 1970s motorcycle-riding toy based on “Canada’s greatest stuntman,” according to the lawsuit.Photos in the court filing put Caboom side-by-side with Knievel who became an American icon after his near-fatal 1967 Caesars Palace crash. The only other animated film currently in the line up is Disney-Pixar’s Soul starring Jaime Foxx but that is still set to be released in theaters in November of 2020. Raya and the Last Dragon Bob’s Burgers and Ron’s Gone Wrong were all also originally slated to be released in 2020 but due to the shutdowns surrounding the pandemic were pushed back a year. The original concept for Disney's Animal Kingdom was that in addition to the actual animals on the property and the prehistoric dinosaurs that once roamed the Earth being part of the park fantasy animals would be included as well. Many of the new lands would be focused on real places Sell Disney Gift Cards like Africa and Asia but one would be given to dinosaurs and another to those fantasy creatures and it would be called Beastly Kingdom.
z2ugame posted a topic in GamingMyer eGift Cards“Our annual Christmas shopping spree begins with the Myer Christmas Shopping Event night,” one shopper said on Facebook last night.This year the 12 hour sales event to kick off the department store’s Christmas campaign was held on Tuesday but customers said despite having received their voucher by this time in years prior they were still yet to see their cards and were stressed about missing out the ability to shop the sales. Myer e Gift Cards“There is no sign of our Myer Christmas Club Gift Card! So so-so disappointed. Tried several times ringing the helpline. They reply “it’s being processed”. Very very vague. We have now missed the shopping event night and therefore missed out on the discounts offered that night. Will not be using the Myer Christmas Club ever again so disappointed and completely lost faith. Next year we’ll be going to David Jones.” Hunter comes from almost ten years as executive creative director at advertising firm MediaCom where she led content strategy creative production SEO social and data analytics teams. “Myer is a loved and respected brand and I can’t wait to join the inspiring team,” Hunter said.


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The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first non-prescription test that identifies respiratory viral infections Covid-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
The regulatory approval will allow people with symptoms of Covid-19 to purchase the Labcorp Seasonal Respiratory Virus RT-PCR DTC test without a prescription.
Users can then collect a nasal swab sample themselves at home and send it to Labcorp for analysis. The results will be delivered via an online portal.
According to the FDA statement, the Labcorp Seasonal Respiratory Virus RT-PCR DTC test can detect influenza A and B, RSV, and SARS-CoV-2, which is the virus that causes Covid-19.
Director of the FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Jeff Shuren, said: “While the FDA has now authorized many Covid-19 tests without a prescription, this is the first test authorized for influenza and RSV, with Covid-19, where an individual can self-identify their need for a test, order it, collect their sample and send it to the lab for analysis, without consulting a medical professional.
“Rapid advances in consumer access to diagnostic testing, including the ability to collect your sample at home for influenza and RSV without a prescription, bring us one step closer to testing for these viruses that could be done entirely at home.”
Users can purchase the test online or in a store.
The test can be used by people aged 14 and over, as well as adults, although they are advised to collect swabs themselves under adult supervision.
For people two years and older, adult assistance is required.
Recently, the FDA also granted an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Cepheid’s Xpert Xpress CoV-2 plus test.


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German startup E-Legend has created a performance electric car that draws inspiration from the glorious days of rallying – notably Audi’s all-conquering Quattro S1, the first all-wheel-drive rally car to compete in the World Rally Championship (WRC).
Mercedes-Benz has formed a strategic partnership with ChargePoint to streamline the charging process for its upcoming EQS luxury EV. As a result, Mercedes me Charge is now the official charging ecosystem of the latest EQS and other future electric mobility products from the German premium automaker.
Archer is one of the several companies working on electronic vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. On June 10, the company debuted its first demonstrator aircraft via a global lifestream. The demonstrator is capable of traveling 60 miles at a speed of 150 mph. The event was exciting and leveraged movie-making technology to create a livestream that took participants on a simulated commercial flight.
After two years of in-house development, the ridesharing company Lyft has introduced its first electric bicycle. The new model is described as the company's next-generation ebike, one that features a distinct and highly reflective design, as well as a stronger motor, single-gear transmission, and more. In addition to launching the ebike, Lyft has plans to pilot a charging station feature.
Kia has announced that it will be offering a limited run of 1500 units of its new EV6 electric vehicle. The first 1500 EV6 electric cars will be called First Edition and will be offered in unique color combos only available through advanced reservation. First Edition orders start on June 3 at 10 AM PST, and customers can put down a $100 fully refundable deposit to reserve one of the vehicles.
EHang has revealed the latest version of its aircraft that it calls an autonomous aerial vehicle or AAV. The aircraft is a long-range VT-30 meant to expand the company's regional air mobility coverage. VT-30 is designed specifically for inter-city transportation featuring a hybrid structure. The aircraft can travel a distance of up to 300 kilometers with a planned flight time of up to 100 minutes.
Many challenges have to be overcome to completely move drivers around the world to electric vehicles. One of the biggest challenges is the charging infrastructure. We have to build enough chargers to support everyone having electric vehicles and increase the charging speed. As it is, a full charge for some electric vehicles takes hours.
Without question, the incoming 2021 Tesla Model S Plaid and Plaid+ are packing some crazy performance credentials. With three electric motors equipped with carbon-sleeve rotors, the Model S Plaid has a top speed of 200 mph, and it goes from zero to 60 mph in 1.99 seconds. It also offers an estimated 350 miles of range, not bad for a performance-oriented EV.
There's a new electric movement machine in the mix this week from the folks at Razor. It has a long name: "The New RipStik Rush, the electric RipStik 2.0," and it's the second RipStik produced by Razor. There are other official RipStik products out with Razor, but only one other original electric RipStik. It's "official" because Razor is the only one who holds the patent for Caster Boards as such.
Volkswagen is on a mission to shatter people’s misconceptions of range anxiety by engaging on an 18-day, 6,700-mile cross-country drive in its 2021 ID.4 all-electric crossover. The trip began in New York City in mid-March and ended last March 30 in Sacramento, California.
The GMC Hummer SUV is still a long time coming. However, General Motors is not shy in unloading all the new ‘tactical tech’ for its upcoming electric Hummer SUV, including the brand’s new off-road trail mapping feature and an available power station generator like V2L system in Hyundai and Kia’s Ioniq 5 and EV6, respectively.


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“Mahathir went ahead and sanctioned the purchase of a majority stake in Lotus despite knowing the British carmaker was in dire straits and had been tossed around the automobile industry”
The Third Force
Proton Holdings Berhad (Proton), established in 1983, was the brainchild of former Malaysian premier Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. The national-badged automaker, long reputed for its ties with the Mahathirists, hit a snag when sales began dropping just before Mahathir handed over reins of government to his deputy, Tun Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi, in October 2003.
In April the following year, the then International Trade and Industry Minister, Dato’ Seri Rafidah Aziz, earned Mahathir’s ire when she told Proton to speed up its search for a foreign partner. Her call was made days before Mahathir was named Proton advisor, a move that shocked many, including senior DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang.
In a blog posting dated 4th of September 2004 (READ HERE), the senior Lim pointed out that Mahathir was “the most ardent opponent of selling Proton stake to foreign company.”
“Mahathir subsequently gave a long interview with The Edge defending his failed nationalist policy by making a clear pronouncement that he would like to see Proton remain under the control of Malaysian investors.
“Proton was spared from the pressure to look for a foreign partner for a good three-month period,” he said.
According to the senior Lim, Mahathir was inspired by economic models from Japan and Korea where car industries served as engines of growth.
“The hope was that Malaysia would eventually build a viable automobile sector that export cars to the world market like Japan and Korea,” he added.
But that was never meant to be.
The fact is, the national carmaker faced ineluctable losses owing to some bad moves that led to a disproportionate cost-production ratio. Many point to a decision by Proton to acquire a majority stake in Lotus cars – a British sports car manufacturer headquartered in the United Kingdom (UK) – as the straw that broke the carmaker’s back.
While that remains true, not many are aware that Mahathir sanctioned the purchase of a majority stake in Lotus despite knowing the British carmaker was in dire straits and had been tossed around the automobile industry.
What’s worse, in a recent blog posting by Lim Sian See (READ HERE), it was revealed that the British automaker had lost an estimated RM6 billion the past 20 years and RM920 million in 2013 alone. These are among reasons that prompted the current administration to draw the line.
On Wednesday, 24th of May 2017, Proton undertook in an agreement with China’s Zhengjiang Geely Holdings Co Ltd (Geely) to part with 49.9 percent of its stake to pave the way for Geely’s involvement in the national automobile industry.
The move is likely to free Proton from perpetual government subsidies by remedying the lopsided cost-production ratio that the Mahathir administration inflicted the national carmaker with since the 1990’s.
According to the MP for Setiawangsa, Dato’ Ahmad Fauzi Zahari, even if Proton were to secure just one percent of the Chinese market through its partnership with Geely, the sky would be the limit.
“Just imagine the thousands of new jobs to be created for Malaysians,” he said.
But that doesn’t seem to be what Mahathir wants.
In a blog posting featured by the opposition leaning Free Malaysia Today (FMT) on the 25th of May 2017, the former premier bewailed the “loss” of Proton, saying the sale of the national carmaker was the first step towards the eventual sale of Malaysian assets to foreigners.
“They say Proton is my brainchild. Now the child of my brain has been sold. Yes. I am sad. I can cry. But the deed is done. Proton can no longer be national. No national car now,” he said.
Ironically, this is the same Mahathir who, following a failed 2014 bid to woo Geely into a partnership with Proton, sought the assistance of Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary to revamp the national carmaker by seeking investments from abroad.
Does Kit Siang not have anything to say about this?


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The Amazon Fire TV streaming set top box currently doesn’t support 4K streaming but it’s on the agenda for the future.
That’s according to Amazon Vice President Peter Larsen who says 4K support is “definitely coming” and the company is “looking at it from a roadmap perspective”.
Although Amazon is looking at brining 4K support to its services, Larsen doesn’t believe the appetite is really there from consumers just yet.
“I kind of view it as a timing issue,” he said speaking with TrustedReviews. “We will be there when a lot of customers want 4K.”
He added: “
On this front, Amazon is looking to improve the industry’s meagre 4K offerings.
“All of Amazon Original series moving forward will be in 4K,” Larsen confirmed. “It’s starting. It will be a little while before customers demand it.”
Amazon Fire TV currently only supports a maximum output for 1080p Full HD so it’s not yet equipped to run higher resolution video feeds.
Netfllx, Amazon’s biggest streaming rival for its Instant Prime Video service has already begun offering content in 4K including the second season of House of Cards and upcoming Netflix Originals content.
Last week, Amazon confirmed that the Amazon Fire TV box will launch in the UK next month having landed in the US earlier this year.
Read More: Amazon Instant Video vs Netflix


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Governor Robert Bentley’s proposed constitutional amendment authorizing a state lottery would send proceeds from ticket sales to the state's general fund.
The proposal says any proceeds from the lottery after expenses and prizes would go to the general fund for "ordinary expenses of the executive, legislative and judicial departments of the state."
Some have said the money should be directed specifically toward education.
Bentley's proposal also establishes a seven-member lottery commission with members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate.
The governor projects a lottery would raise $225 million annually. If lawmakers approve the legislation in the special session, it could be on the November ballot.
He's called a special session beginning on Aug. 15 to address the proposal.
Alabama is kicking off the 11th annual back-to-school sales tax holiday today. The state and two hundred and ninety-three cities and counties, will waive their sales tax for the whole weekend.
Nancy Dennis is the Director of public relations for the Alabama Retail Association. She says the tax holiday brings in a lot of shoppers to Alabama businesses.
“Back to school shopping, behind holiday sales in November and December, is probably the biggest shopping time of the year. Alabamians should spend close to 4.5 billion dollars in the whole month of August, but specifically on back to school shopping, we project they’re going to spend about 1.14 billion dollars.”
The tax cuts will include items like clothing, school supplies, books and computers. The back to school sales take holiday runs through the weekend and ends midnight on Sunday night.
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will be issuing new regulations this fall for hunters.
Game Checking will now be mandated in order to more accurately account for wildlife game being hunted as well as extending the hunting season to February the 10th.
Director of Wildlife and Fresh Water Fisheries Chuck Sykes says extending the season will help landowners manage their properties they hunt on…
“It gives them ten more days to hunt, I mean it’s putting the option to manage their property the way they say fit in the hands of landowners and hunting clubs. They don’t have to hunt to February the 10th if they don’t want too, were giving them a framework and they can choose to hunt however they want too.”
Sykes encourages all who participate in outdoor gaming to log on to Alabama’s conservation website and check out the game check seminars if you have any questions.


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Toyota has tossed around a lot of money in the name of hydrogen, most recently with a project to build a fuel cell-powered big rig truck. But the Japanese automaker has also been trying to boost sales in the U.S. for its car of the future—the Mirai. But as Bloomberg reports today, sales are sluggish, and it should come as no surprise why: there’s barely any infrastructure to support the car.
According to Bloomberg, Toyota had a slow start to building “enough” hydrogen fueling stations in California, which undercut sales of the automaker’s fuel cell vehicle, the Mirai, which is the Japanese word for “future.” The idea was to expand to the east coast of the U.S., with fueling stations in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
As the news outlet reports, however, those states are still waiting. Instead of having a dozen ready on the east coast by the end of this summer, Toyota and its partner Air Liquide SA expect to have three, maybe four, completed by the end of this year.
Toyota sold 708 Mirai fuel cell sedans in the first half of the year in the U.S., with deliveries limited to select California dealerships. GM and Nissan each sold 10 times as many Chevrolet Bolts and Nissan Leafs, respectively. Tesla, which doesn’t report monthly sales, probably delivered about 23,550 of its electric vehicles in the U.S. in that same period, according to an estimate by researcher Autodata Corp.
The leisurely pace of sales for Toyota is in part explained by the fact that only 28 retail fueling stations operate in the lone state where Mirai is being sold, according to the California Fuel Cell Partnership. The state’s powerful environmental regulator, the California Air Resources Board, originally estimated back in 2015 that 44 stations would be open by the end of that year.
One of the biggest problems, according to Bloomberg, has been the navigation of local fire codes that aren’t equipped for hydrogen. But stations in Providence, Rhode Island, and Hartford Connecticut, are currently under construction and a dozen more are expected to come online in 2018.
While slow, the inclusion of more stations is needed for Toyota, an automaker that’s bullish on fuel cells. Hydrogen-based cars get better driving range than other zero-emission cars and don’t require drivers to deal with the downtime that’s found at an electric-vehicle charging station.
Toyota’s hoping to boost global fuel cell car sales to 30,000 by around 2020, Bloomberg says, and an expansion in the U.S. might make that goal more obtainable.
Fuel cells make for an interesting technology, as we’ve noted in the past, but whether there’s enough quantity to power a substantive fleet of fuel cell-powered vehicles remains an open-ended question. And more importantly, if there’s a lack of fueling stations, the convenience of fuel cells and their ability to alleviate range anxiety will keep the technology where it’s at now: hypothetical for most, and existing in limited supply for some.


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Hands on with the Nokia N8 - a video look at the hardware
We glimpsed a prototype of Nokia's N8 today. The flagship smartphone takes over from the n900 as the latest in the N-series range and will hit the UK in September.
We take a look at the hardware in the N8 including the uber specced camera, and just why the colour doesn't scrape off. Are you convinced by the need for the bump on the back?
Came straight to this page? Visit www.iphonic.tv for all the latest news.


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Warhol, Art, Blockchain, Oh My
Blockchain has official revolutionized the art industry. Hear how a London art gallery will be auctioning off Andy Warhol’s pieces by utilizing the blockchain and cryptocurrencies.
Blockchain, Welcome to the World Cup
Soccer and blockchain have official collided. Hear about CryptoCup, a World Cup prediction game that leverages blockchain technology.
JPMorgan Applies for Blockchain Patent
JPMorgan Chase has applied for a patent related to blockchain, as a way to facilitate payments between banks. Hear why they had a change of heart.


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The North American International Auto Show will return to Detroit this year after the past two consecutive events were cancelled due to the Covid-19 global pandemic.
The show will run from Wednesday 14 September to Sunday 25 September at the Huntington Place convention centre, while outdoor activities and displays will take place around downtown Detroit.
Regarded as one of the largest car events in the US, the Detroit motor show attracted around 800,000 visitors in 2018. It is estimated that it generates around $500 million (£367 million) for the local economy.
Last year, the show was substituted by the ‘Motor Bella,’ a multiple-day, outdoor enthusiast event, held in Pontiac, just north of Detroit. The show’s organisers insist measures will be put in place to keep the event as safe as possible.
“We are proud to return to downtown Detroit,” said Rod Alberts, executive director of the Detroit Auto Dealers Association.
“Capitalising on everything we’ve learned over the past two-and-a-half years, we are uniquely positioned to bring a dynamic, engaging, experimental show to Detroit in 2022.”
The last North American International Auto Show took place in 2019 and it’s traditionally a major event for US-based manufacturers.
European manufacturers also target the event. In 2018, Mercedes launched the G-Class and CLS, including the AMG-honed CLS 53, while BMW revealed the X2. Rolls-Royce and Lamborghini also handed US debuts to the Phantom and the Urus respectively.


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The issue of hunger or malnutrition has been a growing concern with increase in population. According to statistics, about 160 million children are affected by malnutrition worldwide and 795 million people in the world, of which the most common kind is touted to be protein-energy malnutrition (PEM). In an attempt to fight against hunger, scientists in Finland claim that they have been able to successfully create food from thin air, using components such as electricity, CO2 and a few added microbes. In a joint study by the Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT) and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, the scientists produced a batch of single-cell protein, which can be further developed for use as food and animal feed.
An added advantage is also that it can be produced anywhere using renewable energy. "In practice, all the raw materials are available from the air. In the future, the technology can be transported to, for instance, deserts and other areas facing famine. One possible alternative is a home reactor, a type of domestic appliance that the consumer can use to produce the needed protein," explained Juha-Pekka Pitkanen, Principal Scientist at VTT.
The protein they produced was in the form of a powder, consisting of around 50 per cent protein and 25 per cent carbohydrates, with the rest being fat and nucleic acid, Quartz reported.
The method doesn't adhere to ideal conditions of agriculture such as humidity, temperature, soil type, etc. or pest-control substances that impact the environment. The researchers claim that it is 10 times more energy efficient than the photosynthesis of plants, which is used for cultivation of soy and other products, and cheap too.
Currently, the production of one gram of protein takes around two weeks, using laboratory equipment that is about the size of a coffee cup. The researchers plan to carry out pilot studies with larger production, developing the technology as well. The idea is to develop the concept into a mass product, with a price that drops as the technology becomes more common.


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“Live Space” could be a big upgrade to Google’s “At a Glance” widget
Google’s “At a Glance” widget shows you the current date/time and weather information, but it can also show you upcoming calendar events, flights, commute reminders, regular reminders, or weather alerts. The widget is baked into the Google App and is persistently shown on the Pixel Launcher with no option to turn it off. However, we’ve done a bit of digging into version 18.104.22.168 of the Google App and the latest version of the Pixel Launcher from Android 12 and have discovered a lot of changes are coming to the “At a Glance” widget, starting with a name change to “Live Space.”
Version 22.214.171.124 of the Google App rolled out earlier today, and it contained the following new strings mentioning a new “Live Space” feature for the Google Assistant.
<string name="ambient_settings_bc_page_desc">Your Assistant shows you what you need, right when you need it, on your home screen and lock screen.</string>\n<string name="ambient_settings_bc_title">Live Space</string>\n<string name="ambient_settings_personalize_section_bc_desc">Get the most of your Live Space updates by enabling location, setting home and work address, and more.</string>\n<string name="assistant_settings_indexing_ambient_assistant_bc_keywords">live space</string>\n<string name="bc_feature_section_title">Proactive moments</string>
The strings pretty much describe what’s already possible with the “At a Glance” widget but under a new “Live Space” name. Indeed, after we activated the settings page for “Live Space”, we discovered that it had replaced the settings for “At a Glance.” The only feature that is truly new is the “at a store” toggle which will surface “shopping lists and Google Pay rewards cards when you’re in supported stores.” The headphones icon at the bottom is not accompanied by a description, but we believe it’s related to the “media suggestions” feature we discovered last year.
We dug into the Google App’s code and discovered that Google is working on showing more personalized information, including info related to sports, stocks, and birthdays. None of this information is currently shown in the At a Glance widget, and we couldn’t find toggles for them in the “Live Space” settings page.
The “Live Space” feature hasn’t gone live yet for users, but when it does, we’ll let you know. It could be coming as part of Google’s broader overhaul of widgets in Android 12. Google showed off new widgets coming to Pixel phones as part of the Material You redesign, but none of those widgets have rolled out to devices yet.
Turn off “At a Glance”
Separately, Google is also working on letting the user turn off the “At a Glance” widget from the Pixel Launcher settings. On most devices, the “At a Glance” widget is an optional addition, but on Pixel phones, it’s persistently shown on top of the home screen. This could soon change once the new Pixel Launcher Settings page goes live for users. Tapping on “At a Glance” will surface a dialog letting users hide the widget from the home screen and lock screen.
Newer Google Lens gallery
Lastly, Google is working on a slight tweak to the Google Lens service. A couple of months ago, Google Lens added a built-in gallery to make it quicker to select images. Soon, that gallery may let you swipe down to exit rather than press back. The gallery icon has also seen a slight change in this test.
As previously mentioned, none of these features are live yet for users on the latest Google App version. Google is always testing new features, but it can take weeks or months for them to arrive. Sometimes, that never happens. The “Live Space” feature is one that’ll almost certainly land, but we don’t know if that’ll be it’s final name. We’ll let you know if we find out new information, though.
Thanks to PNF Software for providing us a license to use JEB Decompiler, a professional-grade reverse engineering tool for Android applications.


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Driving in Los Angeles, it becomes painfully obvious that people shouldn't have ever had cell phones to their ears while operating a vehicle.
Read This Article
Technology is supposed to make life easier.
Yes, Virginia, there is a 2015 Ford Mustang Convertible coming.
The Mustang turns 50 this year.


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New Delhi: Online smartphone sales are likely to take a big hit in the current January-March quarter as new FDI rules for ecommerce kicked in from February 1, the Economic Times said citing a report from research firms IDC and Counterpoint Technology Market Research. Worth mentioning here is that the new FDI rules on online sales include restrictions on discounts among other curbs.
Typically, ecommerce contribution to smartphone sales goes as high as 38-40% but due to the curbs, this contribution may fall to 26-27% in the current quarter, the report said.
“There is already an impact…Typically, ecommerce contribution goes as high as 38-40% (of overall sales which include offline) during the festive season, but in Q1-Q2, it hovers around 30-31%. This time, it might fall by up to 4% because of the policy change,” the ET report quoted Tarun Pathak, associate director at Counterpoint as saying. Pathak said the FDI rules will impact model exclusivity for brands on online channels. “…a lot of companies have agreements in place. This can also delay time-to-market,” he added.
Faisal Kawoosa, founder and chief analyst at TechArc told ET that other than exclusive sales, the hit will also come from offers and discounts, which are barred. “We estimate that around 35% of online sales are triggered due to offers/promotions and discounts,” he added.
Companies like Honor, Asus and Realme would see the maximum decline in sales as they are online-only or online-heavy brands, Prabhu Ram, head, industry intelligence group at market research firm CyberMedia Research, told the publication. These companies have now started forming partnerships with stores such as Reliance Digital and Croma, he added.


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Facebook to Sever Ties with Data Brokers In Bid to Boost Privacy
Facebook said it will end partnerships with a handful of large data brokerage firms. The companies in question help advertising firms fine-tune their targeting of Facebook users. The firms are given access to information about Facebook users likes and ad preferences in order to push more relevant ads. Facebook said it will wind down these firms' access to the data mining tool over a six-month period. The social network is making the move in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, which saw the data of millions of Facebook users passed to a company that used it to create profiles of American voters. Facebook has made other privacy-related moves the week, such as improving the visibility of its privacy settings and making it easier for users to manage or delete their data.
Instagram Slashing Fake Likes and Fake Followers
Nov 19, 2018
Instagram today said it is taking steps to reduce what it calls "inauthentic activity" across the social network. The company says more accounts have begun to use third-party apps to boost their follower numbers and inflate like counts.
U.S. Lawmakers Want AT&T to Sever All Ties with Huawei
Jan 16, 2018
Some people who work for the U.S. government don't want AT&T and other firms doing business with Huawei, according to Reuters.
Facebook Makes Sweeping Changes to Data Collection Policies as It Admits Cambridge Analytica Breach Impacted 87M
Apr 4, 2018
Facebook today made significant changes to its platform as it continues to deal with the fallout from the Cambridge Analytica breach. To start, the company now believes Cambridge Analytica was given improper access to the data of as many as 87 million people, mostly U.S.
Apple Addresses Face ID and Safari Privacy Concerns
Sep 16, 2017
Apple this week provided more detail concerning some of the behaviors of its forthcoming Face ID tech on the iPhone X and Safari in iOS 11. Concerning the former, Apple executive Craig Federighi explained to Techcrunch that "[Apple does] not gather customer data when you enroll in Face ID, it stays on your device, we do not send it to the cloud for training data." Instead, all the data created by the dot projector is processed locally on the A11 bionic chip.


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Man charged after convenience store robbery in Whitby
Published May 5, 2023 at 4:24 pm
A man has been arrested in connection to a knifepoint convenience store robbery in Whitby months ago.
Durham Regional Police said a man walked into a convenience store near Dunlop St. and Brock St. back in February. Investigators allege he drew a knife on the clerk and demanded cigarettes and cash.
Once he’d gathered the goods, he fled the store on foot. The clerk was not hurt.
Months later, on May 5, police arrested Michael Carrol, 47, of no-fixed-address in connection with the crime. He faces several charges, including armed robbery, disguise with intent and possession of weapons.
He remains in custody until a bail hearing.
Anyone with information can call the Major Crime Robbery Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5355.
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- It is Rs 50,000 more expensive than the pre-facelift version.
- It gets a new front bumper, new alloy wheels and a new touchscreen unit.
- It gets three-zone climate control and 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat.
- It has been given the 2.5 liter petrol engine with which an electric motor is also available.
- The battery is being given a warranty of 8 years or 1.6 lakh kilometers (whichever is earlier).
Toyota has launched the facelift Camry in India. It has been introduced in a fully loaded variant, which has been priced at Rs 41.7 lakh (ex-showroom pan India). It is Rs 50,000 more expensive than the pre-facelift model.
The look of the 2022 Toyota Camry is similar to the European model. It has got some cosmetic updates. It gets a new front bumper, lower/upper grille (with chrome insert) and newly designed 18-inch alloy wheels. There has also been a change in its LED taillights, in which new internal elements have been given.
Toyota has introduced it in Platinum White Pearl, Silver Metallic, Graphics Metallic, Red Mica, Attitude Black and Burning Black.
The interior has also received many updates. The facelifted Camry gets a 9.0-inch free-floating touchscreen system (with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay), new badges and black leather seat upholstery. Apart from this, features like 10-way power-adjustable driver seat, wireless phone charger, heads-up display, 9-speed JBL sound system with subwoofer and three-zone climate control have also been provided.
For safety, features like nine airbags, park assist, vehicle stability control, traction control, hill start assist and tire pressure monitoring have been provided.
There has been no change in its engine. It has been given the 2.5 liter petrol engine, along with an electric motor. Their combined power output is 218 PS. It has been given a CVT gearbox with the engine. The facelift sedan gets three driver modes: Sport, Eco and Normal.
With the battery of the Facelift Camry, the company is giving a warranty of up to 8 years or 1.6 lakh km (whichever is earlier). Currently, there is no car directly in its comparison in India.


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German business morale down on supply shortages, virus fears
BERLIN, July 26 (Reuters) – German business morale fell unexpectedly in July on continuing supply chain worries and amid rising coronavirus infections, a survey showed on Monday.
The Ifo institute said its business climate index fell to 100.8 from a revised figure of 101.7 in June. A Reuters poll of analysts had pointed to a July reading of 102.1.
“The mood in the German economy has been dampened,” Ifo President Clemens Fuest said in a statement.
Supply problems are weighing on the manufacturing and the retail sectors, with almost 64% of industrial firms complaining about shortages in materials, according to the institute.
Companies gave a slightly better assessment of their current situation, but optimism with regard to the coming months waned.
The Ifo expectations index fell to 101.2 from 103.7 in June, while the current conditions index rose to 100.4 from 99.7.
Events including the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters in China and Germany and cyber attacks have conspired to drive global supply chains towards a breaking point, threatening the fragile flow of raw materials, parts and consumer goods, according to companies, economists and shipping specialists.
The tourism and consumer sectors were especially worried about a fourth coronavirus wave.
After more than two months of steady decline, COVID-19 cases have been rising in Europe’s biggest economy since early July, due mainly to the spread of the more infectious Delta variant.
Roughly 60% of Germany’s 83 million people have had a first shot of a COVID-19 vaccine and about half of them are fully vaccinated.Reporting by Kirsti Knolle; Editing by Maria Sheahan
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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Worldcoin (WLD) scored double-digit gains in its rise to $4.40 following the launch of Sora, the text-to-video tool launched by Sam Altman’s OpenAI.
Sam Altman’s role in both digital identity protocol Worldcoin and OpenAI, the Silicon Valley artificial intelligence behemoth, likely triggered bullish sentiment amongst WLD speculators as trading volume for the crypto skyrocketed over 281% in 24 hours.
Altman founded Tools For Humanity, which created Worldcoin.
OpenAI shipped its latest AI tool to equip video creators, but Sora boasts no direct link to the $571 million market-capitalized WLD cryptocurrency other than Altman himself.
Worldcoin’s ID protocol
WLD is the native token of Worldcoin, an iris-scanning blockchain solution Altman touts as the future’s largest financial network and decentralized identification ledger. The protocol launched in July 2023 received pushback in some jurisdictions, primarily due to privacy concerns.
Kenya suspended Orbs enrollments a month after WLD launched, despite being one of the first countries targeted as a user base by Tools For Humanity.
Hong Kong’s Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data opened an investigation into Altman’s on-chain ID startup, citing risks to personal data security. French regulators also probed the firm for similar reasons.
Worldcoin is expanding in other areas like South America, where over 1% of Chileans have signed up with the protocol. Singapore opened its doors to Orb hardware devices, allowing the company to collect data from new participants in the Asian market.
Global Orb operators could receive payments in Circle’s stablecoin USDC until changes were announced in October last year. The firm transitioned all of its operations to WLD-denominated payments.


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This week, Microsoft held its WindowsEDU event in New York, during which we received a couple of announcements. Firstly, what was previously rumoured to be ‘Windows Cloud' is actually Windows 10 S, a cut-down version of the Windows 10 OS for cheap laptops. Secondly, there is a Surface Laptop on the way, a cheaper, more traditional laptop compared to the Surface Book.
The Surface Laptop measures in at around 14.5mm thick and packs a 13-inch PixelSense display with support for the Surface Pen. Microsoft says that this is currently the thinnest touchscreen display on the market at the moment. Under the hood is an Intel Core i5 and a 128GB SSD, which can be had for $999. There may be additional Surface Laptop configurations in the future, offering more power/storage space at higher prices.
Windows 10 S is the second big announcement to come out of Microsoft this afternoon. In an effort to compete with Chrome OS, Microsoft will be launching Windows 10 S, which will debut on cheap laptops and tablets from PC manufacturers later this year. The S in this case stands for “streamlined”.
While this will be a cheaper license to help OEMs deliver low cost devices aimed primarily at the education crowd, it does have one big trade off. Windows 10 S is limited to running apps from the Windows Store. This means unless a work around can be implemented, you will primarily be using apps vetted by Microsoft, like the Edge browser, or Microsoft Office, rather than a free alternative like Open Office.
Still, this reduced compatibility should make Windows 10 S a better option for schools.
KitGuru Says: Microsoft didn't really dive in to how much a Windows 10 S license would cost but that seems to be something for the OEMs to worry about, rather than consumers. What do you guys think of the new Surface Laptop and Windows 10 S announcements?


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Latest News on Processor
Showing of 0 - 10 from 703 results
Processor - Total results - 703
May 25, 2018
Xiaomi Mi 8 expected to come with 20 MP and 16 MP dual cameras, Snapdragon 845, 8 GB RAM according to latest leakThe smartphone will reportedly be available for pre-order starting May 31 in China.
May 10, 2018
Nokia X TENAA listing reveals FHD plus display with a notch and 3,000 mAh batteryAfter launching several smartphones without a notch, HMD seems to have finally given in to the new trend with the upcoming Nokia X.
May 04, 2018
Eight new flaws which resemble Meltdown and Spectre have been found in computer processors: ReportThe magazine, called c’t, said it was aware of Intel Corp’s plans to patch the flaws, adding that some chips designed by ARM Holdings, a unit of Japan’s Softbank, might be affected
Apr 13, 2018
Second generation AMD Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 desktop processors are now up for pre-orderBoxed versions of the new AMD Ryzen 7 2700 and Ryzen 5 2600 series processors with the company's Wraith coolers are slated to ship next week.
Apr 04, 2018
Dell unveils its G Series lineup of 'affordable' laptops with 8th gen Intel processors and NVIDIA GTX 10 series GPUThe Dell G Series are affordable gaming laptops with high-end processors and GPUs. The starting price of the Dell G3 is $749.
Apr 03, 2018
Intel unveils Core i9 mobile CPUs, bridging the performance gap between laptops and desktopsThe new 8th Gen Intel Core i9, i7 and i5 processors for laptops are based on the "Coffee Lake" platform, Intel said in a statement.
Mar 02, 2018
Intel showcases 5G-compatible prototype PC at the Mobile World Congress in BarcelonaIntel's concept is a detachable two-in-one PC featuring a 5G modem and latest-gen Intel Core i5 processors.
Feb 20, 2018
Intel Ice Lake-U mobile processor based on 10 nm architecture to feature improved graphicsThe iGPU on the Intel Ice Lake-U processors come with double the number of execution units and base clock speed, compared to its current processors.
Feb 15, 2018
ARM unveils two new processor designs that focus on AI and machine learningIn terms of availability, the ARM ML processor should be available in the industry by June this year, while the OD processor will be available by month end.
Feb 09, 2018
Qualcomm and Samsung announce strategic partnership as Apple looks to building its own chipsQualcomm Incorporated's Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. subsidiary in particular will work with Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. in a longstanding deal that will see the industry transition from 4G to 5G.


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Japan posted a more than sixfold increase in its current account surplus in April, to ¥1.32 trillion ($12 billion), as the trade balance swung back into the black due to a surge in exports compared with a year earlier, when the COVID-19 pandemic stalled economic activity, the Finance Ministry said Tuesday.
The current account, one of the widest gauges of international trade, remained in the black for the 82nd month in April, helped by a rise in investment returns, according to the ministry’s preliminary report.
A year-on-year increase of ¥1.12 trillion in the current account surplus is the largest since August 2015, a ministry official said.
April saw a larger rise in exports than in imports in terms of value, translating into a trade surplus of ¥289.5 billion. The figures are a reversal from the ¥926.9 billion deficit logged a year earlier, when shipments from Japan slumped amid the spread of COVID-19 that led to a state of emergency in the country and lockdown measures overseas.
Among items that pushed up the country’s exports by 38.0% from a year ago, to ¥6.83 trillion, were cars and auto parts, apparently reflecting a recovery in auto demand in key markets such as the United States and China. Amid a global shortage of chips, shipments of semiconductor-making equipment increased.
Imports jumped 11.3% to ¥6.54 trillion, lifted by a rise in crude oil and petroleum products.
Another key component of the current account, primary income, gained 7.3% to ¥2.18 trillion, as Japanese companies received dividend payments from their overseas subsidiaries, according to the Finance Ministry.
As the pandemic continued to depress travel demand, however, Japan saw its travel surplus shrink to ¥16.0 billion from ¥22.4 billion a year earlier. The travel balance shows the amount of money foreign tourists spend in Japan versus Japanese spending abroad.
The services trade balance came to a deficit of ¥954.8 billion, expanding from ¥787.8 billion in the red.
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Western Forest Products’ first-quarter EBITDA dropped 28% to C$9.3 million (US$9.3 million) from a year ago despite a 23.5% jump in sales to C$223.4 million (US$223.5 million), including lumber sales of C$157.2 million (US$157.2 million), for the same period, the company reported today. Net income declined by half from the first quarter of 2011 to total C$1.9 (US$1.9) million for the period.
The EBITDA result, which was cited as being in line with management’s seasonal expectations, reflects increased productivity and higher sales volumes significantly offset by higher logging costs, higher per-unit cost of lumber taken from opening inventory, increased log and lumber inventory provisions, and higher first-quarter selling and administrative expenses, the company said, noting that EBITDA margins decreased by 3% from a year ago.
Western defines EBITDA as operating income prior to operating restructuring items and other income (expenses), plus amortization of property, plant, equipment, and intangible assets, impairment adjustments, and changes in fair value of biological assets.
The company reported first-quarter lumber shipment volumes up 20% from a year ago to 220 million board feet, valued at C$157.2 million (US$157.2). The increased sales mark a 22% jump from a year ago—of this volume, 39% was sold to the Canadian market, 23% to China, 20% to Japan, and 13% to the U.S.
The company reported lumber production up 20% for the quarter, compared to the first quarter of 2011. Its sawmills operated at 91% capacity, up from 78% capacity a year ago. Conversion costs of lumber produced in the first quarter of 2012 decreased by 8% from the same period a year ago. Lumber prices during the quarter were approximately 2% higher at C$716 (US$716) per thousand board feet than the year-ago period, with Western Red Cedar prices seeing an increase of 4% for the period.


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Members of the 'iPhone Linux' development team revealed in a blog posting that they had installed a working version of the Linux kernel on the handsets.
The software must be installed by the user, and exists largely as proof that Linux can be ported to the handset. The researchers noted that several major features, such as sound support, touch-screen capability and wireless networking, had yet to be figured out.
The software supports a serial-to-USB connection and can be installed by the user. However, the developers have warned novice users and those unfamiliar with the inner workings of the iPhone's installation and recovery process against attempting to install the code.
The developers also said that the installation is capable of causing permanent damage to the iPhone if certain components are not correctly backed up.
News of the achievement is the latest milestone from an underground development community that has been working to hack the iPhone since it was introduced in 2007.
Groups such as the 'iPhone Dev Team' have long sought to lift many of Apple's locks on the hardware and allow the installation of applications which are not necessarily authorised by the company.
Although some developers are members of both projects, those behind the iPhone Linux project note that it is a separate endeavour from the iPhone Dev Team's ongoing work in unlocking the iPhone.
Apple has so far turned a blind eye to the practice of hacking the device, which voids the warranty. The company said that, while it will not deliberately target hacked handsets, software updates to the iPhone will often remove software or render the phones inoperable.
Linux lands on the iPhone
By Shaun Nichols on Dec 3, 2008 6:50AM


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Updated: Friday, 10 Aug 2012, 4:29 PM CDT
Published : Friday, 10 Aug 2012, 4:29 PM CDT
Austin Fashion Week kicks off in a major way tonight, with the Shift Into Style event . Now in it's 4th year, the event has grown to be bigger and better. James Leasure took the time to let us know about the new and improved Austin Fashion Week.


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The McAfee.com website is full of security mistakes that could lead to cross-site scripting and other attacks, researchers said in a post on the Full Disclosure site on Monday. The holes with the site were found by the YGN Ethical Hacker Group, and r...
The widely used C++ programming language is about to be updated, as the ISO steering committee for the language has approved the final draft specifying its next version.
NetSuite hopes to entice U.K. VARs (value-added resellers) that may now be aligned with rivals like Microsoft into selling its cloud-based ERP (enterprise resource planning) software, announcing Monday that it has expanded its SP100 sales program to ...
Within the past couple weeks, we have had two major Web browser releases. Microsoft unleashed Internet Explorer 9, and Mozilla officially launched Firefox 4. Each browser had millions of downloads on its inaugural launch day. Firefox appears to have ...
Microsoft researchers have designed a scheme for measuring whether licensed radio frequencies are actually being used so unlicensed devices can use it, something that may become necessary as demand for wireless applications grows.
A startup founded by a former Citrix executive is aiming to help customers move Microsoft Exchange mailboxes to either Google Apps or Microsoft's own cloud.
Mozilla today said that it regretted staying silent when it found out last week that hackers had stolen digital certificates for some of the Web's biggest sites, including Google, Skype, Microsoft, Yahoo and its own add-on site.
Mozilla set an unofficial record for software downloads on the second day of Firefox 4's launch, the company said Friday.
The chief executive of the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) said today that any transfer of IPv4 addresses from one organization to another will need to be compliant with established ARIN policy.
Microsoft has expanded Bing's social search capabilities, displaying real-time Twitter messages on Bing's News section and simplifying the sharing of Bing entertainment content on Facebook.
The European Commission and Microsoft have shrugged off claims by Maxthon International that its browser should be more prominently represented on Windows' browser choice screen.
Poor Duke, he just can't catch a break. He's been delayed once again. Well, for a month--from May 6 back to June 14, so just after E3 2011.
The delay in disclosing a theft of the digital certificates for some of the Web's biggest sites, including Google, Skype, Microsoft and Yahoo, put Iranian activists' lives at risk, a researcher argued Wednesday.
During the past three to five years, when most companies began rolling out virtual servers in earnest as replacements for physical servers, acceptance has grown so quickly among both end users and IT staffs that more than half of all companies now de...
Microsoft is recognizing enterprise realities with its new accommodations for rivals' smartphones in an upcoming version of System Center Configuration Manager, an industry analyst said on Thursday.
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The grower-owned cooperative seeks to expand visibility of its product “from farm to fork,” in a pilot program undertaken with SAP and a group of supply-chain partners.
If blockchain is ever to move beyond the hype and become an everyday tool for managing supply chains, the need to ensure food safety could be the thing that puts it over the top.
When it comes to getting product to market, nothing is more important than ensuring consumer safety. Incidents of tainted food and subsequent recalls send producers and retailers scrambling to uncover the source of the outbreak. Delays in obtaining that crucial information can lead to further cases of sickness and even deaths.
Blockchain would seem to provide an answer. It’s predicated on the notion of a distributed, immutable ledger that records every key transaction — whether an order, payment or hand-off of product from one entity to another — and can be consulted at a moment’s notice.
Blockchain also presents a possible solution to another food industry quandary: waste. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, more than 30 percent of the food produced in the world is either lost or wasted.
Both concerns drove Naturipe Farms LLC to pursue blockchain technology. Formed more than 100 years ago, it’s owned by a group of four family farms that grow Fair Trade-certified berries.
The grower-owned cooperative first came into contact with software giant SAP 10 years ago, when it sought to implement a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system to help manage growth.
Last year, Carol McMillan, Naturipe’s director of information technology, got wind of a pilot project that SAP was conducting with blockchain. It eagerly joined up to pursue a proof of concept.
The goal was basic, says McMillan — “to get some exposure to what blockchain is, how it can be used in the agribusiness area, and what’s the potential for it.”
SAP’s dive into blockchain began with a survey of customers to assess interest in, and progress of, the technology. The first pilots launched last year, according to Gil Perez, senior vice president of products and innovations, and head of the company’s digital customer initiatives.
Moving Into Supply Chain
Initial use cases were aimed at financial transactions, in partnership with Canada’s ATB Financial. But SAP quickly saw the potential for applying blockchain to the supply chain, especially for audits and compliance. It proceeded to undertake more than 40 pilots with some 85 customers.
The pilot involving Naturipe focused on the ingredients of a ready-to-eat chicken Caesar salad — meat, cheese, lettuce, cherries and blueberries. Other participants included J.R. Simplot, Johnsonville and Maple Leaf Foods.
“From our perspective,” says Perez, “it was a good combined product that would tackle the challenges of being able to address the problem of food recall.”
The partners were concerned with issues such as marking, tagging and serialization of pallets. Each had its own method for carrying out those functions, making integration of efforts essential.
As the ingredients came together from multiple sources, the companies were able to incorporate vital information into a common blockchain, enabling them to trace back the provenance of a given package all the way to its original producers. Equally essential, says Perez, was the ability to conduct root-cause analyses once the whole process was complete.
The pilot was deemed a success. After six months, “everybody came away with the understanding that they can collaborate with competitors and get value without compromising their business,” says Perez.
As for Naturipe, it found significant value in the potential for blockchain to improve traceability, which McMillan calls “the produce industry’s biggest supply-chain challenge.”
Blockchain offers a means for every participating entity to contribute information, “with the end goal of full supply-chain visibility,” McMillan says.
Far From the Finish Line
The biggest lesson to emerge from the pilot, however, was the realization of how far the technology has yet to go.
“There’s a lot of work to be done,” says McMillan, citing “the whole concept of interoperability.” Companies involved in the creation of a given product — even nominal competitors — must be comfortable with exchanging sensitive information. (Even though in a private blockchain, certain bits of proprietary intelligence are not made visible to all.)
“There’s a lot of hesitancy along the supply chain of people sharing information, even in a private blockchain,” says McMillan. “It’s a fear of trade secrets or the source of product being given away. We need to find a balance between that and what’s beneficial [to share].”
Naturipe’s approach to traceability has historically centered on the concept of “one step forward, one step back,” McMillan says. For example, it can quickly ascertain the farm where a certain product came from, and the customer distribution center to which it was sent. Once that product gets to the store, however, things get fuzzier.
“Nobody within the supply chain has complete visibility of that product from farm to fork,” says McMillan. It’s an age-old problem for the food industry, and one for which blockchain seems especially well-suited.
Naturipe intends to continue working with SAP on the development of blockchain. It’s in the final stages of making a decision to join another exploratory group formed by the software vendor.
The company might also reach out to partners outside of SAP’s orbit. Up to now, it hasn’t worked with any retailers, although it’s considering some candidates. “They’re in the same boat,” says McMillan, “exploring the benefits to see where the ROI is for each of them, and the industry as a whole.”
Perez says it’s crucial to create an atmosphere of trust among putative partners. “We have to slowly walk all of the participants through this process.”
Moreover, as more companies sign on to blockchain, the technology needs to prove its ability to scale. Smaller groups of supply-chain partners aren’t a problem, but blockchains involving a million or more computer nodes still must figure out how to get key data posted in a timely fashion.
Blockchain technology offers huge potential for food companies such as Naturipe, as well as those in other industries. “But there’s a big difference between saying that and getting big companies to do it,” Perez says.
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